Category Civics

What is an FIR ?

If you have followed the news. you must have often read about police making arrests on the basis of an FIR (First Information Report). However, do you know what FIR is?

What is an FIR?

An FIR is a written document prepared by the police in India. Pakistan and Bangladesh. Interestingly, it is not defined in the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, or in any other law, but is part of police regulations or rules.

An FIR is generally a complaint lodged with the police by the victim or by someone on his or her behalf about an offence. The informant is given a copy of the FIR free of cost.

After an FIR is filed, the police start investigating the case and can arrest the alleged persons as per law. If there is sufficient evidence to support the complaint, then a chargesheet is filed. Or else, a Final Report mentioning that no evidence was found is filed in court.

Filing an FIR

The procedure for filing an FIR is mentioned under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code. 1973. Anyone can file an FIR either orally or in writing to the police.

People can also lodge an FIR online. Following the filing of an FIR, the police are bound to commence investigation into the case.

Here is the process to file an FIR: One has to visit the nearest police station and inform the police of all the details of the offence either verbally or in writing. If it is a verbal statement, the duty officer writes it down and makes an entry in the General Diary or Daily Diary. If it is a written complaint, one must carry two copies – one for the duty officer and the other for one’s personal record.

The police will go through the details after submission of the complaint. Then the information recorded by the police is read over to the complainant.

Then one needs to sign the FIR after verifying that the information recorded by the police is as per the details given.

A free-of-cost copy of the FIR will be given to the complainant with an FIR number, date of FIR and the name of the police station. Both copies of the FIR are stamped bearing a Daily Diary number. It is a proof that the complaint has been received by the police.

These details can be used to access the FIR online for free if the copy is lost.

After an FIR is registered, its contents cannot be changed. However, additional information can be given to the police later on at any point

Zero FIR

The provision of Zero FIR was recommended for the first time in the report of the Justice Verma Committee. It was constituted to make amendments to the Criminal Law in order to speed up trial and enhance punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault against women.

The objective of a Zero FIR is to ensure the victim does not have to run to different police stations to get a complaint registered.

A person can even file a Zero FIR which means a police station can receive a complaint regarding an alleged offence that has been committed in the jurisdiction of another police station. The FIR can then be transferred to the concerned police station for further investigation.

If a person is refused by the officer in charge of a police station to register an FIR, he/she can send the complaint to the Superintendent of Police/DCP concerned.

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Which Chief Minister was arrested in India?

The Enforcement Directorate arrested the former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on January 31 in connection with a land scam case. The arrest came as soon as he resigned as the Chief Minister. Following his arrest, which has been challenged in the court of law, tribal bodies announced protests across the State.

Meanwhile, Champai Soren took over as the new Chief Minister. He also underwent a floor test to prove his party’s majority in the House. “At present we have 43 MLAs and four are in hospital. We have the support of 47 MLAs. The Governor is yet to give the time to form the government,” Champai Soren told the media ahead of the trust vote last week. To form the government, the ruling alliance needs only 41 MLAs.

The newly formed government passed the confidence motion in the State Assembly. The Jharkhand Mukti CM Champai Soren (left) with Hemant Soren.

Morcha with 29 seats and its ally Congress with 17 were confident of easily sailing through the trust vote. Hemant Soren was also present in the Assembly to attend the floor test. A special court in Ranchi allowed Soren to participate in the trust-vote.

What is a trust vote?

A trust vote, also known as a confidence motion or vote of confidence, is a parliamentary procedure where members of the Legislative Assembly or Parliament vote to express their confidence or lack of confidence in the government. When a government is formed, it needs to prove that it has the support of the majority of the members of the legislative body. If the government loses a trust vote, it typically means that it no longer enjoys the majority support and is expected to resign, leading to either the formation of a new government or fresh elections.

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What sets the International Criminal Court apart?

After about a year since the International Criminal Court (ICC) launched its investigation against Russia over possible crimes committed in Ukraine by the Russian forces, the court in March issued arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes. Let us know about the ICC

History

The ICC, a permanent judicial body, was established in 1998 by the Rome Statute. Its sittings began on July 1, 2002 after 60 countries had ratified the Rome Statute. A total of 123 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC.

The ICC is based in The Hague, The Netherlands. Its first hearing was held in 2006 against Thomas Lubanga, who was accused of recruiting child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Organisation

Currently, the ICC has 123 member nations. About 42 nations have neither signed the treaty nor joined the organisation, including China, India, Russia, and the U.S.

The court has 18 judges, each from a different member country and elected by the member states. The judges and prosecutors of the ICC are elected to non-renewable nine-year terms. The president and two vice-presidents of the court are elected from among the judges. The current president of ICC is Piotr Hofmanski, a Polish jurist Meanwhile. Karim Khan is the chief prosecutor of the ICC

Powers

The ICC is responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and trying individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. It also imposes prison sentences upon the guilty.

It is only competent to hear a case if the country where the offence was committed is a party to the Rome Statute or the perpetrators country of origin is a party to the Rome Statute.

The ICC can exercise its jurisdiction only if the national court is unable or unwilling to do so. It only has jurisdiction over offences committed after the Statute’s entry into force on July 1, 2002

However, the ICC does not have powers to arrest suspects. With Putin’s case, the ICC has for the first time, issued an arrest warrant against one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council

What is ICI?

Unlike the International Court of Justice (ICI), which hears disputes between nations, the ICC handles prosecutions of individuals.

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It has no jurisdiction to try individuals who are accused of war crimes or crimes against humanity. As it is not a criminal court, it does not have a prosecutor able to initiate proceedings.

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What is Aadhaar Mitra?

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which is responsible for issuing the Aadhaar card to residents of the country, recently launched a new AI/ML-based chatbot called Aadhaar Mitra. What’s the chatbot for and how can we access it? Come, let’s find out

Aadhaar is a unique identification system that assigns a 12-digit number to residents of the country after due verification. The system is used to authenticate identity and provide access to government services such as PDS, LPG, etc., subsidies, and benefits. Though Aadhaar was introduced way back in 2010, many still struggle to enrol in the system or update their information. This is where Aadhaar Mitra comes in.

Where can you find it?

Aadhaar Mitra is a chatbot that uses machine learning and artificial intelligence technology to provide personalised assistance to users. The chatbot is designed to be user-friendly.

The Aadhaar Mitra feature is available on the home page of the UIDAI’s website. Once you click on the flickering blue “Aadhaar Mitra” icon at the bottom right comer, it will ask you to “Get started”. Then, enter your query related to the Aadhaar system in the text field and click on the ‘Send’ button and the chatbot will throw up the required answer.

Available at all times

Aadhaar Mitra can provide a wide range of answers on Aadhaar related topics. The chatbot makes the process of checking your Aadhaar enrolment/update status easier. You can get information about a nearby Aadhaar enrolment centre by entering the pin code of your location.

The chatbot helps track Aadhaar PVC card (latest version of the card which is made of polyvinyl chloride in the size of a debit card) status and even tells users what should be done when an Aadhaar card is lost. It also tells you how to download an e-aadhaar from the UIDAI website through a video.

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The magical voter’s ink

The indelible ink is used to mark a voter’s finger during elections to avoid fraud, multiple voting, and malpractices

During the elections, you must have seen your parents coming out of polling stations with violet-coloured ink on one of their fingers. This ink is called the voters ink or indelible ink.

History

The indelible ink was first developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1952. In 1962, the Election Commission and the National Research Development Corporation signed an agreement with Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd. (MPVL), established by the Mysuru maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV in 1937, to manufacture and supply the ink.

Since then, the MPVL (an undertaking of the Karnataka government) has remained the sole authorised supplier of indelible ink, having an exclusive licence granted by the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) since 1962.

Usage

For over six decades, the MPVL has been supplying indelible ink for civic body, Assembly and Parliamentary elections.

Besides, this ink is supplied to more than 25 countries, including Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, Mongolia, Malaysia, Nepal, South Africa, and the Maldives.

While in India the indelible ink is applied on the left-hand index finger of the voter in a 25 polling booth, the voters in Cambodia and the Maldives need to dip their finger into the ink. In Burkina Faso, the ink is applied with a brush, and nozzles are used in Turkey.

Mysterious ink

The indelible ink contains silver nitrate that gets absorbed into the nail and skin, making it last for several days. It remains bright for about 10 days before beginning to fade away. It cannot be wiped off by any chemical, detergent, or oil. It gets removed over time as fresh skin cells replace the dead ones.

Though the concentration of silver nitrate ranges from 7% to 25% the exact composition remains unknown as it is manufactured in secrecy.

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Who are Agniveers?

Agniveers are recruits for the armed forces under the short-term induction programme. Read on to find out more about them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently interacted with Agniveers through a video conference. But do you know who Agniveers are and why they are recruited? Come, let’s find out.

Agniveers and Agnipath

“Agniveer” is a new military rank. Agniveers are recruits for the armed forces under the short-term induction programme called the Agnipath scheme. The scheme was unveiled by the Government on June 14, 2022, to recruit Indian youths for the three services – the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force.

Under the scheme, those in the age group 17-and-a-half years to 21 years are recruited below the rank of commissioned officers for a period of four years with a provision to retain 25% of them for 15 more years. However, the upper age limit was extended to 23 years as a one-time measure for 2022-23. The scheme was earlier called “Tour of Duty”.

Purpose of the scheme

The main purpose of the Agnipath scheme is to strengthen the country’s security forces, with a youthful, high-tech, and combat-ready military. Those recruited under the scheme are provided training and a pay package, and on completion of the term, will be given a one-time retirement package called ‘Seva Nidhi, which will be exempted from income tax. However, the scheme does not include a pension or other benefits.

How do they train?

The training period, which lasts 31 weeks, is divided into two phases. The first 10 weeks are devoted to basic military training and the next 21 weeks to advanced military training. The training will focus on physical fitness, firing and handling various weapons, information technology, and the English language. Nearly 60 lakh applications were received of which 40,000 were selected. The target for this financial year is to recruit 46,000 candidates.

PM’s address to Agniveers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently interacted with the first batch of Agniveers through video conferencing. He asserted that Agnipath was a transformative policy and a game changer in strengthening the armed forces and making them future-ready.

Hailing the potential of Agniveers, he said the experience they would acquire through this opportunity, would be a source of pride for life. He said the scheme would further empower women.

The introduction of the short-term military employment scheme has faced criticism from some sections for lack of consultation and public debate.

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