Current Affairs - Bills and Acts

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was officially constituted on December 31, 2008, through the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, passed by the Indian Parliament. The establishment of the NIA followed the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, underscoring the need for a specialized agency to handle terrorism and related offences, thus playing a pivotal role in India's counter-terrorism efforts.

The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) will come into effect from July 1, 2024. This law replaces the Indian Evidence Act and introduces provisions for electronic and digital records, expanding the scope of evidence that can be presented in court. Recently enacted three new criminal laws Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) are set to take effect from 1st July 2024, replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act. It aims to modernize the judicial process by allowing for the electronic recording of oral evidence and enhancing protections for victims, particularly in cases of offences like rape. The enactment marks a significant shift from colonial-era laws towards a justice system tailored to Indian needs and priorities.

The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act was enacted in India in the year 1999, and it came into effect in 2003. This legislation was crucial for establishing the framework to protect and promote products with unique geographical origins and qualities. The first product in India to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag under this law was Darjeeling tea in 2004, marking a significant milestone in India's efforts to safeguard its traditional products and enhance their market recognition based on their geographical identity.

The Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, were originally established in the year 1972. These rules have been recently amended to extend maternity and child care leave provisions for government employees involved in surrogacy, allowing commissioning mothers 180 days of maternity leave and commissioning fathers 15 days of paternity leave. This amendment marks a significant update to regulations that were instituted over five decades ago, reflecting evolving policies to support parental responsibilities among government servants.

The Indian Post Office Act of 2023 replaced the Indian Post Office Act, of 1898, bringing significant updates to postal regulations in India. The new Act introduced provisions for the interception of postal items for security reasons exempted the Post Office from certain liabilities, and expanded regulatory oversight to include private courier services. This legislative change reflects adaptations to modern postal and communication needs, including digital addressing systems and updated service charge mechanisms.