UNRWA: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees

Context: Israel’s parliament recently passed two Bills to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

About UNRWA

• Genesis: It was founded in 1949 to provide aid to about 700,000 Palestinians who were forced to leave their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
• Region of Operation: The UN agency operates in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as well as Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan where the refugees took shelter after their displacement. 
• Provision of Services: UNRWA plays a pivotal role in supporting the livelihoods of the residents of Gaza who have been forced into a humanitarian crisis following the outbreak of conflict.
  • The agency serves as the primary provider of essential provisions such as food, water, and shelter to the enclave’s civilians. 
• Funding: UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions by donor states like the US. 
  • It also gets a limited subsidy from the UN, which is used only for administrative costs.

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Civil Registration System (CRS) mobile application

Context: Union Home Minister recently launched the Civil Registration System (CRS) mobile application to “integrate technology with governance”.

About CRS

• Definition: The Civil Registration System (CRS) is the recording of vital events, specifically births, deaths, and stillbirths.
• Constitutional Basis: Falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India.
• Purpose: Generates vital statistics that aid in formulating evidence-based policies across multiple sectors.

Key Features of the CRS Application

• Allows citizens to register births and deaths anytime and from anywhere in their State’s official language.
• Aims to significantly reduce registration time.

Legislative Framework

• Main Legislation: Governed by the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, amended in 2023.
• Implementation: The Act was enforced in most States/UTs from April 1, 1970, promoting uniformity in birth and death registration.
• Recent Amendment: The RBD (Amendment) Act, 2023 came into effect on October 1, 2023.

Registration Process

• Mandatory Registration: Births, stillbirths, and deaths must be registered at the location of the event.
• Reporting Period: Normal reporting period is 21 days from the occurrence. Late registration is allowed under provisions of Section 13 of the RBD Act.
• Registration Functionaries: Registrar General of India (RGI):
  • Coordinates registration activities at the national level.
  • Allows State Governments to develop efficient systems of registration.
• State Authorities:
  • Chief Registrar: Chief executive authority for implementing the Act in the State.
  • District Registrar: Executes RBD Act and Rules at the district level.
  • Registrars: Responsible for registering events and issuing birth and death certificates.

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Passenger Terminal & a Cargo Gate at Petrapole Land Port

Context: Union Home Minister has inaugurated the newly constructed passenger terminal building and a cargo gate named ‘Maitri Dwar’ at the Land Port in Petrapole, on the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal.

About Petrapole Land Port

• Location: Petrapole, Uttar 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, on the India-Bangladesh border.
• Largest Land Port in South Asia: Serves as a vital gateway for trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh.
• Passenger Terminal Features:
  • Aims to facilitate international trade and crossings for citizens of both countries.
  • Capacity to handle 20,000 passengers per day.
  • Houses immigration, customs, and security services under one roof.
• Maitri Dwar Cargo Gate: 
  • The ‘Maitri Dwar’ cargo gate is a joint facility agreed upon by both India and Bangladesh 

Land Port Authority of India (LPAI)

• Constitution: Established under the Land Ports Authority Act, 2010.
• Purpose: Development and management of facilities for cross-border movement of passengers and goods at designated points along international borders.
• Mandate:
  • Responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing border infrastructure.
  • Manages several Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) across India’s borders.
• Composition:
  • Chairperson and Members are appointed by the Central Government.
  • Tenure: Five years or until the age of 60, whichever comes first.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs.

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