Judicial Review

06 Jan, 2021

CONTENTS 1. Floating Solar Energy Project ...... 1 2. Judicial Review ...... 1 3. Solidarity and Stability Deal: Gulf Countries ...... 2 4. Asian Waterbird Census: ...... 3 5. Moringa Powder ...... 3 6. PRELIMS ...... 4

GS-PAPER I Geography Narmada River:  The Narmada River is also known as FLOATING SOLAR ENERGY "Life Line of Madhya Pradesh and PROJECT Gujarat" for its huge contribution to the The Government of India is to construct the state of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat in largest floating solar energy project in the many ways. world. The project is to be constructed at  Narmada rises from Amarkantak Plateau Omkareshwar Dam on Narmada river. The in Anuppur district Madhya Pradesh. project will begin its power generation by  It is one of the rivers in India that flows in 2022 to 2023. a rift valley, flowing west between the Highlights of the project: Satpura and Vindhya ranges.  The project is to have floating solar  Being the rift valley river, Narmada river panels of 600 megawatts of power does not form delta. generation capacity.  The River flows through Gujarat,  The solar panels are to be installed over Chhattisgarh Madhya Pradesh, and the backwaters of the Omkareshwar Maharashtra. Dam.  The tributaries of Narmada River are  The project is to be completed in two Kolar River, Shakkar River, Dudhi River, years. Tawa River, and Hiran River.  The electricity is to be generated in about two thousand hectares of water area by Source: ECONOMIC TIMES installing solar panels in the dam.  The solar panels will automatically adjust GS-PAPER II Polity upward and downward based on the JUDICIAL REVIEW water level of the Dam. The floods and strong waves will not have any effect on The Supreme Court has refused to treat the the solar panels. The solar panels are to Central Vista project as a unique one requiring greater or “heightened” judicial float on the surface of water. review. 6th Jan 2021

A majority view of the Supreme Court said Mains Question: the government was “entitled to commit what is judicial review and explain the errors or achieve successes” in policy significance of Judicial Review in India? matters without the court’s interference as long as it follows constitutional principles. Source: THE HINDU

It is not the court’s concern to enquire into GS-PAPER II International Relations the priorities of an elected government. Judicial review is never meant to venture SOLIDARITY AND STABILITY into the mind of the government and thereby DEAL: GULF COUNTRIES examine validity of a decision.

Judicial review:  Judicial review is a process under which executive or legislative actions are subject to review by the judiciary.  Judicial review is the power of Judiciary to review any act or order of Legislative and Executive wings and to pronounce upon the constitutional validity when challenged by the affected person.  The power of Judicial Review comes from the Constitution of India itself

(Articles 13, 32, 136, 142 and 147 of the Gulf leaders have signed a “solidarity and Constitution). stability” agreement towards ending the  The power of judicial review is evoked to diplomatic rift with Qatar at a summit in protect and enforce the fundamental Saudi Arabia rights guaranteed in Part III of the Constitution. About Dispute: Saudi Arabia had led a coalition of countries  Judicial review is one of the checks and in the Gulf and beyond to cut ties and balances in the separation of powers: the transport links with Qatar in June 2017, power of the judiciary to supervise the charging that it was too close to Iran and legislative and executive branches when backed radical Islamist groups allegations the latter exceed their authority. that Doha denied.  The doctrine varies between jurisdictions, so the procedure and scope Gulf Cooperation Council: of judicial review may differ between the  Gulf Cooperation Council, is a regional countries. In India, a judicial review is a intergovernmental political and economic review of government decisions done by union consisting of all Arab states of the the Supreme Court of India. Persian Gulf - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,  Judicial review is considered as a basic Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab structure of the constitution. Emirates - except Iraq.  The concept of judicial review was  The structure of the GCC consists of the borrowed from the USA Supreme Council (the highest authority),

the Ministerial Council and the These birds are considered to be an Secretariat General. important health indicator of wetlands of a  The Secretariat is located in Riyadh, region. Saudi Arabia. Source: THE HINDU Source: THE HINDU GS-PAPER III Environment GS-PAPER III Ecology MORINGA POWDER ASIAN WATERBIRD CENSUS: India has started export of Moringa powder The two-day Asian Waterbird Census-2020 keeping in mind its rising global demand. commenced in Andhra Pradesh under the Two tonnes of organic certified Moringa aegis of experts from the Bombay Natural powder were sent to the US through air History Society (BNHS), covering at least consignment on December 29, 2020. two dozen sites, including Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Kolleru Lake and Krishna Moringa: Sanctuary.  Moringa (botanical name Moringa oleifera) is a fast-growing, drought- Asian Waterbird Census: resistant tree of the family Moringaceae,  It is an annual event in which thousands native to the Indian subcontinent. India is of volunteers across Asia and the largest producer of moringa Australasia count waterbirds in the (drumstick). wetlands of their country.  Major Moringa producing states in India  It was started in the year 1987 and are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and happens every January. Tamil Nadu.  This event is coordinated by wetlands  Moringa has been used for centuries due International and forms part of global to its medicinal properties and health waterbird monitoring programme called benefits in various forms. the International Waterbird Census  Globally, the demand for Moringa (IWC). products, such as Moringa Leaf Powder  Its main focus is to monitor the status of and Moringa Oil, has been witnessing waterbirds and the wetlands and to healthy growth. encourage greater interest in waterbirds  More generally, moringa grows in the and wetlands amongst citizens. wild or is cultivated in Central America  In India, the AWC is annually and the Caribbean, northern countries of coordinated by the Bombay Natural South America, Africa, South and history Society (BNHS) and Wetlands Southeast Asia, and various countries of International. Oceania. According to Wetlands International (WI), Source: AIR waterbirds are defined as species of birds that are ecologically dependent on wetlands.

PRELIMS 1. Consider the following statements regarding Narmada River: 1) The Narmada River is also known as "Life Line of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat". 2) The River flows through Gujarat, Chhattisgarh Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. 3) Being the rift valley river, Narmada river does not form delta. Which among the following above given statements are correct? a) only 1 and 2 b) only 2 and 3 c) only 1 and 3 d) all of the above

2. Consider the following statements regarding Judicial review in India 1) The concept of judicial review was borrowed from the UK 2) Judicial review is not considered as a basic structure of the constitution Which among the following above given statements are correct? a) only 1 b) only 2 c) both 1 and 2 d) none of the above

3. Which among the following countries are under Gulf Cooperation Council: 1) Bahrain 2) Kuwait 3) Oman 4) Iraq Codes: a) only 1 and 2 b) only 2, 3 and 4 c) only 1, 3 and 4 d) only 1, 2 and 3

4. Consider the following statements: 1) Waterbirds are defined as species of birds that are ecologically dependent on wetlands 2) In India, the Asian Waterbird Census is annually coordinated by the Bombay Natural history Society (BNHS) and Wetlands International. Which among the following above given statements are correct? a) only 1 b) only 2 c) both 1 and 2 d) none of the above

5. Consider the following statements regarding Moringa: 1) Major Moringa producing states in India are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. 2) Moringa is a fast growing drought-resistant tree. Which among the following above given statements are correct? a) only 1 b) only 2 c) both 1 and 2 d) none of the above

ANSWERS 1. Answer (d) 2. Answer (c) 3. Answer (d) 4. Answer (c) 5. Answer (c)

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