11 Mar 2024: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category: POLITY

1. ‘Differences’ with CEC may have led to Goel quitting

Syllabus: Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

Mains: Resignation and appointment process of Election Commissioner

Background on Arun Goel’s Resignation:

• Arun Goel, Election Commissioner, resigned abruptly a week before the Lok Sabha election announcement.
• Sources suggest differences emerged between Goel and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar during a visit to West Bengal.

Alleged Differences and Actions:

• Goel reportedly refused to attend a press conference in Kolkata with Kumar, indicating discord.
• CEC cited Goel’s health concerns as the reason for his return to Delhi, which Goel’s associates refute.

Resignation Process and Speculations:

• Goel left a meeting with Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on election preparations and submitted his resignation to the President.
• Speculations arose regarding the reasons behind Goel’s resignation: differences with CEC, government influence, personal reasons, or political ambitions.

Political Reactions and Concerns:

• Opposition parties questioned the timing and motives behind Goel’s resignation, raising doubts about the independence of electoral institutions.
• The opposition expressed concerns over the politicization of the Election Commission.

Appointment Process for New ECs:

• A panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including a Union Minister and the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, is set to meet by March 15 to fill the vacancies.
• The sudden resignation of Goel accelerated the appointment process, with efforts to advance the meeting date.
• A search committee under Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will shortlist candidates before the final appointment by the President.
• The appointment process follows a new law passed in December, which faced opposition from parties fearing a loss of the poll panel’s autonomy.

Nut Graf: Amidst speculations of internal strife, Election Commissioner Arun Goel’s sudden resignation sparks questions about the independence of the Election Commission and the potential political ramifications, prompting swift efforts to fill the vacancies.

2. We need limits on election campaign spending

Syllabus: Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act

Mains: Need to regulate election campaign spending for a fair election process

Introduction:

• Government spending on election campaigns has become a contentious issue in India, particularly due to the dominance of ruling parties in advertisement campaigns.
• Despite Supreme Court guidelines, government advertisements tend to favour ruling parties, disrupting the electoral playing field.

Current Scenario:

• Between 2018-19 and 2022-23, the Central government spent ₹3,020 crore on advertisements, with a significant increase during election years.
• Election expenditure limits for candidates are frequently breached, with major parties spending far beyond the official limits.
• Political parties declare relatively low expenditures, while reports suggest actual spending during the 2019 elections was substantially higher, largely funded by corporate donations.

Challenges and Concerns:

• The opacity of political donations and the distribution of cash to voters weaken the electoral process.
• The Supreme Court’s move to strike down the electoral bonds scheme addresses some transparency issues, but the majority of funding remains unaccounted for.
• The cost of elections is projected to escalate dramatically, posing a threat to the fairness of the electoral process.

Proposed Solutions:

• Ban government advertisements six months before any general election to prevent undue influence.
• Amend laws to limit parties’ financial assistance to candidates within prescribed expenditure limits.
• Implement a ceiling on party expenditure, calculated based on the expenditure limit per candidate multiplied by the number of candidates.
• Increase the number of judges in High Courts to expedite election-related cases, acting as a deterrent against violations of electoral norms.
• These reforms require bipartisan political support to be effective in ensuring free and fair elections and alleviating the burden of extravagant election spending on the public.

Nut Graf: The escalating costs of election campaigns in India, fueled by government spending and corporate donations, undermine fair elections. Proposed reforms aim to regulate expenditure and promote transparency, but bipartisan support is crucial for their implementation.

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. A possible solution for Bengaluru’s water crisis

Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Mains: Reason and solutions of Bengaluru’s water crisis

Introduction :

• Bengaluru’s population surge from 8.7 million in 2011 to a projected 12.6 million in 2021 has strained water resources, particularly in the expanding periphery.
• Total freshwater demand stands at approximately 2,632 MLD, surpassing the official supply from the Cauvery and groundwater sources combined.
• Cauvery water usage has risen to 1,460 million litres per day (MLD), meeting only half the demand after losses, with an additional 1,392 MLD extracted from groundwater, leading to concerning recharge-extraction imbalances.

Impact of Changing Rainfall Patterns and Urbanization:

• Varied rainfall patterns, with above-average levels in 2022 followed by deficits in 2023, have exacerbated groundwater depletion, particularly affecting the peripheral areas.
• Dropping water tables has led to borewell failures, while many peripheral regions still lack access to piped water supply.
• Historical reliance on lakes and tanks for water supply has diminished due to urbanization, resulting in encroachments, drying lakes, and disrupted connections between them, aggravating both water scarcity and flood risks.

Reevaluating Traditional Water Sources and Infrastructure:

• Bengaluru’s once plentiful lakes and tanks served as critical water sources, but their significance diminished with the advent of piped water supply, leading to neglect and encroachments.
• Efforts to harness rainwater through harvesting have been overshadowed by sewage pollution, rendering many lakes unsuitable for water storage or supply.
• The city’s lake system, once primarily seasonal, now consists mostly of perennial lakes filled with sewage, highlighting the urgent need for rehabilitation and restoration efforts.

Leveraging Wastewater as an Untapped Resource:

• Despite wastewater being a significant resource, only one-third of Bengaluru’s wastewater undergoes treatment for external reuse, while the rest contributes to pollution or runoff.
• Redirecting treated wastewater to replenish groundwater and surface water sources in neighbouring regions like Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and Devanahalli can alleviate freshwater consumption and enhance water resilience, especially during low rainfall periods.

Conclusion: By addressing these interconnected issues and prioritizing sustainable water management strategies such as wastewater reuse and lake restoration, Bengaluru can mitigate its water crisis and build a more resilient water infrastructure for the future.

Nut Graf:  Bengaluru faces a water crisis due to rapid urbanization and changing rainfall patterns. Despite increased demand, traditional water sources are diminishing. Harnessing wastewater and restoring lakes are crucial for sustainable water management and resilience.

Q1) Consider the following statements regarding the Election Commissioner (EC) of India:

Q2) Consider the following statements regarding the Cheetah reintroduction project in India:

Q3) Consider the following statements regarding Gig workers in India:

Q4) Consider the following statements regarding the drinking water crisis in India:

Q5) Consider the following statements:

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?