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Daily News Analysis – May 1, 2019

Source: The Hindu, Live Mint and Indian Express

POWERS OF LT. GOVERNORS OF DELHI VS PUDUCHERRY

Context: The Madras High Court pointed out the significant differences in the powers conferred on the legislatures of Puducherry and Delhi under Articles 239A and 239AA of the Constitution.

 Essentials

  • The Madras High Court noted though Article 239AA imposes several restrictions on the legislature of Delhi, no such restrictions had been imposed explicitly in the case of Puducherry under Article 239A.
  • Article 239A symbolises the supremacy of the Legislature above the Administrator in case of the Union Territory of Puducherry.
  • The legislative assembly of Puducherry can make any law on any subject of the State List and the Concurrent List.
  • On the other hand, the legislative assembly of Delhi can make any law on any subject of the State List (except public order, police and land) and the Concurrent List.
  • While the LG of Delhi is guided by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Transaction of Business of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Rules, 1993, the LG of Puducherry is guided mostly by the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963.
  • The Madras High Court ruled that the Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) of Puducherry could not interfere with the day-to-day administration of the Union Territory when an elected government was in place.
  • Referring to the provisions of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the judge said Section 44 of the Act states that there shall be a Council of Ministers in each Union Territory to aid and advice the Administrator who shall act in his/her discretion only in so far as any special responsibilities were concerned.
  • However, since the Act does not specify the ‘special responsibilities’ in relation to which the L-G could apply his/her discretion, “it is the bounden duty of the Administrator and the Council of Ministers to avoid logjam and facilitate the smooth functioning of the government in public interest, leaving the political differences apart.

Note: The Chief Ministers of both Delhi and Puducherry  are appointed by the President (and not by the Lt. Governors) and the other ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Chief Minister.

  • The LG of Delhi also enjoys greater powers than the LG of Puducherry.
  • Sub-section (4) of Article 239AA mandates that a Council of Ministers shall aid and advice the LG in his functions regarding laws made by the Legislative Assembly.
  • Article 239AA (4) also states that in case of a difference of opinion between the LG and the Council of Ministers, the former has to refer the issue to the President.
  • In the meanwhile, while that decision is pending before the President, the LG, if the matter is urgent, can use his discretion to take immediate action.

YETI

Context: Indian Army claims to have sighted footprints of Yeti.

 Essentials

  • According to Nepali folklore, the Yeti is a mythical ape-like creature that resides in the Himalayas, Central Asia and Siberia.
  • This elusive snowman has only been sighted at Makalu-Barun National Park in the past.
  • A 2017 research paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, based on a DNA analysis of the supposed Yeti samples that were recovered — including hair, teeth, fur, and faeces — concluded that the stories of the Yeti is likely of the Himalayan black and brown bears.

SPURIOUS LIQUOR

Context: Spurious liquor during post-poll feast kills five in Odisha.

 Essentials

  • In cases of ‘hooch’ tragedy, toxicity often comes from drinking methanol, which results in blindness, tissue damage or death.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TRANQUILISATION

Context: Wild elephant tranquillised

 Essentials

Factors affecting anaesthesia response

  • Age: Young and much older animals are more sensitive to anaesthesia in comparison to an adult animal. Young animals require more and older animals usually require less doses.
  • Size and body weight: The small size animals with higher metabolic rate need higher doses of anaesthesia.
  • Sex: Sex of the animal may influence drug dose response. Males require higher doses than the females.
  • Species: Choice of drug, doses and animal response vary between species. Therefore, it is essential to know the species of interest, feeding habit, seasonality in reproduction and response to particular drugs if known.
  • Physical condition: A sick, malnourished or debilitated animals require lower dose of anaesthesia than a healthy, well-fed animal.
  • Pregnancy: Pregnant animals are more susceptible to anaesthesia due to high metabolic rate. However, animals in late pregnancy require more doses for anaesthesia.
  • Season: The time of year may have a profound effect on response to some specific drugs.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES (POCSO) ACT, 2012

Context: An alleged child victim in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual assault case has turned hostile before a Delhi court

 Essentials

  • Hostile/Adverse witness: Person who intentionally gives unfavourable evidence against the party that called him or her as its witness.

 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012

  • The Act deals with sexual offences against persons below 18 years of age, who are deemed as children.
  • The Act for the first time, defines “penetrative sexual assault”, “sexual assault” and “sexual harassment”.
  • Speedy trial of offences through appointment of Special Public Prosecutors and designated Special Courts.
  • The Act provides for stringent punishments which have been graded as per the gravity of offence. 
  • The Act deems a sexual assault to be “aggravated” under certain circumstances, such as when the abused child is mentally ill or when the abuse is committed by a person in a position of trust or authority vis-a-vis the child, like a family member, police officer, teacher, or doctor.
  • The Act provides for a dedicated ‘Online Complaint System (e‑baalnidaan)’ to ensure timely/speedy redressal of complaints of various violations and deprivation of child rights.
  • The Act also provides for mandatory reporting of sexual offences.
  • The police are also required to bring the matter to the attention of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) within 24 hours of receiving the report.
  • It provides for special courts that conduct the trial in-camera and without revealing the identity of the child.
  • The Act stipulates that a case of child sexual abuse must be disposed of within one year from the date the offence is reported.
  • The Act provides for the Special Court to determine the amount of compensation to be paid to a child who has been sexually abused, so that this money can then be used for the child’s medical treatment and rehabilitation.

SANAULI

Context: ASI unearths treasure at U.P. site.

 Essentials

  • The Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) ongoing excavation of 4,000-year-old burial sites in Uttar Pradesh’s Sanauli has unearthed underground “sacred chambers”, decorated “legged coffins” as well as rice and dal in pots and animal bones buried with the bodies.
  • Chariots, coffins, shields, swords and helmets had also been unearthed, pointing towards the existence of a warrior class in the area around 2,000 BCE.
  • Sanauli is located on the left bank of the River Yamuna, 68 km north-east of Delhi which brought to light the largest necropolis (a large, designed cemetery with elaborate tomb monuments) of the late Harappan period datable to around early part of second millennium BCE.
  • Train 18
  • Context: Production of indigenously-built, fastest trainsets hit by departmental tussle.

 Essentials

  • Train 18 is an upcoming ‘bullet train’ between Mumbai and Ahmadabad.
  • The train will have a maximum speed of 350km/h. It will reduce the travel time between the two cities by more than half.
  • The project is being implemented with the help of Japan International Cooperation Agency.
  • It will extend a soft loan of Rs. 88,000 crore ( 80% of the project cost). The interest for this loan is a nominal 0.1 per cent.
  • The proposed stations (12) are Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.

HAMPI

  • Context: Tourists visiting Hampi have declined due to hot weather.

 Essentials

  • Hampi was used to be a prosperous and rich kingdom in the 14th century which was eventually ruined owing to the attacks made by the Moghuls (Bahmani Sultanate).
  • Hampi was destroyed over a period of five months after the defeat of its army at the fateful Battle of Talikota on January 26, 1565.
  • At the time of the Battle of Talikota, the Mughal Empire was expanding under its famous Emperor Jalal ud-din Muhammad Akbar.
  • The history of Hampi dates back to the 2nd and also the 3rd century that is the Neolithihc and Chalcolithic era. This fact has been established from the ceramic potteries that have been found here from those centuries.
  • Located near the banks of River Tungabhadra, Hampi is an ancient village that has remained important for its variety of religious and secular structures.
  • It has also been listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Site as the Group of monuments at Hampi.
  • In the epic Ramayana, it is identified as Kishkinda.
  • Hampi remained in central importance in the medieval times as the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.

 Virupaksha Temple

  • For the Vijayanagar kings, Virupaksha was the family God and their crest was the Boar or Varaha.
  • It is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and was constructed during the reign of Vijayanagara ruler Krishna Deva Raya II.
  • It remains an important center of pilgrimage in the site of Hampi and is also popular for its yearly chariot festival.
  • Virupaksha Temple is an important example of Vijayanagara style of architecture.
  • Among all temples this is the only one which the Mughals never attacked. Why? Cause of the insignia or the emblem of a pig on the door of the temple.

 Vittala Temple

  • Vitthala or Vittala Temple is Hampi is known for its exquisite craftsmanship and extraordinary architecture in the Dravidian Style.
  • Its peculiarity is the huge and decorative stone chariot (it’s not a monolithic structure).
  • The temple is dedicated to Vaishnava deity Lord Vitthala.
  • These are different hallways that adore this temple.

Hazara Rama Temple

  • Hazara Rama comes from the word Hazarumu which in Telegu means Entrance Hall.
  • This place has one of the most beautiful and intricate carvings lot of them describing what happened back in Ramayana and some of them depicting various Vishnu avatars.
  • It was also a private temple of the royal family.

Jain Temples

  • Jainism remained an important religion even during the Vijayanagara Empire due to their highly tolerant attitude for all religions.
  • Jainism contributed a lot in terms of trade, and hence it started flourishing in many other states including Karnataka. Some of the Jain temples are Parashvanatha Temple, Hemkut Temple, and Gangatti Temple.

 Coracle Ride in Tungabhadra

  • Coracle is a bowl shaped boat which is made of natural materials.
  • It has been of great significance to attract a lot of tourists for a fun-filled river ride.
  • It is an important part of living traditions of tangible heritage in Hampi.

INDO-FRANCE COOPERATION IN SPACE

Context: India and France will commence work on launching a constellation of maritime surveillance satellites soon,  an official from the French space agency said.

 Essentials:

  • The satellites will be designed to cover areas ranging from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, keeping in mind the interests of both the countries, the official said.
  • In March 2018, India and France also unveiled a joint vision for space, resolving to strengthen cooperation between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and CENS, the space agency of France.

Megha-Tropiques

  • The Indo-French joint satellite mission called MEGHA-TROPIQUES was launched in 2011 for the study of the tropical atmosphere and climate related to aspects such as monsoons, cyclones, etc.
  • The data products from this satellite are made available to the international Scientific community.

 Saral

  • Another joint mission with France, named SARAL (Satellite for ALTIKA and ARGOS) for studying ocean from space using altimetry was successfully launched in February 2013.

BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE (BRI)     

Essentials

  • China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) seeks to expand maritime routes and land infrastructure networks connecting China with Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
  • The Belt and Road initiative has two main prongs: one is called the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ (the belt) and the other the ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’ (the road).
  • The ‘road’ is not actually a road but rather a sea route linking China’s southern coast to east Africa and the Mediterranean.
  • The ‘belt’ is a series of overland corridors connecting China with Europe, via Central Asia and the Middle East.

 Increasing criticism

  • Since 2017, India, the U.S. and other countries have been critical of the lack of transparency with which many of the BRI projects were negotiated with governments.
  • Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Malaysia had second thoughts on some of the infrastructure projects over fears of a “debt trap”, and allegations of corruption in BRI projects became election issues.
  • India’s objection to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is that it runs through parts of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, and this has led to the Modi government’s decision to stay away from the summit.

 17+1Cooperation

  • It is a Chinese government’s initiative to promote business and investment relations between China and 17 countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
  • The China-CEE secretariat is in Beijing, with 17 “national coordinators” in each of the partner CEE country.
  • The 17+1 meet annually. Its most recent summit was held in Dubrovnik (2019), Croatia.
  • Recently, Greece became its 18th member turning the “16+1” into the “17+1.”
  • Greece is significantly different from the other participants in this initiative, most of which are post-communist states.

IMPLICATIONS OF US’ FRESH SANCTIONS ON IRAN ON WEST ASIAN PEACE

 Essentials:

  • S. reinstated the sanctions on Iran in November 2018 after abandoning a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers.
  • However, six-month waivers from economic penalties were granted to the eight main buyers of Iranian crude – China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy and Greece – to give them time to find alternative sources and avoid causing a shock to global oil markets.
  • Three of the eight buyers – Greece, Italy and Taiwan – have stopped importing Iranian oil. But the others had reportedly asked for their waivers to be extended.

Iran nuclear deal

  • Also called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
  • It was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers – the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany.

 Why this Nuclear deal?

  • It came after years of tension over Iran’s alleged efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.
  • Iran insisted that its nuclear programme was entirely peaceful, but the international community did not believe that.

 What was agreed?

  • Under the accord, Iran agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities and allow in international inspectors in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

 Why did U.S. Pull Out of the Deal?

  • S. recently pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran’s energy, ship building, shipping, and banking sectors, which U.S. considers “the core areas” of its economy.
  • S. hopes to compel Iran to negotiate a “new deal” that would cover not only its nuclear activities, but also its ballistic missile programme and what U.S. officials call its “malign behaviour” across the Middle East.
  • The sanctions have led to a sharp downturn in Iran’s economy, pushing the value of its currency to record lows, quadrupling its annual inflation rate, driving away foreign investors, and triggering protests.

.Problems with Turkey

  • Turkey and Iran have overlapping strategic interests regarding:
  • Kurdish secessionism,
  • territorial integrity of Iraq, and
  • shared antipathy towards Saudi Arabia.
  • Iran is the second largest supplier of energy to Turkey and a leading trading partner as well.
  • Furthermore, Turkey’s relations with the U.S. are currently rocky over U.S. support to the Syrian Kurdish militia, the YPG, that Ankara considers a terrorist organisation because of its close relations with the secessionist PKK.
  • YPG is an acronym whose translation means People’s Protection Units. It is the home grown defense forces of the Kurdish area of Syria. It emerged after the Civil War erupted in Syria and started to spill over into Syrian Kurdistan, now known as Rojava, or Western Kurdistan.
  • The Kurdistan Workers’ Party or PKK (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê‎) is a Kurdish far-left militant and political organization based in Turkey and Iraq.
  • The threat of American sanctions on Turkey following the latter’s decision to buy S-400 missile defence systems from Russia has also contributed greatly to tensions between the two countries.

 If U.S. puts economic sanctions on Iran again, then the implications on India would be:

  • Energy imports from Iran will become difficult and
  • Fuel prices will go up (due to decrease in the availability of oil in the international market as Iran would not be able to sell it).
  • The Reserve Bank of India might have to increase interest rates to contain inflation (inflation will increase as the cost of oil per barrel will increase) and step in to check the fall in the rupee’s value (rupee’s value will fall as India have to give more rupees to buy dollars).

 Implications for India – a deeper analysis

  • New Delhi is likely to comply with American demands, as India’s relations with the U.S. in the economic sphere are very important to it.
  • The U.S. is India’s largest trading partner and a leading source of foreign investment.
  • It has become increasingly important in the strategic arena as well because of the convergence of American and Indian interests regarding containing China in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Moreover, the civil nuclear relationship with the U.S. is very important for India, as is American support for India’s bid to enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
  • However, compliance with the American diktat will not come without costs.
  • India is heavily involved in building the Chabahar port in southern Iran. This port is expected to become a major access route for India not only to Iran but also to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing hostile Pakistani territory.
  • Tehran is also important for New Delhi in the context of Afghanistan as both are unequivocally opposed to the Pakistan-supported Taliban returning to power even in a power-sharing arrangement.
  • Furthermore, Iran shares India’s antipathy toward Pakistan, which it considers Washington’s proxy and Saudi Arabia’s ally.
  • India’s decision to stop importing oil from Iran at America’s behest could drive a wedge between New Delhi and Tehran that will be very difficult to repair and cost India strategically.

 Effects on Iran

  • The most important question is whether Iran will capitulate to the American threat of cutting oil imports down to zero and accept Washington’s demand to revise its position on issues the U.S. considers important.
  • These include Tehran totally giving up its right to enrich uranium and closing down all nuclear facilities including those engaged in research for peaceful purposes.
  • Additionally, it would entail Iran drastically curtailing if not completely eradicating its ballistic missile programme, and radically changing its West Asia policy to fall in line with American preferences in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.
  • However, this appears to be a Washington pipe dream. Iran has stood up to unprecedented sanctions for four decades and remained unbowed.
  • The current American policy of forcing Tehran to cut its oil exports to zero will only aid Iranian hardliners and end up with Tehran adopting an even more virulent anti-American posture, further impeding the realisation of American strategic objectives in the region.

 A dark scenario

  • While this confrontationist policy may please Israel and Saudi Arabia, it can well become a prelude to another major war in West Asia.
  • Pushed to the wall by its inability to export oil in sufficient quantities, Iran is likely to retaliate by withdrawing from the nuclear accord and resuming full-scale nuclear enrichment close to weapon grade-level.
  • This could lead to either an American and/or Israeli air and missile strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Such attacks are bound to invite Iranian retaliation against American targets in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan and around the Gulf, either through proxies or directly. Iranian retribution is likely to include air strikes against Saudi and Emirati targets as well and concerted efforts to block the Straits of Hormuz.
  • The mayhem that this action-reaction phenomenon will cause in the region can be disastrous for West Asia and could seriously disrupt the flow of energy supplies from the Gulf through the narrow Straits of Hormuz.
  • If not reversed, such a strategy could well lead to another American misadventure in West Asia before which the tragic consequences of the Iraqi invasion, such as state failure and the boost to international terrorism, are likely to pale into insignificance.

CONCEPTS IN NEWS

Dissolution of the Lok Sabha

  • In India, the Lok Sabha has a five-year term, but can be dissolved earlier.
  • According to Article 83(2) of the Constitution, completion of five years from the first day of its meeting amounts to dissolution of the Lower House.
  • In this case, an election is held to elect the new Members of Parliament.
  • The Lower House can also be dissolved earlier by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
  • It can also be dissolved if the President feels that no viable government can be formed after the resignation or fall of a regime.

 Co-location

  • The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has barred the National Stock Exchange (NSE), which has the largest market share in equity segment and almost a monopoly in equity derivatives, from accessing the securities market for six months.
  • This was for its alleged failure to exercise proper due diligence while offering co-location facility thereby affecting market fairness and integrity.
  • Co-location refers to the system wherein a broker’s server is kept in the exchange premises to reduce latency, or delay in computing terms, while executing trades.
  • The roots of the matter go back to 2015 when SEBI received complaints against NSE where, among other things, it was alleged that the system that NSE used while disseminating data through co-location facilities allowed certain users to get information before others, thereby creating an information asymmetry.

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