06 August 2022

WEEKLY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains
1.  Prevention of Insults to National Honours Act Prelims & Mains
2.  Space Debris Prelims & Mains
3.  Aviation Sector in India Prelims Specific Topic
4.  COWIN Portal Prelims Specific Topic

1 – Prevention of Insults to National Honours Act: GS II – Government Policies and Interventions

 Context:

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited people to use the Tricolor as their social media profile image from August 2–15, this year, to commemorate 75 years of Independence, calling the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav a “popular movement.”

About the Act:

  • The degradation of or insult to Indian national symbols, including the National Flag, the Constitution, the National Anthem, and the Indian map, as well as disrespect of the Constitution of India, are both prohibited by the law, which was passed on December 23, 1971.
  • Insults to the Indian Constitution and National Flag are included in Section 2 of the Act.

Other clauses:

  • The regulations, customs, and traditions pertaining to the display of the national flag are covered in Section 3.22 of The Flag Code of India, 2002.
  • In accordance with Section 3.58, the flag must be draped over the coffin or bier on State, Military, and Central Paramilitary Forces funeral occasions, with the saffron facing the coffin’s or bier’s head.
  • The Flag may not be placed on a funeral pyre or lowered into a grave.

Source The Indian Express

2 – Space Debris: GS II – Space Related Issues

About:

  • The term “space debris” refers to the abandoned, defunct spacecraft that have been sitting in Earth’s orbit for years.

What dangers does space debris present?

  • The issue is made worse by the space junk’s collision with other satellites or with other debris in space.
  • Some low-Earth orbits might become unsuitable if there was a belt of space debris.
  • Kessler syndrome has been forewarned by experts.
  • Space debris would be harmful to astronauts in orbit.
  • Batteries from retired spacecraft may explode, and system leaks may occur.
  • Debris in space poses a persistent threat to the International Space Station (ISS).
  • According to the Kessler syndrome, collisions between objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) could set off a chain reaction that raises the possibility of additional collisions.

What steps have been taken to manage the space debris thus far?

  • In 1995, NASA established the Orbital Debris Program Office and published the first set of global guidelines for debris reduction.
  • It suggested that by 25 years of mission completion, satellites should be built to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
  • Plans for Europe Earth’s first space trash clearance mission, ClearSpace-1, will launch in 2025.
  • In an effort to clear space of junk, Purdue University researchers are launching a prototype Spinnaker3 drag sail into low-Earth orbit for testing.
  • A satellite that collects old satellites and other space debris was launched by the Japanese startup Astroscale.
  • The NETRA Project, an early warning system to safeguard satellites from space debris and other risks of Space, was launched by ISRO in August 2020.
  • According to international space law, if a satellite starts to malfunction, it should deorbit and a plan should be made for its re-entry into the atmosphere.

What needs to be done?

  • The 1967 Outer Space Treaty was updated to award nations permanent property rights on their spacecraft, complicating efforts to clear trash.
  • NASA funding technology development for debris removal and collaborations with businesses.
  • US-led expansion of the Artemis Accords, a framework for international space cooperation that currently includes 11 other nations.

Source The Hindu

3 – Aviation Sector in India: GS II – Government Policies and Interventions

Background:

  • In India, the third-largest civil aviation market in the world by 2020, civil aviation dates back to 1911, when the first commercial flight transporting mail across the Yamuna river to Naini took off from a polo ground in Allahabad.
  • After merging with Indian in 2011, Air India is now the nation’s flag carrier and is crucial for tying India to the rest of the world.
  • By 2024, India will have the third-largest global civil aviation market. In 2016, it registered 131 million passengers flying across its airspace, of which 100 million were domestic passengers.

Airports Authority of India (AAI):

  • AAI began operations in 1995. It is a mini-ratna firm that constructs, modernises, manages, and maintains airport infrastructure.
  • GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation, or GAGAN, is a method that improves the precision and reliability of GPS signals. AAI and ISRO collaborate to put it into action.
  • In scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services, the government increased the FDI cap from 49 percent to 100 percent.
  • the establishment of the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Akademi (IGRUA) at Fursatganj, Raebareli (UP).
  • Fursatganj, Raebareli is home to the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) (UP).

The 2016 National Civil Aviation Policy:

  • The first policy since independence is this one.
  • It intends to establish an ecosystem that will encourage the development of the civil aviation industry, which will stimulate tourism, boost employment, and result in a balanced regional growth.

Civil aviation sector reforms:

  • The government has implemented a number of reforms to the nation’s civil aviation industry by putting in place first-rate facilities and infrastructure. It contains:
  • To accommodate the anticipated growth in the aviation industry, AAI has launched a development programme to spend roughly Rs. 25,000 crores over the next 4-5 years on new terminal construction, terminal expansion and modification, runway extension or strengthening, aprons, Airport Navigation Services (ANS), control towers, technical blocks, etc.
  • The establishment of 21 Greenfield Airports around India has received “in-principle” approval from the Government of India (GoI). Six Greenfield airports have so far been operationalized, including those in Shirdi in Maharashtra, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kannur in Kerala, Orvakal in Andhra Pradesh, and Kalaburagi in Karnataka.

 

  • Encouraging private investments in both new and existing airports via PPP.
  • As of July 27, 2021, 359 routes under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) have started linking 59 unserved/underserved airports, including 2 water aerodromes and 5 heliports.
  • Optimization of flight paths within Indian airspace in collaboration with the Indian Air Force for effective airspace management, shorter flight paths, and reduced fuel consumption.
  • To guarantee fair and equitable treatment for our carriers in the global market, efforts have been made through Air Bubble Arrangements.
  • In order to increase their global competitiveness, the government has aided airlines with a variety of policy initiatives, such as tax reductions, the creation of favourable leasing and financing conditions for aircraft, the efficient use of bilateral traffic rights, and upgrades to air navigation facilities.
  • The government has pushed airlines to purchase cutting-edge wide-body aircraft. Vistara Airlines has so far purchased two new wide-body planes.
  • Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the aviation industry—including airlines, airports, and related services—has under financial strain.
  • The following, among other things, are the specifics of the significant actions the government took to revitalise the civil aviation sector:
  • Through the Airports Authority of India and the commercial operators, provide airport infrastructure.
  • encouraging private investment in both new and existing airports via PPP
  • Ensure the Air Navigation System is effective.
  • To guarantee fair and equitable treatment for our carriers in the global market, efforts have been made through Air Bubble Arrangements.
  • For domestic Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate was lowered from 18 percent to 5 percent.
  • The atmosphere is favourable for financing and leasing of aeroplanes.
  • optimization of flight paths within Indian airspace in collaboration with the Indian Air Force for effective airspace management, shorter flight paths, and reduced fuel consumption.
  • collaborating with stakeholders to find solutions.

Source The Indian Express

4 – COWIN Portal: Prelims Specific 

About CoWIN:

  • The website used by the Indian government to register people for COVID-19 vaccination is called CoWIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Work). It shows COVID-19 immunisation appointment times that are available nearby and may be scheduled on the website.
  • People can determine when, where, and by whom they were immunised as a safe and reliable proof.
  • Overall, CoWIN is a cloud-based IT solution for the Covid-19 immunisation in India, including planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating it.
  • This enables the system to keep track of how much Covid-19 vaccine is used, wasted, and covered at the national, state, district, and sub-district levels.
  • The CoWIN system keeps track of the immunisation drive in India in real time.
  • The website also offers digital immunisation certificates.
  • In essence, CoWIN is an expansion of eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network).

Source The Hindu

02 AUGUST 2022

. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains
5.  Gig Economy Prelims & Mains
6.  African Swine Fever Prelims & Mains
7.  Monetary Policy Committee Prelims Specific Topic
8.  GST Council Prelims Specific Topic

1 – Gig Economy: GS III – Indian Economy

What is the “gig economy”?

  • A gig economy is a type of free market where enterprises frequently use temporary roles and independent workers on a temporary basis.
  • According to a Boston Consulting Group report, there are 15 million gig workers in India working in industries like software, shared services, and professional services.
  • According to a study conducted in 2019 by the India Staffing Federation, India is the fifth-largest flex-staffing market in the world, after the US, China, Brazil, and Japan.

What Potential Does India’s Gig Economy Have?

  • 56 percent of the nation’s new jobs, which include both white-collar and blue-collar workers, were created by businesses in the gig economy.
  • Blue-collar jobs in India frequently require gig workers, but there is also an increasing demand for them in industries that require project-specific consulting, sales, web design, content writing, and software development.
  • The gig economy has the potential to increase India’s GDP by 1.25 percent in the “long term” and support up to 90 million jobs in non-agricultural businesses.
  • In order to close the income and unemployment gaps as India moves closer to its stated objective of having a USD 5 trillion GDP by 2025, the gig economy would be a crucial factor.

What Primary Drivers Motivate the Gig Economy?

  • The option to work remotely: In the digital age, employees are no longer compelled to work from a specific area; instead, they can accomplish their jobs from any location. This enables organisations to select the best people regardless of location.
  • The millennial age seems to view careers considerably differently than previous generations. They attempt to pursue the work they want to accomplish rather than careers that might not fulfil their deepest interests.
  • For gig workers, a variety of payment methods are employed, including fixed-fee (decided at contract commencement), time & effort, actual unit of labour accomplished, and quality of output. The time & effort model is a close second to the fixed-fee model as the most popular strategy.
  • The Indian start-up ecosystem has rapidly expanded alongside the rise of a start-up culture.
  • Contractual freelancers are utilised for non-core work because hiring full-time staff has significant fixed costs for start-up organisations.
  • Start-ups are also thinking about hiring qualified technology freelancers (on a project-by-project basis) in disciplines including engineering, product, data science, and machine learning to boost their technical platforms.
  • Increasing need for contract workers: In response to the epidemic, MNCs are employing flexible employment practises, especially for specialised projects, to reduce operating expenses.
  • This propensity has a big impact on the gig culture in India.

What Issues Are Affecting the Gig Economy?

  • Employees in the gig economy have low job security and little benefits because the gig economy grows primarily in an uncontrolled environment.
  • Nevertheless, few claim that India’s gig economy is a continuation of the nation’s long-standing, uncontrolled informal labour market, which does not offer workers social security, insurance, etc.
  • needed abilities: A worker needs to have the required skills. The ability to negotiate will always be limited unless a person is particularly gifted.
  • Although it is common for corporations to invest in employee training, a gig economy worker will have to do it on his own and at his own own.
  • Due to the imbalance between demand and supply, which already exists when it comes to available employment for online freelancers, pay will eventually decline as a result.

The Pandemic and the Gig Economy:

  • Businesses were impacted by Covid-19, and people had to find reliable sources of income. The need for gig labour increased as a result of the outbreak.
  • For instance, Google announced the August 2020 launch of its Kormo Jobs app in India to connect job seekers with openings in industries including retail, hospitality, and on-demand businesses.
  • As the number of gig workers has expanded over time, notably with consumer internet companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Uber, Ola, Urban Clap, etc., the employees have increasingly complained a drop in their pay.
  • Its two main implications on the environment of contract labour are as follows:
  • In order to first satisfy the growing need for on-demand staffing, it has created new business models.
  • Second, it has once more raised awareness of the employment rules that safeguard gig workers and set a federal minimum wage.

What Advantages and Disadvantages Do Gig Jobs Provide to Women?

Pros:

  • Support for Balancing Labor and Home: The flexibility of gig work allows women to balance their traditional roles as caregivers and homemakers with employment.
  • Provide a Safe Work Environment for Women: Technology and gig employment, which is supported by Work From Home, have addressed the issue of safety during travel and night shifts (WFH).
  • Women now have greater employment alternatives in tier 2 and tier 3 cities as well.
  • On-Demand Work is Available: Women now have access to on-demand employment, giving them the freedom to enter and exit the workforce when they see fit.
  • Help with Extra Income: Gig employment enables women to earn more income, builds their self-esteem, and empowers them to make choices—all of which are essential components of women’s empowerment.

Cons:

  • Since the gig economy exacerbates problems with the gender wage gap, biassed algorithms, gender stereotypes, and the technology divide that already exist in the labour market, it creates significant barriers to entry for women.
  • As a result, it is essential to find and address these underlying structural issues in the digital world.
  • The gender gap in computer literacy severely hinders women’s participation in gig employment. According to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2020, only 21% of women in India utilise mobile internet, resulting in unequal access to digital technologies needed for participation in the platform economy.
  • Despite the absence of a comprehensive database on gig workers in the country, platforms have been found to categorise jobs according to gender stereotypes.
  • Men tend to work more in delivery and transportation, while women often handle formal domestic and caregiving tasks as well as provide beauty and wellness services.
  • Pay Disparities: Pay gaps are a common occurrence in the freelance economy.
  • Men and women gig workers in India earned between 8% and 10% less, according to reports from before the pandemic.
  • According to studies, women undervalue their abilities and accept lower-paying jobs as a result of learned inequality, which exacerbates the already pronounced wage disparity in the gig economy.
  • Biased Against Women: The platforms frequently discriminate against women because to their “on-demand” work schedules and incentive structures.
  • The benefits of peak hours, when both demand and earnings are high, are typically missed by women who are active in domestic and childcare responsibilities.
  • In addition, women’s working days are longer than men’s due to the combination of paid and unpaid work, which increases their time insecurity.
  • What does the labour code for the gig economy include?
  • presently enacted laws:
  • The 2019 Code on Wages establishes a universal minimum wage and floor wage for both organised and unorganised sectors, including gig workers.
  • In the 2020 Social Security Code, gig workers are recognised as a new occupational category.
  • According to this definition, a gig worker is a person who works or participates in work arrangements and receives compensation for them outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship.

Problems Related to the Workers Security Code:

  • The Code on Social Security law of 2020 does not guarantee benefits; nonetheless, platform workers presently have some benefits, including as maternity benefits, life and disability insurance, old age security, provident fund benefits, and compensation for injuries sustained on the job.
  • However, being eligible does not guarantee that you will receive the advantages.
  • Benefits are not guaranteed by any of the provisions, therefore even if the Central government occasionally creates social programmes to address these concerns of employment and personal security, they are not a given.
  • Absence of Fixed Duties: The central government, platform aggregators, and employees are all jointly liable for providing basic welfare measures, according to the Code.
  • However, it is not clear which stakeholder is in responsibility of delivering whatever degree of benefit.

 

  • What GIG employee conditions need to be improved?

 

  • Need to Empower the Gig Workers: By forming an umbrella union, it will be possible to offer the gig workers more negotiating power.
  • The formal recognition and information symmetry will help them defend themselves against the platforms better.
  • Mandatory Coverage Must Be Offered to Platform Workers: Although some positive changes have resulted from the inclusion of gig workers in the labour legislation, the terms of their social security are ambiguous and lack any established regulating agencies.
  • Platform workers must consequently receive the necessary coverage through the publicly supported programmes Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.
  • In order to protect women gig workers, who are typically more vulnerable in the platform economy, the aggregators can make this possible.
  • It is necessary to build the appropriate social and physical infrastructure: The correct physical and social infrastructure must be built in order to encourage women to participate in gig work.
  • By promoting societal norms that encourage men to conduct unpaid care and domestic work equally and by developing public care infrastructure, women’s move into gig work will be assisted.

 

Source à The Indian Express

 

 

 

 

 

2 – African Swine Fever:

 

GS II

 

Topic à Health Related Issues

 

  • It affects and causes an acute form of hemorrhagic fever in domestic and wild pigs. It is a highly contagious and lethal animal illness.
  • High fever, depression, anorexia, appetite loss, skin haemorrhages, vomiting, and diarrhoea are some of the further symptoms of the illness.
  • In the 1920s, it was found for the first time in Africa.
  • In the past, epidemics have been documented in the Caribbean, South America, and areas of Europe and Africa.
  • However, since 2007, reports of the illness in domestic and wild pigs have been made in other nations across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
  • Since the mortality rate is about 100% and there is no known treatment for the fever, killing the animals is the only way to stop it from spreading.
  • Since ASF primarily spreads from animal to animal, humans are not at risk from it.
  • The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code lists ASF as a disease that should be reported to the OIE.

 

Source à The Hindu

 

3 – Monetary Policy Committee:

 

GS III

 

Topic à Indian Economy

 

  • The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), a government-appointed body that oversees the RBI, is entrusted with formulating monetary policy utilising instruments such as the repo rate, reverse repo rate, bank rate, and cash reserve ratio (CRR).

 

  • In accordance with the 1934 amendments to the RBI Act, Section 45ZB, the Central Government of India established it.

 

  • Functions:

 

  • The task of choosing the various policy rates, including MSF, Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate, and Liquidity Adjustment Facility, falls under the purview of the MPC.

 

 

 

 

  • MPC’s composition:

 

  • There will be six people on the committee.
  • Three of the six members will be proposed by the government.
  • The governor would serve as the ex-officio chairperson, and the other three members would be from the RBI. The deputy governor of the RBI in charge of monetary policy as well as an executive director of the central bank will both be members.

 

  • Members’ selection and terms:

 

  • Selection:A Search-cum-Selection Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary would choose the government nominations to the MPC together with the RBI Governor, the Economic Affairs Secretary, and three specialists in the fields of economics, banking, finance, and monetary policy.
  • Members of the MPC are appointed for a four-year term and are not eligible for re-appointment.

 

  • How are decisions reached?

 

  • Each member has one vote, and decisions are made by majority vote.

 

  • The committee’s chair will be the governor of the Reserve Bank of India. The governor will have a casting vote in the event of a tie but will not have a veto ability to override the other panel members.

 

  • What does RBI monetary policy entail?

 

  • The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) policy regarding the use of monetary resources under its control with the aim of increasing GDP and reducing inflation is referred to as its “monetary policy.”

 

  • The RBI is given authority to set monetary policy by the Reserve Bank of India Act of 1934.

 

  • What goals does the monetary policy have?

 

  • According to the Chakravarty Committee’s recommendations, India’s monetary policy must take into consideration factors including fostering the expansion of new financial institutions, economic growth, equity, and social justice.

 

  • The RBI continues to work to reduce inflation within a manageable range even as the Indian government strives to speed up the country’s GDP growth rate.
  • The Monetary Policy Committee chooses the best policy interest rate to help the nation reach its inflation target in order to accomplish its key goals.

 

  • How are monetary policy instruments managed?

 

  • There are two categories of monetary policy instruments: qualitative instruments and quantitative instruments.
  • Open Market Operations, Bank Rate, Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate, Cash Reserve Ratio, Statutory Liquidity Ratio, Marginal Standing Facility, and Liquidity Adjustment Facility are among the quantitative instruments on the list (LAF).

 

  • Direct action, adjustments to the profit margin, and moral persuasion are all examples of qualitative instruments.

 

Source à The Indian Express

 

4 – GST Council:

 

Prelims Specific Topic

 

  • The GST Council: What is It?

 

  • The Constitutional (122nd Amendment) Bill (abbreviated CAB) was approved by both chambers of parliament in 2016 in order to establish GST.
  • More than 15 states approved the CAB, and the Hon. President subsequently signed “The Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016”.
  • Since then, the GST council has been officially recognised, creating the constitutional body responsible for resolving GST-related disputes.
  • According to Article 279A (1) of the modified Constitution, the President established this joint forum of the Center and the States.

 

  • Members:

 

  • Union Finance Minister is the Chairman of the GST Council.
  • State Finance Ministers are its members.

 

  • Functions:

 

  • The Council is tasked with “making recommendations to the Union and the States on major GST-related issues, such as the commodities and services that may be subject to or excluded from GST, model GST Laws,” as stated in Article 279 of the Constitution.
  • It also determines the different GST rate slabs.
  • For instance, a panel of ministers’ interim report recommended levying a 28% GST on horse racing, online gaming, and casinos.

 

Source à The Hindu

 

 

 

03 AUGUST 2022

 

. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains
9.  New START Treaty Prelims & Mains
10.  Waqf Board Prelims & Mains
11.  Pingali Venkaiyya Prelims Specific Topic
12.  Financial Inclusion Index Prelims Specific Topic

 

 

 

1 – New START Treaty:

 

GS II

 

Topic à International Relations

 

  • A deal on measures for the further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive armaments, known as the New START Treaty, was signed by the Russian Federation and the United States of America.
  • It becomes effective on February 5, 2011.
  • It is a replacement for the START framework, which placed a cap on the number of warheads and strategic delivery vehicles on each side in 1991 (after the conclusion of the Cold War).
  • By limiting each side to 700 strategic launchers and 1,550 operable warheads, it carries on the bipartisan process of verifiably lowering the strategic nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia.
  • It expires in February 2021 unless it is extended for a further five years.

 

Source à The Indian Express

 

2 – Waqf Board:

 

GS II

 

Topic à Statutory and Non-Statutory Bodies

 

  • About:

 

  • Donations of cash or other resources made in the name of God for religious or charitable purposes.
  • Legally defined, the permanent dedication of any movable or immovable property by a person professing Islam for any purpose recognised by Muslim law as pious, religious, or charitable

 

 

  • How do Waqf Boards get created?

 

  • If a property has been consistently used for charitable or religious reasons for a long period, it may become a waqf; alternatively, a waqf may be formed through a deed or other legal document.
  • Mosques, cemeteries, schools, and shelter homes are frequently supported with the money.
  • The person who formed the waqf could not reclaim the assets because it would be a continuous entity.
  • A non-Muslim may also establish a waqf, but they must do it in a manner that both proclaims Islam and has Islamic objectives in mind.

 

  • How does the Waqf Board operate?

 

  • It is controlled by the Waqf Act of 1995.
  • In order to establish a list of all properties classified as waqf, a survey commissioner is required under the Act to make local enquiries, consult witnesses, and request public records.
  • The waqf’s operations are supervised by a mutawali who also serves as a manager. It is equivalent to a trust established in accordance with the Indian Trusts Act of 1882, despite the fact that trusts may be established for reasons beyond from philanthropic and religious ones. A trust can also be dissolved by the board, unlike a waqf.

 

  • It has the legal right to purchase, keep, and transfer any type of property.
  • The board is permitted to file lawsuits and be sued in court due to its designation as a legal entity or juristic person.

 

  • Composition:

 

  • Each state has a Waqf Board, which is made up of a chairperson, one or two state government nominees, Muslim legislators and parliamentarians, Muslim state bar council members, recognised Islamic scholars, and mutawalis of waqfs with an annual income of Rs. 1 lakh and above.

 

  • Other Details:

 

  • The Waqf Board must obtain approval before transferring any immovable property owned by a waqf by way of a sale, gift, mortgage, exchange, or lease, as per the law, and manage the waqf’s assets. The sanction will not be given, nevertheless, unless at least two-thirds of the Waqf Board members vote in favour of the transaction.

 

Source à The Hindu

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 – Pingali Venkaiyya:

 

Prelims Specific Topic

 

  • Who was he?

 

  • He was born in Andhra Pradesh on August 2, 1876.
  • He also goes by the name “Jhanda Venkaiah.”
  • A independence fighter who also created the Indian National Tricolor was Pingali Venkayya. He designed the national flag that is flown today.

 

  • The development of the National Flag of India:

 

  • In every Congress session between 1918 and 1921, Venkayya brought up the topic of having a personal flag. He was a lecturer at the Andhra National College in Machilipatnam at the time.
  • In Vijayawada, he ran into the Mahatma once more, and he showed him his book with the many flag designs. Gandhi then requested Venkayya to create a new national flag at the national congress conference in 1921 after acknowledging the need for one.
  • At first, Venkayya used the colours saffron and green, but then added a white third colour and a spinning wheel to the design. (LALA HANS RAJ SONDHI Suggested Adding a Spinning Wheel to Demonstrate Independent Indians Who Can Spin Their Own Clothes From Local Fibres.)
  • The Indian National Congress formally approved the flag in 1931.

 

Source à The Indian Express

 

4 – Financial Inclusion Index:

 

Prelims Specific Topic

 

  • About:

 

  • In conjunction with the government and the relevant sectoral regulators, the index was conceptualised as a comprehensive index that included information on the banking, investments, insurance, postal, and pension sectors.
  • Every year in July, it will be released.
  • It was built without using a “base year,” and as a result, it represents all of the stakeholders’ cumulative efforts over time to promote financial inclusion.

 

  • Aim:

 

  • to measure the level of financial inclusion in the entire nation.

 

 

 

 

  • Parameters:

 

  • In a single number ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 denotes total financial exclusion and 100 denotes full financial inclusion, it captures data on numerous facets of financial inclusion.
  • It consists of three major parameters—Access (35 percent), Usage (45 percent), and Quality (20 percent)—each of which is composed of many dimensions and is calculated using a variety of indicators.
  • All 97 indicators are responsive to the index in terms of service accessibility, usability, and quality.

 

  • Relevance of the Index:

 

  • Information on the level of financial inclusion is provided, and financial services are measured for use in internal policy making.
  • It can be applied straight away as a composite measure in development indicators.
  • Fulfill the G20 Indicators: This makes it possible to meet the criteria for the G20 Financial Inclusion Indicators.
  • The G20 indicators evaluate the status of digital financial services and financial inclusion on a national and international level.
  • Researcher Support: It also makes it easier for academics to look into the effects of financial inclusion and other macroeconomic factors.

 

Source à The Hindu

 

 

04 AUGUST 2022

 

. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains
13.  Data Protection Bill Prelims & Mains
14.  Anti Doping Bill Prelims & Mains
15.  Fair and Remunerative Price Prelims & Mains
16.  Central Vigilance Commissioner Prelims & Mains

 

 

 

1 – Data Protection Bill:

 

GS II

 

Topic à Government Policies and Interventions

 

  • Context:

 

  • In order to create a “comprehensive legal framework” for policing the online world, the government withdrew the Personal Data Protection Bill from Parliament. This framework will include separate laws on data privacy, the internet ecosystem as a whole, cybersecurity, telecom laws, and the use of non-personal data to foster innovation in the nation.

 

  • Important suggestions:

 

  • The current title of the “Personal Data Protection Bill” should be changed to reflect this change. This is meant to represent that the bill will also deal with non-personal data, such as personal data that has been anonymized, in order to better safeguard privacy.
  • Change the language in the clause prohibiting the transfer of personal information outside of India to read, “Sensitive personal information shall not be shared with any foreign government or agency unless such sharing is permitted by the central government.”
  • No social media platform should be permitted to function in India until its parent firm, which owns the technology that underpins its services, establishes a presence there.
  • It suggests creating a different regulatory agency specifically to oversee the media.
  • If de-identified data is re-identified by anyone, they might face up to a 3-year prison sentence, a Rs. 2 lakh fine, or both.
  • The Bill’s name should be changed to “personalization” instead.
  • Only in extraordinary cases may the central government exempt any government agency from the law.

 

  • How do these recommendations stack up against EU law?

 

  • In several ways, the JCP’s suggestions for the Personal Data Protection Bill are extremely comparable to international norms like the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union.

 

  • Similarities:

 

  • Consent: In order for users to opt in or out of the way their data is handled, they must give their informed consent.

 

  • Breach: Within 72 hours of the disclosure, authorities must be notified of a breach.

 

  • There is a two-year transition period before the GDPR’s requirements take effect.

 

  • Any natural or legal person, governmental authority, agency, or entity that chooses the purposes and methods of data processing is referred to as a “data fiduciary” under EU legislation. It also includes NGOs in India.

 

  • The committee has advised that a Data Protection Authority (DPA) be established:

 

  • Both personal and non-personal data will be handled by the Data Protection Authority (DPA).

 

  • DPA membership: A selection committee led by the Cabinet Secretary will make recommendations to the Union government, which will then designate the DPA’s chairperson and other members.

 

  • The Indian Attorney General, as well as the IT and law secretaries, will also be included on the committee.
  • Members proposed by the Center include an independent expert and one director each from the IIT and the IIM.

 

  • Additional Highlights include:

 

  • The law seeks to define the flow and use of personal data, protect the rights of those whose data is processed, establish a framework for cross-border transfers, hold data processors accountable, and propose remedies for improper and harmful processing.
  • Additionally, it aims to provide the government the authority to exempt its investigative agencies from the law’s requirements, a move that the opposition MPs who filed their dissent notes have vehemently opposed.

 

Source à The Indian Express

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 – Anti Doping Bill:

 

GS II

 

Topic à Government Policies and Interventions

 

  • Context:

 

  • A Bill to establish a legal framework for the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and National Dope Testing Laboratory was approved by the Indian Parliament yesterday.

 

  • What are the Bill’s Main Elements?

 

  • Doping is prohibited by the Bill from being used by athletes, athlete support staff, and other people in competitive sports.

 

  • Violations’ Repercussions:

 

  • Anti-doping rule violations can lead to results being disqualified, the loss of medals, points, and prizes, the ineligibility to compete in an event for a set amount of time, financial penalties, etc.
  • National Anti-Doping Agency to Have Statutory Basis: The Bill outlines how to set up this organisation as a statutory authority.
  • A Director General chosen by the federal government will serve as its leader. The Agency’s duties include promoting anti-doping research and planning, implementing, and overseeing anti-doping initiatives. It also conducts investigations into anti-doping rule infractions.
  • National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports: The Bill creates a National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports to advise the government on anti-doping laws and adherence to anti-doping agreements made internationally.
  • The Board will supervise the Agency’s operations and provide it directives.
  • Dope Testing Laboratories: It will be assumed that the current National Dope Testing Facility is the primary dope testing laboratory.
  • More National Dope Testing Laboratories could be established by the federal government.

 

  • What is the Bill’s Importance?

 

  • The bill seeks to improve agency coordination in the fight against doping as well as provide athletes with time-bound justice.
  • It also aims to strengthen India’s will to uphold its international commitments to clean sports.
  • The bill would contribute to the development of a reliable, impartial system for anti-doping adjudication.

 

  • What are the Problems with the Bill?

 

  • The bill would also give NADA and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) legal validity.
  • The Director General’s qualifications are not listed in the Bill and must be announced by rules.
  • The Director General may be fired by the federal government for misconduct, incompetence, or “some other ground.”
  • Giving the central government power over these clauses would compromise the Director General’s independence.
  • Additionally, this violates the World Anti-Doping Agency’s directive that such organisations must have operational independence.
  • According to the Bill, the Board may dismiss Disciplinary Panel and Appeal Panel members for reasons that will be outlined in regulations and not in the Bill.
  • Furthermore, there is no obligation to offer them a chance to be heard. This might interfere with these panels’ ability to operate independently.

 

  • NADA:

 

  • On November 24, 2005, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) was established as a society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 with the goal of establishing drug-free sports in India.
  • The main goals are to enforce anti-doping regulations in accordance with the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code, control the dope control programme, support education and research, and raise awareness of doping and its negative effects.
  • Planning, organising, executing, monitoring, and advocating advances in doping control are all tasks that fall under the purview of the NADA. Other tasks include cooperating with other pertinent national organisations, agencies, and other anti-doping organisations.

 

  • WADA:

 

  • The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established by the International Olympic Committee in November 1999.
  • The UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport acknowledges WADA (2005).
  • WADA’s main responsibility is to create, harmonise, and coordinate anti-doping rules for all sports and nations.
  • The World Anti-Doping Code (WADA Code) and its requirements are properly implemented, investigations into doping incidents are conducted, doping research is done, and anti-doping policies are properly explained to athletes and other relevant staff.

 

Source à The Hindu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 – Fair and Remunerative Price:

 

GS III

 

Topic à Indian Agriculture

 

  • Context:

 

  • The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for the sugar season 2022–23 (October–September) has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs at its meeting here on Wednesday, which was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The FRP is set at 305 per quintal. With a basic sugar recovery rate of 10.25 percent, sugarcane is the source of the money. A premium of 3.05 per quintal for every 0.1 percent improvement in sugar recovery over and above 10.25 percent as well as a 3.05 per quintal drop in FRP for every 0.1 percent decline in recovery have also been declared by the Center.

 

  • About the FRP:

 

  • FRP is the amount set by the government that mills are required by law to pay farmers for the cane that they buy from them.
  • Farmers have the opportunity to pay the FRP in instalments by entering into a contract with mills.
  • Payment delays may result in interest charges of up to 15% per year, and the sugar commissioner may attach mill facilities to recoup unpaid FRP as revenue recovery dues.
  • The Sugarcane Control Order, 1966, published under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955, specifies that FRP must be paid nationwide within 14 days of the cane’s delivery date.
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs announced the decision following the Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices’ (CACP) recommendation (CCEA).
  • A department within the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is known as CACP. It is an advisory committee, and the Government is not required to heed its suggestions.
  • India’s Prime Minister serves as the organization’s chair.
  • The Rangarajan Committee’s study on restructuring the sugarcane industry served as the foundation for the FRP.

 

  • What factors are taken into account when announcing FRP?

 

  • The price of producing sugarcane
  • Return to alternative crop growers and the general trend of agricultural commodity prices
  • sugar being offered to consumers at a reasonable price
  • Price at which sugar manufacturers sell sugar made from sugarcane
  • sugar is recovered from sugarcane.
  • The profit from the sale of byproducts like molasses, bagasse, and press mud or the value that is ascribed to them
  • Sugarcane growers should have adequate margins to account for risk and earnings.

 

 

  • FRP payment methods:

 

  • The FRP is based on the cane’s ability to recover sugar.
  • For the sugar season of 2021–2022, FRP has been set at Rs 2,900 per tonne at a base recovery of 10%.
  • The ratio of sugar produced to cane crushed, stated as a percentage, is called sugar recovery.
  • Higher recovery results in higher FRP and higher sugar production.

 

  • About the crop of sugarcane:

 

  • Temperature:hot and muggy with a range of 21–27°C.
  • Rainfall:between 75 and 100 cm.
  • The soil is a deep, rich loam.
  • States that produce the most sugarcane are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.
  • After Brazil, India is the second-largest producer of sugarcane.
  • It may be cultivated on any type of soil, from clay loam to sandy loam, as long as it has good drainage.
  • From planting to harvesting, it requires manual labour.
  • It is the primary source of gur (jaggery), khandsari, molasses, and sugar.
  • Two of the government measures to assist sugarcane production and the sugar industry are the Scheme for Extending Financial Assistance to Sugar Undertakings (SEFASU) and the National Policy on Biofuels.

 

Source à The Indian Express

 

4 – Central Vigilance Commissioner:

 

GS II

 

Topic à Constitutional Bodies

 

  • Context:

 

  • A year after the position became vacant, Suresh N. Patel was appointed as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) on Wednesday.

 

  • Background of CVC:

 

  • The Santhanam Committee’s recommendations led to the creation of the Central Vigilance Commission, which was given legal status by the 2003 CVC Act. It was intended to stop government corruption and make officials accountable for their dishonest deeds.

 

 

 

  • Objectives of the CVC:

 

  • In order to prevent corruption in All India Services, Central Services, PSUs, and other departments, it is regarded as the coordinating authority.
  • It is in charge of the Delhi Special Police in corruption cases.
  • It examines the government’s authorizations for prosecution.
  • It suggests taking disciplinary action against senior Group A, Group B, All India Services, etc. personnel.
  • It is essentially regarded as the focal point for fighting corruption on a national scale.

 

  • CVC’s effectiveness:

 

  • According to its mission, the CVC has proven to be a successful institution in combating corruption. It has demonstrated this in the past with the following deeds.
  • It has in the past resulted in the easy appointment of significant officers to various roles.
  • It has previously taken remarkable action against high-ranking officials, senior employees, and even numerous politicians.
  • Every year, it organises Vigilance Week to raise awareness about the dangers of corruption.
  • It can perform “Suo Moto” and serves as a civil court.
  • As a result of the CVC’s recruitment by an impartial committee made up of the PM, the Home Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, etc., its independence is preserved.

 

  • Several issues:

 

  • However, due to the following ineffectiveness, the hope that CVC would be an institution that could serve as a “One Stop Solution” to combat corruption in the nation has been disproven.

 

  • The organisations and ministries are not required to abide by the CVC’s decisions.
  • CVC’s influence and efficacy have decreased because to a very low conviction rate.
  • The cases that CVC handles take a very long time, hence it is ineffective as a deterrence.
  • Since CVC is solely recognised as an advisory body and lacks the authority to order the CBI to open investigations into any officer with the rank of Joint Secretary or higher, it is frequently seen as a helpless agency.
  • Despite being “somewhat independent” in how it operates, the CVC lacks both the resources and the authority to act on charges of corruption.
  • The majority of the time, it is unclear what the organisations’ domains and jurisdictions are.
  • Organizational diversity results in task duplication and lowers performance.
  • Long time has passed since the Central Vigilance Commissioner position was filled.

 

  • The necessity for new institutions like the Lokpal is growing as a result of the inability of the CVC and other current organisations to effectively address the problem of corruption. Concerns need to be raised about the CVC’s authority in relation to its mandate, financial independence, and expansion of its otherwise limited advising role.

 

Source à The Hindu

 

 

 

05 AUGUST 2022

 

. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains
17.  Chief Justice of India Prelims & Mains
18.  Rare Earth Elements Prelims & Mains
19.  International Monetary Fund Prelims & Mains
20.  One China System Prelims & Mains

 

 

1 – Chief Justice of India:

 

GS II

 

Topic à Constitutional and Non-Constitutional Bodies

 

  • Context:

 

  • Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, the second-most senior judge on the Supreme Court, was suggested as his replacement by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Thursday.

 

  • About the Appointment of Chief Justice of India:

 

  • According to Section 2 of Article 124 of the Constitution, the President appoints the Chief Justice of the India and the Supreme Court judges.
  • The CJI was typically chosen from 1950 to 1973 by the SC’s senior-most judge.
  • When A N Ray was appointed India’s Chief Justice in 1973 by displacing three senior justices, this accepted practise was broken.
  • M U Beg was once more named chief justice of India in 1977 by displacing the highest ranking judge at the time.
  • In the Second Judges Case (1993), the SC decided that only the senior-most judge should be appointed to the position of CJI, restricting the government’s latitude.

 

  • Selection of Judges:

 

  • The President appoints the additional judges after consulting with the Chief Justice of India and any other SC and HC justices he considers essential.
  • In the event that a judge other than the CJI is appointed, consultation with the CJI is required.

 

  • Judges’ qualifications:

 

  • Should be an Indian national.
  • Should have served five years as a judge of an HC (or HCs in succession).
  • Should, in the President’s judgement, be a respected jurist.
  • The Constitution does not specify a minimum age requirement for SC judge appointments.

 

 

  • An affirmation or oath:

 

  • A judge of the Supreme Court must take and sign an oath or affirmation in front of the President or another person he has selected for this purpose.
  • A judge promises to “bear true faith and loyalty to the Constitution of India” upon taking the oath.
  • uphold India’s independence and integrity.
  • Without fear or favour, affection or malice, he will fulfil the duties of the Office honestly, faithfully, and to the best of his knowledge and judgement.
  • uphold the law and the constitution.

 

  • Judges’ terms:

 

  • The tenure of a Supreme Court judge is not set forth in the Constitution.
  • In this regard, it does, however, make the following three provisions:
  • holds onto their position until they become 65.
  • Any age-related dispute must be resolved by the authorities and in the ways specified by Parliament.
  • Can write to the President and resign from their position.
  • On the suggestion of the Parliament, the President may remove him from his position.

 

  • Removal of Judges:

 

  • A President’s order is necessary to remove a Supreme Court judge from their position.
  • Only after the Parliament has made an address in the same session calling for such removal can the President issue the order for removal.
  • A special majority of each House of Parliament must support the address.
  • Reasons for Removal: demonstrated bad behaviour or disability.
  • The method for removing a Supreme Court judge through the impeachment process is governed by the Judges Enquiry Act of 1968.
  • So date, no SC judge has been impeached.
  • Motions to impeach Justices Dipak Misra (2017–18) and V. Ramaswami (1991–1993) were lost in the Parliament.

 

  • Pay and Allowances:

 

  • The Parliament periodically decides on the salaries, benefits, privileges, leave, and pension for SC judges.
  • After their appointment, they cannot be changed to their detriment unless there is an urgent need for money.

 

Source à The Indian Express

 

2 – Rare Earth Elements:

 

GS III

 

Topic à Environmental Conservation related issues

 

  • Context:

 

  • A group of western countries are working together to provide alternatives to China in order to secure crucial industrial supplies as part of a global “China-plus-one” policy adopted during the Covid-19 outbreak, which caused severe supply-chain disruptions.

 

  • About:

 

  • They consist of a group of seventeen metals. These comprise the fifteen lanthanides listed on the periodic table in addition to scandium and yttrium, which exhibit lanthanides-like physical and chemical characteristics.
  • The seventeen rare earth elements are cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (T (Y).
  • These minerals are employed in numerous modern technologies, such as consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications, health care, national security, etc., because of their distinctive magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties.
  • Even cutting-edge technology need these REEs (For example high-temperature superconductivity, safe storage and transport of hydrogen for a post-hydrocarbon economy, environmental global warming and energy efficiency issues).
  • Because it used to be technically challenging to separate them from their oxide forms, they are known as “rare earths.”
  • They are found in numerous minerals, but usually in insufficient quantities to be processed profitably.

 

  • India’s current Rare Earth Elements Policy:

 

  • The Department of Atomic Energy and the Bureau of Mines have carried out exploration in India. IREL (India) Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy, now controls the majority of the mining and processing, which was formerly handled by a few tiny private firms.
  • Monazite beach sand, which is present in many coastal states and is the principal mineral that includes REEs, has been given to government firms like IREL a monopoly by India.
  • Rare earth oxides are produced by IREL using low-cost, low-reward “upstream procedures,” which are then sold to international companies which use high-cost, high-reward “downstream processes” to extract the metals and make the final goods.
  • The primary goal of IREL is to give the Department of Atomic Energy thorium that has been recovered from monazite.

 

  • China’s Hegemony:

 

  • Over time, China has consolidated its position as the world’s leading producer of rare earths; at one point, it supplied 90% of worldwide demand.
  • But now, just 60% of it is generated domestically, with the rest coming from other nations, like the Quad (Australia, India, Japan and United States).
  • Production facilities have popped up in Australia, the US, and smaller facilities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America since 2010, when China restricted shipments of Rare Earths to Japan, the US, and Europe.
  • However, China holds the lion’s share of the processed Rare Earths market.
  • Heavy reliance on China (India and the World): India possesses the fifth-largest rare earth element reserves in the world, about twice as much as Australia, yet it imports the majority of its finished rare earth requirements from China.
  • While the European Union receives 98 percent of its supplies from China, the US imported 80% of its rare earth materials from that country in 2019.

 

  • Steps to Take:

 

  • India must establish a new Department for Rare Earths (DRE), which would serve as a regulator and facilitator for companies operating in this sector.
  • IREL (India) Limited, a PSU under the department of atomic energy, currently controls a substantial portion of mining and processing.
  • Even if its development and production capabilities are expanding slowly, it is still far behind major multinational REE corporations.
  • To prospect for REEs and supply value-added products into the Indian market, Indian enterprises can be encouraged to establish such junior exploration businesses in the Indian Ocean region.
  • The majority of the governments in this region favour mining and exploration and encourage investment. Strong historical, cultural, commercial, and diasporic ties to India exist in this area and have grown as a result of centuries of trade and migration.
  • India can also work with other organisations to directly collaborate with organisations like the Quad, creating a strategic reserve as a safety net against worldwide supply issues.

 

Source à The Hindu

 

3 – International Monetary Fund:

 

Prelims Specific Topic

 

  • Context:

 

  • In order to maintain a comfortable external sector balance over the medium term, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday recommended India gradually withdraw fiscal and monetary policy stimulus, develop export infrastructure, and scale up shipments by signing free trade agreements with important trading partners.

 

  • About:

 

  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a membership-based institution with 190 member nations. The most influential nations in the global economy are represented on the IMF’s executive board in proportion to their financial weight.
  • What are the goals of the IMF?

 

  • Encourage international financial cooperation
  • Stabilize the financial situation
  • Promote high employment and sustainable economic growth by facilitating international trade
  • Advice on public policy and funding for emerging nations,
  • Fostering the development of an international payment system and currency rate stability

 

  • How Does the IMF Operate?

 

  • Its three key objectives are to advance global monetary cooperation, promote trade and economic progress, and deter actions that would be detrimental to prosperity.
  • IMF member nations collaborate with one another and with other international organisations to carry out these missions.

 

  • What roles does the IMF play?

 

  • Financial Assistance:The IMF lends money to member nations experiencing balance of payments issues in order to replenish foreign reserves, stabilise currencies, and improve the environment for economic growth. Governments must implement structural adjustment plans that are supervised by the IMF.
  • IMF Surveillance:The IMF keeps an eye on the global monetary system as well as the 190 of its member nations’ financial and economic plans.
  • The IMF emphasises potential stability risks as part of this process, which occurs both globally and in specific nations, and offers guidance on necessary policy adjustments.
  • Capacity Development:It gives central banks, finance ministries, tax authorities, and other financial institutions technical support and training.
  • Developing robust legal frameworks, enhancing governance, modernising banking systems, increasing public revenue, and improving the reporting of macroeconomic and financial data are all aided by this. Additionally, it aids nations in advancing toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

  • Special Drawing Rights (SDR) – what are they?

 

  • The SDR is a type of international reserve asset that was developed by the IMF in 1969 to supplement the official reserves of its member nations.
  • A total of SDR 660.7 billion, or roughly US$943 billion, have been allotted thus far.
  • Included in this is the biggest grant ever, SDR 456 billion, approved on August 2, 2021. (effective on August 23, 2021).
  • This was done to help countries deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to meet the long-term worldwide demand for reserves.
  • A basket of five currencies—the US dollar, the euro, the Chinese yuan, the Japanese yen, and the British pound sterling—serves as the basis for the SDR’s value.
  • Five years are spent reviewing the SDR basket.
  • The Board determined that the Chinese renminbi (RMB) meets the requirements for inclusion in the SDR basket during the most recent assessment, which was completed in November 2015.

 

  • What does India contribute to the IMF’s lending of resources?

 

  • At the Group of Twenty (G-20) summit in London, it was decided to increase the IMF’s loan capacity by three times, to US$ 500 billion.
  • India opted to invest its reserves in accordance with this decision, first up to US$ 10 billion under the Notes Purchase Agreement (NPA) and then up to US$ 14 billion through the New Arrangement to Borrow (NAB).
  • India had signed nine note purchase agreements with the IMF for a total investment of SDR 750 million (or approximately 5,340.36 crores) as of 7 April 2011.

 

  • What is the criticism of IMF?

 

  • A point of disagreement is the governance of the IMF. For many years, Europe and the United States have ensured that a European will lead the IMF and an American will lead the World Bank.
  • Rising emerging economies that, notwithstanding minor adjustments in 2015, do not have as significant a vote share in the IMF as the United States and Europe have little faith in the current situation.
  • Conditions attached to loans are overly onerous and violate the recipient nations’ economic and political sovereignty. ‘Conditionality’ refers to stronger requirements, frequently transforming the loan into an instrument for implementing policy.
  • These include monetary and fiscal policies, which cover topics like banking laws, budget deficits, and pension plans.
  • Because they would face too much internal opposition, many of these adjustments are simply political impossibilities.
  • IMF imposed policies on nations without taking into account the unique traits of particular nations, which made them challenging to implement, pointless, or even harmful.
  • Instead of being implemented in the proper order, policies were implemented all at once. IMF requires that the nations it lends money to quickly privatise public services. It leads to a naive belief in the free market that disregards the necessity of privatisation preparation.

 

Source à The Indian Express

 

4 – One China System:

 

Prelims Specific Topic

 

  • Context:

 

  • Ranil Wickremesinghe, the president of Sri Lanka, reaffirmed the island nation’s adherence to the “One China Policy” on Thursday and urged other nations to “avoid provocations.

 

  • What does “One China” policy entail?

 

  • One of the main pillars of Sino-US ties is the One China policy. In a diplomatic sense, it is a recognition of China’s stance that there is only one Chinese government.
  • As a result of this policy, the US recognises and maintains diplomatic relations with China rather than Taiwan, which China views as a secessionist province.
  • Taiwan, according to China, is an integral component of that country. Therefore, any nation seeking to establish diplomatic connections with mainland China must sever all diplomatic ties with Taipei.
  • Since the US formally established diplomatic ties with Beijing in 1979, it was forced to break off relations with Taiwan and close its embassy in Taipei. As a result, Taiwan is now diplomatically cut off from the rest of the world.

 

  • What causes the rift between China and Taiwan?

 

  • After the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949, the “One-China” policy was established.
  • While the victorious Communists started governing the mainland as the People’s Republic of China, the vanquished Nationalists, also known as the Kuomintang, withdrew to Taiwan and established Taiwan as their base of operations.
  • Both parties claimed to speak for all of China. Since then, if Taiwan ever formally declares its independence, China’s governing Communist Party has threatened to use force.
  • Many states, including the US, first recognised Taiwan and avoided communist China.
  • The US and other nations began severing ties with Taipei in favour of Beijing in the 1970s, however, as a result of a shared need to improve relations with China.

What has been happening recently?

  • When the United States reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the One China policy, the rumours that the Trump administration would strengthen ties with Taiwan and use the policy as leverage against China were effectively put to rest.
  • According to some accounts, Beijing set a red line for future US-China cooperation on critical topics.

What does it represent?

  • Picking a dispute with China over a delicate matter, especially in the early days of the new administration, demonstrates poor diplomatic judgement on the side of the United States.
  • This could serve as a wake-up call for the United States regarding its interactions with China in the future.
  • This does not imply that the United States must agree with China on every international issue. There are areas in which they can work together, in which they can compete, and in which they can disagree.
  • The U.S. must resolve problems with Beijing without upsetting the balance between the two countries.

Source The Hindu

. No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains
21.  Privileges of Members of Parliament Prelims & Mains
22.  10th Schedule Prelims & Mains
23.  Private Members Bill Prelims & Mains
24.  Cabinet Secretary Prelims & Mains

1 – Privileges of Members of Parliament: GS II – Parliament-related issues

Context:

  • Venkaiah Naidu, the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, stated in the Upper House on Friday that lawmakers were not exempt from arrest in criminal matters, whether or not the House was in session. He claimed that MPs could not evade police summonses.

Rationalization of the Rajya Sabha:

  • Since 1978, Rajya Sabha’s productivity has been measured. The House’s production was over 100% for the first 19 years, from 1991 to 1996, but it has subsequently started to fall.
  • The House recorded yearly output of over 100% in 16 of these 19 years, but in the 24 years prior to that, just two of those years—1998 and 2009—saw productivity over 100%. In the last 12 years, the Rajya Sabha has not once had a productivity rate of 100 percent.

Parliamentary Privileges: What Are They?

  • Members of Parliament have specific privileges and immunities that they might use to “effectively fulfill their tasks” individually and collectively.
  • The freedom of speech in Parliament and the right to publish its proceedings are two privileges that are specifically mentioned in Article 105 of the Constitution.
  • In addition to the privileges outlined in the Constitution, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, guarantees members’ immunity from civil process arrest and custody while the House or a committee of the House is in session, as well as for forty days prior to and for forty days following the meeting.

Motion to prevent Breach of Privilege:

  • A violation of privilege is an offense that is punishable by the legislation of Parliament when any of these rights and immunities are violated.
  • Any member of either House may move a notification in the form of a motion against people who are believed to have violated a privilege.

Speaker/Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha (RS) role:

  • A privilege motion is initially examined by the Speaker/RS chairperson.
  • The privilege motion may be decided on by the Speaker/Chair or referred to the Parliamentary privileges committee.
  • The member in question is given the chance to make a brief statement if the Speaker/Chair grants permission in accordance with applicable rules.
  • Application: According to the Constitution, anybody who is allowed to speak and participate in a House of Parliament or any of its committee meetings is also entitled to parliamentary privileges. The Indian Attorney General is one of them.
  • The President, who is an essential member of the Parliament, is not granted any privileges granted to other members of the body. The President is granted privileges under Article 361 of the Constitution.

Source The Indian Express

2 – 10th Schedule: GS II – Indian Constitution

Context:

  • The 10th schedule of the Constitution should be strengthened, horse trade should be discouraged, and threats against women should be punished on social media, among other things. These and other Private Member’s Bills were introduced in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

The anti-defection law:

  • By virtue of the 52nd Amendment Act, the Tenth Schedule was added to the Constitution in 1985.
  • It outlines the procedure by which parliamentarians may be disqualified from serving on a legislative body on the basis of defection based on a petition by any other member of the House.
  • The Chairman or Speaker of that House is tasked with making the final determination regarding disqualification due to defection.
  • Both the Parliament and state legislatures are subject to the statute.

Disqualification:

Whenever someone belonging to a political party’s house:

  • Voluntarily resigns from his political party membership, or votes against his party’s wishes, or abstains from voting in the legislature.
  • The member will not be disqualified, however, if they obtained prior approval or received forgiveness from the party within 15 days of the vote or abstention.
  • If an independent candidate changes their party affiliation following the election.
  • Six months after being elected to the legislature, a nominated member joins a party.

Exceptions to the rule:

  • In some situations, lawmakers are allowed to switch parties without running the risk of being disqualified.
  • A party may combine with or into another party in accordance with the legislation if at least two-thirds of its legislators support the merger.
  • In such a case, neither the individuals who choose to unite with the original party nor those who choose to remain with it will be disqualified.

A judge may examine the Presiding Officer’s decision:

  • The Presiding Officer’s decision is not subject to judicial review, according to the original law. The Supreme Court overturned this requirement in 1992, opening the High Court and Supreme Court to appeals against the Presiding Officer’s ruling. However, it was decided that no judicial action could be taken until the Presiding Officer issued his order.

Benefits of anti-defection legislation:

  • Gives the government stability by preventing changes in party affiliation.
  • Ensures that candidates continue to be loyal to both the party and the voters.
  • Helps maintain party discipline.
  • Enables political party mergers without triggering the requirements of Anti-defection
  • Anticipated to minimize political corruption.
  • Outlines the sanctions that will be taken against a member who switches parties.

To address the difficulties caused by the statute, various recommendations are made:

  • Dinesh Goswami Committee: Disqualification should only occur under the following circumstances, according to the committee on electoral reforms:
  • A party member willingly resigns from that organization.
  • During a vote on a motion for or against confidence, a member abstains or votes against the party whip. Whips could only be issued by political parties when the government was in peril.
  • Law Commission (170th Report): It is recommended to remove provisions that exclude mergers and splits from disqualification. Pre-election electoral fronts ought to be handled like political parties for anti-defection purposes. Political parties should reserve the use of whips for emergency situations where the safety of the government is at risk.
  • Election Commission: Based on the Election Commission’s legally-binding recommendations, the President or Governor should make decisions under the Tenth Schedule.

Source The Hindu

3 – Private Members Bill: GS II – Parliament-related issues

Context:

  • Sunil Kumar Singh, a member of the BJP, introduced a private member’s bill on Friday in the Lok Sabha to create a body that will be responsible for outlawing the publication and dissemination of offensive religious materials, with penalties including up to five years in prison and derecognition of any publishers or advertising firms involved.

About:

  • A private member of parliament (MP) is an MP who is not a minister.
  • The member in question is in charge of writing it. It needs a month’s notice before being introduced in the House.
  • Government legislation can be introduced and discussed on any given day as public bills, however private member bills can only be introduced and discussed on Fridays.
  • A ballot system is used to determine the order of bills to be introduced when there are several measures.
  • All such bills are examined by the Parliamentary Committee on Private Member’s Bills and Resolutions, which classifies them according to their urgency and importance.
  • The House’s rejection of it has no bearing on the government’s departure or the level of parliamentary confidence in it.
  • After the discussion, the member who is guiding the measure has the option of withdrawing it at the minister’s request or continuing with its passage.

Private Member Bills from the Past:

  • A private member’s bill was last approved by both Houses in 1970.
  • The Supreme Court (Enlargement of Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction) Bill of 1968 was the legislation at issue.
  • Five of the 14 private member’s bills that were introduced in Rajya Sabha were eventually passed into law. Other private member legislation that was passed into law in the Lok Sabha is the Proceedings of Legislature (Protection of Publication) Bill from 1956.
  • The Lok Sabha was presented with the Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 1964.
  • The Rajya Sabha was first introduced to the 1967 Indian Penal Code (Amendment) Bill.

 

Significance:

  • The private member’s bill seeks to bring the government’s attention to what certain MPs believe to be problems and holes in the current legal system that calls for legislative action.
  • As a result, it reflects the opposing party’s position on important issues.

Source The Indian Express

4 – Cabinet Secretary: Prelims Specific Topic

 Context:

  • Rajiv Gauba’s contract as cabinet secretary has been extended by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) till August 30, 2022, for an additional year.

About:

  • A cabinet secretary is hired for a set period of time, usually two years.
  • The All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement-Benefits) Rules, 1958 state that the government may extend a cabinet secretary’s tenure as long as the overall length of service does not exceed four years.
  • In accordance with the new guidelines, the central government may grant a cabinet secretary an extension in service for a further period of up to three months after the initial four-year period.

Cabinet Secretary’s duties:

  • The prime minister has direct control over the cabinet secretariat.
  • The cabinet secretary, who serves as the ex-officio chairman of the civil services board, is the administrative head of the secretariat.

Functions:

  • By providing inter-ministerial coordination, resolving conflicts across ministries or departments, and developing agreement through the use of standing or special committees of secretaries, the cabinet secretariat supports decision-making in government.
  • One of the duties of the cabinet secretariat is to manage significant crisis situations in the nation and to coordinate the actions of several ministries in such a situation.
  • The Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 and the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 are administered by the Cabinet Secretariat to ensure efficient business operations in Government Ministries and Departments.

Source The Hindu