24 November 2023 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related C. GS 3 Related ENVIRONMENT 1. COP 28: India’s equity demand D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials ECONOMICS 1. $5 trillion economy, but for whom? F. Prelims Facts 1. Governor holds no veto power over Bills, says SC G. Tidbits 1. MGNREGS audit crosses 50% local bodies in just six States 2. Political rivals come together to hold Kambala H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
C. GS 3 Related
1. COP 28: India’s equity demand
Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation, Environmental impact assessment.
Mains: Climate Change and Sustainable Development and International Climate Agreements
Prelims: Global carbon budget and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC).
Context
The article delves into the relationship between global warming and cumulative carbon emissions, emphasising India’s imperative to secure a fair share of the depleting global carbon budget at COP 28.
Introduction
- The impending COP 28 presents a critical juncture for India to assert its stance on climate change, demanding a fair share of the global carbon budget and substantive commitments from developed nations.
- The existing linear relationship between global warming and cumulative carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions underscores the urgency for equitable distribution of responsibilities.
Global Carbon Budget and IPCC AR6
- The global carbon budget refers to the maximum cumulative anthropogenic CO2 emissions, essential for limiting global warming. However, almost four-fifths of the budget is depleted, posing a significant challenge.
- The IPCC AR6 indicates the urgency to meet the Paris Agreement targets, requiring developed countries to achieve net-zero emissions earlier than currently pledged.
Responsibilities and Historical Emissions
- The Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) principle, enshrined in the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, recognizes the varying responsibilities of states in addressing climate change.
- Developed countries have disproportionately contributed to historical cumulative emissions, placing a heavier burden on their shoulders.
India’s Per Capita Emissions and Carbon Budget
- Despite having nearly 24% of the world’s population, South Asia, including India, contributes only around 4% to historical cumulative emissions.
- India’s per capita CO2 emissions from fossil fuel and industry are significantly lower than North America and the global average, underscoring its relatively modest contribution to historical emissions.
- India is urged to recognize a ‘fair share of the carbon budget’ as a strategic national resource depleting rapidly.
- Failing to assert this share may lead to India being disadvantaged by developed countries’ strategies, akin to new colonial techniques.
Global Energy Scenario and COP 26
- The global transition to renewable energy remains a challenge, with a substantial reliance on non-renewable sources, particularly oil, coal, and gas.
- Developed countries’ attempts to mandate rapid changes, exemplified by the COP 26 focus on phasing down coal, face feasibility issues, as demonstrated by the reopening of coal plants post-Russia-Ukraine war.
India’s Developmental Initiatives and Poverty Eradication
- India’s initiatives, such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the Global Biofuel Alliance, showcase a commitment to sustainable solutions.
- The successful poverty alleviation efforts and extension of food security welfare measures underscore the developmental challenges faced by India after the COVID-19 pandemic.
India’s Stance at COP 28
- India must assert its right to a fair share of the global carbon budget and demand equivalent reparations, highlighting the urgent need for fairness within the global climate order.
- Developmental priorities should not be sacrificed, and developed nations should fulfil their promises of climate-specific new and additional finance, recognizing the $51 trillion carbon debt.
Nut Graf: As global emissions deplete the carbon budget, India faces a pivotal moment at COP 28, where it must assert its fair share to combat climate change, demanding equity and development.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
1. $5 trillion economy, but for whom?
Syllabus: GS-3, Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it
Mains: Issues of divergence between economic growth and inequality
Introduction: The Promise of a $5 Trillion Economy
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces an extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, providing free foodgrains to beneficiaries.
- India is also expected to achieve a $5 trillion economy by 2028, making India the third-largest economy globally.
Japan’s Growth Story: Lessons and Challenges
- Japan, once the world’s second-largest economy, faced challenges after the 2008 financial crisis.
- Economic diplomacy: Japan embraced China’s rise, fostering economic ties despite losing its ranking.
- The dark side: High suicide rates, social withdrawal, and loneliness amid economic growth reveal the human cost.
The Indian Scenario: Who Bears the Burden?
- Capital disparity: In 2021, 1% of the population owned 41% of the nation’s wealth, while the bottom 50% owned only 3%.
- Funding the dream: The low-resource citizens contribute significantly to the $5 trillion economy, with 64% of GST coming from the bottom 50%.
- Labour challenges: Dubious educational and skill attainment, along with limited digital literacy, hinder the contribution of labour to economic growth.
Government’s Strategies and Sectors for Growth:
- Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhri outlines key sectors for growth, including the digital economy, fintech, energy transition, and climate change.
- Inclusive growth mantra: Emphasis on tools such as GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, decreased corporate tax, Make in India, Start-Up India, and Production Linked Incentives.
- However, accessibility issues remain a concern as many marginalized citizens lack the means to participate in cutting-edge sectors like AI, data science, robotics, and fintech.
Challenges to government $5 Trillion Guarantee:
- Per capita income: India ranks 149th globally with a per capita income of $2,400 in 2022, raising questions about the well-being of its population.
- Inequality index: India’s index value of 21.9 suggests a less egalitarian society compared to China and Japan.
- Unknown projections: Lack of official estimates on India’s per capita income at $5 trillion raises concerns about the distribution of economic gains.
Conclusion: The Divide Amid Economic Growth
- India may be on track to achieve the $5 trillion goal, but concerns linger about the deepening divide between different segments of the population.
- As the government prioritizes economic milestones, a substantial segment of the population continues to be marginalized, witnessing the missed opportunities for their inclusion in the new economic landscape.
Nut Graf: India’s pursuit of a $5 trillion economy by 2028 raises concerns about equitable growth. Amidst government emphasis on economic milestones, stark disparities persist, with capital concentration, labour challenges, and accessibility issues for marginalized citizens. The evolving narrative reflects a nation grappling with the tension between economic advancement and social inclusivity.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Governor holds no veto power over Bills, says SC
Syllabus: GS 2- Polity
Prelims: About Governor’s powers
Introduction
- While examining the constitutional authority of the Governor in withholding assent to a bill, the Supreme Court has issued a crucial verdict outlining a governor’s obligations when withholding assent to a Bill.
- Chief Justice Chandrachud highlighted that keeping a Bill duly passed for indeterminate periods contradicts constitutional principles, emphasising the importance of prompt action.
Governor’s Obligation
- The Supreme Court ruled that when a governor withholds assent to a Bill, it’s mandatory to promptly send it back to the State legislature.
- This action must be accompanied by a message necessitating the legislature to reconsider the Bill.
Legislature’s Authority
- The court emphasised that the ultimate decision on accepting the Governor’s advice belongs exclusively to the legislature.
- The Governor’s message does not bind the legislature, as indicated by the expression “if the Bill is passed again…with or without amendments.”
Constitutional Democracy Principles
- The court warned against the risk of a Governor virtually vetoing a duly elected legislature’s functioning by withholding assent without further recourse.
- Such a scenario contradicts the fundamental principles of constitutional democracy.
Expedition Requirement
- The court stressed that the Bill should be sent back to the Legislature “as soon as possible” with the mandatory message.
- The expression “as soon as possible” was deemed a “constitutional imperative of expedition,” and failure to act promptly was deemed inconsistent with constitutional language.
G. Tidbits
1. MGNREGS audit crosses 50% local bodies in just six States
- Among the 34 States and Union Territories in India, only six have completed social audits of works done under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in more than 50% of gram panchayats.
- Kerala is the only state to cover 100% of gram panchayats.
- Social audits are an anti-corruption measure under MGNREGA, mandated by Section 17 of the act.
- Social audit units in each state work independently of implementing authorities, and auditing standards by the Comptroller and Auditor General were issued on December 19, 2016.
- The audit involves quality checks of infrastructure created under MGNREGA and checking for financial misappropriation in wages and procedural deviations.
- Other states crossing the 50% mark are Bihar (64.4%), Gujarat (58.8%), Jammu and Kashmir (64.1%), Odisha (60.42%), and Uttar Pradesh (54.97%).
- Only three states have covered 40% or more villages: Telangana (40.5%), Himachal Pradesh (45.32%), and Andhra Pradesh (49.7%).
- Among poll-bound states, social audit completion rates are low: Madhya Pradesh (1.73%), Mizoram (17.5%), Chhattisgarh (25.06%), and Rajasthan (34.74%).
- States complain of delayed funds for social audit units, leading to delays in audits and recurrent complaints of delayed salaries for village-level auditors.
- Kerala conducts periodic Social Audit Public Hearings at the panchayat level for close public scrutiny.
2. Political rivals come together to hold Kambala
- Keeping all the rivalries aside, leaders of different political parties in Karnataka are collaborating to organise the traditional Kambala buffalo race in Bengaluru on November 25 and 26, 2023.
- The Kambala race takes place in paddy fields filled with slush and mud mainly in the coastal Karnataka regions from November to March.
- Traditionally, local Tulu landlords and households in coastal districts have been the sponsors.
- During the race participants strive to control buffaloes by tightly holding their reins and using whips.
- Originally, Kambala was a non-competitive spectacle where buffalo pairs raced one after another in paddy fields.
- This was also celebrated as a form of thanksgiving to gods for safeguarding the animals from diseases.
- In 2014, the Supreme Court of India banned Kambala along with Jallikettu and bullock cart races under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act of 1960, affirming animals’ fundamental right to be treated with compassion and dignity, free from unnecessary pain and suffering.
- The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Ordinance of 2017 permitted the organisation of Kambala events, provided measures are taken to prevent cruelty to the participating bulls.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Bhakti movement:
- The Bhakti movement emerged in medieval India, emphasising devotion and personal connection with the divine.
- Bhakti poets used vernacular languages like Hindi, Marathi, and Bengali to communicate with the masses.
- The Bhakti movement primarily focused on rituals and elaborate ceremonies.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: The Bhakti movement emphasised devotion and connection with the divine, and used vernacular languages to connect with the masses. It did not primarily focus on rituals and elaborate ceremonies.
Q2. With reference to the Governor withholding assent to bills passed by the State Legislature, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- The substantive part of Article 200 empowers the Governor to withhold assent.
- If the State Legislature reiterates the bill, the Governor has to mandatorily give assent.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: Both statements are correct.
Q3. Consider the following statements with reference to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS):
- MGNREGS aims to provide a minimum of one hundred days of wage employment in a financial year.
- It is open to all rural households seeking manual and unskilled work.
- Priority is given to work where at least one-third of wage seekers are women.
How many of the statements given above are incorrect?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation: All three statements are correct. MGNREGS provides 100 days of wage employment, is open to all rural households, and prioritises work for women.
Q4. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna (PMGKAY) extension, which of the following statements is correct?
- The scheme was first introduced in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- It provides 10 kg of food grains free every month to beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation: PMGKAY provides 5 kg of free food grains monthly, and it was introduced in 2020 for eligible NFSA ration card holders.
Q5. Consider the following statements about Kambala:
- It is the annual buffalo race held in Karnataka.
- The race is conducted on a slushy/marshy paddy field track.
- Kambala serves as a thanksgiving to gods for protecting animals from diseases.
How many of the options given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: All three statements are correct.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Discuss the challenges associated with India’s ambitious target of achieving a $5 trillion GDP. (150 words, 10 marks) [GS- III: Economy]
- Discuss the challenges and opportunities India may encounter in fostering international cooperation and achieving its climate-related goals. (150 words, 10 marks) [GS- III: Environment]
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