12 August 2022

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

1 – Recognition of Political Parties in India: GS II – Election-related issues

Background:

• The Election Commission (EC) had recently modified the rules so that instead of every five years, it will now evaluate the national and state party status of political parties.
• The use of the electoral emblem by any other political organisation in elections across India is prevented by recognition as a national or state party.
• To make the adjustment, the commission modified Section 6C of the Election Symbols (Reservationand Allotment) Order, 1968. The previous change was made in 2011.
• This modification of the regulations will prevent ruling parties from slipping out of favour due to the anti-incumbency factor after each election.
• The requirements for recognition as a national and state party, however, won’t change.

EC’s authority in the event that a party splits in a dispute over the electoral symbol:

• In accordance with Section 15 of the Symbols Order, 1968, “where competing sections or organisations of a recognised political party each claim to be that party, the commission after considering all the facts and circumstances of the case finds that:
• It is known of one such competing section or group.
• There is no such area or group acknowledged.
• All of these competing sections or organisations are required to abide by the Commission’s decision.
• Disputes involving recognised national and state parties are covered under this.
• The EC typically encourages the fighting factions to resolve their disputes internally or to approach the court for splits in registered but unrecognised parties.
• In the event of a disagreement, the EC requests that the party demonstrate its power through its elected officials (MPs and MLAs).
• If the party claiming a certain emblem can demonstrate that it has a majority through its elected officials, it may do so.
• There hasn’t been a court case concerning the distribution of symbols yet.
• When the CPI split in 1968, a splinter group contacted the ECI and pleaded with it to recognise them as the CPI (Marxist).
• After determining that the votes obtained by the MPs and MLAs supporting the breakaway group were legitimate, the ECI recognised the faction as CPI(M).
• When AIADMK split in 1987, the problem was settled before the EC was required to decide which group should keep the symbol.
• The ECI instituted a new rule in 1997 that required the split group to register as a separate party and gave it the ability to claim national or state party status based on how well it performed in state or central elections following registration.

Political party registration:

• The Representation of the People Act, 1951’s Section 29A regulations govern political party registration.
• According to the rules established by the Election Commission of India in exercising the authority granted by Article 324 of the Commission of India and Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a party seeking registration under the said Section with the Commission must submit an application to the Commission within 30 days of the date of its formation.

To qualify for membership in the “National Political Party of India:

• At a general election for the House of the People or the State Legislative Assembly, it wins at least 6% of the legitimate votes cast in any four or more states.
• Additionally, it wins four seats or more from any State or States in the House of the People.
• It obtains at least two percent of the seats in the House of the People, or 11 seats out of the current 543 members, and at least three different States are represented by these members.

To qualify for membership in the “State Political Party:

• It wins either the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the relevant State with at least 6% of the legitimate votes cast in the State during a general election.
• Additionally, it obtains at least two seats in the relevant State’s Legislative Assembly.
• It obtains at least three (3) seats in the Assembly, or at least three percent (3%) of the total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State, whichever is higher.

Benefits:

• If a party is recognised as a “State Party,” it has the right to the exclusive allocation of its reserved symbol to the candidates it nominates in the State in which it has received this recognition, and if a party is recognised as a “National Party,” it has the right to the exclusive allocation of its reserved symbol to the candidates it nominates across India.
• Recognized “State” and “National” parties only require one proposer to submit a nomination, and they are also entitled to two free sets of electoral rolls during roll revision, as well as one free electoral roll for each candidate during general elections.
• During general elections, they also receive broadcast and telecast privileges on Akashvani and Doordarshan.
• During general elections, political parties are permitted to nominate “Star Campaigners.” A registered unrecognised party may nominate a maximum of 20 “Star Campaigners,” whereas a recognised National or State party may nominate up to 40 “Star Campaigners.”
• Star campaigners cannot have their travel costs included in their party’s candidate’s election expenditure reports.

Source: The Indian Express

2 – Climate Change in Antarctica: GS III – Environmental Conservation related issues

Introduction:

• The Antarctic region recently had the warmest temperature on record, with temperatures rising beyond 20 degrees Celsius. On February 9th, scientists recorded a temperature of 20.75 degrees Celsius on an island off the coast of the continent, a record high for the area. The most recent temperature record was set on February 6 at an Argentinian research station in Esperanza, when 18.3 degrees Celsius—the hottest temperature ever recorded on Antarctica’s main land—was recorded. In January 1982, 19.8C was recorded as the previous record temperature for the whole Antarctic region, which encompasses the continent, islands, and ocean that are subject to the Antarctic climatic zone. Scientists caution that despite the new temperature reading not being a part of a larger research, it is sufficient to show how quickly Antarctica is rising.

Ice Glaciers Melting Factors:

Fossil fuel combustion:

• Because greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, the burning of fossil fuels has led to a buildup of these gases in the environment, which has a bearing on the warming trend. More and more glaciers are melting as a result of rising temperatures, which ultimately exposes the soil below.

Drilling for oil and gas:

• The major component of natural gas, methane, is also released during the oil and gas extraction process. Additionally, the gas accelerates global warming and is more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. It does this by locking in heat more effectively. Oil, gas, and coal that have been extracted from public lands are responsible for 21% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, which includes methane.
• Because they occur so frequently, avoidable seeping out and poor infrastructure in the production of natural gas significantly increase the amount of methane pollution in and around the regions. Oil and gas firms frequently leak, discharge natural gas in a controlled manner, and burn some of it, which results in the purposeful release of methane into the atmosphere.

Deforestation:

• The ecosystem’s balance and the overall cooling of the planet are greatly aided by trees. They are referred to as the planet’s “natural fans” for a reason, perhaps. Therefore, removing trees to make room for greater human activity is really proving harmful to the environment’s delicate equilibrium.
• There are several detrimental repercussions of deforestation, such as the rise in sea levels. Additionally, since there are fewer trees because of deforestation, more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and less of it is absorbed by them. It hastens global warming and sea level rise as a result.

Ships for breaking the ice:

• Icebreaking ships travel north into the Arctic Ocean during the summer months, breaking through the ice at sea and leaving tracks of open waters in their wake. The majority of the heat is reflected by the Arctic sea ice, which helps to keep the Arctic and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere chilly.
• But compared to ice, open water does not reflect as much sunlight back, therefore the water absorbs more heat. As a result, the ocean becomes warmer, melting more ice.

Emission Gap Report of the UNEP:

• In order to achieve the 1.5°C temperature goal set forth in the Paris Agreement, global greenhouse gas emissions must decrease by 7.6% year.
• According to the report, global temperatures would climb by around 3.2 degrees C by 2100, resulting in catastrophic weather such as hotter, deadlier heatwaves, more frequent floods, and drought.
• Over the past ten years, the top four emitters—China, the United States, the European Union, and India—contributed to more than 55% of all emissions, excluding those resulting from changes in land use, such as deforestation.
• If emissions from land-use change were taken into account, the rankings would shift, with Brazil probably becoming the biggest emitter.
• The fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases is India (GHGs).
• It is one of a select few nations that have committed to meeting their own climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

Solutions:

• It is conceivable and important for the energy sector to completely decarbonize.
• The energy shift depends on renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.
• By 2050, renewable energy electricity has the potential to reduce emissions by 12.1 gigatonnes.
• By 2050, electrification of transportation could drastically cut the sector’s CO2 emissions by 72%.
• Every industry and every nation has distinct chances to use renewable energy, safeguard the environment, people’s lives, and way of life, and move toward a decarbonization road.

The effects of melting glaciers include:

• Many locations throughout the world rely only on the continuously flowing water from melting glaciers to generate electricity. The production of power will cease if water flow is reduced or stopped. Since the modern world cannot function without energy, people will turn to alternative methods of generating it, some of which may wind up harming the environment and accelerating global warming.
• The effects on the world’s climate are significant. In the summer, this area generates heat, while in the winter, it absorbs heat.
• The HKH’s livelihoods and general well-being could be negatively impacted by a wide range of biophysical and socioeconomic effects, including biodiversity loss, increasing glacial melting, and less dependable water supplies.
• Glacial lakes are already developing as a result of warming-related faster snow and glacier melting. Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) are occurring more frequently and are costing the local infrastructure significant amounts of money and lives.
• River flows have continuously increased as a result of the faster melting glaciers in HKH. River runoff has increased by 5.5% on the Tibetan Plateau.
• In addition to their surface areas growing, the majority of high altitude lakes have also reported a 0.2 m/year rise in water level.
• The ICIMOD report presents a gloomy picture for the future of a region that is the source of 10 of Asia’s major rivers and feeds over two billion people with food, electricity, water, and carbon storage.
• The loss of biodiversity is being accelerated by human development, pollution, resource overuse, and climate change. For instance, urbanisation is increasing in several HKH nations.
• The consequences on biodiversity are expected to get worse as a result of the escalating effects of climate change, as well as new infrastructure projects, trade routes, and hydropower dams planned for the vulnerable area.
• Along with the extinction of species, this will result in the loss of vital environmental services that the region offers the rest of Asia, like the storage of carbon and water.
• Many of these places are isolated, and the government has limited control over border territories that are occasionally rife with continuing hostilities. Think of the Indo-Burma hotspot.

Source: The Indian Express

3 – Current Account Deficit: GS III – Indian Economy

• The country’s inflow and outflow of goods, services, and investments are tracked by the current account. Similar to the capital account, it is a part of a country’s balance of payments and indicates a country’s overseas transactions (BOP).
• If the value of imported goods and services exceeds the value of those exported, the current account is in deficit.
• A country’s current account keeps track of all of its dealings with other countries, including transfers like foreign aid and net income, which includes interest and dividends. It consists of the following elements:
• Net returns on international investments and net payments sent over time, such as remittances.
• Rising CAD indicates that a nation has lost its competitive edge, which may discourage investors from making investments there.
• India’s current account deficit might be lowered by increasing exports and reducing imports of non-essential goods like electronics, gold, and mobile phones.
• Together, the twin deficits of current account deficit and fiscal deficit—also known as “budget deficit”—occur when a country’s expenditures exceed its receipts. The twin deficits frequently reinforce one another, with a large fiscal deficit causing a bigger CAD and vice versa.

Source: The Indian Express

4 – United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan: Prelims Specific Topic

About UNMOGIP:

• Jammu and Kashmir has been a source of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan for about seven decades.
• The Line of Control (LOC) and Working Boundary in Jammu and Kashmir are under the observation of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
• It was the founding group of the United Nations Military Observer Group’s unarmed military observers in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
• In order to oversee the truce between India and Pakistan in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and to support the Military Adviser to UNCIP, they landed in the mission area in January 1949.
• India approached the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during the first Kashmir war (1947–1948) to alert Security Council members to the conflict.
• The three-member United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) was established in January 1948 by Resolution 39 of the UNSC to look into and mediate the war.
• By Resolution 47, the UNCIP was reorganised as the UNMOGIP in April 1948.
• Both India and Pakistan welcomed the UNMOGIP and promised to work with it, notwithstanding their reservations with Resolution 47’s terms.
• Despite continuing to provide UNMOGIP with the required security, transportation, and other facilities, India’s military authorities have not complained about restricting the activities of UN observers on the Indian-administrated side of the Line of Control since January 1972.

UNSC Resolution 47:

• It is working to end the conflict in Kashmir.
• It mandated that Pakistan remove its citizens who had invaded the country to fight and stop further incursions.
• The newly formed UNMOGIP, which now has five members, encouraged Pakistan and India to organise a referendum after law and order had been restored.
• The Karachi Agreement created the Jammu and Kashmir Cease Fire Line (CFL), which was supervised by the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), in July 1949.
• The regular budget of the UN provides funding for UNMOGIP.

• UNMOGIP’s areas of operation:

• UNMOGIP operates four field stations in Indian-administered Kashmir (IAJ) and six field stations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK) to monitor the ceasefire (IAK).
• Additionally, there are two liaison offices: one in New Delhi, India, and one in Pakistan.
• The headquarters of UNMOGIP are located in Islamabad, Pakistan from November to April and in Srinagar, Indian Administered Kashmir, from May to October.

Why India is against UNMOGIP:

• The Line of Control (LoC) was established in 1971 as a result of the Shimla Accord, and India contends that UNMOGIP is no longer necessary and relevant.
• The Line of Control will serve as the new location for the cease-fire line, and India and Pakistan have agreed to settle their differences bilaterally and without the involvement of a third party, per the Shimla Agreement.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated in 2017 that UNMOGIP does not have a mandate to monitor the situation in Kashmir after India requested that UNMOGIP discontinue activities in Kashmir in 2014.
• On the other hand, Pakistan has continued to welcome the UNMOGIP mission that is located there.
• In response to India’s objections, the UN Secretary-General declared that UNMOGIP could only be dissolved by a UN Security Council vote because of the disagreement between India and Pakistan regarding its purpose and mission.

Conclusion:

• According to its “Neighborhood First Policy,” India seeks regular neighbourly ties with Pakistan. India has consistently argued that any disputes should be settled bilaterally, amicably, and in an environment free of fear and violence. Pakistan is accountable for developing such a climate. India has made it plain that it will not make concessions on matters of national security and will act firmly and decisively to thwart any attempts to damage the country’s security and territorial integrity.

Source: The Indian Express