National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recently announced the results of its online human rights photography competition, 2024 organized in collaboration with MyGov.

• The National Human Rights Commission is a statutory that was established in 1993 under a legislation enacted by the Parliament, namely, the Protection of Human Rights Act, 19931.
• The commission is the watchdog of human rights in the country.
• It is in conformity with the Paris Principles, mandated by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
• The objectives of the commission include:
  • To strengthen the institutional arrangements through which human rights issues could be addressed in their entirety in a more focussed manner,
  • To look into allegations of excesses, independently of the government, in a manner that would underline the government’s commitment to protect human rights and
  • To complement and strengthen the efforts that have already been made in this direction.
• Composition of the Commission – The commission is a multi-member body consisting of a chairperson and five members.
• The chairperson should be a retired chief justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court.
• The members should be a serving or retired judge of the Supreme Court.
• Three persons (out of which at least one should be a woman) having knowledge or practical experience with respect to human rights.
• In addition to these full-time members, the commission also has
• 7 ex-officio members that include the chairpersons of:
  1. National Commission for Minorities
  2. National Commission for SCs
  3. National Commission for STs
  4. National Commission for Women
  5. National Commission for BCs
  6. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
  7. Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.
• Appointment – The chairperson and members are appointed by the president on the recommendations of a six-member committee consisting of:
  1. Prime minister as its head
  2. Speaker of the Lok Sabha
  3. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
  4. Leaders of the Opposition in both the Houses of Parliament
  5. Central home minister
• A sitting judge of the Supreme Court or a sitting chief justice of a high court can be appointed only after consultation with the chief justice of India.
• Term of office – The chairperson and members hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
• After their tenure, the chairperson and members are not eligible for further employment under the Central or a state government.
• Removal – The president can remove the chairperson or any member from the office under the following circumstances:
  •  If he is adjudged an insolvent,
  • If he engages, during his term of office, in any paid employment outside the duties of his office,
  • If he is unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body,
  • If he is of unsound mind and stand so declared by a competent court and
  • If he is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence.
• In addition to these, the president can also remove the chairperson or any member on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
• However, in these cases, the president has to refer the matter to the Supreme Court for an inquiry.
• Functions and powers – Functions of the commission are mainly recommendatory in nature.
• To inquire into any violation of human rights or negligence in the prevention of such violation by a public servant.
• The commission is not empowered to inquire into any matter after the expiry of one year from the date on which the act constituting violation of human rights is alleged to have been committed.
• It has no power to punish the violators of human rights, nor to award any relief including monetary relief to the victim.
• Notably, its recommendations are not binding on the concerned government or authority.

Anubhav Awards

• Anubhav Awards recognizes the contribution made by retired officials to nation building while working in Government.
• Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DOPPW) had launched an on-line platform entitled ‘Anubhav Portal’ in March 2015.
• The portal aids for sharing experiences of retiring/retired Central Government employees while working with the Government.
• To participate in the scheme, retiring Central Government employees/pensioners are required to submit their Anubhav write ups, 8 months prior to retirement and up to 1 year after their retirement.
• All the Anubhav write-ups published on the Anubhav Portal.
• The ANUBHAV Awardees share their experiences in a national forum under the ANUBHAV Awardees Speak Webinar Series.
• DOPPW has undertaken an Outreach Campaign to reach out to every pensioner to submit his ANUBHAV experience.

International Buddhist Confederation (IBC)

International Buddhist Confederation, in collaboration with the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara is all set to organise a two-day International Conference on Guru Padmasambhava at Nalanda, Bihar.

• International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) is a Buddhist umbrella body with its base in New Delhi that serves as a common platform for Buddhists worldwide.
• It is established under the patronage of the supreme Buddhist religious hierarchy.
• IBC currently has a membership comprising more than 320 organisations, both monastic and has presence in 39 countries.
• Asian Buddhist Summit – It is an initiative of International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).
• This platform facilitates exchange, enhances mutual comprehension, and tackles current issues confronting the Buddhist community.
• Buddhist leaders, academics, specialists, and practitioners from diverse Asian traditions convene through ABS.
• Through ABS, IBC aims to find a common link between various traditions, practices and beliefs prevalent in the Asian Buddhist circuit.
• This will enable in outlining the scope and potential areas of sustaining the Buddhist narrative in the modern world and future.
• The role of Dhamma, involving the youth will help in strengthening and nurturing a new value-based society.
• Conference on Guru Padmasambhava – A two-day International Conference on the Life and Living Legacy of Guru Padmasambhava Conference at Nalanda, Bihar.
• Key themes of the Conference include:
  • Biographical Insights and Mythology.
  • Teachings of Vajrayana Buddha Dhamma and the Tantras.
  • Cultural and Artistic Contributions.
  • Travels and Regional Impact.
  • Legacy and Contemporary Relevance.
• Guru Padmasambhava – Also known as Guru Rinpoche Guru Padmasambhava lived in the 8th century in ancient India.
• He is regarded as the second Buddha who is the famous Rishi (or Sant) of the Himalayas.
• He introduced Tantric Buddhism to Tibet and who is credited with establishing the first Buddhist monastery there.
• He is credited with the dissemination of Buddha Dhamma across the Himalayan belt.
• He was a member of the Yogacara sect and taught at Nalanda, a centre of Buddhist studies in India.

Home Management and Care Givers Sector Skill Council

There is a need for policy interventions in the care sector in which Home Management and Care Givers Sector Skill Council could play a crucial role.

• Home Management and Care Givers Sector Skill Council (HMCGSSC) is a Section 8 Not for Profit Company registered under the Companies Act, 2013.
• It works under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
• HMCGSSC is an apex body complementing India’s efforts for skilling 400 million workforce in informal sector.
• It is also on a mission to create sustainable livelihood for one of the largest growing informal sectors.
• It aids to provide workers in informal sector with dignity of labour for their contribution to their own families, households they support and to the GDP.
• It is a key voice for the Domestic Workers sector in terms of policy, identifying critical roles and associated skill gaps.
• The council works towards capacity building by bridging skill gaps and upgrading skills of the domestic workers including caregivers, gig workers, wage workers and self-employed as per industry standards.
• DWSSC’s Governing Board is uniquely represented by its Academia, Training Organizations & Industry-Business Leaders.
• Gig economy is one of the largest growing informal sectors of work which had never been addressed before and with an estimation of over 40 million workforces (90% being women).

Horseshoe Crabs

The Zoological Survey of India and the Odisha Forest Department have joined hands to tag horseshoe crabs along the State’s coast to understand the population and habitat utilisation for its conservation.

• Horseshoe Crabs are one of oldest living creatures on the earth that have lived millions of years without undergoing any morphological change.
• Horseshoe crabs are an extremely ancient group and are often referred to as living fossils.
• The horseshoe crab has a hard exoskeleton and 10 legs, which it uses for walking along the seafloor.
• Horseshoe Crabs in India – India is home to two species of horseshoe crabs:
  1. Tachypleus gigas
  2. Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda (mangrove)
• Both the species are found only along the north-eastern coast of India, especially along the Odisha and West Bengal coast.
• Medical uses – It is known for its strong immune system.
• The blood of horseshoe crabs is very important for the preparation of rapid diagnostic reagents.
• All injectable and medicines are tested with the help of horseshoe crabs.
• Habitat – Horseshoe crabs utilize different habitats depending on their stage of development.
• The eggs are laid on coastal beaches in late spring and summer.
• After hatching, the juvenile horseshoe crabs can be found offshore on the sandy ocean floor of tidal flats.
• Adult horseshoe crabs feed deeper in the ocean until they return to the beach to spawn.
• Many shorebirds, migratory birds, turtles, and fish use horseshoe crab eggs as an important part of their diet.
• Horseshoe crabs are a keystone species within the Delaware Bay ecosystem.
• Source of nutrition – Horseshoe crab eggs are a food source for numerous birds, reptiles and fish.
• Threats – To horseshoe crabs include habitat loss and overharvesting.
• Beach developments hinder horseshoe crab breeding.
• Protection – Horseshoe crabs are a Schedule 2 species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 so it is illegal to trade it.
• The Zoological Survey of India and the Odisha Forest Department have joined hands to geo-tag horseshoe to understand the population and habitat utilisation for its conservation and management.