1. Meeting the challenge of new climate normal READ MORE
2. Air Pollution Patterns in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Are More Complex Than Thought READ MORE
3. Authoritarianism Can’t Beat Climate Change READ MORE

1. Population Bill isn’t on the right track READ MORE
2. ABC of quality: Quotas don’t solve what’s really wrong with education READ MORE

1. When a cannonball triggered a canonisation READ MORE
2. Satisfaction & Contentment READ MORE
3. Responding to China and Taliban READ MORE
4. Living Apart, Living Together READ MORE

1. Explained: Defining the creamy layer READ MORE
2. Law and lawmakers: On criminal acts and legislative privilege READ MORE
3. Why an aggressive policy to control population makes no sense READ MORE
4. New Emigration Bill a Step Forward, But Indians Need More READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelims and Mains:

1. BRICS Counter Terrorism Action Plan finalised READ MORE
2. Punjab groundwater level dips 1m every year: Study READ MORE
3. Nagaland’s Raja Mircha exported to Europe for first time READ MORE
4. Scientists discover a new way to detect early colon cancer READ MORE
5. Action against poaching: Odisha plans DNA profiling for leopards READ MORE
6. Centre’s fiscal deficit stood at 18.2% of budget estimate for FY22 at end of June READ MORE
7. Ozone levels exceeding permitted levels: study READ MORE

Main exam:  

GS Paper- 1

HISTORY

1. Indus Waters Treaty is worth preserving READ MORE

SOCIETY

1. Population Bill isn’t on the right track READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Explained: Defining the creamy layer READ MORE
2. Law and lawmakers: On criminal acts and legislative privilege READ MORE
3. Why an aggressive policy to control population makes no sense READ MORE
4. New Emigration Bill a Step Forward, But Indians Need More READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. ABC of quality: Quotas don’t solve what’s really wrong with education READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India is losing out in Afghanistan READ MORE
2. China Is Providing an Alternative Regional Framework for South Asia READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Statistical Jugglery Should not Conceal Worsening Unemployment Scenario READ MORE
2. Post-COVID-19 Paths to Fiscal Consolidation: Using the Snowball Effect READ MORE
3. India’s Recovery Stumbles, Setting Stage for Sustained Low Rates READ MORE
4. The Lost Decades: The government must reimagine the fundamentals of the economy in favour of equality. READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Meeting the challenge of new climate normal READ MORE
2. Air Pollution Patterns in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Are More Complex Than Thought READ MORE
3. Authoritarianism Can’t Beat Climate Change READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. When a cannonball triggered a canonisation READ MORE
2. Satisfaction & Contentment READ MORE
3. Responding to China and Taliban READ MORE
4. Living Apart, Living Together READ MORE

Questions for MAIN exam

1. ‘The Emigration Bill, 2021 is an opportunity to regulate and reform the recruitment process for Indians who seek employment abroad’. Examine the statement.

2. ‘Solidarity is the only bond that provides a firm foundation for political democracy and for a just society’. Justify the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Legislative privilege and parliamentary free speech are necessary elements of a lawmaker’s freedom to function.
• When democratically elected governments cease to be held accountable by a society weakened by poor health, low morale and joblessness, demagogues are prone to blindness and ineptitude.
• Section 124-A needs to be wholly judicially repealed at the bar of the fundamental human right to free speech.
• Authority does not come from the loudest voice, but the wisest.
• The government must reimagine the fundamentals of the economy in favour of equality.
• If indeed there does exist a pathway out of global climate governance gridlock, the answer does not lie at the feet of authoritarian monoliths.
• The Emigration Bill, 2021, likely to be introduced in Parliament soon, is an opportunity to regulate and reform the recruitment process for Indians who seek employment abroad.
• India’s leaders need to learn from Mandela, for whom a democratic political community was not only a matter of establishing a legal relationship between the state and the people but about establishing a relationship based on fellow feeling and empathy between people.
• India should seek a stable Afghanistan that is not hostile to it and let Afghans decide the nature of their polity. That would be the path of wisdom as China is seeking to integrate the countries to India’s west in an integrated framework. Pakistan is now almost China’s client-State.
• If democracy is the self-government of social equals who freely choose their representatives, then large-scale social suffering renders the democratic principle utterly utopian.

50-WORD TALK

• We need to boost research in climate science to gain further insights. At the same time, action to save lives and property needs to be taken now. This is better done by fine-tuning weather forecasting and dovetailing forecast with administrative and community action on the ground. We need to review all relevant policies and take corrective action.
• Kerala complaining about a campaign against the state’s Covid management rings hollow. It’s accounting for about half of India’s daily cases and can’t just blame that on successfully preventing infections earlier. Vaccinations should be prioritised for those susceptible and Kerala should work closely with the Union government to ensure supplies.
• The travel advisory issued by the Assam government against Mizoram amid border tensions is regressive, unwarranted and imprudent. Political dialogue is the way forward to resolve this long-running conflict, not resorting to measures that will aggravate it further. The central government should immediately intervene and order this national embarrassment withdrawn.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do a map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers etc. same applies for the national places.)
• For economy related news (banking, agriculture etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related with various economic aspects, for examples if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing prices rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates etc.
• For main exam related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occurs frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment in your writing.

If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified, in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind. - JOHN STUART MILL

THE CONTEXT: India is witnessing unprecedented level of farmers’ protests across its territory demanding the government to repeal the three farm laws. Without going into the detail of these farm laws, let us try to understand the right to protest of citizens in India.

PROTEST- A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT

When a group, community or even a person goes up to protest, it is usually to showcase their disapproval or demur against any action, policy, statement, etc of state or government or any organisation. Protests generally work in two ways, first, it helps a particular community or group or person to show their disagreement with the policy in question and second, it helps the government to identify the loopholes in their policy or action and work towards its betterment. Tracing the history of protests back to the pre-independence period:

• Protests in India has a long and eminent history. Until 72 years ago, India was a colony ruled by Britishers.
• In the post-independence era, its people became free citizens because of a long series of protests done by our freedom fighters.
• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi aka Mahatma Gandhi, who is also known as the father of the Indian nation taught the Indians citizens, the power of peaceful protest.
• So, be it the Swadeshi Movement of 1905 or Satyagraha in 1930 these movements have shaped the history of the nation that was the peaceful protest against the colonial rule.
• Indians fought hard every battle to publicly express their views on colonial policies and to show dissent towards British colonization and to speak to and against the government.

While exercising or enjoying the right to peaceful protest, one must adhere to their duties or responsibilities in a democratic country.

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS THAT GIVE RIGHT TO PROTEST

ARTICLE	HOW IT GUARANTEES RIGHT TO PROTEST	LIMITATIONS IMPOSED ON RIGHT TO PROTEST
Article 19(1)(a)	It guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression. Thus, citizens have the right ot speak and thus be heard. So, citizens can accumulate at a place and speak their mind.	The state can make any law imposing reasonable limitation on this fundamental right in the interest of - 1. Sovereignty and integrity of India, 2. The security of the State, 3. Friendly relations with foreign States, 4. Public order, decency or morality or 5. Contempt of court, 6. Defamation or 7. Incitement to an offence
Article 19(1)(b)	Right of citizens to assembly peaceably and without arms. It ensures that everyone has the right to accumulate as right to freedom of expression requires an audience for expressing this right	The state can make any law imposing reasonable limitation on this fundamental right in the interest of - 1. Sovereignty and integrity of India 2. Public order

SUPREME COURT VERDICTS ON PROTEST

Ramlila Maidan Incident v. Home Secretary, Union Of India & Otrs 2012	Citizens have a fundamental right to assembly and peaceful protest which cannot be taken away by an arbitrary executive or legislative action
Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India	If democracy means government of the people by the people, it is obvious that every citizen must be entitled to participate in the democratic process and in order to enable him to intelligently exercise his rights of making a choice, free & general discussion of public matters is absolutely essential.
Interlocutors to Shaheen Bagh CAA protests 2020	People have right to protest but it should not affect the right of other citizens.

The ShaheenBagh protests has led the Supreme Court intervention which has appointed interlocutors to mediate, without declaring the protest as unlawful. The judges, promptly and rightly so, spoke about the people’s fundamental right to protest even when the legal validity of the controversial legislation in question, namely Citizenship Amendments Act (CAA), remained disputed before the Supreme Court in separate proceedings.

ARE PROTESTS ALLOWED ON PUBLIC ROADS? IF YES, HOW AND WHEN THEY CAN BE ALLOWED? HOW ARE THE COURTS TO ACT WHEN THESE ISSUES COME UP?

A series of judgments starting from the Privy Council’s decisions may come handy to clarify all this.

THE PAST JUDGEMENTS ON PROTEST ON PUBLIC ROADS

IN 1950, THE PRIVY COUNCIL HELD IN MANZUR HASAN VS MUHAMMED ZAMAN	In India, there is a right to conduct a religious procession with its appropriate observances through a public street so that it does not interfere with the ordinary use of the street by the public, and subject to lawful directions by the magistrates.
SAGHIR AHMMAD VS STATE OF U.P., 1955	The Court defined the characteristics of a public roads when it stated as: “The true position then is, that all public streets and roads vest in the State, but that the State holds them as trustees on behalf of the public. The members of the public are entitled as beneficiaries to use them as a matter of right and this right is limited only by the similar rights possessed by every other citizen to use the pathways. The State as trustees on behalf of the public is entitled to impose all such limitations on the character and extent of the user, as may be requisite for protecting the rights of the public generally.”
RAILWAY BOARD VS NARINJAN SINGH (1969)	Held that there is no fundamental right for anyone to hold meetings in government premises. It was observed: "The fact that the citizens of this country have freedom of speech, freedom to assemble peaceably and freedom to form associations or unions does not mean that they can exercise those freedoms in whatever place they please."
IN 1972 WHEN A CONSTITUTION BENCH, IN HIMAT LAL K SHAH VS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE	The right that flows from Article 19 (1) is not a right to hold a meeting at any place, at any time.
IN ANITA THAKUR VS STATE OF J&K, 2016	Right to protest is a fundamental right but these rights are subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, as well as public order. “It is for this reason, the State authorities many a times designate particular areas and routes, dedicating them for the purpose of holding public meetings,” said the top court.
MAZDOOR KISAN SHAKTI SANGTHAN’S CASE	In all such situations, the Court has to examine as to where lies the larger public interest while balancing the two conflicting rights. It is the paramount collective interest which would ultimately prevail. To put it differently, the greater community interest or interest of the collective or social order would be the principle to recognize and accept the right of one which has to be protected.

Given the body of judgments the apex court has delivered in the last six decades, the Supreme Court bench hearing the ShaheenBagh protests case might have taken a cue and decided the questions of legality and legitimacy itself, for all the judges involved in the cases cited hereinabove decided what was before them on the basis of sound constitutional principles.

All these judgments laid down comprehensive doctrines on people’s right to protest by relying upon the chapter on fundamental rights, judicial precedents and interpretations of laws while not waiting for a report from the ‘interlocutors’ or mediators. The judges simply acted to uphold the rule of law.

But in the ShaheenBagh protests case, the questions still loom large as to whether blocking public roads qualifies as causing public disturbances or creating a nuisance; whether the protesters could secure any permission to hold demonstrations on public roads indefinitely; whether authorities have taken any measures to maintain social and public order; whether the rights of the commuters have been infringed; whether there is a legitimacy to such protests.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar - Grammar of Anarchy If we wish to maintain democracy not merely in form, but also in fact, what must we do? The first thing in my judgement we must do is to hold fast to constitutional methods of achieving our social and economic objectives. It means we must abandon the bloody methods of revolution. It means that we must abandon the method of civil disobedience, non-cooperation and satyagraha. When there was no way left for constitutional methods for achieving economic and social objectives, there was a great deal of justification for unconstitutional methods. But where constitutional methods are open, there can be no justification for these unconstitutional methods. These methods are nothing but the Grammar of Anarchy and the sooner they are abandoned, the better for us.

HOW GOVERNMENT RESTRICTS PROTEST?

Permission to Protest	Any person that seeks to protest needs to get a no-objection certificate from the police by stating the reason of protest along with all other details of the protest. Police in its discretion can deny request if it feels that it endanger public order.
Section 144 of CrPC	This 1972 law authorises the Executive Magistrate of any state or territory to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area. It also empowers the authority to block internet access.

HOW PROTESTS ENRICH INDIAN DEMOCRACY?

Continuous Accountability of the government	Protests against legislations or executive actions ensure that governments remain accountable to the people continuously and not once in five years. Now the government is not accountable just to legislature or judiciary but to people on a continuous basis.
Welfare state	As suggested by Marxist scholars, state is to an extent is in control of capitalists due to the funding they provide to political parties. However, peaceful protests ensure that the state continue to function as a welfare state and don’t bend to the whims and fancies of the capitalists.
Give a sense of belonging to people	If people think differently, they may feel isolated, marginalised and powerless. Public demonstrations and marches empower people by showing them that there are thousands of people who think the same things.
Minority groups	The classic theorists of representational government recognised that universal suffrage and majority voting threaten to impose the ‘tyranny of the majority’ and override the rights of minorities. Protests ensure that the rights of minorities are respected.
Bring change overtime	Sometimes, the protests fail to win majority support but overtime the debate started by this protest helps bring change overtime. It might be that the next generation, unencumbered by past thinking, see that the views of the protesters were just common sense. For example : Feminism, Black rights, Rights of LGBTQ communities, farmer rights etc have started bringing change in every next generation.

PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTINUING PROTESTS

Prone to capture by vested interests	The leaderless movements risk being captured by unsavoury elements with an ulterior agenda. The widespread use of word “Azaadi” typifies this problem.
Lack alternative	The protests fail to provide any alternative to the CAA and NPR. The protesters should be part of the solution and thus should provide alternative to the government legislations and not limit themselves to just criticisms.
Mob mentality	The protests suffer from mob mentality and lack knowledge of the true problems with the government action. Many join protest just for the sake of protesting and this mob mentality harm the true protesters as well as sanctify government repression.

RIGHT OF CHILDREN TO PROTEST

Supreme Court taking suo moto cognizance based on a letter has issued notice to the Centre and Delhi government on the presence of the children in protests. While the Supreme Court action is due to the death of a child in the ShaheenBagh and thus seeks to protect the health and well being of children, still it fails to look at the rights of children to protest. Indian Constitution doesn’t qualify fundamental rights of citizens based on age and thus every citizen immaterial of his or her age has the fundamental right to protest. Also, Convention on the Rights of the Children to which India is a signatory, upholds the right of children to protest.

THE BROADER ISSUES

Platform for Dialogue with government	Protests continue over long period of times due to lack of any avenue to discuss their grievances with the government. Even platforms such as Twitter do not ensure that the minister reads the grievance of the citizen.
Role of Media	The media of 21st century has the role of creation of dialogue between the electorate and the executive on a regular basis. Media has failed to play this role effectively.
Role of Supreme Court	Supreme Court is the guardian of fundamental rights of citizens but it has failed to uphold the right of protest of citizens. It has failed to stop improper use of sedition law, mass arrests, section 144 and derogatory remarks by the ministers against protestors.
Role of Opposition	It is the role of opposition to keep the government accountable on regular basis. The protests highlight that the people have lost trust in the opposition for keeping government accountable.

WHY IS IT ESSENTIAL FOR UPHOLDING DEMOCRACY?

It is natural that the government comes up with many policies from time to time in the interest of the citizens and overall betterment of the country. These policies are monitored by the people of the country and it is through them that the opinions on these policies could be made. Since the citizen is more like a watchdog of these policies, any mistake or shortcoming that these policies have can be addressed by them and it can be solved by peaceful demonstration.

Even during the colonial rule, various communities organized public meetings, dharnas, protests, etc that were a sign of protest as to the elimination of the British rule and demand for independent India. The state is on the other hand required to respect and address the protests because the Constitution also makes it necessary for the state to ensure the Fundamental Right to Freedom of speech and expression. However, the motive of the protest shouldn’t be inspired by interrupting the regular functioning of the state deliberately.

When the protest is inspired by such political waves, it becomes unethical and unfair in its overall substance.

WAY FORWARD

Balance between rights and duties	While protesters have the right to protest but they also have the duty to respect the rights of others. Protests should not mean that the way of life of other fellow people is disturbed.
Platform for Dialogue with government	There needs to be a platform by which people can express their grievances to the government and get a suitable reply.
Grassroot politics	Politicians need to develop connections with the grassroots so as to gain the trust of citizens. Also, the views of the politicians should not change based on the fact that they are in power or in opposition. Any such change should be seen as fraud and punished by people.
Supreme Court	It needs to be apolitical and take strong action against any encroachment on citizen’s rights.
Legislations to protect dissidents	Legislations should be passed to protect the dissidents, activists and whistleblowers.

CONCLUSION: Dissent and democracy are synonymous in a liberal-democratic social order. It is through open debate and discussion that the diversity of perceptions in a democracy gets exposed. Only through continuous interactions on critical issues does the real truth emerge. India needs to learn from the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi who had the courage and fortitude to express his dissent in a peaceful manner. In a progressive society, contrary views should be entertained. Further, the legislature should pass laws to protect dissidents, activists and whistle-blowers. It takes courage to take a stand and speak up, while the easiest thing is to ‘go with the flow’. Dissent must be welcomed not just on the political front but in religious and professional spheres as well.

Questions to Ponder

1. “The highest form of human excellence is to question oneself and others” – Socrates. Comment in the light of recent events.
2. India is suffering from continued protests since the last few years. Discuss the broader issues associated with protests in India. Give your opinion on the impact of protests on Indian democracy.

THE CONTEXT: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendment to the DICGC Act on July 29.

Analysis:

• This will provide account holders access to up to Rs 5 lakh funds within 90 days of a bank coming under moratorium to ensure timely support to depositors.
• Last year, the government raised insurance cover on deposit fivefold to Rs 5 lakh to provide support to depositors of ailing lenders like Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank.
• Following the collapse of PMC Bank, Yes Bank and Lakshmi Vilas Bank too came under stress, leading to restructuring by the regulator and the government.
• The amendment to the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) Act, 1961 is the budget announcement made by the finance minister.
• Once the Bill becomes law, it will provide immediate relief to thousands of depositors, who had their money parked in stressed lenders such as PMC Bank and other small cooperative banks.
• As per the current provisions, the deposit insurance of up to Rs 5 lakh comes into play when the licence of a bank is cancelled and the liquidation process starts.

ABOUT DICGC

• Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) created as per The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act, 1961
• It provides deposit insurance that works as a protection cover for bank deposit holders when the bank fails to pay its depositors.
• The agency insures all kinds of deposit accounts of a bank, such as savings, current, recurring, and fixed deposits up to a limit of Rs. 5 lakh per account holder per bank.
• In case an individual’s deposit amount exceeds Rs.5 lakh in a single bank, only Rs.5 lakh, including the principal and interest, will be paid by DICGC if the bank becomes bankrupt.
• DICGC protects depositors’ money kept in all commercial and foreign banks located in India; central, state, and urban co-operative banks; regional rural banks; and local banks, provided that the bank has opted for DICGC cover.

WHAT DICGC DOES NOT COVER?

• Deposits of state or Central governments
• Deposits from foreign governments
• State land development banks depositing with the state co-operative bank
• Inter-bank deposits
• Funds that are due on account of India and deposits received outside India
• Funds exempted by the corporation with the previous approval from RBI

THE CONTEXT: The Union Health Ministry has announced 27% reservation for the OBCs (Other Backward Classes) and 10% quota for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the all-India quota (AIQ) scheme for undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses from 2021-22.

Analysis:

• The new reservation provision will be implemented in this year’s admission
• All undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses, including dental, will have reservations for OBCs and economically weak sections from 2021-22 onwards.
• Nearly 1,500 OBC students in MBBS and 2,500 OBC students in post-graduation will be benefitted from this reservation every year, apart from 550 students from the economically weaker sections in MBBS and around 1,000 in the post-graduation, every year.

WHAT IS AIQ SCHEME?

• All India Quota scheme was introduced in 1986 under a Supreme Court direction.
• The aim was to enable students of another state to get reservation benefits in other states as well.
• Until 2008, there was no reservation in the All India Quota scheme. In 2007, the Supreme Court introduced reservations of 15% for SCs and 7.5% for STs in the all-India scheme.

WHAT DOES THIS OBC QUOTA IN AQI MEANS?

• Students belonging to OBC can now apply to any government medical or dental college to any other state under this quota.
• This was a long-pending issue as OBCs did not have any all-India quota for medical admission.
• State government medical colleges have 15% reservation in undergraduate seats and 50% in post-graduate seats for All India Quota.
• Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled (ST)s has reservation under the All India quota. So OBC students if migrated to another state could not reap avail of any reservation.

RESERVATION FOR EWS

• In 2019, a constitutional amendment was made to provide 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections.
• Accordingly, the seats in medical and dental colleges were increased so that unreserved categories do not get affected. But this category was not included in the All India quota scheme.

THE CONTEXT: Karnataka became the first state in India to reserve jobs in public employment in favour of transgender persons.

Analysis:

• The state government has amended the Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 1977 to provide for 1% horizontal reservation for transgenders.
• The amendment provided for 1% of vacancies to be filled in any service or post by the state government from among the transgender candidates in each category of general, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and in each of the categories among the Other Backward Classes.
• The state government’s amendment of its recruitment rules was a result of a legal challenge to its recruitment of police constables on the ground that it excluded a separate category for transgender persons on par with men and women.
• The notification by state government calling for filling up of various posts mentioned age, weight and other specifications pertaining to only men and women and disregarded transgender persons.

TRANSGENDER PERSONS (PROTECTION OF RIGHTS) ACT, 2019

• It defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth.
• It includes trans-men and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.
• It prohibits the discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to: (i) education; (ii) employment; (iii) healthcare; (iv) access to, or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public; (v) right to movement; (vi) right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy property; (vii) opportunity to hold public or private office; and (viii) access to a government or private establishment in whose care or custody a transgender person is.
• Every transgender person shall have a right to reside and be included in his household. If the immediate family is unable to care for the transgender person, the person may be placed in a rehabilitation centre, on the orders of a competent court.
• A transgender person may make an application to the District Magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as ‘transgender’.
• The Act states that the relevant government will take measures to ensure the full inclusion and participation of transgender persons in society.
• It must also take steps for their rescue and rehabilitation, vocational training and self-employment, create schemes that are transgender sensitive, and promote their participation in cultural activities.
• National Council for Transgender Persons will advise the central government as well as monitor the impact of policies, legislation and projects with respect to transgender persons. It will also redress the grievances of transgender persons.
• The draft of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, stated that a District Magistrate would issue a transgender identity certificate and card based on an affidavit by the applicant, but without any medical examination

1. In the interest of the public: Compulsory vaccination is legal and does not violate anyone’s fundamental rights READ MORE
2. Let’s take time out to be a friend to others READ MORE
3. The politics and ethics of surveillance READ MORE

1. Equal Opportunity Commission READ MORE
2. One nation, one police is a reform that is long overdue READ MORE
3. Lok Sabha strength to be increased to 1,000 from 543? Here’s how it can be done READ MORE

1. Does India’s population need controlling? READ MORE
2. India urgently needs a caste census – so why isn’t the Modi government allowing one? READ MORE

1. Tiger conservation: India’s strides and challenges READ MORE
2. India’s leopard count jumps 63% in just 4 years READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelims and Mains

1. Scheme for promoting education in rural areas READ MORE
2. Cabinet Approves Amendment to DICGC Act READ MORE
3. India set for record steel consumption as economy begins to revive READ MORE
4. SAFAL for CBSE students, Vidya Pravesh for preschoolers: Modi launches schemes on 1 year of NEP READ MORE
5. Digital payments up 30.2% in FY21: RBI data READ MORE
6. Jaipur’s Amagarh Fort: history, and factors leading to current conflict READ MORE
7. Parliament Passes Juvenile Justice Amendment Bill To Strengthen Child Protection; Empower District Magistrates To Authorise Adoption Orders READ MORE

Main exam 

GS PAPER- 1

HISTORY

1. Indus Waters Treaty is worth preserving READ MORE

SOCIETY

1. Does India’s population need controlling? READ MORE

GS PAPER- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Equal Opportunity Commission READ MORE
2. One nation, one police is a reform that is long overdue READ MORE
3. Lok Sabha strength to be increased to 1,000 from 543? Here’s how it can be done READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. India urgently needs a caste census – so why isn’t the Modi government allowing one? READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Shared values: On India and the U.S. READ MORE
2. India-US tie-up: use Quad to the best READ MORE
3. Behind the smiles: Afghanistan’s shadow on Indo-US relations READ MORE
4. India’s integrated check posts are boosting regional connectivity but challenges remain READ MORE

GS PAPER- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The importance of UN Model tax negotiations READ MORE
2. Disinvestment delay may affect revenue inflow READ MORE
3. Make-in-India must ‘make for the world’ READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Tiger conservation: India’s strides and challenges READ MORE
2. India’s leopard count jumps 63% in just 4 years READ MORE

SECURITY

1. What a military takeover by the Taliban could mean for Afghanistan READ MORE

GS PAPER- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. In the interest of the public: Compulsory vaccination is legal and does not violate anyone’s fundamental rights READ MORE
2. Let’s take time out to be a friend to others READ MORE
3. The politics and ethics of surveillance READ MORE

Questions for MAIN exam

1. Cyber-weapons are becoming the weapon of choice not only during a conflict but even during peace-time. In this context, analyse the nature and cope of threats from cyber-weapons.
2. Do you think that the government should come up with compulsory vaccination policy for COVID-19 while keeping the larger public interest in the view? Give justification.
3. ‘Peace and stability in multi-ethnic and diverse societies can only be ensured through coexistence, consensus and inclusion’. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Cyber is often touted as the fifth dimension of warfare — in addition to land, sea, air and space.
• With the advent of cyber weapons such as Pegasus, technology which is perceived as a friend could well become a matter of despair.
• All advances in technology tend to be a double-edged sword
• With their use not only during a conflict but even during peacetime, matters have reached a tipping point.
• State governments have the authority to mandate vaccines under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, which allows them to prescribe regulations to prevent the spread of an epidemic disease.
• Several state governments have passed Police Acts that are against Supreme Court verdict on police reforms. Centre too has failed to legislate a model Act.
• India can play a pivotal role in ensuring fair and equitable distribution of taxing rights in bilateral treaties.
• While increased protection has encouraged tigers to breed, it has also led to migration from the safety of reserves.
• India and the US need to have tacit understandings on digital commerce, technology, taxation, tariffs, and tradein order to beable to steer the global trade discourse.
• Peace and stability in multi-ethnic and diverse societies can only be ensured through coexistence, consensus and inclusion.

50-WORD TALK

• Controversy over name-calling in a ‘non-meeting’ of the IT parliamentary committee is unfortunate. These committees were envisaged to scrutinise government’s policies and legislative proposals in a non-partisan way. By political grandstanding in meetings, law-makers are failing in their duty to ensure executive accountability. They must strengthen, not undermine, parliamentary democracy.
• The Supreme Court has acted correctly by proposing a new system of electronically transmitting bail orders directly to prisons to ensure those jailed are released the same day. This should end the abhorrent police tactic of delaying the release of prisoners by booking the person under another, sometimes dubious, charge.
• The government decision to extend Covid containment measures until 31 August is wise. Although India’s cases have fallen from the second wave peak, they’ve plateaued obstinately for 37 days, causing serious concern. With slow vaccination and opening up, infection data should be watched closely to avoid a possible third wave.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do a map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers etc. same applies for the national places.)
• For economy related news (banking, agriculture etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related with various economic aspects, for examples if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing prices rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates etc.
• For main exam related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occurs frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment in your writing.

The Context: In the wake of Covid-19, climate changes and other important global issues such as globalization, cold war, trade war, the world is facing several issues and the UN is nearly just seeming an audience in most of them. Hence, the demand is whether world needs a global parliament for dealing global issues. This article discusses this issue in detail.

What is World Parliament?

The world should establish parliament to resolve the global issue and making the rules for International issues such as the pandemics, stockpiles of nuclear weapons, deadly biological weapons, natural disasters, climate change, loss of control over artificial intelligence, terrorism, serious imbalances in international trade, influence, intelligence, greed for power and a host of other threats.

It is obvious that these threats cannot be tackled by any one country alone and a united action at local, regional and international levels alone can rid the world of these dangers.

The Issues faced by Mankind in Recent Time

• Amid ever-increasing threats facing humanity, it’s high time to initiate steps at the governance level to make the world a safer place for mankind.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has provided impetus to the idea of a global democratic government and underlined the necessity of a world organisation to tackle the dangers facing mankind in a more effective manner.
• These include — pandemics, stockpiles of nuclear weapons, deadly biological weapons, natural disasters, climate change, loss of control over Artificial Intelligence, terrorism and so on.

Need for the World Parliament

Transcending the Nation-State	• There is no body that represents the interest of the world community at large. Even if a treaty is concluded and ratified, a state can withdraw again. • The international order recognizes no higher authority for decision or enforcement.
Social disparities between citizen	• World is witnessing the emergence of global social strata that are giving rise to vertical social tensions. The dividing line will no longer be between rich and poor countries, but between the super-rich and the rest everywhere.
Immigrations emerged as a major issue	• The promise of the “global village” is only valid for the rich. But for the poor peoples and minor communities of many countries facing harassment and seeking asylum in neighbor countries. As there is no world policy to resolve these issue so that they are facing many issues.
Addressing environmental threats	• Humanity now shares a common destiny. • The dangers posed by nuclear war, global pandemics, environmental devastation, biodiversity loss or climate change affect everybody. • Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere knows no borders.
Global ruling in proper way	• The supply of important public goods like food security or the stability of the financial and economic system depends on how well global structures are working. • Regulating research and development in fields such as artificial intelligence, genetics, biotechnology or autonomous weapons must be on the global agenda. • Based on the collaboration of 193 nominally sovereign states, global regulation will never work well.

Why does World need World Parliament despite having United Nations?

Presently a world body already exists known as United Nations Organization (UNO). Formed after world war II in 1945 to prevent and eliminate recurrence of wars and to maintain peace all over the world, it was also mandated in broader terms to look after some aspects of areas like economic, social and cultural development.

PAST RECORD OF UN	• The Organisation has been beneficial to mankind in many ways, but looking back at its record during last over seventy-five years of its existence, there is not much to feel proud about. • Soon after its formation in 1945, it had to face cold war between the western Block and the Soviet Block headed by former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics(USSR) which lasted till collapse of Soviet Block in 1991. • It could not prevent local and regional wars in Korean peninsula, Asia, Africa and even in Europe and Latin America. • It could not stop Chinese aggression against India in 1962 and Cuban missile crisis between the then Soviet Union and USA. • Mostly because of cold war politics and its attitude, it failed to take bold united action. • Its response to natural disasters and epidemics at national or international level also fell far short of its expectations.
THE ISSUE OF REPRESENTATION	• Apart from cold war politics, other main causes responsible for its failure to meet expectations have been lack of its full representative character and its failure to reform itself. • Also,it has not restructured itself to keep up with needs of changing world. • Under these circumstances its attitude towards enormous problems and threats and deviant forces facing mankind has been almost inflexible. • Despite repeated calls by many countries it has more or less continued with its inequitable representative character. • A glaring example of this has been that India with over 1.38 billion population which constitutes about eighteen per cent of total world population has no permanent representation on its most important decision making organ UN Security Council. • While more basic structural changes in the Organisation will take years and years if not decades, it has to reform itself urgently to make itself fully representative to tackle the pressing problems. • Urgency of such a step can also be gauged by the fact that last year in June out of 192 votes cast in UN General Assembly,184 countries voted in favour of India for two-year non-permanent membership of UNSC which started from January this year. • The world body has also to change its responses so that threats facing the mankind are attended to promptly.
BIASED NATURE	• In a world full of diversities and ideological differences, such an institution will have to be free from biases and prejudices and will have to transcend the diversities and differences to acquire a truly representative and independent profile. • But it is evident in recent past and in past seventy-five years that UN is facing biasness issue. It took actions against small country but against powerful countries it peaceful appeal had no impacts.
AN OLD CONCEPT	• One of the key challenges of modern cultural evolution is the time lag between rapid technological development and slow political adaptation. • The United Nations that represents the best governance model humanity could come up with for the management of global affairs is now frozen in time. • Its underlying principle of national sovereignty goes back to 1648, a hundred years before the industrial revolution even started. • Today we live in the 21st century, the world population is approaching eight billion and technological development continues to accelerate. • The need for global governance to catch up with the accelerating pace of change is more urgent than ever before.

How the Global Parliament should work for better outcomes?

• In a world full of diversities and ideological differences, such an institution will have to be free from biases and prejudices and will have to transcend the diversities and differences to acquire a truly representative and independent profile.
• The parliament of the world body could be elected directly by proportional representation based on population of each member nation or nation state.
• The challenges facing mankind as also the matters of economic and financial governance can be dealt with in a far better way by a Global Parliament.
• Such an institution will strengthen democracy, justice and equity throughout the world and help in curbing fundamentalist and the radical ideologies.
• Proper attention to all threats facing mankind could ensure safety and survival of intelligent life on earth. But for realising it, the member countries will have to shed a few shades of their sovereignty which could democratically authorise and enable such a World Government to prevent deadly nuclear and biological wars at the local, regional or at international levels.
• At present, there are already scores of organisations in Africa, America, Europe and elsewhere, and some of these are popularly elected.

Way forward

• The idea regarding the deep structural changes to turn the UN into a democratic World Government, will take more time to come somewhat into shape.
• Moreover, in a world full of diversities and ideological differences, such an institution will have to be free from biases and prejudices and will have to transcend the diversities and differences to acquire a truly representative and independent character.
• Recently, with advancements in human civilisation and thought, the necessity for such a global institution has been felt immensely at various stages.
• After deeper restructuring of the existing world body, contours for a democratic World Government can be established and Parliament of the world body could be elected directly by proportional representation based on population of each member nation.

Conclusion: The experience of democratic regimes teaches us that no parliament can govern a country alone. A government is necessary. So the World Parliament must be seen as a crucial milestone on the way toward forming a democratic government endowed with the necessary powers to enforce the laws approved by the World Parliament.

Questions to Ponder

1. What are the issues faced by world in contemporary times? Discuss the need for a global parliament to address these issues.
2. How far do you agree with the view that despite having a global body like United Nations, the world need a global parliament to govern the global issues?

THE CONTEXT: Adding yet another feather to its cap, the cleanest city of the country has also become the only city to be selected from India for International Clean Air Catalyst Programme.

Analysis:

• Clean Air Catalyst is a new flagship programme launched by The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and a global consortium of organisations, led by World Resources Institute (WRI) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to accelerate clean air solutions in low and middle-income countries.
• In collaboration with USAID and other international organisations like EDF and WRI, Indore will implement City Clean Air Catalyst programme.
• In the programme, with the cooperation of Indore Municipal Corporation and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the project will be operated for 5 years for clean and pure air in the city.
• WRI is a global nonprofit organization that works with leaders in government, business and civil society to improve people’s lives and ensure nature can thrive
• Environmental Defense Fund or EDF (formerly known as Environmental Defense) is a United States-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group. Environmental Defense Fund’s mission is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends.

THE CONTEXT: India has 501.83 million tonnes of gold ore reserves as of April 1, 2015, according to National Mineral Inventory data

Analysis:

• Out of these, 17.22 million tonnes were placed under reserves category and the rest under remaining resources category.
• The largest reserves of gold ores are located in Bihar (44 per cent), followed by Rajasthan (25 per cent), Karnataka (21 per cent), West Bengal (3 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (3 per cent), Jharkhand (2 per cent).
• The remaining 2 per cent reserves are in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
• Kolar Gold Field, Hutti Gold Field (Karnataka)and Ramgiri Gold Field are the most important gold fields in India.
• Karnataka is the largest producer followed by Andhra Pradesh.
• Ramagiri in Anantapur district is the most important gold field in AP.
• In Jharkhand, Sands of the Subarnarekha (gold streak) river have some alluvial gold
• In Kerala, the river terraces along the Punna Puzha and the Chabiyar Puzha have some alluvial gold.
• UP government’s Department of Geology and Mining claims of discovering about 3,000 tonnes of gold deposits in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district, has been rejected by centre recently saying the actual estimated reserve stands at 160 kg.

THE CONTEXT: To make the scheme more farmer friendly, Government has comprehensively revised and revamped the Operational Guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

Analysis:

ABOUT PMFBY

• It provides a comprehensive insurance cover against failure of the crop thus helping in stabilising the income of the farmers.
• There will be a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all Rabi crops.
• In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5%.
• The premium rates to be paid by farmers are very low and balance premium will be paid by the Government to provide full insured amount to the farmers against crop loss on account of natural calamities.
• There is no upper limit on Government subsidy. Even if balance premium is 90%, it will be borne by the Government.
• Earlier, there was a provision of capping the premium rate which resulted in low claims being paid to farmers.
• This capping was done to limit Government outgo on the premium subsidy. This capping has now been removed and farmers will get claim against full sum insured without any reduction.
• The use of technology will be encouraged to a great extent.
• Smart phones will be used to capture and upload data of crop cutting to reduce the delays in claim payment to farmers. Remote sensing will be used to reduce the number of crops cutting experiments.
• In order to ensure more efficient and effective implementation of the scheme, the central government had revamped PMFBY in the 2020 Kharif season.

• This overhauled PMFBY is often called PMFBY 2.0, it has the following features:
  • Completely voluntary Enrolment 100% voluntary for all farmers from 2020 Kharif.
  • Limit to Central Subsidy: The Cabinet has decided to cap the Centre’s premium subsidy under the scheme for premium rates up to 30% for unirrigated areas/crops and 25% for irrigated areas/crops.
  • More Flexibility to States:The government has given the flexibility to states/UTs to implement PMFBY and given them the option to select any number of additional risk covers/features.
  • Investing in ICE Activities: Insurance companies have to now spend 0.5% of the total premium collected on information, education and communication (IEC) activities.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is available for all States/UTs and farmers whether loanee, non-loanee, share cropper or tenant farmers on voluntary basis.
  • National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) has been developed for ensuring better administration, co-ordination, transparency, dissemination of information and delivery of services including direct online enrollment of farmers, etc.
  • Penalty provisions @12% per annum for late settlement of claims by insurance companies and late release of funds by State Governments have also been stipulated under the scheme.

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