Today in History (July 27th, 1939)
July 27 is celebrated as Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) foundation day to commemorate the foundation of India’s largest central armed police force in 1939. CRPF, operating under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, assists State Governments and Union Territories in preserving law and order and combating insurgency.
Summary of Today’s News
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an Inter-Governmental organization established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris. Its main objective is to combat money laundering and terrorist financing by setting international standards and promoting policies at national and international levels. India joined FATF in 2010. It maintains two list i.e. Blacklist and Greylist.
Black List (Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories – NCCTs): Countries on the blacklist are known to support terror funding and money laundering activities. Blacklisted countries face international economic restrictions and are denied financial aid from organizations like IMF, World Bank, ADB, and EU. Currently, three countries are on the FATF blacklist: North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar.
Grey List: Countries on the grey list are considered safe havens for supporting terror funding and money laundering. Inclusion in this list serves as a warning that they could be moved to the blacklist if they do not take appropriate measures to address the identified deficiencies.
Registration of Births and Deaths Amendment Bill, 2023
The Registration of Births and Deaths Amendment Bill, 2023, aims to create digital birth certificates. These certificates will serve as comprehensive documents that can be used for various purposes, such as admission to educational institutions, employment, obtaining passports or Aadhaar cards, voter enrollment, marriage registration, and more. The bill requires all states to register births and deaths on the Centre’s Civil Registration System portal and share the data with the Registrar General of India, which operates under the Union Home Ministry. This centralized register is expected to streamline processes and improve the efficient and transparent delivery of services and social benefits.
Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Lok Sabha passed the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill without changes, seeking to amend the Forest Conservation Act 1980. The amendments encourage cultivating plantations on non-forest land and remove restrictions on national security infrastructure.
NoRKA Assisted and Mobilised Employment (NAME) scheme
The Kerala Government plans to launch the NoRKA Assisted and Mobilised Employment (NAME) scheme, inspired by MGNREGS. It targets overseas returnees, providing them with guaranteed employment in sectors where they have expertise. The state has allocated ₹5 crore for the project and will financially support employers who hire returnees.
