TOPIC : GS 2 Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels and Challenges Therein.
Central bill to amend Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021
What is the news?
The centre bill seeking to amend the law relating to the running of National capital territory of Delhi claims that it aimed at giving effects to the interpretation given by Supreme Court judgments on Delhi government structure.
- If bill becomes law will wholly undermine the court efforts to strengthen the elected government Vis a Vis the appointed lieutenant governor
- The constitution bench verdict said “The lieutenant governor has not been entrusted with any independent decision making power. He has to either act on the ‘aid and advice’ of the council of minister or he is bound to implement the decision taken by president on a reference being made by him”.
- The ‘aid and advice’ clause pertains only to matters on which the elected assembly has powers under the state and concurrent lists but with expectation of public order , police and land and whatever there are differences between L-G and the elected government , the former should refer the question to the president
- The power to refer “any matter ” to the president did not mean that “every matter” should be referred thus .
Provision
- Bill seeks to amend in context of legislation passed by Delhi assembly, all references to the to the government would mean “lieutenant governor”.
- The other amendment is in Section 44. Amending section 44 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act-1991, the Bill says that “before taking any executive action in pursuance of the decision of the Council of Ministers or a Minister, to exercise powers of Government, State Government, Appropriate Government, Lieutenant Governor, Administrator or Chief Commissioner…the opinion of Lieutenant Governor in term of proviso to clause (4) of article 239AA of the Constitution shall be obtained on all such matters as may be specified, by a general or special order, by Lieutenant Governor.
- Widening of Discretionary Powers of LG :The Bill further seeks to ensure that the L-G is necessarily granted an opportunity to exercise the power entrusted to him under proviso to clause (4) of article 239AA of the Constitution, in select category of cases and also to make rules in matters which incidentally encroach upon matters falling outside the preview of the Legislative Assembly.
- The proviso to article 239AA , which empowers the L-G to refer a difference of opinion with council of ministers to the president , does not mean that the administrator is given an opportunity to come up with a difference of opinion on every decision made by ministry .
- Instead of parliament identifying the matter on which the L-G opinion should be sought , the bill proposes that L-G himself would specify such matters
- The amendment also declares void any rule that empowers the assembly or its committee to discuss any matter of day to day administration or conduct enquiries amount to rollback of representative government .
Way forward
The ‘union territory’ concept is one of the many ways in which India regulate relations between centre and its units. It should not be used to subvert the basis of electoral democracy
Mains question
Discuss the consequence of recent amendment bill of GNCTD
Source:
TOPIC: GS 2 India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
Stop influx from Myanmar:
In 2008, the military had written a new Constitution that made sure the Generals’ interests would be protected even if there is a transition.
Important provision
- The military drafted the constitution in 2008 and retains power under the charter at the expense of democratic, civilian rule. Human Rights Watch has described the clause as a “coup mechanism in waiting.”
- Article 417 of the country’s constitution, which allows the military to take over in times of emergency. The announcer said the coronavirus crisis and the government’s failure to postpone November elections were reasons for the emergency.
- The constitution also reserves key Cabinet ministries and 25% of the seats in Parliament for the military, a portion that limits the power of a civilian government and rules out amending the charter without military support.
- In November elections, Suu Kyi’s party captured 396 out of 476 seats in the combined lower and upper houses of Parliament. The state Union Election Commission has confirmed that result.
- But the military since shortly after the elections has claimed there were millions of irregularities in voter lists in 314 townships that could have let voters cast multiple ballots or commit other “voting malpractice.”
- India’s reaction: India expressed “deep concern” over the reports of an unfolding military coup in Myanmar. India stressed that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld.
The government will need to craft its response taking into consideration the new geo politics realities of South Asian power and as member of UN security council .
PRELIMS PUNCHERS
- Green climate fund
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund established within the framework of the UNFCCC as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change. The GCF is based in Incheon, South Korea. It is governed by a Board of 24 members and supported by a Secretariat.
The objective of the Green Climate Fund is to “support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing country Parties using thematic funding windows”. It is intended that the Green Climate Fund be the centre piece of efforts to raise Climate Finance under the UNFCCC. The current executive director is Yannick Glemarec.
The Copenhagen Accord, established during the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-15) in Copenhagen mentioned the “Copenhagen Green Climate Fund”. The fund was formally established during the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun as a fund within the UNFCCC framework. Its governing instrument was adopted at the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 17) in Durban, South Africa
- Osaka track declarations
It was a sign of resistance against developed countries led by the US and Japan, which are pushing for free flow of data across borders. It is an overarching framework promoting cross-border data flow with enhanced protections. The declaration is aimed for the creation of international rules enabling free movement of data across borders.
It thus attempted to legitimize the informal plurilateral negotiations on digital trade among 50 countries (the EU representing 28 countries is taken as one).
- Mines and minerals ( Development and Regulation Act ) Bill
Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021, which shall remove restrictions of end-use for future auctions of mineral mining rights, allow operators of existing captive mines to sell up to 50 per cent of minerals extracted in a year and empower the central government to conduct an auction of mines if state governments do not conduct auctions in a timely manner.
The Bill amends the MMDR Act, 1957, that provides a framework for the regulation of the mining sector in India.
- Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore National Park is a national park in Rajasthan, northern India, with an area of 1,334 km (515 sq m). It is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. It is named after the historic Ranthambore Fort, which lies within the park.
Ranthambore National Park hosts deciduous forests and wildlife such as Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, naligai, wild boar, sambar, striped hyena, sloth bear, southern plains gray langur, rhesus macaque, mugger crocodile and chital. The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles, as well as one of the largest banyan trees in India.
- Houthis
The Houthi Movement (“Supporters of God”) and colloquially simply Houthis, is an Islamist political and armed movement that emerged from Sadah in northern Yemen in the 1990s.
The Houthi movement is a predominately Zaidi Shia force.
- Global hunger index
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool that measures and tracks hunger globally as well as by region and by country. GHI was initially published by the US-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Germany-based Welthungerhilfe. In 2007, the Irish NGO Concern Worldwide also became a co-publisher.
The 2020 Global Hunger Index report presents a multi-dimensional measure of national, regional, and global hunger by assigning a numerical score based on several aspects of hunger. It then ranks countries by GHI score and compares current scores with past results. Besides presenting GHI scores, each year the GHI report includes an essay addressing one particular aspect of hunger. The 2020 report considers a One Health approach to linking health and sustainable food systems in order to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.
Prelims question
- Consider the following statement regarding
- Ranthambore National Park is a national park in Rajasthan,
- It is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River
Select the correct statement using the codes given below:
- A only
- B only
- Both A and B
- None of the above
Answer : C
Ranthambore National Park is a national park in Rajasthan, northern India, with an area of 1,334 km (515 sq m). It is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. It is named after the historic Ranthambore Fort, which lies within the park.
Ranthambore National Park hosts deciduous forests and wildlife such as Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, naligai, wild boar, sambar, striped hyena, sloth bear, southern plains gray langur, rhesus macaque, mugger crocodile and chital. The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles, as well as one of the largest banyan trees in India.
- Osaka track declarations relates
- Digital economy
- Climate change
- Migration
- Maritime Relation
Answer :A
It was a sign of resistance against developed countries led by the US and Japan, which are pushing for free flow of data across borders. It is an overarching framework promoting cross-border data flow with enhanced protections. The declaration is aimed for the creation of international rules enabling free movement of data across borders.
It thus attempted to legitimize the informal plurilateral negotiations on digital trade among 50 countries (the EU representing 28 countries is taken as one