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GS Paper: GS2

  • Anti-defection Law

    The unfolding political crisis in Maharashtra has thrown the spotlight on the anti-defection law, and the roles of the Deputy Speaker and the Governor.

    What is the news?

    • Some legislators have aligned themselves with the party’s rebel leader and are camping in Guwahati.
    • The party has warned its MLAs that their absence from the meeting would lead to the presumption they wanted to leave the political party.
    • And this would therefore lead to action against them under the anti-defection law.

    What is the Anti-Defection Law?

    • The anti-defection law provides for the disqualification of MLAs who, after being elected on the ticket of a political party, “voluntarily give up their party membership”.
    • The Supreme Court has interpreted the term broadly and ruled an MLA’s conduct can indicate whether they have left their party.
    • The law is also applicable to independent MLAs.
    • But the anti-defection law does not apply if the number of MLAs who leave a political party constitute two-thirds of the party’s strength in the legislature.
    • These MLAs can merge with another party or become a separate group in the legislature.

    How does the two-thirds rule work in the current situation in Maharashtra?

    • Reports indicate that 30 MLAs are with rebel leader.
    • Taking this number at face value means it does not reach the two-thirds (37) mark of the 55 MLAs the party has in the Maharashtra Assembly.
    • Therefore, the protection under the anti-defection law would not be available to the rebel group.

    What adds more to this high-stage political drama?

    • It is the Assembly Speaker who decides whether an MLA has left a party or a group that constitutes two-thirds of a party.
    • The position of the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly is, however, currently vacant.
    • Article 180(1) of the Constitution states that the Deputy Speaker performs the Speaker’s duties when the office is vacant.
    • Since then, the Deputy Speaker has been acting as the Speaker.

    How would a decision be taken whether the anti-defection law applies in this case?

    Under the current circumstances, two ways would lead to adjudication under the law.

    (1) Approaching the acting Speaker to file defection petition

    • First, any MLA of the Assembly can petition that certain MLAs have defected from their political party.
    • Such a petition has to be accompanied by documentary evidence.
    • The Deputy Speaker would then forward the petition to the MLAs against whom their colleagues are making the charge of defection.
    • The MLAs would have seven days or such time that the Deputy Speaker decides is sufficient to enable them to put across their side of the story.

    (2) Proving of two-third majority

    • Rebel leader and MLAs supporting too can write to the Deputy Speaker with evidence claiming that they represent two-thirds of the strength and claim protection under the anti-defection law.
    • In either case, Speakers will decide the matter after hearing all parties, which could take time.

    How much time does it usually take? Why delay occurs?

    • In recent years, one of the fastest decisions in a defection proceeding was delivered by Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu.
    • However in state legislatures, defection petitions have taken much longer.
    • For example, in 2020, the Supreme Court used its extraordinary power to remove a Manipur minister from his position.
    • But whether the Speaker decides quickly or takes time, the Speaker is usually challenged in court, which further delays the decision.
    • Both Venkaiah Naidu and the Supreme Court have recommended that Speakers decide on defection cases in three months.

    What is the Governor’s role?

    (1) Declaration of Presidents Rule (NA)

    • The Governor has a crucial role when there is political instability in a state.
    • Before 1994, Governors were quick to dismiss a state government, charging that it did not have a majority in the state legislature and recommending the imposition of the President’s rule in the state.
    • But the Supreme Court ended this practice with its judgment in the S R Bommai case in 1994.

     (2) Holding Assembly

    • In this landmark case, the court ruled that the place for deciding whether a government has lost its majority was in the legislature.
    • Hence, Maharashtra Governor can ask Chief Minister to convene the Assembly and prove his majority on the floor of the House.

     (3) Governors Discretion

    • The CM can recommend to the Governor to dissolve the legislature before the end of its five-year term and call for elections under Article 174(2)(b).
    • Here, the Governor’s discretion comes into play.
    • The Governor may choose not to dissolve the legislature.
    • This is when if he or she believes that the recommendation is coming from a council of ministers who do not enjoy the confidence of the state legislature.

    Note: In 2020, the Supreme Court, in Shivraj Singh Chouhan & Ors versus Speaker, MP Legislative Assembly & Ors, upheld the powers of the Speaker to call for a floor test if there is a prima facie view that the government has lost its majority.

    (4) Floor test

    • Under Article 175(2), the Governor can summon the House and call for a floor test to prove whether the government has the numbers.
    • In a detailed judgment, the Court also explained the scope of the power of the Governor and the law revolving around floor tests.
    • When the House is in session, it is the Speaker who can call for a floor test.
    • But when the Assembly is not in session, the Governor’s residuary powers under Article 163 allow him to call for a floor test.

    Conclusion

    • The spectacle of rival political parties whisking away their MLAs to safe destinations does little credit to the state of our democratic politics.
    • It is an unfortunate reflection on the confidence which political parties hold in their own constituents and a reflection of what happens in the real world of politics.
    • Political bargaining, or horse-trading, as we noticed, is now an oft repeated usage in legal precedents.

     

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  • PM to attend G-7 summit in Germany

    PM Modi will fly to the Germany as a special invitee to the meeting of G-7 countries.

    Group of 7

    • The G-7 or ‘Group of Seven’ includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
    • It is an intergovernmental organisation that was formed in 1975 by the top economies of the time as an informal forum to discuss pressing world issues.
    • Initially, it was formed as an effort by the US and its allies to discuss economic issues.
    • The G-7 forum now discusses several challenges such as oil prices and many pressing issues such as financial crises, terrorism, arms control, and drug trafficking.
    • It does not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters. The decisions taken by leaders during annual summits are non-binding.
    • Canada joined the group in 1976, and the European Union began attending in 1977.

    Evolution of the G-7

    • When it started in 1975—with six members, Canada joining a year later—it represented about 70% of the world economy.
    • And it was a cosy club for tackling issues such as the response to oil shocks.
    • Now it accounts for about 40% of global GDP.
    • Since the global financial crisis of 2007-09 it has sometimes been overshadowed by the broader G20.
    • The G-7 became the G-8 in 1997 when Russia was invited to join.

    Why was Russia expelled?

    • The G-7 was known as the ‘G-8’ for several years after the original seven were joined by Russia in 1997.
    • The Group returned to being called G-7 after Russia was expelled as a member in 2014 following the latter’s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.
    • Since his election in 2016, President Trump has suggested on several occasions that Russia be added again, given what he described as Moscow’s global strategic importance.

    Why in news now?

    • New Delhi is preparing for more pressure from the G-7 countries.
    • These countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and the EU) have unitedly imposed sanctions on Russia since it invaded Ukraine.
    • They want India to cooperate in restricting its purchase of Russian oil, not circumvent the sanctions by using a rupee-rouble mechanism.
    • It also wants India to lift the ban on the export of wheat.

    Relevance of G7 for India

    • India will get more voice, more influence and more power by entering the G7.
    • After UN Security Council (UNSC), this is the most influential grouping.
    • If the group is expanded it will collectively address certain humongous issues in the global order.
    • Diplomatically, a seat at the high table could help New Delhi further its security and foreign policy interests, especially at the nuclear club and UNSC reforms.
    • It will further protect its interests in the Indian Ocean.

    Challenges for India’s entry

    • The decision to expand the grouping cannot be taken by the US alone.
    • There needs to be a consensus.
    • However, a special invitation to India is no mean achievement.

     

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  • Judicial Reforms in India

    Context

    Following are the reforms needed in the various aspects of the higher judiciary

    Removing the disparity between retirement ages of HC and SC judges

    • High Court judges now retire at 62 and Supreme Court judges at 65.
    • It is high time that we did away with the disparity between the retirement ages of High Court and Supreme Court judges.
    • There is no good reason for this difference.
    • Intense pressure and competition: The obvious negative fallout of a differential retirement age simply is intense pressure and competition to make it to the top court and thus get three more years.
    • If this is done away with, several judges of mettle would prefer to be Chief Justices and senior judges in the High Courts exercising wide power of influence rather than being a junior judge on a Bench of the Supreme Court.
    • There is good work to be done in the High Courts, and we need good men there.

    Create a cadre of public service for retired judges

    • SeveralSupreme Court judges focus on arbitrations after retirement.
    • A minority of judges devote themselves to public service; sadly, this is a very small minority.
    • Another lot are appointed to various constitutional posts and tribunals and commissions.
    • It would be worthwhile reform to create a cadre of public service for retired judges and from this pool make appointments to the constitutional and statutory posts and special assignments.
    • Such judges should receive the full pay and the facilities of a judge of the Supreme Court for life.
    • We should have a culture of public service for senior judges, and those who do not fit in such culture should not be a part of senior ranks.

    Reform in the process of appointment of Chief Justice of India

    • No constitutional basis: It is generally assumed that the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court should be the Chief Justice of India.
    • The Constitution mandates no such thing.
    • Article 124 merely states that the President will appoint every judge of the Supreme Court, and this includes the Chief Justice, and each of these judges shall hold office until they attain the age of 65 years.
    • The requirement about appointing the seniormost judge to be the CJI was devised in the Second Judges case (1993) and the consequent Memorandum of Procedure which is an usurpation of the President’s power.
    • There is no good reason why any one particular person should have a vested interest in the top job, and we are better served by eliminating such expectation.
    • Let all serve equally under the constitutional throne for the entire length of their tenure.

    But who then shall be the CJI?

    • As per the Constitution the judges of the High Court, senior advocates and distinguished jurists are eligible for the appointment as the judge of the Supreme Court.
    • Chief Justice of HC: When a serving CJI retires, his successor should be the best reputed Chief Justice of a High Court who has proved himself worthy both in judicial office as well as administrative leadership and has those qualities of heart and head which mark a good leader.
    • The same process is followed in the appointment of the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
    • Security of tenure: The appointee should have a clear three-year term.
    • He should not function as the primus super pares — calling the shots and having their unfettered way.
    • He should instead function in a true collegiate manner, especially in regard to the roster of allotment of cases, especially the sensitive ones, and appointments to the Supreme Court and High Courts and other important matters of judicial and administrative importance.

    Conclusion

    Though there are several issues that need reforms in the higher judiciary, the above reforms can serve as the precursor to the other reforms to come.

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  • India and Australia

    Context

    India and Australia, which share common values and interests, must work together with resolve to shape the economic and strategic environment so that it continues to support collective security and prosperity.

    India-Australia ties: A background

    • The ties are a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership full of practical, tangible actions that strengthen ties and benefit the region.
    • India and Australia are a small group of countries to hold annual leaders’ summits and biennial 2+2 talks involving foreign and defence ministers.
    • The defence forces of both the countries are undertaking more complex activities together, such as in Exercise Malabar with the US and Japan.
    • We coordinate closely on maritime domain awareness.
    • This year both countries deployed P-8 surveillance aircraft to each other’s territories for joint patrols.
    • Australia has also committed to a package of partnership initiatives in our update to the India Economic Strategy.
    • Cooperation on climate and sustainability: India and Australia have great potential to cooperate on climate and sustainability.

    Why India matters to Australia

    • Securing supply chain: India’s economy, manufacturing capabilities and talent ensure it will play a key role in securing supply chains and restarting post-pandemic growth.
    • Balance of power: Its military has the capacity and capability to respond to natural disasters, help stabilise an uncertain region and contribute to an effective balance of power.
    • Technological and scientific capabilities: Its technological and scientific capabilities are gateways to a cleaner and more sustainable world.
    •  Commitment to democracy: Most of all, India’s people have the optimism, the commitment to democracy, the drive and the goodwill to make our region safer, freer and better.

    Vision for open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific region

    • As the bilateral relationship deepens, both the countries must begin to work more together with others in the region.
    • Responding to humanitarian crises and natural disasters: There is enormous potential in the Indian and Pacific oceans, where we each have vital interests in combating climate change, illegal fishing and people smuggling and responding to humanitarian crises and natural disasters.
    •  Australia has a vision for an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
    • It is a vision for a region that is more integrated rather than divided, where trade and investment flow freely based on agreed rules and treaty commitments, where disputes are resolved through dialogue in accordance with international law, and where a strategic culture that respects the rights of all states, big and small, prevails.
    • It is a vision that Australia share with partners like ASEAN, and partners like India.
    • Whether through joint activities with like-minded countries, or the support of regional and multilateral architecture, Australia is ensuring the region has options and balance.

    Conclusion

    India and Australia’s interests don’t just align, they are inextricably entwined. Expect this relationship to grow and prosper, our cooperation to deepen.

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  • Places in news: Strait of Hormuz

    A US Navy warship fired a warning flare to wave off an Iranian speedboat coming straight at it during a tense encounter in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

    Why in news?

    • The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway in the Middle East marks the most sensitive transportation choke point for global oil supplies.

    Strait of Hormuz

    • The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow channel, approximately 30 miles wide at the narrowest point, between the Omani Musandam Peninsula and Iran.
    • It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
    • The Strait is deep and relatively free of maritime hazards.
    • Its depth is greatest near the Musandam Peninsula and tapers as you move north toward the Iranian shore.

    Why is it important?

    • Oil tankers carrying crude from ports on the Persian Gulf must pass through the strait.
    • Around 21 million barrels of oil a day flowed through it in 2018, equivalent to roughly a third of global seaborne oil trade and about 21% of global petroleum liquids consumption.

     

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  • In Sri Lankan crisis, a window of economic opportunity

    Context

    The commonality between Sri Lanka and the southern parts of India remains a less-emphasised yet significant aspect of India-Sri Lanka relations.

    Crisis in Sri Lanka and relief provided by India

    • The present economic crisis in Sri Lanka has pushed it closer to India for immediate relief.
    • India, as part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, has extended support to the people of Sri Lanka in the form of aid (close to $3.5 billion) to help secure Sri Lanka’s food, health and energy security by supplying it essential items such as food, medicines, fuel and kerosene.
    • The latest in the series was the signing of an agreement on June 10 between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Export-Import Bank of India for a $55-million short term Line of Credit to facilitate the procurement of urea for paddy crop in the ongoing ‘Yala’ season.
    • On its part, Tamil Nadu decided to provide aid of ₹123 crore, comprising 40,000 tonnes of rice, 137 types of life-saving drugs and 500 tonnes of milk powder.

    Sri Lanka-India sub-regional context

    • During his second term as Prime Minister, Mr. Wickremesinghe while delivering a lecture in Chennai, in August 2003, called for the development of the south India-Sri Lanka sub-region as a single market.
    • Such a market would provide more opportunities for the economic growth of both countries.
    • In 2016 he highlighted the fact that the five Indian southern States, with a total population of 250 million, had a combined gross state domestic product of nearly $450 billion; with the addition of Sri Lanka’s $80 billion GDP, the sub-region would have a $500 billion economy, having an aggregate population of around 270 million.

    Challenges

    • Possibility of greater economic collaboration: Whether this bonhomie can lead to greater economic collaboration between Sri Lanka and south India, not necessarily Tamil Nadu alone, given the historical baggage, is anybody’s guess.
    • Baggage of history: Some sections of the Sinhalese still hold the view that India had been a threat to Sri Lanka and it can still be a threat to them.
    • The manner in which the Rajapaksa regime unilaterally scrapped in February 2021 a tripartite agreement signed in 2019 with India and Japan for the development of Colombo’s East Container Terminal was a reflection of the historical baggage.
    • This perception can be traced to history when Sri Lanka was invaded by rulers of south India who humbled the Sinhala kings.
    • In the aftermath of the 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom, the support provided by the Indian government to Tamil rebels only strengthened this perception.
    • Modest investment in Sri Lanka’s development: Despite India’s open willingness to take part in the development of Sri Lanka after the civil war, the scale of its involvement has been modest.
    • Incomplete projects due to lack of political will: After the cancellation of the tripartite agreement, India was later provided with projects such as the West Container Terminal, the Trincomalee oil tank farm and a couple of renewable projects, there were several proposals that envisaged India’s participation but did not see the light of day.
    • Another project, a collaboration between NTPC Limited and the Ceylon Electricity Board, was cancelled.
    • Other projects too such as the development of the Kankesanthurai harbour and the expansion of the Palaly airport in Jaffna, both envisaging Indian participation, would have become a reality had there been show of political will from the other side.
    • The project of building a sea bridge and tunnel, connecting Rameshwaram to Talaimannar, remains on paper.

    Way forward

    • Infrastructure development: Even now, there is enormous scope for collaboration between the two countries in the area of infrastructure development.
    • Cross-border energy trade: The economic crisis has revived talk of linking Sri Lanka’s electricity grid with that of India.
    • If this project takes off, the first point of interconnectivity on the Indian side will most likely be in Tamil Nadu.
    • India has cross-border energy trade with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
    • Facilitating people-to-people interaction: The apprehension in the minds of sections of the Sinhalese majority about India being a threat can be dispelled only by facilitating greater people-to-people interaction, including pilgrimages by monks and other sections of Sri Lankan society to places of Buddhist importance not only in north India but also in the south (Andhra Pradesh).

    Conclusion

    Much more will have to be done but the opportunity created by the current circumstances should be utilised to bring Indian and Sri Lankan societies closer — a prerequisite to achieving an economic union between Sri Lanka and the southern States of India.

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  • China to host BRICS Virtual Summit

    Chinese President Xi Jinping will host a virtual summit of the leaders of the BRICS countries. PM Modi is expected to join.

    Why in news?

    • China is keen for the grouping to explore expansion and include new developing country members.
    • Under the “BRICS Plus” format, the forthcoming summit is also expected to be attended by leaders of invited emerging countries.

    What is BRICS?

    • BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
    • The BRICS Leaders’ Summit has convened annually. It does not exist in form of an organization, but it is an annual summit between the supreme leaders of five nations.

    Its inception

    • On November 30, 2001, Jim O’Neill, a British economist who was then chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, coined the term ‘BRIC’ to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
    • He made a case for BRIC on the basis of econometric analyses projecting that the four economies would individually and collectively occupy far greater economic space and become among the world’s largest economies in the next 50 years or so.

    How it has formed?

    • The grouping was formalized during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of the UNGA in New York in September 2006.
    • The first BRIC Summit took place in 2009 in the Russian Federation and focused on issues such as reform of the global financial architecture.

    Who are the members?

    • South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS. South Africa subsequently attended the Third BRICS Summit in Sanya, China, in March 2011.
    • The Chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.
    • The importance of BRICS is self-evident: It represents 42% of the world’s population, 30% of the land area, 24% of global GDP and 16% of international trade.
    • The five BRICS countries are also members of G-20.

    Also read

    [Burning Issue] BRICS and its relevance in today’s world

    Back2Basics: BRICS Plus

    • The BRICS outreach to Africa began at the last summit hosted by South Africa, in 2013. It has picked up momentum now but African leaders want more.
    • They need big loans from the New Development Bank (NDB) for their infrastructure projects.
    • China introduced the “BRICS Plus” format at the Xiamen summit last year by inviting a few countries from different regions.
    • South Africa emulated it, arranging the attendance of top-level representation of five nations of its choice: Argentina, Jamaica, Turkey, Indonesia and Egypt.
    • The precise role of “BRICS Plus” countries will take time to evolve but an immediate benefit is the immense opportunities it provides for networking among leaders.

     

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  • The job puzzle

    Context

    The government has assured the creation of one million jobs over the next one-and-a-half years. This may be optimistic, but if it does materialise, the employment landscape will change dramatically.

    Background

    • What is the unemployment rate? Expressed in percentage, the unemployment rate is defined as the share of people who are without any job.
    • Joblessness in the country essentially relates to educated young adults seeking jobs in the formal economy.
    • The government recently announced it would recruit 10 lakh people in “mission mode” over the next one-and-a-half years.
    • The announcement came at a time when the unemployment rate for youth (aged 15-29 years) in urban areas has been hovering at over 20 per cent for the last several quarters.

    What is the employment situation in India today?

    • If jobs are being created on a progressive basis, there will be an increase in income generation, which in turn, should spur consumption.
    • Therefore, if consumption picks up – this can be indicated by the growth in the consumer goods segments — then one can be confident of jobs being created.
    • What is the situation in India? Consumer durable goods have been registering negative or slightly positive growth for the last five years or so — this is a reflection of the purchasing power of the people that ultimately can be linked to job creation.
    • There have been talks of start-up economy in the country and their achievements.
    • Interestingly, it is a well-known fact that, globally, 80-85 per cent of start-ups fold up in the first couple of years mainly due to non-viable models that fail the scaling-up challenge.
    • Therefore, while start-ups sound exciting, job creation at scale cannot be part of these experiments, unless there is an assured flow of funds.

    Challenge in recruiting 10 lakh people

    • It will be a really big task given that presently the central government offices house around 3.45 million personnel as per the budget for 2022-23.
    • Short time frame: The first challenge is in recruiting such a large number in this short period of time considering that there are fairly lengthy processes involved in hiring people to government departments.
    • Finding meaningful role: Hiring such a number is good for the country, but finding meaningful roles for them in various departments needs to be seriously examined.
    • Quite clearly, plans need to be in place to provide work to this set of new employees.
    • Increase in cost for the government: The third issue that would have to be kept in mind is the increase in cost for the government.
    • As per the budget for 2022-23, the average outgo per employee was around Rs 12.20 lakh.
    • Assuming the new set earns half of the existing average, the additional cost would be at least Rs 60,000 crore.
    • The salary outlay for the year was Rs 4.22 lakh crore.
    • These provisions would have to be made in subsequent budgets.

    Conclusion

    The overall unemployment picture looks complex today. While the government’s intent to add over a million jobs in the next 18 months is laudable, the task is audacious and challenging from both an administrative and financial point of view.

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  • EC deletes 111 ‘Non-existent’ Parties from List

    The Election Commission has ordered the deletion of 111 registered unrecognized political parties that it found to be “non-existent” and referred three of the parties to the Department of Revenue for legal action for “serious financial impropriety”.

    What is the news?

    • The Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides ECI to register and de-register the political parties.
    • This was the second such action in the recent past against registered parties that have been found violating the RP Act, 1951.

    Registering a Political Party

    • The registration of all political parties is governed by the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
    • According to the Election Commission (EC), any party seeking registration has to submit an application to the Commission within a period of 30 days.
    • This is done as per guidelines prescribed by the EC in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 29A of the RP Act, 1951.

    Note: There is no procedure available for de-registration of dormant political parties.

    Process of registration

    • The applicant is asked to publish a proposed party name in two national daily newspapers and two local daily newspapers, and provide two days for submitting objections, if any.
    • The notice for publication is also displayed on the website of the Election Commission.

    Why registering with the EC is important?

    • It is not mandatory to register with the Election Commission.
    • However, registering as a political party with the EC has its advantage in terms of intending to avail itself of the provisions of the RP Act, 1951.
    • The candidates set up by a political party registered with the EC will get preference in the matter of allotment of free symbols vis-à-vis purely independent candidates.
    • More importantly, these registered political parties, over course of time, can get recognition as a ‘state party’ or a ‘national party’.

    How EC recognizes a political party as a state or national party?

    For recognition as a NATIONAL PARTY, the conditions specified are:

    1. a 6% vote share in the last Assembly polls in each of any four states, as well as four seats in the last Lok Sabha polls; or
    2. 2% of all Lok Sabha seats in the last such election, with MPs elected from at least three states; or
    3. recognition as a state party in at least four states.

    For recognition as a STATE PARTY, any one of five conditions needs to be satisfied:

    1. two seats plus a 6% vote share in the last Assembly election in that state; or
    2. one seat plus a 6% vote share in the last Lok Sabha election from that state; or
    3. 3% of the total Assembly seats or 3 seats, whichever is more; or
    4. one of every 25 Lok Sabha seats (or an equivalent fraction) from a state; or
    5. an 8% state-wide vote share in either the last Lok Sabha or the last Assembly polls.

    Benefits for recognized parties

    • This is subject to the fulfilment of the conditions prescribed by the Commission in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.

    (a) Reserved Symbol

    • If a party is recognised as a ‘state party’, it is entitled for exclusive allotment of its reserved symbol to the candidates set up by it in the state in which it is so recognised. If a party is recognised as a ‘national party’ it is entitled for exclusive allotment of its reserved symbol to the candidates set up by it throughout India.

    (b) Proposer for nomination

    • Recognised ‘state’ and ‘national’ parties need only one proposer for filing the nomination.

    (c) Campaigning benefits

    • They are also entitled for two sets of electoral rolls free of cost and broadcast/telecast facilities over state-owned Akashvani/Doordarshan during the general elections.

     

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  • Back in news: Central Vista Project

    The Central Vista Avenue is set to open in the next few days after remaining closed to the public since February 2021 for redevelopment.

    Central Vista Project

    • The project aims to renovate and redevelop 86 acres of land in Lutyens’s Delhi.
    • In this, the landmark structures of the government, including Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, North Block and South Block, etc. stand.
    • This dream project of redeveloping the nation’s administrative heart was announced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs back in September 13, 2019.

    This project has three main parts:

    1. New parliament building
    2. New secretariat complex to bring all the central govt ministries in one place
    3. Development of the Rajghat and the area around it
    • This project will involve demolition of some non-heritage buildings in the area, and construction of new buildings in place of them.

    Why need this Project?

    The most significant aspect of the project is the construction of a new parliament building.  There are several reasons for needing a new building.

    • Pre Independence building: The current one was built in 1927to house the legislative council and was not intended to house a bicameral legislature that the country has today.
    • Lack of Space: The current building will be under more stress when the number of seats to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are raised. Both Houses are already packed and members have to sit on plastic chairs when joint sessions are held, diminishing the dignity of the House.
    • Safety Concerns: The existing building does not conform to fire safety norms. Water and sewer lines are also haphazard and this is damaging its heritage nature. Security concerns in the wake of the 2001 Parliament attack shows its vulnerable nature. It is also not quake-proof.
    • Cost Advantage: Many central ministries are housed in different buildings with the result that the government ends up paying rent for many of them. The new building, a new central secretariat will help avoid this.
    • Environmental Benefits: The fact that people and officials have to run around the city to go to different ministries also increases traffic and pollution. The project also proposes interlinking of metro stations which will minimise use of vehicles.

    Due to these reasons, a pressing need was felt to construct a new parliament building.

    Significance of the project

    • Modernising parliament’s facilities: The new Parliament building will be India’s first purpose-designed parliament, equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure to meet all needs of an expanded parliament.
    • Improving productivity and efficiency: All ministries of the government will be consolidated in one place and will be served by highly energy-efficient and sustainable infrastructure.
    • Strengthening cultural and recreational facilities: The National Museum will be relocated and conceptualized to present the rich heritage and achievements of the nation.
    • Providing modern and secure infrastructure: A modern, secure, and appropriately equipped executive enclave is proposed to house executive offices and facilities.
    • Providing residential facilities for the PM: Modern and secure residential facilities for the vice president and the PM are proposed to the north of North Block and south of South Block respectively.
    • Cultural significance: The overall objective of works planned on the Central Vista is to ensure environmental sustainability, restore the vista’s architectural character, protect its heritage buildings, expand and improve public space, and to extend its axis.

    Criticism

    • The Opposition, environmentalists, architects and citizens have raised many concerns even before the pandemic brought in extra issues.
      • They have questioned the lack of studies to ascertain the need for the project and its impact on the environment, traffic and pollution.
    • Several key approvals for the proposed Parliament building have been pushed during the lockdown. This led to allegations of a lack of transparency.
    • They argue that in the situation created by the pandemic, the project must be deferred as the country can’t afford it at this time.

    Back2Basics: Making of New Delhi

    • The Central Vista was designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, to house the capital of British India.
    • The top of the Raisina Hill and adjacent hills in the area was flattened to create space for the buildings.
    • At his coronation as Emperor of India on December 12, 1911, Britain’s King George V announced the transfer of the seat of the Government from Calcutta to the ancient Capital of Delhi.
    • Thereafter, a 20-year-long project to build modern New Delhi was spearheaded by architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.
    • They built Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, North and South Blocks, Rajpath, India Gate, National Archives and the princes’ houses around India Gate.
    • Thus, New Delhi was unveiled in 1931.

     

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