SC upholds validity of Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of Constitution, which provided special status to J&K

• In a significant move, Supreme Court has upheld the validity of Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre in 2019 scrapped the Article 370 and split the state into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
• The verdict from a five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud comes in response to a bunch of petitions challenging the Centre's move to abrogate Article 370 four years ago.
• The apex court said the Article 370 was a temporary provision brought for some specific purposes and there is no mala-fide in President’s order abrogating it. Supreme Court said, Jammu and Kashmir did not enjoy any sovereignty after it joined the Union of India. The apex Court said Jammu and Kashmir does not have internal sovereignty different from other states.

Also Read: Weekly Current Affairs (Sports) 4-10 November 2023 Bitbank: Who is the highest wicket-taker for India in ODI World Cup history?

                         >> Download Current Affairs PDFs Here

                              Download Sakshi Education Mobile APP

Project ARTHA Ganga

• Arth Ganga is an initiative added recently to the Namami Ganga Program launched by the Government in 2014. It was decided in the meeting of National Ganga Council (NGC) held on 14th December 2019 to launch a new concept as the name Arth Ganga, which is a sustainable and viable economic development model to strengthen the river-people connect through an economic bridge. Accordingly, it was decided that the Namami Gange mission should lead the concept of Arth Ganga with the involvement of different ministries/departments and other stakeholders, institution & community organization. So it was added as a vertical of Namami Ganga Program, in addition to the 4 verticals – Nirmal Ganga, Aviral Ganga, Jan Ganga and Gyan Ganga, existing till then.
• Six pillars of Arth-Ganga identified are: Promotion of Natural Framing on 5 kms band either side of River Ganga; Monetisation and reuse of Treated water and sludge from the STPs; Improvement of Livelihood opportunities, particularly for women; Promotion of Tourism and Cultural heritage; People’s Participation and Building of capacities and institutions. Implementation of these initiatives is aimed to develop sustainable development model with focus on economic activities related to river Ganga. Several activities under Arth Ganga have been taken up by National Mission for Clean Ganga in coordination with various ministries/departments and other stakeholders, to achieve the goal.
• While no specific short-term goals have been set, however, the long-term objective of Arth Ganga is to link people and Ganga through the economic bridge in line with river rejuvenation, by garnering people’s participation for Ganga conservation and promoting sustainable development.

Published date : 12 Dec 2023 10:23AM