Articles Covered

1. ECI’s C-Vigil app a big hit with voters: over 79,000 violations reported so far through the complaint’s app since announcement of General Elections; 99 % cases disposed off
2. AFSPA extended in parts of Arunachal, Nagaland for six more months
3. SLAPP Suits
4. Skyroot successfully test fires Stage-2 of Vikram 1 space launch vehicle
5. METOC SEMINAR ‘MEGHAYAN 2024’ – AN INSIGHT INTO THE FRONTLINE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
6. Ready proposal to demarcate Dulung-Subansiri elephant corridor, Union environment ministry tells Arunachal, Assam
7. INDIA – MOZAMBIQUE –TANZANIA TRILATERAL (IMT TRILAT 24) EXERCISE CONCLUDES AT NACALA, MOZAMBIQUE
8. Antarctic Circumpolar Current
9. Butterfly Cicada
10. Auction of Critical and Strategic Minerals by Mines Ministry
11. Section 120B of the IPC

ECI’s C-Vigil app a big hit with voters: over 79,000 violations reported so far through the complaint’s app since announcement of General Elections; 99 % cases disposed off

C-Vigil is part of ECI’s steps to leverage digital tech to ensure free, fair and inducement-free polls

1. The cVIGIL app of Election Commission of India has become an effective tool in the hands of people to flag election code violations. Since the announcement of General Elections 2024, over 79,000 complaints have been received as of today.
2. Over 99% complaints have been resolved and close to 89% of these complaints have been resolved within 100 minutes. Speed and transparency are the cornerstones of cVIGIL app.
3. More than 58,500 complaints (73% of the total) received are against illegal hoardings and banners.
4. More than 1400 complaints received pertain to money, gifts and liquor distribution.
5. Close to 3% of the complaints (2454) pertain to defacement of property Out of the 535 complaints received for display of firearms and intimidation, 529 have already been resolved.
6. 1000 complaints reported were for campaigning beyond the prohibited period including use of speakers beyond permitted time.
7. cVIGIL app marks a significant leap forward in electoral oversight and reducing campaign clutter. It may be recalled that in the press conference for the announcement of the General Elections 2024, Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar had urged citizens to be vigilant and use the app to report model code of conduct violations and distribution of any kind of inducements to voters.

1. cVigil is user-friendly and easy to operate application, which connects vigilant citizens with the District Control Room, Returning Officer and Flying Squads Teams.
2. By using this app, the citizens can immediately report on incidents of political misconduct within minutes and without having to rush to the office of the returning officer. As soon as the complaint is sent on the cVigil app, the complainant will receive a unique ID through which the person will be able to track the complaint on their mobile.
3. A trinity of factors working simultaneously makes cVIGIL a success. Users capture audios, photos or videos in real-time, and a “100-minute” countdown for time-bound response to complaints is ensured.
4. The app automatically enables a geo-tagging feature as soon as the user switches on their camera in the cVIGIL to report a violation. This means that flying squads could know the precise location of a reported violation, and the image captured by citizens could be used as evidence in the court of law. Citizens can also report complaints anonymously.

The app is one amongst the armoury of Apps built by the Commission to leverage technology and facilitate voters and political parties.

AFSPA extended in parts of Arunachal, Nagaland for six more months

The Act gives unbridled power to the armed forces deployed in “disturbed areas”

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for another six months.

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act

1. Background: The Act in its original form was promulgated by the British in response to the Quit India movement in 1942. After Independence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru decided to retain the Act.
2. Definition of the Law: It is a 1958 law passed by the Parliament that grants the armed forces special authority and immunities in “disturbed areas” to maintain public order.
3. Applicability of Law: It is only applicable if an area has been deemed “disturbed” under Section 3 of the Act.
4. Definition of Disturbed Area:  An area can be considered to be disturbed due to differences or disputes among different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.
5. Power to declare an Area as Disturbed: The Central Government, the Governor of the State, or the Administrator of the Union Territory may declare all or part of the State or Union Territory to be a disturbed region.

Powers of Armed Forces Under AFSPA

1. Power to Prevent gathering and Open fire:They have the right to prevent a gathering of five or more people in a specific area, as well as to use force or even open fire after providing adequate warning if they believe a person is breaking the law.
2. Power to Arrest without warrant: If reasonable suspicion exists, the army may arrest a person without a warrant, enter or search a location without a warrant, and prohibit the possession of firearms.
3. Reporting to the nearest Police station:Any person detained or taken into custody may be turned over to the officer in charge of the nearest police station, along with a report outlining the facts behind the arrest.
4. Immunity from Judicial actions: These armed forces are free from prosecution unless the Union Government authorizes the prosecuting agency.

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)

1. It is a law enacted by the Parliament in 1958 which gives the armed forces special powers and immunity to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”.
2. When is it applied? It can be applied only after an area has been declared “disturbed” under section 2 of the Act.
3. What is a Disturbed area? An area can be considered to be disturbed due to differences or disputes among different religious, racial, language, or regional groups or castes or communities.

Who declares an area as disturbed?

1. The Central Government, or the Governor of the State or administrator of the UT can declare the whole or part of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed area.
2. It can be invoked in places where “the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary”.

The ‘special powers’ of armed forces under AFSPA are: 

• They have the authority to prohibit a gathering of five or more persons in an area, can use force or even open fire after giving due warning if they feel a person is in contravention of the law.
• If reasonable suspicion exists, the army can also arrest a person without a warrant, enter or search a premises without a warrant, and ban the possession of firearms.
• Any person arrested or taken into custody may be handed over to the officer in charge of the nearest police station along with a report detailing the circumstances that led to the arrest.

1. These armed forces are immune from prosecution unless the Union Government provides sanction to the prosecuting agencies.
2. Where is AFSPA in force now? Apart from Nagaland, the AFSPA is currently in force in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Manipur except Imphal, and Arunachal Pradesh.

SLAPP Suits

1. The term ‘SLAPP’, stands for strategic lawsuit against public participation.
2. The concept of a SLAPP lawsuit evolved in the US, where it was observed that certain lawsuits were filed targeting individual or group litigants who voiced their concern over important or considerable social issues in the public arena.
3. The subject matter of the suit would target an act of public participation, such as engaging in an issue of societal or political significance, in the form of journalism, advocacy, whistleblowing, peaceful protests or boycotts, activism, or simply speaking out against abuse of power.
4. As such, winning the lawsuit is not the focus. The plaintiff’s goal is typically accomplished if the defendant succumbs to fear, intimidation, mounting legal costs or simple exhaustion and abandons the criticism.
5. The remedies sought are usually substantial amounts of damages, and generally aggressive or disproportionate to the subject matter of the dispute.
6. SLAPP suits are routinely filed for libel, slander, defamation, abuse of process, malicious prosecution, conspiracy, invasion of privacy, and tortious interference with contract or business relationships.
7. The most common SLAPP suits have often involved a powerful corporation suing local citizens for speaking against their company.

Skyroot successfully test fires Stage-2 of Vikram 1 space launch vehicle

Stage-2 is a critical stage in the ascent of the launch vehicle, as it propels it from atmospheric phase to the deep vacuum of outer-space.

Kalam-250

Recently, Skyroot Aerospace, the leading space-tech company, has successfully test-fired the Kalam-250 at the propulsion testbed of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), at its Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

 Kalam-250

1. It is a stage-2 of the Vikram-1 space launch vehicle.
2. It is a high-strength carbon composite rocket motor, which uses solid fuel and a high-performance Ethylene-Propylene-Diene terpolymers (EPDM) thermal protection system (TPS).
3. The stage includes a carbon ablative flex nozzle along with high-precision electro-mechanical actuators for thrust vector control of the vehicle, aiding in achieving the desired trajectory.
4. The second stage of Vikram-1 will play a crucial role in the ascent of the launch vehicle, propelling it from the atmosphere to the deep vacuum of outer space.

Key facts about the Vikram-1 Rocket

1. It is named after the father of India’s space programme, VIKRAM SARABHAIis a multi-stage launch vehicle with a capacity to place around 300 kg of payloads in low-earth orbit.
2. It has been built by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace, a space startup.
3. It is an all-carbon-fibre-bodied rocket that can place multiple satellites into orbit.
4. Being a solid-fuel rocket and using relatively simpler technologies would mean that launching this vehicle would require minimal infrastructure and that the rocket could be assembled and launched within 24 hours from any site.

METOC SEMINAR ‘MEGHAYAN 2024’ – AN INSIGHT INTO THE FRONTLINE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

The World Meteorological Day is commemorated every year on 23rd March. It marks the origin of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on 23 Mar 1950 and signifies the invaluable contribution and essential role of the meteorologists in this field.

1. As part of the World Meteorological Day celebrations, a METOC (Meteorological and Oceanographic) seminar _’Meghayan-24’_ was conducted by School of Naval Oceanology & Meteorology (SNOM) and Indian Naval Meteorological Analysis Centre (INMAC) at Southern Naval Command on 28 Mar 24. The seminar was based on the theme _*’At the Frontline of Climate Action’*_ as promulgated by WMO for the year 2024.
2. The inaugural address was delivered by Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff through virtual mode. He highlighted the need for accurate and immediate focus on the pressing challenge of climate change and to work together in the collective pursuit of common goal of ‘Achieving a Climate Smart Society’ under the global framework for climate services of WMO.
3. He reiterated Indian Navy’s commitment to adopting long term sustainable policies to address the environmental concerns and integrating climate change considerations in the security strategy. While laying importance on reliable METOC support for safe & optimal Naval operations, he complimented the dedicated efforts and contributions of the Naval met specialists in this field providing crucial support across all domains.
4. The seminar witnessed presentations by guest speakers Dr. TVS Uday Bhaskar, Scientist G, Indian Naval Centre for Ocean Information System (INCOIS), Hyderabad and Dr. Ragavendra Ashit, Scientist ‘G’, National Centre for Medium Range Forecasting (NCMRWF), New Delhi.
5. They enlightened the audience on the latest techniques adopted by the scientific agencies and the climate data crunching undertaken to help the policy makers in decision making at national level. In addition, panel discussions were held on various topics of ‘Effect of Weather and Climate Change on Naval Operations’ by the specialist officers bringing out latest techniques adopted by the Indian Navy & Indian scientific organisations in providing METOC inputs/forecasts for operational evolutions.
6. On this occasion an indigenous mobile application INDRA(Indian Naval Dynamic Resource for Weather Analysis) to disseminate weather related information and forecasts empowering optimal & quick decision making was also launched.
7. The application has been developed by BISAG (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics) in coordination with Directorate of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology, Indian Navy.
8. The event was attended by Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Cmde Abhinav Barve, Commodore (NOM), Naval Headquarters and Mr. Miren Karamta, Director, BISAG. The seminar served as a platform towards sharing of knowledge & insights on weather and climate services as well as way ahead to face the challenges of climate change.

Ready proposal to demarcate Dulung-Subansiri elephant corridor, Union environment ministry tells Arunachal, Assam

The 2000 MW Lower Subansiri hydro-project, executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), has been in the works since 2003 and is yet to be commissioned

1. The wildlife division of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently directed the forest departments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to prepare a proposal to notify the Dulung-Subansiri elephant corridor – downstream of the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project.
2. The proposal to demarcate the corridor will be presented during the next meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), which is the apex government body on wildlife conservation and regulation of development projects in wildlife areas. Notification of the elephant corridor will involve physically marking the relevant areas used by elephants on the ground as well as potentially notifying parts of the corridor as either a wildlife sanctuary or a conservation reserve.
3. Including the corridor as part of a legally notified protected area will provide legal sanctity to it. An expert committee of the NBWL, which was inspecting the compliance of conditions imposed on the Arunachal Pradesh government, as part of the clearance of the hydroelectric project, had recommended the notification of the elephant corridor in May last year.
4. The ministry’s directions to the state departments come in the backdrop of the NBWL’s meeting in January this year, which saw deliberations on ways to protect the critical elephant corridor.

Elephant corridor Definition: A corridor is supposed to be a small patch of land that provides connectivity for elephant movement across habitats, largely within a landscape of the elephant reserve. West Bengal has the most elephant corridors — 26 amounting to 17 per cent of the total corridors, the report said. East central region contributed to 35 per cent, that is 52 corridors, while the North East region was second largest with 32 percent number meaning 48 corridors in total.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently directed the forest departments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to prepare a proposal to notify the Dulung-Subansiri elephant corridor.

• Notification of the elephant corridor: It will involve physically marking the relevant areas used by elephants on the ground as well as potentially notifying parts of the corridor as either a wildlife sanctuary or a conservation reserve.
• Providing Legal sanctity: Including the corridor as part of a legally notified protected area will provide legal sanctity to it.
• Importance of the Corridor: This corridor facilitates the east-west movement of elephants across the Subansiri River.
• The corridor, however, is fragile and requires urgent restoration efforts
• Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Each state could notify the area of the corridor falling in their respective jurisdiction as conservation reserve under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
• Commissioning of the Hydroelectric project:The 2000 MW Lower Subansiri hydro-project, executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), has been in the works since 2003 and is yet to be commissioned.
• Geographical Location:It is located in the Kamle and Dhemaji districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, respectively, and is being constructed on the Subansiri River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River.
• Threat to Elephants: WII report had also pointed out that hydropeaking for power generation from the project will pose a threat of sweeping awayelephants, especially calves, due to flash floods. 

INDIA – MOZAMBIQUE –TANZANIA TRILATERAL (IMT TRILAT 24) EXERCISE CONCLUDES AT NACALA, MOZAMBIQUE

The second edition of India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise concluded at Nacala, Mozambique on 28 Mar 24. The week-long exercise underscores the importance of enhanced maritime cooperation and interoperability between the Navies of India, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

INS Tir and Sujata participated in IMT TRILAT 24 from 21 – 28 Mar 24 through a series of joint exercises, training sessions and collaborative activities, providing invaluable opportunities for all three Navies to exchange knowledge, enhance capabilities and bolster maritime security in the region.

The IMT TRILAT 24 Exercise unfolded in two phases. The initial harbour phase from 21 to 24 Mar 24 saw intensive training sessions concurrently held onboard INS Tir at Zanzibar and INS Sujata at Maputo.

1. Activities included vital training on Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), Damage Control and Firefighting Drills, communication procedures and medical lectures with CPR demonstration and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC).
2. The sea phase commenced on 24 Mar 24, wherein INS Tir and INS Sujata embarked sea riders from the Tanzanian and Mozambique Navies respectively.
3. Joint operations with Mozambique Naval ship Namatili and Tanzanian naval ship Fatundu showcased significant synergy and sustained efforts with the regional Navies in line with the vision of SAGAR (Security & Growth for All in the Region).
4. The evolutions at sea involved simulated VBSS exercises and night manoeuvres. The sea riders were imparted training on bridge watch keeping, damage control and firefighting. The ships also undertook joint surveillance of EEZ off Tanzania and Mozambique in the area of operation.
5. The closing ceremony, held onboard INS Tir and INS Sujata at Nacala, Mozambique featured representatives from all three navies.
6. The closing remarks highlighted successful collaboration, understanding of maritime capabilities and shared objectives achieved during the exercise.
7. It emphasised continued collaboration towards maritime security and regional stability underlining India’s commitment as the preferred security partner.
8. In addition to IMT TRILAT, various official and training exchanges, cross deck visits, sport fixtures and Yoga were held as part of the long-range training deployment of the ships.
9. The ships were open to visitors at Zanzibar, Maputo and Nacala, wherein more than 1500 people including school children, Indian diaspora and local populace visited the ship.
10. Outreach activities were also conducted at Mizzizini orphanage center at Zanzibar and Obra Dom Orio Reception Centre at Maputo fostering bonds of friendship.

Antarctic Circumpolar Current

Scientists reconstructed the history of the world’s most potent ocean circulation over the previous 5.3 million years, including how it is linked to global climate.

Key Findings of the Research

• Sea Level Rise:The current speeding of the ACCdoes not bode well for the stability of Antarctica’s ice sheets, which are already losing mass at an average rate of about 150 billion tonnes per year, contributing to sea-level rise.
• Role of   Antarctic Circumpolar Current: ACC plays a key role in regulating global climate and is also the world’s most powerful and primary means of inter-basin exchange of heat, carbon dioxide, chemicals and biology.
• Encircling of Antarctica: Powered by continuous westerly winds, the ocean current circles Antarctica clockwise at about 4 kilometers per hour, carrying 165 million to 182 million cubic metres of water each second.
• Gaining of Wind Strength: Winds over the Southern Ocean, which encircles Antarctica, has gained strength by about 40 per centin the last four decades.
• Speeding of ACC: This, in turn, has sped up the ACC, causing relatively warm water from higher latitudes reaching theSouth Pole.
• Melting of ice shelves: In some parts, especially western Antarctica, these warm waters are melting the undersides of the ice shelves
• Cause of loss of Ice:This loss of ice can be attributed to increased heat transport to the south
• Effect of Stronger ACC: A stronger ACC means more warm, deep water reaches the ice-shelf edge of Antarctica.

Ocean Currents

1. Composition: They are composed of horizontal and vertical components of the ocean’s circulation system, which is caused by gravity, wind friction, and variations in water density throughout the ocean.
2. Role of Ocean Currents: They are similar to atmospheric winds that transport substantial amounts of heat from Earth’s equatorial regions to the poles, playing crucial roles in defining coastal climates.
3. Link between Ocean current and Atmospheric circulation:Furthermore, ocean currents and atmospheric circulation have an influence on one another.

Antarctic Circumpolar Current

Direction: It’s an ocean current that runs from west to east around Antarctica.

1. Role of Southern Ocean: The Southern Ocean is a continuous body of water with a rushing current that simultaneously isolates Antarctica’s coastal ocean and offers critical chemical fertilizers to the Antarctic ecology.
2. Type of Current:The largest wind-driven current on Earth is called the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC).
3. Theonly current that links the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans and circumnavigates the entire earth.
4. Driving Force: It is propelled by strong westerly windsand was discovered by Edmund Halley.
5. Acts as a Barrier:The Antarctic Current is a vast flow of water that serves as a barrier between the Southern and Northern Oceans.
6. World Circulation:Antarctica is also the source of water that moves across the deep ocean as part of the Global Ocean Conveyor (world circulation).
7. The global ocean conveyor belt is a dynamic system of deep-ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity.
8. Antarctic continental shelf:Water that flows at the ocean’s bottom is formed on the Antarctic continental shelf, particularly in the Weddell and Ross Seas.
9. High Marine production:It is the location where cold Antarctic seas meet Sub-Antarctic water, resulting in an upwelling zone (a zone of high marine production).
10. Formation of Antarctic Intermediate Water: Different weather conditions further north, at 45-55 degrees south, result in the formation of another water body known as Antarctic Intermediate Water.
11. In this area, precipitation is greater than evaporation, hence the salinity of the water is low.

Butterfly Cicada

1. It is a newly discovered species of cicada belonging to the genus Becquartina.
2. It brings the total number of known species in the genus Becquartina to seven.
3. It was discovered in Meghalaya.
4. It marks the first-ever record of this genus in the country.
5. The colorful wings of the cicada earned it the nickname “butterfly cicada”, with the species name “bicolour” reflecting its two distinct colour forms.

Features:

• The species is localised in the Garo Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts, preferring thick forests and native vegetation.
• Active from April to June, the cicada’s calling patterns vary between Garo Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts. In Garo Hills, males call rigorously in the morning and evening, while in Ri-Bhoi, calls are heard during daylight hours.
• The basal one-third of the hind wing is rich saffron, and the apical two-thirds are matte black with prominent rich saffron squarish spots.

Auction of Critical and Strategic Minerals by Mines Ministry

Government of India through Designated Officer, Ministry of Mines issued the Notice Inviting Tender dated 29 November 2023 under Tranche I of e-auction by Central Government, in respect of 20 blocks of Critical & Strategic Minerals notified in Part D of the First Schedule of MMDR Act.

1. Further to launch of the first ever tranche, two roadshows in New Delhi and Bhubaneshwar, Odisha respectively on 19 December 2023 & 07 February 2024 and a Pre-bid conference were conducted on 22 December 2023. These events received a good response from the industry. The last date for submission of bids was 26 February 2024.
2. Total 56 physical bids and 56 online bids were received for 18 blocks out of 20 blocks. Further, the e-auction process for 13 mineral blocks was annulled vide notification dated 13 March 2024, wherein no bids were received for 2 blocks and less than 3 Technically Qualified Bidders (TQB) were there for 11 blocks.
3. Further, the second round of e-auction (forward ascending) was scheduled for 6 blocks vide notification dated 13 March 2024. The second round of e-auction for these blocks have been completed as per schedule. Decision on 1 block namely Kundol, Nickel and Chromium Block of Gujurat will be taken by Designated Officer in due course of time.
4. Out of the 11 blocks annulled, 7 blocks have been notified for e-auction under tranche III vide Notice Inviting Tender dated 14 March 2024. The last date for sale of Tender Document is 16 May 2024 on or before 17:00 hours (IST) and the last date for submission of the bid is 21 May 2024 on or before 17:00 hours (IST) for the third tranche of auction.
5. In addition of the same, e-auction process under tranche II for 18 blocks is also ongoing. The last date for sale of Tender Document is 10 May 2024 on or before 17:00 hours (IST) and the last date for submission of the bid is 15 May 2024 on or before 17:00 hours (IST) for the second tranche of auction.

Section 120B of the IPC

1. Section 120A of the IPC defines the offence of criminal conspiracy.
2. Section 120B of the IPC, on the other hand, defines the punishment for criminal conspiracy.
3. Criminal Conspiracy under IPC is an agreement between two or more persons to commit an illegal act or to commit a lawful act by illegal means.
4. In other words, it is a criminal offence where two or more individuals agree to plan and execute a criminal act.
5. Section 120A of the IPC states: “When two or more persons agree to do or cause to be done, an illegal act or an act which is not illegal by illegal means, such an agreement is designated a criminal conspiracy.”
6. For a conspiracy to be established, there must be an agreement between the conspirators, a common intention to commit an illegal act, and an overt act in furtherance of that intention.
7. The agreement does not have to be in writing or expressed verbally; it can be inferred from the conduct of the parties.

The Doctrine of Agency in a Criminal Conspiracy:

1. It is said that a criminal conspiracy is a partnership in crime because every member involved is a joint and mutual agent to each other for the common purpose, i.e., execution of the conspired crime.
2. By this doctrine of agency, the law contemplates that the act of one of the members in the conspiracy is deemed as the act by each of them, due to all members being equally liable.

Punishment for Criminal Conspiracy:

1. Under the purview of IPC 120B, conspiracy is divided into two categories depending on the nature, gravity, and punishment for the said offences. Also, whether the case is bailable or not, depends on the above-mentioned circumstances.
2. In the first part, it states that if the conspiracy is to commit an offence of serious nature, an offence which is punishable with death imprisonment, imprisonment for life, or with rigorous imprisonment for at least a term of 2 years or more, or if there is no punishment mentioned in the code for the offence committed, such person shall be treated in the same manner as of the offence committed and abetted by him.
3. Whereas, in the other part of Section 120B, conspiracy other than the offence committed under the first part, conspiracy to commit an illegal act is covered. In this kind of cases, the section provides a uniform punishment, which means imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend up to six months, a fine, or both.