CNA 13 Jan 2022:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. Hate speech: SC seeks response from govt. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Russia, NATO lay out stark differences on Ukraine crisis C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. Recast the selection process of the Election Commissioners SOCIETY 1. Reaping India’s Demographic Dividend F. Prelims Facts 1. Retail inflation accelerates to 5.59% G. Tidbits 1. Threat remains in eastern Ladakh: Army chief 2. Modi exhorts youth to adopt motto of ‘compete & conquer’ 3. Somanath appointed new Chairman of ISRO H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Hate speech: SC seeks response from govt.
Syllabus: Important aspects of governance.
Mains: Hate Speech and key problems associated with it.
Context:
- The Supreme Court has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the police chiefs of Delhi and Uttarakhand to respond to the petitions that accused “Dharam Sansad” of delivering hate speeches.
- The recent speeches at Haridwar targeting minorities have brought back the focus on the need to counter the hazards of hate speech.
Hate Speech
Hate speech refers to words whose intent is to create hatred towards a particular group, that group may be a community, religion, or race. This speech may or may not have meaning, but is likely to result in violence. Know more about hate speech in the link.
Key Problems
- The harm in hate speech is not restricted to direct calls to violence, hate speech works in subtle ways in creating an atmosphere that strengthens existing prejudices and already existing discrimination.
- Our laws and sections as they stand are unequipped to deal with the challenges of hate speech.
- Hate speech is speech that targets people based on their identity and calls for violence or discrimination against people because of their identity.
- Hate Speech will not always proclaim itself to be hate speech, as seen in the Haridwar case, where statements, worded with the right degree of ambiguity, are now being defended as calls to self-defense rather than calls to violence.
Laws commonly invoked in Hate Speech Cases
- Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code – deals with punishing acts that deliberately or with malicious intention outrage the religious feelings of a class of persons (blasphemy).
- Section 153A of Indian Penal Code – promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.
These sections do not cover Hate Speech comprehensively as hate speech is not the same as blasphemy as seen in Section 295A, nor is it captured by a vague phrase, “enmity between classes” as in Section 153A.
Read more about Hate Speech and provisions against it in India in CNA dated Jan 2, 2022.
Conclusion
The social and legal norms against hate speech are to be implemented without descending into pure subjectivity. What is needed is a social consensus about what kind of speech is beyond the acceptable levels.
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Russia, NATO lay out stark differences on Ukraine crisis
Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.
Mains: Ukraine crisis and its recent developments
Context:
The NATO allies warned Russia that they would not compromise on the alliance’s right to defend its eastern members to avoid further conflict in Ukraine, and invited Moscow for further talks.
Details
- Tensions are increasing over the situation in eastern Ukraine, with increased cease-fire breaches and a significant Russian military buildup near the region’s border.
- The concentration of Russian troops has alarmed Ukraine and the West, who have asked Russia to withdraw.
- Russia has claimed that it is free to station troops on its soil and has advised Kyiv’s administration against using force to recover rebel-held areas in the east, where more than 14,000 people have died in seven years of warfare.
Image Source: DW.COM
Read more about Ukraine Crisis in International Relations This Week Episode 55.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Recast the selection process of the Election Commissioners
Syllabus: Appointment to various constitutional posts
Mains: Recasting of selection procedure of Election Commissioners as a suggestive measure
Context:
The article deals with the concerns related to the appointment of the Election Commissioners of India.
Background:
The impartial, transparent, responsible, independent and unswerving characteristics of the Election Commission of India (ECI) are imperative for the functioning of a vibrant democracy like India. On the basis of certain reports and instances, the independence and the impartial natures of the Election Commission have been questioned and were alleged to operate under the influence of the executive.
Appointments to the ECI:
- The Election Commission consisted of only one election commissioner at the time of its onset.
- It transformed into a multi membered body after the Election Commissioner Amendment Act of 1989.
- At present, the commission comprises one Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.
- According to the Transaction of Business Rules, the President shall appoint the members of the Election Commission based on the recommendation by the Prime Minister. This reflects the executive power of the President who shall act on the aid and advice of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
- The Parliament is empowered to regulate the terms and conditions of service and tenure of the Election Commissioners. This is a provision under Article 324 (5) of the Constitution.
- Article 324 (2) states that the Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner and the number of Election Commissioners, if any, shall be fixed by the President in a timely manner and their appointments shall be subject to the provisions of any law made by the Parliament.
Problem with the appointment procedure:
- There were arguments regarding the entire procedure of appointments to the Election Commission as these appointments to a quasi-judicial body are done solely by the executive.
- This issue was raised in the case of Rojer Mathew vs South Indian Bank Limited.
- The argument was raised on the grounds that the Election Commission is not only responsible for conducting free and fair elections but also functions as a quasi-judicial body between several political parties.
- Therefore the executive cannot be the sole participant in the appointment of the members of the Election Commission in order to prevent unethical loyalties shown to the ruling parties.
- The existing selection procedure of Election Commissioners opens avenues of vulnerability and manipulations by the ruling political party. This offers a detrimental blow to the practice of free and fair elections which is part of the Basic Structure Doctrine.
Important Recommendations:
- In 1975, a committee chaired by Justice Tarkunde suggested that Election Commissioners can be appointed on the advice of a committee that involves the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Opposition Leader and Chief Justice of India.
- The same recommendation was put forth by the Dinesh Goswami committee in 1990 and the Law Commission in 2015.
- The fourth report of the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) suggested the inclusion of the Law Minister and the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha in the collegium that is recommended for the appointment of Election Commissioners.
- A bench was constituted in 2017 and comprised the then CJI, J.S Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud which highlighted the significance of establishing transparency in the appointment of Election Commissioners who are responsible for administering elections across the country. The bench also referred to the mandate of Article 324(2) and directed the Parliament to make a law to reform the selection procedure.
- The establishment of an effective multi-institutional collegium through Parliamentary interventions will serve the purpose of saving the important constitutional body that houses the faith of democracy, the Election Commission of India. This will embolden the theory of Separation of Powers echoed from the mind of Montesquieu.
1. Reaping India’s Demographic Dividend
Syllabus: Population and Associated issues
Mains: Significance of demographic dividend as an important factor for economic development
Context: The article focuses on India’s demographic dividend and discusses the role of policies in dealing with the existing issues faced by the population in order to transform the challenges into opportunities.
Contributing Factors of Growth:
- The overall growth of the nation is dependent on productive contributions from all the segments of the society especially children and the youth.
- In order to reap the benefits out of the demographic potential of India, it is of enormous significance that adequate national investments are made in favour of children and youth. This would yield long term returns pertaining to the high productivity of the economically active population.
- Addressing the nutritional needs of the population serves the objective of retaining good health conditions of the population especially the vulnerable and undernourished sections of the society. It is essential for the development of the country. Initiatives of the government like the POSHAN Abhiyan, promotion of fortified rice varieties are of immense benefit to the maintenance of proper health of the population.
- Educational policies and skill development schemes of the government can play a revolutionary role with their effective implementation.
- Generation of an employable population with the required skills that are in demand must be one of the major objectives of any policy that would make productive use of the demographic dividend of this country.
Challenges:
- Fertility declines lead to the inadequacy of the young population increasing the number of dependent old populations.
- Proper policies are to be placed to increase the number of working-age groups that are equipped to mitigate the challenges such as social inequalities, malnutrition, lack of accessibility to quality education, gender inequalities and unemployment.
- India is in the middle of a demographic transition that provides a series of opportunities for faster economic growth. The real scenario in India highlights that the demographic transition has contributed to the GDP to a lower extent than its peers in Asia. There is an urgent need for appropriate policies to avert such challenges.
Ways for the future:
- The experts emphasise the forward-looking policies that can play a pivotal role in churning out the benefits of India’s demographic dividend. To start with, it is essential to update the National Transfer Accounts assessment to ascertain India’s per capita consumption pattern. There must be state-specific data and the state must be ranked on the basis of investments made on youth.
- The healthcare sector must experience a deluge of investments and establish equitable access for the deprived and vulnerable sections of the population. Betterment in health will result in productive outcomes that will elevate the economic growth of the country.
- It is extensively recommended by the experts that reproductive healthcare services must be made available and accessible on a rights-based approach along with larger attention on maternal health and regulation of infant mortality rate.
- There must be universal access to high-quality primary education as education acts as a bridge to mitigate gender inequalities.
- A new federal policy of governance accompanied by proper coordination between the centre and the states will facilitate to provide a potential roadmap in the usage of the demographic dividend resulting in faster economic growth.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Retail inflation accelerates to 5.59%
Context:
According to data from the National Statistical Office (NSO), the retail inflation quickened to 5.59% in December due to an uptick in food prices, while India’s industrial output grew at a subdued 1.4% in November.
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- Consumer Price Index or CPI is the measure of changes in the price level of a basket of consumer goods and services bought by households.
- CPI is a numerical estimation calculated using the rates of a sample of representative objects the prices of which are gathered periodically.
- The CPI captures changes in price level at the consumer level.
- Changes in prices at the producer level are tracked by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
- CPI can capture the change in the prices of services which the WPI cannot.
- The inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) compares with 4.91% seen a month earlier and 4.59% in December 2020.
- CPI inflation surged to a six-month high, the increase attributed to food and beverages, clothing and footwear, moderation in the prices for fuel and light.
Read more about Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
- The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index that indicates the performance of various industrial sectors of the Indian economy.
- It is calculated and published by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) every month.
- It is a composite indicator of the general level of industrial activity in the economy.
Read more about the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
G. Tidbits
1. Threat remains in eastern Ladakh: Army chief
Context
As India and China hold the 14th round of Corps Commander-level talks, the Army chief Gen. Manoj Naravane said that while there has been partial disengagement in eastern Ladakh, the threat has by no means reduced and the Army has bolstered its position “manifold” in the last year and a half.
Read about the India-China Border Clash.
Latest Developments
- Gen. Naravane rejected China’s land boundary law that came into force on January 1, saying it was not legally binding on India. Also stated that it is unlikely to have any military ramifications on India and if any, the Army is adequately prepared to handle them.
- He also confirmed that the Force levels are more or less the same and have been enhanced from India’s side.
- Threat assessment and internal deliberations have resulted in re-organisation and realignment of forces, in keeping with the Army’s mandate, of ensuring our territorial integrity.
- On the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) going forward, Gen. Naravane said the deployment of a large number of PLA forces by the Chinese in eastern Ladakh was the root cause of the situation which developed.
Read about China’s bridge across Pangong Lake.
2. Modi exhorts youth to adopt motto of ‘compete & conquer’
Context
Inaugurating the National Youth Festival, PM praises the ‘can-do’ spirit of the new generation.
Details
- Inaugurating the 25th National Youth Festival (NYF) hosted by the Union Territory of Puducherry, the Prime Minister issued a call to the country’s youth to adopt the motto of “compete and conquer” as their guiding principle in life.
- The PM further added that the evolution of the start-up ecosystem that had grown to over 50,000 units, about 10,000 of them initiated during six to seven months of the COVID-19 pandemic, reflected the “can-do” spirit of the youth of today.
- “The resilience, spirit of innovation and the zest for problem-solving should be a source of inspiration for every generation”, he said.
- The government has initiated several initiatives such as MUDRA, Start-Up India, Stand-Up India and the Atal Innovation Mission, focused on youth to translate their ideas and develop their skills.
- The Prime Minister also gave a call to the youth to adopt “vocal for local” as a motto.
3. Somanath appointed new Chairman of ISRO
Context
Notable rocket scientist S. Somanath has been appointed Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Space Secretary.
Details
- Dr. Somanath has been serving as the Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST).
- The scientist is taking over ISRO at a crucial time when ISRO has numerous missions and projects like the Gaganyaan Mission. Further, the COVID-19 has played havoc with ISRO’s schedules over the past two years, setting another challenge.
- Dr. Somanath has played a major role in the development of the PSLV and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk-III (GSLV Mk-III).
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Which of the following can cause Inflation in the Indian economy?
- Monetary policy – Higher interest rates
- Demand Supply gap
- Increase in government expenditure
Options:
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
Causes of Inflation:
- A growing economy or increase in the supply of money – When consumers feel confident, they spend more and take on more debt. This leads to a steady increase in demand, which means higher prices.
- Asset inflation or Increase in Forex reserves– A sudden rise in exports forces a depreciation of the currencies involved.
- Government spending or Deficit financing by the government – When the government spends more freely, prices go up.
- Due to fiscal stimulus.
- Increased borrowing.
- Depreciation of rupee.
- Low unemployment rate.
Statement 1 is not correct – Higher interest rates discourages the borrowings from the banks and in turn reduces the supply of money in the economy, thereby reducing inflation.
Q2. Consider the following statements:
- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the Nodal Authority that administers the Extradition Act and it processes incoming and outgoing Extradition Requests.
- Requests for extradition on behalf of the Republic of India can only be made by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is not correct – Consular, Passport and Visa Division (CPV Division), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India is the Central/Nodal Authority that administers the Extradition Act and it processes incoming and outgoing Extradition Requests.
- Statement 2 is not correct – Requests for extradition on behalf of the Republic of India can only be made by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, which formally submits the request for Extradition to the requested State through diplomatic channels. Extradition is not available at the request of members of the public.
Q3. With respect to Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
- The voter slip is displayed to the voter for about forty five seconds.
- The VVPAT can be accessed by the polling officials, but not by the voters.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- The question asks for incorrect statements.
- Statement 1 is incorrect – When a vote is cast, a slip is printed containing the serial number, name and symbol of the candidate and remains exposed through a transparent window for 7 seconds
- Statement 2 is correct.
Image source: News18
Q4. Which of the following matters can be taken up in Lok Adalats?
- Matrimonial Disputes
- All Criminal Cases
- Labour Disputes
- Consumer Grievance cases
Options:
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- NALSA along with other Legal Services Institutions conducts Lok Adalats.
- Lok Adalat is one of the alternative dispute redressal mechanisms; it is a forum where disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at the pre-litigation stage are settled/ compromised amicably.
- Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Under the said Act, the award (decision) made by the Lok Adalats is deemed to be a decree of a civil court and is final and binding on all parties and no appeal against such an award lies before any court of law.
- Lok Adalats can take up matters relating to ,
- Mutation of land cases.
- Compoundable criminal offences – Not all criminal cases
- Family disputes – including matrimonial disputes
- Consumer Grievance cases
- Encroachment on forest lands.
- Land acquisition disputes.
- Motor accident claim
- Cases which are not sub-judice.
Q5. What is the purpose of setting up of Small Finance Banks (SFBs) in India? (UPSC CSE 2017)
- To supply credit to small business units
- To supply credit to small and marginal farmers
- To encourage young entrepreneurs to set up business particularly in rural areas.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- According to RBI, The objectives of setting up of Small Finance Banks (SFBs) will be to further financial inclusion by
- Provision of savings vehicles
- Supply of credit to small business units
- Supply of credit to small and marginal farmers; micro and small industries; and other unorganized sector entities, through high technology-low cost operations.
- Statement 3 is incorrect – as there is no mention of “young entrepreneurs to set up business particularly in rural areas” in the guidelines.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Reforming the method of selection of Election Commissioners would go a long way in improving the credibility of ECI. Do you agree? Give suggestions regarding an improved selection process. (250 words; 15 marks)[GS-2, Polity]
- Time is running out for India to take advantage of its demographic dividend. Comment. (250 words; 15 marks)[GS-1, Society]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 13 Jan 2022:- Download PDF Here
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