02 May 2017, Editorial – The Hindu

GS II: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability

Lokpal And the Law

The ruling that the existing legislation is workable is an indictment* of the government.

Background on Lokpal and Lokayukta’s Act, 2013:

• The idea of creating an anti corruption ombudsman, in the form of a Lokpal, was first conceptualized in 1968 in the fourth Lok Sabha. Thereafter in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998 and 2001 efforts were made to enact legislation to create the institution of Lokpal, but these efforts remained unsuccessful.
• After the bill saw active citizen engagement, it was finally passed on 01st Jan 2013.

28th April 2017, Editorial

GS II: Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions & Bodies constituted for protection and betterment  of vulnerable sections.

A new chapter for the disabled

The 2016 Act will give full effect to the UN Convention.

It is in accordance to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted in 2006 which India has signed and ratified in October, 2007.

The Bill will replace the existing PwD Act, 1995, which was enacted 21 years ago.

27th April 2017, Editorial

GS II: Separation of Powers between various organs

GS IV: Probity in governance

Politics And The Police

The SC verdict reinstating a DGP limits the political executive’s discretion in transfers.

Background:

Former Kerala State Police Chief , T.P. Senkumar was ousted out of his post after the Puttingal fireworks tragedy and Perumbavoor murder-rape case in 2016. State’s contention was that the Chief Minister as an elected leader could gauge the lack of public confidence in Mr. Senkumar. The Left led State govt filed an affidavit stating that:

“Section 97(2)(e) of the Kerala Police Act of 2011 contemplates that a DGP can be removed on the prima facie satisfaction of the State government that there is serious dissatisfaction in the general public about the efficiency of the police.”

April 25th 2017, Current Affairs

Prelims Facts

Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2016 to Kasinadhuni Viswanath

About Dadasaheb Phalke Award

• Named after the Father of Indian Cinema – Dhundiraj Govind Phalke.
• Phalke made the first Indian Feature film Raja Harishchandra in 1913.
• Award was introduced in 1969 and is given to a film personality for his/her outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema.
• The award comprises of a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus), a cash Prize of Rs. 10,00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakhs) and a shawl.
• First recipient: Devika Rani Roerich

April 26th 2017, Editorial

GS III: Challenges to internal security

1. Murder At Noon

The deadliest attack in 7 years is a reminder of the Maoist’s strength.

• 74th battalion in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district where 25 CRPF personnel were killed by an army of 300 insurgents while out on duty to provide protection for road construction on the Dornapal-Jagargunda belt.
• raises questions about the Standard Operating Procedures and precautions adopted by the CRPF.
• The site of the attack too carried a message. The road under construction will
  provide easy access to the backward region, where Maoists have for long held sway.
• It has been a long-held strategy of the Maoists to blow up infrastructure that
  enables connectivity, such as roads and bridges, or establishes the presence of the state, such as schools.
• Issues: The recent spate of attacks and ambushes indicates:
  • a breakdown in intelligence-gathering.
  • lack of effective coordination between the State police and Paramilitary forces.
  • post of the Director General of the CRPF continues to be vacant.
  • The State police forces in Maoist-afected areas have more or less abandoned their duties of law and order, leaving the job almost entirely
    to the paramilitary forces.

April 25th 2017, Editorial

GS II: Important aspects of governance

The Best Laid Plans

NITI Aayog’s shift from away from 5 year plans requires more substance.

• Narendra Modi is not the first CM to have gone on to become PM.

April 24th 2017 Editorial

1. Tale of Two Sections

• Supreme Court quashes criminal complaint against cricketer MS Dhoni for allegedly insulting Hindu sentiments by posing as a deity on the cover of a business magazine.
• The complaint was filed under Section 295A of the IPC which has a provision stating “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.”
• The editor has called it a thinly disguised law of blasphemy. This comparison comes from the Law of Blasphemy in Pakistan where an insult to Islam would mean facing a potential death threat.
• Another such draconian provision is Section 153A of the IPC which intends to punish those promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence and language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.
• The problem with insult laws are that they are inherently subjective.
• Both the provisions are similar to the contempt of court law as well. There is no knowing what would scandalise a judge and for what the contempt maybe be revoked.
• It encourages the creation of a “market place of outrage.”
• The provisions should have their scope narrowed down so that moral vigilantes do not exploit the law to serve their narrow chauvinistic ends.

Source: The Hindu

April 24th 2017, Current Affairs

GS II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes

3rd meeting of Governing Council of NITI Aayog convened by PM

• 40% increase in overall fund alloction to the States.
• Plans to change budget presentation date . By the time the funds are trickled down at individual level, the season is already over and monsoon arrives.
• Discussions have begun on hosting National and State elections simultaneously.
• NITI Aayog is working on a 15 year long term vision, 7 year medium term vision and 3 year short term vision.
• States being asked to consider changing the financial year from March-April to Jan-Dec.

April 22nd 2017 Current Affairs

Prelims Facts

General Issues on Environmental ecology, biodiversity & Climate change

1. Naked Mole Rats only animal to be able to switch metabolism
   • Is also the only cold – blooded mammal.
   • More related to porcupines than moles or rats.
   • Live in the subterranean desert of East Africa.
   • Share the breeding structure of insects with the presence of a queen.
   • Under low-oxygen conditions, switches metabolism from the usual glucose to sugar fructose which is commonly adopted by plants.
   • Maybe used to treat patients with strokes and cardiac diseases that have low access to oxygen.

April 21 2017 Current Affairs

GS 3 – (i) Role of external state and non – state actors in creating challenges to internal security.

(ii) Various security forces and agencies and their mandate.

Fresh bid by NIA for extradition of LeT men involved in 2008 attack.

Background:

A group of 10 terrorists from Lashkar – e – Taiba stormed into various buildings in Mumbai between 26th to 29th November 2008 and killed 164 people. U.S. citizen David Coleman Headley (aka Daood Gilani)  has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for aiding the terrorists by the U.S. Federal Court while Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who helped Headley immigrate to India, was  sentenced for 14 years for plotting another attack on Denmark but was acquitted in the trial involving the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

In news because:

Both are currently serving time in the U.S. prison. NIA seeks their extradition so that they maybe punished in India .

In Rana’s case this seems like a challenge since he is protected by the “double jeopardy” clause in the U.S Law which prohibits criminals from being punished for the same crime twice.

The NIA has now renewed its bid to get Rana extradited on grounds of planning an attack on the National Defence College, New Delhi and Chabad Houses (Jewis religious centres) at various cities.