Current Affairs – February, 2019

World Radio Day 2019

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) every year celebrate February 13 as the World Radio Day. World Radio Day 2019 is celebrated to highlight the importance of the radio in its search for a more peaceful and tolerant world.

The World Radio Day 2019 is celebrated with the theme Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace. The theme is selected to provide a platform for dialogue and democratic debate over issues like migration or violence against women which can help to raise awareness among listeners and inspire understanding for new perspectives in paving the way for positive action.

Genesis of the World Radio Day

Spain’s Radio Academy in the year 2010 proposed the idea of World Radio Day. In the following year, UNESCO declared February 13 as the World Radio day and the first World Radio Day was celebrated in 2012.

February 13 was chosen because the United Nations Radio, the United Nation’s international broadcasting service was established on February 13, 1946. The World Radio Day commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Radio.

Rajasthan Backward Classes Amendment Bill, 2019

The Rajasthan Assembly has passed the Rajasthan Backward Classes Amendment Bill, 2019. The bill aims to address the demands of the Gujjars who are protesting for reservations.

Features of the Bill

The features of the Rajasthan Backward Classes Amendment Bill, 2019 are:

• It provides five per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions to Gurjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadaria communities.
• The communities, namely Gurjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadaria are currently provided one per cent reservation under More Backward Classes (MBC).
• The Bill seeks to grant them an additional four per cent quota.
• The statement on the objective and reasons for the bill said the five castes are the most backward and required a separate reservation in government jobs and educational institutes.
• The bill increases the ceiling of creamy layer from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.
• With the 5 per cent quota for Gurjars, Banjaras, Gadia Lohars, Raikas and Gadaria communities the backward classes’ reservation in the state has increased from present 21 per cent to 26 per cent.
• The reservations in Rajasthan now crosses the 50 per cent cap on reservations set by the Supreme Court.
• To avoid the possible legal tussle the Rajasthan Assembly passed a resolution and urged the Centre to incorporate it in the 9th schedule to ensure the reservation for these communities.

The statement on the objective and reasons for the bill notes that Parliament has amended the Constitution to exceed the limit of 50 per cent laid down by the Indra Sawhney case having regard to the compelling circumstances in which Economically Weaker Sections of the society are languishing.