CNA 13 Dec 2021:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. SC has taken note of Section 124A misuse INTERNAL RELATIONS 1. Opposition MPs discuss 13th Amendment C. GS 3 Related ECONOMY 1. RBI and PM signal reforms in troubled urban coop banks INTERNAL SECURITY 1. Manipur and Assam wanted to retain AFSPA D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials ECONOMY 1. Global Economy after COVID-19 Pandemic and India’s Role POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. The evolution and framing of the Constitution 2. Freedom and power F. Prelims Facts G. Tidbits 1. S-400 is symbol of Indian sovereignty: Russian diplomat H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
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B. GS 2 Related
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. SC has taken note of Section 124A misuse
Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Mains: Section 124A; Criticism of Sedition Law in India.
Context: –
The Union Law Minister replied in Parliament that there is no proposal to scrap sedition charges from the Indian Penal Code.
Judicial View on Sedition Law: –
- Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana delivered a stinging rebuke to the government in open court regarding the stifling impact of “colonial law,” which restricts ordinary people’s liberties.
- The CJI likened the use of the sedition charge (Section 124A of the IPC) to a carpenter being handed a tool “to cut a piece of wood and he uses it to chop the entire forest altogether.”
- The Chief Justice questioned why a democracy required a legislation that had been used by the British to arrest Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
- Attorney General K.K. Venugopal answered in court to the CJI’s oral observations, stating there was no need to strike down Section 124A.
- The court has already requested a formal response from the government by giving notice on a petition to quash Section 124A submitted by Major General S.G. Vombatkere (retd.).
- A petition filed by renowned journalist Arun Shourie and the NGO Common Cause, both represented by counsel Prashant Bhushan, contends that Section 124A lacks even a “presumption of legality.”
Significance of Remark: –
- The CJI’s remarks in court show that the top court has taken judicial note of the State’s abuse of the sedition provision.
- The observations were made by the CJI throughout the court’s sessions.
- Though not part of a formal order or verdict, oral observations made during a court hearing reflect the constitutional court’s train of thought.
- Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in the Shreya Singhal case called for the repeal of ambiguous rules that stifle free expression and limit personal liberty.
Know more about Sedition Law in India
1. Opposition MPs discuss 13th Amendment
Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations; Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Mains: 13th Amendment in Srilanka; Significance and Implications on India.
Context: –
A group of Opposition MPs in Sri Lanka sought the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to ensure “existing rights are not snatched away”.
Know about the 13th Amendment: 6 Sep 2020 CNA
C. GS 3 Related
1. RBI and PM signal reforms in troubled urban coop banks
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment;
Mains: Urban Co-operative Bank; Concerns associated with UCB and reforms needed
Context: –
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor indicated that the banking regulator will ring in sweeping regulatory changes to reform urban cooperative banks.
Urban Co-operative Bank
- The term “Urban Cooperatives Banks” (UCB) refers to main cooperative banks based in cities and towns.
- Traditionally, these banks concentrated on communities, towns, and workplace organizations.
- They mostly lend to small borrowers and enterprises. Its operational environment has grown significantly in recent years.
Significance of Urban Co-operative Bank
- Urban cooperative banks (UCBs) have been around for over a century and provide mostly regional financial services.
- Their specialty is catering to the lower middle class and persons with little resources, as well as self-employed and micro-enterprises.
- UCBs are most at ease working with these consumers.
Concerns Associated with Urban Co-operative Bank
- The uncovering of large-scale financial irregularities has taken urban cooperative banks off guard.
- Low capital basis, weak corporate governance, inability to detect fraud, delayed adoption of new technologies, and insufficient system of checks and balances are difficulties confronting urban cooperative banks (UCBs).
- The latest Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act 2020 empowers the RBI with all powers, including those formerly reserved for the registrar of cooperative organizations.
- The RBI’s control was limited, and it shared it with the registrar of cooperative societies of states, resulting in the much-discussed dual control and the issues it posed to the central bank.
- The cooperative sector has two challenges:
- first, increased competition from not just Scheduled Commercial Banks, but also from minor financing banks and payments banks;
- second, vulnerability caused by internal shortcomings, such as the inability to detect and prevent fraud.
Conclusion: –
- The construction of a standard regulatory and supervisory framework, as well as an umbrella organization, should be given top importance in the architecture.
- The RBI is also anticipated to interpret the Act’s provisions such that they do not disrupt UCBs. It remains to be seen how the RBI will put them into effect.
- The establishment of our country’s dedicated Ministry of Cooperation is a watershed moment in the history of our country’s cooperative movement.
Know more about the RBI report on urban cooperative banks (UCBs)
1. Manipur and Assam wanted to retain AFSPA
Topic: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security; Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.
Mains: Critical Evaluation of AFSPA in India.
Context: –
This article discusses the reasons why the two States — Assam and Manipur wanted to retain the AFSPA.
Background:
- Since 1958, the AFSPA has been in effect in the northeast.
- It provides the armed forces and the Central Armed Police Forces unrestricted ability to kill or arrest anybody breaking the law and to examine any place without a warrant in “disturbed regions.”
- It shields them from prosecution and legal action without the approval of the Union Government.
- Under Section 3 of the AFSPA, both the Center and the State Governments have concurrent rights to make notifications.
AFSPA in Assam and Manipur
- Only Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh’s districts of Tirap, Changlang, Longding, and regions lying under Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations bordering Assam are designated as “disturbed areas’ ‘ by the Ministry.
- There is already discussion on reducing AFSPA in specific places, such as the prior exclusion of seven Assembly seats spanning Imphal.
- In Assam, the Ministry issued the “disturbed area” order until 2017. Assam has been renewing the notification every six months since then.
- Assam’s State Government said that it was a little early to limit the region covered by the AFSPA notice. The Home Secretary explained that the Center and the State Government were discussing the possibility of reducing the area covered by AFSPA.”
Why do these states want to retain AFSPA?
- Threat from Myanmar: Manipur faces immense threat from Myanmar-based groups and this has to be factored in.
- Insurgency incidents: There are insurgency incidents in Assam that shares a boundary with Bangladesh “and is surrounded by other countries such as the People’s Republic of China, Myanmar and Bhutan.
- Islamit Terrorists: The emergence of Islamic terrorists groups like HUM, JMB and HM [Hizbul Mujahideen] in Assam also pose threats to the security scenario.”
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
1. Global Economy after COVID-19 Pandemic and India’s Role
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Prelims: COVID-19 Pandemic
Mains: Indian Economy
Context: The COVID19 pandemic has impacted lives and livelihoods across the world. It acted as an economic catastrophe and this economic catastrophe needs to be handled through new economic partnerships and cooperation. This scenario opens a window for India to take on a crucial role in the global economy.
Signs of Global Economic Recovery:
In the post-pandemic era, the global economy is showing signs of recovery. Data on world trade for 2021, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) shows the following trends:
- There is an increase of 22.4% in the value of global merchandise trade compared with 2020;
- World trade is expected to stand about 15% higher than before the COVID19;
- The global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in the first half of 2021 reached an estimated $852 billion, showing stronger than expected rebound momentum. FDI flows in developing economies also increased significantly, totaling $427 billion in the first half of 2021.
Challenges Occurred in the Post-Pandemic Era:
The COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic global economic recovery era have highlighted the criticality of international cooperation in the following current and future challenges:
- To revive economic growth,
- To build competitiveness in the investment climate,
- To ensure sustainable development,
- Compliance with climate change obligations while ensuring economic growth,
- To adapt to technology acceleration,
- To Revive global supply chain
- Employment generation,
- Growing inequality of incomes among countries as well as within people of countries,
- To Ensure structural changes for the digital economy, e.g. telemedicine, remote work and e-learning, delivery services, etc.
Way forward for the Global Economy in the Post-Pandemic Era:
- Cooperation on trade facilitation for enhancing open and transparent markets, technical assistance, and reduction of complex processes and arrangements must be promoted;
- Competitiveness for facilitating growth and inclusive development must be ensured;
- New opportunities and avenues across potential high growth sectors such as manufacturing and startups must be leveraged;
- An ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation with targeted policies and interventions will contribute to enhancing productivity and generating employment;
- Facilitation of medical supplies and essentials should be to remain a top priority and for this, supply chains will need to be kept flowing;
- Global collaboration in areas including research and development and Industry 5.0 technologies (Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, the Internet of Things, digital platforms, augmented and virtual reality, and 3D printing) and investments in digital and corporate strategy can similarly become key drivers of industrial development;
- Adaptation to advanced technologies and tools, building robust infrastructure, and occupational transitions;
- Skill development and worker training, investments in education and vocational training, and capacity building would be some key areas of focus for filling technology gaps;
- Scientific cooperation for vaccine development and genome sequencing;
- International alliances and cooperation on building sustainable solutions, green technology, resource efficiency, sustainable finance, etc., must be promoted to fast-track meeting the sustainable development goals and ensuring inclusive development.
India’s Role in the Post-Pandemic World:
In the post-pandemic global economic scenario India’s role as a reliable and trusted player in the comity of nations stands enhanced in the following way:
- During the COVID pandemic, India supplied medical supplies, equipment, and COVID19 vaccines to more than 150 countries. In the post-pandemic world, India will be critical for the world’s medical supply chain;
- India is undertaking serious action in meeting its commitments for climate change, and it can help the world to ensure climate-friendly and sustainable development through its best practices as well as it can be benefited from other countries to tackle its local issues;
- In the post-pandemic world, it will be critical for India to improve on its investment climate and systematically target its export capabilities across sectors and regions. Ease of doing business and new free trade agreements with major markets will help it integrate closely with the world through trade and investment partnerships.
Conclusion:
- As free flow of goods, services and capital will continue to play a dominant role in the global economic recovery process; collaborative efforts from countries across the world would be required in facilitating trade partnerships at both regional and multilateral levels to better protect consumers and producers.
- In this scenario, India must leverage international partnerships for ensuring a robust and sustained economic growth path.
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. The evolution and framing of the Constitution
Topic: Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.
Prelim: Constitution Day, Article 142, Basic Structure Doctrine.
Mains: The scheme of Separation of Powers in the Constitution.
Context:
The relevance of the Constitution of India and its mechanisms have historical underpinnings which incorporate a vast literature of political lessons.
Background:
Recently, on 26th November the Constitution Day was celebrated by the Parliament. It was on this day, 72 years ago that the Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly.
Phases of Development of the Constitution
- The demand for a constituent assembly to draft a constitution goes back to 1935.
- The Constitution of India has taken features from the Government of India Act, 1935 which also acted as the blueprint of the Constitution.
- The 1946 Objective Resolution formed the basis of the Preamble to the Constitution. This reflected the ideals and aspirations that our Constitution strives to achieve.
- Finally, on 26th November 1949, the Constitution came into being after approximately 3 years of crucial drafting.
- The Constitution was brought into effect on 26th January, 1950 symbolizing the Poorna Swaraj demand at Lahore session.
Evolution of Our Constitution
- The evolution of Constitution begins with the Objective Resolution. The ideals of French Revolution i.e., Liberty, Equality, Fraternity have been the foundational values.
- The curse of untouchability, caste system has been attempted to be removed by incorporating the ideas of social justice under Article 15.
- The presence of Dr. Ambedkar allowed for diversity of views. Dr. Ambedkar did not agree with many of the methods of national movement such as civil disobedience, non-cooperation. This allowed for different ideas in the Constitution as well.
Separation of Power
- The Constitution of India under Article 50 provides for the Separation of Power between executive and judiciary. This was incorporated in the Constitutional provisions so as to also ensure the accountability between the organs of governance.
- Under our Constitution the makers provided for the Cabinet form of government with executive deriving its validity from the legislature under Article 74 of the Constitution.
- The judiciary under Article 13 has the power to review any action of the legislature or the executive on the touchstone of Fundamental Rights under Part 3.
- The Court under Article 142 of the Constitution derives extraordinary powers to ‘ensure complete justice’ and acts often in the legislative or executive sphere.
- The recent examples of the Judicial activism such as imposing blanket ban on firecrackers, cancellation of telecom licenses en masse, etc., are against the spirit of separation of powers.
Way Forward
The intricate workings of the Constitution can be understood by the learners through the understanding of the concept of ‘We the People’ and ‘Basic Structure Doctrine’. The Constitution of India has not imposed accountability on the Judiciary deliberately to allow for independence of the judiciary so that it would be functioning within the domains of Constitutionalism.
Topic: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests.
Prelim: Summit for Democracy.
Mains: The distinctions between democratic and non-democratic country is based on larger international politics.
Context:
The new Democrat government in the United States of America invited 110 nations across the globe for the ‘Summit for Democracy.’ It aimed to strengthen democracies around the world.
Need for transparent democracies
- The mechanism of United States of America to invite a limited section of countries has led to the moot questions about what constitutes a democracy.
- The exclusion of Russia, China, Bhutan and Sri Lanka among others has led to a larger friction in the geo-political spheres.
- The principles of transparency, inclusion, human dignity, responsive grievance redressal and decentralisation were raised by the Indian Prime Minister.
- Under the context of rise of blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence there were concerns raised about the digital authoritarianism and the impacts of COVID-19 on public policy governance.
Impact on India
- The exclusion of Russia from the Summit may further strain relationship between India and Russia since India is a participant while Russia and India are in talks for the Annual Summit.
- India aims for cordial relationship with USA and Russia alike, however, the cold war era politics is still evident in geopolitical circles.
- India also has been criticised by USA on the issues of democracy and violation of Human Rights. Hence, involvement with USA is very crucial for India to ensure seamless relationship.
F. Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today!!!
G. Tidbits
1. S-400 is symbol of Indian sovereignty: Russian diplomat
- According to a Russian official, the S-400 missile system acquisition symbolizes India’s “sovereignty.”
- India-Russia collaboration on multilateral issues has expanded, particularly with India backing Russia’s ambition to become an observer state at this year’s Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Russian support for India at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Noumea Accord is a promise by the French Republic to grant political power to
- Réunion
- Guadeloupe
- New Caledonia
- Mayotte
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation
- New Caledonia is a French special collectivity located in the southwest Pacific Ocean that is now controlled under the “Noumea Accord.”
- The Nouméa Accord of 1998 is a commitment made by the French Republic to give New Caledonia and its native inhabitants, the Kanaks, more political authority.
- Hence Option C is correct.
Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to Tornadoes:
- They occur most often in association with thunderstorms in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
- Tornadoes have been observed on every continent except Antarctica.
- They occur mostly in tropical warm areas
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation
- Tornado is a small-diameter column of furiously rotating air that forms within a convective cloud and comes into contact with the ground.
- Tornadoes most commonly occur in conjunction with thunderstorms in the mid-latitudes of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres throughout the spring and summer.
- Hence Statement 1 is correct.
- Tornadoes have been observed on all continents except Antarctica, and they are most prevalent in the middle latitudes, where circumstances are generally conducive for the formation of convective storms. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
- Tornadoes occur most frequently in the spring and least frequently in the winter. The seasonal shift between autumn and spring encourages the formation of extratropical cyclones and frontal systems that sustain intense convective storms. They do not exist in tropical warm climates.
- Hence Statement 3 is incorrect.
Q3. The Governor of a State is the Chancellor of
- State Universities
- State and Central Universities
- State and Private Universities
- State, Central and Private Universities
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation
- The Governor serves as the State Universities’ ex-officio Chancellor.
- According to the terms of the relevant University’s Act, the Governor selects the Vice Chancellor on the advice of the State Government.
- The honorary chancellor of all State-owned colleges is the governor of the state, who is selected by the president as the union’s representative.
- Hence Option A is correct.
Q4. Which of the following statements with respect to Parliament House is/are correct?
- The building was designed by the British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker.
- The foundation stone was laid by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, in 1921.
- It is said to have been based on Chausath Yogini Temple in Rajasthan.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation
- Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens was crucial in the design and construction of New Delhi, which would eventually serve as the seat of the Government of India. New Delhi is often known as “Lutyens’ Delhi” in honor of his contribution. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
- He was also the major architect of various landmarks in New Delhi, including the India Gate, which he created in partnership with Sir Herbert Baker; he also designed Viceroy’s House, which is now known as the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
- During the Delhi phase of his India journey in 1921, the Duke of Connaught, together with Prince Arthur and Strathearn, laid the groundwork for Parliament House. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
- The Indian parliament building is reported to be built on the Chausath Yogini temple in Madhya Pradesh. (NOT Rajasthan) Hence Statement 3 is incorrect.
Q5. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
- Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
- Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation
- Buddhist sects include the Sautrantikas and Sammtiyas. The term “Sautrantika” refers to a sutra-follower. Sautrantika is often regarded as another school of Buddhism that arose inside the Sarvastivada sect. Hence Statement 1 is incorrect.
- Sarvastivadin believes that everything empirical is ephemeral, but that the dharma components are eternally persistent realities. This Buddhist group believes that all things exist and will continue to exist in the past, future, and present.
- Hence Statement 2 is correct.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- The Constitution does not impose the same burden of accountability on the Judiciary as the Executive and the Legislature. Substantiate. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
- Discuss the similarities and dissimilarities between the Gandhian approach and the Ambedkar approach to emancipate the depressed classes. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 13 Dec 2021:- Download PDF Here
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