Current Affairs - Bills and Acts

The Government of India announced the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on March 11, 2024. This decision, led by the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, brought the controversial law back into focus, aiming to provide a pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted minority communities from neighbouring countries.

The NAMASTE Scheme aims to ensure the safety and dignity of sanitation workers by banning manual sewer cleaning. With measures such as health insurance, safety training, and equipment subsidies, it prioritizes the well-being of sanitation workers, recognizing their crucial role in maintaining community health and hygiene.

The Reserve Bank of India sanctioned the merger of Fincare Small Finance Bank with AU Small Finance Bank under "Section 44A" of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. This section empowers the RBI to approve the amalgamation or merger of banks, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and safeguarding the interests of stakeholders in the banking sector.

Article 371A, introduced as part of the 13th Amendment to the Indian Constitution, grants special provisions to Nagaland, upholding Naga customary law and complicating government efforts to regulate coal mining, particularly in rat-hole mines, due to its restrictions on the applicability of parliamentary acts in the state.

The three new criminal laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, passed by Parliament in 2023, will be effective from July 1, 2024. These laws are set to replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.