Read Current Affairs
- Why in News?
- Filing frivolous cases and summoning journalists without due process has become routine in states led by leaders intolerant of criticism.
- Key Provisions:-
- The Assam Police’s move to summon The Wire’s founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan and consulting editor Karan Thapar under Section 152 of the BNS exemplifies this assault on press freedom. The summons came on August 12, 2025 — the same day the Supreme Court issued notice on The Wire’s challenge to the constitutionality of Section 152 and barred coercive action — making the action especially egregious.
- The Wire says the summons lacked key legal requirements, hinting at intimidation. Critics warn Section 152, a broader and more draconian version of the colonial sedition law, lowers the threshold for prosecution and allows vague terms to criminalise legitimate criticism. Its misuse risks silencing dissent. The Court must firmly safeguard constitutional freedoms and end the use of sedition laws, rebranded or otherwise, in a democracy.
- Why in News?
- The government’s latest reform measure, aligned with the vision of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance,” proposes 355 amendments across 16 Central Acts under 10 Ministries/Departments.
- Key Provisions:-
- Building on the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 — which decriminalised 183 provisions in 42 Central Acts — the Bill seeks to advance Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Ease of Living by reducing compliance burdens, updating outdated laws, and fostering trust-based governance. It decriminalises 288 provisions, replacing imprisonment for minor defaults with monetary penalties or warnings. Four Acts — the Tea Act, 1953, Legal Metrology Act, 2009, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 — will see further decriminalisation. Penalties will be proportionate, with graded increases for repeat offences, and 76 first-time contraventions will attract only advisories. Administrative adjudication will ease court workload, while automatic penalty hikes of 10% every three years will maintain deterrence without fresh legislation, ensuring laws remain relevant and business-friendly.
- Why in News?
- The August 18, 2025, multilateral summit at the White House, bringing together U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and key European leaders, followed closely on Mr. Trump’s August 15 meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
- Key Provisions:-
- While no immediate breakthrough emerged, the talks signalled fresh momentum toward ending the Ukraine war. Europe reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine’s security but acknowledged its reliance on U.S. military support. Leaders sought to persuade Mr. Trump — who opposes NATO membership for Ukraine — to back security guarantees as part of a final settlement. Mr. Trump’s openness to a European-led “reassurance force” marked modest progress. Disagreements remain over the ceasefire line, with Mr. Putin demanding all of Donbas and a frozen southern front, while Kyiv rejects territorial concessions. All sides, however, are willing to keep negotiating. A compromise that balances Ukraine’s security, Russia’s concerns, and battlefield realities is vital to sustain the peace momentum.