Daily Practice Sheet 14 January 2021

Daily Practice Sheet 14 January 2021

By

Santosh Sir

All 6 Prelims qualified

4 CSE Mains qualified

If I can do it, you can too

Daily Prelims Topic

• 30 days’ notice period not mandatory under Special Marriage Act,1954: Allahabad HC
• Cabinet Committee on Security/Tejas aircraft
• Bhogali Bihu
• Cyborg
• PMFBY
• T-bills

Daily Mapping

• Uganda

Daily Facts

Ageing population:

• According to INDIA REPORT on Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) there is sharp rise in the elderly population in coming decades. At 655 mn India’s older adult population above age 45 ) is expected to constitute over 40% of the population by 2050.The number of people aged above 75 years and above is expected to rise 340% between 2011 and 2050.
• In 2011 census, the 60+ population accounted for 8.6% of India’s population, accounting for 103 million elderly people. Growing at around 3% annually, the number of elderly age population will rise to 319 million in 2050.75% of the elderly people suffer from one or the other chronic disease.40% of the elderly people have one or the other disability and 20% have issues related to mental health.

Daily Mains Mantra

NEWSPAPER

GS 1: History

1. Elaborate on Mahatma Gandhi’s stay in South Africa as the enabler of his strategy in Indian National movement. [Reference: Indian Express]

2. What do you understand by harvest festival? Discuss its significance. [Reference: Times Of India]

GS 1: Society

1. Discuss India’s vaccine roll-out strategy and what are challenges associated with it. [Reference: Indian Express, Indian Express]

2. Discuss the challenge of aging population in India.

GS 2: Geography

1. What do you understand by religious tourism? Discuss the challenges faced and opportunities. [Reference: FICCI]

GS 2: Polity

1. What is Parliamentary democracy? Examine the functioning of Parliamentary democracy in India in recent decades. [Reference: Indian Express]

Introduction

Indian constitution follows the British legacy of Parliament democracy where it aims to   lay down a responsible government in which the executive is responsible to the legislature

Body

Constitution provides for the legislature to make laws, the government to implement laws, and the courts to interpret and enforce these laws.  While the judiciary is independent from the other two branches, the government is formed with the support of a majority of members in the legislature

Features of a democracy parliamentary system

Dual Executive, Majority Party Rules ,Collective Responsibility, Politicalhomogeneity, Double memberships, Leadership of Prime Minister, Dissolution of lower house, Fusion of Powers

Functioning

• Council of Ministers including the Prime Minister are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Often our Prime Ministers are not from the Lok Sabha but from the Rajya Sabha. His responsibility being to the Lok Sabha
• the 16th Lok Sabha, question hour has functioned in Lok Sabha for 77% of the scheduled time, while in Rajya Sabha it has functioned for 47%
• there is no mechanism currently for answering questions which require inter-ministerial expertise or relate to broader government policy
• Increasing criminalization.
• despite the pendency of many important pieces of legislations — the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, Dam Safety Bill, 2019, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill, 2020, Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, 2019, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Bill, 2019 — the winter session has been guillotined.
• During the 2013 budget session, of the 163 hours available, 146 hours were lost due to disruptions
• Ordinance, as the preferred legislative route, is being misused as a constitutional tool and Parliament is increasingly ceasing to be a place for debates.
• During the 2018-19 budget, 100 per cent of the demands for grants were passed without discussion. The Farm Bills’ passage was the apogee of all brazen violations and subterfuges
• 15th Lok Sabhas, 60 per cent and 71 per cent bills, respectively, were referred to such committees, whereas in the 16th Lok Sabha, only 25 per cent bills were referred. Not a single bill has been referred to committees in 2020
• The Aadhaar Bill was certified as a Money Bill. Having nothing to do with the imposition, abolition or alteration of taxes nor with financial obligations of the government, it was so certified simply to avoid Rajya Sabha scrutiny
• issue is now pending before a larger apex court bench, but judicial delays are inevitably used to bypass Parliament
• Question Hour was suspended to avoid legislative scrutiny
• unaudited PM Care Fund to take care of the ruling dispensation
• Concerned minister while replying to the debate may make assurances to the House regarding steps that will be taken to address the situation.

 As of August 2017, 50% of the assurances made in the 16th Lok Sabha(from2014) have been implemented

Case study:

• Countries such as the UK, the Prime Minister’s Question Time is conducted on a weekly basis. During the 30 minutes the Prime Minister answers questions posed by various MPs
• Improve government accountability in Parliament, the opposition in some countries such as the UK, Canada, and Australia forms a shadow cabinet

 Vice president Recommendations

Review of the whip system which is “stifling reasonable dissent even on non-consequential matters”.

Set up special courts for time-bound adjudication of criminal complaints against legislators.

Pre and post legislative impact assessment.

Address problem of rising number of legislators with criminal background.

Governments should be responsive to opposition and opposition to be responsible and constructive while resorting to available parliamentary instruments

2. Right to access to drinking water is fundamental to life and that it was a duty of the state to provide this. Discuss the statement with the help of judicial interpretation in the matter. Also bring forward the issues India faces in realizing it. [Reference: Financial Express]

3. Discuss the rationale behind Article 33 of the constitution with example. [Reference: Live Law]

GS 2: IR

1. What is Indo-Pacific? Comment on the Indo-USA growing convergence on Indo-Pacific and its impact on India’s national interest. [Reference: Indian Express]

Approach:

Discuss how India-USA’s interests are converging in the region. Also look if this convergence is good or bad for India. Finally, recommendation if any for India’s policy making.

Introduction:

Define what Indo-Pacific is. For ex- It is a geo-political construct which stretches from eastern coast of Africa to Western Coast of Americas. (You can give a rough map showing the region). The Indo-pacific becoming new arena of great games has brought India-USA closer.

Body:

Why convergence and how

• Counterbalance to China
• Economic aims: Free and open seas as this is the busiest trade route
• Like-minded countries (democracies, rule of law)
• Regional security (Afghanistan, Indo-Pacific)
• Engagement with ASEAN and other important players in region

Rising convergence is seen from QUAD, USA renaming it Indo-Pacific, Strategic relationship by signing foundational agreement of USA (LEMOA, BECA etc), 2+2 talks, ASEAN+, East Asia Summit etc.

Positive impacts:

• India as a Net Security provider in region. Ex- US Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific – India remains talks of India’s pre-eminent role in South Asia and the leading role in maintaining Indian Ocean security, increases engagement with Southeast Asia, and expands its economic, defence, and diplomatic cooperation with other US allies and partners in the region
• Addressing Chinese assertiveness or String of pearls and its encirclement amidst border standoff. Ex- UU Strategic Framework for Indo-Pacific talks of diplomatic, military, and intelligence channels – to help address continental challenges such as the border dispute with China and access to water.
• Greater technological exchanges (rising share of USA in defence imports)
• Economic partnership with like-minded countries when world is witnessing slowdown and isolationism
• Promotion of democracy and facing global challenges together

Concerns

• India’s strategic autonomy approach is threatened as it is being seen as too close to USA which critics argue is threatening its own independent stances (Ex- USA sanction on Iran)
• India’s north problem as China along with Pakistan is trying hard to create border issues to keep India’s rise in check
• Involvement in someone’s else war as China is today an important trade partner

Conclusion:

Indo-Pacific presents India a timely opportunity to boost its geopolitical aims and claim its rightful place in comity of nation. In this it must be seen as a pro-active player shaping the rules of law for the region.

2. A strong India would act as a “counterbalance” to China. Critically examine this statement in the context of US indo pacific strategy. [Reference: Indian Express]

GS 3: Economy

1. What is digital lending? Can digital lending make access to financial services and products more fair, efficient and inclusive? [Reference: The Quint]

Daily Ethics:

1. Differentiate between law, rule and conscience as the source of the ethics. [Reference: Business Line]