The Judicial Push for Environmental CSR | Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) | Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar | National Dental Commission (NDC) | GlobE Network

The Judicial Push for Environmental CSR

Syllabus: GS3/Economy; Environment

Context

• By invoking Article 51A (g), the judiciary underscored that the right to conduct business is inseparably linked to the responsibility to restore the planet.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

• CSR is a business model that encourages companies to operate in ways that enhance society and the environment while still being accountable to their stakeholders and the public.
• CSR includes four categories: environmental impacts, ethical responsibility, philanthropic endeavors, and financial responsibilities.
• CSR in India: Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 provides that certain companies must mandatorily contribute a certain amount towards CSR activities.
• The Board of Directors of every company for which the CSR provisions apply must ensure that the company spends in every financial year at least 2% of its average net profits made during the immediately preceding three financial years. 
• It plays a critical role in balancing profit-making with social accountability.
• It ensures that businesses contribute positively to society while pursuing economic goals.

Article 51A(g)

• Article 51A(g) is a fundamental duty (Environment Protection).
• It was added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act and falls under Part IVA of the Constitution.
• It mandates every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, rivers, lakes, and wildlife.
• Courts have linked Article 51A(g) with Article 21, expanding the right to a clean and healthy environment.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The Decade of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was highlighted by the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

• Established: The BIS was constituted under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Regional Offices: Five offices located in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Delhi.
• Core Functions: Standards Formulation (e.g., Indian Standards codes) and Product Certification (e.g., ISI mark for quality assurance).
• Source: AIR

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• The Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar is a prestigious National honour announced every year on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose.

About

• Aim: To recognise and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of individuals and institutions in the field of disaster management. 

Award Categories

• Individual: Scroll and Medal.
• Institution: Scroll and Plaque.
• Both Indian citizens and institutions are eligible.
• Nominations are open throughout the year.
• Applications must be submitted online through the National Awards Portal.
• Self-nomination and third-party nomination are permitted.
• About Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
• He was a prominent Indian nationalist and leader who played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement. 
• Indian National Congress: He was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress twice, in 1938 and 1939. 
• Azad Hind Radio 1942: He established Azad Hind Radio in Germany to reach out to Indians and spread his vision of independence.
• He coined several patriotic slogans, including “Jai Hind,” “Dilli Chalo” (On to Delhi), and “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom,”.
• Formation of Indian National Army (INA): In 1942, he formed the INA with the help of Japanese forces.
• The INA was an armed force aimed at securing India’s independence through military action against British rule.
• Azad Hind Government: In 1943, Subhash Chandra Bose renamed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as “Shaheed” (Martyr) and “Swaraj” (Self-Rule) during his leadership of the Azad Hind Government.
• This was a symbolic gesture of asserting India’s sovereignty against British rule.
• On October 21, 1943, Netaji declared the establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind Sarkar).
• He was the first person to call Mahatma Gandhi “Father of the Nation”, in his address from Singapore.

Legacy: 

• He is widely respected for his contributions to the nationalist movement, and his legacy continues to inspire people across India and beyond.
• Source: PIB

National Dental Commission (NDC)

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The Government of India has replaced the Dental Council of India (DCI) with a new regulator, the National Dental Commission (NDC).

About the National Dental Commission

• Established under the National Dental Commission Act, 2023.
• Aims to bring regulatory reforms in dental education and improve access to affordable oral healthcare.

Key Functions

• Frame regulations to implement the provisions of the Act;
• Conduct assessment and rating of dental institutions;
• Evaluate human resources and promote dental research;
• Frame guidelines for fee regulation in private dental colleges;
• Set standards for community dental care, education, research, and professional ethics.
• Institutional Structure: To support its functioning, three autonomous boards have been constituted:
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board – to oversee dental education;
• Dental Assessment and Rating Board – to regulate accreditation and institutional assessment;
• Ethics and Dental Registration Board – to govern professional conduct and registration of dentists.
• Source: PIB

GlobE Network

Syllabus: GS2/ International Organizations

Context

• India recently hosted the 12th Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities in New Delhi.

About GlobE Network

• The Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (the GlobE Network) was established in 2021.
• Evolution: The initiative originated from the G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting 2020, which endorsed the Riyadh Initiative.
• It is open to anti-corruption law enforcement authorities of all UN Member States and States parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). 
• The Network is governed by its members and is supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which provides the Network’s secretariat.
• India joined the Network in 2022, with the CBI and the ED as its two designated member agencies and was elected to the 15-member Steering Committee in 2024.
• Source: AIR