Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Institutions, Issue: Competition Commission of India

Context: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) gave effect to two schemes.

Gist:

Two schemes:

1. Offer negotiated settlements in antitrust cases
2. Accept commitments from businesses for change in their behaviour.

Competition Commission of India:

• It is the chief national competition regulator in India.
• It is a statutory body under Competition Act, 2002
• Aim: To promote competition and prevent activities that have adverse effects on competition in India.
• Composition: Chairperson and six Members appointed by the Central Government.
• Power to impose penalties on businesses that violate the Competition Act.

Key Functions:

• Investigates anti-competitive agreements between businesses, such as cartelization and bid rigging.
• Prohibits abuse of dominant position by enterprises.
• Regulates mergers and acquisitions (M&As) that could cause harm to competition.
• Advocates for competition, promotes awareness about competition law and enhance consumer welfare.

Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Economy, Topic: Growth and Development, Inclusion, Issue: Credit Rating Agencies

Context: Report by credit rating agency Crisil.

Gist:

• By 2031, the economy will be near the $7 trillion milestone, positioning India as an upper-middle-income country.
• India will be the third largest economy by 2031.
• World Bank classifies countries based on GNI per capita into
  • High income economies
  • Upper-middle income economies
  • Lower-middle income economies
  • Low income economies
• India’s per capita income in 2022-23 was ₹1,69,496 at current prices.

Syllabus: GS-III,  Subject: Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management, Topic: Disaster Management, Issue: Man-animal conflict

Context: The Kerala cabinet declared instances of man-animal conflict as a state-specific disaster.

Gist:

• This move will give more power to the district collectors to address the issue.
• Under Disaster Management Act 2005, declaring authority is vested with
  • Central Government -“national disaster”.
  • State Government – “state disaster”.
  • District Magistrate – “district disaster”.

Disaster Management Act 2005

To establish a legal framework for management of disasters and mechanisms for disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.

Key Provisions:

• Establishes Disaster Management Authority at the national level and state level.
• They are responsible for laying down policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management.
• A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for specialised response to disasters.
• Emphasises on involving local communities in disaster management activities.

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Institutions, Issue: Law Commission recommendations

Context: The 22nd Law Commission recommended that a new legislation be introduced to protect trade secrets.

Gist:

• Trade secrets are intellectual property rights on confidential information that may be sold or licensed.
• Unlike other forms of intellectual property, which are limited in duration, trade secrets can be protected indefinitely.
• New legislation should have exceptions relating to whistleblower protection, compulsory licensing, government use, and public interest.

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Elections and RPA, Issue: Aadhaar-Voter ID linking

Context: The Election Commission proposed amending the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1950 to make it explicit that Aadhaar linking with voter IDs is voluntary, but the Law Ministry suggested issuing guidelines instead.

Aadhaar seeding with voter ID – Timeline:

• EC had first initiated the exercise of linking Aadhaar with EPIC in 2015.
• Aim :To ensure that one voter is registered in only one constituency or only once in the same constituency.
• The court held that although privacy is a fundamental right (K.S.Puttaswamy case), it can be curtailed if
  • Specific law authorising collection of Aadhaar
  • Legitimate state interest
  • Proportionality test is satisfied.
• Parliament amended the RP Act, 1950 in December 2021 to allow linking of Aadhaar with EPIC for “cleaning” voter lists.
• At present linking of Aadhaar with EPIC is voluntary, no elector can be denied registration or deleted from the rolls for not providing Aadhaar.

Syllabus: GS- III Subject: Current affairs Topic: Places in news, Issue: INS Jatayu

Context: The Indian Navy commissioned INS Jatayu, a naval base at Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep.

• This is the second base after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti.
• The Navy also commissioned its first MH-60R multi-role helicopter squadron at Kochi
• Will strengthen India’s surveillance and security posture in the region and boost its anti-submarine warfare

Nine degree channel:

• It is a body of water that separates the main Lakshadweep archipelago from Minicoy Island.
• Strategic sea lane: A vital passage for merchant shipping between Europe and Western Asia with Southeast Asia and the Far East.

Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Science and Technology, Topic: Space Technology, Issue: Second Rocket launchport in Tamil Nadu

Context: ISRO decided to build a new launchport to prevent overburdening of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota.

• New facility in Kulasekarapattinam will cater to smaller payload launches, while SHAR will handle bigger missions.
• Private players will have opportunities to develop space systems, build satellites, and launch vehicles.
• Dedicated infrastructure will be available for commercial launches.

Kulasekarapattinam as a Location Choice:

• Chosen for its geographical, scientific, and strategic advantages.
• Allows for direct southward launch trajectories, particularly beneficial (saves fuel) for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
• Location near the equator enhances payload capacities due to Earth’s rotational velocity.

Significance of SSLVs:

• Developed by ISRO for small satellite launches.
• Can launch satellites weighing 10 to 500 kg into Low Earth Orbit (referred to as mini, micro, or nano satellites)
• SSLVs are cost-effective, with shorter flight times for satellite insertion into orbits, making them suitable for commercial and on-demand launches.

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Federalism, Issue: Special provision for certain areas ( Sixth Schedule)

Context: More about the news:

• Ladakh seeks inclusion under the Sixth Schedule to address job, land, and cultural concerns.
• Instead, Union Home Minister offered Article 371-like protections to Ladakh.

Key feature of Sixth Schedule:

• Pertains to administration of tribal areas in specific states (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram)
• Allows creation of Autonomous District and Regional Councils (ADCs and ARCs).
• These bodies can make laws on various subjects and establish village councils or courts.
• They have authority over land revenue, taxes, money lending, mineral royalties, and public facilities.

Special provisions under Article 371:

• Aim to protect the interests of specific religious, social, and tribal groups.
• Article 371-A (Nagaland), prohibiting laws that affect Naga customs and land without state Assembly consent.
• Article 371-G extends similar protections to
• Article 371-B and C allow for special committees in Assam and Manipur Legislative Assemblies, representing tribal and hill areas respectively.
• Article 371-F provides reservations in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
• If extended to Ladakh, it would be the first time such provisions are introduced for a Union Territory.

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Elections and RPA, Issue: Electoral Bond Scheme

Context: Recent Supreme Court (SC) judgement on Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS)

• The Supreme Court struck down the EBS as unconstitutional.
• The Court directed the SBI to halt bond issuance and provide purchaser details to the Election Commission of India.
• However, the SBI has requested an extension of the timeline.

Significance of timely disclosure:

• Delaying the donor list contradicts the Court’s order.
• Timely disclosure of donor information is crucial for voter awareness and informed choice.
• Campaign finance plays a central role in the electoral process and can be linked to cronyism and quid pro quo arrangements.
• Anonymity of donors must be balanced against the benefits of openness and transparency in a vibrant democracy.

The way ahead:

• The next government should prioritize further steps to address campaign finance loopholes.

Syllabus: GS-I, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Social Sector-Education, Issue: National Credit Framework (NCrF)

National Credit Framework (NCrF) (announced by UGC in April 2023):

• Integrates school education, higher education, skill and vocational education from level I to VIII.
• Defines the learning outcomes and the credits a student should earn for a seamless transition from one level to another.
• Advocates flexible pathways, allowing students to enter and exit the educational system at various stages based on their achievements and aspirations.
• The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) platform, integral to NCrF, serves as a digital storehouse simplifying credit accumulation, storage, and retrieval for students.

Significance:

• ABC contributes to democratizing educational data and optimizes academic planning through data-driven practices.
• Analogous to a financial institution, ABC allows students to deposit credits earned from various learning experiences.
• The integration of ABC with the National Credit Framework (NCrF) marks a shift towards recognizing mixed-learning experiences, beyond traditional classrooms.
• This broadens learning horizons, enhancing academic proficiency and real-world skills.
• Educators can design courses integrating experiential learning, offering a more holistic understanding to students.
• The integration of NCrF and ABC aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), supporting multi-disciplinary education and the multiple entry and exit system.

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Local Government, Issue: 73rd Amendment act

Context: Discrepancy in recent Chandigarh Municipal election

• Recently SC by using its plenary power under Article 142 of the constitution declared AAP municipal candidate as winner.
• However just after the SC verdict three councilor from AAP joined BJP and BJP won some key posts in municipal elections.

      Key issues in municipal elections

• Municipal law allows the bureaucracy to appoint any councilor to preside over the election of the Mayor, posing challenges to fair elections.
• The scope for the court’s intervention in cases of defections in local governments is limited as the anti-defection law (10th Schedule) does not apply.
• The Chandigarh case highlights the broader challenge of ensuring local democracy.

The political nature of local governments is undeniable, necessitating clear laws to prevent defections at the local level.

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: International Relation, Topic: Global issues, Issue: Global refugee crisis

Context: Recent Italian court ruling against returning sea migrants to Libya

• Italy’s highest court ruled against forcing rescued migrants back to Libya due to its unsafe conditions.

Significance:

• Reinforces UN agencies’ acknowledgment of Libya’s unsafe status, citing human rights abuses in detention centers.
• Holds legal significance in disputes over push-and-pull-back operations between human rights groups and European governments.
• Legal actions highlight allegations of Italy’s involvement in crimes by supporting Libyan authorities.
• Concerns arise over potential intensification of anti-immigration policies by Italy’s far-right government.
• Rescue and rights groups welcomed the decision, urging Italy to comply with international standards and end complicity in migrant rights violations.

Syllabus: GS- II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Legislature, Issue: Privileges

Context- A seven-judge Constitution Bench unanimously overruled the judgment in P.V Narasimha Rao v. State (1998).

Highlights of the judgement

• MPs and MLAs could not claim immunity from prosecution for accepting bribes to influence their actions in the legislature.
• Allowed law enforcement agencies to initiate prosecution against legislators in bribery cases under the PCA, 1988.
• Aims to uphold the integrity of parliamentary proceedings and combat corruption within the legislative system.

Key takeaway from the verdict:

• The Chief Justice clarified that legislative privileges are meant to enable free debate and deliberation within the legislature and should not cover acts of bribery, undermining the purpose of such immunity.
• The court introduced a two-fold test for claiming privileges, emphasizing that acts of bribery, unrelated to the essential duties of legislators, do not qualify for immunity.
• It was affirmed that both the judiciary and the parliament have jurisdiction over bribery charges against legislators, operating in distinct spheres.
• The principles of this verdict also apply to Rajya Sabha elections and the appointments of the President and Vice-President, thereby overruling the Kuldip Nayar case (2006) which excluded Rajya Sabha elections from the scope of parliamentary privileges under Article 194.