1. SILVER COCKSCOMB AND SOLIGA TRIBES
TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: In Karnataka’s Chamarajanagara district, farmers of the Soliga tribe say controlling the weed can cost up to Rs 2,000 per acre (0.4 hectare) per year. Yet they do not consider silver cockscomb a weed.
EXPLANATION:
SILVER COCKSCOMB
- It is also referred to as anne soppu in Karnataka. It is also known as Lagos spinach.
- The plant is known as Celosia argentea in the scientific lexicon, kudu in Marathi and panini keerai in Tamil.
- It is believed to have originated in tropical Africa, according to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, silver cockscomb grows abundantly in South and Southeast Asia, Latin America and parts of the US and Australia.
- Communities in these regions use it as a wild vegetable, for fodder and in medicine. Exploring and documenting their traditional knowledge may give this weed a makeover of a superfood.
- It is a beautiful but troublesome weed, and if left unchecked, it can spread quickly and suppress the growth of other crops, affecting their yield.
- It also attracts insects, caterpillars, worms and moths that can harm crops.
- It belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, which includes economically important plants like spinach (Spinacia oleracea), beetroot and quinoa.
- However, it is considered as a nutritious leafy green vegetable that grows well even on fallow land and in drought-like conditions by soliga tribes.
- It is a short-lived 50-60 cm-tall plant that bears simple, spirally arranged leaves around the stem with pinkish or silky white flowers.
- Since it grows widely on farmlands across the country, most farmers use the plant as fodder.
Medicinal uses:
- The women of the Soliga tribe collect young shoots of silver cockscomb to prepare a mash called massage, which is eaten just to help lower the body’s heat and reduce stomach burn, which often stems from indigestion.
- Scientists studied the antibacterial activity of silver cockscomb and found that its stem and root extracts provide protection against microbial pathogens.
- Silver cockscomb leaves are high in nutrients such as beta-carotene and folic acids and have “medium” levels of vitamin E, calcium and iron.
- Although it is of the same family as spinach, it does not pose the same risk to kidneys.
- The plant is frequently used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for treating eye diseases and ulcers.
- Researchers reviewed studies available on the plant and found that the seed contains an edible oil that is beneficial for treating conditions such as bloodshot eyes and cataracts.
Soliga tribe:
- It is an ethnic tribe in south India that dwells in Biligirirangana Hills (BR Hills) situated in south-eastern Karnataka, at its border with Tamil Nadu.
- The term “Soliga” literally translates to “children of bamboo”, which reflects the tribe’s relationship with nature and their belief that they, too, have emerged from it.
- They are said to possess vast knowledge about the forests of Western Ghats and biodiversity conservation.
- The Soliga speak Sholga, which belongs to the Dravidian family. Under Indian law, they are recognized as a scheduled tribe.
- The Soliga used to practice shifting cultivation but have more or less given up this practice now. They grow Ragi for subsistence.
2. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (AMENDMENT) BILL
TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2022, is set to be tabled during the monsoon session of the Parliament.
EXPLANATION:
- The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Parliament in 2021 by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and climate change to amend the Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
- The Bill was moved to a joint committee due to concerns that the amendments favoured industry.
The main aims of the amendment Bills:
- To reduce the burden on wild medicinal plants and encourage their cultivation.
- To encourage the Indian system of medicine.
- To facilitate environmentalists for collaborative research and investments.
- To reduce the need for practitioners and companies making medicinal products for taking permission from the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
- Bill included the term “codified traditional knowledge”, under which the users, including practitioners of Indian systems of medicine, will be exempted from the provisions of approvals for access or sharing benefits.
Benefits of the Bill:
- This bill aims that the benefits from the use of biodiversity should be shared with the community that has conserved it for centuries. Access and benefit sharing remains an important part of this Framework.
- It will fast-track the approval as practitioners of Indian systems of medicine will be exempted from the provisions of approvals for access or sharing benefits.
- Since the time the Biological Diversity (Amendments) Bill was introduced first, the world has set new targets for biodiversity conservation at the 15th Conference of Parties to CBD held in Montreal in December 2022.
Criticism of the Bill:
- There can be cases of misappropriation of resources as it allows domestic companies to use biodiversity without the permission from biodiversity boards. Only ‘foreign-controlled companies’ would need to take permission.
- The Bill did not find favour among activists and legal experts as these amendments do not address the issues that biodiversity conservation in India face.
- The Bill de-criminalises violation and even withdraws the power given to the National Biodiversity Authority to file an FIR against a defaulting party which will encourage defaulters.
Biological Diversity Act, 2002:
- The act was enacted in 2002; it aims at the conservation of biological resources, managing its sustainable use and enabling fair and equitable sharing benefits arising out of the use.
- The act envisaged a three-tier structure to regulate the access to biological resources:
- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
- The State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)
- The Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) (at local level)
- The act provides these authorities with special funds and a separate budget in order to carry out any research project dealing with the biological natural resources of the country.
- Under this act, the Central Government, in consultation with the NBA:
- Shall notify threatened species and prohibit or regulate their collection, rehabilitation and conservation
- Designate institutions as repositories for different categories of biological resources
- The act stipulates all offences under it as cognizable and non-bailable.
- Any grievances related to the determination of benefit sharing or order of the National Biodiversity Authority or a State Biodiversity Board under this Act shall be taken to the National Green
Criticism of the Act:
- One of the major criticism is that emphasis is on preventing profit-sharing from the commercial use of biological resources rather than provisions for efficient conservation.
- This legislation does not act as an umbrella and overlooks its possibilities of harmonizing with prior existing legislation.
- It does not lay down guidelines for the assignment of non-monopoly rights nor for assessing contributions made by firms, local communities, or individual inventions.
3. PRADHAN MANTRI UJJWALA YOJANA (PMUY)
TAG: GS 2: GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
THE CONTEXT: According to a recent report, after witnessing a rise in the number of subsidised LPG refills in the financial year 2020-21 under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), the trend has shown a decline in FY23.
EXPLANATION
- Out of the 95.9 million PMUY beneficiaries, 11.8 million (about 12%) did not get even a single LPG bottle during the last financial year.
- The report noted that this decrease reflects the stagnant income levels among the beneficiaries. However, it added that some smaller households may not require more than four refills annually.
- The Union government had admitted that the PMUY beneficiaries had not been able to fill cylinders due to high prices of LPG.
- As per Census 2011, there are 315 million domestic LPG consumers in India, covering 105.1% of estimated households.
- To promote the use of LPG, the government has implemented various measures, including subsidies that were extended for a year last March.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
- With the tagline “Swachh Indhan, Behtar Jeevan“, Union Government has launched a social welfare scheme “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana” (PMUY) in 2016.
- The scheme envisages smoke-free Rural India and aims to benefit five crore families, especially the women living below the poverty line (BPL), by providing concessional LPG connections to the entire nation by 2019.
- It aims to increase the usage of LPG and would help in reducing health disorders, air pollution and deforestation.
- It is being implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
Salient Features
- To provide 5 crore LPG connections to BPL families, with the financial support of Rs 1600.
- Connections will be issued in the name of women beneficiaries.
- EMI facility will also be provided for stove and refill costs.
- It is complementary to Prime Minister’s Give It Up campaign, under which 75 lakh middle-class and lower middle-class households have voluntarily given up their cooking gas subsidy
Objectives
- To promote women’s empowerment
- To provide a healthy cooking fuel
- To prevent hazardous health-related issues among the millions of rural population due to the use of fossil fuel.
Implementation
- The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation with the State Governments and the Union Territories.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant should be women above the age of 18 years.
- The applicant must be a rural inhabitant carrying a BPL
- The women applicant should have a savings bank account in any nationalized bank across the country to receive a subsidy amount.
- The applicant’s household should not already own an LPG connection.
Ujjwala 2.0
- The target of releasing 80 million connections was achieved in 2019; therefore, in 2021, Ujjwala 2.0 was launched.
- It aims to provide additional one crore LPG connections to adult women of poor households under PMUY with a budgetary support of Rs. 1600 /connection.
- In addition to existing eligibility criteria, the following facilities have been provided to beneficiaries under Ujjwala 2.0:-
- Online Application facility on newly launched portal pmuy.gov.in
- Acceptance of self-declaration from migrants to declare family composition and address proof.
- Free of cost – first refill and stove.
- e-KYC using Aadhaar authentication
4. LARGE NUMBER OF CASES PENDING AGAINST LEGISLATORS.
TAG: GS 2: POLITY
THE CONTEXT: The amicus curiae appointed by the Supreme Court in Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay vs. Union of India, 2016. Informed the court about the Criminal Cases Pending Against Members of Parliament.
EXPLANATION:
- Criminal cases against Lok Sabha members are 44% (236 out of 542) and 31% against Rajya Sabha members (71 out of 226).
- Criminal cases against State Legislators are 1723 of 3991 (43%).
- He stated this in the 17th report submitted in the case relying on a study done by the Association for Democratic Rights.
- The Supreme Court has been monitoring expeditious disposal of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs since 2016 in a PIL filed by Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
- In his 18th Report, the amicus has also sought for a hearing date to be fixed to consider the constitutional validity of Section 8 of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951 which limits the period of disqualification of a person to contest an election as an MP/MLA only for a period of six years from the date of the release upon conviction, even for a heinous offence.
- The Apex Court had directed that the Presiding officers of the Special Courts involving prosecution of MPs or MLAs, shall not be transferred except with the leave of the Apex Court. But later, order was modified.
SUPREME COURT ROLE IN DECRIMINALISING POLITICS, SOME RECENT STEPS
- The Supreme Court has been monitoring expeditious disposal of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs since 2016.
- Initially 12 Special Courts were constituted.
- Subsequently Special Courts have been established in almost all the districts, where the criminal cases are pending.
- The Supreme Court had directed that the Special Courts shall “fix a calendar for each case to be taken up on day-to-day basis.”
- The Supreme Court had also directed that “Chief Justices of the High Court shall also designate a Special Bench, comprising themselves and their designate, in order to monitor the progress of these trials.”
- Court directed that “keeping in mind public interest involved in the matter and in order to prevent undue delay, we direct that no unnecessary adjournments be granted in these matters.”
AMICUS CURIAE
- An amicus curia is an individual or organization who is not a party to a legal case.
- She is permitted to assist a court by offering information, expertise, or insight that has a bearing on the issues in the case.
- The decision on whether to consider an amicus brief lies within the discretion of the court.
- The phrase is legal Latin and the origin of the term has been dated to 1605–1615.
- The scope of amici curiae is generally found in the cases where broad public interests are involved and concerns regarding civil rights are in question.
5. THE MCA (MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS) EXEMPTS REGIONAL RURAL BANKS (RRBS) FROM CCI’S (COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA) MERGER CONTROL REGIME.
TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY; GS 2: GOVERNANCE
THE CONTEXT: Recently, the MCA has exempted the RRBS from the purview of merger and acquisition regulations of CCI.
EXPLANATION:
- The exemption dispensation from prior scrutiny and approval of Competition Commission of India (CCI) would be available for five years.
- This move would pave the way for merger of RRBs without the prior scrutiny and approval of Competition Commission of India (CCI).
- The merger and acquisition regime of the CCI is directed towards establishing fair competition.
- This exemption will enable smooth consolidation of RRBs which will help in better service delivery with efficiency.
RRBs (REGIONAL RURAL BANKS)
- RRBs are financial institutions which ensure adequate credit for agriculture and other rural sectors. Regional Rural Banks were set up based on the recommendations of the Narasimham Working Group (1975), and after the legislations of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976. The first Regional Rural Bank “Prathama Grameen Bank” was set up on October 2, 1975.
- The equity of a regional rural bank is held by the Central Government, concerned State Government and the Sponsor Bank in the proportion of 50:15:35
- Regional Rural Banks (RRB) are Indian Scheduled Commercial Banks (Government Banks) operating at regional level in different states of India.
- They have been created with a view of serving primarily the rural areas of India with basic banking and financial services.
- However, RRBs may have branches set up for urban operations and their area of operation may include urban area too.
- The area of operation of RRBs is limited to the area as notified by Government of India covering one or more districts in the State. RRBs perform various functions in following heads:
- They Carry out government operations like disbursement of wages of MGNREGA workers, distribution of pension etc.
- They provide Para-Banking facilities like locker facilities, debit and credit cards, mobile banking, internet banking, UPI etc.
CCI (COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA)
- The Competition Act, 2002, as amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007.
- It follows the philosophy of modern competition laws.
- The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
- The objectives of the Act are sought to be achieved through the Competition Commission of India, which has been established by the Central Government with effect from 14th October 2003.
- CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
- It is the duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers, and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India.
- The Commission is also required to give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority established under any law.
- It undertakes competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.
