National Current Affairs – UPSC/IAS Exams- 31st January 2020

President’s Address to the Parliament

Topic: Polity and Governance

In News: On first day of the Budget Session of Parliament, President Ram Nath Kovind will address a joint sitting of the two Houses.

Under what provisions does the President or a Governor address the legislature?

• The Constitution gives the President and the Governor the power to address a sitting of the legislature. The special power is with regard to two occasions.
• The first is to address the opening session of a new legislature after a general election. The second is to address the first sitting of the legislature each year.
• Commonly referred to as the President’s or Governor’s Address, they are a constitutional requirement. A session of a new or a continuing legislature cannot begin without fulfilling this requirement.
• When the Constitution came into force, the President was required to address each session of Parliament. So during the provisional Parliament in 1950, the President gave an address for all three sessions. At the suggestion of Speaker G V Mavalankar, the first Constitutional Amendment in 1951 changed this position.
• Besides being a constitutional requirement, the President’s or Governor’s Address is keenly watched as it outlines the government’s policy agenda and stand on issues.

Are there parallels in other countries?

• Similar provisions exist in other democracies. In the United States, it is referred to as the “State of the Union”.
• In the United Kingdom, it is referred to as the Queen’s Speech and is part of the ceremony to mark the formal start of the parliamentary year.

Indian Way:

• The President’s Address in India is mirrored on the British system.
• During the framing of the Constitution, B R Ambedkar drew a similarity between the President and the monarch under the English system. He said the President “is the Head of State but not of the executive.
• He represents the nation but does not rule the nation. He is the symbol of the nation. His place in the administration is that of a ceremonial device of a seal by which the nation’s decisions are made known”.
• The Constitution binds the President and the Governor to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers of the Union and state governments respectively, on a majority of issues.
• Therefore, the speech that the President or the Governor reads before the legislature is the viewpoint of the government and is prepared by it.
• The President or a Governor cannot refuse to perform the constitutional duty of delivering an address to the legislature.

Model Mains Question: Instances of President’s delay/quickness in commuting death sentences has come under public debate as denial of justice. Should there be a time limit specified for the President to accept/reject such petitions? Analyse.

Source: Hindu

Four hydro projects violate Ganga flow norms

Topic: Environment and Ecology

In News: Over a year after the government made it mandatory for hydro power projects on the upper reaches of the river Ganga’s tributaries to release minimum quantities of water through the year, 4 of the 11 projects are flouting norms, says a report by the Central Water Commission (CWC).

More on the Topic:

• The ecological flow, or e-flow notification as it is called, specifies that the upper stretches of the Ganga from its origins in the glaciers and until Haridwar would have to maintain: 20% of the monthly average flow of the preceding 10-days between November and March, which is the dry season; 25% of the average during the ‘lean season’ of October, April and May; and 30% of monthly average during the monsoon months of June-September.
• The CWC is tasked with measuring the flow and ensuring that plants comply with the law. The non-compliant ones are: Maneri Bhali Phase 2 ,Vishnuprayag Hydroelectric project, Srinagar Hydroelectric project and the Pashulok barrage project.

The Vishnuprayag and Srinagar projects are on the Alaknanda river, the Maneri Bhali on the Bhagirathi and the Pashulok is on the Ganga main stream.

Source: Hindu

Country’s first ‘fruit train’

Topic: Economy

In News: A ‘fruit train’, the first of its kind in the country, was flagged off from Andhra Pradesh carrying a load of 980 metric tonnes of locally grown bananas to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, from where the consignment will be exported to Iran.

More on the Topic:

• It is an exclusive air-conditioned container rake.
• This helps save both time and fuel as 150 trucks would have been required to send a consignment of this size by road to JNPT.
• The government was targeting exports of 30,000 MT of fruits from all over Andhra Pradesh, and had roped in six major corporate companies to collaborate with the local farmers to enhance the productivity, quality of produce, post-harvest treatment and packing, providing market linkage and ensuring higher prices with a regular increase in income year-on-year.
• The bananas are being exported under the brand name ‘Happy Bananas’.

Source: Hindu

“SAMPRITI” Excercise

Topic: International Relations

In News: A Joint Military Exercise between India and Bangladesh, “SAMPRTI” is to be held at Umroi, Meghalaya.

More on the topic:

• During the joint exercise, Command Post Exercise and Field Training Exercise is to be conducted according to United Nations Charter. The troops of both the armies will also practice Counter Terrorist operation.

Source: Hindu

Sustainable Development Goals India Index 2019

Topic: Reports and Indices

In News: NITI Aayog has recently released the Sustainable Development Goals India Index 2019 (SDGII 2019).

More on the Topic:

• Overall, India’s score has improved from 57 to 60, with notable progress on SDGs 3, 6, 7, 9 and 11. While, a decline in the Maternal Mortality Ratio has contributed to our improved performance in the area of ‘Good Health and Well-Being’, ramping up toilet coverage under Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan has raised the country’s score on ‘Clean Water and Sanitation’.
• The commendable performance on Goal 7 is due to expanded access to clean cooking fuel and the government’s massive electrification drive.
• Similarly, on Goal 9, the progress can be attributed largely to a significant improvement in rural road connectivity and increased mobile phone penetration.
• Our performance on Goal 11 has been boosted by better access to housing through the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana as well as more widespread adoption of door-to-door waste collection and processing.
• While this progress is heartening, there are certain indicators where focussed attention is required. For instance, India’s tuberculosis notification rate is still high, thus limiting our overall progress on Goal 3.
• Further, there are some SDGs on which the whole country needs to step up its performance considerably, namely those pertaining to poverty, hunger, gender and climate action.

State wise Performance:

• Telangana topped the UNDP ranking of Indian states based on their progress in achieving SDGs. The state of Telangana scored 82. It was followed by states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka together with a score of 72. However, Kerala followed by Himachal Pradesh lead the list.

Source: Hindu

India Brazil Relations

Topic: International Relations

In News: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s presence as chief guest for this year’s Republic Day parade is a booster dose to India’s relations with a prominent power and an opening to deepen India’s footprints in Latin America.

More on the Topic:

• Brazil is endowed with vast territory, mineral resources and a population of over 200 million people. It historically played a pivotal role as a leader of the Global South alongside India.
• Brasilia and New Delhi jointly pursued aspirations of permanent seats in the UN Security Council and worked towards a multipolar world where large developing countries can frame global rules and democratise international institutions.
• India and Brazil Forums in common: IBSA (India, Brazil & South Africa) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa), G4, G20 etc.
• Both countries played a pivotal role as leaders of the Global South or South-South cooperation.

The Trade Dimension:

• India’s overall trade with Latin America remains low at $40 billion (compared to $63 billion with Africa).
• However, bilateral trade between Brazil and India stands at a dismal $8 billion.
• In 2018 Indian investments in Brazil were around U.S.$ 6 billion and Brazilian investments in India are estimated at $ 1 billion.
• Latin America is the final frontier where India is yet to live up to its aspirational tag of ‘leading power’. But the populist protectionism roiling the West compels emerging powers with currently sluggish economies like Brazil and India to diversify their baskets.
• Bolsonaro’s visit can inspire trade blocs where Brazil is a prominent player such as Mercosur and Prosur to strategically prioritise India.
• Brazil already counts China as its number one trade partner, so much so that Bolsonaro has expressed legitimate fears that China is “buying Brazil”.
• India is a latecomer to Latin America, but like in other parts of the developing world, it is seen as a softer benign power for reducing overdependence on China.
• The Narendra Modi government’s red carpet for Bolsonaro in spite of the Brazilian leader’s lack of a South-South gene has strategic implications.
• Brazil and India formally declared each other ‘strategic partners’ way back in 2006. In the backdrop of an apathetic US and a marauding China, Brasilia and New Delhi have a historic chance now to realise the true strategic value of their bilateral relationship.

Defence Cooperation:

• Brazil and India signed a bilateral ‘Defence Cooperation Agreement’ in 2003 that calls for cooperation in defence-related matters, especially in the field of Research and Development, acquisition and logistic support between the two countries.
• Under the framework of the agreement, a ‘Joint Defence Committee (JDC)’ has been set-up that meets at regular intervals.

Cultural Cooperation:

• In Brazil, there is enormous interest in India’s culture, religion, performing arts and philosophy.
• Brazil has a strong community of Yoga and Ayurveda practitioners. The Brazilian Association of Ayurveda (ABRA) is a non-profit association with offices in 9 states of Brazil and has members all over Brazil.
• Mahatma Gandhi is highly regarded in Brazil and the government and NGOs are trying to inculcate the philosophy of non-violence among students, youth and police.

Source: India Today

Bhakta Ramadasu

Topic: Culture

In News: Larger-than-life statue of Bhakta Ramadasu was unveiled recently.

More on the Topic:

• Kancharla Gopanna (c. 1620 – 1680), popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu, was a 17th-century Indian devotee of Lord Rama and a composer of Carnatic music.
• He lived in the village of Nelakondapalli, near the town of Bhadrachalam,
• His contemporaries include the stalwarts of Telugu literature such as Tallapaka Annamayya, Tyagaraja, Kshetrayya, and Shyama Sastri.
• In 17th century he constructed Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple in Bhadrachalam.
• His devotional lyrics to Rama are famous in South Indian classical music as Ramadaasu Keertanalu.
• He also wrote Dasarathi Shatakamu, a collection of nearly 108 poems dedicated to the son of Dasaratha (Lord Rama).

Source: The Hindu