06 Nov 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category: SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Giving the urban Indian a better life

Syllabus: Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

GS- I

Category- Social Issues

Prelims-  World Cities Day 2022, The Energy Policy Institute at Chicago, Air Quality Index, Commission for Air Quality Management, Graded Response Action Plan

Mains- Improving the sustainability of Indian cities

Introduction: 

• The theme of World Cities Day 2022 was “Financing Sustainable Urban Future for All.”
• Delhi and nearby states are experiencing an air quality crisis with Air Quality Index in the severe category

Current State of Crisis

• According to a report by The Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC), 39 of the 50 most polluted cities in the world are in India, with Delhi being one of the worst affected.
• Air pollution causes various health problems including eye irritation, respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and reduces life expectancy by 5.3 years for Indians and 11.9 years for residents of Delhi.
• Media reports have labeled air pollution in Mumbai as “Death by Breath” due to very unsatisfactory Air Quality Index levels.
• Poor air quality is no longer limited to the Indo-Gangetic plains, but is also becoming a problem in coastal cities.

What are the causes? 

• The main reasons for increased pollution in Indian cities include:
  • Focus on real estate development and widening of roads
  • Allowing large vehicles on roads, which also reduce pedestrian spaces
  • Redevelopment and construction activities, which contribute to 10% of air pollution in the National Capital Region
  • Road dust, power generation, polluting industrial units, and vehicular emissions
  • Burning of paddy straw (Parali) during winter in North India, which increases the air pollution problem 

• India’s automobile market is growing rapidly, with a projected value of $160 billion by 2027 which will only increase the number of automobiles on Indian roads.
• For example, in the case of the National Capital Region, studies have been conducted and executive actions have been taken to address the issue, but the problem persists.
• The science is clear on the contributors to pollution and the limitations of interventions given unfavorable weather conditions and economic disruptions.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is responsible for addressing the issue but has limited powers to enforce measures based on air quality levels.
• Despite increased awareness and efforts to reduce pollution, November continues to be a critical month for air pollution.

New Paradigm of Urban Development

• • Urban planning strategy should prioritize public transport, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and sustainable practices.

• Transport: 

• • • Investment in public transportation, such as buses, is essential to meet the demand for urban mobility, with approximately 10 lakh buses needed to augment existing fleets in cities.
    • Strong measures should be taken to restrict private vehicle usage in cities, including congestion pricing and restrictions based on license plate numbers.
    • City leaders and influential individuals should lead by example and use public transport regularly.
    • Transitioning to green vehicles.
    • Cities should adopt a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) similar to Delhi’s, which includes four different sets of anti-air pollution measures that are triggered based on air quality.

• Governance: 

• • • Real-time monitoring of industrial pollution and residents should take an active role in street supervision.
    • Ponds, water bodies, urban forests, parks, and playgrounds should be protected and expanded as green spaces. 
    • The principles of Ian McHarg’s book “Designing with Nature” can be a guide in urban planning and design, prioritizing ecological wisdom and sustainability.

• Meaningful Afforestation: 

• • Redevelopment projects often result in pollution and harm the local ecosystem, highlighting the need for more meaningful afforestation efforts within cities.
  • Smog towers and watering roads are only temporary solutions to the problem of air pollution. 

Way Forward

• The current approach to urban development in India needs a paradigm shift towards sustainable and ecological urbanization.
• Empowering citizens through good governance is a more effective approach.
• Pollution guidelines and standard operating procedures should be accessible to everyone and become a part of daily life.
• Independent bodies like the CAQM need to ensure better coordination and cooperation among different states to address the issue of air pollution.
• Medical professionals should support public health advisories to raise awareness about the health impacts of air pollution.
• Finances must be directed towards sustainable urbanization to address issues such as air pollution, which is reducing life expectancy in many cities.
• Air pollution disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized communities who contribute the least to it but suffer the most from its effects.
• These communities deserve better living conditions and cleaner air.

Nut Graf: Air pollution is a major crisis in Indian cities, with Delhi being one of the worst affected. The main causes include real estate development, vehicular emissions, and burning of paddy straw. A paradigm shift towards sustainable and ecological urbanization is needed, with a focus on public transport, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and meaningful afforestation.

Category: INDIAN POLITY

2. A leaf out of New Zealand’s voting system

Syllabus: Comparison of the Indian Constitutional Scheme with that of Other Countries.

GS- II

Category- Indian Polity

Prelims-  Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system, First Past the Post System

Mains- Critical examination of Mixed Member Proportional system

Introduction

• While Odisha and Auckland have significant differences in socio-economic indicators, they share a common trend of split voting, where voters cast separate ballots for different offices or parties in the same election, resulting in divergent voting patterns.

MMP system

• New Zealand uses the mixed member proportional (MMP) system.
• Under MMP, voters cast two votes: a ‘party vote’ that determines the overall composition of the 120-seat Parliament and an ‘electorate vote’ to elect a local MP for their geographical constituency.
• There are 72 electorate seats(filled through electorate vote through first past the post system), and parties fill the other 48 list seats based on the party vote. 
• Each party submits a ranked party list to the Electoral Commission of New Zealand before the polls. Parties then elect candidates from this list as list MPs.
• The Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) voting system provides an opportunity for voters to select a candidate from a different political party than their preferred party, without weakening the overall influence of their vote on their desired party’s representation in Parliament. 
• This means that even if a voter does not support the local candidate from their preferred party, they can still cast a ballot for another candidate who represents their views, while maintaining the ability to contribute to their preferred party’s total number of seats in Parliament.
• Voters can split their vote by giving both votes to one political party (a ‘double tick’) or allocating votes to two different parties (a split vote).
• For example, in the 2020 Auckland Central parliamentary election, voters chose Chlöe Swarbrick, a Green Party candidate, as their local MP, yet the same constituency favored the Labour Party in their party vote.

Critical Analysis

• The MMP system has faced criticism for encouraging tactical voting, where voters may support a party they don’t fully agree with to prevent another party from winning.
• However, the advantages of the MMP system include:
  • Greater accountability for local representatives, as they must appeal to their constituents directly rather than relying on their party’s popularity.
  • A greater focus on policy and ideology, as parties can’t simply rely on a charismatic leader or a particular demographic to win.
  • Better representation for historically marginalized groups, such as women, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and others who have been underrepresented in politics.
  • More inclusive democracy that allows voters to express a wider range of opinions without fear of “wasting” their vote.
  • The ability for voters to choose both a party and a candidate separately, giving them more flexibility in their choices.
  • Lower barriers to entry for young politicians, resulting in a lower average age for elected officials.

Way Forward

• In India’s current political system, the way votes are cast can limit citizens’ ability to freely express their genuine opinions, as they might feel obligated to support either their favored party’s candidate or the candidate who is expected to win. 
• This can be addressed through a split voting system that allows voters to select individuals based on their qualifications while still ensuring that their party affiliation influences the makeup of the legislature. 
• By allowing citizens to distinguish between a candidate’s merit and their political party, India can demonstrate a more advanced level of democratic decision making and work towards giving citizens the opportunity to make these types of refined choices.

Nut Graf: Split voting systems like MMP allow voters to choose both a candidate and a party separately, giving them more flexibility and ensuring greater representation of different voices in government.