The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, has invited nominations for the National Youth Award 2024.

What is the National Youth Award?

• Sponsored by: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India.

• Purpose: To recognize and motivate young individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions in social service and national development.

• Aim:

  • Encourage youth aged 15 to 29 years to excel in national development or social service.

  • Promote a sense of responsibility toward community among youth.

  • Recognize voluntary organizations working with youth for social causes.

Award Categories & Prizes

• Two Categories:

  1. Individual Category

  2. Organisation Category

• Number of Awards:

  1. Up to 20 awards in the individual category.

  2. Up to 5 awards in the organization category.

  3. Numbers may vary at the discretion of the sanctioning authority for deserving cases.

• Prize Money:

  1. Individual Award: Medal, certificate, and ₹1,00,000/-

  2. Organisation Award: Medal, certificate, and ₹3,00,000/-

Eligibility Criteria

Individuals or organizations that have demonstrated exemplary work in fields related to youth development and social service such as:

• Health

• Research and innovation

• Culture

• Promotion of human rights

When is the Award Given?

• The National Youth Awards are generally conferred during the National Youth Festival.

• India will provide training and equipment to Fiji aimed at upgrading its maritime security capabilities.

• This initiative was recently announced by the Prime Minister of India.

• The move is part of India’s broader efforts to strengthen ties and security cooperation in the South Pacific region.

About Fiji

Geography:

• Fiji is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, located northeast of New Zealand and southwest of Hawaii.

• It consists of about 300 islands and 540 islets spread over roughly 1,000,000 square miles (3,000,000 sq.km).

• Fiji has no land borders with other countries.

• Approximately 100 islands are inhabited.

• The capital city is Suva, situated on the southeast coast of Viti Levu, the largest island.

• Viti Levu accounts for more than half of Fiji’s total land area.

Physical Features:

• The terrain is rugged, dominated by a central mountain range.

• The highest peak is Mount Tomanivi, rising to 1,324 meters (4,344 feet).

• Fiji's islands were formed through volcanic activity, sedimentary deposits, and coral formations.

• Nearly 50% of Fiji’s land area remains forested, with dry grasslands mostly in the western parts of the large islands.

Demographics and Culture:

• The majority of the population is of mixed Melanesian-Polynesian ancestry.

• There is also a significant South Asian minority.

• Official languages are English and Fijian.

• The currency used is the Fiji dollar.

Significance of India’s Support:

• Fiji’s maritime security is crucial given its island geography and reliance on ocean resources.

• India’s assistance will enhance Fiji’s ability to monitor and protect its maritime zones, ensuring better surveillance, law enforcement, and disaster management.

• Strengthening maritime ties with Fiji helps India expand its strategic and diplomatic reach in the Indo-Pacific region.

What is ASI?

• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is the premier government organization responsible for archaeological research and the protection of India's tangible heritage.

• It operates under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

• Founded in 1861 by Sir Alexander Cunningham, ASI's headquarters is located in New Delhi.

Legal Framework

• Post-independence, ASI was established as a statutory body under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act).

• It is entrusted with the maintenance and preservation of ancient monuments, archaeological sites, and remains of national importance.

• ASI also regulates archaeological activities across India as per the AMASR Act.

• It enforces the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972, which governs the protection of cultural artifacts.

Responsibilities

• The Central Government has declared 3,679 monuments and sites as nationally important.

• ASI is responsible for protecting and maintaining all these declared monuments and sites.

• The organization employs a diverse and skilled workforce, including:

  • Archaeologists

  • Conservators

  • Epigraphists

  • Architects

  • Scientists

Organizational Structure & Functions

• ASI conducts archaeological research through various specialized units:

  • Circles (regional offices)

  • Museums

  • Excavation Branches

  • Prehistory Branch

  • Epigraphy Branches

  • Science Branch

  • Horticulture Branch

  • Building Survey Project

  • Temple Survey Projects

  • Underwater Archaeology Wing

Recent Controversy: Transfer of Archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishna

• The transfer of archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishna has sparked public scrutiny and controversy.

• Though specific details about the transfer are not included here, such moves often raise questions about:

  • Administrative decisions impacting ongoing research or preservation efforts.

  • Transparency and meritocracy within ASI.

  • Potential political or bureaucratic interference in archaeological work.

• Who are the Kani tribe?
  The Kani, also called Kanikkarars, are a traditionally nomadic tribal community now settled in the Agasthyamalai hills of the Western Ghats, located in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.

• Social Structure:
  Every Kani settlement has a community council responsible for social governance. This council includes:

  • Mootukani (Chief): The hereditary tribal leader who acts as the law giver, protector, and dispenser of justice.

  • Vilikani (Convenor): Organizes community matters.

  • Pilathi (Physician and Priest): Holds a dual spiritual and medicinal role and is believed to possess magical powers. Pilathis perform rituals and chant mantras using an instrument called the ‘Kokara’.

• Traditional Roles:
  The Moottukani combined the roles of lawmaker, protector, healer, and spiritual leader, making him the central figure in the community’s traditional governance and culture.

• Settlement:
  Kanis now live in several tribal hamlets scattered throughout the forests of Thiruvananthapuram, with each hamlet consisting of 10 to 20 families.

Occupation and Culture

• The Kanis traditionally engage in:

  • Handicrafts production

  • Seasonal collection of minor forest products like honey and beeswax

  • Cultivation of edible plants such as tapioca, banana, millets, and some cash crops

• Language:
  They primarily speak Tamil and Malayalam.

• Medicinal Knowledge:
  The Kani tribe has vast traditional knowledge of medicinal plants found in the forest. According to their customs, only the Pilathis (traditional physicians/priest) have the right to transfer and disseminate this medicinal knowledge.

Recent News: Death of Arogyapacha

• Who is Arogyapacha?
  Arogyapacha is a medicinal plant highly valued by the Kani tribe for its health benefits and traditional healing properties.

• Who reported its death?
  Recently, Kuttimathan Kani, a member of the Kani tribal community, revealed that Arogyapacha has died (or faced a significant threat to its existence).

• Significance:
  The death or loss of Arogyapacha is significant for the Kani tribe as it is a vital part of their traditional medicine system, deeply tied to their culture and livelihood.

What is the Bill about?

• The Bill aims to remove the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or any Minister (central/state/UT governments) if they are held in custody for 30 consecutive days for a serious criminal offense (punishable with 5+ years imprisonment).

• It proposes significant changes to Articles 75, 164, and 239AA of the Indian Constitution.

• Extends similar provisions to the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry, and to Jammu & Kashmir via respective amendment bills.

• All three bills are referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed review.

Key Provisions of the Bill

Arguments In Favor of the Bill

• Constitutional Morality & Ethics:
  The Supreme Court in Manoj Narula v. Union of India (2014) emphasized the importance of morality in governance and recommended avoiding Ministers with serious criminal charges.

• Public Trust & Good Governance:
  The Bill seeks to prevent "governance from jail" and boost public confidence by removing Ministers facing serious criminal allegations during custody.

• Bridging Legal Gaps:
  Existing laws (Representation of People Act) disqualify only upon conviction, leaving a gap during arrest/detention. This Bill addresses that gap.

• Fairness with Civil Servants:
  Ordinary government employees are suspended after 48 hours in custody; Ministers should be held to similar standards.

• Political Decriminalization:
  Encourages political parties to distance themselves from candidates involved in serious crimes.

Arguments Against the Bill

• Potential Political Misuse:
  Central agencies (like ED, CBI) could misuse arrest powers to target political opponents, destabilizing governments without electoral processes.

• Presumption of Innocence:
  Removal triggered by detention, not conviction, undermines the fundamental right of "innocent until proven guilty." Lily Thomas v. Union of India held disqualification should occur only after conviction.

• Inconsistency in Treatment:
  Legislators (MPs/MLAs) are disqualified only after conviction, but Ministers under this Bill can be removed during detention — causing a paradox.

• "Revolving Door" Problem:
  Allowing reappointment after release could lead to tactical resignations and reinstatements, causing political instability.

• Executive Discretion & Politicization:
  PM or CM’s advice to remove Ministers could be politically motivated, possibly protecting allies or targeting rivals.

• Lack of Safeguards:
  No compensation or protection if arrests are malicious; laws like UAPA and PMLA have low conviction rates but high arrests, raising misuse concerns.

Existing Legal Framework and Judgments

• Representation of People Act (RPA), 1951:
  Section 8(3) disqualifies elected representatives only after conviction with imprisonment of 2+ years.

• Lily Thomas (2013):
  SC struck down provisions allowing convicted members to avoid disqualification by filing appeals.

• Manoj Narula v. Union of India (2014):
  Court said no bar on appointing Ministers with criminal charges but advised caution.

• Public Interest Litigation (2018):
  Courts held that new disqualification grounds must come from Parliament, urging political parties to act responsibly.

• Election Commission Recommendations (2016):
  Proposed barring candidates charged with serious offenses from contesting elections.

Way Forward / Recommendations

• Interim Suspension:
  Instead of outright removal, consider suspending ministerial functions during custody/trial, allowing governance without compromising accountability.

• Strengthen Political Parties:
  Political parties should self-regulate and refuse tickets to candidates with serious criminal backgrounds, focusing on integrity over electability.

• Safeguards Against Misuse:
  Legal protections or compensation for malicious arrests and misuse of detention laws should be introduced.