Today’s Important Articles for Sociology (14-10-2021)

Modern women and their troubles READ MORE
Healthcare infrastructure needs a check-up: Data passing through the hospital systems and databases must be digitised and harmonised to truly transform the healthcare infrastructure READ MORE

Ethics Through Current Development (14-10-2021)

Enjoy God’s play and remember him with love READ MORE
Nothing is mine READ MORE

Today’s Important Articles for Geography (14-10-2021)

Explained: Why Bengaluru is receiving more rains this October READ MORE
How smartphones are killing the planet READ MORE
Agenda for CoP26 READ MORE

Today’s Important Articles for Pub Ad (14-10-2021)

CJI Ramana Wants ‘Indianisation’ of the Justice System. What Does That Entail? READ MORE
NHRC’s remit: Human rights body has an incredibly important job. Praising govt is not part of that READ MORE
Bombay High Court POSH guidelines risk silencing victims of sexual harassment READ MORE

WSDP Bulletin (14-10-2021)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

PM launches Gati Shakti- National Master Plan for infrastructure development READ MORE
Fish species found only in the Pacific, discovered in the Bay of Bengal READ MORE
Govt scraps basic custom duty cuts agriculture cess on crude palm, sunflower oil READ MORE
Explained: Why govt proposes to redefine forests, and the concerns this raises READ MORE
Centre enhances powers of BSF; Punjab slams move READ MORE
India’s trade with China set to cross $100 billion in 2021 READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

Explained: Why Bengaluru is receiving more rains this October READ MORE
Modern women and their troubles READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

CJI Ramana Wants ‘Indianisation’ of the Justice System. What Does That Entail? READ MORE
NHRC’s remit: Human rights body has an incredibly important job. Praising govt is not part of that READ MORE
Bombay High Court POSH guidelines risk silencing victims of sexual harassment READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

Healthcare infrastructure needs a check-up: Data passing through the hospital systems and databases must be digitised and harmonised to truly transform the healthcare infrastructure READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

The goings-on in Myanmar: Quad, ASEAN focus on the strife-torn nation at Washington Summit READ MORE
How the US got it all wrong in Afghanistan READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Sowing better to eat better: Agri-food systems need a transformative change for better production, nutrition, environment and life READ MORE
Coal crisis triggers the need for alternatives READ MORE
New public-private partnership: Collaboration in space research will increase opportunities READ MORE
To Maximise Value of Troubled Firms, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Needs More Reforms READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

How smartphones are killing the planet READ MORE
Agenda for CoP26 READ MORE

SECURITY

The global war on terror grinds along: Notwithstanding some temporary setbacks, the broad contours of terrorism remain much the same READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

Enjoy God’s play and remember him with love READ MORE
Nothing is mine READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

‘The current crisis is an opportunity for the country to cut coal dependence and push renewable energy for the long term’. Comment.
‘While the IBC has successfully chartered a new era in the history of bankruptcy resolution in India, it needs several reforms to strengthen its supporting role in capital formation and economic growth of the country’. Analyse the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself.
Notwithstanding some temporary setbacks, the broad contours of terrorism remain much the same.
Agri-food systems need a transformative change for better production, nutrition, environment and life.
Food systems can help combat environmental degradation or climate change. Sustainable agri-food systems can deliver food security and nutrition for all, without compromising the economic, social and environmental bases.
Digital sabotage has already entered the armoury of certain terrorist groups.
While keeping identities confidential from the media until the verdict has been arrived at may be reasonable, not allowing these judgments to be published without court approval, and restricting access to such information goes against the need for transparency and accountability in the judicial process.
India should continue to work closely with the special envoy and the Myanmar government to devise measures for arriving at a regional consensus on dealing with the situation in Myanmar.
Nothing can progress without innovation and everything of today exists because of yesterday’s innovation and invention. We need to innovate to accommodate evolving situations and needs and prepare a wonderful place to live in, not only for us but for our future generations as well.
Data passing through the hospital systems and databases must be digitised and harmonised to truly transform the healthcare infrastructure.
While the IBC has successfully chartered a new era in the history of bankruptcy resolution in India, it needs several reforms to strengthen its supporting role in capital formation and economic growth of the country.
If ‘Indianisation’ is to mean the democratisation of the justice system, then the prevailing social and political logic must be democratic too.
The energy used to build a single smartphone is equal to the energy required to operate it for about a decade.

50- WORD TALK

India’s coal-power crisis reflects poorly on the planning, policy-making abilities of both the central and state governments. India’s recovering economy needs to fire on all cylinders, not grapple with energy shortages. Short-term fixes are necessary but this is another reminder that power sector reforms have a long way to go.
PM Modi’s framework of human rights is problematic. Sequencing basic needs first and linking rights with duties amount to their obfuscation and derogation. Invoking India’s image in the context of violations is gratuitous. PM’s message to embrace others’ rights as our duty is well-said. But it’s the government’s duty, too.

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 map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price 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 occur 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 to your writing.

THE RULE OF LAW VS THE RULE BY LAW

“The “Rule of Law” is what we fought for; the “Rule by Law” is an instrument of colonial rule. In the face of a pandemic, it’s important to reflect on how the tension between the two defines the quality of justice.”

———- Chief Justice N.V. Ramana

THE CONTEXT: On June 30th, 2021, Chief Justice N.V. Ramana delivered the 17th Justice P.D. Desai Memorial Lecture on the “Rule of Law”. According to CJI, regular participation in polls was not a guarantee against the tyranny of the elected. In his speech, he underscored the pressure of social media on institutions. Identifying Covid-19 as “an unprecedented crisis”, CJI urged the governments to evaluate how they used the rule of law or failed to ensure protection to, and, the welfare of all of our people. This article provides insights into the lecture on the Rule of Law vs. the Rule by Law.

IMPORTANT EXCERPTS OF THE LECTURE

JOURNEY FROM RULE BY LAW TO RULE OF LAW	Our struggle for independence marked our journey towards the establishment of a state defined by the “Rule of Law”. There was a need to give a guarantee for the laws to be framed with a human face for the benefit of the masses. A framework was needed to ensure this. The framework that forms the binding link between law and justice in this country is what “We the people” gave to ourselves in the form of the Constitution.
CONSTITUTION AND RULE OF LAW	The framers envisaged the Constitution which not only took care of the prevailing conditions but would also continue and be relevant for all times to come. Therefore Constitution is conceived as a living document whose contents evolve over the years, as the Courts deal with new situations and question and interpret the Constitution in the light of the same. The Constitution embodies within itself the concept of Rule of Law and the same can be witnessed from our Preamble, the Fundamental Rights, the Directive Principles of State Policy, the Separation of Powers, etc. By situating the concept of Rule of Law at the confluence of three important values – human dignity, democracy, and justice, our founding fathers showed the path for the rest of the world too.
ADVICE TO JUDICIARY	v For the judiciary to apply checks on governmental power and action, it has to have complete freedom. The judiciary cannot be controlled, directly or indirectly, by the legislature or the executive, or else the Rule of Law would become illusory. v Judges should not be swayed by the emotional pitch of public opinion, which is getting amplified through social media platforms. Judges have to be mindful of the fact that the noise thus amplified is not necessarily reflective of what is right and what the majority believes in. v Social media is incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong, good and bad, and the real and fake. Therefore, media trials cannot be a guiding factor in deciding cases. It is therefore extremely vital to function independently and withstand all external aids and pressures. v The ultimate responsibility of a judge is to uphold the Constitution and the laws. *Reason, reasonableness, and protection of human dignity* are the values that will serve us well.
THE ROLE OF LAWYERS	The “Rule of Law” demands expertise, experience, and commitment. Lawyers should perform their duties with integrity and diligence. We need social virtue rather than economically self-interested behaviour. Historically, lawyers have a rich tradition of social activism demonstrated by the number of lawyers who participated in the Indian freedom struggle. We need now to rebuild and recreate a tradition of civic professionalism. We need a professional ideology about social responsibility. Both young and senior counsels should extend a helping hand to those in need of justice. Extending ease of access to justice is no less a social justice.
THE ROLE OF SOCIETY	To advance the “Rule of Law” we primarily need to create a society where “Rule of Law” is respected and cherished. Only when the citizens believe that they have fair and equal access to justice, can we have sustainable, just, inclusive, and peaceful societies. Citizens can strengthen the “Rule of Law” by being knowledgeable about it and by applying it to their daily conduct and pushing for justice when needed.

4 CORE PRINCIPLES OF RULE OF LAW

PRINCIPLE	DETAILS	ANALYSIS/PRESENT STATUS
*‘LAWS MUST BE CLEAR AND ACCESSIBLE’*	When laws are expected to be obeyed, the people at least ought to know what the laws are. Law should be worded in simple, unambiguous language.	In India, we are constantly striving to make legislations and judgments accessible to the general public by translating them into various Indian languages.
*“EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW”*	An important aspect of “equality before the law” is having equal “access to justice”. Access to justice forms the bedrock of the “Rule of Law”.	This guarantee of equal justice will be rendered meaningless if the vulnerable sections are unable to enjoy their rights because of their poverty or illiteracy or any other kind of weakness. There is a need for legal empowerment of women. It not only enables them to advocate for their rights and needs in society but also increases their visibility in the legal reform process.
*“RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION AND REFINEMENT OF LAWS”*	The very essence of a democracy is that its citizenry has a role to play, whether directly or indirectly, in the laws that govern them.	In the seventeen national general elections held so far, the people have changed the ruling party or combination of parties eight times, which accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the number of general elections. Despite large-scale inequalities, illiteracy, backwardness, poverty, and alleged ignorance, the people of independent India have proved themselves to be intelligent and up to the task. The masses have performed their duties reasonably well.
*“STRONG INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY”*	The judiciary is the primary organ that is tasked with ensuring that the laws which are enacted are in line with the Constitution. Judicial review is one of the main functions of the judiciary.	The Supreme Court has held this function to be a part of the basic structure of the Constitution, which means that the Parliament cannot curtail the same. But the responsibility of safeguarding constitutionalism lies not just on the Courts. All the three organs of the State, i.e., the executive, legislature, and the judiciary, are equal repositories of Constitutional trust. The role of the judiciary and scope of judicial action is limited, as it only pertains to facts placed before it. This limitation calls for other organs to assume responsibilities of upholding Constitutional values and ensuring justice in the first place, with the judiciary acting as an important check.

THE RULE OF LAW BY DICEY

A detailed analysis of the concept of Rule of Law was done by Professor A.V. Dicey who in his book “Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution” published in the year 1885 tried developing the concept of Rule of Law.
Dicey’s theory of Rule of Law consists of three basic principles:

The supremacy of law
Equality before law
The predominance of Legal Spirit

THE EVOLUTION OF THE RULE OF LAW

The origins of the Rule of Law theory can be traced back to the Ancient Romans during the formation of the first republic.
Plato has written that if rule of law is under the supervision of any law then it doesn’t have any value and the concept of state will get collapsed. Aristotle has written that law should be the final sovereign of the state.
It has since been championed by several thinkers in Europe such as Hobbs, Locke, and Rousseau through the social contract theory.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RULE OF LAW AND RULE BY LAW

	RULE OF LAW	RULE BY LAW
DEFINITION	The term “rule of law” comes from the French phrase “la Principe de legality,” which translates to “government based on legal principles.” It is based on the Latin phrase “Lex is Rex,” which translates to “Law is King.”	It is based on the Latin term ‘Rex is Lex’ which means ‘King is Law’.
ORIGIN	The Rule of Law was first originated by Sir Edward Coke, the Chief Justice in England at the time of King James I. Coke was the first person to criticize the maxims of Divine Concept. He strongly believed that the King should also be under the Rule of Law. According to him, “Rule of Law” means the absence of arbitrary power on the part of the Government.	In his battle against the Church and common law judges, King James I of England triumphed, twisting the phrase ‘Lex is Rex’ to ‘Rex is Lex.’
THE CONCEPT	The state should act as per the “Rule of Law” which is the foundation of any constitution.	The state acts as per what it this as lawful rather than what the “Rule of Law” says like invoking section 144 without its necessity.

RULE OF LAW AND INDIAN CONSTITUTION

In India, the concept of Rule of Law can be traced back to Upanishads. Its traces can also be found in the epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana, Ten Commandments, Dharma Chakra, and other seminal documents.
The Preamble to the Indian Constitution mentions Justice, Liberty, and Equality.
Articles 13, 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution promote equality although there are exceptions as we

JUDICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS ON RULE OF LAW

The International Congress of Jurists declared that the rule of law “is a dynamic concept which must be employed to safeguard and advance the civil and political rights of an individual in a free society.”

The judicial decisions have played an indispensable role to counter any arbitrariness on part of the state.
In K. Kraipak V. Union of India the Apex Court held that ours being a welfare State, it is regulated and controlled by the Rule of Law.
In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, the court ensured that the exercise of power in an arbitrary manner by the government would not infringe the rights of the people.
The Apex Court in Indira Nehru Gandhi Vs. Raj Narain (1975) held that the Rule of Law embodied in Article 14 of the Constitution is the “basic feature” of the Indian Constitution and hence it cannot be destroyed even by an amendment of the Constitution under Article 368 of the Constitution.
In L Chandra Kumar v Union of India, the court declared the independence of the judiciary to be a part of the basic structure and further the court struck down the amendment to article 323A of the constitution.
The Habeas Corpus Case (1976) held that article 21 is the sole repository of Rule of law in India.

Some Exceptions:

Articles 15 and 16, Article 105 and Article 194.
Criminal immunity to President and Governor as mentioned in Article 361.
Diplomatic Immunity as per the Vienna Convention.

ANALYSIS: PRESENT STATUS OF RULE OF LAW IN INDIA

In India, the Rule of Law is not followed in stricto sensu (“In the strict sense.”). There are several instances:

Several guidelines have been laid down by the court to curb the practice of honour killing but still, there have been numerous instances of honour killing reported. The decision on honour killing is taken by an extra-constitutional body by the nomenclature of Khap Panchayat which engages in feudalistic activities has no compunction to commit such crimes which are offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860. No heed is paid to the basic human right of “Right to life and liberty”.
The Sabarimala case verdict throws light upon the discretion of men in abiding by the directions given by the Supreme Court only to the point if they are analogous to the belief they hold. After the verdict massive protests were carried out, there were also occurrences of violence against women who tried to enter the temple. The women were denied their constitutional right to worship and the principles of equality were violated even after the practise was declared unconstitutional by the Apex Court.
Another evil practise pertinent in society is that of mob lynching. Supreme Court described it as horrendous acts of mobocracy and stated that “the law is the mightiest sovereign in a civilized society”.

In fact, the present debate has started due to an increase in the incidences of RULE BY LAW like

Internet shutdown in J&K for over one year
The arbitrary application of laws against media and journalists
The arbitrary application of UAPA, sedition law and NSA against protesters, dissenters, activists, etc.
Gagging criticisms on the mishandling of covid second wave

Such developments give a feeling of an authoritarian state and not of a democratic state. The CJI in his lecture has also highlighted how the people have largely plaid their role through 17 general elections and have rejected the governments if they have failed to withstand the rule of law. No government is permanent. Hence, it is the duty cast upon the three organs to play their role in upholding the rule of law.

THE CONCLUSION: The work of ensuring complete justice can never be said to be completed. The mandate of our Constitution is to work tirelessly to surpass our expectations, to make India a country wherein rights are cherished, and which sets an example for other countries to follow.

“Desamamte Matti Kadoi, Desamamte ManushulOi”(“A nation is not merely a territory. A nation is essentially its people. Only when its people progress, the Nation progresses”)

———– Maha Kavi Gurajada Appa Rao,

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS (OCTOBER 14, 2021)

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. TRIFED IS WORKING TO GET GI TAG FOR TRIBAL PRODUCTS

THE CONTEXT: The GI initiative taken up by TRIFED aims at protecting and reviving the traditional mastery that the Indian tribal folks possess, in producing some of the most exotic products.

THE EXPLANATION:

TRIFED, through marketing GI, tagged products of tribal origin or source, is working extensively towards realizing the importance of protecting and promoting agricultural, natural or manufactured goods with specific geographical characteristics thereby contributing in the preservation ofinvaluable treasures of Incredible India.
The ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ corner in the High Commissions is being set up as part of a global initiative, in collaboration with TRIFED, to promote products that tribal groups across India have been creating for centuries.
TRIFED’s GI intervention and setting up of Atmanirbhar corner in Indian Missions abroad aims at:
To safeguard the interests of the original producers as well as that of the product and ensure that the producer avails optimum cost for their premium goods even in the highly competitive market scenario.
To ensure recognition of indigenous products both in India and the global market.
To revive diminishing art and craft from a Tribal specific geographical location.
At present, TRIFED markets 56 GI tagged products, owing to their tribal origin/involvement, from among the 300+ registered Indian GIs through its well-established network of 141 Tribes India retail outlets and various E-Commerce platforms.
It has facilitated authorized user-ship for 94 artisans to date and is persevering to increase the authorized user base to 500 in the near future.
In addition to marketing 56 GI products, TRIFED is also working to get GI tag for the 177 potential products that have been identified from the states under operational areas of our Regional Offices across the country namely North-East(88), Uttarakhand(14), Jharkhand(11), Madhya Pradesh(11), Maharashtra(10) Odisha(6), West Bengal(9), Gujarat(7), Chhattisgarh(7), Andhra Pradesh(4), Rajasthan(4), South(3) and North(3).
Also, GI registration of 21 potential products from the states of Gujarat, Assam, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand has already been initiated under the mentorship of Padma Shree Dr. RajnikantDwivedi. This will increase the number of GI products marketed by TRIFED to 77 GI products which it sources from empanelled Tribal suppliers.

SOURCE: PIB

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

2. GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO REDEFINE FORESTS

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) published proposed amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, easing diversion of forests and exempting certain categories of development from the need to take clearance from the Ministry.

WHAT ARE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS?

The Ministry has proposed that all land acquired by the Railways and Roads Ministries prior to 1980 be exempted from the Act. It says these lands had been acquired for expansion, but subsequently, forests have grown in these areas, and the government is no longer able to use the land for expansion. If the amendment is brought in, these Ministries will no longer need clearance for their projects, nor pay compensatory levies to build there.
For individuals whose lands fall within a state-specific Private Forests Act or come within the dictionary meaning of forest as specified in the 1996 Supreme Court order, the government proposes to allow “construction of structures for bona fide purposes’’ including residential units up to 250 sq m as a one-time relaxation.
Defence projects near international borders will be exempted from forest clearance.
Oil and natural gas extraction from forested lands will be permitted, but only if technologies such as Extended Reach Drilling are used.
The Ministry has proposed doing away with levies for non-forestry purposes during the renewal of a lease, saying the double levy at the time of awarding of the lease and the renewal is “not rational”.
Strip plantations alongside roads that would fall under the Act will be exempted.

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS?

Activists and opposition leaders say the relaxation of forest rules will facilitate corporate ownership and the disappearance of large tracts of forests.
About the exemption of forests on private land, even former forest officials said many forests will disappear. For instance, 4% of land in Uttarakhand falls under private forests.
the amendments do not address the issue of tribals and forest-dwelling communities
Environmentalists say exemption for Roads and Railways on forest land acquired prior to 1980 will be detrimental to forests as well as wildlife – especially elephants, tigers and leopards.
Environmentalists say a one-time exemption for private residences on the private forests will lead to fragmentation of forests and open areas such as the Aravalli Mountains to real estate.

DO ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS NOTE ANY POSITIVES?

They have welcomed the fact that the consultation paper has been public, and the decision to make changes through an amendment using the parliamentary process. Environmental groups have also acknowledged that:
The MoEFCC has pointed out where the pressure for forest land diversion has been coming from — Ministries such as Rail and Roads — and allowed a public debate on it.
It has proposed making forest laws more stringent for notified forests, making offences non-bailable with increased penalties including imprisonment of up to one year.
It has disallowed any kind of diversion in certain forests.
It has attempt to define and identify forests once and for all — something that has been often ambiguous.

SOURCE: IE

INDIAN ECONOMY

3. GATI SHAKTI

THE CONTEXT:Prime Minister launched the Gati Shakti – National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity. Gati Shakti — a digital platform — will bring 16 Ministries including Railways and Roadways together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.

THE EXPLANATION:

It will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc. Economic Zones like textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters, Agri zones will be covered to improve connectivity & make Indian businesses more competitive.
It will also leverage technology extensively including spatial planning tools with ISRO imagery developed by BiSAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics).
The multi-modal connectivity will provide integrated and seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services from one mode of transport to another. It will facilitate the last mile connectivity of infrastructure and also reduce travel time for people.

SOURCE: PIB

4. INDIA’S TRADE WITH CHINA SET TO CROSS $100 BILLION IN 2021

THE CONTEXT: India’s trade with China is set to cross the $100 billion mark for the first time in 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

Figures released by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed that two-way trade after nine months reached $90.37 billion, up 49.3% year-on-year. India’s imports from China reached $68.4 billion, up 51.7% year-on-year, while India’s exports amounted to $21. 9 billion, up 42.5%.
Two-way trade was substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels, with bilateral trade up 29.7% compared to the same period in 2019, with India’s imports up 21.5% and exports to China up 64.5%.
India’s biggest exports to China annually are iron ore, cotton, and other raw material-based commodities. India imports mechanical and electrical machinery in large quantities from China, while imports of medical supplies have soared in the past two years.
Chinese trade officials attributed China’s overall trade performance after three quarters to the country’s economic recovery as well stronger global demand.
Figures with India were among the fastest-growing for China’s major trading partners. China’s total trade was up 22.7% year-on-year, while bilateral figures with the three biggest trading partners, ASEAN, the EU and the U.S., were up 21.1%, 20.5%, and 24.9% respectively.
The GAC said Chinese exports of mechanical and electrical products, as well as medicine and medicinal materials, grew particularly robustly. Medicine and medicinal material exports were up 108%.

SOURCE: TH

5. GOVERNMENT SCRAPS BASIC CUSTOM DUTY AND CUTS AGRICULTURE CESS

THE CONTEXT: The government scrapped basic customs duty as well as slashed Agri cess on crude varieties of palm, soya bean and sunflower oil till March 2022, a move that will help cool prices and increase domestic availability in the festive season.

THE EXPLANATION:

Crude palm oil will now attract Agri infrastructure development cess (AIDC) of 7.5 per cent, while the rate will be 5 per cent for crude soyabean oil and crude sunflower oil.
Post reduction, the effective customs duty on crude varieties of palm, soya bean and sunflower oil will be 8.25 per cent, 5.5 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively.
Besides, the basic customs duty on refined varieties of sunflower, soybean, palmolein and palm oil has been slashed to 17.5 per cent each from 32.5 per cent at present.

SOURCE: THEPRINT

6. INVESTMENT ACTIVITY REBOUNDED

THE CONTEXT: As per Projects Today’s latest survey on fresh investments, investment activity rebounded sharply between July and September after a dip in the COVID-hit first quarter of the year, lifting fresh investment commitments in the first half of 2021-22 by 13.5% over pre-pandemic levels.

THE EXPLANATION:

Investments had declined sequentially by 18% between April and June as the second COVID wave triggered lockdown across States, but the lifting of restrictions as the wave ebbed has enabled the resumption of Capex activities across the country.
While investment plans recovered, two critical indicators of actual capital spending — project tendering and project contracts — registered impressive growth in Q2, rising by 52.7% and 19.33%, respectively, over the previous quarter.
Manufacturing leads the charge, but irrigation and infra are still a concern

SOURCE: TH

7. RBI BANNED CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT FIRM

THE CONTEXT: In an unprecedented move, the Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday banned one of the country’s top chartered accountant firms Haribhakti& Co LLP from undertaking any type of audit assignments for regulated entities for a period of two years starting April 1, 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

Haribhakti& Co LLP was the auditor of Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited (SIFL), whose board was superseded by the RBI and insolvency proceedings were initiated last week.
The banking sector regulator has taken this action against the firm for failure to comply with a specific direction issued by the RBI with respect to its statutory audit of a Systemically Important Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).
This is the first time that the RBI has taken such action against an auditor of any systemically important NBFC.

SOURCE: THEPRINT

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

8. INDIA, IRAN DISCUSS WAYS TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING FROM AFGHANISTAN

THE CONTEXT: Indian and Iranian officials held a virtual meeting following the largest seizure of heroin (3000kg) at the Mundra port in Gujarat on September 15.

THE EXPLANATION:

Initial reports had indicated that the containers carrying the substance originated from the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
The drug haul also impacted Iran’s trade as the Adani Group declared that containers from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan will not be handled at the port from November 15.
Both discussed and examined ways and means of mutual cooperation in fighting drug trafficking which accordingly resulted in some positive outcomes.
It is for many decades that narcotic drugs production and organised drug trafficking from Afghanistan has posed a major threat to Iran, our region and to the world.

SOURCE: TH

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q1. Recently launched the Gati Shakti is National Master plan for?

a) Multi-Modal connectivity

b) Defence Equipments

c) Vaccine for children

d) Tribal Development

ANSWER FOR OCTOBER 13, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Answer: c)

Explanation:

Statement1 is correct: Kunming biodiversity fund was announced by China during the UN conservation summit.
Statement 2 is incorrect: It is an independent fund and not part of the United Nations’ Global Environment Facility.
Statement 3 is correct: It will be used to protect biodiversity in developing countries.

Day-62 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | INDIAN ECONOMY

[WpProQuiz 68]