Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for October 25, 2024. If you missed the October 24, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here

FRONT PAGE

Justice Sanjiv Khanna appointed next CJI, will enter office Nov 11

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary

What’s the ongoing story: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday appointed Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the 51st Chief Justice of India. Justice Khanna, who is likely to take oath on November 11, will succeed CJI D Y Chandrachud who is due to retire on November 10.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Who is Justice Sanjiv Khanna?

• How the Chief Justice of India is appointed?

• Who appoints the Chief Justice of India?

• A person to be appointed as a Chief Justice of India should have certain qualifications-what are those qualifications?

• The Constitution has prescribed a minimum age for appointment as a Chief Justice of India-True or False?

• What is the system followed for recommending and appointing Chief Justice of India?

• The Constitution has made certain provisions to safeguard and ensure the independent and impartial functioning of a Judges-Know in detail

• Jurisdiction And Powers Of Chief Justice of India-Know in detail

• Executive Vs Judiciary for appointment of judges in higher judiciary-Know in detail

• What is the role of the government in the decision-making process for the shortlisting of judges?

• Regulating Act of 1773 and the Supreme Court of India-Connect the dots

• What happened to the Supreme Court of India after independence in 1947?

• The Supreme Court of India and Constitutional Provisions-Know in detail

• Articles 124 to 147 in Part V of the Constitution says what?

Key Takeaways:

• “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from 11 November 2024,” the government notification said.

• Justice Khanna was elevated to the Supreme Court in January 2019. Despite not having served as Chief Justice of a High Court, he was elevated over other senior judges in the Delhi High Court.

• Justice Khanna has authored several key rulings. He was part of the five-judge Constitution Bench that in February this year struck down the Electoral Bond Scheme as unconstitutional, and in 2023 was part of the bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. In 2023, Justice Khanna authored a key Constitutional Bench ruling that held that the Supreme Court has the power to directly grant divorce under Article 142 of the Constitution on the grounds of “irretrievable breakdown of marriage”.

Do You Know:

• Apart from being an Indian citizen, the person must (a) have been for at least five years a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession or (b) have been for at least ten years an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession, or (c) be, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist.

• The Chief Justice of India and the other judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Indian Constitution. It is mentioned in Article 124 that appointment by the President is to be done “after consultation” with judges of the Supreme Court, as the President may “deem necessary”.

• Article 217, which deals with the appointment of High Court judges, says the President should consult the CJI, Governor, and Chief Justice of the High Court concerned. Further, the tenure of a CJI is until they attain the age of 65 years, while High Court judges retire at 62 years.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????How is seniority decided in the SC?

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

1. With reference to the Indian judiciary, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE, GS1, 2020)

1. Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act as a Supreme Court judge by the Chief Justice of India with the prior permission of the President of India. 2. A High Court in India has the power to review its own judgement as the Supreme Court does. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2

2. The power to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court of India is vested in (UPSC CSE, GS1, 2014) a) the President of India b) the Parliament c) the Chief Justice of India d) the Law Commission

3. Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE GS1, 2022) 1. Pursuant to the report of H.N. Sanyal Committee, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was passed. 2. The Constitution of India empowers the Supreme Court and the High Courts to punish for contempt of themselves. 3. The Constitution of India defines Civil Contempt and Criminal Contempt. 4. In India, the Parliament is vested with the powers to make laws on Contempt of Court. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only b) 1, 2 and 4 c) 3 and 4 only d) 3 only

4. Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE GS1, 2019) 1. The motion to impeach a Judge of the Supreme Court of India cannot be rejected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as per the Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968. 2. The Constitution of India defines and gives details or what constitutes ‘incapacity and proved misbehaviour’ of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India. 3. The details of the process of impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India is given in 4 the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. 4. If the motion for the impeachment of a Judge is taken up for voting, the law requires the motion to be backed by each House of the Parliament and supported by a majority of total membership of that House and by not less than two-thirds of total members of that House present and voting. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 b) 3 only c) 3 and 4 only d) 1, 3 and 4

5. Who/Which of the following is the custodian of the Constitution of India? (UPSC CSE GS1, 2015) a) The President of India b) The Prime Minister of India c) The Lok Sabha Secretariat d) The Supreme Court of India

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: ????Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgement on ‘National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014’ with reference to appointment of judges of higher judiciary in India. (UPSC CSE GS2, 2017)

As cyclone Dana roars in, over 6 lakhs evacuated, trains and flights halted

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

• General Studies III: Disaster and disaster management

What’s the ongoing story: With around six lakh people evacuated from vulnerable areas, more than 4,400 pregnant women moved to hospitals, over 200 trains cancelled, and flight operation at Bhubaneswar Airport suspended for over 12 hours, Odisha on Thursday hunkered down ahead of cyclone Dana’s arrival.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Cyclone Dana-know in detail

• What are Key features of cyclone dana?

• What India Meteorological Department (IMD) says about cyclone dana?

• Odisha and Cyclone-connect the dots

• Why is Odisha prone to cyclone?

• How Odisha deals with cyclone?

• What are Odisha’s strategies for mitigating and managing cyclonic hazards?

• What you understand by Pre cyclone watch, Cyclone alert, Cyclone warning and Post landfall scenario?

• What are the major disaster risk reduction initiatives being taken by Odisha Government?

• What are the main priorities of the Sendai Framework?

• What can the world learn from the Odisha government’s approach to dealing with Cyclones?

Key Takeaways:

• The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamara in Odisha in the early hours of Friday, with wind speeds of 100-120 kmph.

• The cyclone is predicted to trigger heavy to very heavy rain in northern and coastal parts of the state, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj districts.

Do You Know:

• The state government has formulated a disaster management policy with a focus on total risk management and vulnerability reduction, strengthening physical infrastructure, psychological as well as socio-economic status of people to reduce vulnerability. After super cyclone in 1999, Government of Odisha constituted Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) to have a systematic and planned approach to disaster mitigation and management in the state.

• State Government have constituted 5 units of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) being procured with equipment for use during disaster management.

• Government has implemented UNDP sponsored Disaster Risk Management Programme at multi-level and construction of Emergency Operation Centres or Control Room.

• A four stage warning system for tropical cyclone is followed by IMD since 1999. After the weakening of the cyclone into a depression stage, a final message on De-warning is issued —Pre cyclone watch- a special bulletin is issued containing early information about the development of cyclonic disturbances. —Cyclone alert –It is issued at least 48 hours in advance of the expected commencement of adverse weather over the coastal area. —Cyclone warning – it is issued at least 24 hours in advance. —Post landfall scenario-It is issued to cover the devastating impact of the cyclone in coastal areas.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????Odisha’s turnaround in disaster management has lessons for the world

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

????Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (UPSC CSE, GS3, 2020)

????Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters. (UPSC CSE, GS3, 2019)

Officer competency model draws from PM’s Mann Ki Baat, speeches

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Role of civil services in a democracy.

What’s the ongoing story: The Capacity Building Commission (CBC), constituted by the government three years ago, has developed the Karmayogi Competency Model for civil servants, which is a framework of behavioural and functional competencies designed to aid their transition from a karmachari (employee) to a karmayogi (dedicated worker).

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is Karmayogi Competency Model for civil servants?

• ‘Mission Karmayogi’ or The National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB)-Know the aim and objectives

• The Mission Karmayogi or National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB)-Know the rationality behind

• What are the important Features of the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB)

• From a karmachari (employee) to a karmayogi ((dedicated worker)-Comment

• Mission Karmayogi or National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) is guided by 8 principles that are applied in tandem across all of the programmes covered by it-What are they?

• What is iGOT Karmayogi?

• Mission Karmayogi or National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB)- What are the Key Programme Components?

• Mission Karmayogi or National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB)- Know the Institutional Structure in detail

• Special Purpose Vehicle for National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB)-Know Structure & Function

Key Takeaways:

• Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat programme and his public speeches and statements, the model aims to optimise deployment of officials to roles based on their competencies, which are also mapped to courses on the Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) portal.

• The model consists of 34 competencies, of which 13 are categorised as ‘behavioural’ and are further split between ‘core’ and ‘leadership’ competencies. These include self-awareness, personal effectiveness, creativity and innovation, and strategic leadership.

• The remaining 21 competencies are categorised as ‘functional’, which include citizen centricity, policy architecture, digital fluency, financial management and data analytics. With the role of governance evolving and black swan events increasing, the model has been designed to ensure accountability among civil servants and to enhance performance, citizen-centric and tech-enabled governance, and future readiness.

Do You Know:

• According to the CBC, it is responding to the Prime Minister’s call to build a bureaucracy in which the mindset transitions from feeling and acting like a karmachari or a public servant to behaving like a karmayogi where service is done without any expectation in return.

• The Karmayogi Competency Model was developed through primary and secondary research, extensive stakeholder engagement, “including representatives from the public and private sectors, academia, and experts in Indian Knowledge Systems”, and a process of global benchmarking against competency models developed by Australia, Singapore, and South Korea.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????What is Mission Karmayogi?

GOVT & POLITICS

Cabinet clears `1K-cr fund to support space start-ups over 5 years

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

• General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

What’s the ongoing story: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved setting up of a Rs 1,000-crore venture capital fund to support 30 to 35 space start-ups over a period of five years, which, the government hopes, will attract private funding.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What do space start-ups do?

• How many space start-ups are there in India?

• The private sector into the space programme-Why?

• ‘Privatisation alone is not enough. It needs to be complemented with international cooperation’-Why?

• What are the major developments in the space sector in India?

• What are the key features of Indian Space Policy 2023?

• Is space governed by international law?

Key Takeaways:

• Start-ups will receive between Rs 10 to Rs 60 crore support from the fund based on its stage of development, growth trajectory, and its potential impact on national space capabilities.

• The step is in line with the government’s vision of India capturing a bigger chunk of the global space market. The Indian space sector is currently valued at USD 8.4 billion and is expected to grow to USD 44 billion with the government’s support. There are already 250 space start-ups in the country since the space sector was liberalised in 2020.

• This move — which was announced in this year’s budget — will also generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, develop new manufacturing capability and supply chains, and create trained space professionals. The fund is expected to drive innovation in satellite technology, launch vehicle technology, as well as space applications. It will also advance space reforms.

• Around Rs 150 crore from the fund is likely to be deployed in its first year (2025-26), `250 crore for next three years, and `100 crore in its last year of operation, according to a government statement. The fund will be managed by professional managers and follow the structures of an alternative investment fund as per SEBI.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????Explained: Public-private partnership breaches space frontier

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: ????Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socio-economic development? (UPSC CSE GS3, 2016)

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

Not another BRICS in the wall

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: Sanjay Bhattacharyya Writes: The Kazan Declaration and leadership interactions marked the success of the 16th BRICS Summit hosted by Russia on the theme of “strengthening multilateralism for just global development and security”.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Kazan Summit-Know the key highlights

• Know about BRICS

• BRICS and Goldman Sachs-connect the dots

• “Economic slowdown in the West, the widespread impact of Covid and the outbreak of conflict in Europe, West Asia and South China Sea accentuated the divide between the West and Russia-China”-how this affected BRICS?

• “BRICS is anti-West”-Analyse

• “G7 was seen as representing the West, BRICS representing the Global South and G20 had elements of both”-Comment

Key Takeaways:

• The thrust of the BRICS agenda, since early days, was economic development through intra-BRICS cooperation as well as collaboration with multilateral development banks. It expanded to various sectors of the economy, explored projects for cooperation and negotiated action plans. BRICS countries experienced rapid economic growth with tangible benefits to citizens. In fact, BRICS overtook G7 in terms of GDP, economic growth rate, access to critical materials and population.

• BRICS members created new instruments and institutions when the global system did not respond adequately to their aspirations. The new instruments, including the Contingency Reserve Arrangement or the New Development Bank, were not alternatives to MDBs, but rather to supplement their efforts.

• At Kazan, there was priority on intra BRICS engagement in different economic fields. The expansion of membership gave the group greater heft. Besides, BRICS could engage other members of the Global South.

• There were suggestions for a BRICS currency or a digital currency, but they were premature and would require deeper integration of the diverse economic situations and institutional frameworks.

Do You Know:

• As a 21st century grouping, BRICS showed the ambition and innovation expected of a Gen Z institution. It developed a broad development agenda and sought reform of global governance with focus on delivery. It incorporated South Africa in 2010, doubled membership in 2024 and set up a new tier of partner countries at Kazan.

• BRICS does not have a secretariat, it depends on the participation of members and the presidency. A cornerstone of the group’s decision making has been its consensus-based approach towards agenda, plan of action and membership.

• As a founding member of BRICS, the fifth-largest economy and the fastest growing major economy, India plays a unique role within it. It has not only shaped its agenda and priorities but has been instrumental in being the bridge between Global South, BRICS, G7 Outreach and G20.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????PM Modi attends BRICS Summit in Russia: What is the group, its significance for India

AN INVESTMENT, NOT A WASTE

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

What’s the ongoing story: Milind Murugkar Writes: India’s farm sector is in need of increased investment in R&D. It needs to increase crop productivity, develop varieties that can withstand climate change, and ensure food security. This is the argument in a recent article in this newspaper (‘The problem with free food’, IE, October 14).

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is National Food Security Act (NFSA)?

• “India’s farm sector is in need of increased investment in R&D”-Comment

• “Food subsidies constitute a big part of subsidies to farmers in the form of price support along with input subsidies and much of it is wasteful”-Comment

• Is food subsidy expenditure is wasteful?

• Do so many people need food subsidies?

• What is “Right to Food”?

• “Right to Food” and “distributing free food”-why they are opposite to each other?

Do You Know:

• October 16 is observed as World Food Day every year by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). It is a reminder of the commitment made at the highest level to ensure food and nutritional security.

• The world has made tremendous progress in increasing food production by large-scale adoption of better seeds, more irrigation, and higher doses of fertilisers and pesticides. Farm machinery has become more efficient. All this could not have been done without increasing incentives to farmers — input subsidies, higher prices for their produce, or a mix of some of the two.

• Globally, as per the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI report) of FAO, roughly 2.33 billion people still face moderate to severe food insecurity. This a challenge to those committed to providing food and nutrition security to all.

• This year’s theme of FAO’s World Food Day is “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future”. The “Right to Food” approach of the FAO encouraged the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh to pass the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????The problem with free food

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

6. With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE, GS1, 2018) 1. The families coming under the category of ‘below poverty line (BPL)’ only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains. 2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card. 3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a ‘take-home ration’ of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 b) 2 only c) 1 and 3 d) 3 only

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: ????WTO is an important international institution where decisions taken affect countries in a profound manner. What is the mandate of WTO and how binding are their decisions? Critically analyse India’s stand on the latest round of talks on Food security (2014)

THE IDEAS PAGE

To counter declining fertility rate, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu has suggested

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

What’s the ongoing story: Sribharat Mathukumilli writes: Although the economist Thomas Malthus did not write specifically about India, his theory regarding the necessity of population control has shaped the discourse on the Indian population. Recently, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, emphasised the urgent need to shift this discourse from “population control” to “population management”.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is Thomas Malthus theory regarding the population?

• The North-South divide in India’s aging population-know in detail

• What are the implications of declining fertility rates?

• How does the rapid decline in TFR — especially in southern states— poses significant risks?

• How the upcoming delimitation in 2026 poses challenges for states that have successfully controlled their population growth?

• How population figures play a crucial role in tax devolution between central and state governments?

• ‘The perils of an ageing society are evident in countries like Japan’-Comment

Key Takeaways:

• The world is greying faster than ever. David Bloom, writing for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2020, observed, “greying” is the dominant trend in the 21st century.

• The UNFPA recently released the India Aging Report, 2023. It declares that “globally, there are 1.1 billion persons aged 60 years and above in 2022, comprising 13.9 per cent of the total population of 7.9 billion. Over the next three decades, the number of older persons worldwide is expected to double to 2.1 billion by 2050, with the share rising to 22 per cent of the total population.

• The UNFPA sets out the challenge of declining fertility rates that developed and developing countries will experience at different points in time. And it situates India within this context. The report points out that developing countries are presently witnessing a significant drop in fertility levels far sooner in their development journey than developed countries did.

Do You Know:

• According to a study published in The Lancet, the population of Japan could diminish at least by half by the year 2100. The decreasing number of young people in the labour force has led to a shortage of workers in manufacturing sectors, leading to decline in production and innovation as well as reduced global exports.

• An IMF staff paper from November 2018 estimated that Japan’s economic growth would decline by an average of 0.8 per cent each year over the next 40 years due solely to demographic factors. Additional issues include budgetary constraints, decreased savings and investment rates, pension burdens on companies, and increased healthcare spending — particularly in tertiary care facilities. Similarly, China’s ageing population poses risks reminiscent of Japan’s lost decade. Recognising the dangers associated with declining birth rates, China has revoked its one-child policy in favour of a three-child policy.

• In a 2019 report, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) noted that by 2027 India will have the highest population increase, overtaking China as the world’s most populous country. India did, in fact, overtake China as the most populous country this year.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????legislation to encourage people to have more children. Is it a viable idea?

When Parliament isn’t in session

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these

What’s the ongoing story:  Derek O’Brien Writes: 135 down to 55! The average number of days Parliament sits annually has gone down from 135 days in the first Lok Sabha to 55 days in the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24). So what happens during the remaining 300 days? Standing Committees, which consider and report on Demand for Grants, Bills, annual reports, and discuss national basic long-term policy documents of the concerned department/ministries, are where most of the action takes place when Parliament is not in session.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What are the Standing Committees of Parliament?

• What are Committees of Parliament, and what do they do?

• How are the Committees constituted, and how are their chairpersons chosen?

• How important are the recommendations of the Committees?

• How do discussions/ debates in the Parliamentary Committees differ from those in Parliament?

Key Takeaways:

• The writer of the article thinks it is time for an overhaul. Here are five specific suggestions. —According to the rules, the government is required to respond to committee recommendations within six months. This should be brought down to 60 days, as practised in the British House of Commons. —MPs serve in committees for just a year, leading to constant reshuffling and lack of expertise. Take a cue from the US Congress’ permanent Standing Committees or Kerala’s Legislative Assembly, with a 30-month tenure. A longer tenure will work better. —A Parliamentary Committee on National Economy should be formed to annually examine the state of the economy. Short-duration discussions should be initiated in both Houses of Parliament to discuss the reports. This should be followed by a response from the Minister. Public borrowing, as it affects future governments, should also be reviewed by this committee. —In a federal democracy, the responsibility of the Parliament while passing Constitution Amendment Bills is immense. Therefore, a Constitution Committee should be established for prior scrutiny to check if these are ultra vires to the Constitution, and strengthen the credibility of constitutional amendments. —Pre-budget scrutiny and proper examination of Demand for Grants (DFGs) must not be sidelined because of elections. Following the constitution of Lok Sabhas in 2014, 2019, and 2024, DFGs were not sent to Standing Committees. The precedent set in the 11th Lok Sabha (1996) should be followed. The Union Budget was presented on July 22. The House adjourned on August 2 and was reconvened on August 26, for committees to review the Demand for Grants.

Do You Know:

• A Parliamentary Committee is a panel of MPs that is appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker, and which works under the direction of the Speaker. It presents its report to the House or to the Speaker.

• Parliamentary Committees have their origins in the British Parliament. They draw their authority from Article 105, which deals with the privileges of MPs, and Article 118, which gives Parliament authority to make rules to regulate its procedure and conduct of business.

• Broadly, Parliamentary Committees can be classified into Financial Committees, Departmentally Related Standing Committees, Other Parliamentary Standing Committees, and Ad hoc Committees. The Financial Committees include the Estimates Committee, Public Accounts Committee, and the Committee on Public Undertakings. These committees were constituted in 1950.

• Seventeen Departmentally Related Standing Committees came into being in 1993, when Shivraj Patil was Speaker of Lok Sabha, to examine budgetary proposals and crucial government policies. The aim was to increase Parliamentary scrutiny, and to give members more time and a wider role in examining important legislation. The number of Committees was subsequently increased to 24. Each of these Committees has 31 members — 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha.

• Ad hoc Committees are appointed for a specific purpose. They cease to exist after they have completed the task assigned to them, and have submitted a report to the House. The principal Ad hoc Committees are the Select and Joint Committees on Bills. Committees like the Railway Convention Committee, Committee on Food Management and Security in Parliament House Complex, etc. also come under the category of Ad hoc Committees.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????India’s Parliamentary Committee System: Unveiling its origin, significance and challenges

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

7. Consider the following statements: The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (UPSC CSE GS1, 2013) 1. consists of not more than 25 Members of the Lok Sabha 2. scrutinizes appropriation finance accounts of Government 3. of the Auditor examines the report Comptroller and General of India Which of the statements given above is / are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (e) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

8. With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scruitinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws, etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation? (UPSC CSE, GS1, 2018) a) Committee on Government Assurances b) Committee on Subordinate Legislation c) Rules Committee d) Business Advisory Committee

EXPRESS NETWORK

1.5 degrees Celsius target will be ‘gone’ in a few years: UN report

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story: Greenhouse gas emissions of China and India, two of the top three emitters, grew by 5.2 per cent and 6.1 per cent respectively in the year 2023, a new UN report revealed on Thursday.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is the Emissions Gap Report?

• What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• What are the recommendations given by Emissions Gap report?

• What is the United Nations Environment Programme?

Key Takeaways:

• The Emissions Gap Report, an annual publication of the UN Environment Programme, warned that the Paris Agreement objective of keeping global rise in temperatures to within 1.5 degree Celsius would be “gone within a few years” and even the 2 degree Celsius threshold would be in danger of being breached, unless countries dramatically scale up their climate actions to reduce global emissions in two years.

• The report, which is released just ahead of climate change conference every year, said current climate actions, even in the most optimistic scenario, could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by only 10 per cent by 2030 on 2019 levels, when the bare minimum required to keep the 1.5 degree target in sight was 42 per cent reduction. The reductions must increase to 57 per cent by 2035.

• The report called for a massive increase in investment in emissions reductions. It said the emissions gap for 2030 and 2035 could still be bridged at the cost of US$ 200 per ton of CO2 equivalent. At this cost, about 31 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent could potentially be reduced from annual emissions by 2030, more than the nearly 28 billion CO2 equivalent that is required for 1.5 degree goal.

Do You Know:

• According to the UNEP website, the Emissions Gap Reports are annual science-based assessments of the gap between countries’ pledges on greenhouse gas emissions reductions and the reductions required to deliver a global temperature increase of below 2°C by the end of this century.

• Each year the reports also feature assessment of key opportunities for bridging the gap. The reports have gained wide reputation as a scientifically authoritative source of timely and policy relevant information to key decision-makers, informing the UNFCCC process, and – looking forward – the implementation of the Paris Agreement. UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP CCC) has managed the production of UNEP’s flagship report on climate change – the Emissions Gap Report – since 2011.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????World set to get warmer by nearly 3°C by end of century, UN report warns before COP28

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

9. The ‘Common Carbon Metric’, supported by UNEP, has been developed for (UPSC CSE, GS1, 2021) (a) assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world (b) enabling commercial fanning entities around the world to enter carbon emission trading (c) enabling governments to assess the overall carbon footprint caused by their countries (d) assessing the overall carbon foot-print caused by the use of fossil fuels by the world in a unit time

Just 150 of them left, glimmer of hope for great Indian bustard after first-ever artificial insemination birth

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

What’s the ongoing story: The birth of a great Indian bustard through artificial insemination at the Sudasari Great Indian Bustard Breeding Centre in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district is an “extremely important step” in the conservation of the critically endangered species, authorities said.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is the Great Indian Bustard?

• Great Indian Bustards and their habitats-Mark on Map

• Why is the Great Indian Bustard endangered?

• Why is the Great Indian Bustard is on the brink of extinction?

• Great Indian Bustard-Know the Conservation efforts

Key Takeaways:

• It is the birth of a great Indian bustard through artificial insemination. “This is an extremely important step in the conservation of the GIB, which is an endangered species,” said Pavan Kumar, Chief Wildlife Warden of Rajasthan. He said a similar initiative had been started in Abu Dhabi, where a project by the International Fund for Houbara Conservation has been using artificial insemination to hatch the houbara bustard.

• Wildlife biologist Sumit Dookia, from the University School of Environment Management at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, said, “This is part of a captive breeding project that has been going on since 2019. While this is a positive step in the right direction, it will take at least 25 years to be able to develop enough birds (in this manner) to allow for natural increase of their population after they are released in the wild.”

Do You Know:

• According to the government, there are fewer than 150 GIB – birds that are found only in India. Most of these are found in Rajasthan.

• Increased human activity in their habitat, predators preying on their eggs, and deaths due to overhead power lines are seen as being among the causes of the bird’s population decline.

• In 2020, a study carried out by WII in the 4,200-sq-km of the great Indian bustard (GIB) habitat in and around Desert National Park in Rajasthan estimated that power lines had killed around 84,000 birds of multiple species every year. This included the endangered GIB, which are particularly vulnerable because of their narrow frontal vision and large size.

• In April 2021, the Supreme Court had ordered that all power lines in the GIB habitat be buried underground. However, earlier this year, the apex court said it would review its 2021 order after the central government found that it would be “practically impossible to implement” over long distances.

• As part of conservation efforts, the Centre, the Rajasthan government and WII have been collaborating on a captive breeding programme for GIB. The artificial insemination method was successfully implemented as a part of this project. The plan is to eventually release the captively bred birds into the wild.

• According to wildlife experts, while the birth of the GIB chick by artificial insemination is an important step in conservation efforts, it is too early to speculate on the extent of the impact this could have.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????Explained: Critically endangered Great Indian Bustards’ recovery program, and what lies ahead

EXPLAINED

LANDFALL OF A CYCLONE

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.

Mains Examination: General Studies I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

What’s the ongoing story: Heavy rainfall lashed parts of West Bengal and Odisha today (October 24) as the states braced for the impact of cyclone Dana later in the night. After having intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds between 88 to 117 km, cyclone Dana is set to make landfall.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is landfall of a cyclone?

• What is Cyclone?

• How are Cyclones named?

• Classification of cyclonic disturbances-how they are classified?

• Cyclone, Tornado, Hurricane and Typhoon-How they are different from each other?

• What is the average lifespan of a cyclonic storm?

• Why do ‘tropical cyclones’ winds rotate counter-clockwise (clockwise) in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere?

• What does “maximum sustained wind” mean? How does it relate to gusts in tropical cyclones?

• How are low pressure system classified in India? What are the differences between low, depression and cyclone?

• Are all cyclonic storms equally dangerous?

• Storm Intensity, Expected Damage and Suggested Actions-Know in detail

• Deep Depression (DD), Cyclonic Storm (CS), Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS), Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS), Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm (ESCS) and Super Cyclone (SuCS)-how they are different?

• India’s Vulnerability to Cyclones-Know in Detail

• Why October is month of cyclone for India’s eastern coast?

• The IMD issues warnings in four stages for the Indian coast-What are they?

• World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)-About, Role, Vision and Mission

• India Meteorological Department (IMD)-About, Role, Vision and Mission

Key Takeaways:

• Cyclone Dana, expected to generate wind speeds of 100-110 kmph and gusts at 120 kmph, is a tropical cyclone. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) classifies cyclones broadly into two categories: extratropical cyclones and tropical cyclones.

• Landfall is the event of a tropical cyclone coming onto land after being over water. A tropical cyclone is classified as making landfall when the center of the storm moves across the coast; in strong tropical cyclones this is when the eye moves over land. This is where most of the damage occurs within a mature tropical cyclone as most of the damaging aspects of these systems are concentrated near the eye-wall. Such effects include the peaking of the storm surge, the core of strong winds comes on shore, and heavy flooding rains. These coupled with high surf can cause major beach erosion.

Do You Know:

• A “Cyclonic Storm’ or a “Cyclone” is an intense vortex or a whirl in the atmosphere with very strong winds circulating around it in anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. Tropical cyclones are also referred to as ‘Hurricanes’ over Atlantic Ocean, ‘Typhoons’ over Pacific Ocean, ‘Willy-Willies’ over Australian Seas and simply as ‘Cyclones’ over north Indian Ocean (NIO).

• Also known as mid-latitude cyclones, extratropical cyclones occur outside the tropics (that is beyond the areas that fall under the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn). They have “cold air at their core, and derive their energy from the release of potential energy when cold and warm air masses interact”, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

• Tropical cyclones are those which develop in the regions between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. They are the most devastating storms on Earth. Such cyclones develop when “thunderstorm activity starts building close to the centre of circulation, and the strongest winds and rain are no longer in a band far from the centre,” NOAA noted.

• The core of the storm turns warm, and the cyclone gets most of its energy from the “latent heat” released when water vapour that has evaporated from warm ocean waters condenses into liquid water, the agency added. Moreover, warm fronts or cold fronts aren’t associated with tropical cyclones.

• Tropical cyclones have different names depending on their location and strength. For instance, they are known as hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the North Atlantic Ocean and the eastern and central North Pacific Ocean. In the western North Pacific, they are called typhoons.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????Cyclone Dana to hit Odisha, West Bengal: How and why cyclones are named

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

10. Consider the following statements: (UPSC GS1 2020) 1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only. 2. Only some cyclones develop an eye. 3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 2 only d) 1 and 3 only

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The Indian Express UPSC Essentials brings to you the October issue of its monthly magazine. Click Here to read. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com