13 January 2021 - Daily Current Affairs for UPSC

In Today’s News:

There is a politically related article in the news regarding SAARC. The news is not important but the SAARC organization is important.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985.
SAARC comprises eight Member States:
- Afghanistan,
- Bangladesh,
- Bhutan,
- India,
- Maldives,
- Nepal,
- Pakistan and
- Sri Lanka.
The Secretariat of the Association was set up in Kathmandu on 17 January 1987.

The objectives of the Association as outlined in the SAARC Charter are:

to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life;
to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potentials;
to promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia; to contribute to mutual trust, understanding, and appreciation of one another’s problems;
to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical, and scientific fields;
to strengthen cooperation with other developing countries; to strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests; and
to cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes.

Click here to know more about SAARC on the official website.

There is a political article in today’s newspaper not relevant for the exam but the concept of PIL mentioned in that article is important.

PIL is also known as Social Action Litigation( PIL or SAL)
Earlier litigation or complaint will be accepted in courts only by the aggrieved parties.
But around 1979 PIL concept has been introduced.
PIL refers to a concept where even a person who has not been directly affected or even a person who has not been indirectly affected can also approach the court in the public interest on the behalf of the aggrieved person.
After the introduction of PIL, the common rule of locus standi is relaxed.
PIL Concept was introduced by Justice PN Bhagwati.
Public-spirited people and organizations started seeking judicial intervention mainly for the protection of rights, improving the conditions of the poor (social issues), environment, etc through PIL.
PIL is the important vehicle of Judicial Activism.

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