CURRENT AFFAIRS 2012 FEBRUARY - I

Supreme Court: A Person cannot be detained under NSA without Valid Reasons

The Supreme Court of India  in the first week of January 2012 ruled that a person cannot be detained under the preventive detention law like National Security Act (NSA) without justifiable reasons. If it happens, it would impinge upon the individuals Constitutional right of personal liberty. The apex court observed that the State authorities have been granted the power to curb such rights under criminal laws as also under the laws of preventive detention. These laws are required to be exercised with due caution as well as upon a proper appreciation of the facts as to whether such acts are in any way prejudicial to the interest and the security of the State and its citizens, or seek to disturb public law and order, warranting the issuance of such an order.

Important Information

Article 21 in the Constitution of India states that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.

Article 22 in the Constitution of India has provision for protection against arrest and detention in certain cases. This article consists of two parts. Clauses(1) and (2) apply to persons arrested or detained under a law otherwise than a preventive detention law while clauses (4) to (7) apply to persons arrested or detained under a preventive detention law.

India declared itself Free from Bird Flu, H5N1

India became free from bird flu, H5N1. The government made a declaration to this effect on 4 January 2012.  The states were advised to have strict surveillance, especially in the vulnerable areas bordering the infected countries and in areas visited by migratory birds.  

What is H5N1 
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 is also known as bird flu , A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the influenza A virus .It can cause illness in humans and many other animal species.

India approved Acquisition of French advanced Missile Systems

India on 4 January 2012 approved 6600 crore rupees acquisition of 490 French advanced missile systems to arm the Mirage-2000 fighter jets.  The Cabinet Committee on Security cleared the contract for the fire and forget MICA with French armament company MBDA. MICA are interception and aerial combat missiles.

The MICA systems will be fitted on IAF’s 51 Mirage-2000s. French company Dassault Aviation will help in the upgradation of IAF’s 51 Mirage-2000s. The Mirage upgrade project will cost around 20000 crore rupees. The project will be completed in 10 years.


In fact, India plans to induct stealth FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) from 2020 onwards with cooperation from Russia. This defence project is considered to be the biggest-ever defence project and it will cost approximately 35 billion US dollars.