PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS 4-MARCH-2018
Topic: Salient features of the
Representation of People’s Act.
‘one candidate, one seat’
Context: The Election Commission
has told the Supreme Court that it supports the proposal to allow one candidate
to contest from only one constituency in an election. The EC expressed this
view in an affidavit it filed in the petition over the matter.
Background:
The Supreme Court had in
December 2017 issued notices seeking replies from the Election Commission and
the Centre on the issue. At the time, the Supreme Court had said the practice
of one candidate contesting multiple seats was a drain on the exchequer since
it necessitated bypolls.
A petition has been filed in
the Supreme Court challenging Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People
Act of 1951 that allows a person to contest elections to Parliament and state
assemblies from two constituencies and sought an end to the practice.
What’s the issue?
Political parties across the
country field senior leaders from more than one seat in a bid to ensure
victory. If they win from multiple seats, these leader are then required to
vacate other seats and continue to hold only one. This means a general election
is usually followed closely by a bye-election to the seats that have been
vacated.
Section 33(7) of
RPA:
Section 33(7) of the
Representation of People’s Act permits a candidate to contest any election
(Parliamentary, State Assembly, Biennial Council, or bye-elections) from up to
two constituencies. The provision was introduced in 1996 prior to which there
was no bar on the number of constituencies from which a candidate could
contest.
Why candidates
should be barred from contesting from more than one seat?
One person, one vote & one
candidate, one constituency is the dictum of democracy. However, as per the
law, as it stands today, a person can contest the election for the same office
from two constituencies simultaneously. When a candidate contests from two
seats, it is imperative that he has to vacate one of the two seats if he wins
both. This, apart from the consequent unavoidable financial burden on the
public exchequer, government manpower and other resources for holding bye-election
is also an injustice to the voters of the constituency which the candidate is
quitting from.
Alternative
suggested by the Election commission:
The ECI has alternatively
suggested that if existing provisions are retained then the candidate contesting
from two seats should bear the cost of the bye-election to the seat that the
contestant decides to vacate in the event of his/her winning both seats. The
amount in such an event could be Rs 5 lakh for assembly election and Rs 10 lakh
for parliament election.
What’s important?
§
For Prelims: Section 33(7) of RPA.
§
For Mains: One candidate one seat- need, issues, challenges and
solutions.
Sources: toi.
Topic: Issues relating to
development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,
Education, Human Resources.
NIRF India Rankings 2018
Context: The National
Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) India Rankings 2018 have been announced.
NIRF Indian Rankings 2018 was the third edition of the rankings that were
introduced in the year 2016.
What is NIRF?
The National Institutional
Ranking Framework (NIRF) outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the
country.
§
The parameters for ranking broadly cover “Teaching, Learning and
Resources,” “Research and Professional Practices,” “Graduation Outcomes,”
“Outreach and Inclusivity,” and “Perception”.
§
The 2018 rankings include nine different categories-overall,
universities, engineering, colleges, management, pharmacy, medical,
architecture, and law. Out of which sections like
medical, architecture and law have been introduced this year.
Performance of
various institutions:
§
The Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and Delhi’s Miranda
House are India’s best university and college this year.
§
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, Nalsar
University of Law in Hyderabad and Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur
ranked number 1 in their respective categories.
§
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras was declared the best
engineering college.
§
Delhi University’s Miranda House topped the college category this
year as well.
§
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad occupied the top
position among management institutions this year also.
Significance of
NIRF:
Ranking promotes competition
among the Universities and drive them to strive for excellence. The rankings
assume significance as performance of institutions has been linked with
“Institutions of Eminence” scheme.
Institutions of
Eminence scheme:
§
The institutes of eminence scheme
under the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry aims to project Indian
institutes to global recognition.
§
The 20 selected institutes will enjoy complete academic and
administrative autonomy.
§
The government will run 10 of these and they will receive special
funding.
§
The selection shall be made through
challenge method mode by the Empowered Expert Committee constituted for the
purpose.
§
Only higher education institutions
currently placed in the top 500 of global rankings or top 50 of the National
Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) are eligible to apply for the eminence
tag.
§
The private Institutions of Eminence can also come up as
greenfield ventures provided the sponsoring organisation submits a convincing
perspective plan for 15 years.
What’s important?
§
For Prelims: NIRF rankings, Institutes of eminence scheme.
§
For Mains: Higher education reforms.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Government policies and
interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
their design and implementation.
SC/ST Atrocities Act
Context: The government has filed
a petition seeking review of the Supreme Court order diluting the provisions of
the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,
which protects marginalised communities against discrimination and atrocities.
What’s the issue?
On March 20, the Supreme Court
banned automatic arrests and registration of criminal cases under the SC/ST
Act, triggering widespread criticism and outcry from the dalit community.
§
The apex court said public servants can’t be prosecuted without
the approval of the appointing authority, and private citizens too should be
arrested only after an inquiry under the law.
§
It further ruled that preliminary inquiry in a case under the Act
would be conducted by the Deputy Superintendent of Police to ensure the
allegations are not frivolous.
§
The amendment in the law was a bid to protect honest public
servants discharging bona fide duties from being blackmailed with false cases
under the Act.
What’s the concern
now?
Dalit organisations and some
political parties fear the dilution of the provisions of the Act might lead to
increase in violence against Dalits.
About SC/ST Act:
§
The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is
popularly known as POA, the SC/ST Act, the Prevention of Atrocities Act, or
simply the Atrocities Act. The SC/ST Act was enacted on September 9, 1989. The
rules for the Act were notified on March 31, 1995.
§
The SC/ST Act lists 22 offences relating to various patterns or
behaviours inflicting criminal offences and breaking the self-respect and
esteem of the scheduled castes and tribes community. This includes denial of
economic, democratic and social rights, discrimination, exploitation and abuse
of the legal process.
§
According to the SC/ST Act, the protection is provided from social
disabilities such as denial of access to certain places and to use customary
passage, personal atrocities like forceful drinking or eating of inedible food
sexual exploitation, injury etc, atrocities affecting properties, malicious
prosecution, political disabilities and economic exploitation.
§
For speedy trial, Section 14 of the SC/ST Act provides for a Court
of Session to be a Special Court to try offences under this Act in each
district.
§
The prime objective of the SC/ST Act is to deliver justice to
marginalised through proactive efforts, giving them a life of dignity,
self-esteem and a life without fear, violence or suppression from the dominant
castes.
What’s important?
§
For Prelims: SC/ST Act.
§
For Mains: Need for review of the act and issues related to
judicial overreach.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Important International
institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
Context: Second lead-up Conference
to 3rd Annual Meeting of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on ‘Enhancing Port and Coastal Infrastructure’ is being held
Visakhapatnam. The Regional Conference is being organized by the Ministry of
Finance, Government of India in collaboration with AIIB, CII and Research and
Infrastructure System (RIS) for Developing Countries.
The panel discusses various
issues relating to trade promotion through sea route, building-up robust port
& coastal infrastructure and revising & relaxing maritime regulatory
issues to promote blue economy in India.
What is AIIB?
§
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral
development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia
and beyond.
§
It is headquartered in Beijing.
§
It commenced operations in January 2016 and has now grown to 84
approved members from around the world.
§
By investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive
sectors today, it aims to connect people, services and markets that over time
will impact the lives of billions and build a better future.
Various organs of
AIIB:
Board of Governors: The Board of Governors
consists of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member
country. Governors and Alternate Governors serve at the pleasure of the
appointing member.
Board of Directors: Non-resident Board of
Directors is responsible for the direction of the Bank’s general operations,
exercising all powers delegated to it by the Board of Governors. This includes
approving the Bank’s strategy, annual plan and budget; establishing policies;
taking decisions concerning Bank operations; and supervising management and
operation of the Bank and establishing an oversight mechanism.
International
Advisory Panel: The Bank has established an International Advisory Panel
(IAP) to support the President and Senior Management on the Bank’s strategies
and policies as well as on general operational issues. The Panel meets in
tandem with the Bank’s Annual Meeting, or as requested by the President. The
President selects and appoints members of the IAP to two-year terms. Panelists
receive a small honorarium and do not receive a salary. The Bank pays the costs
associated with Panel meetings.
Significance of
AIIB:
The United Nations has
addressed the launch of AIIB as having potential for “scaling up financing for
sustainable development” for the concern of global economic governance. The
capital of the bank is $100 billion, equivalent to 2⁄3 of the capital of the
Asian Development Bank and about half that of the World Bank.
Sources: pib.
Topic: Important International
institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
Context: The world’s chemical
watchdog is meeting after a British laboratory said it had not proved that
Russia manufactured a deadly nerve agent used to poison a former Russian spy.
The talks at the Organisation
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have been requested by Moscow
which said it wanted to “address the situation around the allegations in
regards to the incident in Salisbury.”
About OPCW:
§
The OPCW is an independent, autonomous international organisation
with a working relationship with the United Nations.
§
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the
implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into
force in 1997.
§
As of today OPCW has 192 Member States, who are working together
to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.
§
The organisation was awarded the 2013
Nobel Peace Prize “for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”.
The OPCW Member States share
the collective goal of preventing chemistry from ever again being used for
warfare, thereby strengthening international security. To this end, the
Convention contains four key provisions:
§
Destroying all existing chemical weapons under international
verification by the OPCW.
§
Monitoring chemical industry to prevent new weapons from
re-emerging.
§
Providing assistance and protection to States Parties against
chemical threats.
§
Fostering international cooperation to strengthen implementation
of the Convention and promote the peaceful use of chemistry.
The Chemical Weapons
Convention prohibits:
§
Developing, producing, acquiring, stockpiling, or retaining
chemical weapons.
§
The direct or indirect transfer of chemical weapons.
§
Chemical weapons use or military preparation for use.
§
Assisting, encouraging, or inducing other states to engage in
CWC-prohibited activity.
§
The use of riot control agents “as a method of warfare.”
What’s important?
For Prelims and Mains: OPCW and
CWC.
Sources: et.
Paper 3:
Topic: Awareness in space.
Icarus- farthest star
Context: NASA’s Hubble Space
Telescope has discovered the farthest individual star ever seen — an enormous
blue stellar body nicknamed Icarus located over halfway across the universe.
Key facts:
§
The star, harboured in a very distant spiral galaxy, is so far
away that its light has taken nine billion years to reach Earth. It appears to
us as it did when the universe was about 30% of its current age.
§
The star, located in a distant spiral galaxy, is at least 100
times further away than any other star previously observed, with the exception
of things like the huge supernova explosions that mark the death of certain
stars.
Gravitational
lensing:
The scientists took advantage
of a phenomenon called ”gravitational lensing” to spot the star. It involves
the bending of light by massive galaxy clusters in the line of sight, which
magnifies more distant celestial objects. This makes dim, faraway objects that
otherwise would be undetectable, like an individual star, visible.
Significance of this
discovery:
These observations by
astronomers from NASA provide a rare and detailed look at how stars evolve,
especially the most luminous stars. Detecting the amplification of a single and
pinpoint background star has provided a unique opportunity to test the nature
of dark matter in the cluster.
About the Hubble
Space Telescope:
§
The Hubble Space Telescope is a large telescope in space. NASA
launched Hubble in 1990.
§
It was built by the United States space agency NASA, with
contributions from the European Space Agency.
§
Hubble is the only telescope designed to be serviced in space by
astronauts.
§
Expanding the frontiers of the visible Universe, the Hubble Space
Telescope looks deep into space with cameras that can see across the entire
optical spectrum from infrared to ultraviolet.
What’s important?
For Prelims and Mains:
Gravitational lensing, Icarus and hubble telescope.
Sources: the hindu.
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