Daily Prelims Notes 7 September 2020

September 7, 2020
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Table Of Contents

Subject: Polity

Context:

KesavanandaBharati, the petitioner of the landmark ruling in which the Supreme Court announced the basic structure doctrine was dead.

Concept:

A 13-judge Bench was set up by the Supreme Court, the biggest so far, and the case was heard over 68 working days spread over six months.
The case was primarily about the extent of Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution.
First, the court was reviewing a 1967 decision in Golaknath v State of Punjab which, had ruled that Parliament cannot amend fundamental rights.
Second, the court was deciding the constitutional validity of several other amendments.
The executive vs judiciary manoeuvres displayed in the amendments ended with the KesavanandaBharati case, in which the court had to settle these issues conclusively.
In its majority ruling, the court held that fundamental rights cannot be taken away by amending them. While the court said that Parliament had vast powers to amend the Constitution, it drew the line by observing that certain parts are so inherent and intrinsic to the Constitution that even Parliament cannot touch it.
The origins of the basic structure doctrine are found in the German Constitution which, after the Nazi regime, was amended to protect some basic laws. The original Weimar Constitution, which gave Parliament to amend the Constitution with a two-thirds majority, was in fact used by Hitler to his advantage to made radical changes. Learning from that experience, the new German Constitution introduced substantive limits on Parliament’s powers to amend certain parts of the Constitution which it considered ‘basic law’.
In India, the basic structure doctrine has formed the bedrock of judicial review of all laws passed by Parliament.
The present position is that the Parliament under Article 368 can amend any part of the Constitution including the Fundamental Rights but without affecting the basic structure of the Constitution.
However, the Supreme Court is yet to define or clarify as to what constitutes the basic structure of the Constitution. From the various judgments, the following have emerged as basic features of the Constitution or elements / components / ingredients of the ‘basic structure’ of the constitution:
- Supremacy of the Constitution
- Sovereign, democratic and republican nature of the Indian polity
- Secular character of the Constitution
- Separation of powers between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary
- Federal character of the Constitution
- Unity and integrity of the nation
- Welfare state (socio-economic justice)
- Judicial review
- Freedom and dignity of the individual
- Parliamentary system
- Rule of law
- Harmony and balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
- Principle of equality
- Free and fair elections
- Independence of Judiciary
- Limited power of Parliament to amend the Constitution
- Effective access to justice
- Principle of reasonableness
- Powers of the Supreme Court under Articles 32, 136, 141 and 142

2. Foreign Contribution Regulation Act

Subject: Economy

Context:

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licences of four associations this year

Concept:

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and rules framed under it (the “FCRA” or “Act”) regulate the receipt and usage of foreign contribution by non-governmental organisations (“NGOs”) in India.
Since the Act is internal security legislation, despite being a law related to financial legislation, it falls into the purview of Home Ministry and not the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The focus of the Act is to ensure that the foreign contribution and foreign hospitality is not utilized to affect or influence electoral politics, public servants, judges and other people working the important areas of national life like journalists, printers and publishers of newspapers, etc.
The Act also seeks to regulate flow of foreign funds to voluntary organizations with the objective of preventing any possible diversion of such funds towards activities detrimental to the national interest and to ensure that individuals and organizations may function in a manner consistent with the values of the sovereign democratic republic.

3. Eco-sensitive zone, Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary

Subject: Environment

Context:

An illegal road coming up within the eco-sensitive zone of Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, without any permission from the Forest Department could pose a threat to the movement of wildlife

Concept:

ESZ:

The basic aim of ESZ is to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries so as to minimise the negative impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected areas
ESZs are notified by MoEFCC, Government of India under Environment Protection Act 1986
The guidelines include a broad list of activities that could be allowed, promoted, regulated or promoted. This is an important checklist for conservationists to keep in mind while identifying threats in ESZs.
For this purpose, the ministry has asked all states to constitute a committee comprising the wildlife warden, an ecologist and a revenue department official of the area concerned to suggest the requirement of an eco-sensitive zone and its extent.
The width of the ESZ and type of regulation may vary from protected area to area. However, as a general principle, the width of the ESZ could go up to 10 kms around the protected area.

Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary

Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1988 to protect the Near threatened grizzled giant squirrel.
Occupying an area of 485.2 km2, it is bordered on the southwest by the Periyar Tiger Reserve and is one of the best preserved forests south of the Palghat Gap.
In addition to grizzled giant squirrels, other animals seen here are Bengal tiger, bonnet macaque, common langur, elephants, flying squirrels, gaur, Indian giant squirrel, leopard, lion-tailed macaques, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur, NilgiriTahrs.
Mainly dry deciduous with patches of tropical evergreen forests, Semi-evergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous forests and grassland.

4. Asteroids

Subject: Geography

Context:

Asteroid 465824 2010 FR was expected to cross the Earth’s orbit on September 6.

Concept:

Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much smaller than planets. They are also called minor planets.
According to NASA, 994,383 is the count for known asteroids, the remnants from the formation of the solar system over 4.6 billion years ago.
Asteroids are divided into three classes.
- First, those found in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, which is estimated to contain somewhere between 1.1-1.9 million asteroids.
- The second group is that of trojans, which are asteroids that share an orbit with a larger planet. NASA reports the presence of Jupiter, Neptune and Mars trojans. In 2011, they reported an Earth trojan as well.
- The third classification is Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA), which have orbits that pass close by the Earth. Those that cross the Earth’s orbit are called Earth-crossers. More than 10,000 such asteroids are known, out of which over 1,400 are classified as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs).
Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid’s potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth. Specifically, all asteroids with a minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) of 0.05 au or less are considered PHA.

Threats:

NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Program finds, tracks and characterises over 90 per cent of the predicted number of NEOs that are 140 metre or larger which according to the space agency are of “the greatest concern” due to the level of devastation that their impact is capable of causing.
No asteroid larger than 140 metre has a “significant” chance of hitting the Earth for the next 100 years.

Measures:

Over the years, scientists have suggested different ways to ward off such threats, such as blowing up the asteroid before it reaches Earth, or deflecting it off its Earth-bound course by hitting it with a spacecraft.
Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA), which includes NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Hera. The mission’s target is Didymos, a binary near-Earth asteroid, one of whose bodies is of the size that could pose the most likely significant threat to Earth.

5. Stagflation, recession, CPI, WPI

Subject: Economy

Context:

Decoding GDP contraction

Findings:

Compared to the first quarter of last year, the income split showed growth in agriculture, minor declines in financial services, utilities (like electricity and water) and public administration, and major declines in retail, transportation, manufacturing, hotels, and construction.
The expenditure split showed growth in government spending, private consumption was down by a quarter, and investments nearly halved. On both fronts there was little surprise in the GDP release.
CPI-WPI inflation rates have been displaying divergent trends, with WPI staying in the negative territory, reflecting weak pricing power, while CPI has been rising, staying above the RBI’s comfort level indicating stagflation and recession.

Concept:

Inflation is defined as a situation where there is sustained, unchecked increase in the general price level and a fall in the purchasing power of money.

CPI:

Inflation is measured using CPI. A comprehensive measure used for estimation of price changes in a basket of goods and services representative of consumption expenditure in an economy is called consumer price index.
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is releasing CPI (Rural, Urban, Combined) on Base 2012=100
An inflation measure which excludes transitory or temporary price volatility as in the case of some commodities such as food items, energy products is called core inflation

WPI:

Wholesale Price Index, or WPI, measures the changes in the prices of goods sold and traded in bulk by wholesale businesses to other businesses
The numbers are released by the Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

WPI Vs CPI

While WPI keeps track of the wholesale price of goods, the CPI measures the average price that households pay for a basket of different goods and services.
Even as the WPI is used as a key measure of inflation in some economies, the RBI no longer uses it for policy purposes, including setting repo rates. The central bank currently uses CPI or retail inflation as a key measure of inflation to set the monetary and credit policy.

Stagflation

It is a seemingly contradictory condition described by slow economic growth and relatively high unemployment, or economic stagnation, which is at the same time accompanied by rising prices (i.e. inflation).
Stagflation can also be alternatively defined as a period of inflation combined with a decline in gross domestic product (GDP).

Recession

Recession is a slowdown or a massive contraction in economic activities. A significant fall in spending generally leads to a recession.
Such a slowdown in economic activities may last for some quarters thereby completely hampering the growth of an economy.
In such a situation, economic indicators such as GDP, corporate profits, employments, etc., fall.
This creates a mess in the entire economy. To tackle the menace, economies generally react by loosening their monetary policies by infusing more money into the system, i.e., by increasing the money supply.

6. Malabar Rebellion

Subject: History

Context:

A report submitted to the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) in 2016 had recommended the de-listing of Wagon Tragedy victims and Malabar Rebellion leaders from a book on martyrs of India’s freedom struggle.

Concept:

It was part of the Khilafat Movement, which demanded that the British preserve the Ottoman sultan as the Caliph of Islam, the revolt took place in Kerala’s Malabar and involved the Moplah or Mappila Muslims of the region
The violence began and the Moplahs attacked the police stations and took control of them. They also seized the courts, and the government treasuries.
It became a communal riot when the kudiyaan or tenant Moplahs attacked their Hindu jenmis or landlords and killed many of them. Thus, the Hindu Landlords became the victims of the atrocities of the Moplahs.
The leaders of this rebellion were:
- Variyankunnath Kunjahammed Haji
- SeethiKoyaThangal of Kumaranpathor
- Ali Musliyar.
For two some two months the administration remained in the hands of the rebels. The military as well as Police needed to withdraw from the burning areas.
Finally the British forces suppressed the movement with greater difficulty. The situation was under control by the end of the 1921.

Background:

Malabar fell under British rule in 1792.
By then, the Moplahs, once a prosperous trading community, had been reduced to penury as the English and the Portuguese wrested control of maritime commerce.
Further, Malabar’s landlords under the British were almost exclusively Hindu.
Throughout the 19th century, the Moplahs would revolt against this order, attacking either the Hindu landlords or European bureaucrats.
Between 1836 and 1919, there were 29 such “outrages”, as British chronicles from the time describe these uprisings.
Whether the uprisings were a reaction to Malabar’s oppressive land system or driven by religious fanaticism was debated even at the time by British officials.

7. GEAC AND Nod for BT brinjal

Subject: Environment

Context:

An approval given for confined field trials to two new Btbrinjal varieties for biosafety evaluation by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in seven States has left many curious about the government’s stand on genetically modified (GM) crops.

Concept:

GEAC

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the appraisal body that allows for commercial release of GM crops.
It had allowed the commercial release of Bt cotton in 2002. At present, more than 95 per cent of the country’s cotton areas come under Bt cotton.
Use of the unapproved GM variant can attract a jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs 1 lakh under the Environmental Protection Act ,1989.
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) functions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
It is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
The committee is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the enviornment including experimental field trials.
GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above.

BtBrinjal

It is a genetically modified crop created by inserting gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into Brinjal.
The insertion of the gene gives Brinjal plant resistance against lepidopteron insects like the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (Leucinodesorbonalis) and Fruit Borer (Helicoverpaarmigera).
Upon ingestion of the Bt toxin by the insect, there would be disruption of digestive processes, ultimately resulting in the death of the insect.

8. Rashtriya Poshan Maah

Subject: Government initiative

Context:

The 3rd RashtriyaPoshanMaah is being celebrated during the month of September 2020. Ministry of Women and Child Development, being the nodal Ministry for POSHAN Abhiyaan, is celebrating the PoshanMaah in convergence with partner Ministries and departments, at National, States/UTs, Districts, and grass root level.

Concept:

POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is India’s flagship programme, launched in March 2018 to improve nutritional status of children up to 6 years, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers to achieve specific targets for reduction in low birth weight babies, stunting growth, under nutrition and prevalence of anemia over next three years.
POSHAN Abhiyaan is not a programme but a Jan Andolan, and Bhagidaari, meaning “People’s Movement”.
This programme incorporates inclusive participation of public representatives of local bodies, government departments of the state, social organizations and the public and private sector at large.
Under PoshanAbhiyan states/UTs need to achieve convergence through the close coordination between the department of women and child welfare; health and family welfare; drinking water and sanitation; rural development; panchayati raj; education; food and other concerned departments.
To give momentum to POSHAN Abhiyan , ‘National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges’ on 24th July 2018 decided to celebrate the month of September as RashtriyaPoshanMaah.
During this month activities related to nutrition awareness will be carried out by all the states/UTs up to the grass root level.
The implementing departments /agencies like women and child development department through anganwari workers, health and family welfare department through ASHA, ANM, primary health centres, community health centres, school education and literary department through schools, panchayati raj department through panchayat, and rural development trough self-help groups will carry out the activities and spread the message during the month.

9. International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

Subject: IR

Context:

Union Environment Minister is chairing a webinar on the first-ever International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on, September 7, 2020.

Concept:

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution to hold an International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on December 19, 2019, during its 74th session and invited the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to facilitate the observance of the International Day, in collaboration with other relevant organizations.
The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) worked with UNEP and the Republic of Korea to advocate for the day in the lead up to the decision.
WHO is working with BreatheLife partners to coordinate activities for the day.
The very first International Day of Clean Air for blue skies will be held on September 7th, 2020.
The Day aims to:
- Raise public awareness at all levels—individual, community, corporate and government—that clean air is important for health, productivity, the economy and the environment.
- Demonstrate the close link of air quality to other environmental/developmental challenges such as – most and foremost – climate change and the global Sustainable Development Goals.
- Promote and facilitate solutions that improve air quality by sharing actionable knowledge best practices, innovations, and success stories.
- Bring together diverse international actors working on this topic to form a strategic alliance to gain momentum for concerted national, regional and international approaches for effective air quality management.

10. Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle

Subject: Science and tech

Context:

India has for the second time successfully flight-tested Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV).

Concept:

HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet technology demonstrator that can cruise up to a speed of mach 6 (or six times the speed of sound) and rise up to an altitude of 32 kilometres in 20 seconds.
India became the fourth country after the United States, Russia and China to develop and successfully test hypersonic technology.
It was developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
The HSDTV has a range of uses, including missiles of the future for air defence, surveillance and reconnaissance besides in the development of energy-efficient, low cost and reusable satellite-launch vehicles.

11. UNICEF and COVAX

Subject: IR

Context:

Amidst the race amongst individual nations to get hold of a Covid-19 vaccine, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will undertake the responsibility of procuring and supplying an effective vaccine to about 92 low and middle-income countries of the world under the Covax Global Vaccines Facility.

Concept:

UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child.
Together with partners, UNICEF work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation.
UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path.
UNICEF upholds the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

COVAX

Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility is a mechanism designed to guarantee rapid, fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines
The goal of COVAX is to deliver two billion doses of safe, effective vaccines that have passed regulatory approval and/or WHO pre-qualification by the end of 2021.
Earlier, as many as 75 countries expressed interest to protect their populations and those of other nations through joining the vaccine facility, WHO said in a 15 July statement.
COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and WHO, working in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers.
The shots will be delivered equally to participating countries proportional to their populations and deployed initially for healthcare workers.

12. A comprehensive set of draft guidelines on advertising

Consumer Affairs Ministry has come out with draft guideline on advertisements to prevent misleading advertisements and protect consumer interests.

For an advertisement to be considered valid, companies will need to ensure their ads are truthful, contain honest representation and make claims that can be substantiated.
They will also need to ensure that advertisements targeted at children do not promote emulation of dangerous behaviour.
While comparing their own products with that of their rivals are factual, accurate and can be substantiated.
Under the recently notified Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has been empowered to issue necessary guidelines to prevent unfair trade practices and protect consumers’ interest.

Regulating Brand ambassadors

The draft guidelines state that besides companies, even brand ambassadors will need to do due diligence to ensure that all “descriptions, claims and comparisons” made by products that they endorse or that are made in advertisements they feature in, are capable of being objectively ascertained.
Even endorsement of products done through personal testimonial on digital platforms by celebrities will need to be genuine.
Meanwhile, the proposed guidelines also state that companies will need to ensure that disclaimers, made to expand or clarify claims, will need to be clear, legible, made in the same language and font as that of the claim in an advertisement.
The draft guideline also addresses the issue concerning misleading “bait advertising”, “free product” and “surrogate advertising”.