CNA 16th July 2021:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. Why do you need the ‘colonial law’ of sedition, CJI asks govt. 2. NHRC panel seeks CBI probe into Bengal riots 3. Notice issued to 3 MPs under anti-defection law C. GS 3 Related SECURITY 1. Simpler drone rules in the offing D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Ending the impasse POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. Interference an investigating officer can do without ECONOMY 1. Growing precarity F. Prelims Facts G. Tidbits 1. Jaishankar meets Ghani, discusses Taliban 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. Why do you need the ‘colonial law’ of sedition, CJI asks govt.
Context:
A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana has agreed to examine a petition challenging the validity of section 124A (Sedition) of the Indian Penal Code.
This issue has been covered in July 15th, 2021 CNA.
Details:
- CJI questioned the government why a colonial law used against Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak continued to survive in the law book 75 years after independence.
- A number of petitions have been filed highlighting the chilling effect sedition has on the fundamental right of free speech.
- In a recent judgement quashing a sedition case, Justice U.U Lalit recorded that the time is long past when the mere criticism of governments was sufficient to constitute sedition. The right to utter honest and reasonable criticism is a source of strength to a community rather than a weakness.
- The recent developments have also opened the floor for debate and introspection on the 1962 Supreme Court verdict in the Kedar Nath case that upheld the constitutional validity of Section 124A.
Note:
- The CJI’s reference to low conviction rates under the sedition law resonates with a petition highlighting the dramatic jump in charging a person with the offence of sedition since 2016.
- The National Crime Records Bureau reports show that in 2019, 21 cases of sedition were closed on account of no evidence, two were closed for being false cases and six cases were held to be civil disputes.
Watch Video related to Indian Sedition Law & Freedom of Express:
2. NHRC panel seeks CBI probe into Bengal riots
Context:
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) committee formed to investigate complaints of post-poll violence in West Bengal has recommended that cases of heinous crimes be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Details:
- A large number of cases related to murders, rapes, molestation and vandalism were received by the NHRC committee from local sources in West Bengal.
- The report recommended that all heinous cases and complaints carrying these allegations be transferred to the CBI for investigation stating that there is a need to provide justice to victims by a neutral agency.
Read more on the National Human Rights Commission of India.
3. Notice issued to 3 MPs under anti-defection law
Context:
The Lok Sabha Secretariat has issued notices to three MPs under the anti-defection law.
Read more on 10th Schedule – Anti Defection Law, Provisions under Tenth Schedule
C. GS 3 Related
1. Simpler drone rules in the offing
Context:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has released Draft Drone Rules, 2021, for public consultation.
Details:
- The rules will replace the Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, 2021 notified in March 2021.
- The intent is to make the rules user-friendly and to encourage drone research and development.
Key takeaways from the Draft Drone Rules, 2021:
- The number of forms to be filled to seek authorisation before operating a drone has been reduced from 25 to six.
- Fee reduced to nominal levels. No linkage with the size of the drone.
- Safety features like ‘No permission – no take-off’ (NPNT), real-time tracking beacon, geo-fencing, etc. to be notified in future. A six-month lead time will be provided for compliance.
- Digital sky platform would be developed as a business-friendly single-window online system.
- No pilot licence required for micro drones (for non-commercial use), nano drones and for R&D organisations.
- No restriction on drone operations by foreign-owned companies registered in India.
- Import of drones and drone components to be regulated by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. This is in order to encourage indigenous manufacturing.
- No security clearance required before any registration or licence issuance.
- Coverage of drones under Drone Rules, 2021 increased from 300 kg to 500 kg. This will cover drone taxis also.
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation shall prescribe training requirements, oversee drone schools and provide pilot licences online.
- Maximum penalty under Drone Rules, 2021 reduced to INR 1 lakh.
- Drone corridors will be developed for cargo deliveries.
- Drone promotion council to be set up to facilitate a business-friendly regulatory regime.
- The Union government may specify certain standards for obtaining a certificate of airworthiness for drones, which will promote the use of made-in-India technologies, designs, components and drones; and India’s regional navigation satellite system named Navigation with Indian Constellation [NavIC].
Also read on the concerns associated with drone usage covered in 28th June 2021 CNA.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context:
Meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Background:
- India-China relationship has been under strain for over a year.
- Their last meeting in Moscow took place in the aftermath of the Galwan Valley clash.
- A political agreement then paved the way for both sides to disengage in February 2021.
- However, the agreements in Galwan and Pangong Lake where both sides have put in place no-patrolling zones, have not been followed at other disputed sites in Depsang, Demchok, Gogra and Hot Springs.
- The crisis on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains unresolved, and tens of thousands of soldiers from both sides still remain deployed in forward areas.
- Peace on the border provided the foundation for the development of ties since 1988 when the post-1962 freeze ended.
- The unresolved situation has been visibly impacting the relationship in a negative manner.
Issue:
- In the recent meeting at Dushanbe, Wang called for boundary disputes to be kept in an appropriate place while expanding the positive momentum of bilateral cooperation.
- Wang also said that Beijing’s strategic judgment on China-India relations remains unchanged.
- China, which was earlier equally concerned after India’s counter-deployments to take the heights of the Kailash Range, appears to be in no hurry to restore the status quo.
Way Forward:
- India has made it clear that normalcy cannot be possible without disengagement and de-escalation.
- It has signalled its intent with measures including scrutiny on Chinese investments — bilateral trade.
- However, bilateral trade is booming beyond pre-pandemic levels owing to huge imports of medical supplies.
- At this stage, India must take a stand to underline its resolve on restoring the status quo.
- China must demonstrate its willingness to resolve the boundary dispute by resuming negotiations on the LAC at the earliest.
- For a reset in India-China relations and to ward away distrust in all the other spheres of bilateral relations, a full restoration of peace and de-escalation on the borders is necessary.
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Interference an investigating officer can do without
Issue:
There have been growing instances of subordinate judicial officers, and High Courts directing the investigating officer to arrest a particular individual in relation to the commission of a crime. The article explains why such judicial interference in an investigation is undesirable.
Details:
- Recently, the Supreme Court of India observed that the courts have no authority to direct an investigating officer to in turn direct the arrest of any particular individual connected with a crime.
- Contrary to this, certain incidents justify further curbs on the police authority to investigate an established crime. Example:
- Horrific murder of a citizen, George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in the United States.
- June 2020 episode in Sattankulam, Tamil Nadu, where a 58-year-old father and his 31-year-old son died, subject to police brutality.
- However, the article asserts that this issue should be examined in the background of growing instances of interference of judicial officers into an investigation which could widen the government and public distrust of the police.
Effects of Judicial Interference in Investigation:
- Court interference cannot be seen as an intervention. Interference in the day-to-day investigation is not only undesirable but is also not sanctioned by law.
- There are instances of courts bullying police officers with respect to the arrests made in relation to a crime.
- Such directions are a threat to criminal justice ethics because the bedrock of British jurisprudence is the principle “accused is presumed to be innocent till he is proved guilty”.
- Directing an investigating officer to go ahead with an arrest even before he has scrutinised the evidence collected is unsustainable in law.
- The direction to the police with regard to arrests during a criminal investigation is harmful to police morale and cuts at the roots of field policing.
- A lack of faith in police ability and integrity will make grass-root level policemen even more arbitrary than now and could lead them into carrying out questionable actions that will cast aspersions on an officer’s ability to think for himself.
Why is Judicial Interference in Policy Inquiry Unnecessary?
- The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) vests sufficient discretion in the investigating officer to take such decisions as arrests, searches, dropping of further action after registering a first information report (FIR).
- Police are a well-established hierarchy that is obligated to ensure objectivity during a criminal investigation.
- Every investigation is supervised by at least two immediate senior officers.
- In the more important cases, there are a few more levels.
- It is their duty to ensure that every investigation is handled lawfully and impartially.
- Every police station should register a complaint under the relevant sections of a statute the moment a cognisable offence is made out in the complaint.
- There is another safeguard against police misconduct. The CrPC makes it obligatory for the investigating officer to write a diary that details the action taken every day following FIR registration.
Way Forward:
- Besides the Supreme Court (in whom the Constitution vests enormous authority and discretion which are not questionable), the lesser courts should not give directions in the matter of arrests and searches.
- Where supervisory officers fail in their duty because of sheer inaction or buckle under external pressure, they deserve to be pulled up by courts. But not before they are found guilty of indifference or wrongdoings.
Conclusion:
A humane view of police conducts and a larger scope for freedom of action in the standard operating procedures followed is necessary especially when the police investigate complicated crimes.
Category: ECONOMY
In the context of rising inflation, the article talks about the need to cut fuel levies to ease the burden on consumers.
Background:
- According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, retail inflation had touched a six-month high in May 2021. It has remained at 6.3% in June 2021.
Read more: July 13th, 2021 CNA.
- Wholesale price inflation has been recorded at 12.07% for June 2021.
Read more: July 15th, 2021 CNA.
Details:
- RBI’s monthly Bulletin observed, fuel inflation, which excludes petrol and diesel, surged to a record 12.7% in June 2021 driven by LPG, kerosene and the rural poor’s mainstay, firewood and dung-cake.
- And, disconcertingly, LPG and kerosene prices have also registered increases so far.
- Medium and small-scale industrial units, already struggling to cope with the pandemic’s impact now face rising raw material and input costs.
- Transport costs remain persistently high as both petrol and diesel prices continue to rise.
- With global crude oil trending higher, the persistent rise in domestic transportation costs is bound to reflect in retail prices of farm produce and products shipped from factories.
Way Forward:
- The worry over inflation and growth trade-off persists and the former needs careful handling.
- The Government must, at the very least, cut fuel taxes to ease the burden on consumers.
- Earlier, SBI’s economists also had called for the fuel taxes to be cut through tax rationalization to both cool inflationary pressures and ease the burden on consumers.
Read more on this topic covered in July 14th, 2021 CNA.
F. Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today!!!
G. Tidbits
1. Jaishankar meets Ghani, discusses Taliban
What’s in News?
India’s External Affairs Minister discussed the situation in and around Afghanistan with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, the U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser, Special Envoy as well as other Foreign Ministers.
- The meeting was focused on the rapid developments and advances by the Taliban within days of the U.S. and NATO troops’ pull-out from the Bagram airbase.
- Besides, the Ghani government is conducting a review of the Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) military strategy, which could see it shift tactics in dealing with the Taliban that has claimed several key towns and border check post areas.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following pairs:
Amendment Act Provisions
- 1st Amendment Act Ninth Schedule
- 25th Amendment Act Abolished the Privy purses
- 42nd Amendment Act Fundamental Duties added
- 62nd Amendment Act Voting age was decreased from 21 to 18
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 2 and 4 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Privy Purses abolished – 26th Amendment
- Voting age decreased from 21 to 18 – 61st Amendment
Q2. With reference to Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs), which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Interest is paid on PPI balances.
- Semi-closed PPIs permit cash withdrawal.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- PPIs are instruments that facilitate (a) purchase of goods and services, including financial services, (b) remittances, (c) funds transfers, etc., against the value stored in/on such instruments.
- Interest is not paid on PPI balances.
- Semi-closed System PPIs do not permit cash withdrawal, irrespective of whether they are issued by banks or non-banks.
Q3. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Adjournment Motion?
- Rajya Sabha is not permitted to make use of this device.
- It should not discuss a matter that has already been discussed in the same session.
- It requires one-tenth of the total number of members of the house to support the motion.
Options:
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- The primary object of an adjournment motion is to draw the attention of the House to a recent matter of urgent public importance having serious consequences.
- It is an extraordinary device, needs the support of 50 members and can only be initiated in the Lok Sabha and not in the Rajya Sabha.
Q4. ‘Fit for 55’ recently seen in news is a/an
- Program by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to engage and enable citizens to improve their health and well-being by making the right food choices
- European Commission proposal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Plan developed by developed countries to discourage multinational companies from shifting profits – and tax revenues – to low-tax countries
- Supply chain pact initiated by India-Japan-Australia to counter China
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- It is a proposal made by European Commission to reduce the EU’s carbon emissions by 55% compared with 1990 levels by 2030.
- According to the proposals, dependence on fossil fuel-run cars would be reduced and zero-emission cars such as electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles would be permitted to be manufactured.
- It is an ambitious plan to tackle climate change.
Q5. The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What is/are the reason/reasons? PYQ (2013)
- Thermal difference between land and water
- Variation in altitude between continents and oceans
- Presence of strong winds in the interior
- Heavy rains in the interior as compared to coasts
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Radiation from the sun heats up Earth’s landmasses and oceans.
- The heating and cooling differences of land and water affect the temperature and movement of air masses above the land and water.
- Because water has a much higher heat capacity, or specific heat, than sands, soils or other materials, for a given amount of solar irradiation (insolation), water temperature will increase less than land temperature.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Examine the factors that contribute to inflation and what measures could be taken to ease the burden of retail inflation? (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-3, Economy]
- Growing instances of judicial interference in an investigation are not only undesirable but also not sanctioned by law. Critically evaluate. (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-2, Polity and Governance]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 16th July 2021:- Download PDF Here
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