CNA 03 May 2022:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. No one can be forced to get vaccinated: SC 2. The debate on the national language 3. Quasi-federalism C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. DC and Delhi engagement as a two-way street ECONOMY 1. GST signals F. Prelims Facts 1. Embroiling Transnistria in the Russia-Ukraine War G. Tidbits 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. No one can be forced to get vaccinated: SC
Syllabus: Constitution of India — features, significant provisions and basic structure.
Mains: Vaccine mandate; its criticism and Supreme Court guidelines
Context:
The Supreme Court held that while the central government’s current COVID-19 vaccine policy is not unreasonable, no individual can be forced to get jabbed.
Background:
- A petition in the Supreme Court had argued that states mandating vaccination for accessing benefits or services is a violation of citizens’ rights, and therefore, unconstitutional.
- The centre had argued in court that the petition was “against national interest” and would create vaccine hesitancy. It had also said vaccination is voluntary but states had enforced mandates “based on potential hazards”.
- Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh defended their vaccine mandates, calling them essential for the safety of every person, especially those using public spaces and transport.
Supreme Court Observations:
- On Vaccination Policy:
- The centre’s COVID-19 vaccination policy is “voluntary”, the Supreme Court said in a judgment.
- Voluntary Vaccination Policy: A voluntary vaccination policy should explain that the state has opted not to make vaccination a mandatory condition and it can be opted as per the choice of the individual.
- On Right to Refuse Treatment:
- A person has the right under Article 21 to refuse treatment.
- Personal autonomy of an individual involves the right “to determine how they should live their own life, which consequently encompasses the right to refuse to undergo any medical treatment in the sphere of individual health”.
- On Bodily Integrity and Personal Autonomy:
- The Supreme Court observed that bodily integrity is protected under the Right to Life (Article 21) of the Constitution and no individual can be forced to be vaccinated.
- The personal autonomy of an individual encompasses the right to refuse to undergo any medical treatment in the sphere of individual health.
- On the Issue of Vaccination for Children:
- The bench said that the decision taken by the Union of India to vaccinate the paediatric population in this country is in tune with global scientific consensus and expert bodies like the WHO and UNICEF.
- Paediatric Population: The paediatric population is defined as “that group of population between birth and 18 years of age”.
- On ‘Reasonable limitations’
- The Supreme Court also declared that when the individual’s refusal may lead to public harm, the State has an obligation to impose “reasonable and proportionate” limitations on individual rights.
- Judicial Scrutiny of Government Intervention:
- The Bench said the government’s interventions into the personal autonomy of an individual and right to access means of livelihood should meet the “three-fold” requirements as expounded in K.S. Puttuswamy case.
- The three-fold requirements include:
- The limitations should be backed by a clear statutory law.
- The need for limitations should be proportionate to a legitimate state aim.
- There should be a rational nexus between the state’s objectives for imposing the restrictions and the means adopted to achieve them.
Nut Graf
The Supreme Court judgment is significant because it not only upheld the right of an individual against forcible vaccination, but also protects State’s obligation to impose “reasonable and proportionate” limitations on individual rights in the larger public interest. The Supreme Court judgment has struck a balance between the individual right to bodily integrity and refusing treatment with the government’s concern for public health.
2. The debate on the national language
Syllabus: Constitution of India — features, significant provisions and basic structure.
Prelims: Constitutional status of Hindi; Eighth Schedule; three-language formula
Mains: National language debate
Context: Remarks by a Hindi actor to the effect that Hindi is the national language of India sparked controversy recently over the status of the language under the Constitution.
National Language Issue in Constituent Assembly Debate:
The Constituent Assembly was bitterly divided on the question of the national language.
Read all the Constituent Assembly debates in the link.
- Views of Proponents of Hindi as a national language:
- Proponents of Hindi were insistent that English was the language of enslavement.
- They wanted English to be eliminated as early as possible and Hindi declared the national language.
- Views of Opponents of Hindi as a national language:
- The members from States that did not speak Hindi initially opposed the declaration of Hindi as a national language.
- Opponents were against English being done away with, fearing that it may lead to Hindi domination in regions that did not speak the language.
- Differences of opinion over the script:
- Proponents of the language wanted the ‘Devanagari’ script to be adopted both for words and numerals.
- Some advocated that the Roman script be adopted, as it would facilitate faster learning of Hindi.
- The predominant opinion was in favour of adopting ‘international numerals’ (the Arabic form used and understood throughout the world) instead of Hindi numerals.
- Final Decision in Constituent Assembly:
- Ultimately, it was decided that English would continue to be used for a period of 15 years.
- The Constitution said that after 15 years, Parliament may by law decide on the use of English and the use of the Devanagari form of numbers for specified purposes.
- Official Languages Act after completion of 15 years:
- The Official Languages Act, 1963 was passed in anticipation of the expiry of the 15-year period during which the Constitution originally allowed the use of English for official purposes.
- Its operative section provided for the continuing use of English, notwithstanding the expiry of the 15-year period.
- 1965 protests on language issue:
- Jawaharlal Nehru had given an assurance in 1959 that English would remain in official use and as the language of communication between the centre and the States.
- The Official Languages Act, 1963, did not explicitly incorporate this assurance, causing apprehensions in some States.
- At the same time, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri reiterated the government’s commitment to move towards making Hindi the official language for all purposes.
- In 1963, protesting against the passage of the Official Languages Act, political parties in Tamil Nadu launched a protest.
- A major anti-Hindi protest erupted again in Tamil Nadu in 1965 against Hindi becoming the sole official language.
- Know more about Official Language Resolution.
Related Constitutional Provisions
| Article 343 | The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in the Devanagari script. The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals. |
| Article 344(1) | The President shall, at the expiration of five years from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of ten years from such commencement, by order constitute a Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to make recommendations for the progressive use of Hindi for official purposes of the Union and for restricting the use of English. |
| Article 351 | It shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India and to secure its enrichment by assimilating without interfering with its genius, the forms, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in the other languages of India specified in the Eighth Schedule, and by drawing, wherever necessary or desirable, for its vocabulary, primarily on Sanskrit and secondarily on other languages. |
Eighth Schedule:
- The Eighth Schedule contains a list of languages in the country.
- Initially, there were 14 languages in the schedule, but now there are 22 languages.
Three-language formula:
- Since the 1960s, the Centre’s education policy documents speak of teaching three languages —
- Hindi, English and one regional language in the Hindi-speaking States,
- and Hindi, English and the official regional language in other States.
- In practice, however, only some States teach both their predominant language and Hindi, besides English.
- Know more about NEP 2020 and Three language formula.
Nut Graf
The issue of the national language was one of the most contentious and passionately debated ones by members of the Constituent Assembly. This debate is still significant because it had fabricated India as a nation, articulated regional and linguistic identities, and sought to build unity of purpose to lay the foundations of modern India.
Syllabus: Issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure.
Mains: Quasi Federalism in India-reasons and concerns
Quasi Federalism in India:
- The term quasi-federal means a federal set-up where despite having two clear sets of government – central and the states, more powers are given to the Central Government. It is said that India has a quasi-federal setup.
- India consciously adopted a version of federalism that made the Union government and State governments interdependent on each other.
- India’s centralised federal structure was not marked by the process of ‘coming together’ but was an outcome of ‘holding together’ and ‘putting together’.
Constitutional Features establishing Quasi-federalism:
- India’s federation is considered a Union as it was indestructible which is why the Constitution does not contain words related to federalism.
- India’s Constitution holds requisite flexibility to be federal and unitary on a need basis.
- Constitutional features include the size and composition of the Rajya Sabha akin to that of the Lok Sabha thereby favouring larger States.
- Article 3 of the Indian Constitution which allows the Union to alter the boundaries of a State without the latter’s consent.
- Other examples are Emergency powers, and concurrent list subjects of the Seventh Schedule wherein the Union possesses more authority than the State barring a few exceptions.
Reasons for a centralized federal structure
- First was the partition of India and its concomitant concerns.
- The Objectives Resolution introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Assembly were inclined towards a decentralised federal structure wherein States would wield residuary powers.
- However, after the Partition a revised stand was unanimously taken by the Union Powers Committee of the Constituent Assembly, in favour of a strong Union with residuary powers and weaker States, to safeguard the integrity of the nation.
- The second reason was to forge a national civic identity.
- The second reason pivoted around the reconstitution of social relations in a highly hierarchical and discriminatory society towards forging a national civic identity instead of immediate caste and linguistic identities.
- The third reason concerns the objective of building a welfare state.
- In a decentralised federal setup, redistributive policies could be structurally thwarted by organised groups.
- Instead, a centralised federal setup can prevent such issues and further a universal rights-based system.
- The final reason was to alleviate inter-regional economic inequality.
- The cotton mill industry in Bombay, and the jute mill industry in the Bengal region saw workers’ rights and safety nets being thwarted by Anglo-Scottish mill owners.
- India’s membership in the International Labour Organization, the Nehru Report (1928), and the Bombay Plan (1944) pushed for a centralised system to foster socio-economic rights and safeguards for the working and entrepreneurial classes.
Growing asymmetry among centre and State:
- The contemporary discourse on federalism in India is moving on a discursive note across multiple dimensions, be it economic, political or cultural.
- Recent developments seem to subvert the unique and indigenised set-up into an asymmetrical one.
- Some of the examples are:
- delayed disbursal of resources and tax proceeds,
- bias towards electorally unfavourable States,
- evasion of accountability,
- blurring spheres of authority,
- weakening institutions,
- proliferation of fissiparous political ideologies
- India is at an inflection point vis-a-vis centre-state relations owing to increasing asymmetry.
Nut Graf
India consciously adopted a version of federalism that made the Union government and State governments interdependent on each other thereby laying the foundation of quasi federalism. The structure’s effectiveness is solely dependent on the intent of the government along with the collective will of the citizenry and the representatives they vote to power.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. DC and Delhi engagement as a two-way street
Syllabus: Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of Other Countries.
Mains: Difference between Indian and U.S. legislature system.
Context:
- The recent visit of U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar to Pakistan and her trip to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir was strongly condemned by India.
- In response, the United States government distanced itself from Ilhan Omar and asserted that Omar’s visit to Pakistan occupied Kashmir was unofficial and personal.
- In this context, it would be relevant to understand the difference between the Indian system and the U.S. system of functioning of the legislature. Although both India and the U.S. are democratic republics, there are some notable differences between the two systems.
Differences between Indian and the U.S. legislature:
Legislative bodies:
- While the Parliament is the supreme legislative body in India, the Congress is the legislature of the USA.
- While the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) are the two houses of the bicameral legislature in India, the Senate and the House of Representatives are the two chambers of the Congress. The House of Representatives (commonly referred to as the House) is the Lower House while the Senate is the Upper House.
Legislation authority:
- The basic difference between the Indian and the US system is that the Indian government is a parliamentary model of government whereas the USA has a presidential system.
- In India, there is no strict separation of powers, while in the U.S., there is a clear separation of powers between the executive and the legislature.
- In India, the executive is part of the elected legislature while in the U.S. the executive and legislature are two separate entities.
- In India, the executive remains in power only when the legislature is in existence while in the U.S. the terms of the legislature and executive are independent of each other.
Legislation powers:
- In India, the executive cannot override the legislature to make laws as a bill becomes a law only when both Houses pass it, and it is signed by the President while in the U.S., the President can bypass the Congress and issue an executive order (which has the force of law).
- In the U.S., a law passed by Congress can be vetoed by the President and sent back for consideration. In India too, the president can send any bill back to the parliament for consideration if he deems fit. But if it’s passed again, he should sign it.
- In the U.S., Congress can override the Presidential veto by obtaining a 2/3rd majority in both Houses.
Functioning of the legislature:
- In the U.S., a vote and stand taken by the Member does not follow party dictates but is driven by individual choice, unlike in India where the party takes a decision and members vote accordingly, and on important pieces of legislation through a whip.
- The Members of Congress take a special interest in foreign policy and carry out regular oversight over policies pursued by the government across the globe. At times, the House or the Senate organises hearings on country/issue-specific subjects. This is not observed in India.
- The members of the legislative branch in the U.S. work independently to write laws for the administration to implement. In India given the parliamentary form of government, there is close alignment in the functioning of the executive and the legislature.
Recommendations for India:
- Given the influence of Congress in U.S. policymaking and foreign relations, India should work towards shaping a favourable opinion in Congress towards India.
- India, apart from seeking to engage at the official level, should also try engagement of the diaspora with Members of the Congress and staff, advocacy and professional lobbies. This will help build bipartisan support for India in the U.S. Congress.
Nut Graf
Given the presidential system of government and the strict separation of powers in the U.S., Congress has a distinct place in the United States governance system. It is also known to pursue independent studies and pass resolutions on foreign relationships as well. Hence, India should work towards shaping a favourable opinion in Congress towards itself.
1. GST signals
Syllabus: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
Mains: Rationalization of GST tax slabs – significance
Background:
Record GST revenues:
- April 2022, the first month of the new financial year has witnessed record Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections of around ₹1.67 lakh crore. This is the highest monthly collection in the five years since the introduction of the GST.
- Notably, GST revenues have been impressive in the recent months except for two months during the peak of the second COVID-19 pandemic wave. Overall GST revenues have grown 30.8% in 2021-22 to ₹14.9 lakh crore,
Significance:
Decrease fiscal pressure:
- The record GST collections seem to indicate a comfortable 2022-23 revenue prospect. This will decrease the pressure on the Centre and state treasuries impacted by the financial disruption caused during the pandemic.
Fund compensation payments due to states:
- The record GST collections will help calm concerns among the states which were worried about their revenues after the end of the assured compensation scheme for implementing the GST in July. If the GST collections sustain at these levels, the dialogue between the states and the Centre on the issue of compensation payments will become easier.
- The inflow of record GST revenues will also help smoothen the payment of outstanding compensation dues to States (₹78,700-odd crore, or four months of dues).
Opportunity to rationalize GST rate slabs:
- The higher tax inflows backed by improved compliance would give the GST Council a much-needed opportunity to consider rationalization of the GST rate slabs. This is very important considering the concern that the effective GST tax rate had slipped from the revenue-neutral rate envisaged at its launch.
- The stabilization of revenues provides an opportunity for the GST council to factor in larger socio-economic considerations rather than merely looking at bolstering revenue inflows.
Recommendation:
- While the record GST collections are a point of relief, there is a need to realize that the higher GST revenues are not a complete sign of a rebound in economic activity. The high inflation rate continues to remain a major concern for India’s economic recovery in the post-pandemic phase.
- In this direction, the GST council should meet at the earliest and consider relevant policy measures to rein in the inflation rates. Urgent policy action is needed to rein in the inflation rally and bolster consumer sentiment. This will help ensure more investments, and faster growth in the Indian economy thus leading to even greater GST revenues.
Nut Graf
The record GST collections should be seen as an opportunity to consider rationalization of the GST rate slabs which will not only simplify the GST system but also help rein in inflation in the Indian economy.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Embroiling Transnistria in the Russia-Ukraine War
Syllabus: GS2: International Relations: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
Prelims: Where is Transnistria
Context: As the Russia-Ukraine War completes over two months, Transnistria, the tiny breakaway region of Moldova, risks being dragged into the conflict.
Where is Transnistria?
- The separatist region of Transnistria is a narrow strip of land between the Dniester River and the Ukrainian border.
- It proclaimed independence from Moldova in 1990 – though the international community does not recognise its self-declared statehood.
- Transnistria lies between Moldova to its west and Ukraine towards its east.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. The ‘PK2 molecule’ recently in news is associated with the treatment for:
- Cancer
- HIV AIDS
- Diabetes
- Covid-19
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
The molecule, called PK2, is able to trigger the release of insulin by the pancreas, and can potentially be used as an orally administered medicine for diabetes.
Hence option ‘c’ is correct.
Q2. The public institution - Anubhava Mantapa or the “hall of spiritual experience” was introduced by whom among the following Vachanakaras?
- Basaveshwara
- Allama Prabhu
- Akkamahadevi
- Jedara Dasimaiah
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- The 12th-century philosopher and the statesman of Karnataka, Basaveshwara founded Veera Shaivism.
- Basaveshwara, popularly known as Basavanna, is said to have developed a deep devotion towards Lord Shiva – Kudalasangama “Lord of the meeting rivers”.
- He established new public institutions such as the Anubhava Mantapa, which welcomed men and women from all walks of life to discuss spiritual and mundane issues.
- The “Hall of Siva experience”, Sivanubhava Mandapa became a place of gathering for discourse.
- Hence ‘a’ is the correct option.
Q3. Which of the following are correctly matched?
Archaeological Sites States
- Rakhigarhi Rajasthan
- Sivasagar Arunachal Pradesh
- Dholavira Gujarat
- Adichanallur Telangana
Options:
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
- 3 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Rakhigarhi is the largest site in the Indus Valley Civilization situated in Haryana.
- Sivasagar in Assam served as the capital of the Ahom kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley from the 13th to the 19th centuries CE.
- Dholavira, the Harappan City in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat has become the 40th site from India to get the UNESCO’s World Heritage tag.
- Adichanallur is a site in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district. So far, it is the state’s oldest site. Adichanallur was first discovered in 1876 as an urn-burial site.
- Hence option ‘d’ is correct.
Q4. Which of the given statements with respect to Green Hydrogen is/are INCORRECT?
- Hydrogen is labelled Green Hydrogen when the carbon emission generated from the production process is captured and stored.
- Steam Reforming is the process followed for its production.
- Green hydrogen production is the cleanest form of hydrogen generation since the by-products are just water and water vapour.
Options:
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Hydrogen is labelled blue whenever the carbon generated from steam reforming is captured and stored underground through industrial carbon capture and storage (CSS). Hence statement 1 is not correct.
- Green hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
- Green hydrogen has the potential to provide clean power for manufacturing, transportation, and more — and its only byproducts are water and water vapour. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Q5. With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called ‘coal bed methane’ and ‘shale gas’, consider the following statements:
- Coal bed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, while shale gas is a mixture of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
- In India abundant coal bed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC 2014]
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Coalbed methane is a non-conventional and important natural gas source. It is a type of methane that is extracted from coal seams. Natural gas trapped within shale formations is referred to as shale gas. Shale gas is a hydrocarbon gas mixture that is similar to natural gas. It is primarily made up of methane. It also contains carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide, as well as other hydrocarbons like ethane, propane, and butane. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
- The Cambay (Gujarat), Assam-Arakan (North East), Gondwana (Central India), Krishna Godavari onshore (East Coast), Cauvery onshore, and Indo-Gangetic basins have all been identified as potential shale gas exploration areas in India. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- What is the three-language formula? How far has it been successful in achieving its original objectives? (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-2, Polity]
- Define ‘Quasi federalism’ with respect to India’s politics. How is India’s federalism different from the one followed in the USA? (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-2, Polity]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 03 May 2022:- Download PDF Here
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