General Studies-III
Topic– Disaster and disaster management.
Heat waves
Context
Heat Wave Conditions are being observed likely in isolated pockets over Rajasthan, Vidarbha and interior Tamilnadu
What is a Heat wave?
- A heat wave is usually measured relative to the usual weather in the area and relative to normal temperatures for the season.
- Heat wave is considered if maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for Plains, 37°C or more for coastal stations and at least 30°C or more for Hilly regions.
Declaration of heat wave according to IMD
Based on Departure from Normal (for Hilly regions)
- Heat Wave: Maximum temperature departure from normal is 4.5°C to 6.4°C.
- Severe Heat Wave: Maximum temperature departure from normal is >6.4°C.
Based on Actual Maximum Temperature (for plains only)
- Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥ 45°C.
- Severe Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥47°C.
Criteria for heat wave for Coastal Regions
- Maximum temperature departure is >4.5°C from normal
- Heat wave : maximum temperature is ≥ 37°C
Heat wave Warning
Reasons of Heat wave in India
- Deforestation, the heat-island effect, and industrial pollution are also being blamed for exacerbating heat waves.
- Studies have linked an increase in heat waves to more increase in El Nino events, or years marked by an anomalous heating in the Central Pacific Ocean that’s linked to a weakening of the Indian monsoon.
- The Indian Ocean temperatures are also rising faster than the other oceans, and this, too, may be reducing moisture over the Indian mainland, thus playing some part in longer stretches of hot days.
- According to the MET Department, the presence of an anti-cyclonic circulation over south Pakistan and neighbouring regions is the reason behind the hot winds prevailing over the entire northwest India.
Health Impacts of Heat Waves
- The health impacts of Heat Waves typically involve dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke.
- Children, the elderly and those with pre-existing morbidities are particularly vulnerable.
General Studies-II
Topic– Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Craft Instructor Training Scheme (CITS)
Context:
The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), announced results of the All India Trade Test (AITT) for CITS Academic session 2019-2020.
All India Trade Tests (AITT):
- All India Trade Tests (AITT) are conducted by the DGT under the aegis of National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) for its various schemes.
- AITT under Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) is conducted twice a year for more than 25 Lakh candidates
Crafts Instructor Training Scheme (CITS)
- Training of Craft Instructors is the mandated responsibility of DGT and it has been operational since the inception of the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS).
- Comprehensive training both in skills and training methodology is imparted to the instructor trainees to make them conversant with techniques of transferring hands-on skills, to train skilled manpower for the industry.
- Under the Crafts Instructor Training Scheme programme, the eligible candidates are those who possess NTC/ NAC/Diploma/Degree qualifications.
- Training in 27 Engineering trades and 9 non-engineering trades is being offered.
General Studies-II
Topic– Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meet
Context:
India hosts First Meeting of BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors April 6, 2021.
- This was the first meeting of the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under India Chairship in 2021.
- BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors discussed financial cooperation agenda set by India for 2021.
- On the BRICS priorities and agenda for 2021, Finance Minister Smt. Sitharaman informed that the efforts should be made towards delivering outcomes that reflects the needs and aspirations of BRICS.
What is BRICS?
BRICS is the group composed by the five major emerging countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
- It together represents about 42% of the population, 23% of GDP, 30% of the territory and 18% of the global trade.
- The acronym BRIC was coined by by economist ‘Jim O’Neill’ of Goldman Sachs in 2001 to indicate the emerging powers that would be, alongside the United States, the five largest economies of the world in the 21st century.
- In 2006, BRIC countries started their dialogue, which since 2009 takes place at annual meetings of heads of state and government.
- In 2011, with South Africa joining the group, the BRICS reached its final composition, incorporating a country from the African continent.
Structure
- BRICS does not exist in form of organization, but it is an annual summit between the supreme leaders of five nations.
- The Chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.
- BRICS cooperation in the past decade has expanded to include an annual programme of over 100 sectoral meetings.
Objectives
The BRICS seeks to deepen, broaden and intensify cooperation within the grouping and among the individual countries for more sustainable, equitable and mutually beneficial development.
- The BRICS countries act as one to promote a more legitimate international system, including advocating reform of the UN Security Council.
- The BRICS group is a South-South framework for cooperation.
- To provide an alternative of the current governance of Western financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for that they have announced the establishment of the bank.
BRICS on global institutional reforms
The BRICS was formed initially for co-operation to start among the BRICs nation was the financial crises of 2008.
- The crises raised doubts over sustainability of the dollar-dominated monetary system.
- The BRICs called for the “the reform of multilateral institutions in order that they reflect the structural changes in the world economy and the increasingly central role that emerging markets now play”.
- BRICs managed to push for institutional reform which led to International Monetary Fund (IMF) quota reform in 2010.
Challenges before BRICS
- The marked dominance of big three Russia-China-India is challenge for the BRICS.
- To become a true representative of large emerging markets across the world, BRICS must become pan-continental.
- Its membership must include more countries from other regions and continents.
- The BRICS will need to expand its agenda for climate change and development finance, aimed at building infrastructure dominates agenda.
- As BRICS moves forward foundational principles of BRICS i.e. respect for sovereign equality and pluralism in global governance are liable to be tested as the five member countries pursue their own national agendas.
Mains Question:
The issue such as, the military standoff between India and China on the Doklam plateau, is a threat to the notion that a comfortable political relationship is always possible amongst the BRICS. Discuss.
General Studies-II
Topic- Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
Chief Justice of India
Context:
Shri Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana appointed as Chief Justice of India.
Highlight:
- The President of India, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, appointed Shri Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana, Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India.
- Justice N V Ramana, will take over as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India on 24th April, 2021.
- He will be 48th Chief Justice of India.
What is the procedure?
The procedure to appoint the next CJI is laid out in the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) between the government and the judiciary:
- The procedure is initiated by the Law Minister seeking the recommendation of the outgoing CJI at the ‘appropriate time’, which is near to the date of retirement of the incumbent CJI.
- The CJI sends his recommendation to the Law Ministry; and in the case of any qualms, the CJI can consult the collegium regarding the fitness of an SC judge to be elevated to the post.
- After receiving recommendation from the CJI, the law minister forwards it to the Prime Minister who then advises the President on the same.
- The President administers the oath of office to the new CJI.
Is it a part of the Constitution?
To one’s surprise, the Constitution of India does not have any provision for criteria and procedure for appointing the CJI.
- Article 124(1) of the Indian Constitution says there “shall be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India”.
- The closest mention is in Article 126, which deals with the appointment of an acting CJI.
- In the absence of a constitutional provision, the procedure relies on custom and convention.
What is the convention?
- When the incumbent CJI retires (all Supreme Court judges retire at the age of 65), the seniormost judge in the SC becomes the CJI.
- Seniority, here, is not defined by age, but by the number of years an individual has been serving as a judge of the apex court.
Does the government get a say?
- Except for the law minister seeking the recommendation from the incumbent CJI, and forwarding it to the Prime Minister, the government has no say in the appointment of the CJI.
- Vis-à-vis the appointment of the CJI and the appointment of SC judges, the key difference is that in the former, the government cannot send the recommendation of the CJI (or the collegium) back to them for reconsideration; while in the latter, the government can do so.
- However, if the collegium reiterates those names, then the government cannot object any further.
