1. Love’s wisdom READ MORE
2. A woman philosopher on a pedestal READ MORE
3. Vedas and Management READ MORE

1. Extreme wildfires are turning the world’s largest forest ecosystem from carbon sink into net-emitter READ MORE
2. Missing in Budget 2023: Proactive Steps to Tackle the Rising Air Pollution READ MORE
3. A new tech can reduce India’s pollution levels as well as fuel imports. What is standing in its way? READ MORE

1. Unscrupulous Inequality READ MORE
2. Has Budget 2023-24 been successful in balancing gender priorities? READ MORE

1. Power against knowledge: On Centre for Policy Research FCRA licence suspension READ MORE
2. SC order on ECI will bolster democracy READ MORE
3. Proactive civil society vital for healthy democracy READ MORE
4. If fraternity is a constitutional virtue, politics of the day is divorced from Constitution READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Guidelines for UIDF likely to be released by March-end READ MORE  
2. India is ‘dangerously close’ to Hindu rate of growth, says Raghuram Rajan READ MORE
3. Nations reach accord to protect marine life on high seas READ MORE
4. Explained | Why are index makers attracting attention from SEBI? READ MORE
5. With overfishing, great seahorses bolt from the Coromandel READ MORE
6. Reflections From a Project Tackling Learning Challenges in Assam’s Bodoland Region READ MORE
7. What is the SWAMIH investment fund and its affordable housing push READ MORE
8. Thane Municipal Corp warns against feeding pigeons: How living near the birds can lead to diseases in humans READ MORE
9. Muggers of Rapti: Anthropogenic threats pose risk to saurians in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park, says study READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Unscrupulous Inequality READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Power against knowledge: On Centre for Policy Research FCRA licence suspension READ MORE
2. SC order on ECI will bolster democracy READ MORE
3. Proactive civil society vital for healthy democracy READ MORE
4. If fraternity is a constitutional virtue, politics of the day is divorced from Constitution READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Has Budget 2023-24 been successful in balancing gender priorities? READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India’s moment under the diplomatic sun must be used READ MORE
2. What India, as president of G-20 and architect of credo of non-violence, can do on Ukraine READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. What India’s labour force and national income data tell us about jobs shifting from agriculture READ MORE
2. Is India reverting to the Hindu rate of growth? READ MORE
3. How to double India’s farmers’ income READ MORE
4. Resurrecting three farm laws READ MORE
5. How to Sustainably Boost Millet Crops Without Hurting Peasants READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Generative AI and Large Language Models: The AI Gold Rush READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Extreme wildfires are turning the world’s largest forest ecosystem from carbon sink into net-emitter READ MORE
2. Missing in Budget 2023: Proactive Steps to Tackle the Rising Air Pollution READ MORE
3. A new tech can reduce India’s pollution levels as well as fuel imports. What is standing in its way? READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Cyberattacks are rising, but there is an ideal patch READ MORE
2. Dealing with the cyber threats READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Lessons from Turkey: How to make India earthquake prepared READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Love’s wisdom READ MORE
2. A woman philosopher on a pedestal READ MORE
3. Vedas and Management READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. How far do you agree with the view that the Supreme Court Judgement to establish a panel for the appointment of CEC is neither activism nor judicial overreach but a progressive step to secure the institutional autonomy? Analyse your view.
2. ‘Mere allocation of large funds could not ensure the nation’s development or public welfare’. In light of this statement, do you agree with the view that there should be a third-party review, as recommended by the 15th finance commission, of the proper implementation of all Central Schemes?
3. ‘Perfect’ Bureaucracy, a term coined by Prime Minister Modi, is not possible in India because of the politically influenced environment, but we can develop an able and sensitive administration to ensure that the benefits of Government schemes reach the poorest and well in time by effective implementation of Mission Karamyogi. Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• War does not determine who is right — only who is left.
• The post of the Governor, a relic of the colonial era, often becomes a fifth wheel and a clog to democratic governance, when provincial autonomy is diluted, or an elected government is derailed.
• Federalism is an integral part of the basic structure of our Constitution, and it is intertwined inextricably with the unity and integrity of the nation.
• Despite recommendations of the Sarkaria and Venkatachaliah Commissions, active party politicians have been appointed as Governors. There are instances of young party loyalists being appointed as Governors who were later sworn in as Ministers in the States.
• A look at the estimated receipt and expenditure position of Budget 2023-24 would make it clear that the Government is consciously ignoring the fiscal consolidation measures enunciated in the last year’s budget.
• The judicial system ought not to enjoy unfettered freedom in the name of the independence of the judiciary.
• There is a need for a reformed mechanism for the appointment of judges to the constitutional courts where the judiciary and executive could amicably come to the conclusion.
• The rule of law requires that law be applied consistently & impartially.
• Smart technologies and solutions thus have the potential to alter the entire value chain of businesses across industries.
• Digitalisation is inevitable, but it must be adopted only after proper ‘digital literacy’; end users must be made aware of its drawbacks.
• A country that is fast emerging as a global leader cannot afford to let an unhealthy preoccupation with the past cast a shadow on its promising future.
• Technical and operational gaps leading to inclusion or exclusion errors must be plugged to ensure the money reaches the intended beneficiaries.
• Reducing the inevitable negative impact of conflicts between major powers on the forum will be a diplomatic achievement for Delhi in G20.

ESSAY TOPIC

• The secret of all victory lies in the organisation of the non-obvious.

50-WORD TALK

• G20 looks after an unequal monetary system that serves the interests of the global capital and political elite. It represents powerful interests, but disdains standing up for the powerless. Civil societies flourish in nations that cherish constitutional democracy. Even democratic govts have a tendency to augment power at the expense of people’s rights. This propensity has to be controlled by civil society.

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 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.

[WpProQuiz 437]

THE CONTEXT: The 83rd Conference of All India Presiding Officers was held in Rajasthan after eleven years. The All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC) is the apex body of the Legislatures in India that completed its hundred years in 2021. The Vice President & Rajya Sabha Chairman addressed the inaugural session of the 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference in Jaipur on 11th January 2023.

OUTCOMES OF THE CONFERENCE

The 83rd session has focused on the following themes of contemporary relevance in its day-long discussions-

• The leadership of India in G-20 as the mother of democracy
• The need to make Parliament and Legislature more Effective, Accountable and Productive
• Integration of State Legislatures with Digital Parliament
• The need to maintain a harmonious relationship between the Legislature and the Judiciary in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.

THE ANALYSIS OF THE ABOVE THEMES

1. LEADERSHIP OF INDIA IN G-20 AS THE MOTHER OF DEMOCRACY

EMPHASIS IN THE CONFERENCE REGARDING LEADERSHIP OF INDIA IN G-20

• Vice President, In his speech, acknowledged the significance India’s Presidency of G20 holds for the country and also the world. He said, “India is privileged to be heading G20 at a critical time and the session will focus on the Leadership of India in G20 as the mother of democracy.”
• Our age-old ethos, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, inspires India. India has given New Mantra for sustainable development and inclusive prosperity of the world: One Earth, One Family, One Future.
• For India, the G20 Presidency also marks the beginning of “Amritkaal”, the 25-year period beginning from the 75th anniversary of its independence on 15 August 2022, leading up to the centenary of its independence, towards a futuristic, prosperous, inclusive and developed society, distinguished by a human-centric approach at its core.

INDIA’S G20 PRIORITIES

1. Green Development, Climate Finance &LiFE: India offers the world LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) -a behaviour-based movement that draws from our nation’s rich, ancient sustainable traditions to nudge consumers, and in-turn markets, to adopt environmentally-conscious practices.
2. Accelerated, Inclusive & Resilient Growth :  India aims to focus on areas that have the potential to bring structural transformation. This includes an ambition to accelerate integration of MSMEs in global trade, bring in the spirit of trade for growth, promote labour rights and secure labour welfare, address global skills gap, and build inclusive agricultural value chains and food systems etc.
3. Accelerating progress on SDGs: India acknowledges the detrimental impact of COVID-19, which changed the current decade of action into a decade of recovery. In line with this perspective, India wants to focus on recommitting G20’s efforts to achieving the targets laid out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
4. Technological Transformation & Digital Public Infrastructure: As G20 Presidency, India can foreground its belief in a human-centric approach to technology, and facilitate greater knowledge-sharing in priority areas like digital public infrastructure, financial inclusion, and tech-enabled development in sectors ranging from agriculture to education
5. Multilateral Institutions for the 21st century: India’s G20 priority will be to continue pressing for reformed multilateralism that creates more accountable,inclusive just, equitable and representative multipolar international system that is fit for addressing the challenges in the 21st century.
6. Women-led development: India hopes to use the G20 forum to highlight inclusive growth and development, with women empowerment and representation being at the core of India’s G20 deliberations. This includes a focus on bringing women to the fore and in leading positions to boost socio-economic development and achievement of SDGs.

2. THE NEED TO MAKE PARLIAMENT AND LEGISLATURE MORE EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE AND PRODUCTIVE

RESOLUTION PASSED

• Resolutions were passed for the effectiveness of the Parliament:
• A resolution called for the introduction of a code of conduct for MLAs and MPs to check indecorous and unparalleled conduct.
• A code of conduct for members to be introduced in the rules for an effective check against indecorous and unparalleled conduct.
• In a separate resolution, the presiding officers underlined the need for consensus among political parties for not disrupting the House during Question Hour.
• It was also resolved that the rules of procedure and the conduct of the business of legislative bodies should be comprehensively reviewed.
• In another resolution, it was proposed that model uniform rules should be formulated by incorporating the best practices to ensure the productive functioning of the Houses of the legislature.

CONCERN

• Lack of optimisation of the contribution of the elected representatives in Parliament and Legislature for the welfare of the people.
• There has been shrinking time of debate and discussion in the house. Lok Sabha’s productivity or time utilisation dropped to 88% in the last winter session and to just 47% in the 2022 monsoon session from 123% in last year’s budget session. The Lower House witnessed heavy disruptions from the Opposition benches in the previous two sessions. In the 2021 monsoon session, the Lok Sabha could utilise only 21% of its allotted time.
• Disruption of the House is used as a political tool for the members of legislatures

THE WAY FORWARD

• Speaker represents dignity of house, freedom of the house and in a way freedom & liberty of nation. Hence, her position to be free, honored occupied by persons of outstanding ability &impartiality
• Presiding officers hold august offices; in this capacity, they are not political stakeholders. Thus, a good perception should be built among the people of the country about the presiding officers. Members of the parliament and legislature houses should improve their conduct and beliefs.
• Presiding Officers should consider encouraging those lawmakers who participate in debates in the House and also prepare an action plan to act against those members who constantly obstruct the House’s proceedings, so that the House’s dignity is not compromised.
• There should be no disruptions during Question Hour, the period for all lawmakers to seek answers from ministers, and linked parliamentary functioning to India’s goals during the “Amrit Kaal”, or the coming 25 years in the run-up to 2047.

SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENTS

• In Jagjit Singh case – SC noticed issues with speaker’s impartiality and concerns regarding her decisions in certain matters in capacity as a tribunal
• Keisham Meghachandra Singh case (2019) – Parliament to rethink vesting powers in 10th schedule to Speaker as she belongs to Political parties either dejure or defacto. Further serious consideration by Parliament maybe made with respect to the Constitutional Amendment to form permanent Tribunal with retired SC/HC judges or some other outside mechanism for the same purpose.

3. INTEGRATION OF STATE LEGISLATURES WITH DIGITAL PARLIAMENT:

e-Parliament or Digital Parliament is defined as the use of ICTs in parliamentary institutions to enhance and strengthen their core functions and operations.

SIGNIFICANCE

• e-Parliament helps promote e-Democracy and encourages citizens’ participation in the democratic and socio-economic platforms.
• It helps in strengthening the interaction endeavors between the members of parliament and the general citizens.
• Besides this it also facilitates efficient public service delivery, enhances social inclusion, allows transparency in the public service, and facilitates cost savings in government’s bid to involve citizens in its governing processes.

Significance of Integration of State Legislatures with Digital Parliament:

This will ensure a quick and easy exchange of information and innovations in the country’s legislative bodies. This will also increase the efficiency and quality of communication between the legislators and the public.

• It will also facilitate cooperative federalism.
• Easy communication between the centre and State

It also confirmed that all legislatures would work towards joining the National Digital Grid for Legislative Bodies.

4. THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE JUDICIARY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION.

THE THEME EMPHASISED IN THE CONFERENCE

In the Conference the separation of power was emphasised-

• The resolution recognised the separate powers of the judiciary and legislature.
• It said that each should respect the boundaries provided by the Constitution.
• While reposing confidence in the principle of separation of powers, it exhorted all organs of the state to respect the Constitutional boundaries enshrined in the Constitution of India.
• Constitution has defined the responsibilities and authority of the legislature, judiciary, and executive. “It is necessary that these three organs work in a harmonious manner as per the spirit of the Constitution.”
• The resolution reaffirmed its complete faith in the primacy of the people of India in law-making through the legislative bodies of the nation.

ANALYSIS

• It was highlighted that there Is parliamentary Supremacy and it is the only institution for law-making. Vice President cautioned against “one upmanship” and “public posturing from judicial platforms”. He expressed his disagreement with the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in the Kesavananda Bharati case in which the court said the Parliament had the right to amend the Constitution, but not its basic structure.
• In the conference, it was expressed that  in the democratic setup, the legislature is supreme. It has the right to make laws and because of that, it is an expectation that all institutions remain within their limits. It was said that the judiciary does not have the power to make laws, it can scrutinise after the law is legislated.
• The argument that Parliament’s sovereignty and autonomy cannot be permitted to be qualified or compromised as it is quintessential to the survival of democracy is a flawed argument. In India’s, parliamentary setup constitution is supreme rather than parliament.
• All India presiding officer reaffirmed its complete faith in the primacy of the people of India in law-making through the legislative bodies of the nation and while reposing confidence in the principle of separation of powers, exhorts all organs of State to respect the Constitutional boundaries enshrined in the Constitution of India.
• Vice-president was referred to the Supreme Court’s rejection of the National Judicial Appointments Commission law. “No institution can wield power or authority to neutralise the mandate of the people,” Vice -president, while saying a landmark 1973 judgment that set the “basic structure” argument to judge laws through a constitutional prism set a “bad precedent” by effectively curtailing the power of the legislature. It was held that judiciary need “to confine to its limits prescribed in the Constitution and  expected to follow the principle of separation and balance of powers conferred by the Constitution among all institutions while exercising its constitutional mandate.”
• In the nutshell, it was said that judicial legislation is antithetical to separation of power. But it has to be recognised that judiciary is the ultimate protector and interpreter of the Constitution and it has been granted power under article 13 for judicial review in which it protect the Constitution from executive and legislative leviathan(legislative and executive overreach).
• Unlike the British Parliament which is a sovereign body (in the absence of a written constitution), the powers and functions of the Indian parliament and State legislatures are subject to limitations laid down in the Constitution. The Constitution does not contain all the laws that govern the country. Parliament and the state legislatures make laws from time to time on various subjects, within their respective jurisdictions. The Constitution provides the general framework for making these laws. Parliament alone is given the power to make changes to this framework under Article 368. Unlike ordinary laws, amendments to constitutional provisions require a special majority vote in Parliament.
• Supreme Court also plays important role in protecting the federal structure of the Constitution In the SR Bommai case it recognised federalism as the basic structure of the Constitution. In a series of judgements, Supreme Court protected the rights of States in India by declaring null and void parliamentary overreach e.g. from colourable legislation.
• Parliament – a majesty which represents people, has been reduced to a handmaiden of the ruling party. Democracy demands power to be vested in institutions and exercised according to procedures. But the populist embodies in his corporeal body the people and the country, the nation and the government. Populists do not tolerate criticism from individuals and forums of deliberation like the Parliament.

THE WAY FORWARD

• India is not only a democratic setup but also a constitutional setup, where the Constitution is supreme, whether it is legislature or judiciary the Constitution binds them. Fusion of power is the basic feature of the Indian Constitution rather than the strict separation of power. It is based on the Philosophy of checks and Balances that decreases the misuse of power.
• Supreme Court also observed it in the Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain, 1975 case that the Separation of power in India was limited and in a broad sense only. A rigid separation of power under the American Constitution does not apply to India.
• In this context it is necessary that the executive, legislature and judiciary should “work in harmony, trust and balance, maintaining each other’s jurisdiction” to protect constitutional morality. In the current scenario, there is a need for more accountable and responsible parliament.
• Thus instead of criticism of the judiciary, there is need to relook and reform the parliamentary system. In this context there is need for government responsible to the people and Constitution. All the constitutional dignitaries should respect the dignity of the post.

Mains Question

1. In the debate of the supremacy between the Executive and Judiciary, there is a need to recognise the supremacy of the Constitution in Indian Polity. Discuss
2.  The speaker plays an important role in maintaining the dignity of the parliament and State Legislative assemblies. Analyse.