UPSC

Sanjay Kishan Kaul: Retired Supreme Court judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul has been appointed a member of the Bahrain International Commercial Court by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He is among the nine members appointed to the newly established BICC. Leading arbitrator Jan Paulsson has been appointed as BICC president and former British judge Sir Christopher Greenwood as its vice president. BICC: The BICC is a part of the Bahrain government’s “Team Bahrain” to enhance private sector investment in the country by providing a forum for dispute resolution between parties. The BICC will have exclusive jurisdiction within the country to hear international commercial disputes and will also be empowered to hear arbitration-related matters. Resolutions: Justice Kaul retired on December 25, 2023, after serving as a judge of the apex court for over six years. During his tenure he authored decisions in several important rulings, including a concurring opinion in the landmark nine-judge bench c...

Ind & SL Relation: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India, also his first overseas trip in keeping with tradition, marks a continuity in India-Sri Lanka bilateral relations. The joint statement, after his meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, covered aspects similar to the one subsequent to the visit of his predecessor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, in 2023. Mr. Dissanayake’s assurance that Sri Lanka will not permit its territory to be used in any manner inimical to India’s security and regional stability, on the face of it, appears to be a reiteration of Colombo’s long-standing position, but it was significant in view of a perception that Mr. Dissanayake’s Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is a Left-leaning pro-China party. India viewed his observation as one that could have a bearing on the clearance for Chinese ships visiting Sri Lanka in the light of the Wickremesinghe government’s one-year moratorium (after India’s concerns) on all “foreign research vessels” vi...

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria after an 11-day offensive by rebel groups has triggered a geopolitical reshuffle in the Middle East. Middle East Tensions and Syria’s Recent Fall: Syria’s Collapse Assad’s rule, characterized by authoritarianism, ended after sustained pressure from rebel forces led by Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, a former al-Qaeda operative. External supporters like Iran and Russia shifted focus elsewhere, contributing to Assad’s defeat. Regional Dynamics Turkey-backed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) emerged as a dominant force. Questions arise about Syria’s future governance and potential descent into Islamist authoritarianism. Factors Behind Tensions in the Middle East: Authoritarian Regimes :  Fragile political systems often collapse under pressure from internal dissent or external interventions. Proxy Conflicts:  Rivalries among global powers (e.g., Russi...

  Introduction: The  2011 Census of India  reported that 2.21% of the Indian population lives with disabilities, but this is a significant  underestimation . The  2019 Brief Disability Model Survey by WHO  estimated the prevalence of  severe disability among Indian adults at 16% . This disparity highlights the need for accurate data collection mechanisms to plan inclusive policies effectively.   United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD): India ratified the  United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)  in 2007. The Convention emphasizes a  rights-based approach  to disability, focusing on dignity, equality, and inclusion. The UNCRPD obligates states to align their national legislation with the Convention’s principles.   Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection o...