For updates on WhatsApp, share your name & city on WhatsApp … · 2019. 11. 21. · For updates on...

https://prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=prepmatehttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.prepmate.mobile&hl=en

For updates on WhatsApp, share your name & city on WhatsApp No. 88986-30000

Website: www.prepmate.in Telegram Channel: @upscprepmate

Prepmate Cengage Books Preview: https://prepmate.in/books/ Youtube channel: PrepMateEdutech

Table of Contents

The Hindu

1. Why does Nagaland want to draw up a list of all indigenous inhabitants? (Relevant for GS

Prelims & Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance) ........................................................................ 1

2. Is desalination realistically a help in harnessing potable water from the sea? (Relevant for

GS Prelims & Mains Paper III; Science & Technology) ............................................................... 2

3. Quota politics: on U.P.'s move to confer SC status on 17 backward castes (Relevant for GS

Prelims & Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance) ........................................................................ 5

4. Union Cabinet has approved the Code on Wages Bill and the Occupational, Safety, Health

and Working Conditions Code (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; Polity &

Governance) ................................................................................................................................... 6

5. Four new Governors appointed (Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains Paper II; Polity &

Governance) ................................................................................................................................... 7

6. In the backdrop of a number of Bills having been passed without scrutiny, why are

parliamentary standing committees necessary? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II;

Polity & Governance) ..................................................................................................................... 9

7. SEBI needs financial autonomy to remain effective (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper

II; Polity & Governance) .............................................................................................................. 10

8. National Exit Test (NEXT) (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance)

....................................................................................................................................................... 11

9. Kumaraswamy govt. loses trust vote (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; Polity &

Governance) ................................................................................................................................. 12

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhA




10. Critical analysis of the latest amendments to the NIA Act (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains

Paper II; Polity & Governance) ................................................................................................... 13

11. ‘Model Tenancy Act will rebuild trust between owners and tenants’ (Relevant for GS Prelims

& Mains Paper II; Polity & governance) .................................................................................... 14

12. Yediyurappa wins trust vote in Karnataka Assembly (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper

II; Polity & Governance) .............................................................................................................. 15

13. Amendments should not downgrade the status of information panels (Relevant for GS

Prelims & Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance) ...................................................................... 15

14. Should India stay with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership mooted by ASEAN?

(Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR) ................................................................... 16

15. U.S. EB-5 applications to become dearer (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR)

....................................................................................................................................................... 18

16. Is the Iran nuclear deal dead? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR) ............... 18

17. Bill to relax green card cap passed (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR) ....... 20

18. The International Criminal Court verdict against Bosco Ntaganda is a breakthrough


19. Kartarpur Gurudwara: Pakistan agrees to allow year-long visa-free access (Relevant for GS

Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR) ................................................................................................ 21

20. Relief for airlines as Pakistan opens its airspace after 6 months (Relevant for GS Prelims &

Mains Paper II; IOBR) .................................................................................................................. 22

21. ICJ judgement in Kulbhushan Jadhav case (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR)

....................................................................................................................................................... 22

22. Hafiz Saeed held in terror financing case (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR)

....................................................................................................................................................... 24

23. 2019 World Press Freedom Index (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR) ......... 24





24. Kashmir mediation: Trump has violated diplomatic protocols (Relevant for GS Prelims &

Mains Paper II; IOBR) .................................................................................................................. 25

25. SC orders setting up of special courts in districts with over 100 pending POCSO cases


26. What are the historical reasons why third party mediation is avoided by the government?

Will the status quo on India’s Kashmir policy remain? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains

Paper II; IOBR) ............................................................................................................................ 26

27. Why are monsoons difficult to predict? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper I;

Geography) ............................................................................................................................................................. 27

28. Jaipur gets UNESCO World Heritage tag (Relevant for GS Prelims; Geography) ................. 29

29. What is black money, and why is it to so difficult to quantify it? (Relevant for GS Prelims &

Mains Paper III; Economics) ....................................................................................................... 30

30. ‘One nation one ration card’ scheme from July 1, 2020 (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains

Paper III; Economics) .................................................................................................................. 31

31. New framework: on SEBI's norms for mutual fund investments (Relevant for GS Prelims &

Mains Paper III; Economics) ....................................................................................................... 32

32. Stocks crash on budget, global cues (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper III; Economics)

....................................................................................................................................................... 32

33. Why is India opting for overseas bonds? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper III;

Economics) ................................................................................................................................... 34

34. Finance Ministry, NITI Aayog guidelines ignored in airport privatization (Relevant for GS

Prelims & Mains Paper III; Economics) ..................................................................................... 35

35. CPCB notice to 52 producers for failing to fulfill Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

(Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper III; Environment) .................................................... 36

36. What is zero budget natural farming? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper III;

Environment) .............................................................................................................................. 37

37. Tiger census 2018 report (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper III; Environment &

Biodiversity) ................................................................................................................................. 39





38. Performance of tiger reserves and regions: Tiger Census (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains

Paper III; Environment & Biodiversity) ..................................................................................... 39

39. PUNCH mission (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper III; Science & Technology).......... 40

40. Is desalination realistically a help in harnessing potable water from the sea? (Relevant for

GS Prelims & Mains Paper III; Science & Technology) ............................................................. 41

41. Going electric: on plans to switch to electric vehicles (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper

III; Science & Technology) .......................................................................................................... 44

42. Why is India setting up a mobile phone handsets database? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains

Paper III; Science & Technology) ............................................................................................... 44

43. How will Chandrayaan 2 study the moon? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; Science

& Technology) .............................................................................................................................. 46

44. Elon Musk unveils project on mind-machine interface (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains

Paper III; Science & Technology) ............................................................................................... 48

45. Gravitational wave disturbances: how will India contribute to LIGO? (Relevant for GS

Prelims & Mains Paper III; Science & Technology) ................................................................. 48

46. Chandrayaan-2 will help India test the technologies for deep-space missions (Relevant for

GS Prelims & Mains Paper III; Science & Technology) ............................................................. 50

47. Aircraft carrier Viraat to be scrapped (Relevant for GS Prelims) ......................................... 51

48. India’s first dragon blood-oozing tree (Relevant for GS Prelims) ......................................... 52



1


Prepmate Cengage Books Preview: https://prepmate.in/books/ Youtube channel: PrepMate Edutech

1. Why does Nagaland want to draw up a list of all indigenous inhabitants? (Relevant

for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance)

The story so far: The Nagaland government is initiating an exercise to prepare a master list of all indigenous inhabitants of the State. This list, called the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), is seen as a localised version of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that Assam began updating four years ago and is scheduled to complete by July 31. What is RIIN?

Civil society groups in Nagaland have often conducted house-to-house surveys for listing non-Naga and IBIs (Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants). The RIIN will be the first official master list of Nagaland’s indigenous inhabitants. Its objective, as stated in the Nagaland government’s June 29 notification, is to prevent people from acquiring fake indigenous inhabitants’ certificates. The list will be based on an extensive survey besides digging into official records of indigenous residents from villages and urban wards. The entire process under the supervision of the district administration would be completed within 60 days from the start on July 10.

How will it be prepared?

The notification also said designated teams of surveyors would be formed within a week from the date of its publication. These team comprising sub-divisional officers, block development officers, school headmasters and other nominated members, would visit every village and ward to make the list. Apart from Nagaland’s Chief Secretary and Home Commissioner, nodal officers of the rank of a Secretary will monitor the implementation without involvement in the adjudication process. The nodal officers are required to submit monthly updates to a permanent committee set up under the Home Department. What are the steps of this exercise?

The survey teams have been tasked with noting each family’s original residence, current residence and documents such as Aaadhar. Hard copies of the provisional list thus prepared will be provided to all villages and wards, and published on government websites by September 11. Claims and objections — a page taken from the NRC book — will be entertained till October 30. Based on official records and evidence produced, a district’s Deputy Commissioner will adjudicate on the claims and objections from respondents. The deadline for this process is December 10. Post-verification, the RIIN will be finalised and hard copies placed in all villages and wards while electronic copies will be stored in the State Data Centre. Everyone figuring in RIIN will be issued a barcoded and numbered Indigenous Inhabitant Certificate (IIC). The process will be dovetailed with the online system of Inner Line Permit (ILP). No IIC will be issued after RIIN is finalised except to babies born to indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.

What is this permit?

The ILP is a temporary travel document an Indian citizen has to possess to enter ‘protected’ areas of the Northeast. The Central government issues the ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, which restricted the entry of ‘British subjects’ or Indians into



2



these areas primarily to protect the British interest in tea and oil. The restriction continued for ‘Citizens of India’ after Independence to protect tribal cultures in the northeastern region and to regulate movement to certain areas near the international border. Apart from the entire State of Nagaland barring its commercial hub Dimapur, the ILP is applicable in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Who is an indigenous inhabitant?

Nagaland has 16 recognised tribes — Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Dimasa Kachari, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kuki, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchungrü and Zeliang. The Kachari and Kuki are non-Naga tribes while the Zeliang comprises two Naga communities — Zeme and Liangmai. Entry in RIIN is virtually guaranteed for people belonging to these communities. Others such as the Gurkhas living in Nagaland prior to statehood (on December 1, 1963) have been recognised as indigenous. But the definition of ‘indigenous inhabitant’ has been elusive because of issues beyond the tribal-non-tribal divide. There have concerns over Nagas from other areas such as Manipur getting jobs by claiming to be indigenous besides IBIs (Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants) “taking over” large swathes of agricultural lands. Another worry is the Naga custom of adopting new communities such as Sumiya – children of Muslim men and Sumi Naga women – who own large swathes of cultivable land. Organisations such as the Naga Students’ Federation have called for accommodating ‘Nagas by blood and not by adoption’. Some political parties have asked whether or not the “adopted non-Nagas” will be given indigenous rights. A pressure group called the Joint Committee on Prevention of Illegal Immigrants sought to end confusion and “prevent inconsistent enumeration” by suggesting December 1, 1963 as the cut-off date for considering people other than the recognised tribes of Nagaland as indigenous inhabitants.

(Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nagaland-census-nagaland-want-to-draw-up-a-list-of-all-indigenous-inhabitants-how-will-the-process-evolve/article28306085.ece)

2. Is desalination realistically a help in harnessing potable water from the sea?

(Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper III; Science & Technology)

With warnings from India’s top policy-makers and reports of major cities in India struggling to stave off a water crisis, there’s talk about exploring technologies to harness fresh water. The one idea that’s been around for a while is desalination, or obtaining freshwater from salt water. Desalination technology is not an esoteric idea — the city of Chennai already uses desalinated water. However, it only has a limited application, given the operation costs.

What is desalination technology?

To convert salt water into freshwater, the most prevalent technology in the world is reverse osmosis (RO). A plant pumps in salty or brackish water, filters separate the salt from the water, and the salty water is returned to the sea. Fresh water is sent to households.

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nagaland-census-nagaland-want-to-draw-up-a-list-of-all-indigenous-inhabitants-how-will-the-process-evolve/article28306085.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nagaland-census-nagaland-want-to-draw-up-a-list-of-all-indigenous-inhabitants-how-will-the-process-evolve/article28306085.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nagaland-census-nagaland-want-to-draw-up-a-list-of-all-indigenous-inhabitants-how-will-the-process-evolve/article28306085.ece


3



RO desalination came about in the late 1950s. While the principle is simple, engineering such plants have to factor in various constraints, for instance, salt levels in the source water that is to be treated, the energy required for the treatment and disposing of the salt back into the sea. Osmosis involves ‘a solvent (such as water) naturally moving from an area of low solute concentration, through a membrane, to an area of high solute concentration. A reverse osmosis system applies an external pressure to reverse the natural flow of solvent and so seawater or brackish water is pressurised against one surface of the membrane, causing salt-depleted water to move across the membrane, releasing clean water from the low-pressure side’. Seawater has Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) — a measure of salinity — close to 35,000 parts per million (ppm), or equivalent to 35 g of salt per one litre/kg of water. An effective network of RO plants reduce this down to about 200-500 ppm. There are about 18,000 desalination plants in the world across 150 countries and nearly half of Israel’s water is sourced through desalination.

How popular is it in India?

Years of water crises in Chennai saw the government set up two desalination plants between 2010 and 2013. These were at Minjur, around 30 km north of Chennai, in 2010, and Nemmeli, 50 km south of Chennai, in 2013. Each supplies 100 million litres a day (MLD); together they meet little under a fourth of the city’s water requirement of 830 MLD. Buoyed by the success of these plants, the city’s water authorities are planning to install two more plants with capacities of 150 MLD (to be operational by 2021) and 400 MLD, at a cost of around ₹1,260 crore (funded by the German agency, KfW) and ₹4,000 crore (funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency), respectively.

Last November, Gujarat Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani, announced plans of setting up a 100 MLD RO plant at the Jodiya coast in Jamnagar district. This would go a long way in ‘solving’ the water availability problems in the drought-prone Saurashtra region. Other plants of a similar size are expected to come up in Dwarka, Kutch, Dahej, Somnath, Bhavnagar and



4



Pipavav, which are all coastal places in Gujarat. There are also a slew of desalination plants that cater to industrial purposes. For now, India’s real-world experience with desalination plants is restricted to Chennai.

What are the problems with RO plants?

Because RO plants convert seawater to fresh water, the major environmental challenge they pose is the deposition of brine (highly concentrated salt water) along the shores. Ever since the Chennai plants have started to function, fishermen have complained that the brine being deposited along the seashore is triggering changes along the coastline and reducing the availability of prawn, sardine and mackerel. Environmentalists second this saying that hyper salinity along the shore affects plankton, which is the main food for several of these fish species. Moreover, the high pressure motors needed to draw in the seawater end up sucking in small fish and life forms, thereby crushing and killing them — again a loss of marine resource. Another unexpected problem, an environmentalist group has alleged, was that the construction of the RO plants required troves of groundwater. This was freshwater that was sucked out and has since been replaced by salt water, rendering it unfit for the residents around the desalination plants. On an average, it costs about ₹900 crore to build a 100 MLD-plant and, as the Chennai experience has shown, about five years for a plant to be set up. To remove the salt required, there has to be a source of electricity, either a power plant or a diesel or battery source. Estimates have put this at about 4 units of electricity per 1,000 litres of water. Therefore, each of the Chennai plants needs about 400,000 units of electricity. It is estimated that it cost ₹3 to produce 100 litres of potable water.

Is RO water healthy?

In the early days of RO technology, there were concerns that desalinated water was shorn of vital minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, sodium, potassium and carbonates. They are collectively referred to as TDS. Higher quantities of these salts in desalination plants tend to corrode the membranes and filtration system in these plants. So ideally, a treatment plant would try to keep the TDS as low as possible. Highly desalinated water has a TDS of less than 50 milligrams per litre, is pure, but does not taste like water. Anything from 100 mg/l to 600 mg/l is considered as good quality potable water. Most RO plants, including the ones in Chennai, put the water through a ‘post-treatment’ process whereby salts are added to make TDS around 300 mg/l. Several of the home-RO systems that are common in affluent Indian homes, too employ post-treatment and add salts to water. Are there technological alternatives?

The alternative desalination technology used is thermal energy sourced from the ocean. There is a low-temperature thermal desalination (LTTD) technique for instance which works on the principle that water in the ocean 1,000 or 2,000 feet below is about 4º C to 8º C colder than surface water. So, salty surface water is collected in a tank and subject to high pressure (via an external power source). This pressured water vapourises and this is trapped in tubes or a chamber. Cold water plumbed from the ocean depths is passed over



5



these tubes and the vapour condenses into fresh water and the resulting salt diverted away. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), a research organisation based in Chennai, has been working on this technology for decades. In 2005, it set up a 100,000 litre-a-day plant in Kavaratti, Lakshwadeep islands and this has been providing water to about 10,000 residents. Other than the plant at Kavaratti, there are plants of similar capacity proposed at Minicoy and Agatti islands. There are also 1.5 lakh litres a day plants proposed at Amini, Androth, Chetlat, Kadamat, Kalpeni and Kiltan islands. However, the most ambitious research project is a 10 million litre a day plant that is proposed to be built in the deep ocean, 50 kilometres away from the Chennai coast. This exploits an approach called Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. While the LTTD technique draws power from diesel sets, this massive new plant will draw power from the vapour generated as a part of the desalination process. This vapour will run a turbine and thereby will be independent of an external power source. While great in theory, there is no guarantee it will work commercially. For one, this ocean-based plant requires a pipe that needs to travel 50 kilometres underground in the sea before it reaches the mainland. The NIOT has in the past had significant problems in managing such a pipe. Then, RO is commercially proven and the dominant technology and therefore it could be hard to convince private players to invest in such a technology. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/is-desalination-realistically-a-help-in-harnessing-potable-water-from-the-sea/article28306470.ece)

3. Quota politics: on U.P.'s move to confer SC status on 17 backward castes (Relevant


The Uttar Pradesh government’s latest attempt to extend the benefits available to Scheduled Castes to 17 castes that are now under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list has no legal basis and appears to be aimed at making political gains ahead of a round of by-elections to the State Assembly.

Only parliament has power

It is fairly well- known that Parliament alone is vested with the power to include or exclude any entry in the SC list under Article 341 of the Constitution. UP Politics

Uttar Pradesh has unsuccessfully tried to get some backward castes declared as Scheduled Castes in the past, once during the tenure of Mulayam Singh, and again during the rule of Akhilesh Yadav. In 2016, a notification was issued stating that 17 castes were to be treated as Scheduled Castes. The matter is challenged in Allahabad High Court. Why cannot be included in ST list?

No doubt, these 17 castes comprise the most disadvantaged among the backward classes. However, treating them as Scheduled Castes is beset with problems. For one thing, they

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/is-desalination-realistically-a-help-in-harnessing-potable-water-from-the-sea/article28306470.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/is-desalination-realistically-a-help-in-harnessing-potable-water-from-the-sea/article28306470.ece


6



may not qualify to be treated as SCs because they may not have suffered untouchability and social discrimination. Given the legal limitations on the State government’s power to expand the SC list, it is not difficult to discern a political motive behind any move to confer SC status on sections of the OBC.

(Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/quota-politics/article28313308.ece)

4. Union Cabinet has approved the Code on Wages Bill and the Occupational, Safety,

Health and Working Conditions Code (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II;

Polity & Governance)

In order to simplify and consolidate labour rules and laws under four codes, the Union Cabinet has cleared the Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, a week after it approved the Code on Wages Bill. Code on Wages Bill

The bill seeks to include more workers under the purview of minimum wages and proposes a statutory national minimum wage for different geographic regions, to ensure that States will not fix minimum wages below those set by the Centre. These steps should be welcomed. Code on labour safety and working conditions

The Code on labour safety and working conditions include regular and mandatory medical examinations for workers, issuing of appointment letters, and framing of rules on women working night shifts.

Code on Industrial Relations and the Code on Social Security

Other codes that await Cabinet approval include the Code on Industrial Relations and the Code on Social Security. Opposition to two pending bills

Unlike these pending bills, especially the one related to industrial relations that will be scrutinised by labour unions for any changes to worker rights and rules on hiring and dismissal and contract jobs, the two that have been passed should be easier to build a consensus on, in Parliament and in the public sphere. Organised unions have vociferously opposed changes proposed in the Industrial Relations code, especially the proviso to increase the limit for prior government permission for lay-off, retrenchment and closure from 100 workers as it is currently, to 300. The Economic Survey highlighted the effect of labour reforms in Rajasthan, suggesting that the growth rates of firms employing more than 100 workers increased at a higher rate than the rest of the country after labour reforms. But worker organisations claim that the implementation of such stringent labour laws in most States is generally poor.

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/quota-politics/article28313308.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/quota-politics/article28313308.ece


7



Simplification and consolidation of labour laws apart, the government must focus on the key issue of job creation. The Periodic Labour Force Survey that was finally made public in late May clearly pointed to the dire situation in job creation in recent years. While the proportion of workers in regular employment has increased, unemployment has reached a 45-year high. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/tread-with-caution-on-labour-laws/article28391778.ece)

5. Four new Governors appointed (Relevant for GS Prelims and Mains Paper II; Polity

& Governance)

In a major reshuffle, President Ram Nath Kovind transferred two Governors and made four new appointments across six States. New Governors will take charge of the Raj Bhavans in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Nagaland and Tripura.

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/tread-with-caution-on-labour-laws/article28391778.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/tread-with-caution-on-labour-laws/article28391778.ece


8



Madhya Pradesh Governor and former Chief Minister of Gujarat Anandiben Patel has been transferred to Uttar Pradesh, while the former interlocutor for the Naga talks R.N. Ravi has been appointed as Governor of Nagaland. Senior Supreme Court advocate and former Member of Parliament Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the new Governor of West Bengal, replacing Keshari Nath Tripathi. Shah’s direction

The reshuffle and the choice of Governors is politically significant as they are among the first recommendations from the Home Ministry after Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah took charge. Though appointed by the President, the Home Ministry is the nodal Ministry for the selection of Governors, who act as a bridge between the Centre and State. West Bengal

Mr. Dhankhar, 68, will take charge in West Bengal at a time when the State is witnessing frequent clashes between workers of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress after the former’s stunning victory in 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats. Since the May 23 Lok Sabha election results, 10 advisories on law and order have been sent by the Centre to the State. Uttar Pradesh

Ms. Anandiben Patel goes to Lucknow with the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the State facing the Opposition’s ire over worsening law and order situation. With her appointment, Uttar Pradesh will get its first woman Governor since its inception in 1950. Though Sarojini Naidu was the first Governor in 1947, the State was then known as the United Provinces. Bihar

Lalji Tandon, now Governor of Bihar, will take charge in Madhya Pradesh. He will be replaced in Patna by Phagu Chuhan. Nagaland

Mr. Ravi’s appointment is significant as it could give a boost to peace efforts, given his role as the Centre’s interlocutor in talks with the Naga groups. Tripura

Bharatiya Janata Party member Ramesh Bais has been appointed as Governor of Tripura, replacing Kaptan Singh Solanki. Earlier appointments

Earlier this week, Rajya Sabha MP Anusuiya Uikey and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Biswa Bushan Harichandan were appointed governors of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh respectively. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/president-effects-major-reshuffle-of-governors/article28623669.ece)

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/president-effects-major-reshuffle-of-governors/article28623669.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/president-effects-major-reshuffle-of-governors/article28623669.ece


9



6. In the backdrop of a number of Bills having been passed without scrutiny, why are

parliamentary standing committees necessary? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains

Paper II; Polity & Governance)

Eleven of the 22 Bills introduced in the ongoing session of Parliament have been passed, which makes it a highly productive session after many years. But these Bills have been passed without scrutiny by parliamentary standing committees, their purpose being to enable detailed consideration of a piece of legislation. After the formation of the 17th Lok Sabha, parliamentary standing committees have not been constituted as consultations among parties are still under way. Partly as a result of this, the Bills were passed without committee scrutiny. They were discussed in Parliament over durations ranging between two and five hours. Why have parliamentary committees?

In a parliamentary democracy, Parliament has broadly two functions, which are lawmaking and oversight of the executive branch of the government. Parliament is the embodiment of the people’s will. Committees are an instrument of Parliament for its own effective functioning. Given the volume of legislative business, discussing all Bills under the consideration of Parliament in detail on the floor of the House is impossible. Committees are platforms for threadbare discussion on a proposed law. At least in principle, the assumption is that the smaller cohort of lawmakers, assembled on the basis of the proportional strength of individual parties and interests and expertise of individual lawmakers, could have more open, intensive and better informed discussions. Committee meetings are ‘closed door’ and members are not bound by party whips, which allows them the latitude for a more meaningful exchange of views as against discussions in full and open Houses where grandstanding and party positions invariably take precedence. Disruptive changes in technology and the expansion of trade, commerce and economy in general throw up new policy challenges that require a constant reform of legal and institutional structures. While lawmaking gets increasingly complex, lawmakers cannot infinitely expand their knowledge into ever expanding areas of human activities. For instance, we live in an era of metadata being generated by expanding connectivity. The laws and regulations that are required to govern a digital society cannot be made without highly specialised knowledge and political acumen. Members of Parliament may have great acumen but they would require the assistance of experts in dealing with such situations. It is through committees that such expertise is drawn into lawmaking. Executive accountability to the legislature is enforced through questions in Parliament also, which are answered by ministers. However, department standing committees go one step further and hear from senior officials of the government in a closed setting, allowing for more detailed discussions. This mechanism also enables parliamentarians to understand the executive processes closely. What are the types of committees?



10



Most committees are ‘standing’ as their existence is uninterrupted and usually reconstituted on an annual basis; some are ‘select’ committees formed for a specific purpose, for instance, to deliberate on a particular bill. Once the Bill is disposed of, that select committee ceases to exist. Some standing committees are departmentally related, an example being the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development. A Bill related to education could either be considered by the department standing committee or a select committee that will be specifically set up. The chair uses her discretion to refer a matter to a parliamentary committee but this is usually done in consultation with leaders of parties in the House. Financial control is a critical tool for Parliament’s authority over the executive; hence finance committees are considered to be particularly powerful. The three financial committees are the Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings. Parliamentary committees draw their authority from Article 105 (on privileges of Parliament members) and Article 118 (on Parliament’s authority to make rules for regulating its procedure and conduct of business). Committee reports are usually exhaustive and provide authentic information on matters related to governance. Bills that are referred to committees are returned to the House with significant value addition. Parliament is not bound by the recommendations of committees. What are its origins?

As is the case with several other practices of Indian parliamentary democracy, the institution of Parliamentary Committees also has its origins in the British Parliament. The first Parliamentary Committee was constituted in 1571 in Britain. The Public Accounts Committee was established in 1861. In India, the first Public Accounts Committee was constituted in April 1950. According to P.D.T. Achary, former Secretary General of the Lok Sabha, “The practice of regularly referring bills to committees began in 1989 after government departments started forming their own standing committees. Prior to that, select committees or joint committees of the houses were only set up to scrutinise in detail some very important bills, but this was few and far between.” (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/whither-house-panels/article28621493.ece)

7. SEBI needs financial autonomy to remain effective (Relevant for GS Prelims &

Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance)

What is the action by government?

The Centre’s decision to clip the wings of the Securities and Exchange Board of India has not gone down too well with its members. In a letter dated July 10, SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi said the Centre’s decision to suck out SEBI’s surplus funds will affect its autonomy. SEBI employees had also written to the government with the same concern. As part of the Finance Bill introduced in Parliament, the Centre had proposed amendments to the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 that were seen as affecting SEBI’s financial autonomy. To be specific, the amendments required that after 25% of its surplus

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/whither-house-panels/article28621493.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/whither-house-panels/article28621493.ece


11



cash in any year is transferred to its reserve fund, SEBI will have to transfer the remaining 75% to the government. Analysis of government action

Prima facie, there seems to be very little rationale in the government’s decision to confiscate funds from the chief markets regulator. For one, it is highly unlikely that the quantum of funds that the government is likely to receive from SEBI will make much of a difference to the government’s overall fiscal situation. So the amendment to the SEBI Act seems to be clearly motivated by the desire to increase control over the regulator rather than by financial considerations. This is particularly so given that the recent amendments require SEBI to seek approval from the government to go ahead with its capital expenditure plans. What can be impact of government’s decision?

A regulatory agency that is at the government’s mercy to run its financial and administrative operations cannot be expected to be independent. Further, the lack of financial autonomy can affect SEBI’s plans to improve the quality of its operations by investing in new technologies and other requirements to upgrade market infrastructure. This can affect the health of India’s financial markets in the long run. In the larger picture, this is not the first time that the government at the Centre has gone after independent agencies. Trend of subordination

The Reserve Bank of India and the National Sample Survey Office have come under pressure in recent months, and the latest move on SEBI adds to this worrisome trend of independent agencies being subordinated by the government. The Centre perhaps believes it can do a better job of regulating the economy by consolidating all existing powers under the Finance Ministry. But such centralisation of powers will be risky. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/sucking-up-surplus/article28628527.ece)

8. National Exit Test (NEXT) (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; Polity &

Governance)

What will be National Exit Test?

National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill proposes to unify testing for exit from the MBBS course, and entry into postgraduate medical courses. A single National Exit Test (NEXT) will be conducted across the country replacing the final year MBBS exam, and the scores used to allot PG seats as well. Who will be required to take it?

It will allow medical graduates to start medical practice, seek admission to PG courses, and screen foreign medical graduates who want to practise in India.

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/sucking-up-surplus/article28628527.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/sucking-up-surplus/article28628527.ece


12



What will be its benefit?

Per se, it offers a definite benefit for students who invest much time and energy in five years of training in classrooms, labs and the bedside, by reducing the number of tests they would have to take in case they aim to study further. There are detractors, many of them from Tamil Nadu — which is still politically opposing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) — who believe that NEXT will undermine the federal system, and ask whether a test at the MBBS level would suffice as an entry criterion for PG courses. The Bill has also removed the exemption hitherto given to Central institutions, the AIIMS and JIPMER, from NEET for admission to MBBS and allied courses. In doing so, the government has moved in the right direction, as there was resentment and a charge of elitism at the exclusion of some institutions from an exam that aimed at standardising testing for entry into MBBS. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/whats-next/article28660551.ece)

9. Kumaraswamy govt. loses trust vote (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II;

Polity & Governance)

The 14-month Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka collapsed on Tuesday, with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy losing the confidence motion on the floor of the Assembly by six votes. He later tendered his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala. Chances of BJP government

With the BJP announcing its decision to stake a claim to form a government, the transition of power and return of its State president B.S. Yeddyurappa as the Chief Minister is imminent. Confidence motion Failed

The confidence motion was put to vote, six days after Mr. Kumaraswamy moved it and amid a protracted and heated debate on the issue of 15 resignations from the ruling parties allegedly engineered by the BJP. While 99 MLAs expressed confidence in the Kumaraswamy-led government, 105 opposed it. Speaker Mr. Ramesh Kumar announced that the motion was defeated and adjourned the House sine die. In a House of 225 MLAs (including one nominated member) 20 MLAs were not present at the time of voting. The absentees included 15 rebel MLAs who have resigned – 12 from Congress and 3 from JD(S), 2 Congress MLAs who abstained due to health reasons, 2 Independents and the lone BSP MLA. Background

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/whats-next/article28660551.ece


13



The 2018 Assembly polls had thrown up a fractured mandate in Karnataka. The numerical strength of parties, in the the House of 225, stood at 105 for BJP, 78 (Plus, one of Speaker) for Congress and 37 for JDS. The Congress and JDS had come together to form a coalition as a counter to the BJP. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kumaraswamy-govt-loses-trust-vote/article28693268.ece)

10. Critical analysis of the latest amendments to the NIA Act (Relevant for GS Prelims

& Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance)

Designating an individual as a terrorist

The idea of designating an individual as a terrorist, as the latest amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act propose to do, raises serious constitutional questions and has the potential for misuse. The practice of designating individuals under anti-terrorism laws, prevalent in several countries, is seen as being necessary because banned groups tend to change their names and continue to operate. However, there is no set procedure for designating an individual a terrorist. Consequences of labelling as terrorist

Parliament must consider whether an individual can be called a ‘terrorist’ prior to conviction in a court of law. The absence of a judicial determination may render the provision vulnerable to invalidation. There ought to be a distinction between an individual and an organisation, as the former enjoys the right to life and liberty. The likely adverse consequences of a terrorist tag may be worse for individuals than for organisations. Further, individuals may be subjected to arrest and detention; even after obtaining bail from the courts, they may have their travel and movements restricted, besides carrying the taint. This makes it vital that individuals have a faster means of redress than groups. Unfortunately, there is no change in the process of getting an entity removed from the list. Just as any organisation getting the tag, individuals, too, will have to apply to the Centre to get their names removed. A wrongful designation will cause irreparable damage to a person’s reputation, career and livelihood. Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s warning that his government would not spare terrorists or their sympathisers, and his reference to ‘urban Maoists’, are portentous about the possibility of misuse. Anti federal features

It has been argued by some members in Parliament that the Bill contains anti-federal features. The provision to empower the head of the National Investigation Agency to approve the forfeiture of property of those involved in terrorism cases obviously overrides a function of the State government. At present, the approval has to be given by the State police head.

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kumaraswamy-govt-loses-trust-vote/article28693268.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kumaraswamy-govt-loses-trust-vote/article28693268.ece


14



Also, there will be a section allowing NIA Inspectors to investigate terrorism cases, as against a Deputy Superintendent of Police or an Assistant Commissioner. This significantly enhances the scope for misuse. The 2004 amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, made it a comprehensive anti-terror law that provided for punishing acts of terrorism, as well as for designating groups as ‘terrorist organisations’. Parliament further amended it in 2008 and 2013 to strengthen the legal framework to combat terror. While none will question the need for stringent laws that show ‘zero tolerance’ towards terrorism, the government should be mindful of its obligations to preserve fundamental rights while enacting legislation on the subject. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-terrorist-tag/article28712821.ece)

11. ‘Model Tenancy Act will rebuild trust between owners and tenants’ (Relevant for

GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; Polity & governance)

The Model Tenancy Act, 2019 drafted by the Union Ministry for Housing and Urban Development, is expected to benefit both owners and tenants, thus releasing lot of housing stock for rental purpose. The Model Tenancy Act, 2019, offers a balance between the rights and benefits, for both owners and tenants; and identifies the role of property managers. Terms under model act

The cap on the security deposit can become a pain-point for many landlords — in cities like Bengaluru, a 10-month security deposit (with some scope for negotiation) was the accepted norm. The model act caps the security deposit amount to a maximum of two months. However, there is heavy penalty that will be imposed for non-vacancy of the residential unit. Also, if a tenant defaults or causes significant damage to a property, a two-month security deposit may not cover the expenses the property owner incurs in repairs,” he said. Final decision of States

The Model Tenancy Act, 2019 is a model draft proposed by centre. States can adopt the model act or may decide to frame their own laws. While the government lays down the basic policies, the exact rules will likely change within each State since land is a State subject. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/business/model-tenancy-act-will-rebuild-trust-between-owners-and-tenants/article28733116.ece)

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-terrorist-tag/article28712821.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-terrorist-tag/article28712821.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/business/model-tenancy-act-will-rebuild-trust-between-owners-and-tenants/article28733116.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/business/model-tenancy-act-will-rebuild-trust-between-owners-and-tenants/article28733116.ece


15



12. Yediyurappa wins trust vote in Karnataka Assembly (Relevant for GS Prelims &

Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance)

The three-day-old BJP government in Karnataka headed by Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa proved its majority with ease in the Assembly by winning the confidence motion by voice vote. Speaker resigned

Soon after the trust vote and the passage of the Finance Bill for a period of three months along with the supplementary budget, Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar, who had disqualified 17 rebel MLAs of the Congress and the JD(S) over the last few days, tendered his resignation.

How BJP gained majority?

The 17 disqualifications had put the BJP in a comfortable position in the passage of the confidence motion, with the effective strength of the House down to 208 where the BJP enjoys the support of 106 MLAs. This was in contrast to Mr. Yediyurappa’s third term in 2018 when he had to resign on account of lack of numbers within 48 hours of being sworn in. His government is now safe for at least six months, with any possibility of no confidence motion being moved again foreclosed till then. The desertions by MLAs, allegedly engineered by the BJP, brought down the Congress-JD(S) coalition government by reducing it to a minority. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/yediyurappa-wins-trust-

vote-in-karnataka-assembly/article28752045.ece)

13. Amendments should not downgrade the status of information panels (Relevant


Amendments passed by the Lok Sabha to the Right to Information Act have raised suspicion about the government intentions. What are the allegations?

It is alleged that the amendments pose a threat to the freedom and autonomy of Information Commissions at the Central and State levels. The Central Information Commissioner, the corresponding authorities in the States (State Information Commissioners) and other Information Commissioners at both levels are statutory functionaries vested with the power to review the decisions of public information officers in government departments, institutions and bodies. The amendments propose to modify the status, tenure and conditions of appointment of these Commissioners and empower the Union government to set their tenure and remuneration. Tenure

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/yediyurappa-wins-trust-vote-in-karnataka-assembly/article28752045.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/yediyurappa-wins-trust-vote-in-karnataka-assembly/article28752045.ece


16



While the original law assured incumbents of a fixed five-year term, with 65 as the retirement age, the amendments say the Centre would decide their tenure. In one stroke, the security of tenure of an adjudicating authority has been undermined. Salary and conditions of service

The original legislation says the salary and terms and conditions of service of the CIC are the same as those of the Chief Election Commissioner, equal in status to a Supreme Court judge. Similarly, the other Information Commissioners at the Central level have the same conditions of service as Election Commissioners. At the State level, the SIC has the same terms and conditions of service as Election Commissioners, while other Information Commissioners are equated with the Chief Secretary of a State. Logic given by government

The government claims its aim is to ‘rationalise’ the status of the authorities. It argues that while the Chief Election Commissioner is a constitutional functionary, the CIC is only a statutory authority. And while the CEC is equal in status to a Supreme Court judge, it would be incongruous for the CIC to enjoy the same status as the CIC’s orders are subject to judicial review by the high courts. This is a fallacious argument. Protecting citizens’ right to information is a cause important enough for adjudicating authorities to be vested with high status and security of tenure. The present amendments have not been put to any debate. The government would do well to drop the Bill or at least send it to a parliamentary select committee for deeper scrutiny. (Source:https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/undermining-rti/article28701717.ece/amp/)

14. Should India stay with Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership mooted

by ASEAN? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR)

The story so far: The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which announced the idea of a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2012, is pushing stakeholders to conclude talks by the end of 2019 and take it forward. At the ASEAN summit which ended in Bangkok last Sunday, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, said he is willing to push through the trade agreement without India “for the time being.” Others said all 16 members must agree on the final RCEP document. India apart, Australia and New Zealand have raised concerns about joining such a partnership. What is RCEP and why does it matter for the world?

Billed as the world’s biggest trade agreement, the RCEP of 10 ASEAN countries with its six free trade agreement (FTA) partners India, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea could well change the face of global trade as we know it. The RCEP includes countries that make up 45% of the world’s population with 33% of its GDP, and at least 28% of all trade in the world today. If the RCEP is concluded, it will bring stability to an otherwise unpredictable world market. Why has it taken so long to negotiate?

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/undermining-rti/article28701717.ece/amp/https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/undermining-rti/article28701717.ece/amp/


17



This week marks the 26th round of negotiations for the RCEP, which are being held amidst high secrecy in Melbourne, Australia (June 22-July 3). So far, seven of the 18 final RCEP agreement chapters have been concluded. Six years later, the main stumbling blocks for the RCEP are the India-China trade relationship, as well as some concerns from Australia and New Zealand on labour and environmental protections. In May this year, China proposed a plan to conclude the negotiations without the naysayers, i.e. take the ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) into the agreement, while leaving space for India, Australia and New Zealand to join later. For India, there are many reasons to stay in the deal. Apart from giving up the first mover’s advantage, India would give up the chance to frame the grouping’s rules and investment standards if it fails to join the RCEP at this stage. Staying out would also run counter to the Narendra Modi government’s plans to ramp up its engagement with ASEAN countries through the “Act East” policy, as well as its hopes for maritime cooperation in the India-Pacific.

Why is India holding up the deal?

India’s chief concern with the RCEP is the fact that it needs to protect its economy from the flooding of cheap imports from China. Of all the countries in the RCEP, India is the only one not involved in any bilateral or multilateral negotiations for an FTA with China. Several industry groups have already petitioned the government not to go ahead with the RCEP, including manufacturers of steel and aluminium, copper, pharmaceuticals and textile, which will be the worst hit in such a scenario.



18



India’s trade deficits have only grown with each country it has an FTA with, and already has deficits with 11 of the 15 other RCEP countries. India has asked for strict “Rules of Origin” markings on all goods, so they don’t come in through a third country. In addition, India wants to ensure the free flow of services (manpower) to RCEP countries as well, but has faced an uphill task as most countries tighten their immigration laws. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/should-india-stay-with-regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-mooted-by-asean/article28228900.ece)

15. U.S. EB-5 applications to become dearer (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper

II; IOBR)

The United States has decided to effect a steep increase in the application fee for its Immigrant Investor Visa Programme, EB-5.

What is the new criteria?

Under the revised scheme, the application fee for projects under Targeted Employment Areas, will go up to $1.35 million from the current $500,000. The standard minimum investment will also rise to $1.8 million from the existing $1 million.

What is time to get permanent residency under EB-5?

As of now, EB-5 could probably be the quickest legal route available for immigrants to get Green Card and permanent residency in the U.S. The normal waiting period used to be less than two years, but with India recently reaching retrogression (investors from the country fully utilised the existing cap of 700 EB-5 visas for the October-September fiscal), the waiting period is likely to get longer up to five years or more. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/business/us-eb-5-applications-to-become-dearer/article28254259.ece)

16. Is the Iran nuclear deal dead? (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR)

Iran announced on Monday that it had breached the limits for stockpiling low-enriched uranium set by the 2015 nuclear deal. This was the first time the Islamic Republic was violating the terms of the multilateral agreement, which had set a 300-kg cap for Iran’s enriched uranium stock. A few days later, Iran announced that it would breach another crucial term of the deal: the enrichment limit. For now, Iran is allowed to enrich uranium to 3.67% purity.

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/news/international/should-india-stay-with-regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-mooted-by-asean/article28228900.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/news/international/should-india-stay-with-regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership-mooted-by-asean/article28228900.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/business/us-eb-5-applications-to-become-dearer/article28254259.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/business/us-eb-5-applications-to-become-dearer/article28254259.ece


19



Why is Iran breaching the terms of the deal?

The current crisis was set off by Mr. Trump when, in May 2018, he unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran. The deal had promised to lift all international sanctions on Iran in return for the country scuttling its nuclear programme. With sanctions by the U.S. back, Tehran turned to other signatories to save the deal. Countries that had stepped up buying Iranian oil after the deal was signed, including India, started cutting back on imports. As a result, Iran’s oil exports plummeted. Iran now exports about 230,000 barrels of crude a day, down from 2.5 million barrels a day in May 2018. Inflation has soared to 35%, while the rial, the Iranian currency, has fallen by 70% since early 2018. Faced with tough choices, Iran decided to confront the U.S. and put pressure on other signatories to take bold steps to save the deal rather than capitulating to American pressure. The nuclear deal is a crucial bargaining card, and Tehran has decided to use it as a pressure tactic.

Could Iran make the bomb?

There are two paths to the bomb. One is using uranium and the other using plutonium. In the first, uranium is enriched to the weapons grade level using centrifuges. The enrichment increases the fraction of that isotope of uranium which makes up the bomb. In the second method, plutonium, produced as a waste material by heavy water reactors, will be reprocessed to enhance its purity. When the deal was signed in 2015, Iran had a stockpile of 11,560 kg of low-enriched uranium. It had also enriched uranium to 20% purity. According to nuclear experts, if Iran can produce uranium to 20% purity, it is possible for the country to make the weapons-grade fuel — at 90% purity. Iran had also possessed some 20,000 centrifuges in 2015. In Arak, it was building a heavy water reactor. The nuclear deal has substantially reduced these capabilities. It set the enrichment limit at 3.67% and the limits to the low-enriched uranium stockpile at 300 kg. Under the deal, Iran had also placed two-thirds of its 20,000 centrifuges in storage, besides removing the core of the Arak heavy water reactor and fill it with concrete. The plan was to enhance the break-out time (the time required to build a bomb if Iran resumes its nuclear programme in its full potential) to at least a year. Now that its stockpile of uranium is rising and it is threatening to enrich high purity uranium, at least in theory, the distance between Iran and the bomb is shrinking. If Iran continues to violate the deal, redeploying the centrifuges and resuming construction of the Arak facility could be its next steps. That would allow Iran to reload its nuclear programme in full capacity. What is next?

Both the U.S. and Iran are currently on a confrontational path, while other signatories to the deal call for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. The Trump administration wants Iran to return to talks on the U.S.’s terms. The reason Mr. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal was that he believed it was a “bad deal” that does not address Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its “subversive” activities in West Asia such as backing proxy militias. So Washington wants to negotiate an agreement that addresses all these issues.



20



Iran, on the other side, sees the Trump administration as the main disruptor of the deal and instigator of tensions in the Gulf. It wants either the U.S. to return to the deal or other signatories to save it sans the U.S. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/is-the-iran-

nuclear-deal-dead/article28309105.ece)

17. Bill to relax green card cap passed (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II;

IOBR)

The U.S. House of Representatives passed (365-65) the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019, which increases the annual limit of family-based green cards offered to citizens of each country and eliminates the country-wise cap on employment-based green cards. This will have a significant impact on nationals of countries such as India, in whose case demand for immigrant visas (which convert to green cards upon admission to the U.S.) exceeds the number of visas available each year, resulting in wait times that could run into decades. Indians to benefit

Indians account for an overwhelming majority (around 75% in fiscal year 2017) of H-1B visas, which are a pathway to green cards. The Bill altogether eliminates employment-based green card caps. As of November 2017, China, India and the Philippines, in that order, accounted for the top three countries whose nationals got approved for employment-based green cards. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/bill-to-relax-green-card-cap-passed/article28393708.ece)

18. The International Criminal Court verdict against Bosco Ntaganda is a

breakthrough (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR)

The conviction of the Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda is cause for cautious optimism that perpetrators of serious crimes cannot escape justice, even where they have evaded domestic laws. Ntaganda, known as “the terminator”, was pronounced guilty of 13 counts of war crimes and five of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. These relate to the 2002-03 ethnic conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After a 2006 indictment by the Hague court, it took seven more years for him to surrender and months more before the trial could start. The conviction follows the ICC’s 2012 sentencing of Thomas Lubanga, the first to be pronounced guilty under the Rome Statute, also pertaining to atrocities during the Congolese conflict. Challenge before ICC

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/is-the-iran-nuclear-deal-dead/article28309105.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/is-the-iran-nuclear-deal-dead/article28309105.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/bill-to-relax-green-card-cap-passed/article28393708.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/bill-to-relax-green-card-cap-passed/article28393708.ece


21



Arguably the greatest challenge today to enforce accountability transcending domestic and regional borders could be linked to the surge of nationalism around the world. The genesis of the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998, made a modest beginning to ensure that serious atrocities committed by elected representatives do not go unpunished. The refusal of major states to bring themselves under the court’s jurisdiction has dampened such hopes. It is an irony that countries this year are marking the 75th anniversary of the Bretton Woods institutions. But the new world order they sought to usher in, underpinned by a rules-based system of global governance, is facing its biggest challenge yet. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/warlord-and-war-crimes/article28429645.ece)

19. Kartarpur Gurudwara: Pakistan agrees to allow year-long visa-free access

(Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR)

Pakistan agreed to give year-long visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to the holy Gurdwara of Kartarpur Sahib. It was agreed to allow visa-free travel for the Indian passport-holders and OCI card-holders seven days a week. Throughout the year, 5,000 pilgrims will be allowed to visit the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara per day. The pilgrims will be allowed to travel as individuals or in groups and also on foot. Permit system

India proposed that the holy shrine be open to Indian citizens of all faiths. However, a message from the government of Pakistan reiterated that there will be provision for a permit system for the pilgrims travelling through the religious corridor. India urged that at least 5,000 pilgrims be allowed to visit the Gurdwara and insisted that 10,000 more be allowed to visit on special occasions and festivals. Security concerns

India also asked Pakistan to prevent Khalistan supporters from misusing this historic initiative. Concerns regarding individuals or organisations based in Pakistan who may try to disrupt the pilgrimage and misuse the opportunity to play with the sentiments of the pilgrims was shared. A dossier was handed over to the Pakistan side to highlight concerns in this regard. The Indian team, consisting of delegates from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, cautioned Pakistan against building an earth-filled embankment that could create flooding problems at Dera Baba Nanak inside India. Preparatory work

Sunday’s discussion highlighted the preparatory work under way on both sides of the border for the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. India claimed that significant progress had been made in building the infrastructure needed to handle the pilgrims from India and abroad and said infrastructure on the Indian side would

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/warlord-and-war-crimes/article28429645.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/warlord-and-war-crimes/article28429645.ece


22



be able to handle 15,000 pilgrims a day. The work is expected to be completed by October 31, a week before the celebrations are expected to begin. Plea for ‘Nagar Kirtan’

India also urged Pakistan to allow ‘Nagar Kirtan’ from Delhi to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan in July and during October-November 2019 as part of the celebrations to mark the birth of the first Sikh Guru. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kartarpur-corridor-officials-from-pak-india-to-discuss-modalities/article28427180.ece)

20. Relief for airlines as Pakistan opens its airspace after 6 months (Relevant for GS

Prelims & Mains Paper II; IOBR)

In a massive relief for air travellers and airlines, Pakistan reopened its airspace for all flights after a gap of six months since the IAF launched strikes in Balakot. Hours after the announcement, an Air India flight from San Francisco to Delhi became the first Indian aircraft to fly over the neighbouring country and reach the destination 90 minutes early. What were the consequences of closed airspace by Pakistan?

The curb meant airlines had to take a longer route to their destinations and burn more fuel, stop midway for refuelling and roster more pilots and cabin crew as their duty hours are regulated. An increase in fuel expenses, which constitute 40% of an airline’s operational costs, resulted in an increase in fares and, in some cases, cancellation of flights. “With the reopening of Pakistan’s airspace, aircraft utilisation will go up and crew requirement will come down by 25%. Operational costs for the U.S.-bound flights may come down by Rs. 20 lakh one way, and for the Europe-bound flights by Rs. 5 lakh. From Tuesday night, we expect all our flights to return to the original schedule,” Air India spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar said. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/finally-pakistan-opens-its-airspace-after-6-months/article28496115.ece)

21. ICJ judgement in Kulbhushan Jadhav case (Relevant for GS Prelims & Mains Paper

II; IOBR)

What has ICJ said?

1. In a major verdict that accepted India’s plea that former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav’s trial under espionage and terror charges in Pakistan violated international law, the International Court of Justice ruled that Pakistan should “review and reconsider” his conviction and death sentence.

http://www.prepmate.in/https://telegram.me/upscprepmatehttps://prepmate.in/books/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXy_z-FjcG4CcCTYpn2DGhAhttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kartarpur-corridor-officials-from-pak-india-to-discuss-modalities/article28427180.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kartarpur-corridor-officials-from-pak-india-to-discuss-modalities/article28427180.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/finally-pakistan-opens-its-airspace-after-6-months/article28496115.ecehttps://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/finally-pakistan-opens-its-airspace-after-6-months/article28496115.ece


23



2. The court also ruled that Pakistan should give the Indian government consular access to Mr. Jadhav, something Pakistan has failed to do in the three years since his arrest. The ICJ held that the denial of consular access constituted a “breach” of article 36 para 1(b) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963) which Pakistan is a signatory to, which stipulates that all foreign nationals arrested must be given access to their government or local embassy, and rejected Pakistan’s counter-claim that the Vienna convention didn’t apply in a case of espionage.

It also upheld India’s contention that the Vienna convention overrides a 2008 bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on consular access. Significantly, all 16 judges on the UN judicial organ’s panel ruled unanimously that the ICJ’s jurisdiction held over the case. On six other contentions, including on the comprehensive violation of the Vienna Convention by Pakistan, the immediate granting of consular access to Mr. Jadhav, an “effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence”, and a continued stay of execution, the ICJ panel ruled 15-1 in India’s favour. Pakistani Judge, Justice Jillani, was the lone dissenter on those rulings. Pakistan’s claim

Pakistan’s government also claimed a victory of sorts over the judgment, pointing out that the court had not accepted India’s written and oral submissions asking for the ICJ to annul the Pakistani verdict, and to direct Mr. Jadhav’s release. Background



24



Mr. Jadhav was arrested in March 2016 by the Pakistani government for ‘spying’ and allegedly plotting terror acts in Balochistan. Subsequently, Pakistan held a secret trial of Mr. Jadhav in a military court, where evidence and processes were not made public. On May 8, 2017, after the Pakistani court convicted and sentenced Mr. Jadhav, India went to the ICJ as a last resort of appeal. India has rarely ever approached the ICJ, as it considers the UN body a “third party” in bilateral matters. What if Pakistan do not abide by ICJ judgment?

Government officials say they hope that Pakistan, having lost the case at the ICJ, will swiftly accord consular access to Mr. Jadhav, and begin a review of his trial and a reconsideration of his sentencing at the earliest. If not, or if the review is considered unfair, New Delhi could return to The Hague once again and make another appeal. (Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/review-kulbhushan-jadhav-sentence-grant-consular-access-icj-tells-pakistan/article28529319.ece)

22. Hafiz Saeed held in terror financi

For updates on WhatsApp, share your name & city on WhatsApp … · 2019. 11. 21. · For updates on...

Documents

Transcript of For updates on WhatsApp, share your name & city on WhatsApp … · 2019. 11. 21. · For updates on...