30 June 2024

• Governance: Countdown to 1 July 2024: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam take effect tomorrow, replacing the IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act.
• Polity: T20 victory celebrations in Delhi. PM Modi met the Indian cricket team.
• Economy: GST completes seven years of operation on 1 July 2024. April 2024 collections set at a record 2.10 lakh crore rupees.
• Environment: Southwest monsoon covers most of peninsular India; above-normal monsoon expected in several states.

GS area: Polity, Governance

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023 take effect from 1 July 2024.

• BNS 2023 (replaces IPC 1860):
  • Introduces "terrorism" and "organised crime" as specific offences for the first time in a general criminal law.
  • Gender-neutral language for several offences.
  • Community service as a sentence for minor offences.
  • New section on petty organised crime (snatching, cheating, cyber crime at scale).
  • Section 69 criminalises sexual intercourse by deceitful means including false promise of marriage.
• BNSS 2023 (replaces CrPC 1973):
  • Mandates forensic investigation for offences carrying 7 or more years of imprisonment.
  • Allows trial in absentia for proclaimed offenders.
  • Mandates delivery of judgment within 30 days after arguments conclude (extendable to 60 days for reasons to be recorded).
  • Zero FIR: allows FIR to be registered at any police station regardless of jurisdiction, then transferred to the competent station.
  • E-FIR: electronic FIR filing.
• BSA 2023 (replaces Indian Evidence Act 1872):
  • Recognises electronic records as primary evidence (not secondary as under the old Act).
  • Expands the definition of documents to include electronic communications, emails, text messages and audio-visual records.
  • Retention of the structure of the Indian Evidence Act but updated for the digital age.
• Transitional provision: cases under investigation before 1 July 2024 will continue under the old laws. New cases registered on or after 1 July 2024 use the new laws.

Static linkage: polity, governance.

GS area: International Relations, Governance

PM Modi hosted the victorious Indian cricket team at his residence on 30 June 2024. The celebration was also a moment of national pride diplomacy.

• Team India's return: the team returned to a ticker-tape celebration in Delhi. An estimated lakhs of supporters gathered at the parade route.
• Cricket's economic significance: the IPL alone generates over 5 billion US dollars in revenue annually. A T20 World Cup title further enhances India's brand value in cricket merchandise, media rights and sponsorships.
• BCCI: the Board of Control for Cricket in India is the richest cricket board globally. It generates approximately 70 per cent of ICC's revenues through broadcasting rights. This gives India enormous influence in ICC governance.
• Diplomatic dimension: cricket connects India to Pakistan (despite suspended bilateral cricket), the UK, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Each of these bilateral relationships benefits from shared cricket culture.
• Key retirements: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20 internationals after the win. Kohli had 12,040 T20I runs at the time of retirement; Rohit led India to this World Cup title. Their transition marks a generational shift in Indian cricket.

Static linkage: international relations, governance.

GS area: Economy, Polity

GST completes 7 years on 1 July 2024. Seven years of data provide a comprehensive view of the reform's impact.

• Revenue trajectory: monthly GST collections grew from approximately 90,000 crore rupees in 2017-18 to a record 2.10 lakh crore rupees in April 2024.
• Taxpayer base expansion: the number of registered GST taxpayers grew from approximately 65 lakh at launch to over 1.42 crore by 2024. Tax formalisation expanded the base significantly.
• ITC efficiency: the Invoice Matching System under GST makes Input Tax Credit conditional on supplier filing returns. This creates a compliance chain that reduces evasion.
• Pending reforms:
  • Inclusion of petroleum products and alcohol in GST (currently excluded, major revenue items for states).
  • Rationalisation of tax slabs (currently 5 slabs including exempt, 5, 12, 18, 28 per cent; proposals to merge into fewer slabs).
  • GST Appellate Tribunal: not yet fully constituted, causing a backlog of GST appeals in courts.
• Revenue distribution: the Centre and states share GST revenues. Integrated GST (IGST) on inter-state supplies is collected by the Centre and then distributed. CGST (central GST on intra-state supplies) goes to the Centre; SGST (state GST) to states.

Static linkage: economy, polity.

GS area: Polity, Governance

The BNSS 2023's Zero FIR provision was among the most significant operational changes for law enforcement.

• Zero FIR: allows a First Information Report to be registered at any police station, regardless of the jurisdiction of the alleged offence. The FIR is then transferred to the appropriate police station within 15 days.
• Problem it solves: under the old CrPC, police often refused to register FIRs for offences outside their jurisdiction. This trapped victims in bureaucratic loops, especially in sexual assault cases where victims might approach the nearest police station rather than the one with territorial jurisdiction.
• Women's helpline and Zero FIR: the 112 helpline in India now integrates with Zero FIR. Distress calls from women can trigger a Zero FIR at the responding police station.
• E-FIR: FIR filing online or on the phone. The BNSS also mandates audio-visual recording of statements of the accused and witnesses in certain cases.
• Police reforms: the landmark Prakash Singh vs. Union of India (2006) Supreme Court judgment directed states to establish Police Complaints Authorities, separate prosecution functions from police, and constitute State Security Commissions. Most states had not fully complied as of 2024.

Static linkage: polity, governance.

GS area: Physical Geography, Economy

The 2024 Southwest monsoon performed above normal through June. The IMD confirmed an above-normal monsoon for the first half.

• June 2024 rainfall: above-normal rainfall across the Western Ghats, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of northeast India. Slightly below normal in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• La Nina developing: the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and IMD confirmed that La Nina conditions were developing in the Pacific. La Nina is associated with stronger Indian monsoon.
• Kharif sowing: above-normal June rains accelerated kharif sowing, particularly for paddy, maize, oilseeds and cotton. Early sowing improves prospects for a strong harvest.
• Reservoirs: the National Reservoir Level Monitoring showed water levels in major reservoirs rising faster than the 10-year average.
• Monsoon and economy: a good monsoon reduces food inflation (lower vegetable and cereal prices), increases rural incomes and reduces the government's food subsidy burden. It is a significant positive for the GDP's agricultural component.
• IMD forecast revision: the IMD's June update revised the 2024 monsoon forecast to 106 per cent of LPA (from 105 per cent in April), indicating a good year.

Static linkage: physical geography, economy.

GS area: Polity, Governance

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita introduces community service as a recognised form of punishment for minor offences.

• New punishment category: the BNS lists community service alongside imprisonment and fine as a punishment option. This is the first time Indian criminal law formally recognises community service as a sentence.
• Application: for minor offences like petty theft, drunk and disorderly behaviour, and minor disturbance of public order, courts can order community service instead of imprisonment or fine.
• Rationale: imprisonment for minor offences often leads to unemployment, social stigma and criminalisation. Community service allows offenders to make reparation to society without the collateral damage of incarceration.
• International precedent: community service orders are standard in UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and many European jurisdictions.
• India's undertrial crisis: with 75 per cent of prison population consisting of undertrials, reducing custodial punishments for minor offences could reduce prison overcrowding.
• Magistrate's discretion: community service is at the magistrate's discretion. Clear sentencing guidelines under the new law are needed for consistent application.

Static linkage: polity, governance.

• Mangrove Alliance for Climate: India is a member of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, an international body to protect and restore mangroves. India has approximately 4,992 square kilometres of mangroves (Forest Survey of India 2021), the third-largest mangrove cover globally.
• Palk Strait and Adam's Bridge: these geographic features between India and Sri Lanka remained in news in context of a proposed bridge/tunnel project. Adam's Bridge (Ram Setu) is a chain of shoals connecting India's Pamban Island to Sri Lanka's Mannar Island. The Palk Strait runs between India's Tamil Nadu coast and Sri Lanka.