Comprehensive News Analysis - 01 October 2016

A. GS1 Related

Nothing here today folks!

B. GS2 Related

1. Pakistan still in denial on India’s LoC action

Category: Bilateral

Topic:  Indo-Pak

Key Points:

• Immediately after Indian Special Forces struck terror launch pads across the Line of Control, Pakistan continued to be in denial, maintaining that there had only been an escalation of firing at the LoC.

Pakistan’s Army Chief Raheel Sharif, referring to the commando mission in which the Indian Army said at least eight terror launch pads had been attacked, killing many terrorists on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control, as malicious propaganda. The statement also warned India against any misadventure.

• Pakistan briefed ambassadors of the P-5 UNSC member countries, calling the LoC operation a frivolous Indian claim.

2. Bihar High Court quashes amended prohibition law

Category:  Judiciary

Topic: Important judgments

Key Points:

• The Patna High Court declared Bihar’s amended prohibition law as illegal. Several quarters have called the new stringent prohibition law of Bihar government as

Amended law – Under the law police or excise department officials could send anyone found with a liquor bottle in his house or residential compound, to jail for 10 years. The officials could even arrest all adult family members if a bottle of liquor was found in the house.

Note – The Bihar government had recently given sops to private liquor manufacturing companies in the State while giving tax benefits to them. There are over a dozen liquor manufacturing companies in the State which could sell liquor only outside Bihar.

3. Supreme Court gives last chance to Karnataka to release Cauvery water

Category: Inter-state water disputes

Topic: Cauvery – SC judgment

Key Points:

• The Supreme Court gave Karnataka a last chance to release 6000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu between October 1, 2016 and October 6, 2016 before the wrath of law falls on the State. The hearing comes a day after talks hosted by the Union Water Ministry between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to find a common ground and resolve the Cauvery water dispute failed.

The apex court simultaneous asked the Centre to set up the Cauvery Water Management Board by October 4, 2016 so that the Board can visit the Cauvery sites to check the ground realities. The court slammed Karnataka for flouting its orders and creating a situation by which the majesty of law is dented.

• Invoking its limitless powers under Article 144 of the Indian Constitution to enforce its orders, a Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U.U. Lalit warned Karnataka in its order that it was bound to obey the orders of the Supreme Court.

Article 144 – All authorities in the territory of India are bound to obey the orders of the Supreme Court and render assistance and aid for the implementation of the orders of this court.

• Karnataka’s counsel read out a letter to him by Karnataka Chief Minister saying that Karnataka stands by its September 23 resolution to not share Cauvery water as it was the will of its people.

4. SAARC summit postponed indefinitely

Category: International Summits

Topic: SAARC

Key Points:

• Pakistan announced that the SAARC summit scheduled for November 9 and 10 in Islamabad will now be held on an alternate date. Pakistan blamed India for derailing the SAARC Summit, even as Sri Lanka joined others in opposing the summit under the prevailing environment.

Sri Lanka joined India, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh in demanding the summit should not be held.

• Nepal subsequently issued an official statement seeking an indefinite postponement of the summit and said new set of dates for holding of the 19th SAARC Summit at Islamabad will be announced soon.

C. GS3 Related

Nothing here today folks!

D. GS4 Related

Nothing here today folks!

E. Important Editorials: A Quick Glance

The likelihood of at least 600,000 deaths being caused annually in India by fine particulate matter pollution in the air is cause for worry, even if the data released by the World Health Organisation are only a modelled estimate. The conclusion that so many deaths could be attributed to particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in size is, of course, caveated, since comprehensive measurement of PM2.5 is not yet being done and the linkages between pollution, disease and deaths need further study. What is not in doubt is that residents in many urban areas are forced to breathe unhealthy levels of particulates, and the smallest of these – PM10 and less can penetrate and get lodged deep in the lungs. The WHO Global Burden of Disease study has been working to estimate pollution-linked health impacts, such as stroke and ischaemic heart disease, acute lower respiratory infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Data on fine particulates in India show that in several locations the pollutants come from burning of biomass, such as coal, fuel wood, farm litter and cow dung cakes. In highly built-up areas, construction debris, road dust and vehicular exhaust add to the problem. The Prime Minister launched an Air Quality Index last year aimed at improving pollution control. The new data, which the WHO says provide the best evidence available on the terrible toll taken by particulates, should lead to intensified action.

A neglected aspect of urban air pollution control is the virtual discarding of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, notified to sustainably manage debris that is dumped in the cities, creating severe particulate pollution. The Environment Ministry has highlighted the role that debris can play as a resource. Municipal and government contracts are, under the rules, required to utilise up to 20 per cent materials made from construction and demolition waste, and local authorities must place containers to hold debris. This must be implemented without delay. Providing cleaner fuels and scientifically designed cookstoves to those who have no option but to burn biomass, would have a big impact on reducing particulate matter in the northern and eastern States, which are the worst-hit during winter, when biomass is also used for heating. Greening the cities could be made a mission, involving civil society, with a focus on landscaping open spaces and paving all public areas to reduce dust. These measures can result in lower PM10 and PM2.5 levels. Comprehensive measurement of these particulates is currently absent in many cities, a lacuna that needs to be addressed.

F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:

• Line of Control (LoC)
• Inter-State river water disputes
• Surgical strikes
• Alcohol prohibition in India – DPSP (Gandhian principles)
• SAARC
• Air pollution
• National air quality index

G. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS

H. Fun with Practice Questions 🙂

Question 1: Apart from Bihar which other states have prohibition on alcohol -

Question 2: Consider the following statements regarding Cauvery Management Board:

Question 3: Which of the following statements are correct regarding the 19th SAARC summit are correct?

Question 4: Which of the following Statements regarding sources of PM (Particulate matter) 10 and below particles are True?

Question 5: Which of the following country in not a permanent member of the security council P5?

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