The three new criminal laws were passed by Parliament in 2023.

• Section 106(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which provides for punishment in hit and run cases, has been put on hold. 
• Significance of new criminal laws
  • Reformative justice: Such as community service instead of imprisonment. 
  • Modernising the justice system: for ex Indian Penal Code (1860) is outdated and does not reflect current norms of criminal jurisprudence.
  • Seamless flow of information: Designed to improve coordination and collaboration between parties involved in investigation and judicial proceedings.

Multiple sections of Telecommunications Act, 2023 came into effect.

• It aims to amend the law relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks and is guided by principles of Inclusion, Security, Growth, and Responsiveness.
• It repeals Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933 owing to huge technical advancements in telecom sector and technologies.

Salient features of Act that comes into force

• Define various terminologies like telecommunication, spectrum, user etc., thereby reducing uncertainties and improving investor confidence and ease of doing business.
• RoW (Right of Way) framework shall be granted on a non-discriminatory and non-exclusive basis.
• Central Government may notify standards and conformity assessment measures for telecommunication services, networks, security, distribution and sale of telecommunication equipment; etc.
• Protection of users (by Central government) which include prior consent to receive specified messages like advertising messages, creation of Do Not Disturb registers, etc. 
• Expands scope of Universal Service Obligation Fund which will now become Digital Bharat Nidhi (under control of central government). 
  • This fund can be used to support research and development of telecommunication services, technologies, products and pilot projects.

Significance of Act

• Enhancing security and quality in telecommunication services.
• Gives greater emphasis to consumer protection and national security. 

It repeals the Indian Post Office Act, 1898.

Provisions of the Post Office Act, 2023

• Director General of Postal Services (DGPS) will be appointed to head India Post.
  • DGPS will have powers to make regulations on matters such as charges for services, supply and sale of postage stamps.
• Powers to intercept postal articles: 
  • Government can intercept an article transmitted through India Post on specified grounds
  • Grounds include security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, emergency, or public safety.
  • Exemptions from liability: Post office will not incur any liability with regard to its services, except such liability as may be prescribed with regard to a service provided by the Post Office.
  • There are no penal provisions prescribed in the Act.

Importance of the Act

• It creates a simple legislative framework for delivery of citizen centric services, banking services and benefits of Government schemes at the last mile.
• It enhances the ease of doing business and ease of living.

Election of 74 women to 18^th Lok Sabha (LS), accounting for 13.6% representation in Lok Sabha, is a slight dip in women representation as 78 women were elected to 17^th LS (14.4% representation). 

Status of women representation in Legislature

• 9.7% of 797 women contestants won in 18^th LS elections while in 17^th LS elections, 10.74% of 726 women contestants won. 
• Women’s representation in LS increased from 5% in first LS to its highest in 17^th LS (14.4%).
• Presently, women members constitute 14.05% of Rajya Sabha members. 
• Globally, share of women in national parliaments is 26.9%. 

Significance of women representation

• Women legislators perform better in their constituencies on economic indicators than their male counterparts.
• Accounting for around 50% population, legislative representation is fundamental to political empowerment.
• Women are less likely to be criminal and corrupt, more efficacious, and less vulnerable to political opportunism.

Challenges to women’s legislative representation

• Societal Prejudices, male dominated political structures, and family obligations.
• Structural disadvantages: Election campaigns are costly, time-consuming and are marred by inappropriate commenting, hate speeches, abusive threats and muscle power.
• Internalised patriarchy: Women themselves are often influenced by patriarchal societal norms.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting declares Self-declaration certificate (SDC) mandatory for all new advertisements

• As per the Supreme Court (SC) directive, no advertisement will be permitted to run on television, print media, or the internet without a valid SDC. 
• SDC, signed by an authorized representative of the advertiser/advertising agency, needs to be submitted through these portals.
  • Broadcast Seva Portal for TV and Radio Advertisements.
  • The Press Council of India's portal for print and digital/internet advertisements.
• SDC will certify that the advertisement:
  • Does not contain misleading claims.
  • Complies with all relevant regulatory guidelines, including:
    • Those stipulated in Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.
    • The Norms of Journalistic Conduct of the Press Council of India. 

Significance of the step

• Ensure transparency and accountability:  By preventing misleading advertisements being published with no accountability on the part of the manufacturers, promoters and advertisers.
• Ensure consumer protection: By preventing  violation of the rights of the consumers, unfair trade practices and false advertisements which are prejudicial to the interest of the public.
• Ensure better implementation of Legislations and Rules: Like complaints registered under Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements of Misleading Advertisements, 2022.