CNA 25 Aug 2022:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related GOVERNANCE 1. The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 C. GS 3 Related ENVIRONMENT 1. Wind Power Projects In India D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials SOCIAL JUSTICE 1. Making out a case for the other UBI in India SOCIAL ISSUES 1. The death of Inder Meghwal POLITY 1. Keep it simple F. Prelims Facts 1. Tomato Flu 2. Qutub Minar G. Tidbits 1. Yakshagana H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
1. The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022
Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions
Mains: Competition Law in India
Context: Recently, the Bill to amend the Competition Act, 2002, was tabled in the Lok Sabha.
The Competition Act, 2002:
- It was passed in 2002 and came into effect in 2009.
- The act is a tool to implement and enforce competition policy and to prevent and punish anti-competitive business practices by firms and unnecessary government interference in the market.
- The Act establishes the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for regulating market competition.
- Competition laws are equally applicable to written as well as oral agreements, and arrangements between enterprises or persons.
Competition Commission of India:
- It is a statutory body that primarily pursues three issues of anti-competitive practices in the market: anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance and combinations.
Read more on the Composition and functions of the Competition Commission of India.
Need for amendments:
- With the rapid change in the dynamics of the market due to technological advancements, artificial intelligence, and the increasing importance of factors other than price, it is necessary to update the law to sustain and promote market competition.
- A review committee was established in 2019 which proposed several major amendments to the 2002 Act.
Key Amendments in dealing with new-age market combinations:
- Regulation of combinations based on transaction value: Combination constitutes any acquisition, merger or amalgamation. As per the Act, parties doing any merger, acquisition, or amalgamation need to notify the Commission of the combination only on the basis of ‘asset’ or ‘turnover’. The Act prohibits any person or enterprise from entering into a combination which may cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition.
- The new Bill proposes to add a ‘deal value’ threshold. It will be mandatory to notify the Commission of any transaction with a deal value in excess of ₹2,000 crores and if either of the parties has ‘substantial business operations in India’.
- The Commission is authorized to set requirement criteria to assess whether an enterprise has ‘substantial business operations in India’. This change will strengthen the Commission’s review mechanism, especially in the digital and infrastructure space.
- Time limit for approval of combinations: The Commission earlier had 210 days to approve the combination, after which it was automatically approved. The Bill reduces the time limit to 150 days. This will speed up the clearance of combinations.
- Gun Jumping: The penalty for gun jumping is now proposed to be 1% of the deal value instead of 1% of the asset or turnover. Gun jumping means parties moving ahead with a combination prior to its approval by the Commission.
- Acquisitions involving the open market purchase of target shares must be completed quickly, lest the stock value and total consideration undergo a change. If parties wait for the Commission’s clearance, the transaction may become unaffordable which had resulted in several gun-jumping cases.
- In line with European Union merger regulations, the amendment Bill proposes to exempt open market purchases and stock market transactions from the requirement to notify the Commission in advance if the acquirer does not exercise voting or ownership rights until the transaction is approved.
- Director General: The Bill empowers CCI to appoint the Director General, with prior approval of the government, to assist in conducting inquiries into contraventions of any provisions of the Act. Previously CCI had no role in the appointment as it was done by the Central government.
- Decriminalization of offenses: The Bill changes the nature of punishment for various offenses from the imposition of fine to a penalty.
- ‘Leniency Plus’: New Provision called ‘Leniency Plus’ allows CCI to give an additional waiver of penalties to an applicant who discloses the existence of another cartel in an unrelated market, provided the information enables the Commission to form a prima facie opinion about the existence of the cartel.
- Penalties: Five crore rupees penalty for any false information filed and ten crore rupees for failure to comply with the Commission directions.
- Appeal: For an appeal to be heard by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) against the Commission’s order, the party will have to deposit 25% of the penalty amount.
Issue of Hub-and-Spoke Cartels:
- A Hub and Spoke cartel is formed when a facilitator, mostly a vertical component in the production chain, creates an arrangement with each of the horizontal competitors. This leads to indirect coordination between competitors, which thus makes it difficult to be identified and proven.
- As per the Act, the prohibition on anti-competitive agreements only covers entities with similar trades that engage in anti-competitive practices ignoring hub-and-spoke cartels operated at different levels of the vertical chain by distributors and suppliers.
- The amendment bill broadens the scope of ‘anti-competitive agreements’ to catch entities that facilitate cartelisation even if they are not engaged in identical trade practices.
‘Settlements’ and ‘Commitments’ mechanisms:
- The new amendment proposes a framework for settlements and commitments for cases relating to vertical agreements and abuse of dominance.
- The Commission’s decision regarding commitment or settlement will be final after hearing all stakeholders in the case.
Nut Graf: Proposed amendments to the Competition Act 2002 empower CCI to handle certain aspects of the new-age market and transform its functioning in a more robust manner. Also, the government needs to recognise that market dynamics change constantly, so it is necessary to update laws regularly.
C. GS 3 Related
1. Wind Power Projects In India
Syllabus: Renewable Energy
Mains: India’s achievements in the renewable energy sector
Context: India Wind Energy Market Outlook 2026 was recently published by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and MEC Intelligence (MEC+).
Introduction:
- GWEC and MEC+ published “Renewing wind growth to power the energy transition: India Wind Energy Market Outlook 2026”.
- It is the third annual edition looking at the wind energy outlook in India.
- It highlights wind energy’s critical link to India’s green energy transition.
Significance of Wind Energy Development:
- India’s power demand is projected to grow at 6% annually towards 2030, driven by economic growth, which will continue to shoot emissions upward without rapid displacement of fossil fuels by Renewable Energy (RE).
- 56% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in India come from power generation. The decarbonization of the power sector in India, including the phaseout of coal and fossil fuels and the acceleration of RE, will be a key factor for India’s overall energy transition.
- As per India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC), India has committed to sourcing half its electricity in 2030 from non-fossil fuel sources and installing 60 gigawatts (GW, or 1000 MW) of wind power by 2022. So far, only 40 GW of wind power capacity has been established.
- The outlook suggests that India can add another 23.7 GW of capacity within the next 5 years provided necessary enabling policies, facilitative instruments, and the right institutional interventions are put in place.
Highlights of the report:
- In India, wind energy makes up a major share of the Renewable Energy (RE) generation mix, with 37.7%3 (40.1 GW) of cumulative installed RE capacity as of March 2022.
- India has a high potential of 302 GW technical onshore wind resource at 100m height and 695 GW technical onshore wind resource at 120m.
- However, the overall estimated potential dwarfs the current installed capacity.
Image Source: Wind Energy Market Outlook 2026
Slowdown in installed capacity:
- Over the last five years (2017-2021), wind energy installations have drastically slowed down to a 5% growth rate, in comparison with ~13% growth over the period of 2012-2016.
There has been a slowdown in installed capacity since the advent of the auction regime in 2017 to award tenders which led to large orders but highly competitive bids. - Also, the markets are concentrated around a few substations of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, which were home to the strongest resource potential and lowest cost of land. This created bottlenecks and slowed down project activity.
- The low cost of solar-based power is creating a wider gap with wind-based energy and hence delays in the signing of Power Supply Agreements for already auctioned projects.
- Supply chain instability caused by the Covid19 pandemic and the impact of the Ukraine war have led to availability issues of cargo ships and a spike in fuel costs, resulting in an increase in logistics prices.
Recommendations:
- There is a huge untapped wind energy potential that will be crucial for advancing India’s clean energy transition. The outlook provides insight into how it can unlock the full potential of wind resources with five broad recommendations:
- Promote technology exchange and alignment to the global wind supply chain.
- Exploit repowering opportunities that offer an efficient pathway for India to maximize productivity and socioeconomic benefits from sites already designated for onshore wind power production.
- Strengthen consensus and coordination between central and state governments.
- Address the legacy challenges which have disrupted the development of wind energy.
- Finalize and implement offshore wind development roadmaps.
Read more on Wind Energy in India.
Nut Graf: Various policy interventions by central and state governments offer hope for the RE market, but action is needed to revitalize the market and deliver on the ambitious goals of the RE target. Policy amendments must be evaluated over a period of time to identify any scope for improvement and to fast-track progress while also ensuring a thriving business environment.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
1. Making out a case for the other UBI in India
Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Mains: Analysis of various social security programmes undertaken in the country and the need for Universal Basic Insurance
Context: This article talks about the need for Universal Basic Insurance in India.
Details
- The COVID pandemic has exposed the existing vulnerabilities in societies throughout the world and highlights the importance of ensuring Universal Basic Income (UBI).
- However, this article talks about the importance of another UBI which is Universal Basic Insurance in the Indian scenario.
Security net
- The phases of income shocks (like during the COVID pandemic) will cause a free fall of people living on the line of basic living wages towards the line of critical survival.
- Any further fall from the critical survival line can be disastrous and hence there is a need to prevent any further fall.
- In order to prevent such falls, social security systems are introduced and these act as a safety net placed at the line of critical survival.
Types of safety nets
- Passive safety net – these security systems prevent the free fall of individuals from the line of basic living wages to the line of critical survival and also prevent further fall.
- It is usually a social assistance programme used to support most income-deprived sections of society.
- Active safety net – are the ones that act like a trampoline that help individuals to bounce back to the line of basic living wages.
- Such social security schemes require a higher outlay.
- Proactive safety net – these work like a launchpad where the individuals who fall are not only bounced back but will also be pushed beyond the line of basic living wages.
- These are the most desired type of safety nets employed but these require a huge amount of resources, capital and institutional capacity.
Social security and its significance
- Social security primarily covers aspects such as food security, health security and income security.
- To ensure social security, individuals occupying the lower end of the income line require social assistance schemes whereas those on the upper end should have voluntary insurance.
- India employs one of the largest spectra of social security schemes which serves the highest number of people in the world.
- With respect to food security, the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of India which has more than 80 crore beneficiaries is the world’s largest food security programme.
- Further, the Mid-day Scheme provides free lunch to over 12 crore children.
- With respect to health security, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme has more than 49 core beneficiaries in the unorganized sector.
- In the organised sector, the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) serve close to 13 crores and 40 lakh beneficiaries respectively.
- Further, various health insurance schemes operated by the State governments in the country cater to over 20 crore people.
- With respect to income security, the General Provident Fund (GPF) is availed by nearly 2 crore employees of both central and state governments.
- Further, the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is availed by over 6.5 crore workers in the other organised sector and also the Public Provident Fund (PPF) can be availed by any Indian citizen.
- In the unorganised sector, schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY), the PM-KISAN scheme, Atal Pension Yojana (APY), the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana are catering to several crores of beneficiaries.
- The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) having over 6 crore beneficiaries is said to be the largest unorganised sector income security initiative.
Key challenges
- Food security – there are severe challenges with respect to financial sustainability and leakages in such schemes.
- Health security – despite covering a large proportion of the population through various schemes, over 40 crore people in India are still not covered under any kind of health insurance.
- Income security – out of 50 crore workers in the country over 10 crore workers lack income security.
The need for Universal Basic Insurance
- Acknowledging the fact that the insurance penetration (premium as a percentage of GDP) in the country has been lower (around 4%) compared to other countries such as Taiwan (17%), Japan (9%) and China (6%) is important.
- Further, as the major portion of the economy still remains informal and also due to the efforts by the government in recent years, the data on the informal sector is now available for both businesses (through GSTIN) and unorganised workers (through the e-Shram portal), universal basic insurance is suggested to be a better option compared to universal basic income.
- Kutumba portal of the Karnataka government is an example of social security portal that consists of a social registry, integrated beneficiary management systems, beneficiary registry, payment platform and a grievance redressal system.
- Experts believe that the social security in the country can be improved through the facilitation of universal basic insurance, until a stage where adequate voluntary insurance is reached.
Nut graf: Considering the difficulties in implementing the universal basic income due to severe financial implications (close to 4.5% of GDP) and the challenges in the identification process of large numbers of unorganised sector beneficiaries, Universal Basic Insurance is proposed as a better option for ensuring social security in the county.
Syllabus: Diversity of India and the challenges posed by diversity
Mains: The practice of untouchability and various legislations preventing it in India
Context: The death of a nine-year-old boy Inder Meghwal in the Jalore district of Rajasthan has brought the debate on the practice of untouchability under the spotlight.
Read more about – Debate on Untouchability in the Constituent Assembly
Background
- The family of the boy alleged that the boy died due to injuries caused by the assault of a teacher in the school who was angry that Inder Meghwal drank from a water pot meant for upper castes.
- They further accuse the teacher of a brutal assault on the boy due to his caste.
- Individuals from the Meghwal community are considered to be “untouchable” in rural areas of Rajasthan.
Concerns regarding the incident and the practice of untouchability
- The incident proves that untouchability is still practised in various villages and far-flung areas of the country.
- People from the upper castes still believe that the practice of untouchability is normal and is the right way of practising their religion whereas people from the lower castes feel that untouchability is a part and parcel of their lives.
- People from the lower castes are not allowed to enter the major temples of the village and are forbidden from attending various festivals and functions.
- People from the lower castes are made to sit separately in common gatherings.
- Critics opine that the policymakers have failed to address various discriminatory caste due to their political interests and vote-bank politics.
- Further, there have been instances of police being biased against the lower caste people while dealing with the cases that involved them.
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Legislations against untouchability in India
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Nut graf: Despite passing various laws and legislations abolishing the practice of untouchability and imposing stringent penal and legal actions against individuals practising it, people from the so-called lower castes still continue to face such caste-based discrimination in remote and far-flung areas of the country.
Syllabus: Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Mains: Critical analysis of the move to link voter ID with Aadhaar numbers
Context: Mandatory linking of Aadhaar to the voter ID.
Details
- Indian democracy is largely applauded for its regular and relatively smooth conduct of elections despite the participation of a higher percentage of citizens in the voting process as compared to other countries.
- However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) faces several challenges with respect to the registration of voters which include making changes to the electoral rolls taking into account the changes in migrant populations, the addition of more eligible voters due to demographic changes and deletion of voters due to death.
- To address such issues, the Lok Sabha passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill in December 2021 which aims to link the voter ID with the Aadhaar card to prevent errors like voter duplication on the electoral roll.
To learn more about the Arguments for and against Aadhaar-voter ID linking refer to:
UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis dated 24 Dec 2021
F. Prelims Facts
1. Tomato Flu
Syllabus: GS0-2, Health-related issues
Prelims: Viral Infections
Context: Recently, the Union Health Ministry issued an advisory on Tomato Flu, asking States to take measures to prevent its spread.
What is Tomato Flu?
- The infection has been named as such because of the red blisters that appear on the body and gradually enlarge to the size of a tomato.
- It is characterized by fever, and joint pain usually seen in children below the age of five years.
- This is accompanied by other symptoms of viral fevers such as diarrhoea, dehydration, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue.
- It is now considered a different clinical presentation of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) caused by a group of enteroviruses (viruses transmitted through the intestine) like Coxsackievirus A-6 and A-16.
- The Union Health Ministry has clarified that the virus causing ‘tomato flu’ is not related to SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox, dengue, or chikungunya despite symptoms similar to those in viral infections.
Transmission:
- It is highly contagious and spread through close contact.
- Infants and young children are also prone to this through the use of nappies, touching unclean surfaces as well as putting things directly into the mouth.
- It is a ‘non-life-threatening virus’ that could lead to serious consequences by spreading to adults as well.
- India recorded around 100 cases of ‘tomato flu’ in children below nine years of age in less than three months.
Treatment:
- There is no specific drug for this flu.
- The treatment is similar to the treatment of chikungunya, dengue and hand, foot, and mouth disease.
- Patients are advised to isolate, rest, plenty of fluids, and hot water sponge for the relief of irritation and rashes.
- A nutrition-rich, balanced diet to boost immunity.
2. Qutub Minar
Syllabus: Art and Culture
Prelims: Medieval and Indo-Islamic Architecture
Context: Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) opposed the intervention application filed by a person seeking legal rights over the land where the Qutub Minar complex and the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque are situated.
About Qutub Minar:
- It is the second-tallest historical monument in India. It is a 73-meter tall tower with 379 staircases and a five-storey building.
- It was built in Delhi to celebrate the victory of the Mughals over the Rajputs and is called the victory tower.
- It is made in a unique architectural style using red sandstones and marble.
- The construction of Qutub Minar was started by Qutab-ud-din Aibak of the Slave dynasty in 1192 A.D and completed by his son-in-law in 1200. A.D
- It was named after a Sufi saint Khwaja Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki.
G. Tidbits
1. Yakshagana
- The all-night Yakshagana performances by more than a century-old theatre troupe ‘Kateel Durgaparameshwari Prasadita Yakshagana Mandali’ will be changed to a short duration format in the background of the recent Karnataka government circular which has banned the use of loudspeakers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- It was founded in the mid-19th century and was popularly called Kateel Mela. This will become the second Yakshagana theatre troupe with a record of over a century to break away from its tradition.
- Since the troupe performs on grounds or other open places, it will not be possible to adhere to the guidelines of the circular.
Read more on Yakshagana.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to Champaran Satyagraha: (Level-Medium)
- It challenged the Tinkathia System in which the European planters were forcing the peasants to grow indigo on 3/25 part of the total land.
- Mahatma Gandhiji was persuaded by Pandit Raj Kumar Shukla, one such oppressed Indigo cultivator, to visit the region.
- The popular leaders associated with the Satyagraha were Brajkishore Prasad and Anugrah Narayan Sinha.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Statement 01 is incorrect, The main system of Indigo cultivation in Champaran was the Tinkathia system. In this Tinkathia system, the ryots were obligated to cultivate three Kathas per Beegha with indigo, i.e. 3/20th of their landholdings (1 Beegha = 20 Kathas) instead of essential food crops.
- Statement 02 is correct, Raj Kumar Shukla, a money lender and cultivator persuaded Gandhi to go to Champaran and help the suffering villagers.
- Statement 03 is correct, Along with Gandhiji, other prominent leaders associated with the satyagraha were Brajkishore Prasad, Rajendra Prasad, Anugrah Narayan Sinha and Acharya Kripalani.
Read more on the Early movements of Gandhiji.
Q2. Arrange the following in the chronological order of their reign:(Level-Difficult)
- Aram Shah
- Muiz-ud-din Bahram
- Qutb ud-Din Aibak
- Rukn-ud-din Feroze
Options:
- 1-3-4-2
- 2-3-4-1
- 3-1- 4-2
- 3-2-4-1
Q3. With reference to Yakshagana, which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level-Easy)
- It is a theatrical dance-art form performed in Karnataka.
- The art form is performed only by men and the male artists play the female roles.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Statement 01 is correct, It is a theatrical art form of Karnataka, originally an all-night performance where the mela travelled from one village to another.
- Statement 02 is incorrect. Traditionally, men used to portray all roles, including female ones. Now women are also part of Yakshagana troupes. A typical troupe consists of 15 to 20 actors and a Bhagavatha, who is the master of ceremonies and the main storyteller.
Q4. Consider the following statements: (Level-Difficult)
- The Anang Tal Lake is in Haryana.
- It was created by the Tomar King Anangpal II.
- Anangpal Tomar II was succeeded by his grandson Prithviraj Chauhan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 3 only
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- The Anang Tal lake is situated in Mehrauli, Delhi and is claimed to be created by Anangpal II in 1,060 AD.
- Anangpal II/Anangpal Tomar, belonged to the Tomar dynasty. He founded Dhillika Puri, which eventually became Delhi. He was the ruler of present-day Delhi and Haryana between the 8th-12th centuries.
- He was succeeded by his grandson Prithviraj Chauhan.
Q5. If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it? (Level-Easy)
- This would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people.
- This would create a local self-governing body in that area.
- This would convert that area into a Union Territory.
- The State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State.
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas as well as of Scheduled Tribes residing in any State other than the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- The expansion of wind power generation projects in India has been slower than expectations. What are the major reasons behind these shortcomings? (250 words-15 marks) (GS III-Energy)
- Despite being prohibited in India for over seven decades, untouchability still remains a part of Indian society. Discuss ways to eradicate this evil from the Indian society. (250 words-15 marks) (GS II-Social Justice)
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 25 Aug 2022:- Download PDF Here
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