Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)

• GANHRI represents about 120 national human rights institutions across the world.
• It is responsible for reviewing and accrediting these institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles every five years.
• It is recognised and a trusted partner of the United Nations.
• GANHRI acts through its Subcommittee on Accreditation (SCA), which categorises member NHRIs into two groups, ‘A’ and ‘B.
• A’ rank indicate full compliance with the Paris Principles and rank ‘B’ indicate partial compliance with the Paris Principles.
• Paris Principles – It was formally known as Principles Relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions and was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 20, 1993.
• It sets out minimum standards that NHRIs must meet in order to be considered credible and to operate effectively.
• The Paris Principles lay down six main criteria to determine which NHRIs are functioning effectively and would receive accreditation from GANHRI. The 6 main criteria are:
  1. Broad mandate based on universal human rights norms and standards
  2. Autonomy from the government
  3. Independence guaranteed by the statute or Constitution
  4. Pluralism, including membership that broadly reflects their society
  5. Adequate resources
  6. Adequate powers of investigation
• These Principles also say that NHRIs should be equipped to receive complaints and cases brought by:
  • Individuals, third parties, NGOs, trade unions or
  • Other organisations representative of professionals such as lawyers and journalists.
• Significance of the accreditation
• Rank ‘A’ – NHRIs with rank ‘A’ status can participate in the UN Human Rights Council, its subsidiary bodies, and some UNGA bodies and mechanisms.
• They are also eligible for full membership of GANHRI, which includes the right to vote and hold governance positions.
• Rank ‘B’ – NHRIs accredited with rank ‘B’ status can participate in GANHRI meetings, but cannot vote nor hold governance positions.
• Currently India holds rank ‘A’ status.
• Governance mechanism
• General Assembly – It is GANHRI’s supreme deliberative body.
• It adopts and reviews the program of activities and is responsible for electing the governance bodies and monitoring the activities of the GANHRI Bureau.
• It is responsible for approving amendments to the GANHRI Statute and approves the budget and the financial reports.
• Bureau – The Bureau is the GANHRI executive committee (board of directors).
• It is comprised of 16 members, 4 from each of the GANHRI regional networks of Africa, the Americas, the Asia-Pacific and Europe.
• It is responsible for the implementation of the General Assembly’s resolutions.
• Sub-Committee on Accreditation – The Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) is the body responsible for making recommendations on accreditation under the auspices of Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
• The SCA is comprised of one ‘A’ status institution from each of the four?NHRIs?regional networks.

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)

The auditors in the Anil Ambani group companies was recently banned by the National Financial Reporting Authority over the irregularities in the company.

• The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) was constituted in October 2018 under the Companies Act, 2013.
• Objectives – To continuously improve the quality of all corporate financial reporting in India.
• To protect the public interest, investors, creditors and others associated with companies.
• Ministry – Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Composition – The NFRA consists of a chairperson, who is a person of eminence with expertise in accountancy, auditing, finance or law, and other full-time and part-time members.
• Functions – It functions as an independent regulator, monitoring and enforcing accounting and auditing standards for certain class of companies and bodies corporate.
• To recommend accounting and auditing policies and standards to the central government for adoption.
• To monitor and enforce compliance with notified accounting and auditing standards.
• To oversee the quality of services by auditing and accounting professions and suggesting improvements.
• To undertake investigation of auditors of the governed entities.
• To perform functions necessary or incidental to the above duties.
• Companies and Bodies Corporate Governed by the Authority – It can undertake investigation of the auditors of the following class of companies and bodies corporate:
  • Companies whose securities are listed on any stock exchange in India or outside India,
  • Large unlisted public companies meeting specified capital/turnover criteria,
  • Insurance companies, banks, electricity companies and entities governed by special Acts.
  • Any company or body corporate referred by the Central Government in public interest.
  • Foreign subsidiaries/associates of Indian companies if their income/net worth exceeds 20% of the consolidated entity.
• Powers – Conduct audits and investigations and can call for information and summon individuals for evidence.
• Levy penalties and debar auditors or audit firms and make referrals to the Central Government.

Antarctic Treaty, 1959

India is all set to facilitate the first-ever focused working group discussions on Antarctic tourism at the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Kochi, Kerala.

• The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by 12 countries that were active in Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year (1957-58).
• It entered into force in 1961 and currently has 56 parties (countries) including India, Chile, United Kingdom, Norway and New Zealand.
• Important Provisions of the treaty
• Article I – Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only.
• Article II – Freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation in Antarctica.
• Article III – Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged freely.
• Article VII mandates that all areas of Antarctica shall be open for inspection at all times to promote the Treaty's objectives.
• Seven countries such as Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the UK had territorial claims in Antarctica before the Treaty. Other countries do not recognize these claims.
• Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) – Is an annual meeting of the Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty.
• From 1961-1994 it was held biennially, but since 1994 it has been an annual meeting hosted by Consultative Parties in alphabetical order.
• Participants – It include:
  • Representatives of Consultative Parties
  • Representatives of Non-Consultative Parties
  • Observers
    1. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR),
    2. Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
    3. Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP)
  • Invited experts like Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) and the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).
• The ATCM adopts Measures, Decisions and Resolutions by consensus:
  • Measures are legally binding on Consultative Parties once approved
  • Decisions address organizational matters
  • Resolutions are hortatory texts
• Only Consultative Parties take part in decision-making, but other participants contribute to discussions.
• In 2013, a multi-year strategic work plan was developed to focus on priority matters.
• The Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) was established in 1998 and usually meets concurrently with ATCM.

Golden-backed Frog (Hylarana gracilis)

The golden-backed frog was recently rediscovered at Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary after 200 years in India.

• The golden-backed frog, typically found in Sri Lanka, was discovered at Koundinya wildlife sanctuary in the Eastern Ghats of India.
• It is commonly found from sea level to 1,250 meters in various districts including Anuradhapura, Galle and Kandy of Sri Lanka.
• This rediscovery raises the number of freshwater frog species in India to 20.
• The finding provides evidence of a historic land bridge between India and Sri Lanka during the late Pleistocene period or the Ice Age, facilitated by changes in sea levels.
• Amphibians like frogs are considered ecological indicators of healthy ecosystems. The Eastern Ghats has fewer amphibian species (27) compared to the Western Ghats.
• Koundinya wildlife sanctuary is the southernmost point of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh.

Lushai Tribe

Recently a New hemiparasite plant species named after Lushai tribe of Mizoram.

• A new plant species named Phtheirospermum lushaiorum has been discovered in the dense forests near Phawngpui National Park in Mizoram by researchers from the Botanical Survey of India.
• It is a rare terrestrial hemi-parasitic plant.
• Hemi-parasitic plants lack fully developed roots and obtain water/minerals from host plants via haustorial connections, while also performing photosynthesis.
• This hemi-parasitic species faces threats due to anthropogenic activities like trekking and leaf litter collection by local villagers in the Phawngpui area.
• It is named ‘lushaiorum’ after the Lushai tribe of Mizoram, honoring their biodiversity conservation efforts.
• Lushai tribe – Lushai is another tribe under Kuki-chin group of tribes.
• Their main concentration is under Kanchanpur Sub-Division of North Tripura Districtand also found in Mizoram.
• Lushai’s are commonly known as Mizos.
• Racially they are known to be under Mongoliod origin.
• In Tripura they are 5,384 persons (as per 2011 Census).
• Their culture is akin to the Mizos and they mostly reside in Jampui hills area of Tripura.
• Lushai live on Jhum Cultivation and hunting of wild animal.
• They eat meat of any kind of animals and birds.
• They are also famous as orange producing community.
• Their Cheraw Dance (Bamboo Dance) is very much popular in and outside the country.