B. GS 2 Related

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Staff shortage, financial dependency plague local governance

Syllabus: Government policies and their implementation at the local level, issues of urban local governance, local fiscal autonomy, and transparency.

Mains: The governance and administrative issues related to local governments and their financial dependency on state governments

Context

The Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) 2023 highlights financial dependency and limited autonomy in Indian city governments, revealing significant challenges in urban governance.

Introduction

• A recent Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) 2023 reveals the dependence of Indian city governments on state governments for financial support.
• The report, published by the Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, underscores the asymmetry of power and limited autonomy experienced by city governments in India.

City Autonomy and Financial Dependency

• The majority of Indian cities heavily rely on their respective state governments for financial support.
• Five states—Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, and Rajasthan—require city governments to seek state approval for borrowing money.
• Only Assam empowers its city governments to collect key taxes independently.

Autonomy vs. Governance Size

• The survey categorises cities based on their population size (megacities, large cities, medium cities, small cities).
• Megacities have more control over their finances, but their mayors lack a five-year tenure and direct election.
• Smaller cities have longer mayoral tenures and direct elections but minimal control over finances.

Limited Powers in Staff Appointments

• Mayors and city councils have limited influence over staff appointments and promotions.
• Few states grant city governments the authority to appoint municipal commissioners.
• Senior management teams, deputed by state governments, are beyond the city’s control, hindering accountability.

Transparency and Accountability

• A lack of transparency in publishing civic information accessible to citizens is a notable issue.
• Only 11 out of 35 states/union territories have enacted the Public Disclosure Law, which mandates publishing key civic data.
• Financial transparency remains a concern, as very few cities publish quarterly audited financial statements.

Impact on Unfilled Posts

• High levels of unfilled posts within local governments are exacerbated by limited control over staff appointments.
• 35% of positions in India’s municipal corporations remain vacant, worsening in municipalities and town panchayats.

International Comparison

• A comparison with cities like New York, London, and Johannesburg highlights the unique challenges faced by Indian cities.
• These foreign metropolises have more staff per population, greater financial autonomy, and the ability to impose taxes, approve budgets, invest, and borrow without external approval.

Nut Graf: The ASICS 2023 report reveals that Indian city governments heavily rely on state support, with limited powers in financial matters and staff appointments. Transparency issues and high vacancy rates also affect urban governance.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. The stance of the Maldives President-elect on India

Syllabus: India and its neighbourhood – International relations; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

Mains: India- Maldives relations

Context

President-elect Muizzu of the Maldives aims to remove Indian military presence, aligning with the opposition’s ‘India Out’ campaign, while emphasising Chinese assistance.

Introduction

• President-elect Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who won the September 2023 election, has emphasised his intention to remove Indian troops from the country.
• His stance aligns with the ‘India Out’ campaign by the main opposition bloc, opposing the pro-India foreign policy of the outgoing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Indian Military Presence

• As per the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), 75 Indian military personnel operate Indian-gifted Dornier aircraft and helicopters in the Maldives.
• These assets are used for various functions, including medical evacuation, search and rescue, training, surveillance, and patrol.

Why President-Elect Muizzu Opposes Indian Troops

• The previous administration under President Yameen leaned toward China, straining Maldives-India relations.
• Muizzu, aligned with this political camp, seeks to emphasize the benefits of Chinese assistance while refraining from discussing Maldives’ debt obligations, including to China.
• His frequent pledge to remove Indian military presence appears linked to the international media’s framing of the election as a referendum on India and China, in addition to maintaining consistency with pre-election promises.

Challenges for President-Elect Muizzu

• While President-elect Muizzu intends to remove Indian troops, he faces significant economic challenges. The Maldives is dealing with a substantial debt burden, making cooperation with India and China, major lenders and development partners, crucial for addressing the debt crisis.

India’s Interests

• In recent years, India has become the Maldives’ primary security and economic partner, committing substantial funds for socio-economic development.
• India’s interests in the Maldives are closely linked to its security concerns in the Indian Ocean region, particularly regarding China’s growing presence.

Nut Graf: Amid concerns about India’s role in the Maldives, the new president faces challenges, balancing foreign policy and an impending debt crisis.

C. GS 3 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Category: POLITY

1. Ethics, parliamentary conduct and the Indian MP

Syllabus: GS-2, Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.

Context:

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee has initiated proceedings against the All India Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament (MP), Mahua Moitra, to investigate the allegations that she had received money from a businessman for putting questions up in Parliament.

Past Instances of Similar Allegations:

• Taking money for putting up questions in parliament is a breach of privilege and contempt of the house.
• Complaints of this nature are referred to the Committee of Privileges for investigation and the committee will investigate and submit a report about the findings along with the recommendation for action against the MP in question.
• If the allegations are proven the MP in question will be expelled from the House. There have been such instances in the Lok Sabha where MPs were expelled from the House on this ground.
• In 1951 H.G. Mudgal, an MP was found guilty of promoting the interests of a business association in return for financial benefits. A special committee of the House found that his conduct was derogatory to the dignity of the House and inconsistent with the standards that Parliament is entitled to expect of its members.
• In 2005, a sting operation found that 10 Members of the Lok Sabha were accepting money for putting up questions in Parliament and all of them were expelled.
• The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha is a relatively new committee which was set up in 2000, with a mandate to examine every complaint related to the unethical conduct of MPs referred to it and to recommend action. It was also tasked with formulating a code of conduct for MPs.

Undefined Nature of the term ‘Unethical’:

• The term ‘unethical conduct’ is not defined anywhere and is the discretion of the committee to examine a particular act of conduct and decide whether it is unethical or not.
• In the past the committee suspended an MP for 30 sittings of the house when he was found guilty of taking his close female companion along with him on a parliamentary tour, personating her as his wife. 
• He was also barred from taking any companion or his spouse on any official tour till the end of the tenure of that Lok Sabha. 
• The more serious cases involving serious misconduct are dealt with by either the Committee of Privileges or special committees, and not by the ethics committee.
• In the case of Ms Moitra, the allegation is about illegal gratification which is more associated with the breach of privilege and cannot be dealt with by the ethics committee.
• Since a public servant accepting a bribe is a criminal offence, it is normally investigated by the criminal investigative agencies of the government. The 10 MPs who were expelled from the Lok Sabha are still facing trial under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Nature of Parliamentary Probe:

• A parliamentary probe differs from a Judicial probe. A judicial probe is conducted by judicially trained persons and is based on the statutes and Rules.
• Parliamentary committees consist of Members of Parliament who are not experts. Since Parliament has the power to scrutinise the executive, which is accountable to it, it possesses investigative power also.
• Methods followed by Parliament are different from the judiciary in case of investigation and the parliamentary committee functions under the Rules of the House.
• The usual methods are examination of the written documents placed before the committee by the complainant and the witnesses, oral examination of all the relevant witnesses, deposition of experts, if deemed necessary, sifting of the whole volume of evidence placed before the committee, and arriving at findings on the basis of the evidence.
• Ultimately the committee takes decisions on the basis of common sense and the rules of evidence under the Evidence Act are not applicable to a probe by a parliamentary committee.
• It is the Speaker who decides the question of the relevance of evidence of a person or document.

Article 105:

• Article 105 of the Constitution ensures freedom of speech for MPs inside the House.
• This right must also cover the right to tap any source to put up questions and frame bills or resolutions inside the parliament.
• In light of Article 105, the investigation into the source of information of an MP may not have legal sanction.

Nut Graf: A Parliamentary proceeding against an MP is not similar to a judicial probe as the Evidence Act is not applicable to a probe by a parliamentary committee.

F. Prelims Facts

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to the Lok Sabha ethics committee:

1.  Any person can file a complaint against a Member of Parliament (MP) through another Lok Sabha MP along with evidence of misconduct & an affidavit stating that the complaint is not false.
2. A member can complain against another member with evidence without any need for an accompanying affidavit.
3. The speaker of the house can refer any complaint against an MP to the committee.

How many of these statements is/are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to Global Environment Facility (GEF):

1. It was established under the Cancun Agreements in 2010.
2. It is a UNFCCC-designated funding agency providing grants and concessional loans to developing countries.
3. It provides financial assistance to five major international conventions

How many of these statements is/are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q3.  The Annual Survey of India’s City Systems (ASICS) 2023 was published by:

1. NITI Aayog.
2. Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy
3. Pratham
4.  Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Q4.  How many of the following countries are members of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)?

1. India
2. Sri Lanka
3. Maldives
4.  Mauritius
5. Seychelles

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. Only two
2. Only three
3. Only four
4. All five

Q5.  The Maitree Super Thermal Power Project is being developed by:

1. Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company
2. Nepal India Friendship Power Company
3. Sri Lanka – India Friendship Power Company
4. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member nations

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Unless the question of climate financing is resolved, we are staring at a bleak future. Comment. (250 words, 15 marks) [GS- 3: Environment and ecology]
2. India’s local governance institutions are plagued by issues of lack of resources, but the situation gets even worse due to disparity. Do you agree? Give appropriate examples to support your claim. (250 words, 15 marks) [GS- 2: Governance]

Read previous CNA articles here.