1) Gaps in AePS Exploited by Cybercriminals: The Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) in India has recently faced exploitation by cybercriminals, leading to unauthorized access to users’ bank accounts
The AePS is a bank-led model that allows online interoperable financial transactions at Point of Sale (PoS) or micro-ATMs through the Business Correspondent (BC) of any bank using the Aadhaar authentication
It was taken up by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) – a joint initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)
Transactions can be carried out with only the bank name, Aadhaar number, and captured fingerprint during Aadhaar enrollment.
Benefits: helps in deepening social security, and enables interoperability among different banks and financial institutions
Drawbacks: Neither Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)Â nor NPCI mentions clearly whether AePS is enabled by default
2) Model Prisons Act 2023: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has prepared the ‘Model Prisons Act 2023’ that will replace a British-era law, (the Prisons Act of 1894), to overhaul the prison administration that will focus on the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates
Need: several lacunae in the old pre-Independence act and there was conspicuous omission of the correctional focus
Features include: (i) punishment for prisoners and jail staff for use of prohibited items such as mobile phones in jails, (ii) establishment and management of high security jails, open jail (open and semi-open), (iii) provisions for protecting society from the criminal activities of hardened criminals and habitual offenders
Significance: In India, prisons and the ‘persons detained therein’ are a State subject. The Model Prisons Act, 2023 may serve as a guiding document for states for adoption in their jurisdiction
3) 6th Indian Ocean Conference: Improving and enhancing connectivity in the Indian Ocean region emerged as a top priority during the 6th Indian Ocean Conference held in Dhaka, Bangladesh
The Indian Foreign Minister emphasized the potential game-changing impact of establishing an effective and efficient connectivity with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Disregarding legal obligations or violating long-standing agreements can undermine trust and confidence among member nations
Unsustainable debt generated by unviable projects is a concern for countries in the region. (Example-Sri Lanka)
The Indian Ocean region requires shared responsibility and focused efforts to ensure its stability and prosperity
