Why in news?

• French President Emmanuel Macron visited India as the Chief Guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations.
• During this visit, India and France made significant decisions with the primary focus on enhancing collaboration in the defence sector.

What’s in today’s article?

• Indo-France Bilateral Relation
• News Summary

Indo-France Bilateral Relations:

• Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1948, India and France have enjoyed 75 years of close and friendly relations.
• In 1998, India and France elevated their diplomatic relationship to Strategic Partnership which completed 25 years in January, 2023.
• This Strategic Partnership, first for France outside the EU, has been instrumental in the comprehensive growth of India-France relationship.

Key Pillars of India-France Cooperation:

• Defence Cooperation: The Agreement on Defence Cooperation signed in 2006 and renewed for another 10 years in 2016 gives the framework for all defence cooperation activities between India and France.
  • A DRDO office was opened in the Embassy in 2023 for strengthening technology cooperation.
  • The procurement of Rafale jets as part of India’s air power is a testament to the deep defence ties.
• Space Cooperation: ISRO and the French Space Agency, CNES have been carrying on various joint research programmes and collaborating in satellite launches.
  • For example, on 22 June 2022, GSAT-24 communication satellite of New Space India Ltd (NSIL) was successfully launched on-board Ariane-5 from Kourou, French Guiana.
• Civil Nuclear Cooperation: An agreement on civil nuclear cooperation was signed between India and France in 2008.
  • France is involved in the construction of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project. However, the progress here has been slow (the first pact was agreed in 2008).
  • The two sides have also agreed to establish a partnership on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR).
• Economic Cooperation: They have important bilateral investments and trade and commercial cooperation, particularly in sectors involving IT corridors, smart-cities, railways, capital and trade exchanges, skill development, etc.
  • Bilateral trade reached an impressive $13.4 Bn in 2022-23, marking a significant 7.72% increase from the previous year.
  • France has emerged as the 11th largest investor in India, with FDI inflow of $10.5 Bn from April 2000 to March 2023.
• Digital Cooperation: India-France Roadmap on Cyber security and Digital Technologies was one of the outcomes of the visit of the PM of India to France in 2019.
  • In July 2023, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched from the Eiffel Tower, offering secure and convenient transactions for Indian visitors and NRIs.
• Culture and Tourism Cooperation: There are many Indo-French cultural associations which organise various events across France.
  • For example, the Government of India organised ‘Namaste France’ cultural festival in several cities of France in 2016.
• Marine and Maritime Cooperation: Indo-French Maritime Cooperation is based on the India-France Roadmap on Blue Economy and Ocean Governance adopted in 2022.
• Community in France: The Indian community, including NRIs in mainland France number around 109,000, largely originating from French enclaves of Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Mahe and Chandernagore. 

News Summary: India and France deepen ties

• French President Emmanuel Macron was on a two-day State visit to India. He was also the Chief Guest for India’s Republic Day.
  • The 2nd Infantry Regiment of the French Foreign Legion also participated in this year’s Republic Day Parade.
• This year, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership.
  • PM Modi was the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade held on 14 July 2023 in Paris.

Key outcomes of the visit

• Roadmap for India-France Defence Industrial Partnership
  • The main goal of this roadmap is to find areas to work together on making military equipment.
  • This includes designing, developing, and producing things together, as well as creating supply chains for defence goods between the two countries.
  • It aims to foster collaboration in cutting-edge technologies, including robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous vehicles, platforms, and cyber defence.
  • The defence roadmap will cover both air and space technologies, maritime technology, including underwater domain awareness.
• Defence-space partnership
  • The two sides also signed a new agreement for a defence-space partnership that will see them collaborate on space situational awareness.
• Airbus-TATA chopper deal
  • Tata and Airbus Helicopters have entered into an industrial partnership for the production of H125 helicopters, fostering collaboration in the defence sector.
  • Two mega multi-billion-dollar defence deals in the pipeline between the two countries are currently in the cost negotiation phase. These are:
    • The 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers, and
    • Three additional Scorpene-class conventional submarines.
• Cooperation in satellite launches
  • An MoU was sealed between New Space India Ltd and France’s Arianespace, signifying cooperation in satellite launches and advancing space exploration initiatives.
• Introduction of the Young Professional Scheme
  • The scheme facilitates:
    • the exchange of individuals between 18-35 years of age, and
    • extension of visa validity to five years for Schengen visas for Indian students pursuing master’s degrees in France.
• Other areas of cooperation
  • Both sides also agreed on cooperation in healthcare, which would include education, training and research, and the use of AI in healthcare.

Key announcements made during the visit

• Year 2026 as the India France Year of Innovation.
• Operationalization of UPI at Eiffel Tower.
• Setting up of a Solar Academy in Senegal under the STAR-C program of International Solar Alliance (ISA).
  • STAR-C programme aims to boost solar power ecosystems in the poorest countries.
  • The initiative is run by ISA in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
• Establishment of India’s Consulate in Marseille and French Bureau de France in Hyderabad

Recently, Delhi High Court has reaffirmed the ban on sapinda marriages.

• Sapindas – According to Section 3 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (HMA),
  • 2 persons are said to be sapindas of each other if 1 is a lineal ascendant of the other or if they have a common lineal ascendant.
• Legality – HMA prohibits marriage between 2 Hindus if they are “sapindas” of each other unless the custom or usage governing each of them permits of a marriage between the 2.
• On the mother’s side – An individual cannot marry their sibling, their parents, their grandparents, or an individual who shares this ancestry within 3 generations.
• On the father’s side – The above (mother side) prohibition would extend up to their grandparents’ grandparent, and anyone who shares this ancestry within 5 generations.
• Violation – Such marriages will be declared void and will be treated as though it never took place.
• Exceptions – It allows such practices if the customs of each individual permits sapinda marriages.

The word ‘custom’, according to Section 3(a) of HMA means ‘a practice that has to be continuously and uniformly observed for a long time, and should have gained enough legitimacy among Hindus in a local area, tribe, group, or family, such that it has obtained the force of law’.

• Issues – Petitioner argued that Section 5(v) which prohibits sapinda marriages unless there is an established custom violates the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution.

For the year 2024, the President has approved conferment of 132 Padma Awards including 2 duo cases (counted as one).

• Instituted in – 1954, announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day except during 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.

• Presented by – President of India, usually in March/April every year.
• Eligibility – All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex but government servants including PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.
• Awards – A Sanad (certificate) signed by the President, medallion and a small replica of the medallion, awardee names are also published in the Gazette of India on the ceremonial day.
• Title – It does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name
• Number of awards – In a given year (excluding posthumous and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs), it should not be more than 120.
• Fields covered – Art, social work, social service, Public Affairs, science & engineering, trade & industry, medicine, literature & education, civil service, sports and others fields that not covered.

It is normally not conferred posthumously but in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.

• A higher category of Padma award – Only where a period of at least 5 years has elapsed since the earlier Padma award but in highly deserving cases, a relaxation can be made by the Awards Committee.

Padma Awards Committee

• Constituted by – Prime Minister of India every year
• Headed by – Cabinet Secretary,
• Members – It includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and 4 to 6 eminent persons.
• Role – It considers the nominations and submits its recommendations to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.

2024 list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 110 Padma Shri Awards. It includes 30 women, 8 persons from the category of Foreigners / NRI / PIO / OCI and 9 posthumous awardees.

The Hindu , PIB,  Indian Express, AIR

Why in news?

• Sweden’s attempt to join NATO cleared a major hurdle after Turkey’s parliament supported its membership.
• For a new country to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), all the existing members have to approve it.
• Turkey and Hungary had been opposing Sweden’s entry for almost the past two years.

What’s in today’s article?

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• News Summary

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

• About
  • Formed in 1949 with the signing of the Washington Treaty, NATO is a security alliance of 31 countries from North America and Europe.
    • In April 2023, Finland joined the alliance as its 31^st member.
  • NATO’s fundamental goal is to safeguard the Allies’ freedom and security by political and military means.
  • It is a system of collective defence where independent member states agree for mutual defence in case of any attack by external party.
    • Article 5 of the Washington Treaty states that an attack against one Ally is an attack against all. This article forms the core of the Alliance, a promise of collective defense.
  • Headquarter – Brussels, Belgium.
• Functions
  • Political
    • NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict.
  • Military
    • NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes.
    • If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations.

News Summary: Turkey’s parliament approves Sweden’s NATO membership

• On January 23, Turkey’s parliament voted to approve Sweden’s membership bid to join NATO.
• The vote ended a 20-month delay that frustrated Turkey’s Western allies.

Why does Sweden want to join NATO?

• Sweden has not fought a war in two centuries, staying neutral through the two World Wars and the Cold War.
• In recent years, while it joined the European Union and collaborated with NATO, it showed no intention of actually joining the military alliance.
• However, this neutrality had to be abandoned after Russia invaded Ukraine.
  • With public opinion increasingly in favour of joining NATO, both Sweden and Finland applied for membership in 2022.
  • While Finland’s bid was cleared, Sweden ran into stiff opposition from Turkey and Hungary.

Why was Turkey opposing Sweden’s bid?

• Support to Kurdish militant outfit
  • Turkey had accused Sweden of going soft on groups it sees as terrorists, such as the Kurdish militant outfit.
• Quran-burning protests held in Sweden
  • The government says that it is protected under freedom of speech laws. This further soured its relationship with Turkey.
• US agreeing to sell 40 F-16 fighter jets to Ankara
  • Experts also linked Turkey’s support to Sweden with the US agreeing to sell 40 F-16 fighter jets to Ankara(capital of Turkey)
  • While the US had not said the deal would depend on Turkey’s Sweden actions, the sale is expected to go through now.

What will Sweden bring to NATO?

• Once Sweden becomes a member, almost all of the Baltic Sea coastline, except that in Russia’s control, will become NATO territory.
• This will provide the alliance strategic bases close to Russia, make supply lines more streamlined, and make it easier to defend assets in the sea.
• Sweden’s military, though numerically small, is modern and experienced in past NATO missions. Importantly, it has advanced aircraft and submarine capabilities.

Why in news?

• The Supreme Court is set to hear the dispute over the expansion of the Border Security Force (BSF) jurisdiction in Punjab.
• In October2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification expanding the jurisdiction of the BSF in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.
• This was challenged by the Punjab government the following December.

What’s in today’s article?

• BSF (about, background, Operations)
• News Summary (recent notification, legal backing, earlier notifications, necessity of this step, controversy)

Border Security Force (BSF)

• About
  • It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of India and was raised in December 1965.
    • It was raised in the wake of the 1965 War to ensure the security of the borders of India.
  • It is the only CAPF which has its own Water Wing, Air Wing and other ancillary units.
  • The Force Headquarters is in New Delhi.
  • It works under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • Its operational responsibility is spread over 6,386.36 km of International Border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• Operations:
  • Peace Time Role
    • Prevent trans-border crimes, unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India.
    • Prevent smuggling and any other illegal activity.
  • War Time Role
    • Protection of vital installations particularly air-fields
    • Limited aggressive action against Para military or irregular forces of the enemy within the overall plan of the Armed forces
    • Assistance in control of refugees
  • Overseas Deployment:
    • BSF contributes its personnel every year for UN Missions.
    • It is handling the security issues on the famous Kartarpur Corridor.
  • Other roles
    • It is also deployed on Line of Control (LoC) in J&K under the Operational control of the Army.
    • At the time of natural disaster/calamities, BSF provides assistance in areas of deployment such as:
      • Kashmir flood in 2014,
      • Kerala flood in 2018 and
      • Kedarnath Tragedy in 2013.
  • Power to arrest, search and seize
    • BSF is empowered to arrest, search and seize under a number of laws, such as the Criminal Procedure Code, the Passports Act 1967, the Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920, and the NDPS Act, to name a few.

Background: Expansion of the jurisdiction of BSF

• Earlier, the BSF could exercise its powers within 15 kilometres of the border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.
• Later, through a notification issued in October 2021, the Centre expanded this to within 50 kilometres of the border.
  • The notification states that, within this larger 50-kilometre jurisdiction, the BSF can only exercise powers under the Criminal Procedure Code, the Passport (Entry into India) Act and the Passports Act.
  • For other central legislations, the 15-km limit remains.

From which law the Centre draws its authority to take such step?

• Section 139 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968, empowers the Centre to notify the area and extent of border force’s operational mandate.
  • Every order (notification) made under Section 139 of this act must be subsequently laid before each house of Parliament.
• Using this act, Centre issues notification revising the ‘Schedule’ specifying the border stretch where BSF would have powers of search, seizure and arrest.

Need for such step

• To improve operational efficiency and crack down on smuggling rackets
  • Punjab has the problem of drugs and arms smuggling. Similarly, Assam and West Bengal face the issue of cattle and fake currency smuggling.
  • These borders are also prone to illegal migration.
• To counter the security challenges
  • This expansion was in response to the increased use of drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
  • These technologies have long-range capabilities and enable surveillance and the smuggling of arms and fake currency.
• To make jurisdiction of BSF uniform across states
  • The notification makes the BSF jurisdiction uniform across states, as the 50-kilometre limit was already in place in Rajasthan.
  • The same notification reduced the jurisdiction in Gujarat from 80 km to 50 km.

News Summary: The issue of expansion of BSF jurisdiction

• The state of Punjab filed an original suit against the central government in the Supreme Court in December 2021 against the expansion of the jurisdiction of the BSF.
  • The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in disputes between the central government and states under Article 131 of the Constitution.
  • This means cases of this kind can only be heard for the first time at the SC to the exclusion of any other court.
• The Punjab govt claimed that expanding the jurisdiction would compromise the state’s exclusive powers to legislate on matters involving the police and public order.
  • These powers are provided in Entries 1 and 2 of the State List under Article 246 of the Constitution.
• They also claimed that the notification was issued without consulting with any of the states concerned.

Recently, Vice-President of India had inaugurated ‘Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman’ to commemorate the 75th Year of India as Republic.

• It is a yearlong pan India campaign.
• Undertaken by – Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice.
• Aims – To reaffirm our commitment to the constitutional principles and celebrate the shared values.
• To instil a sense of pride and responsibility to uphold the constitutional ideals and to give opportunity to every citizen to participate and contribute in our democratic journey.
• Sabko Nyay Har Ghar Nyaya – Connecting the villagers and spreading awareness of legal services.
• The citizens would also get the opportunity to showcase their talents and to test their knowledge on Constitution.
• Vidhi Jagriti Abhiyan – Involving the students to carry the message Panch Pran in the villages adopted by the Law colleges, under the Pro Bono Club scheme.
• Nyaya Setu – Expanding the legal services till the last mile.
• The event also released the achievement booklet of the Scheme on Access to Justice ‘Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice’ (DISHA).

More than 7 lakh beneficiaries have been made aware on their legal rights, duties and entitlements through support of 14 agencies across the country.

• Partnership with IGNOU – To allow Paralegals to acquire certifications in diverse field of laws to increase their employability.
• Partnership with Bhashini – To break the barriers of language in accessibility to justice.

Bhashini, an AI powered language translation platform which will support digital inclusion in India’s diverse languages.