daily news simplified - dns€¦ · time as the central government notified a wage rate, minimum...

Daily News Simplified - DNS 30 01 2020

Notes

SL. NO. TOPICS

THE HINDU

PAGE NO.

1 A mindset problem 10

2 Time limit on advance bail violates personal liberty: SC 01

3 Yellow rust in wheat crop causes alarm in Punjab and Haryana 05

4 Month-long Nagoba Jatara concludes in Telangana 08

5 Will Trump’s peace plan help resolve Israel-Palestine crisis? 14

6 A roadmap for robust trade ties 11

7 Cabinet nod for raising abortion limit to 24 weeks 01

8 Time to prioritise education and health 10

Dated: 30. Jan. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision Title 1. A mindset problem (Page 10)

Syllabus Mains: Paper II – Social Justice

Theme Poverty and Development

Highlights Context The editorial highlights that MGNREGA has the potential to raise or increase rural demand and considering the poor state of rural economy, demand for work under MGNREGA has increased in the last few months across various parts of the country. However, the central government should not consider MGNREGA as a secondary scheme and must allocate sufficient money to the scheme in the upcoming budget. About MGNREGA • The scheme under MGNREGA or the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment

Guarantee Act, promises unskilled manual work to every adult for at least 100 days in rural parts of the country. It was introduced in 2005.

• The objective of the programme is to create employment opportunities in the rural areas and prevent distress migration. It also seeks to create durable assets to improve livelihood resource base of the rural poor.

• The Act provides that the Central Government could notify wage rates and till such time as the Central Government notified a wage rate, minimum wages for agricultural labour notified by the State would be paid to NREGA workers. The Central Government started notifying wages under MGNREGA from the financial year 2008-09.

• The MGNREGA Wages were linked to Consumer Price Index- Agricultural Labour (CPI-AL) and notified at the start of every financial year.

The Problem with MGNREGA • As per certain reports, 15 states are not able to fund MGNREGA Scheme. Even

Centre is running out of funds for MGNREGA. This effectively means that workers are not getting their dues.

• Running short of funds by states and centre is a cause for concern. The 2019-20 Budget allocated Rs. 60,000 crore which was an increase of 5,000 crore from previous year.

• Despite higher allocation of funds for MGNREGA, it is the perception in the government for considering MGNREGA as a secondary scheme and also a UPA hangover a problem.

• Despite several benefits of MGNREGA being highlighted by researchers, the Central Government still thinks that MGNREGA is a waste of money but cannot be done away with as it hurt rural sentiments.

Benefits of MGNREGA • MGNREGS has acted as insurance for landless labourers during crop failures,

agrarian crises and periods of a stressed economy. With the ongoing economic

Dated: 30. Jan. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision

slowdown resulting in depressed rural wages and the lack of adequate opportunity to work, the MGNREGS has provided much needed help for the poor to earn their daily wage.

• Several studies have pointed to its effect on the lives of the rural poor by providing employment in the agricultural off-season, offering alternative jobs during years of lean agricultural growth and as a safety net during crop failures.

• Researchers have also found that a large proportion of those availing the scheme are from the 18-30 age groups. This also addresses the problem of youth unemployment especially in rural areas, which according to official statistics has peaked in recent years.

• Studies have shown that MGNREGS has improved agricultural productivity where it has been implemented properly.

• The scheme, by now, should have been an ideal vehicle for rural development and not just a fallback option. It could also involve rural workers in skilled work and pay them more wages for asset creation beyond just roads, wells and check-dams.

• Thus, change in mindset is therefore the real as a positive intent both from the centre and states will help in solving issues of funding and wage-delays. Besides, MGNREGA also provides an opportunity to address rural slowdown.

• Proper daily wage will effectively increase consumption in the rural economy. By paying wages adequately, and on time, to rural workers, the government could allow for more spending and consumption and stimulate the economy.

Conclusion – The editorial concludes by stating that a positive intent and more meaningful allocation for the scheme in the upcoming budget is a much needed imperative to stimulate the economy.


Personal Notes

Dated: 30. Jan. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision Title 2. Time limit on advance bail violates personal liberty: SC (The Hindu Page 01)

Syllabus Mains: Paper II: Polity and Governance Theme Criminal Justice System

Highlights Context Five Judge Constitution Bench ruled that the protection of anticipatory or pre-arrest bail cannot be limited to any time frame or “fixed period” as denial of bail amounts to deprivation of the fundamental right to personal liberty in a free and democratic country

Anticipatory Bail has been defined under Section 438 of Code of Criminal Procedure – W any person has reason to believe that he may be arrested on an accusation of having com a non- bailable offence, he may apply to the High Court or the Court of Session for a direc under this section; and that Court may, if it thinks fit, direct that in the event of such arres shall be released on bail. Non-Bailable Offence - When a person is accused of non-bailable offence, then in suc bail can only be granted by the Court and not by an officer. Application for bail has to b in Court in such cases of non-bailable offence.

Question Referred to the Constitution Bench 1. Whether the protection granted to a person under Section 438 should be limited to a fixed period till the accused surrenders in court? 2. Whether the life of anticipatory bail should end when the accused is summoned by the court? The Ruling

• Five Judge Constitution Bench ruled that the protection of anticipatory or pre-arrest bail cannot be limited to any time frame or “fixed period” as denial of bail amounts to deprivation of the fundamental right to personal liberty in a free and democratic country. But if there are any special or peculiar features necessitating the court to limit the tenure of anticipatory bail, it is open for it to do so.

• The Court further held that life or duration of an anticipatory bail order does not normally end at the time and stage when the accused is summoned by the court, or when charges are framed, but can continue till the end of the trial. However, if there are any special or peculiar features necessitating the court to limit the tenure of anticipatory bail, it is open for it to do so.

• It was also acknowledged by Justice Arun Mishra that anticipatory bail acts as a protection because it prevents influential powers from implicating their rivals in false cases. Anticipatory bail also helps shielding members of opposition in cases of political rivalry.

• On importance of Anticipatory Bail – According to Justice Bhat, the freedom


movement has shown how the likelihood of arbitrary arrest and indefinite detention and the lack of safeguards played an important role in rallying the people to demand independence.

Further Clarifications by SC • Consistent with the judgment in Shri Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia and others v. State

of Punjab, when a person complains of apprehension of arrest and approaches for order, the application should be based on concrete facts (and not vague or general allegations) relatable to one or other specific offence.

• The application seeking anticipatory bail should contain bare essential facts relating to the offence, and why the applicant reasonably apprehends arrest, as well as his side of the story. These are essential for the court which should consider his application, to evaluate the threat or apprehension, its gravity or seriousness and the appropriateness of any condition that may have to be imposed.

• It is not essential that an application should be moved only after an FIR is filed and can be moved earlier, so long as the facts are clear and there is reasonable basis for apprehending arrest.

• The Court issuing anticipatory bail depending on the seriousness of the threat of arrest should issue notice to the Public Prosecutor and obtain facts, even while granting limited interim anticipatory bail.

• While considering an application (for grant of anticipatory bail) the court has to consider the nature of the offence, the role of the person, the likelihood of his influencing the course of investigation, or tampering with evidence (including intimidating witnesses), likelihood of fleeing justice (such as leaving the country), etc. And if the Court deems necessary, can spell out necessary conditions while ordering such anticipatory bail.

• The need to impose other restrictive conditions, would have to be judged on a case by case basis, and depending upon the materials produced by the state or the investigating agency. Such special or other restrictive conditions may be imposed if the case or cases warrant, but should not be imposed in a routine manner, in all cases.

• Anticipatory bail granted can continue after filing of the charge sheet till end of trial depending on the conduct and behavior of the accused.

• An order of anticipatory bail does not in any manner limit or restrict the rights or duties of the police or investigating agency, to investigate into the charges against the person who seeks and is granted pre-arrest bail.

• Nothing in Section 438 Cr. PC, compels or obliges courts to impose conditions limiting relief in terms of time, or upon filing of FIR, or recording of statement of any witness, by the police, during investigation or inquiry.

• The observations in Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra & Ors (and other similar judgments) that no restrictive conditions at all can be


imposed, while granting anticipatory bail are hereby overruled. • Accordingly, it overruled the judgment in Salauddin Abdulsamad Shaikh v. State

of Maharashtra 1996 (1) SCC 667 which restricted the scope of Section 438 of the Cr.PC. It also overruled Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra & Ors. 2011 (1) SCC 694, to the extent it held that no conditions can be imposed while granting an order of anticipatory bail, is incorrect.

Dated: 30. Jan. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision Personal Notes

Dated: 30. Jan. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision Title 3. Yellow rust in wheat crop causes alarm in Punjab and Haryana (The Hindu Page 05)

Syllabus Prelims: Science and Technology Mains: GS Paper III – Economy

Theme Agriculture

Highlights Context

• Rusts are caused by three different species of the fungi, Puccinia. • Brown and yellow rusts are particularly important in the north-western India. • Black rust appears quite late in these areas and normally do not cause

substantial damage except in wheat fields sown very late. • However, black rust appears in severe form in southern, central and eastern

India and cause significant damage.

Yellow Rust

• This rust is caused by the fungus, Puccinia strciformis. Yellow spots develop mainly on the leaves.

• The spots are oval in shape and lemon-yellow in colour and are formed in long streaks or rows, and smaller than those of brown rust.

• Appearance of lemon-yellow pustules in rows is characteristic feature of yellow rust.

• Yellow rust is predominant in hills, foot-hills and north-western part of the country where the temperatures are low. In plains it does not cause much damage.

Brown Rust

• The small, round-oval spots (called pustules) of brown rust (caused by Puccinia recondita tritici) develop mainly on the leaves but under severe attack, appear on sheath and stem as well.

• spreads very fast on susceptible varieties during warm and humid environmental conditions. In case of severe attack, plants mature early with poor root development and produce light and shriveled grains. This rust is most widespread in the country and generally the most damaging in many areas.

Personal Notes

Dated: 30. Jan. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision Title 4. Month-long Nagoba Jatara concludes in Telangana (The Hindu Page 08)

Syllabus Prelims: Heritage and Culture

Theme Important Festivals

Highlights

Nagoba Jaatara

· Nagoba Jaatara is a tribal festival held in Keslapur village, Inderavelly Mandal Adilabad district, Telangana, India.

· It is the second biggest tribal carnival and celebrated by Mesaram clan of Gond tribes for 10 days. Tribal people from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh belonging to the Mesaram clan offer prayers at the festival and it starts in pushya masam.

· The 10-day festival has begun after tribal priests performed abhishekam to Nagoba idol at the temple in Keslapur with water fetched by them from river Godavari in Jannaram mandal, 70 km away from the village.

Nagoba Jatara Celebrations:

· Rituals performed at Keslapur Nagoba Jatara begin in the morning, the Mesram elders will place the sacred ‘jhari’, a 1,400-year-old water container before performing it’s puja. · The group of Gond and Pradhan elders who had fetched holy water with pots from Hastina Madugu of river Godavari in Jannaram Mandal was given a traditional welcome under the old banyan tree. · Before the start of the pujas, the Gonds continue to ‘purify’ the temple with Ganga Jal or water from the Godavari drawn at a spot called ‘Hastina Madugu’ where Nagoba is believed to have quenched his thirst after partaking the ‘naivedyam’. · The naivedyam carried in the bamboo baskets is made of freshly harvested food grains. The bamboo denotes the connection of the Gonds with the jungles while the naivedyam offering is a matter of thanksgiving for the crop harvested. · Adivasi celebrates with music and more than 15 types of dances. · The Gusadi Dance performance by dancers from the Gond tribe is a major special attraction of the event.

Personal Notes

Dated: 30. Jan. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision Title 5. Will Trump’s peace plan help resolve Israel-Palestine crisis? (The Hindu Page 14)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – International Relations

Theme West Asia

Highlights The beginning of the trouble can be traced to the Zionist movement:

• Jews have been persecuted in Europe owing to their religion and hence a movement started in 19th century to escape persecution and establish a state solely for the Jews. The place identified for this purpose was Palestine (Ancestral homeland for Jews).

• This idea gained currency among Jews and they started migrating and settling in Palestine.

But how could this migration take place in the reigns of Ottoman Empire?

• Because Ottoman Empire disintegrated in WWI which led to the division of its territories.

• As you know the Middleeast was divided according to Sykes Picot Agreement between Britain and France and the administration of Palestine fell with British.

• And British were sympathetic to the cause of creation of Jewish homeland. Hence they allowed immigration of Jews from all across the Europe in large numbers.

How did the numbers of Jews grew so much in Palestine?

• As more and more fascists regimes (Especially Nazis in Germany) gained power in Europe, the persecution of Jews reached unprecedented levels and it led to massive inflow of Jews in Palestine.

But how did the local Arabs react to this?

• The inflow of Jews raised alarms for local Arabs which started militant movement against Jews. This led to a lot of violence which resulted in huge causality as well.

• By the end of World War II, a crisis over the fate of the Holocaust survivors from Europe led to renewed tensions between the Jews and the Palestinian Arab leadership.

• Immigration quotas were established by the British, while on the other hand illegal immigration continued.

Then how did the state of Israel come into existence?

• By the end of WWII, British had already made up their mind regarding leaving the area and hence they referred the matter to United Nations.

What was the United Nations resolution?

• UN voted to split the Palestine into two countries into three parts o Arab state, a Jewish state and the City of Jerusalem.

How was the reception of the UN resolution?

• Jews: Whole Heartedly accepted the resolution as their long term demands of


Jewish homeland had become a reality. • Arabs: Arab leaders and governments rejected the plan of partition in the

resolution and indicated that they would reject any other plan of partition. • This was just the beginning of one of the most cluttered and long drawn disputes

which the modern world has seen. Let us go through it very succinctly: How has the situation evolved post UN resolution

• 1948 Arab-Israel war: o Following the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel in

1948, the Arab League decided to intervene on behalf of Palestinian Arabs, marching their forces into former British Palestine, beginning the main phase of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.

o The overall fightingresulted in cease fire and armistice agreements of 1949, with Israel holding much of the former Mandate territory, Jordan occupying and later annexing the West Bank and Egypt taking over the Gaza Strip, where the All-Palestine Government was declared by the Arab League on 22 September 1948.

o So we can say that Israel emerged victorious and extended its control beyond which it was originally authorized by the UN.

o This war created massive migration of Arabs from Palestine which led to refugee crisis which remains unresolved even currently.

• 1967 Six Day War: o In 1967, Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, Syria, and

Jordan and at the end of this Six-Day War, Israel captured: Golan Heights (earlier with Syria) West Bank and East Jerusalem (Earlier with Jordan) Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip (So far with Egypt)

o The 1967 war is particularly important for today’s conflict, as it left Israel in control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, two territories home to a large number of Palestinians.

o Gaza and Westbank are together known as ‘Occupied Territories’, after 1967 war.


• But then how is Sinai Peninsula still in Egypt? o That is because it was returned back by Israel in 1979. o Israel-Egypt signed a peace treaty, accordingly Israel return Sinai

Peninsula to Egypt (1982). o in return Egypt became the first Arab nation to officially recognize Israel

as a state. Before going into further details, let us first understand various terms often used in reference to Israel Palestine:

• Intifada o An intifada is a rebellion or uprising, or a resistance movement. It is a key

concept in contemporary Arabic usage referring to a legitimate uprising against oppression. Arabs of Palestine have carried out various movements against the Israel state ranging into many years: First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation

lasting from December 1987 to 1993 Al-Aqsa Intifada, a period of intensified Israeli-Palestinian

violence, which began in late September 2000 and ended around 2005

Al-Quds IntifadaIsraeli–Palestinian conflict (2015) – 2015 escalation in Israeli–Palestinian conflict, sometimes referred to as "Al-Quds Intifada" or "Jerusalem Intifada" or "Knife Intifada.

• Settlements o Israeli settlements are civilian communitiesinhabited by Israeli citizens,

almost exclusively of Jewish ethnicity, built on lands occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.


o Israeli settlements currently exist in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

o The international community considers the settlements to be illegal under international law, and the United Nations has repeatedly upheld the view that Israel's construction of settlements constitutes a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

o You can see the gradual reduction in the green color (Palestinian lands) on the map.

Personal Notes

Dated: 30. Jan. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision Title 6. A roadmap for robust trade ties (The Hindu Page 11) Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II: International Relations Theme India-Australia Trade Relations Highlights Context

Dated: 30. Jan. 2020 DNS Notes - Revision Title 7. Cabinet nod for raising abortion limit to 24 weeks (The Hindu Pg 01)

Syllabus Mains Paper II: Social Issues

Theme Reproductive Rights

Highlights Context

The Union Cabinet has approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.

Salient features of proposed amendments:

• Proposing requirement for opinion of one provider for termination of pregnancy, up to 20 weeks of gestation and introducing the requirement of opinion of two providers for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation.

• Enhancing the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women which will be defined in the amendments to the MTP Rules and would include 'vulnerable women including survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women, Minors) etc.

• Upper gestation limit not to apply in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by Medical Board. The composition, functions and other details of Medical Board to be prescribed subsequently in Rules under the Act.

• Name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed except to a person authorised in any law for the time being in force.

Objective

• The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is for expanding access of women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds.

• The proposed amendments include substitution of certain sub-sections, insertion of certain new clauses under some sections in the existing Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, with a view to increase upper gestation limit for termination of pregnancy under certain conditions and to strengthen access to comprehensive abortion care, under strict conditions, without compromising service and quality of safe abortion.

• It is a step towards safety and well-being of the women and many women will be benefitted by this. Recently several petitions were received by the Courts seeking permission for aborting pregnancies at a gestational age beyond the present permissible limit on grounds of foetal abnormalities or pregnancies due to sexual violence faced by women. The proposed increase in gestational age will ensure dignity, autonomy, confidentiality and justice for women who need to terminate pregnancy.

• In order to increase access of women to safe abortion services and taking into account the advances in medical technology, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare proposed amendments after extensive consultation with various stake holders and several ministries.


Personal Notes


Title 8. Time to prioritise education and health (The Hindu Pg 10)

Syllabus Mains Paper III: Economy

Theme Economic Development, Inclusive Growth, Human Capital Formation

Highlights Context

In the backdrop of current economic slowdown, the author in this article has prescribed investment in human capital formation in order to spur growth.

Summary

To counter the economic slowdown the government is attempting to spur demand by increasing the private consumption expenditure.

Accordingly a number of steps taken by the government include

• Corporate tax rate cut • Investment in infrastructure inclusion National Infrastructure Pipeline • Setting up of Alternate Investment Fund in the Housing Sector. • Higher spending in MNREGA etc

Alternately the author in this article prescribes increased social sector spending particularly education and health in order to counter slowdown. This will have a 2-fold effect including

1. Human Capital Formation

2. Increased demand as a result of improved employment in education and health in the form of new recruitments of healthcare professionals, teachers, improved infrastructure etc.

Countering Economic Slowdown • The policy currently being pursued is intended primarily to incentivise potential

investors by facilitating ease-of-doing-business and making large-scale concessions to the corporate sector including tax cut. Despite these efforts, there is little evidence of any significant increase in investment by the private sector to boost consumption expenditure.

• Economists also argue that the government must implement labour market reforms, remove constraints on land acquisition, accelerate investments in physical infrastructure mainly transport and energy to boost consumption expenditure.

• Even Nobel Prize winner of economics Abhijit Banerjee mentions about direct transfers and funding MGNREGA, but does not highlight the benefits of investments in Social sectors particularly Health & Education.

Importance of Investments in Education • Investments in social sector is grossly underfunded as the target to invest in

education is 6 per cent of GDP whereas in Health the target as per the National Health Policy is to invest upto 2.5 per cent of GDP.

• This article highlights that increased public expenditure in social sectors in the magnitudes required for meeting the constitutionally mandated objectives can have short- and medium-term effect of enhancing employment, generating


demand and attracting investment. • Investments in health and education will serve two main objectives:

1. It will boost human capital – efforts of humans 2. It can counter economic slowdown

• In the field of education, primarily by investing in teacher recruitment and building school infrastructure. Thus, recruitment of 5.7 million additional teachers over a period of five years, can create huge scale demand. And, this is only one factor essential for universalising quality school education.

• There is also a large gap between requirement of infrastructure in the schools and that available and built recently. According to government data, only 12.5% of the schools covered by the RTE Act were compliant with RTE norms, most of which are related to infrastructure. Meeting these norms has the potential of creating employment on a large scale.

• Education has a crucial role to play for an individual in gaining employment and retaining employability.

• In the field of health, there is a huge deficit of paramedical workers, middle-level health workers, nurses and trained doctors.

• Health and education are of instrumental value in driving growth, creating employment and improving people’s well-being is widely recognised but often forgotten when it comes to making investment in these sectors.

Conclusion • The government has a well-entrenched policy of encouraging privatisation in

both health and education. But, privatisation in these sectors has not led to efficiency or improvement of quality.

• It has only destroyed public sector institutions, promoted greater inequality and pushed the poor out. The gestation period of projects in social sectors is not as long as it is considered.

• It is therefore time for reprioritising education and health in the scheme of development strategy and the allocation of budgetary resources so as to counter current economic slowdown and also build strong infrastructure necessary in the fields of health and education.

daily news simplified - dns€¦ · time as the central government notified a wage rate, minimum...

Documents