Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the govt.’s move and its implications; need for reform in road tax structure
News: The Union government is making a renewed push to get states on board to levy a uniform road tax for personal vehicles across the country.
Why?
The move is expected to bring relief to automobile buyers, while also helping protect revenue of states as some consumers tend to purchase vehicles in states with lower taxes, resulting in a loss of revenue for those with higher taxes.
Background
About Road Tax
Road tax is paid during the registration of a vehicle in a particular state. It is levied along with the goods and services tax (GST) and directly impacts the price of a new vehicle.
Implications
Current scenario
Way forward
Source: Livemint
Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the draft policy and its significance; initiatives taken to boost gas-based economy, about PESO
News: In a bid to boost India’s gas economy, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas on Thursday released a draft city gas distribution policy.
About the draft policy
Process of implementation
Initiatives taken by the govt. to boost gas-based economy
About Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)
Source: Livemint
Syllabus subtopic: Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
Prelims and Mains focus: About the key highlights of the index; India’s performance; About Transparency International
News: Transparency International released the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI2019) on Thursday.
About the Index
The 2019 CPI draws on 13 surveys and expert assessments to measure public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories, giving each a score from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
Key highlights
About Transparency International (TI)
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Important International Institutions, agencies and fora - their Structure, Mandate.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the court’s ruling and its significance; about the Rohingya issue; about ICJ and its mandate
News: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday ordered Myanmar to take urgent measures to protect its Rohingya population from genocide, a ruling cheered by refugees as their first major legal victory since being forced from their homes.
Background
What did the court rule and its significance?
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic:
Prelims and Mains focus: About the event and its significance
News: Nepal has invited the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, along with several other heads of governments and states, for the Sagarmatha Dialogue (Sagarmatha Sambaad).
Background
About the event
Note:
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Prelims and Mains focus: about the national war memorial; significance of the republic day
News: In a first, homage will be paid to the fallen soldiers during the Republic Day parade this year at the National War Memorial. The ceremony had so far been conducted at India Gate.
About the National War Memorial
Republic Day parade 2020
Why is 26th January celebrated as the Republic Day of India?
About Mission Shakti
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.
Prelims and Mains focus: about LCs: strength, selection of members, objectives
News: The Andhra Pradesh government seems to be contemplating abolishing the Legislative Council going by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s assertion that the “Upper House” did not deserve to exist if it rejects important Bills by violating rules.
About Legislative Councils (LC)
India has a bicameral system i.e., two Houses of Parliament. At the state level, the equivalent of the Lok Sabha is the Vidhan Sabha or Legislative Assembly; that of the Rajya Sabha is the Vidhan Parishad or Legislative Council.
A second House of legislature is considered important for two reasons:
Arguments in favour of LCs
Arguments against LCs
Creation of a LC:
Strength of LCs
As per article 171 clause (1) of the Indian Constitution, the total number of members in the legislative council of a state shall not exceed one third of the total number of the members in the legislative Assembly of that state and the total number of members in the legislative council of a state shall in no case be less than 40.
Election of members of LCs
Powers of LCs vis-à-vis Rajya Sabha
The constitution gives Councils limited legislative powers. Unlike Rajya Sabha which has substantial powers to shape non-financial legislation, Legislative Councils lack the constitutional mandate to do so. Legislative Assemblies have the power to override suggestions/amendments made to a legislation by the Council.
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus subtopic: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Prelims and Mains focus: About the new species of the eel; about ZSI and its functions
News: A new snake eel species residing in the Bay of Bengal has been discovered and documented this month ( January) by the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre (EBRC) of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) at Gopalpur-on-sea in Odisha.
About the new species
About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
The main activities of the ZSI are:
Source: The Hindu
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