Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Proxima Centauri
Mains level: Not Much
Astronomers running the world’s largest initiative to look for alien life have recently picked up an “intriguing” radio wave emission from the direction of Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Sun.
Proxima Centauri
- Proxima Centauri is 4.2 light-years away from the Sun – considered a close distance in cosmic terms.
- Its mass is about an eighth of the Sun’s, and it is too dim to be seen with the naked eye from Earth.
- Proxima b, one of the two planets that revolve around the star, is the subject of significant curiosity.
- Sized 1.2 times larger than Earth, and orbits its star every 11 days, Proxima b lies in Proxima Centauri’s “Goldilocks zone”.
Goldilocks zone is the area around a star where it is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist on the surface of surrounding planets. To give an example, the Earth is in the Sun’s Goldilocks zone.
The mystery of radio signals
- Astronomers at the Breakthrough Listen project, started by the legendary physicist Stephen Hawking, regularly spot blasts of radio waves using two powerful telescopes.
- They are Parkes Observatory in Australia or the Green Bank Observatory in the US.
- All of their findings so far, though, have been attributed either to natural sources or interference caused by humans.
- This raises the possibility that the emission could be an alien “techno-signature”, meaning something which provides evidence of alien technology.
- There are also reasons to believe that the signal might not mean ‘aliens’.
- Another possibility could be that the signal could have been caused by something behind Proxima Centauri or by a natural phenomenon whose existence we so far do not know of.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Zero-Coupon Bonds
Mains level: Banks recapitalization measures
The government has used financial innovation to recapitalize a bank by issuing the lender Rs 5,500-crore worth of non-interest bearing bonds called Zero-Coupon Bonds.
Try this PYQ:
Q.Which of the following is issued by registered foreign portfolio investors to overseas investors who want to be part of the Indian stock market without registering themselves directly?
(a) Certificate of Deposit
(b) Commercial Paper
(c) Promissory Note
(d) Participatory Note
Zero-Coupon Bonds
- These are non-interest bearing, non-transferable special GOI securities that have a maturity of 10-15 years and are issued specifically to Punjab & Sind Bank.
- These bonds are not tradable; the lender has kept them in the held-to-maturity (HTM) investments bucket, not requiring it to book any mark-to-market gains or losses from these bonds.
- This will earn no interest for the subscriber; market participants term it both a ‘financial illusion’ and ‘great innovation’ by the government.
How do they differ from bonds issued by private firms?
- There is a difference between zero-coupon bonds issued by other corporates and these.
- Zero-coupon bonds by private companies are normally issued at discount, but since these special bonds are not tradable these can be issued at par.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Indian architecture
Mains level: Indian architecture and foreign influence
A controversy has been playing out over the last several days over a decision by the IIM Ahmedabad to bring down 18 dormitories built by legendary American architect Louis Kahn on the old campus.
This newscard is full of facts. But one must note the features of present-day Indian Architecture and the western influence on it.
Kahn, in fact, is one among several foreign architects whose work defines several Indian cities. Take a glimpse of all important architects and their works:
Antonin Raymond & George Nakashima
- Golconde, one of India’s first modernist buildings, was conceptualized in Puducherry by the founders of the experimental township of Auroville.
- Tokyo-based Czech architect Antonin Raymond was invited to design this space as a universal commune, and Japanese-American woodworker George Nakashima would complete it after Raymond left India.
- It is possibly India’s first reinforced concrete buildings, built between 1937 and 1945.
- Its façade creates the impression that one could open or shut these concrete blinds, without compromising on privacy, while the ascetic interiors helped provide a meditative atmosphere.
Otto Koenigsberger
- Berlin-bred Koenigsberger was already working for the Maharaja of Mysore in the late 1930s when he was commissioned by Tata & Sons to develop the industrial township of Jamshedpur in the early 1940s.
- He would later design the masterplan for Bhubhaneswar (1948) and Faridabad (1949).
- Having seen children and women walk large distances to reach schools and workplaces, he planned for schools and bazaars in the city center and for a network of neighborhoods.
- His friends Albert Mayer and Mathew Nowicki would go on to design Chandigarh.
- However, much before Koenigsberger, there was the Scottish biologist and geographer Patrick Geddes, who wrote town planning reports, from 1915 to 1919, for 18 Indian cities, including Bombay and Indore.
Frank Lloyd Wright
- Though the legendary American architect never built a structure in India, his influence was unmistakable.
- Two of his students, Gautam and Gira Sarabhai, founders of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, requested him to design the administration building for Sarabhai Calico Mills in 1946.
- It would possibly have been the city’s first high-rise with terraces and a podium.
- Padma Vibhushan Charles Correa, one of India’s finest architects and urban planners, was hugely influenced by Wright.
Le Corbusier
- Before Swiss-French painter-writer-architect Corbusier came on the scene in Chandigarh, there was Polish architect Mathew Nowicki, an admirer of Frank Lloyd Wright and American developer Albert Mayer.
- Nowicki’s death in a plane crash ended the commission, and Corbusier came on board.
- With English architect Maxwell Fry and his wife Jane Drew, Corbusier with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret would design many of Chandigarh’s civic buildings, from courts to housing.
- Corbusier’s modernist approach, without decoration, gave India its brutalist, bare concrete buildings.
- He won favour with the Sarabhai’s of Ahmedabad and built the Sarabhai House, Shodhan House, Mill Owner’s Association Building and Sankar Kendra. He is often called the “father of modern Indian architecture”.
Joseph Allen Stein
- He was invited by Vijayalakshmi Pandit in 1952 to come to India and establish the Department of Architecture and Planning at the West Bengal Engineering College.
- Though he also practiced briefly in Orissa and West Bengal, it’s in New Delhi where Stein left the deepest imprint.
- From the Triveni Kala Sangam, the High Commissioner’s Residence and Chancery for Australia, where his polygon-shaped masonry with local stone made its first appearance to ‘Steinabad’.
Louis Kahn
- The importance of being Kahn is never more real than now, as the American architect’s only project in India faces bulldozers.
- The design for IIM Ahmedabad (1962-1974) carried the essence of learning in the humility of its material, and the way spaces were managed.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Blue Flag Beaches
Mains level: Coastal conservation
The Environment Minister has virtually hoisted the international blue flags in 8 beaches across the country.
Try this PYQ:
Q. At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the seawater recedes from the shoreline a few kilometers and comes back to the shore, twice a day, and you can actually walk on the seafloor when the water recedes. This unique phenomenon is seen at:
(a) Bhavnagar
(b) Bheemunipatnam
(c) Chandipur
(d) Nagapattinam
About Blue Flag Certification
- This Certification is accorded by an international agency “Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark” based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads i.e.
- Environmental Education and Information,
- Bathing Water Quality,
- Environment Management and Conservation and
- Safety and Services on the beaches.
- It started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987, and in areas outside Europe since 2001 when South Africa joined.
- Japan and South Korea are the only countries in South and southeastern Asia to have Blue Flag beaches.
- Spain tops the list with 566 such beaches; Greece and France follow with 515 and 395, respectively.
Which are the 8 beaches?
The beaches where the International Blue Flags were hoisted are:
- Kappad (Kerala)
- Shivrajpur (Gujarat)
- Ghoghla (Diu)
- Kasarkod and
- Padubidri (Karnataka)
- Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh)
- Golden (Odisha) and
- Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 3- The possibility of three-front war
The possibility of a two-front war has been debated for long in the Indian security establishment. However, the Galwan valley incident has added an urgency to that possibility.
Two front situation
- In the Indian military’s thinking, while China was the more powerful, the chance of a conventional conflict breaking out was low.
- The Chinese intrusions in Ladakh in May this year, the violence that resulted from clashes have now made the Chinese military threat more apparent and real.
- This comes at a time when the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan has been steadily deteriorating.
- Between 2017 and 2019, there has been a four-fold increase in ceasefire violations.
- The larger challenge for India’s military would come if the hostilities break out along the northern border with China.
- In such a situation, it is unlikely that Pakistan would initiate a large-scale conflict to capture significant chunks of territory as that would lead to a full-blown war between three nuclear-armed states.
China-Pakistan relationship
- China has always looked at Pakistan as a counter to India’s influence in South Asia.
- There is a great deal of alignment in their strategic thinking.
- Military cooperation is growing, with China accounting for 73% of the total arms imports of Pakistan between 2015-2019.
- It would, therefore, be prudent for India to be ready for a two-front threat.
The dilemma for India: In resources and strategy
- It is neither practical nor feasible to build a level of capability that enables independent warfighting on both fronts.
- A major decision will be the quantum of resources to be allocated for the primary front. This is the dilemma of resources.
- If a majority of the assets of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force are sent towards the northern border, it will require the military to rethink its strategy for the western border.
- This is the second dilemma.
- Even though Pakistan may only be pursuing a hybrid war, should the Indian military remain entirely defensive?
- Adopting a more offensive strategy against Pakistan could draw limited resources into a wider conflict.
Way forward
- We need to develop both the doctrine and the capability to deal with this contingency.
- Capability building also requires a serious debate, particularly in view of the country’s economic situation.
- We need to focus on future technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, cyber, electronic warfare, etc.
- The right balance will have to be struck based on a detailed assessment of China and Pakistan’s war-fighting strategies.
- Diplomacy has a crucial role to play.
- India would do well to improve relations with its neighbors so as not to be caught in an unfriendly neighborhood.
- The engagement of the key powers in West Asia, including Iran, should be further strengthened.
- Relationship with Moscow should not be sacrificed in favor of India-United States relations given that Russia could play a key role in defusing the severity of a regional gang up against India.
- Political outreach to Kashmir aimed at pacifying the aggrieved citizens would help in easing the pressure from the western front.
Consider the question “India faces the possibility of a two-front war. What strategy India should follow to deal with such a challenge?”
Conclusion
A politically-guided doctrine, comprehensive military capability, and exploring other options will help to deal with the China-Pakistan threat.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 2- Challenges ahead of India in 2021 on foreign policy and economic front
The article deals with the challeges India has to deal with in 2021 on the various front like foreign policy and economy.
Major challenge of 2020
- The COVID-19 pandemic, which embraced every segment of Indian society was the most insidious threat.
- Since April, India has confronted an unprecedented situation on the border with China in eastern Ladakh.
- Ever since, the border has remained live; as of now there is no end in sight.
- Chinese behaviour at the border has led to a grave hiatus in India-China relations.
- Internal problems such as Naxalite violence and Jammu and Kashmir endured during much of 2020.
- The economy is in recession. India has slipped further down the scale in the Human Development Index.
- Slippages have occurred in the Global Economic Freedom Index.
How India should deal with the challenges ahead
1) China challenge and foreign policy
- In foreign policy India must not remain content or satisfied with the current stand-off with China in the Ladakh sector.
- The conflict with China is enabling many of its neighbours to play China against India.
- So, India should think of what better options are available to it to resolve that conflict
- To tackle China, India must come up with a whole new paradigm of ideas on which further actions can be formulated.
2) State of the economy
- India must seek to enhance its competitive advantage vis-a-vis other nations.
- India should focus on export-oriented economic strategy instead of looking inward to enlarge its economy.
- India should enhance its export capacity.
- India’s strength lies in its diversity, and its ability to utilise all available opportunities.
- The other pressing challenge in 2021 would be job creation for the youth, who are India’s most abiding asset.
- The government must take urgent steps to set right the disruptions in the labour market caused by the pandemic.
- Creating new jobs in new industries should be a critical requirement.
- Stimulating demand would ensure growth in job opportunities, and this should go hand in hand with this task.
- The importance of such measures must not be underestimated.
3) Restoring confidence in constitutional practices
- The government to restore confidence in constitutional proprieties, practices and principles.
- There is a crisis of confidence which is affecting the body politic.
- The starting point would be effecting an improvement in Centre-State relations, particularly between Centre and States.
- As digital technology advances, concerns that an unduly centralised Central government could use this to further reduce the independent authority of States will again need to be dispelled.
- Effective cooperation between the Centre and the States must be restored as early as possible to instil confidence about India’s democratic future.
Consider the question “What are the challenges ahead for Indian economy in the wake of economic disruption caused by the pandemic? Suggest the way to deal with these challenges.”
Conclusion
As 2020 comes to a close, it might be worthwhile to take a hard look at these issues to ensure that 2021 does not become another wasted year.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Relation between inequality and inflation
Mains level: Paper 3- Rising inequality in the economic recovery
As Indian economy recovers from the economic disruption caused by the pandemic, there are dangers of rising inequality and cosequently the rising inflation. The article deals with these issues.
3 features of Indian recovery
- 1) The number of new cases has fallen while the fatality rate continues to drop.
- 2) India has rolled out one of the smallest fiscal support packages globally, with central government spending flat so far this year.
- 3) Inflation is now a big problem, with consumer prices above the 6 per cent tolerance level for the past eight months.
Consequences of low fiscal spending
- It may seem that India is back on the path to recovery.
- But the low level of fiscal spending could leave behind other problems, such as rising inequality.
- Although, in India there was a focus on vulnerable section, there were some misses, such as the urban poor being left out, and the overall outlay was small.
- For instance, demand for the rural employment guarantee programme continues to outstrip supply.
- There is the rise in inequality between large and small firms, which is likely to be felt by individual employees.
- Large firms were helped by cost-cutting, low interest rates, access to buoyant capital markets and increased spending in the formal economy probably helped.
- The smaller listed firms did not do as well.
- Small firms are more labour intensive than large firms.
- If small firms do poorly, it impacts a large number of people.
- All this could impact demand over time.
- Rising inequality could stoke inflation (in services particular).
- Consumption patterns show that the rich in India tend to consume more services than the poor.
- And rising inequality could, therefore, stoke inflation.
Possibility of services inflation
- 1) As a vaccine comes into play, there could be a release of pent-up demand for high-touch services.
- 2) As large firms and their employees do relatively well, they are likely to demand more services, stoking prices.
- 3) Many service providers did not do a regular annual price reset in 2020, so they may raise prices to cover the two years once demand picks up.
- If inflation does become persistent and leads to tighter monetary policy, that could weigh on growth over time.
Way forward
- To control inflation in 2021, the RBI may have to take steps such as:-
- 1) Gradually drain the excess liquidity in the banking sector,
- 2) Provide a floor for short-term rates, which have fallen below the reverse repo rate.
- 3) Narrow the policy rate corridor by raising the reverse repo rate.
- A quicker exit from loose monetary policy could become another area where India differs from the world.
Consider the question “What are the consequences of economic recovery in the wake of pandemic? Suggest the ways to deal with these consquences.”
Conclusion
Putting all of this together, it seems India will come full circle in 2021. For a while it was worried more about weak growth than high inflation. But as growth recovers, inflationary concerns could reappear.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Governor’s Discretionary Powers
Mains level: Issues with the office of Governor in recent times
In yet another tug-of-war between Kerala Governor and CM, the Governor has turned down a request to summon a special sitting of the Assembly to debate the new three central farm laws.
Q.The political nature of the office of the Governor, especially in Opposition-ruled states, has been underlined in several instances by courts. Discuss.
Governor and Assembly Session
- The Governor shall from time to time summon the House or each House of the Legislature of the State to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit…” says Article 174 of the Constitution.
- The provision also puts on the Governor the responsibility of ensuring that the House is summoned at least once every six months.
- Although it is the Governor’s prerogative to summon the House, according to Article 163, the Governor is required to act on the “aid and advice” of the Cabinet.
- So when the Governor summons the House under Article 174, this is not of his or her own will but on the aid and advice of the Cabinet.
Can the Governor refuse the aid and advice of the Cabinet?
- There are a few instances where the Governor can summon the House despite the refusal of the Chief Minister who heads the Cabinet.
- When the CM appears to have lost the majority and the legislative members of the House propose a no-confidence motion against the CM, then the Governor can decide on his or her own on summoning the House.
- But the actions of the Governor, when using his discretionary powers can be challenged in court.
Precursors set by the Supreme Court
- A number of rulings by the Supreme Court have settled the position that the Governor cannot refuse the request of a Cabinet that enjoys the majority in the House unless it is patently unconstitutional.
- The latest in the line of rulings is the landmark 2016 Constitution Bench ruling in which the Supreme Court looked into the constitutional crisis in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The Governor had imposed President’s Rule in the state of Arunachal.
- In ordinary circumstances during the period when the CM enjoy the confidence of the majority, the power vested under Article 174 must be exercised with the aid and advice of the CM and his CoM.
- In the above situation, he/she has precluded [from taking] an individual call on the issue at his own will, or in his own discretion, the verdict said.
- The court read: the power to summon the House as a “function” of the Governor and not a “power” he enjoys.
What Sarkaria Commission had said?
- The Sarkaria Commission of 1983, reviewed the arrangements between the Centre and the states, had said that so long as the CoM enjoys the confidence of the Assembly, its advice in these matters, unless patently unconstitutional must be deemed as binding on the Governor.
- It is only where such advice if acted upon, would lead to an infringement of a constitutional provision if the CoM has ceased to enjoy the confidence of the Assembly.
What happens if the Kerala government insists on holding the special session?
- Since the Governor’s powers are limited with regard to summoning the House, there can be no legal ground to deny a request for summoning the session.
- In such a political row, the Governor’s refusal can also be challenged in court.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Inner Line Permit
Mains level: Special schemes for NE states
Union Home Minister has said that Inner-Line Permit (ILP) had been the Centre’s biggest gift to Manipur since its statehood.
Note the states where ILP is required.
The Inner Line
- A concept drawn by colonial rulers, the Inner Line separated the tribal-populated hill areas in the Northeast from the plains.
- To enter and stay for any period in these areas, Indian citizens from other areas need an Inner Line Permit (ILP).
- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram are protected by the Inner Line, and lately, Manipur was added (in December last year).
- The concept originates from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act (BEFR), 1873.
Its’ Inception
- The policy of exclusion first came about as a response to the reckless expansion of British entrepreneurs into new lands which threatened British political relations with the hill tribes.
- The BEFR prohibits an outsider’s — “British subject or foreign citizen” — entry into the are beyond the Inner Line without a pass and his purchase of land there.
- On the other hand, the Inner Line also protects the commercial interests of the British from the tribal communities.
- After Independence, the Indian government replaced “British subjects” with “Citizen of India”.
- Today, the main aim of the ILP system is to prevent settlement of other Indian nationals in the States where the ILP regime is prevalent, in order to protect the indigenous/tribal population.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Udham Singh
Mains level: Jallianwala Bagh massacre and its aftermath
December 26 was the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Udham Singh, who is known for avenging the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919.
Try this PYQ:
Q.The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a –
(a) Revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco.
(b) Nationalist organization operating from Singapore
(c) Militant organization with headquarters at Berlin
(d) Communist movement for India’s freedom with head-quarters at Tashkent
Who was Udham Singh?
- Singh, born in Sunam in Punjab’s Sangrur district in 1899, was a political activist who got associated with the Ghadar Party while in the US.
- The multi-ethnic party was believed to have communist tendencies and was founded by Sohan Singh Bhakna in 1913.
- Headquartered in California, the party was committed to the ouster of the British from India.
- In 1934, Singh made his way to London with the purpose of assassinating O’Dwyer, who in 1919 had been the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab.
Why did he consider O’Dwyer responsible for the massacre?
- O’Dwyer ordered Brigadier Reginald Dyer to Amritsar before the massacre; he was worried that there might be a second Indian mutiny, given the Hindu-Muslim unity and the demonstrations and strikes.
- Instead of Dyer, O’Dwyer is considered to be the actual perpetrator, since Dyer could not have executed it without his permission.
- On March 13, 1940, Udham Singh shot O’Dwyer at a meeting of the East India Association and the Royal Central Asian Society at Caxton Hill.
- He was immediately arrested and held in Brixton prison and was sentenced to death and was hanged on July 31, 1940, at Pentonville Prison.
A legend in India
- For avenging the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Singh is seen by many as a hero. Gandhi, though, had famously called Singh’s revenge as an “act of insanity”.
- While being on trial, he referred to himself as Mohamed Singh Azad, to symbolize Hindu-Sikh-Muslim unity in the fight for India’s freedom.
- In 1974, his remains were sent back to India and he was cremated in his village in Sunam.
- There have been several demands in the past few years for Udham Singh’s statue to be installed in Jallianwala Bagh and the Parliament complex.
- In 2018, his statue was installed at Jallianwala Bagh during Baisakhi.
- Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand is named after the freedom fighter.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Portulaca Laljii
Mains level: NA
Botanists have discovered a new species of wild Sun Rose from the Eastern Ghats in India.
Try this PYQ from CSP 2018:
Q.Why is a plant called Prosopis juliflora often mentioned in the news?
(a) Its extract is widely used in cosmetics.
(b) It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows
(c) Its extract is used in the pesticides.
(d) None of the above
Portulaca Laljii
- The new species named Portulaca laljii was discovered from the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.
- It has unique features such as a tuberous root, no hair in its leaf axils, a reddish-pink flower, prolate-shaped fruits, and copper brown seeds without luster.
- Portulaca Laljii has been named to honor the contribution of Lal Ji Singh, an eminent botanist of the Botanical Survey of India.
- The species has been placed under the ‘Data Deficient’ category of the IUCN List of Threatened Species because very little information is available about the population of the species.
Morphological features
- These morphological features distinguish the species from other species of the genus Portulaca.
- The flowers, which are reddish-pink in color, are very minute, at about 0.5mm.
- The plant was found growing in rocky crevices at an altitude of about 1,800 meters above mean sea level, very close to the ground, at about less than 10 cm.
- The plants belonging genus Portulaca are classified in the category Sun Rose because they flower in bright sunshine.
- The genus was described by Linnaeus in 1753 as a type genus of the flowering plant family Portulacaceae.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ayushman Bharat, PM-JAY SEHAT
Mains level: Not Much
The Prime Minister has launched Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT to extend coverage to all residents of Jammu & Kashmir.
Q.Discuss various challenges in ensuring Universal Healthcare in India. (150W)
PM-JAY SEHAT
- The full form of SEHAT is social, endeavor for health, and telemedicine. Under this scheme, the SEHAT card will be distributed to all the eligible beneficiaries.
- All the eligible beneficiaries of Jammu and Kashmir can apply for the Scheme through common service center operators
- Around 1 crore beneficiaries will cover under this scheme. All the eligible citizens of Jammu and Kashmir will get cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under the Scheme.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Article 15 and 16
Mains level: Paper 2- Reservation and issues related to it
The Supreme Court in recent judgement in Saurav Yadav Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh made it clear that reservation and merit are not mutually exclusive. The article deals with this issue.
Vertical Vs. Horizontal reservation
- Articles 15(4) and 16(4) enable vertical reservation based on slotting the population in terms of SC, ST, OBC, and General Category.
- But there is also a class of reservations that cuts across all these categories and are referred to as horizontal reservation.
- Horizontal reservation includes a reservation for women differently-abled persons, freedom fighters, army veterans, etc.
Specifying the relationship between horizontal and vertical reservation
- In cases like Anil Kumar Gupta v/s State of Uttar Pradesh, the Court had made it clear that horizontal reservation ought to be generally understood in compartmentalized terms: recognition of inequalities within each vertical category.
- In a particular case, candidates were excluded from competing from the General Category positions even though they have scored more, simply because they were OBC.
- However, some state governments are trying to use the open category seats as a quota for general category candidates.
- The High Courts had been giving contrary directions: Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh excluded reserved category women for consideration in the general category.
- Rajasthan and Gujarat, amongst others, included them.
- The Supreme Court, in a three-judge bench, ruled against the UP government and clarified the relationship between horizontal and vertical reservations.
Analyzing the judgment
- The judgments reiterate the principle that groups eligible for horizontal reservation cannot be excluded from the open category seats because they are from other vertically reserved category communities, like SC or OBC.
- Women from all categories are eligible to be considered for the open category.
- It also made it clear that the open category seats are not meant to be a quota for the non-reserved categories.
Merit Vs. Reservation
- The Court has often contrasted merit with reservation.
- But this has always been a mistaken view of the relationship between merit and reservation.
- In principle, reservation is an instrument for identifying merit in individuals from historically marginalized communities.
- The Court is saying that by excluding the adjustment of OBC women who had scored higher against general category seats, the UP government was ironically using the General Category to exclude meritorious candidates.
- When the Court is using the term merit, it is simply pointing out that certain selection criteria are being used.
- Such selection criteria are also within particular reserved categories: which is also a function of selection criteria, in this case, marks.
- From this point of view, even those who advocate reservation do not fully give up on the meritocratic criteria of selection — they just apply it differentially.
- What the Court was concerned with is fairness in the application of the selection criteria within the overall framework of reservation.
Conclusion
What the court is trying to say something more interesting: Members of the reserved category must be fully considered as falling under the rubric of being potentially meritorious.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Article 356
Mains level: Paper 2- Misuse of article 356
Article 356 and the word ‘otherwise’ in it has led to the recent Andhra Pradesh High Court order. The order raises several questions. The article deal with this issue.
Controversial High Court order
- Recently the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the Andhra Pradesh government to come prepared to argue on the ‘breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state’.
- The order opens up the possibility of use or even misuse of Article 356 by the judiciary.
- The Supreme Court of India has stayed the order.
- However, we need to go deeper into this observation and look at the controversial provision of Article 356 due to which the High Court could make such an observation.
Historical background of the article
- Both India and Pakistan borrowed this provision from the Government of India Act, 1935.
- Interestingly, the leaders of our freedom struggle were so very opposed to this provision that they forced the British government to suspend it.
- The provision which we had opposed during our freedom struggle was incorporated in the Constitution strangely in the name of democracy, federalism and stability.
- It was agreed in the Constituent Assembly that the Governor could use this emergency power.
- By this time the Governor was supposed to be elected by the people of the State rather than nominated by the Centre.
- After several revisions, provision became Article 278 (now Article 356).
The issue with the word ‘otherwise’
- H.V. Kamath criticised the word ‘otherwise’ and said only god knows what ‘otherwise’ means.
- As the Governor had been made a nominee of the Centre by this time, he asked why the President could not have confidence in his own nominees.
- ‘Otherwise’ can include anything including a presidential dream of breakdown of constitutional machinery in a state.
- The Andhra Pradesh High Court could pass such an order due to this very term ‘otherwise’.
- This word negates the ideals of constitutionalism by giving unlimited powers to the Centre, also allowed the High Court to overstepped the line.
- But this is not the first instance of judicial overreach on this issue.
- On August 13, 1997, a Patna High Court had observed that the High Court could also report to the President about the breakdown of constitutional machinery in the State.
Repeated misuse of Article 356
- In the very first invocation of Article 356 in 1951, central government removed the Gopi Chand Bhargava ministry in Punjab though he enjoyed the majority.
- In 1959, it was used against the majority opposition government of the E.M.S. Namboodripad government in Kerala.
- Indira Gandhi used Article 356 as many as 27 times.
- The most notable case of non-use of Article 356 was the refusal of the P.V. Narasimha Rao government prior to the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
Consider the question “Examine the contest in which the word ‘otherwise’ in Article 356 leads to judiciary exercising its powers. What are the concerns in such case?”
Conclusion
Ideally, the word ‘otherwise’ should be deleted from Article 356 and the provision be used only sparingly and to never remove a majority government.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not Much
Mains level: TIbetan issue and its political recognition
The Tibet Policy and Support Act (TPSA) passed by the US Senate earlier this week, bookends a turbulent year in US-China relations.
Must read:
Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA)
Do you think that India’s support for the Tibetan cause is the root cause of all irritants in India-China relations?
TPSA: A backgrounder
- The TPSA is an amended version of the Tibet Policy Act of 2002, which came into existence during the Bush Administration.
- The act once signed into law would make it the official policy of the US Government to oppose any effort by the govt. of the People’s Republic of China to select, educate, and venerate Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders in a manner inconsistent with Tibetan Buddhism.
- The proposed legislation will empower the US Government to impose sanctions on China who might try to interfere in the process of selecting the next incarnation of the Dalai Lama.
US and China, today
- US-China relations have become much more difficult over the last two decades, particularly worsening in the Trump Administration.
- The matters range from the pandemic to trade tariffs and its cross-world coalition-building against Chinese superpower ambitions.
- Earlier in the year, President Donald Trump signed into law the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.
Fuelled by TPSA
- Adding much fuel to the issue, the TPSA introduces stronger provisions on Tibet, plus teeth in the form of a threat of sanctions, including travel bans on Chinese officials.
The Dalai Lama
- Among the most significant amendments is that the TSPA makes it US policy to oppose attempts by Beijing to install its own Dalai Lama in a manner inconsistent with Tibetan Buddhism.
- The legislation makes reference to the Chinese government’s ‘Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas’ in 2007.
- China had earlier insisted that the reincarnation of living Buddhas including the Dalai Lama must comply with Chinese laws and regulations.
Other provisions of TPSA
- The TPSA has introduced provisions aimed at protecting the environment of the Tibetan plateau, calling for greater international cooperation and greater involvement by Tibetans.
- Alleging that China is diverting water resources from Tibet, the TPSA also calls for a regional framework on water security, or use existing frameworks… to facilitate cooperative agreements among all riparian nations.
- While the 2002 Act said the US should establish a “branch office” in Lhasa, the TSPA ups the ante by changing that to a “consulate”.
- It recognizes the Central Tibetan Administration, whose Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay takes credit for ensuring that the Senate took up the legislation for a vote.
Chinese response to TPSA
- China had earlier said the TPSA severely breached international law and basic norms governing international relations, interfered in China’s internal affairs, and sent a wrong message to ‘Tibet independence’ forces”.
- After the passage of the Bill through the Senate, China said it “resolutely opposes” the “adoption of Bills containing such ill contents on China.
India’s present stance on Tibet
- If India is pleased with this latest US barb to China, it has not said so openly.
- India has mostly refrained from playing the Tibet card against China, and like the US, has a one-China policy.
- It was only this year, in the ongoing Ladakh standoff, that it used Special Forces made up almost entirely of Tibetan exiles to occupy strategic heights in Pangong Tso’s south bank.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: BBX11 gene
Mains level: Genetics and its applications
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) have identified a gene that facilitates in the greening of plants.
It would be no surprise to expect a core Biology question in the coming years, if we look at this PYQ:
Q. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant cells and animal cells? (CSP 2020)
- Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not.
- Plant cells do not have plasma membrane unlike animals cells which do
- Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst animal cell has many small vacuoles
Select the correct answer using the given code below-
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
BBX11
- The synthesis of chlorophyll in plants is a lengthy, multi-step process.
- When a seedling emerges from under the soil it must quickly synthesize chlorophyll to start supporting its own growth.
- In order to facilitate the quick synthesis of chlorophyll, plants make a precursor of chlorophyll called ‘protochlorophyllide’ in the dark, which glows red when blue light is shone on the plant.
- As soon as the plant comes out into the light from under the soil, light-dependent enzymes convert protochlorophyllide to chlorophyll.
- The two proteins oppositely regulate the ‘BBX11’ gene to maintain optimum levels of ‘BBX11’.
How does it work?
- It plays a crucial role in regulating the levels of protochlorophyllide — an intermediate in the biosynthesis of the green pigment chlorophyll.
- The amount of protochlorophyllide synthesized needed to be proportional to the number of enzymes available to convert them to chlorophyll.
- If there is an excess of free protochlorophyllide, then exposure to light converts it into molecules that cause ‘photobleaching’.
- Thus, it is very important to regulate the amount of protochlorophyllide synthesized by the plant and here comes the vital plant played by the ‘BBX11’ gene.
- If it is less, plants are unable to efficiently ‘green’ in order to harvest sunlight.
Benefits of the research
- The study could have tremendous implications in the agriculture sector in tropical countries like India and can help provide leads to optimize plant growth under stressful and rapidly changing climatic conditions.
- Due to the rapidly changing climatic conditions, farmers in several states in India, especially in Maharashtra, are suffering huge losses in crop yields.
- This often leads to severe distress among the farming community as indicated by the high number of farmer suicides in Maharashtra for the past several years.
- Severe drought, high temperature and high light are some of the major reasons for crop failure. Young seedlings emerging out of the soil are extremely sensitive to high irradiance of light.
- This study can provide leads to optimize plant growth under these stressful conditions.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ammoni compounds and its uses
Mains level: Not Much
Two persons died and several took ill in a major ammonia gas leakage at a fertilizers unit at Prayagraj.
Try this PYQ:
Q. With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements:
- At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.
- Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas.
- Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of all oil refineries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1,2 and 3
Ammonia
- Ammonia is critical in the manufacturing of fertilizers and is one of the largest-volume synthetic chemicals produced in the world.
- More than 80 per cent of ammonia made is consumed in the manufacturing of fertilizer, and most of the remainder goes into the production of formaldehyde.
- A tri-hydroid of nitrogen (NH3), ammonia is a building block for ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) that is used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer.
Why is it harmful?
- According to experts in Chemistry, ammonia is stored for industrial use in liquid form under high pressure or in gaseous form at low temperature.
- In such cases, the cause of death is always suffocation as in the case of Prayagraj incident, the victims must have been very close to the point of a gas leak.
Effects on the human body
- Ammonia, even in moderate concentration, can cause irritation to eyes, skin, nose and throat.
- It interacts immediately upon contact with moisture present in the skin, eyes, oral cavity, and respiratory tract to form ammonium hydroxide.
- It is very caustic and disrupts the cell membrane lipids, ultimately leading to cellular destruction.
- As cell proteins break down, water is extracted, resulting in an inflammatory response that causes further damage.
Secretion in humans
- Ammonia, which is highly soluble in water, is found in soil, air, and water; it is naturally present in the body.
- It is secreted by the kidneys to neutralize excess acid.
- However, it is highly diluted when in the environment and does not affect the human body to a noticeable level.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Navratnas of Akbar
Mains level: Medieval arts and culture
This newscard is an excerpt from the original article published in The Hindu.
Try this PYQ:
Q.With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?
(a) Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar.
(b) Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu gods and goddesses.
(c) Tansen composed songs on his patrons.
(d) Tansen invented many Ragas.
Who was Rahim?
- Dating back to 1598, during the rule of Akbar, Abdur Rahim Khan I Khanan was one of the Navratna in the court.
- Winning wars with his military training and hearts with his dohas and translated texts — he was a man who survived despite his father Bairam Khan’s assassination when he was just four.
- Meant to be a dedication of a husband to his wife, the tomb ended up housing his own remains too when he died in 1627.
His works
- Apart from writing various dohas, Rahim translated Babar’s memoirs, Baburnama from Chagatai language to the Persian language, which was completed in 998 (1589–90) AD.
- He had an excellent command over the Sanskrit language.
- In Sanskrit, he wrote two books on astrology, Khetakautukam and Dwatrimshadyogavali.
Why in news?
- The tomb is in a run-down situation but undergoing renovation.
- The historical and cultural significance is more than the archaeological and architectural significance, so restoring the dignity of the burial place has been very important.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Article 243X
Mains level: Paper 2- Making urban local bodies financially strong
The inability of ULBs’ to raise revenue
- Although it is envisaged that municipal revenue should be 1% of GDP, between 2010 and 2018 revenues declined from 0.48% to 0.43%.
- As against the municipal revenue of Rs 4,624 per capita, own-source revenue was only Rs 1,975 in 2018 (ICRIER, 2019).
- This affects the low-levels of municipal services and translates into salary delays for employees.
8-way strategy to increase the revenue of ULBs
1) Increasing the property tax base
- In India, property taxes only account for 0.15% of GDP, whereas in developing economies they account for 0.6% and the global average is 1.04%.
- To double the property tax collection the property tax base needs to be expanded using GIS mapping, cross-checking with building licenses, ration cards, mutations, electricity/gas accounts, and review of exemptions.
- This also needs to cover government properties as per GoI circular 2009 and the SC judgment in Rajkot Corporation vs Railways.
- Similarly, rates need revision in the guiding value for rent or unit area; for instance, in Delhi, rates are fairly low.
- The collection process needs to be automated too.
- ABC (Always best Control) analysis should be done to target the top 10-20% properties, and measures such as attaching bank accounts must be implemented.
2) Upward revision of various fees
- The value capture taxes need to include upward revision of building license fee and new sources like impact fee, as imposed in Telangana, exactions, and betterment levy like the one imposed in Gujarat.
3) Levy advertisement fee
- An advertisement fee needs to be levied.
- Thiruvananthapuram listed the sites and plugged leakages for 33,170 unauthorized boards to double its income from 2018 to 2019.
- South Delhi MC has achieved a three-time increase with revision of rates in a ratio of 1:8 as per location and by dividing the city into clusters.
4) Local fee
- Local fee/charges also have immense potential such as (i) recovery on user charges (water, etc) which is only 20% (ii) right of way from gas/electricity and fiber optic lines, (ii) cell tower, (iii) leasing electricity poles, etc.
5) Participatory funding
- The potential of participatory funding (private sector, CSR, and local community) needs to be tapped.
- This has been done by Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mathura (Hybrid Annuity project), Indore, and Pune.
6) Special attention for assigning and activating the fiscal instrument
- Sixth, small and medium-sized municipal bodies need special attention for assigning and activating fiscal instruments.
- Better mobilization of own sources may also lead to revenue account surplus.
- This has been achieved in Ahmedabad, Pune, etc and it also enables access to the capital market.
7) Revision of Article 243X
- Article 243X needs suitable revision to allow larger inclusion of fiscal instruments above within the scope of a municipality’s own sources.
8) Creating ULBs as per MoHUA’s advisory
- Over 3,000 census towns not having city government need special attention to create ULBs in line with MoHUA’s advisory in 2016.
- It will create an innovative and effective financing framework for sustainable urban development.
Conclusion
Financially strong local bodies hold the key to the development of the country. The steps mentioned here needs to be implemented effectively to make the ULBs financially strong.
Source:-
https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/bolster-ulbs-capacity-to-raise-revenue/2157171/
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Paper 2- Reforms in the Governing Council of the Central Universities
Central Universities need reforms in their Governing Councils to make them realise their potential.
Central Universities in the need of reforms
- There are 55 central universities.
- These are endowed with prime land, extensive funding from the central government and there is a long line of students waiting to get in.
- However, they are in turmoil. In recent years, six vice-chancellors (VCs) of central universities have been sacked.
- Some of these institutions have seen their glory days, yet increasingly, the energy is going out of the system.
- However, not a single new private university has so far been able to create a true broad-based Vishwa Vidyalaya with the full range of humanities, social and natural sciences, and professional disciplines.
- Therefore, to save academia in India, central universities must be saved.
Organizational structure
- Each of the 55 central universities is governed by a separate Act. but the broad structure is as follows.
- The Visitor of the university is the President of India.
- On his behalf, the Ministry of Education recommends an eminent citizen as the chancellor, whose role is mostly ceremonial.
- The Ministry also constitutes a search committee for the post of VC, which comes up with a list of 3 candidates.
- From this list, the government picks a VC.
- Separately, and through a different process, the governing council (GC) is chosen.
- The governing council (GC) of the university usually have nominees from various stakeholders, including the government, faculty, students, and citizens.
- The university’s work is carried out by the executive council chaired by the VC, who also appoints the registrar.
- A separate finance committee is constituted, headed by a chief finance officer, who is often a civil servant on secondment to the university.
- This arrangement is designed to maintain financial checks and balances.
Issues with the governance
- The GC has no say in the selection of the VC.
- The GC typically meets only once a year and its size is usually very large.[Delhi University has 475 members]
- In theory, the VC presents and gets approval for the annual plan of the university from the GC.
- In practice, after much grandstanding on both sides, the plan is rubberstamped.
- After that, throughout the year, there is the minimal direction or monitoring from the GC, which may or may not meet again.
- There are typically no quarterly updates, and there is little oversight.
- Under the circumstances, the high number of failures should not come as a surprise, since effectively, there is minimal governance.
Comparing with provisions in IIM Bill
- The new IIM Bill very sensibly limits the GC to at most 19 members.
- They are expected to be eminent citizens, with broad social representation and an emphasis on alumni.
- This GC chooses the director, provides overall strategic direction, raises resources, and continuously monitors his or her performance.
- Within the guidelines provided by the GC, the director has full autonomy but also full accountability.
Way forward
- The governing councils of all central universities, IITs, and all other central institutions, need to be restructured by an Act of Parliament.
- The most eminent alumni of these institutions must be brought on their boards.
- The dynamism and exposure that these alumni bring to the table will promptly lead to world-class innovations.
Conclusion
To allow central universities, the IITs and other public institutions to truly blossom, we need to reform their Governance. There is no time to waste.
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