Decriminalise consensual relationship under Pocso, form sex education policy, SC advises govt

The Supreme Court has urged the Centre to rethink the strict application of the Pocso law in cases involving consensual teenage relationships. It also called for a national policy on sexual and reproductive health education. read more
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to consider decriminalising consensual relationships between teenagers so they are not jailed under the strict Pocso law. It also suggested creating a policy on sexual and reproductive health education.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued a notice to the Centre, asking the Ministry of Women and Child Development to set up an expert panel to study the issue and submit a report by July 25. The court said it will issue further directions after reviewing the report.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
This is a developing story.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Mint

36 minutes ago

• Mint

Centre links part of state capex loans to new reforms in land, and digitization

New Delhi: The Centre has drawn up a new set of reform-linked conditions for states to access a portion of the ₹ 1.5 trillion interest-free capex loan for FY26, two people aware of the matter said, with a focus on digitization, governance, land reforms and urban planning. 'States will now be required to implement targeted reforms in key areas including digital public infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture, improvements in financial management systems, better urban planning, and streamlined land-related processes," said the first person mentioned above, speaking under the condition of anonymity. Of the ₹ 1.5 trillion earmarked for FY26, around 60% will be unconditional or linked to infrastructure spending, while the remaining 40% will be tied to reforms that states and Union Territories must undertake to access the funds, the person mentioned above added. Interest-free loans with a tenure of 50 years have played a vital role in stimulating capital spending by states and catalyzing the economy since the pandemic. As things stand, states account for 20–25% of India's total infrastructure spending, a critical priority for the government. 'This year's reform agenda puts a sharp focus on accelerating digital transformation in agriculture through federated farmer databases, digitized land records, and digital crop surveys,' the second person mentioned above said, requesting anonymity. Meanwhile, the central government has made Aadhaar-based Direct benefit transfer (DBT) integration with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) mandatory across all state-run schemes. "Land and regulatory reforms remain a key thrust as states are expected to enable flexible mixed-use development, digitize land use change approvals, rationalize industrial road width norms, and amend building rules to minimize land loss. These are critical steps to boost manufacturing, agriculture, and ease of doing business," the second person mentioned above said. 'The goal is to ensure that capital investment is not just about creating assets, but about improving the way states govern and deliver,' the person added. Launched in FY21, the Centre's 50-year interest-free capex loan scheme has played a key role in driving state-led capital spending and reviving the post-pandemic economy. For FY26, ₹ 1.5 trillion has been earmarked to accelerate infrastructure development and support state-level projects. Of this, about 60% will be either unconditional or tied to infrastructure spending, while the remaining 40% will be linked to specific reforms. The conditions states had to meet in the past two years to avail of the central loans included reforms in the housing sector, providing incentives for scrapping old government vehicles and ambulances, reforms in urban planning and urban finance, increasing housing stock for police personnel, and setting up libraries with digital infrastructure at panchayat and ward levels for children and young adults. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman ramped up allocations to ₹ 1.5 trillion each for FY25 and FY26—up from ₹ 1.10 trillion in FY24. However, the FY25 outlay was later revised to ₹ 1.25 trillion due to slower-than-expected spending in the first half of the fiscal, which was largely due to elections. A spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance didn't respond to emailed queries.

Mint

an hour ago

• Mint

Gujarat Electronics Component Manufacturing Policy aims to reduce import dependency

Ahmedabad, Jun 22 (PTI) Incentives for projects approved by MeitY, quick disbursal of assistance and reducing import dependency by attracting over ₹ 35,000 crore in new investments are among the prominent features of the Gujarat Electronics Component Manufacturing Policy-2025. The policy, which aims to transform Gujarat into a global hub for electronics manufacturing, was unveiled by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday. The policy states that projects approved and supported by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will be eligible for 100 per cent Central assistance when established in Gujarat. Projects approved by the MeitY will receive incentives from both the Centre and the state government through a single approval and incentive assistance will disbursed within 30 days, a government release stated. "This means MeitY-approved projects set up in the state will receive dual incentive benefits from the Central and Gujarat governments," it said. Aligned with the Union government's Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), the policy ensures "a 100 per cent top-up on Central support while guaranteeing timely disbursement of assistance. "Once a project is approved under the ECMS from MeitY, it will automatically become eligible for the same grant-in-aid in Gujarat. The state government will disburse its incentive within 30 days of the Centre releasing the assistance," the release said. The policy aims to reduce dependence on imports and improve technological resilience by attracting over ₹ 35,000 crore in new investments. It aims to create substantial high-skilled employment opportunities within the state's electronics component manufacturing sector. The policy hopes to boost investment in key segments, such as multi-layer and HDI printed circuit boards, lithium-ion cells, SMD passive components, display and camera modules, electronic parts, and the additional machinery for their production. "The policy's core focus is to bridge the talent gap, promote innovation, and offer support for research and development initiatives, with the recognised Gujarat-based institutions being eligible for assistance of up to ₹ 12.5 crore to establish centres of excellence, finishing schools, or applied research laboratories," the release stated. The policy aims to establish Gujarat as a prominent player in global electronics supply chains by promoting the manufacturing of local electronic components and sub-assembly production, reducing import dependency, and boosting exports, which will drive product value growth in global electronics value chains (GVCs). The Government of India (GoI) guidelines mandate the submission of applications to avail of the benefits of this policy by July 31, 2025. All MeitY-approved projects operating in Gujarat will automatically become eligible for availing of the policy benefits along with developing or proposed projects for incentives. The government said only the units other than those receiving assistance under Gujarat Electronics Policy 2022-28 will be eligible for benefits under this policy, and those availing benefits under this policy will not qualify under the Gujarat Electronics Policy.

Hans India

2 hours ago

• Hans India

Union Secretary reviews UMEED portal's implementation in Maharashtra

Ahead of the roll out of rules for the Waqf portal, Union Minority Affairs Secretary Chandra Shekhar Kumar held a review meeting with Maharashtra officials for smooth uploading of details related to properties on UMEED, an official said on Sunday. Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995 (UMEED) Central Portal, launched on June 6, needs the rules to support the statutory requirements. During the meeting on Saturday, the Secretary encouraged proactive participation and invited suggestions from state authorities to streamline the implementation process. As per the mandate of the UMEED Portal, details of all registered Waqf properties across India are to be mandatorily uploaded within six months. Those present in the meeting, chaired by the Union Secretary, included the state secretary, senior officials, and the CEO of the Maharashtra State Waqf Board. This was the Union Secretary's second such visit following a similar review in Bihar last week. Secretary Chandra Shekhar Kumar encouraged proactive participation and invited suggestions from state authorities to streamline the implementation process, said an official statement. The CEO of the Waqf Board requested the Centre to revisit and ease certain leasing provisions related to Waqf properties. The Union Secretary assured that the request will be examined sympathetically, reaffirming the Centre's commitment to empowering Waqf Boards and enhancing Waqf property management. Apart from reviewing UMEED implementation, the Secretary also assessed the status of projects under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) in Maharashtra. He directed the state officials to submit all pending proposals to the Ministry within one week for necessary action. Kumar also held a meeting with officials of the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) in Mumbai, congratulating them on the smooth and successful conduct of Haj 2025. He expressed satisfaction that this year recorded the lowest number of deaths and health-related incidents among Indian Haj pilgrims. He attributed this achievement to improved coordination between the Ministry, the Haj Committee of India, deputationists, Saudi Arabian authorities, and local support systems. The Secretary specially acknowledged the effectiveness of the Haj Suvidha App, which played a crucial role in enhancing the pilgrim experience and easing on-ground challenges. He said that insights from this year's Haj operations will be used to further improve arrangements for Haj 2026.