Syllabus subtopic: Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the SC directions and its significance; about criminalization of politics
Context: Supreme Court in its judgement handed down a series of directions aimed at checking the criminalization of politics.
Why?
What was the case about?
The court was passing orders on a contempt petition that raised the issue of criminalization of politics claiming that directions given by the court in a 2018 order on disclosure of criminal antecedents by candidates are not being followed.
Details of the SC judgement
Likely implications of these directions
The directions are likely to have a key political fallout given that the two biggest and politically crucial states, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, go to polls over the next two years.
Conclusion
Source: Livemint
Syllabus subtopic: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the USTR move: criteria and its implications; about CVD and de minimis standard
News: The U.S. government has changed an administrative rule making it easier for it to impose countervailing duties (CVDs) on goods from India and certain other countries.
Background
What are countervailing duties (CVD)?
About the USTR move
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has published a notice, amending lists of developing and least-developed countries that are eligible for preferential treatment with respect to CVD investigations.
What does that mean?
(Ad valorem tax means levying of tax or customs duties proportionate to the estimated value of the goods or transaction concerned.)
Eligibility Criteria for the de minimis standard
The USTR used the following criteria to determine whether a country was eligible for the 2% de minimis standard:
Why was India taken off the list?
Implications
The move has cast a shadow on India being able to restore preferential benefits under the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) as part of its trade talks with the US, as only developing countries are eligible for it.
Way forward
Mr. Trump is due to visit India on February 24 and 25 and the U.S. and India are trying to finalise a trade package before the U.S. President’s arrival. According to American officials, the timing of the USTR announcement is not linked to the visit, that is, the timing is mostly coincidental and mostly related to dynamics at the WTO on developing country treatment.
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the new panel to be set up and their mandate; about FFC; CAG; FRBM act
News: The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FFC) will soon set up a panel to address issues related to fiscal policy for both the Centre and the States, and present a road map for the same.
About the new fiscal panel/committee
Panel on Defence & Internal security
Does India require a new legal framework for fiscal consolidation?
According to the FFC, there wasn’t a need for a new legal framework as the FRBM already gives a robust legal framework, except for the fact the States need to align their own FRBM with the new FRBM enacted by the Union Government with the amendments to the earlier one in 2018. Also, there is a need to ensure there is strict compliance on the issues of off-Budget borrowing, contingent liabilities, etc
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Appointment to various Constitutional Posts, Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Prelims and Mains focus: about Administrative tribunal: CAT and SATs; composition and mandate
News: A senior IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre moved the Central Administrative Tribunal in Hyderabad challenging the suspension order issued by AP government.
Administrative Tribunals in India
Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) -- For Union services including All India Services
The CAT exercises jurisdiction over all service matters concerning the following:
However, the members of the defence forces, officers, staff of the Supreme Court and the secretarial staff of the Parliament are not covered under the jurisdiction of CAT.
Benches: There are 17 Benches and 21 Circuit Benches in the Central Administrative Tribunal all over India. In addition, the Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench is dealing with the matters of Govt. of National Capital Territory of Delhi.
State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) -- For states services including state PSC
Following categories of employees are exempted from purview of Administrative tribunal:
Important points
Tribunal for other Services (323B)
For jurisdiction of disputes relating to following matters
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the sovereign credit ratings and their significance
News: Global ratings agency Standard and Poor’s affirmed India’s sovereign rating at ‘BBB-’ with stable outlook.
Reason
Suggestions/warnings
What does BBB rating mean?
‘BBB’ rating refers to adequate capacity of the rated entity to meet its financial commitments.
What Is a Sovereign Credit Rating?
Credit Rating Agencies
The global credit rating industry is highly concentrated, with three agencies—Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch—controlling nearly the entire market. Together, they provide a much-needed service for both borrowers and lenders, as well as to lenders.
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the report and its key highlights
News: “The Future of Earth, 2020” report was released in Bengaluru by the South Asia Future Earth Regional Office, Divecha Centre for Climate Change, and the Indian Institute of Science.
About the report
Key highlights of the report
It has listed five global risks that have the potential to impact and amplify one another in ways that may cascade to create global systemic crisis.
These 5 global risks are:
How are these global risks interrelated?
Strains on food production are expected to increase, as a result of various forces including climate change, biodiversity loss, and a global population on the rise.
Efforts of India in environment education
The National Education Policy (NEP) will address the question of environmental health and education at the school level. Children in the last four years of secondary education will have a reasonable grounding to be sensitive towards the environment. Without it no government rules and policies can be helpful.
Note: to read about NEP, 2019 in detail, clock on the link below:
https://prsindia.org/report-summaries/draft-national-education-policy-2019
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the concept and its benefits; about SPV cells; India’s efforts at tapping solar energy
News: South Central Railway (SCR) has become the first on Indian Railways to come up with the concept of ‘Energy Neutral’ railway stations.
What does it mean?
The SCR is now capable of meeting 100% energy requirements by tapping natural solar power through Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) panels commissioned on about13 station buildings. The total capacity of solar panels installed at the 13 ‘energy neutral’ stations is 99 kWp with the cost incurred, being around Rs.50 lakh.
What are the benefits?
About the Energy neutral station concept
Source: The Hindu
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