UN raises alarm as climate talks begin in Azerbaijan

The 29th Conference of the Parties, or COP-29, began in Baku, Azerbaijan.

As talks opened, the United Nations warned that the Paris climate agreement's goals "are in great peril" and 2024 is on track to break new temperature records. 

The period from 2015 to 2024 will also be the warmest decade ever recorded, the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a new report.

New WMO data showed that current global warming is about 1.3 degrees Celsius higher than the average of the previous 10 years, compared to 1.2 degrees Celsius a year ago, and the current year is hotter by 1.54 degrees Celsius, compared to 1.45 degrees Celsius a year ago.

Counting right

Recently, the launch of a caste survey by the Telangana government is a step towards fulfilling social justice in the state.

The survey may form the basis for enhancing the quantum of reservation for Backwards Classes (BCs), going by the party's election manifesto. 

At present, 112 communities under five categories of BCs enjoy a 29% quota in education and employment, including 4% for socially and educationally Muslim BCs. 

The survey is being undertaken at a time when demand for such an exercise at the all-India level is growing louder. 

The LAC agreement, the détentes and the questions

After the announcement of an India-China détente, and a summit on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit at Kazan on October 23, 2024, between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping sealed the deal, the exchange of sweets between soldiers of the Indian Army and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) indicated that the two sides are willing to put the bitterness of the past four years behind them.

Work to disengage the two armies at Depsang and Demchok has been declared completed, while troop de-escalation and de-induction along the LAC still need to be agreed upon and will require verification on the ground and using satellite images. 

Reports that the PLA has been granted access at Yangtse, the area on the Arunachal Pradesh boundary where it had attempted to transgress in 2022, have also not been explained by the government. Unfortunately, this lack of clarity is now part of a pattern.

Giving shape to India's carbon credit mechanism

The Conference of Parties-29, from November 11 to 22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan, is about to shift focus to the heated discussion on the aspect of climate finance again. 

An essential component of this discussion will be the carbon credits framework and disagreements over it between developed and developing countries. 

India updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2023 to underline, among other things, the establishment of a domestic carbon market as a part of its climate strategy. 

The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act of 2022 provided a statutory mandate for such a Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). 

Ending discrimination in prisons

the Supreme Court in Sukanya Shantha v. Union of India (2024) reaffirmed the principle of non-discrimination in Indian prisons. 

The rules in jail manuals segregating prisoners based on caste were at the heart of this challenge. 

They were struck down for perpetuating caste discrimination and violating the fundamental rights of prisoners.

Can AMU finally claim a ‘minority' status?

Article 30(1) of the Constitution guarantees religious and linguistic minorities the fundamental right to establish and manage educational institutions of their choice. 

In 1967, the Supreme Court, in Azeez Basha, reasoned that AMU was neither established nor administered by the Muslim minority since it had been established through central legislation. 

Justice Chandrachud affirmed that educational institutions established prior to the adoption of the Constitution are equally entitled to the protections granted under Article 30(1). 

He clarified that statutory enactments conferring legal recognition or status upon such institutions do not compromise their minority character, provided their foundational purpose was "predominantly" aimed at benefiting the minority community. 

The majority verdict further emphasised that an institution does not forfeit its minority character simply because its administration is no longer vested with the community.

Trial reforms, promoting mediation among new Chief Justice's priorities

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India, said the core principles of the judiciary were to provide equal treatment, fair opportunity at justice to all and unbiased adjudication to all, regardless of status, wealth or power. 

Chief Justice Khanna, in an official statement released by the Supreme Court, said judges had a "constitutional duty to ensure easy access to justice to all citizens of our great nation". 

"Judiciary is an integral, yet distinct and independent part of the governance system. 

The Constitution trusts upon us the role of constitutional guardian, protector of fundamental rights, and responsibility to fulfil the important task of being a service provider of justice," Chief Justice Khanna said.

India and Bangladesh officials to discuss new avenues of trade 

Officials from Bangladesh arrived to participate in a meeting to develop the infrastructure of land ports along the India-Bangladesh border. 

The sixth Subgroup meeting of the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) with the Bangladesh Land Port Authority will feature discussions focused on bolstering the infrastructure of existing land ports and examining new avenues to facilitate trade and connectivity.

High prevalence of sexual violence against gay, bisexual men across six cities: study

A research conducted by four academics sheds light on the prevalence of violence against gay and bisexual men across six cities. 

About 44% of the men sampled in Delhi said they faced sexual violence, making it the city with the highest prevalence of sexual violence against men who have sex with men. 

The survey, showing that 78.7% of gay men and 44% of bisexual men have faced some sort of violence, be it verbal, physical, or sexual violence, comes amid growing concerns about safety among the community, with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita replacing the Indian Penal Code.