GS- 3 Paper
Topics covered– Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
IMPacting Research, INnovation and Technology (IMPRINT)
Context
Union HRD Minister inaugurates TechEx – a technology exhibition organized to demonstrate products and prototypes developed under IMPRINT and UAY.
TechEX
- TechEx is a unique effort of HRD Ministry, which offers an excellent platform to the researchers to showcase their work and inspire them to do their best in their respective domains.
- TechEx was organized to demonstrate products and prototypes developed under the two flagship schemes of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) namely IMPacting Research, INnovation and Technology (IMPRINT) and UchhatarAvishkar Yojana (UAY).
About IMPRINT
- IMPRINT scheme was launched in November, 2015.
- ‘IMPRINT India’, is a IITs and IISc joint collaboration to develop a blueprint for research of immediate relevance to society requiring innovation, direct scientific research into identified areas.
- It was launched with a view to providing solutions to the most relevant engineering challenges by translating knowledge into viable technology (products or processes) in 10 selected technology domains.
- The 10 technological domains are-
- Health Care, Energy, Sustainable Habitat, Nano-Technology Hardware, Water Resources And River Systems, Advanced Materials, Information And Communication Technology, Manufacturing, Security And Defence, And Environmental Science And Climate Change.
- These projects are funded jointly by MHRD and the participating Ministry in the ratio of 50:50.
UchhatarAvishkar Yojana (UAY)
- UchhatarAvishkar Yojana (UAY) was announced on October 6, 2015.
- It was launched to promoting innovation of a higher order that directly impacts the needs of the Industry and thereby improves the competitive edge of Indian manufacturing.
- UAY projects are funded jointly by MHRD, participating Ministries and the Industry in the ratio of 50:25:25.
- The scheme focusses on a viable industry-academic collaboration where industry shares a part of the cost of research.
GS- 2 Paper
Topic covered- Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Competition Commission of India
Context
Competition Commission of India imposes penalty on SAAR IT Resources Private Limited and others.
About CCI
- Competition Commission of India is quasi-judicial statutory body responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India and to prevent activities that have an adverse effect on competition in India.
- It was established on 14 October 2003 and became fully functional in May 2009.
Objectives
- To promote and sustain an enabling competition culture.
- To inspire businesses to be fair, competitive and innovative.
- To support economic growth.
- To prevent practices having adverse effect on competition.
- To protect the interests of consumers.
- To ensure freedom of trade.
The Competition Act, 2002
- The Competition Act, 2002, as amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007, follows the philosophy of modern competition laws.
- The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
Functions of CCI
- It is the duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India.
- The Commission is also required to give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.
GS-2 Paper
Topic covered– Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
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.
Repeal of Article 370
Context
- Government brings Resolution to Repeal Article 370 of the Constitution.
- Home Minister introduces Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019 President issues Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order 2019.
About the Repeal of Article 370
- The President of India promulgated the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019.
- The order effectively abrogates the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir under the provision of Article 370.
- According to the Order, provisions of the Indian Constitution are now applicable in the State.
- This Order comes into force “at once”, and shall “supersede the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954.”
History of Article 370
- In October 1947, the then Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, signed an Instrument of Accession that specified three subjects on which Jammu & Kashmir would transfer its power to the government of India-
- Foreign affairs
- Defence
- Communications
- In March 1948, the Maharaja appointed an interim government in the state, with Sheikh Abdullah as prime minister.
- In July 1949, Sheikh Abdullah and three other colleagues joined the Indian Constituent Assembly and negotiated the special status of J&K, leading to the adoption of Article 370.
What is Article 370?
- Article 370 of the Indian Constitution is a ‘temporary provision’ which grants special autonomous status to Jammu & Kashmir.
- Article 370 is temporary provision under Part XXI of the Constitution of India, which deals with “Temporary, Transitional and Special provisions”.
- All the provisions of the Constitution which are applicable to other states are not applicable to J&K.
The provisions under the article 370
- According to this article the Parliament requires the state government’s concurrence for applying any law except defence, foreign affairs, and finance and communications matters.
- It provides for a separate Constitution of J&K.
- Part IV (Directive Principles of the State Policy) and Part IVA (Fundamental Duties) of the Constitution are not applicable to J&K.
- Thus the state’s residents have a separate set of laws, including those related to citizenship, ownership of property, and fundamental rights, as compared to other Indians.
- Under the article 370, the parliament has no power to declare financial emergency under Article 360 in the state.
- It can declare emergency in the state only in case of war or external aggression.
- The Union government can therefore not declare emergency on grounds of internal disturbance or imminent danger unless it is made at the request or with the concurrence of the state government.
- Under Article 370, the Indian Parliament cannot increase or reduce the borders of the state.
- The Jurisdiction of the Parliament of India in relation to Jammu and Kashmir is confined to the matters enumerated in the Union List, and also the concurrent list.
- There is no State list for the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
- It provides for the residuary powers belong to the Legislature of the State, except certain matters to which Parliament has exclusive powers such as preventing the activities relating to cession or secession, or disrupting the sovereignty or integrity of India.
- The power to make laws related to preventive detention in Jammu and Kashmir belongs to the Legislature of J & K and not the Indian Parliament.
Significance of repealing Article 370
- Article 370 has prevented J&K to merge with India rather than being a basis of its merger.
- This provision was temporary in the first place and it has to go in the larger interest of the people of J&K.
- Under article 370(3), there is a provision that President, on recommendation of the Parliament, has the power to amend or cease the implementation of article 370, through a public notification.
- The repeal of the Article 370, doors to private investment in J&K would be opened, which would in turn increase the potential for development there.
- Increased investments would lead to increased job creation and further betterment of socio-economic infrastructure in the state.
- Opening of buying of lands would bring in investments from private individuals and multinational companies and give a boost to the local economy, as opposed to the apprehensions raised by those opposing this historic step.
- 73rdand 74thAmendments to the Constitution could not be applied to J&K due to article 370 and thereby Panchayat and Nagar Palika elections could not be held.
- The article 370 prevents professionals from outside the state to settle down in the state and hence no one wants to go there.
- With the removal of article 370, each child would get right of education and each patient would get free health care under Ayushman Bharat.”
- The provisions of Article 370 as discriminatory on the basis of gender, class, caste and place of origin.
- Daughters of the state marrying outside the state lose their rights to property. It is so discriminatory to the women and their children.
- SC and ST people have been discriminated against and have been deprived of reservation to political offices.
- J&K would become a true part of India in letter and spirit once article 370 is removed.
Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019
- The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 – was introduced to bifurcate the State into two separate union territories.
- The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (with legislature)
- The union territory of Ladakh (without legislature).
Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019
- Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 was also introduced to amend the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Act 2004.
- This bill seeks to extend the 10% quota to economically weaker sections of society in J&K in jobs and educational institutions.
For Prelims-
Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air missiles (QRSAM)
- Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested its state-of-the-art Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM) against live aerial targets.
- It uses solid fuel propellant and has a strike range of 25-30 km with capability of hitting multiple targets.
- It is capable of hitting the low flying objects.
- The systems have been tested in final configuration with RADAR mounted on a vehicle & missiles on the launcher.
- The systems are equipped with indigenously-developed Phased array radar, Inertial Navigation System, Data Link & RF seeker.
- It has been developed to replace the ‘Akash’ missile defence system, and has 360-degree coverage.
- The system is being developed for Indian Army with search and track on move capability with very short reaction time.
