04-November-2023-Daily-Current-Affairs

 ACTION AND AUTHORITY

GS 2 (POLITY AND GOVERNANCE): SOURCE – THE HINDU

The recent actions of Governors in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, challenging elected regimes by delaying decisions, highlight the issue of political appointees wielding authority. The controversy underscores the need for clarity in their roles and the constraints imposed by the Constitution.

✅Governors as Political Appointees:

• Governors of Indian states are political appointees, often aligned with the ruling party at the central level. Their role is largely ceremonial, representing the President and the central government in the states.

✅Challenges to State Decisions:

• Tamil Nadu and Kerala have approached the Supreme Court to question the delay in the Governors granting assent to Bills passed by the state legislatures.
• Tamil Nadu has raised concerns about the delay in acting upon proposals related to the grant of remissions to convicts, sanction for the prosecution of former Ministers, and appointments to the State Public Service Commissions.

✅Governors’ Role in State Universities:

• Some Governors, especially in states not governed by the ruling party at the Centre, are accused of obstructing or delaying decisions and Bills passed by the state governments.
• Governors, who often serve as Chancellors in universities, may resist amendments to university laws that seek to exclude them from the process of appointing vice-chancellors or establishing universities where they are not Chancellors.

✅Proposed Reforms:

• The Justice M.M. Punchhi Commission on Centre-State relations recommended a national prohibition on Governors holding the role of Chancellor in any university.

✅Constitutional Authority and Timeframe:

• The Supreme Court has reminded constitutional authorities, including Governors, that the phrase “as soon as possible” in Article 200 of the Constitution contains “constitutional content.”
• Governors should not indefinitely withhold their assent to Bills without conveying a decision.

✅State Responsibility:

• States should be prudent in their decision-making processes and ensure transparent and efficient methods for appointments, such as that of the chairperson and members of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission.

✅The Role of Governors:

• Governors are constitutionally bound by the ‘aid and advice’ clause, and they should refrain from misusing their discretionary powers and act in accordance with the recommendations and guidance given by the Council of Ministers in the state.

CAUVERY AUTHORITY RATIFIES CWRC’S DECISION ON RELEASE OF WATER TO TAMIL NADU

GS 2 (POLITY AND GOVERNANCE): SOURCE – THE HINDU

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) ratified the decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directing Karnataka to release 2,600 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water to Tamil Nadu until November 23. This decision raises key concerns about water sharing between the riparian states and the contentious Mekedatu project proposed by Karnataka.

                   

Key Points:

Water Release Decision: The CWMA’s approval mandated Karnataka to release 5.17 thousand million cubic feet of water to Tamil Nadu in the upcoming three weeks, despite Karnataka’s claims of water scarcity.

State Water Reservoirs: As per Karnataka’s State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, the combined reservoir storage was 56 tmc ft, highlighting the water availability situation.

Meeting Proceedings: The meeting in New Delhi, chaired by CWMA chairman Saumitra Kumar Haldar, involved physical representation from the primary states and virtual presence from Kerala and Puducherry. Tamil Nadu pressed for the release of 13,000 cusecs, accounting for pending water shares.

Mekedatu Project Dispute: Karnataka aimed to present its ambitious Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project worth ₹9,000 crore, but Tamil Nadu opposed this discussion during the emergency meeting.

Project Review Postponed: Chairman Haldar clarified that the emergency session did not allow for discussing the Mekedatu project. However, he assured the matter would be addressed in an upcoming regular meeting.

Conclusion

The decision taken by the CWMA reflects the ongoing disputes concerning water distribution between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The deferred discussion on the Mekedatu project signifies the persistence of unresolved issues between the states, highlighting the complexities surrounding the sharing of Cauvery River waters. The upcoming regular meeting might shed further light on the contentious project’s fate and the water-sharing challenges between the riparian states.

WOMEN’S QUOTA PRIOR TO LS POLLS IS DIFFICULT: SC

GS 2 (POLITY AND GOVERNANCE): SOURCE – THE HINDU

A recent petition to the Supreme Court (SC) emphasizes the delay in implementing the women’s quota amendment passed unanimously by Parliament. It raises concerns about the stalled implementation of various constitutional amendments without the need for Census data.

Key Points:

Delayed Implementation: The plea refers to the stalled execution of a constitutional amendment that promised reserved seats for women in Parliament, state legislatures, and the Delhi Legislative Assembly, despite its unanimous passing in a Special Session of Parliament.

Petition Argument: The petition asserts that such delays tantamount to a ‘virtual stay’ on the effect of the Act, emphasizing that amendments, like the 73rd and 74th, were implemented without waiting for Census data.

Historical Precedents: The plea draws attention to historical amendments, such as the 77th Constitutional Amendment providing job promotion reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which were enacted without Census data.

Comparative Analysis: It also highlights the recent execution of the 10% Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation in educational and employment sectors for the economically deprived Forward Caste groups, enacted without waiting for Census figures.

Conclusion

The petition underscores the delay in implementing the women’s quota amendment, emphasizing the precedence set by other constitutional amendments that were put into effect without the necessity of Census data. It seeks to prompt the SC to address the delay in enacting this crucial amendment, citing similar past implementations as precedence.

NATIONAL DAM SAFETY TEAM FAULTS PLANNING, DESIGN OF KALESHWARAM PROJECT’S BARRAGE IN TELANGANA

GS 3 (ECONOMY): SOURCE – INDIAN EXPRESS

The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) recently examined the Medigadda Barrage of Telangana’s Kaleshwaram irrigation project and found significant faults in its planning and design. The inspection revealed concerning issues related to planning, quality control, and operation, leading to damage in the construction.

Key Points:

Expert Findings: A six-member NDSA team assessed the sinking of piers in Block-7 of the Medigadda Barrage of the Kaleshwaram irrigation project. The inspection, held on October 23-24, highlighted faults in planning, design, and quality control.

Serious Observations:

• The 43-page report by the NDSA committee noted a lack of information on several crucial aspects, with details provided on only 11 out of 20 requested by the State government.
• The report highlighted settlement issues of the barrage raft as the main cause of the failure, causing the movement and cracking of monolith piers.

Quality Control Concerns:

• Deficiencies were attributed to the absence of stringent quality control during the construction of sub-surface contiguous secant piles and plinth connections.
• Gaps in the secant pile formation were suggested, making the barrier permeable, leading to piping and subsequent progressive failure.

Parallel Construction:

• The NDSA report indicated that similar design and construction methodologies are present in two other barrages, Annaram and Sundilla barrages, raising concerns about potential issues in these structures.

Conclusion

The NDSA team’s assessment revealed critical flaws in the planning, design, and quality control aspects of the Kaleshwaram project’s Medigadda Barrage. The report highlighted the issues that led to the damage, primarily due to the settlement of the barrage raft, substandard quality control, and subsequent structural deficiencies. The findings raise concerns about potential similar problems in other barrages within the same project.

MILLETS FOR THE RICH ALONE?

GS 3 (ECONOMY): SOURCE – FINANCIAL EXPRESS

Millets, known for their nutritional benefits and climate resilience, have become a staple targeted primarily at affluent urban consumers due to various market and policy challenges. To tackle malnutrition and enhance food security, the government needs to focus on boosting millet production and integration into essential food programs, particularly the Public Distribution System (PDS).

             

Key Points:

Challenges in Millet Value Chain:

• Millets have not yet achieved mass adoption due to high costs, limited procurement, short shelf life, and inconsistent demand, making them unaffordable for rural communities who predominantly receive subsidized wheat and rice.

Role of Government Procurement:

• Public procurement of millets remains extremely low compared to wheat and rice, leading to disparity between urban market prices and low returns for farmers. The government plans to procure a modest quantity of millets in the coming years.

Boosting Competitive Millet Production:

• A primary focus should be on enhancing millet productivity to ensure it remains competitive with existing staple crops, particularly rice, without compromising national food security.

Identifying Potential Millet Cultivation Areas:

• Analysing agro ecosystems to identify districts suitable for millet cultivation is crucial. Specific areas with lower productivity in competing crops, like rice and maize, offer potential for millet cultivation.

R&D and Access to Seeds:

• Increased investment in research and development for enhancing yields and providing farmers access to high-yielding seeds are crucial for scaling up millet production.

Inclusion in Public Programs:

• Integrating millets into essential government programs like PDS, mid-day meals, and other public meal initiatives can significantly increase their consumption and support nutritional diversity.

Decentralized Procurement and Distribution:

• Empowering districts as local centers for millet procurement, processing, and distribution reduces transportation costs and storage risks, ensuring accessibility, especially for essential government programs.

Promotion and Export Potential:

• Encouraging export through improved supply chains and supporting processing and preservation methods can capitalize on the potential rise in global millet demand.

Conclusion

Promoting millets as an integral part of the diet necessitates a comprehensive strategy that involves increased production, inclusion in public programs, decentralized procurement, and focus on both domestic consumption and export. Implementing these measures, supported by research, investment, and policy reforms, can significantly contribute to India’s nutritional improvement, agricultural resilience, and overall food security.

ZIKA VIRUS

GS 3 (SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY): SOURCE- DOWN TO EARTH

The Zika virus was identified in mosquito specimens in proximity to Bengaluru, Karnataka.

                           

Zika Facts:

• Zika virus is predominantly spread by Aedes mosquitoes, known to be active during daylight hours.
• Aedes mosquitoes also transmit diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
• Infection with the Zika virus is linked to neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuropathy, and myelitis, especially in adults and older children.
• The virus was initially discovered in a Rhesus macaque monkey in Uganda.
• Transmission occurs from mother to fetus during pregnancy, via sexual contact, blood transfusion, and similar means.
• Unfortunately, there is currently no available vaccine for Zika prevention.

LEGAL IDENTITY AND RIGHTS-BASED RETURN MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE

GS 2 (INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION): SOURCE- DOWN TO EARTH

The event was conducted in Copenhagen, Denmark, by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This gathering centered on the global issue of over a billion individuals lacking legal identification, rendering them invisible in the eyes of the state, thereby restricting their access to essential services and mobility.

IOM Meeting:

• The conference was held in alignment with the IOM’s 2022-launched Global Programme, RELICA, aimed at boosting capacities related to legal identity and readmission.
• RELICA utilizes a fact-based strategy to collaborate with specific nations on legal identity and readmission, fostering more effective management of migration and similar concerns.

International Organization for Migration (IOM):

• Founded in 1951, it operates within the United Nations System.
• Its primary objective is to facilitate humane and structured migration that benefits all involved.
• It boasts a membership of 175 countries, including India.