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Context: The pandemic time warrants the state to take some proactive measures that would enable the masses to properly exercise their ‘Right to Life’. This would enhance their consumption capacity thereby fueling demand and eventually leading to revival. Background The Indian population is undergoing severe stress due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes:
A recent study called ‘hunger watch’ found that almost 25% of households witnessed a 50% decline in income levels. Similarly, 2/3rd of households were eating less than what they did before the lockdown.
About Right to life
For instance, In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, the Supreme Court gave a new dimension to Art. 21.
Acts undermining Right to Life during the Pandemic
The Supreme Court ordered providing free rations and meals without insisting on ID proof to all migrant workers in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. However, it was criticized as:
The policymakers abandoned the plight of the poor (especially informal workers). Because, they were denied adequate compensation over the past year of lockdowns, restrictions, and economic distress.
Ineffectiveness of current measures
Suggestion
MGNREGA expansion by removing the limit on the number of days or beneficiaries per household.
However, 1% cost would be set off by the additional taxation generated by Centre and State Governments. For the remaining 2.5% GDP, the government can impose a 1.5% Wealth Tax on the top 1% of households.
Context: Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed doing away with the concept of promoters and moving to ‘person in control. Key Highlights
What is person in control concept?
Significance of Person in Control Concept
Need for Person in Control Concept
Context: The Finance Ministry has granted ‘Infrastructure’ status for exhibition and convention centres, a move that is expected to ease bank financing for such projects.
Key Points
Importance
Context: Recently, Sunderlal Bahuguna, the Gandhian who was the driving force behind the Chipko movement died due to Covid-19. His Contributions
Chipko Movement
Causes for Movement
Significance of Chipko Movement
Inspiration for the World: Sunderlal Bahuguna gave the movement a proper direction and its success meant that the world immediately took notice of this non-violent movement, which was to inspire in time many similar eco-groups by-
Participation of Women: The support for the movement came mainly from the womenfolk. Today, beyond the eco-socialism hue, it is being seen increasingly as an ecofeminism movement. Although many of its leaders were men, women were not only its backbone, but also its mainstay.
Other Similar Movements Appiko movement
Save Silent Valley
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA)
Tehri Dam Conflict
Challenges For Activists Advocating Environmental Conservation
Road Ahead
Context: Project Elephant Division of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has published data. It highlights the number of elephants killed by trains on railway tracks.
Key Highlights from the Published data
Measures taken to avoid elephant casualties on railway lines Permanent Coordination Committee to prevent elephant deaths by trains
Steps Taken: The committee has taken steps such as:
Funds released under Project Elephant The MoEFCC has released 212.49 crores between 2011-12 and 2020-21 to elephant range States under Project Elephant to:
Kerala stood at the top in getting funds during the above period. On the other hand, Punjab received the lowest of the funds.
Context: According to the Council on Energy, Environment and Water(CEEW) report the cyclone frequency has doubled after 2005 in India. Micro Climatic Changes are contributing to this change. Key Findings of the report
Reasons behind the increasing intensity of cyclones on western coastal areas
Vulnerable States
Gujarat
Maharashtra: The analysis also points to Maharashtra as a vulnerable state which has been affected most by droughts. The state has seen a seven-fold increase in the past 50 years affecting more than 80% of its districts.
Initiatives by the government
Recommendations
Context: A special report titled ‘Net Zero by 2050: a Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector’ has been recently designed by International Energy Agency to inform negotiators at the crucial COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November. Key highlights
Oil plateau
The roadmap, with 400 milestones identified, promises to span all sectors and be technically feasible, cost-effective and socially acceptable. The scenario is built on three principles
In a nutshell, the IEA 1.5C Roadmap suggests the following on global electricity generation towards 2050:
Carrying along this pathway, the Roadmap models that almost 70 per cent of electricity generated will be from solar and wind, over 90 per cent of heavy industrial production is low emission and more than 85 per cent of buildings are zero carbon ready. Road Ahead
Context: Recently, Iran has given the Farzad B gas field to Petropars, a domestic gas producer.
Farzad B Gas Field
Iran decided to give the development of the infrastructure projects to local companies instead of giving them to India. These are the reasons behind the move
The Indian oil consortium was trying to secure the contract for development of the field and around 75 per cent of the deal was finalised by May 2018, when the US unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or also known as the Iran Nuclear deal and announced sanctions on Iran.
Significance
Impact on India
Context: A piece of Winchcombe meteorite will be displayed at the National History Museum, Gloucestershire (UK). About Winchcombe meteorite:
Significance of meteorites
What are Meteoroids, Meteors, and Meteorites?
Specific Missions launched to study Asteroid
Context: National carrier Air India has begun the first of its “zeolite cargo flights” with the government of India having commenced the process of importing zeolite from across the world for use in medical oxygen plants. Key highlights
Under the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund, the DRDO is to set up medical oxygen plants.
Zeolite
Uses
Context: Recently, the researchers in the online peer-reviewed open access journal ‘Scientific Reports’ have reported that world’s oldest cave art are weathering at an alarming rate due to climate change. Key Points
World’s Oldest Cave Art
Significance of the cave paintings
Context: Outdated nature of public bureaucracy has to be accounted for the ineffective response to the COVID-19 crisis in India. A new public governance model based on collaborative governance need to be institutionalised. What are the issues with Weberian model of Bureaucracy?
Implications of Weberian model of Bureaucracy
What are the reforms suggested to address the issue?
All major revolutions with huge implications on public service delivery have come through the collaboration of public bureaucracy with so-called outsiders. E.g.,
Context: The article highlights the issue of shortage of healthcare workers in India even as it exports its healthcare workers to other countries.
India as an exporter of healthcare workers
Shortage of nurses and doctors
As per government reports, India has 1.7 nurses per 1,000 population and a doctor to patient ratio of 1:1,404.
But, this does not convey the entire problem.
Factors driving migration
Measures to check brain drain and issues with it
Context: Recently, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has called for SAMVEDNA Platform for children affected by COVID-19. Background
About SAMVEDNA Platform
The tele counselling is provided to the children under three categories
It aims to cater to the children from all over India in various regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Marathi, Gujarati, and Bengali etc.
About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
Context: Recently, China has completed construction of a strategically significant highway through the world’s deepest canyon in Tibet along the Brahmaputra river.
About the new highway
Concerns for India
Steps Taken by India
About Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon
Context: A petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking the constitution of an independent collegium to appoint members of the Election Commission.
Key highlights
Basis for such demand
What does Article 324 (2) says?
Appointment & Tenure of Commissioners
Recommendations given by various expert committees Justice Tarkunde Committee (1975)
Dinesh Goswami committee report
2nd administrative reforms commission
Law Commission of India in its report no. 255
Context: The Supreme Court has asked the legislature to think over the idea of placing convicts under house arrest to avoid overcrowding of prisons. Background
Need for
Status of Indian Prisons
Constitutional Provision
Recommendation for Prison Reforms
For Overcrowding
For Prisoners
Filling Vacancies
Context: The West Bengal government has decided to set up a Legislative Council, or a Vidhan Parishad -- the Upper House of state legislature. The decision was taken on May 17 during the virtual Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
How a Legislative Council will be formed in the state?
For setting up the Council, a Bill has to be introduced in the Assembly and then a nod from the Governor is required. The Upper House existed till 1969.
State legislative councils of India
The State Legislative Council, or Vidhan Parishad, is the upper house in those 6 states of India that have a bicameral state legislature; the lower house being the State Legislative Assembly. Its establishment is defined in Article 169 of the Constitution of India. According to the Article 169 of the Constitution of India, the Parliament of India can create or abolish the State Legislative Council of a state if that state's legislature passes a resolution for that with a special majority.
Composition
Manner of Election
Significance and Power of Legislative Councils The second House of the legislature is considered important for two reasons:
The Councils are less powerful than the Rajya Sabha, however. Unlike, the Rajya Sabha, which has substantial powers to shape non-financial legislation, Legislative Councils lack a constitutional mandate to do so; Assemblies can override suggestions/amendments made to a legislation by the Council.
Context: Punjab Chief Minister has declared Malerkotla as the 23rd district of the Punjab State. Let’s have look at the process to create new district in India.
Process to create a new district in India
What is the role of Central government to play here?
What is the rationale behind creating a new district in India?
What has been the trend?
Context: In this article we discuss how Establishing the National Tribunal commission could possibly entail a radical restructuring of the present tribunals system. Background
Concerns The Ordinance has met with sharp criticism for the following reasons.
Impact of the abolishment of tribunals
Against the judicial direction
Non commission of NTC
Significance of NTC
Tribunals in India
Need of Tribunal
Constitutional Provisions
Articles 323 A and 323 B differ in the following three aspects:
Article 262: The Indian Constitution provides a role for the Central government in adjudicating conflicts surrounding inter-state rivers that arise among the state/regional governments.
Context: Recently, the Punjab Government has declared Malerkotla as the 23rd district of the state.
Background
Historical Background
Context: Recently, the videos on social media showed rockets fired from Gaza being intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome air defence system. About Iron Dome
Background of Iron Dome System
Working of Iron Dome System
What kind of systems does India have?
Context: Indian Navy has decommissioned the INS Rajput at Naval Dockyard at Visakhapatnam after 41 years of service.
About INS Rajput
The destroyer ship participated in several important missions over the years including
Moreover, the ship has also served in the several missiles trials
Context: New Cases of White Fungus from Covid-19 patients have been reported in states such as Bihar and others. About White Fungus
Vulnerable Group: People with low immunity, pre-existing medical issues, people with diabetes, and people on or using steroids are at a high risk of contracting the infection.
Prevention
Treatment: It is not life-threatening. The treatment of White Fungus disease is mainly done through antifungal medicines. However, this changes if a person contracts severe disease and lungs are infected.
Context: The 21st century is going to be an era of data revolution wherein almost all the activities would be carried on in cyberspace. This calls for creating some global rules to protect cyberspace as their absence has failed to prevent cyberattacks even on powerful countries like the U.S. Background
Reasons behind Cyberattacks
Economic Benefits: A cyberattack gives a hacker access to critical economic data that can be sold for millions in the grey market.
Ideological Conflict: The free and decentralised structure of cyberspace goes against the ideology of authoritarian countries like Russia and China. This induces them to launch attacks on democratic countries like U.S and India. They have also built firewalls to protect their societies from freedom.
Geopolitical Interest: One country attacks another country’s data to serve its geopolitical interest in the region. The attack is aimed to cripple the governance structure in another country and induce it to act in a favourable way.
Factors fueling Cyberattacks
Synergy between State and Non-State Actors: Rogue states and well-organised digital terrorist groups use footloose hackers to invade diplomatic and strategic plans.
Traceability: The advancement in technology has made the traceability of hackers very difficult.
Context: The wife of Belgium’s ambassador to South Korea allegedly hit two staff members at a boutique in Seoul last month. Recently the embassy has invoked diplomatic immunity to avoid criminal charges. About Diplomatic immunity
Conventions Diplomatic immunity is granted on the basis of two conventions popularly called the:
What is the extent of Diplomatic immunity?
Criticisms
Context: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have released the estimates on large number of loss of life is associated with long working hours. Key Highlights
Disease and Long Working Hours
Impact of Long Working Hours on Gender
Recommendations to protect workers
Context: The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment has virtually launched a 6-month CBID (Community Based Inclusive Development) Program on rehabilitation of Divyangjan(Persons with Disabilities).
About CBID (Community Based Inclusive Development) programme
Nodal Body: National Board of Examination in Rehabilitation under the Rehabilitation Council of India will conduct examinations. The board will also award certificates to pass-out candidates. About Rehabilitation Council of India(RCI)
Mandate
Access to prime resources