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Table of Contents
Polity & Governance ...... 1
1. Ministry withdraws order on Ǯfake newsǯ (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 1
2. Why have protests erupted again over Cauvery? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 2 3. What is the row over SC/ST Act verdict all about? (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 3 4. Budget session marked with disruptions (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 5 5. Right to convert is part of fundamental right of choice: Supreme Court (Relevant foe GS Mains II and GS prelims) ...... 6
6. SC to issue order in roster case (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 6
7. Allocation of cases is CJIǯs prerogative, rules Supreme Court (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 7
8. Why has violence escalated in Kashmir? (Relevant for GS Mains Paper II) ...... 8 9. Law Commission favours simultaneous elections (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 9 10. Make BCCI a public body: law panel (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 11 11. Why we need to build on CWG glory? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 12 12. The lowdown on row over SC roster (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 13 13. RS Chairman rejects motion against Chief Justice Misra (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 15 14. Does Rajya Sabha Chairperson has the power to reject the removal motion of CJI? (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 15 15. Unpersuasive: on Centre's arguments against elevating Justice Joseph (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 16
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16. Appointment of SC Judge (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance) ...... 18 17. Naroda Patiya case (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance) .... 21
International Organizations and Relations ...... 23 1. Nepalese PM K.P. Oli and his relationship with India (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II) ...... 23 2. Fifteen years after: on Iraq war (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 24 3. U.S., Britain, France rain over 100 missiles on Syria (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 25 4. Koreas to talk peace (Relevant for GS Mains Paper II) ...... 26 5. A day of smiles as Koreas aim for denuclearization (Relevant for GS Mains Paper II) .... 27 6. Common wealth? on Commonwealth leadersǯ summit (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II) ...... 28 7. Indiaǯs performance in Commonwealth games (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 30
Economics ...... 35 1. RBI switches back to GDP scale to measure economy (Relevant for GS prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 35 2. Undermining of multilateral by US (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains paper III) .... 36 3. The lowdown on poor loan recovery (Relevant for GS Mains Paper III) ...... 37 4. What govt. can do to keep fuel prices under check (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 38 5. TCS hits $100 billion market capitalization (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 39 6. India highest recipient of remittances (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 40 7. Nabbing absconders: on Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 41 8. Economic freedom index: India ranks 130th, Hong Kong retains top spot (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 42
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9. Merging associate banks with the SBI (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III; Economics) ...... 43 10. The rupee is sliding on account of rising oil prices and FII outflows (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 44 11. The lowdown on rising fuel prices (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III; Economics) ...... 45 12. First health centre under Ayushman Bharat scheme (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper III) ...... 46 13. Centreǯs oil policy evaluation (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 47
Environment ...... 49 1. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is growing rapidly (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 49 2. Gujarat, where there is a concern over disappearing lions (Relevant for GS Mains Paper III and GS Prelims) ...... 49 3. Centre proposes relaxation of coastal regulation zone norms (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 51
Science & Technology ...... 54
1. What is the E.U. law on data protection all about? (Relevant for GS Mains Paper III) ..... 54 2. Electric and hybrid vehicles & their possibility in India (Relevant for GS prelims, GS mains paper III) ...... 55 3. Google appeals against Competition Commission of India s search bias verdict
(Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... ǯ Ǯ ǯ 56 4. IRNSS-1I to enrich navigation fleet (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) ...... 57 5. Draft mission to kick-start renewable energy storage (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III; Science & Technology) ...... 57 6. Use of blockchain beyond cryptocurrencies (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III) 59
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Internal Security ...... 62 1. Vehicles made on or after Jan. 1 to have High Security Registration Plates (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III: Internal Security) ...... 62
Miscellaneous ...... 63
1. Kolkata, where a metro service goes under the river (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 63 2. TN files for contempt against Centre ...... 64 3. After glitch, ISRO trying to restore link with GSAT-6A (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 65 4. Who is Deepak Kochhar? (Read only for understanding) ...... 67 5. NASA s Hubble spots farthest individual star named Icarus (Relevant for GS prelims) .. 68
6. India secondǯ largest manufacturer of crude steel (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 68 7. Panel to probe CBSE question leaks (Relevant for GS Prelims)...... 69 8. End on curb to cattle sale (Read only for understanding) ...... 70 9. Kathua rape case: Eight-year-old girl s brutal rape and murder ignites national outrage;
all you need to know ...... ǯ 71 10. Judge Loya death case: Supreme Court rejects independent probe demand (Read only for understanding) ...... 72 11. Defence Planning Committee (DPC) to be set up (Relevant for GS Prelims) ...... 73 12. Who is Michael Cohen, Trump s deal-maker (Read only for understanding) ...... 74
13. Security forces gun down 16 Naxalsǯ in Maharashtra (Read only for understanding) ..... 76
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Polity and Governance
1. Ministry withdraws order on fake news (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Decision follows directions from PM The Information and Broadcasting Ministry withdrew its order, issued recently, under which accreditation of any journalist found guilty of disseminating fake news could be cancelled. Intervention by PM The PM has directed that the press release regarding the fake news be withdrawn and the matter be addressed only by the Press Council of India, a senior official in the PMO said. Earlier announcement Announcing the norms on Monday night, the Ministry, headed by Smriti Irani, said accreditation of a journalist could be cancelled if the news reported by him/her was found to be fake.
The notification, which did not define the phrase fake news, said complaints would be referred to the Press Council of India if they pertained to the print media and to the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) if they related to the electronic media. The regulatory agencies would have 15 days to dispose off a complaint. During the period of probe, the journalist s accreditation would be suspended, the note said.
The note further said that on first violation, the accreditation would be suspended for six months, on the second violation for a year and on the third violation, it would be cancelled permanently.
Government interference in Press The government has no mandate to control the press. The media were also worried about growing incidents of fake news, but the Press Council is the right platform to deal with complaints of any fake news.
What does accreditation mean for journalists? Journalists accredited with the Press Information Bureau (PIB) are eligible, along with members of their family, for subsidised health services under the Central Government Health Scheme, meant for employees of the Union government. But there are ways in which PIB accreditation is important for a journalist to carry out her professional responsibilities.
The PIB accreditation card has two important advantages. First, in certain events involving the President and Prime Minister, and other Ministers, only PIB accredited journalists are allowed entry.
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Second, accreditation allows a journalist to protect her sources. Since it comes after security clearance from the Home Ministry, accredited journalists are allowed to enter the premises of most Union government ministries without prior appointment. She is not required to register or record her presence at the reception, or with any other official in the Ministry. This firewalls the journalist from attempts at finding out when and on how many occasions she visited the premises, and which officers she met.
The anonymity of sensitive sources is one of the essential principles of journalism across the world. It may take years for a source to start confiding in a reporter. The trust between the journalist and her source is, to a large extent, based on the latter s faith that his/her identity will not be revealed. This becomes paramount when a source is willing to speak out against a senior official or Minister, or against the policies of the government.
Reporters and photographers with five years of experience as a working journalist, and freelance journalists with 15 years working experience are eligible for PIB accreditation.
Applications for accreditation are vetted by a Central Press Accreditation Committee headed by the DG, PIB.
(Adapted from the Hindu and the Indian Express)
2. Why have protests erupted again over Cauvery? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
What is the agitation for? Tamil Nadu, which witnessed State-wide protests over the ban on jallikattu in January last year, is again in agitation mode. On Thursday, the Opposition parties, led by the DMK, organised a bandh against the Centre s failure to frame a scheme to implement the Cauvery water-sharing agreement set out in the February 16 judgment. Last Saturday, the AIADMK government moved the Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings against the Centre for its wilful disobedience in not implementing the verdict.
What is the scheme ? The scheme is required for the implementation of the final order given by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in February 2007. While Tamil Nadu argues that the scheme should have entailed setting up of the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, Karnataka says there is no mention of a board in the court s order.
Even on March 29, when the deadline lapsed, Tamil Nadu hoped against hope that the Centre would come out with a scheme, but that did not happen.
Why does TN want a Board? The popular understanding is that the board, by itself, would ensure timely water release, as spelt out in the Tribunal s final order. The State s long-standing grouse against Karnataka is that it is not getting its share in right quantum and at the right time. This has Website: www.prepmate.in Telegram Channel: @upscprepmate Prepmate Cengage Books Preview: https://prepmate.in/books/ Youtube channel: PrepMate Edutech For updates on WhatsApp, share your name & city on WhatsApp No. 75972-40000
3 been the situation despite the Tribunal s interim and final orders taking care of irrigation requirements. Certain sections in the State felt aggrieved by the Supreme Court increasing Karnataka s share of water at the cost of Tamil Nadu. The overall share of Karnataka, which has gone up by 14.75 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft), now stands at 284.75 tmc ft, whereas that of Tamil Nadu is 404.25 tmc ft. It has become handy for the critics of the Centre to allege that this is yet another instance of the Union government discriminating against Tamil Nadu.
This argument is gaining attention in the absence of forceful articulation of a counter-view by the BJP.
Why did the Centre not oblige? The Union government, in its clarificatory application filed in the Supreme Court after the deadline lapsed, referred to divergent views expressed by constituents of the Cauvery basin Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry over the judgment. Citing the Assembly elections in Karnataka and describing the Cauvery as a very emotive issue in that State,— the Centre said the notification of a scheme — at this juncture would lead to massive public outrage, vitiate the election process and cause serious law and order problems. Seeking three more months, it wanted to know whether an implementation mechanism could be a mixture of administrative and technical body, and could have functions, different from what had been recommended by the Tribunal in the February 2007 order.
Why is Cauvery important for T.N.? Regarded as the lifeline of Tamil Nadu, the Cauvery is the only major river of the State, unlike Karnataka, the upper-riparian State in the river basin which also gets water from the Krishna and the Godavari.
The Cauvery also accounts for 70% of canal irrigation in Tamil Nadu. As many as 24.71 lakh acres have been recognised as the State s irrigated area under the Cauvery. In terms of paddy-sown area, the delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and four others, including Tiruchi and Pudukottai, account for nearly 40% of the total area in the State.
In terms of paddy production, they contribute 35% of the total crop. In 2014-15, of the 79.4 lakh tonnes of paddy, the seven districts produced 29.4 lakh tonnes. (Parts of Cuddalore, though considered part of the delta region, are not included here). In the past 10 years, the Cauvery has also become a major source of drinking water for a number of districts, including Ramanathapuram and parts of Madurai and Dindigul in the south and Vellore in the north, apart from central and western districts of the State.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
3. What is the row over SC/ST Act verdict all about? (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
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What is it? A recent verdict of the Supreme Court has invited criticism from political parties and others who argue that it amounts to diluting the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The court laid down new guidelines for police officers on how to ensure that innocent persons, especially public officials, are protected from false complaints. Most parties demanded that the Centre file a petition to review the order. They contend that the judgment, and some of the observations in it, would result in the law losing its teeth and leave Dalits unprotected against atrocities. While agreeing to hear the review petition, the Bench has, however, declined to suspend its order. It clarified that its order was aimed at protecting the innocent, not undermining Dalit rights.
How did it come about? The Bench of Justices A.K. Goel and U.U. Lalit was dealing with an appeal by the Director of Technical Education (DTE), Maharashtra, a public servant, whose plea for quashing a criminal case against him was declined by a High Court. The court found that an employee of an educational institution had given the complaint solely because the DTE refused to grant sanction to prosecute the institution s principal. It said none of the ingredients of any of the offences listed against him were made out in the complaint. The Bench then took note of cases of a similar nature before other courts in which false and frivolous complaints were made under the Act for personal motives.
Hence, it wanted to lay down guidelines to prevent misuse of the law so that the innocent could be protected. It sought to explain that interpretation of the Atrocities Act should promote constitutional values of fraternity and integration of society. This may require a check on the false implication of innocent citizens on caste lines.
Why does it matter? It matters because the court s ruling has led to an explosion of Dalit anger. A nationwide protest on April 2 resulted in violence. Nine people died across the country. The protesters, as well as the proponents of social justice and Dalit emancipation, have questioned the verdict. They disagree vehemently with the ruling that the bar under the Act on grant of anticipatory bail need not prevent courts from giving the accused advance bail if there was no merit in the complaint against them, and if on judicial scrutiny, it was found to be prima facie malafide. The ruling also said public servants should not be arrested under the Act without the permission of their appointing authority; and, in the case of others, without the approval of the District Senior Superintendent of Police. It further said a Deputy Superintendent of Police should hold a preliminary inquiry into complaints to rule out their being false or motivated ones.
The Bench said there was acknowledged abuse of the power to arrest under the Act. It also observed that the Act cannot be converted into a charter for exploitation or oppression by any unscrupulous person or by the police for extraneous reasons against other citizens, as has been found on several occasions in decisions referred to above. Another observation by the Bench that caused consternation was it is necessary to express concern that working of the Atrocities Act should not result in perpetuating casteism. Website: www.prepmate.in Telegram Channel: @upscprepmate Prepmate Cengage Books Preview: https://prepmate.in/books/ Youtube channel: PrepMate Edutech For updates on WhatsApp, share your name & city on WhatsApp No. 75972-40000
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What lies ahead? Under court procedure, the same Bench that delivered a verdict must also hear the review petitions. The Centre will now seek to convince the court that the ruling would make it even more difficult for Dalit victims of caste-based violence and discrimination from getting their complaints investigated. If the court is convinced, it may agree to modify its order or recall part of it. In the event of its refusal to do so, the Centre will have to explore other legal options to ensure implementation of the Act as it stands.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
4. Budget session marked with disruptions (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Both Houses of Parliament adjourned sine die; over 240 hours of work lost Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die, as budget session ended amid repeated disruptions.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die soon after it met at 11 a.m. on Friday, marking the end of a session in which 127 hours of work were lost to protests over varied issues. The Rajya Sabha saw 120 working hours being wasted.
What is adjournment sine die? Adjournment refers to a short recess in the proceedings of Parliament. It is an act of house and is exercised by Presiding officer of the house. Normally, the house is adjourned with a date and time fixed for the next meeting. When the house is adjourned for indefinite period (i.e., without deciding the time for reassembly), then the adjournment is called sine die.
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(Adapted from The Hindu)
5. Right to convert is part of fundamental right of choice: Supreme Court (Relevant foe GS Mains II and GS prelims)
SC judgement on right to choose religion and marry The Supreme Court held that a person's right to choose a religion and marry is an intrinsic part of her meaningful existence. Neither the State nor patriarchal supremacy can interfere in her decision. The observations are part of the judgment published by the Supreme Court in the case of Hadiya, a 26-year-old Homeopathy student who converted to Islam and married a Muslim man.
Setting aside High Court judgement The Kerala High Court had called the marriage a sham and referred to it as love jihad .
Rationale by Supreme Court Freedom of faith is essential to his/her autonomy; Choosing a faith is the substratum of individuality and sans it, the right of choice becomes a shadow. Matters of belief and faith, including whether to believe, are at the core of constitutional liberty. The Constitution exists for believers as well as for agnostics . The court held that the Constitution protects the ability of each individual to pursue a way of life or faith to which she or he seeks to adhere. Matters of dress and of food, of ideas and ideologies, of love and partnership are within the central aspects of identity. Society has no role to play in determining our choice of partners, .
Chief Justice Misra described the illegal confinement of Ms. Hadiya as the smothering of her liberty.
SC judge also wrote that the absolute right of an individual to choose a life partner is not in the least affected by matters of faith. The Constitution guarantees to each individual the right freely to practise, profess and propagate religion. Choices of faith and belief as indeed choices in matters of marriage lie within an area where individual autonomy is supreme .
(Adapted from the Hindu)
6. SC to issue order in roster case (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Petition calls for transparent, codified procedure for constitution of Benches A day after the Supreme Court s number two judge, Justice Jasti Chelameswar, attacked the Chief Justice of India s discretionary powers to constitute Benches and allocate cases, a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra decided to pass judicial orders
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7 on a petition calling for a transparent and codified procedure for constitution of Benches and allocation of cases in the apex court.
View under petition 1. Unfettered power is being exercised by the Chief Justices in the matter of formation of Benches, and so, the same is liable to be regulated through specific rules.
2. It said specific provisions should be incorporated in the Supreme Court Rules of 2013 that the three-judge Bench in the Chief Justice of India s court should consist only of the Chief Justice of India and the court s two seniormost judges. That is, in the present scenario, Chief Justice Misra and Justices Chelameswar and Ranjan Gogoi. 3. The petition further demanded that the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court should consist of five seniormost judges the CJI, Justices Chelameswar, Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph or a combination of the three seniormost and two juniormost judges. That would be the CJI, Justices Chelameswar,— Gogoi followed by Justices Navin Sinha and Deepak Gupta. —
Subjectwise roster Justices Chelameswar, Gogoi who is the next in line as CJI under the seniority norm, Lokur and Kurian Joseph had held the January 12 press conference, accusing the recent trend of CJIs selectively allocating— cases to preferred Benches.
Subsequently, Chief Justice Misra published a subjectwise roster of cases to be handled by the Supreme Court judges. However, the roster has not eased criticism. (Adapted from the Hindu)
7. Allocation of cases is CJI s prerogative, rules Supreme Court (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
SC judgement A Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra declared the Chief Justice of India an institution in himself with exclusive prerogative to constitute Benches and allocate cases. Rationale given in Supreme Court judgement The three-judge Bench held there is no room for any presumption of mistrust against the high constitutional functionary, who helms the country's most powerful court. Second instance
This is the second time that the Supreme Court has, within six months, reiterated the Chief Justice of India s exclusive duty and authority as master of roster to constitute Benches and allocate cases.
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In November 2017, a Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Misra had declared the Chief Justice of India as master of roster.
Dispute to the claim Subsequent to this judgment, four judges of the SC Justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph held their historic press conference on January 12, revealing how the CJI selectively allocates— cases to preferred Benches. — The verdict dismissed the petition filed by advocate Asok Pande, who highlighted the need for a set procedure to constitute Benches and allocate cases in the SC and the HCs.
(Adapted from the Hindu)
8. Why has violence escalated in Kashmir? (Relevant for GS Mains Paper II)
What happened? Unprecedented ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the Line of Control (LoC), growing militant violence and mounting civilian casualties during counter-insurgency operations have made Kashmir more vulnerable this year.
What has added a feeling of desperation to the combustible situation is the communal politics played over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua belonging to the nomadic Bakherwal community.
Why so many civilian deaths? People s anger is giving way to dissipation of fear of death among the youth, who constitute 60% of Jammu and Kashmir s population. This year, the first civilian death, of Khalid Ahmad Dar in Kulgam s Kudwani in south Kashmir, happened on January 9. Security forces opened fire to stop the locals converging on an Army camp after an encounter nearby, and Dar fell to bullets. The sister of a trapped militant turned up at another encounter site and was shot at on January 24. She succumbed to injuries on February 10, fuelling more anger. The civilian killings proved no deterrent to the locals, who rushed to encounter sites to help militants escape.
Last year, 30 civilians died near the sites of gunfights. This year, the graph shows an alarming upward curve. Over 300 civilians have been injured in clashes during counter- militancy operations since January. In the first 100 days of the year, at least 17 civilians died near the sites of encounters, especially in south Kashmir. In just 10 days in April, nine civilians died in the clashes with security forces in their bid to help trapped militants. On April 11, an 18-hour encounter saw four civilians dying in clashes, but the three trapped militants escaped the fierce encounter, emboldening the outfit they belonged to.
What is the government stand? Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is struggling to stop the youth from joining militant ranks and to restrain security forces so as to minimise civilian casualties during the operations.
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Her attempt to establish a deterrent for the security forces on January 29 by filing an FIR and naming an Army officer in the killing of two civilians evoked sharp criticism. The Supreme Court also provided relief to the accused Major.
The State government has sought changes in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), especially for the police, in dealing with the law and order situation. However, there is no consensus among the security agencies. Director-General of Police S.P. Vaid said any changes in the SOP to fix the loopholes is the prerogative of the senior officers of the security grid. Has Operation All-Out failed? The Army s Operation All-Out, launched in May of 2017, is also failing to yield desired results. From around 150 militants in 2017, the number still hovers around 100, despite the fact that 190 militants were killed last year. Around 30 militants have joined militant ranks since January, against over 35 killed in the same period. So, for every militant killed, one joins the ranks.
This despite the fact that for the first time in two decades, 13 local militants were killed in one day on April 1 in Shopian in a coordinated operation by security forces.
The impact of the political reach-out and calming of the situation by the Centre through special representative Dineshwar Sharma is diminishing in the absence of concrete steps.
Mr. Dineshwar Sharma s multiple visits to the State have failed to persuade the stakeholders, including the Hurriyat, to agree to talks. His lack of a clear mandate and failure to push for any major confidence-building measure is only creating a void to be filled by more radical ideologies.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
9. Law Commission favours simultaneous elections (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
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Simultaneous elections of Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies A draft white paper released by the Law Commission of India recommends holding of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies, possibly in 2019.
It suggests amending the Constitution to realise this objective.
In a public notice annexed to the draft, the commission, which is the government s highest law advisory body, said the white paper would be circulated to constitutional experts, academia, political parties, bureaucrats, students, etc. The commission, headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice B.S. Chauhan, says opinions and suggestions should come in by May 8, 2018.
History The commission says simultaneous elections were held in the country during the first two decades after Independence up to 1967. Dissolution of certain Assemblies in 1968 and 1969 followed by the dissolution of the Lok Sabha led to the disruption of the conduct of simultaneous elections. The panel refers to a January 2017 working paper of the NITI Aayog on simultaneous elections. Solutions The white paper contains a series of possible recommendations of the commission.
1. The first among these is that simultaneous elections may be restored in the nation by amending the Constitution, Representation of the People Act of 1951 and the Rules of Procedure of the Lok Sabha and Assemblies.
2. It recommends that in 2019, the election could be held in phases. In the first phase, it says, elections to the legislatures which are scheduled to go for polls synchronous with the
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Lok Sabha in 2019 could be held together. The rest of the States could go to elections in proximity with the Lok Sabha elections of 2024.
3. Citing no-confidence motion and premature dissolution of House as major roadblocks to simultaneous elections, the commission says the parties which introduce the no-confidence motion should simultaneously give a suggestion for an alternative government.
4. It even suggests the relaxation of the rigours of the anti-defection law in the Tenth Schedule to prevent a stalemate in the Lok Sabha or Assemblies in case of a hung Parliament or Assembly.
5. The panel says that in case of mid-term elections, the new Lok Sabha or Assembly would only serve the remainder of the term of the previous Lok Sabha/Assembly and not a fresh term of five years.
6. The commission says the Centre should get the Constitutional amendments, if agreed upon, to be ratified by all the States so as to avoid any challenge to them.
7. It also says that the Prime Minister/Chief Minister should be elected to lead by the full House like the Lok Sabha Speaker. (Adapted from the Hindu)
10. Make BCCI a public body: law panel (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Recommendations of Law Panel on BCCI The 90-year-old Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should be declared a public body. The board and all its member cricket associations should be brought under the Right to Information law regime, the Law Commission of India recommended to the government.
Rationale 1. The board s monopolistic activities, directly and indirectly, affect the fundamental rights of citizens, players, and other functionaries. 2. A private citizen should be able to move the highest court against the BCCI for any violation of his fundamental rights.
3. The commission said the board has encouraged an environment of opacity and non- accountability.
4. Corruption concerns There is an impression in the minds of the general public that corruption and other forms of malpractices are adversely affecting Cricket in India.
National Sports Federation
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The BCCI virtually acts as a National Sports Federation (NSF). The commission recommended that the Ministry website should explicitly mention BCCI in the list of NSFs. This would automatically bring it within the purview of the RTI Act, the commission said.
Listing some of the reasons why it concluded that the BCCI is a limb of the state , the commission pointed out how the cricket board, as an entity, is permitted de facto by the state to represent the country at the international stage.
It selects the Indian cricket team. The selected players wear the national colours and are the recipients of Arjuna awards. The ICC recognises BCCI as the official body representing India and neither the government, nor BCCI have ever challenged, discussed or changed the status.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
11. Why we need to build on CWG glory? (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
How well did India perform? The Indian contingent returned from the recent Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast in Australia, with its third best haul (66 medals). The earlier highs were in New Delhi, 2010 (101) and Manchester, 2002 (69). The excellent performance was based on the efforts of shooters, wrestlers, weightlifters and boxers, who together accounted for 46 medals. India finished third, bettering its kitty from the previous edition in Glasgow in 2010 by two medals.
The euphoria is not misplaced as Indian achievements have been rare in the international arena. It is a significant step for a country that spends daily a mere three paise per person for sport, a fact admitted by Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore.
What made this possible? The Indian surge at Gold Coast was made possible by consistent performances in many events. India bagged its maiden mixed team gold in badminton, won both the gold medals at stake in table tennis, and shimmered more with paddler Manika Batra s victories in the women s singles, which will inspire future generations. Besides Batra in the individual list, the overall display showcased the vast potential in the two teenage sensations of Indian shooting: Manu Bhaker and Anish Bhanwala, the youngest in the fray.
There were other peaks too on view, thanks to the never-say-die spirit of boxer M.C. Mary Kom, the three-in-a-row by wrestler Sushil Kumar, the facile wins by weight-lifters Mirabai Chanu and Sanjita Chanu, the exemplary javelin-throwing skills of Neeraj Chopra and the double delight of badminton stars Saina Nehwal and P. V. Sindhu jousting in a final which the former won.
How will it help for bigger games?
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The fine outing at the Commonwealth Games has bolstered the expectations of an improved show in the Asian Games at Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia during August and September later this year. There is attention too on the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The confidence in the Indian contingent will be a good base to build a path towards the future.
However, it is clear that the challenges in the Asian Games are vastly different from those encountered at the Commonwealth Games.
India will have to compete against the all-conquering Chinese, Japanese, the South and North Koreans, Thais, Iranians and those from the breakaway republics of the erstwhile Soviet Union. At Incheon (South Korea) in 2014, India was placed eighth and it can only get tougher.
The benchmarks at the Olympics will be higher too but India can take heart from the way it fought and dominated in the Commonwealth Games.
What do we need to do? There is no dearth of talent in India and its emerging athletes believe that they can compete with the best in the world. There is potential, and self-belief and these pillars need to be strengthened with a robust sports policy which plans long-term and also finds corporate funding. Often athletes struggle for finances and enjoy a windfall only after they win medals.
It is time to build on the results from the Gold Coast. Realistically, there is hardly any time to plan for the imminent Asian Games but there is some leeway for the Tokyo Olympics.
What is imperative is effective brainstorming and a precise plan backed with adequate resources to ensure that India, the second populous nation, excels through its athletes over the next two years. The onus is on sports administrators, coaches, athletes, government officials and corporate sponsors to ensure that the gains from Gold Coast are not frittered away.
(Adapted from the Hindu)
12. The lowdown on row over SC roster (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
What is it? The master of roster controversy is focussed on the absolute administrative power of the Chief Justice of India to allot cases to his colleagues in the Supreme Court. Over the past few months, the Supreme Court, through two back-to-back judgments, have formalised the convention that the Chief Justice of India is sui generis(unique) in his discretion to decide which case in the Supreme Court goes to which judge. Both judgments, delivered by a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, agree that he is only a first among the equals as a judge, but none, even his fellow judges, can question his powers as the court s top administrator. To justify its reasoning that the Chief Justice of India is administratively supreme, the two verdicts in November 2017 and April this year refer to Rule 1 of the
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Supreme Court Rules of 2013, which indicates that the Chief Justice of India would nominate the judges who would constitute a Bench to hear a cause, appeal or case.
The Supreme Court further applies a Rajasthan High Court judgment which holds that the Chief Justice is the master of the roster. The Supreme Court s Constitution Bench, in November 2017, held that the High Court s judgment must apply proprio vigore as regards the power of the Chief Justice of India. How did it come about? The issue gained public interest when four senior-most Supreme Court judges Justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph blamed the recent Chief Justices of India of selectively allotting cases to preferred Benches at— a press conference on January 12. A month later, Chief Justice Dipak Misra— published a new subject-wise roster for allocation of cases in the Supreme Court. However, the move did not mend matters among the top five judges, especially because the Chief Justice of India, in the new roster, had allocated public interest litigation matters to himself.
The April verdict responded to the criticism by again declaring the Chief Justice of India s exclusive duty and authority as master of roster. This judgment was a follow-up of the November 2017 verdict which first declared that the CJI s dominance over the roster was necessary to protect the Supreme Court from anarchy. Why does it matter? The doubts voiced about the master of roster issue were summed up by senior advocate Dushyant Dave in two quotes. First, Thomas Fuller s Be ye ever so high, the law is above you and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar s After all, the Chief Justice is a man with all the failings... In a recent lecture, the former Delhi High Court Chief Justice, A.P. Shah, said such immense powers should not rest in one person. There is an urgent need to democratise the position of the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justices of the High Courts while deciding the roster.
In fact, the November 2017 judgment was triggered by an order of Justice Chelameswar to have a Bench of the senior-most judges hear the Lucknow medical college scam. The issue related to allegations of a conspiracy to bribe Supreme Court judges. The private medical college s case was heard by a Bench led by the Chief Justice.
What next? The controversy refuses to die down. Within a couple of days after the April judgment, the former Union Law Minister, Shanti Bhushan, moved the Supreme Court for a judicial declaration that the authority of the Chief Justice of India as master of roster should not be reduced to an arbitrary power. Mr. Bhushan argued that allocation of sensitive cases should be done by the CJI in consultation with his collegium. A Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan have sought the assistance of Attorney- General K.K. Venugopal. All eyes are on the next hearing scheduled for April 27.
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(Adapted from the Hindu)
13. RS Chairman rejects motion against Chief Justice Misra (Relevant for GS Prelims)
Decision of Rajya Sabha Chairman Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu refused to admit the motion for removal of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, a first in India s constitutional history.
Mr. Naidu, in his 10-page order, dealt with the five charges of misbehavior against the CJI and noted that the Opposition was unsure of its own case. Cong. to move court Former Law Minister Kapil Sibal, addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters, responded by announcing that the party would challenge the unprecedented, ill-advised and illegal order in the Supreme Court.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
14. Does Rajya Sabha Chairperson has the power to reject the removal motion of CJI? (Relevant for GS prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
What has happened recently? With the Rajya Sabha Chairman rejecting the notice given by 64 Opposition members for the impeachment of the Chief Justice of India, the focus has shifted to the presiding officer s power to admit or reject a motion.
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The Congress, spearheading the move, is planning to approach the Supreme Court. Section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, says the presiding officer may admit or refuse to admit the motion after holding consultations with such persons as he thinks fit, and considering the material before him.
What is the present position? The law is open to interpretation on whether he can reject the motion on merits without sending the charges to a committee for investigation.
A common-sense view suggests the Chairman has to apply his mind to the nature of the charge. To argue that he should merely satisfy himself on the number of signatures appended to the motion and straightaway constitute a probe committee is unlikely to find judicial favour. However, it needs a court to delineate the contours of such an interpretation.
On what grounds was the motion rejected? Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu held there is little merit in any of the five charges. He has considered the implications for judicial independence if an investigation were ordered into charges that he says are based on mere suspicion and conjecture. He has picked holes in the motion s wording, saying the signatories themselves are unsure of the veracity of the charges. As for the legal foundation of his order, Mr. Naidu has cited the Supreme Court ruling in M. Krishna Swami v. Union of India (1992), which directed the Speaker (or Chairman) to act with utmost care, circumspection and responsibility and to keep equally in mind the seriousness of the imputations, nature and quality of the record before him, and the indelible chilling effect on the public administration of justice and the independence of the judiciary in the estimate of the general public . He has also gone by Mehar Singh Saini (2010) to elaborate on the phrase proved misbehaviour or incapacity , used in Article 124(4) of the Constitution, the ground for impeachment of a Supreme Court judge. What were the nature of charges? What is possibly the main charge that Justice Misra misused his control over the roster to assign cases selectively with a view to influencing their outcome is indeed a serious one. But the question is whether— impeachment is an option in the absence of concrete material to establish this charge. The Opposition is divided on initiating— impeachment proceedings and there are two views within the Congress itself. Taking the matter to court may result in a judicial resolution, but it is unlikely to end the controversy over the functioning of the Supreme Court, an issue that has unfortunately assumed a very political and polarised character.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
15. Unpersuasive: on Centre's arguments against elevating Justice Joseph (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
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The Centre s objections to the elevation of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice K.M. Joseph to the Supreme Court are unpersuasive and raise suspicion whether his appointment is being blocked for extraneous reasons.
Arguments given by centre Basically, there are two broad reasons proffered for freezing the appointment. First, that Justice Joseph is much too junior in the all-India list of judges, with 11 Chief Justices ranked above him.
Second, that there is an imbalance in the regional representation in the Supreme Court, something that his appointment will only skew by adding another judge from Kerala. Neither of these reasons holds good.
Criticism of Centre s views 1. Seniority is not the sole consideration while elevating a High Court judge to the apex court. Inter se seniority is a consideration when a puisne judge is made a Chief Justice, but it is not sacrosanct in elevation to the Supreme Court.
There are quite a few instances of senior judges and Chief Justices being overlooked in favour of a more deserving candidate of outstanding merit. Some of these decisions may evoke criticism, but there is no laid-down norm under which the Supreme Court collegium should draw fresh talent for the highest court only in the order in which an all-India seniority list of High Court judges has been drawn up.
2. Kerala will have two Supreme Court judges were Justice Joseph to be appointed. There was a time when Kerala had three judges in the apex court; also, other courts have been routinely over-represented .
While it is desirable that regional imbalances and under-representation are not glaring, this cannot be cited as a factor to shoot down the candidature of a person otherwise qualified and validly recommended.
What are the allegations against Centre? Not surprisingly, the Centre s decision has been accompanied by suspicions and allegations that Justice Joseph is being targeted for his 2016 judgment quashing the proclamation of President s Rule in Uttarakhand. What happens from now on will depend on how the collegium reacts. What should be done? In the light of its strong recommendation that Justice Joseph is more deserving and suitable in all respects than other Chief Justices and senior puisne judges , it will be no surprise if it reiterates the recommendation. Then the government is bound to abide by the collegium s decision. In that event, the Centre should not prolong the controversy further by seeking to block his elevation again. There is a strong perception, even within the judiciary, that the government is much too slow when it comes to approving judicial appointments. A conflict between the judiciary and the executive over particular
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(Adapted from The Hindu)
16. Appointment of SC Judge (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance)
Uttarakhand Chief Justice K.M. Joseph name not approved Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said the government was free to send back Uttarakhand Chief Justice K.M. Joseph s name to the Supreme Court Collegium for re-consideration.
Indu Malhotra approved Dismissing claims that the government had cherry-picked senior advocate Indu Malhotra for appointment as Supreme Court judge over Justice Joseph, Chief Justice Misra, heading a three-judge Bench, said it was unthinkable, unimaginable, inconceivable for the court to stay the presidential warrant for the appointment of Ms. Malhotra.
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Reason for rejecting file The government has already sent Justice Joseph s file back to the Collegium for re- consideration. The grounds for returning the file include Justice Joseph s relative juniority among High Court Chief Justices. The government has said he is the 42nd in the All-India High Court Judges Seniority List and there were 10 High Court Chief Justices senior to him. Besides, the government said, the Kerala High Court was too small a court to be represented by two Supreme Court judges. The Supreme Court already has Justice Kurian Joseph, the fifth senior-most judge and a Collegium member.
Lawyers plea Barely an hour after the government communication to the CJI was made known, an urgent mention was made by 100 lawyers of the Supreme Court to stay the appointment of Ms. Malhotra. They said that though they were solidly behind Ms. Malhotra, they were equally anguished by the fact that she was cleared over Justice Joseph. The names of both Ms. Malhotra and Justice Joseph were recommended on January 11 by the Collegium. The Collegium had then recorded that there was no match for Justice Joseph in merit.
Procedure for appointment of Supreme Court Judge Article 124(1) of the Constitution provides for 1 Chief Justice of India (CJI) and not more than 30 other judges subject to the law made by Parliament. Parliament prescribes the strength of Supreme Court judges to be 31.
Article 124(2): CJI shall be appointed by the President after consulting such number of Judges of Supreme Court and High Court as he/she may deem necessary for the purpose.
However, while appointing other judges of the Supreme Court, the President shall consult CJI and such other judges of Supreme Court and High Court as he may deem necessary for the purpose.
Similarly, Article 217 deals with the appointment of High Court judges. A High Court judge should be appointed by the President after consultation with the CJI, the Governor of the state, and the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court.
Criticism of the Constitutional Provisions Providing for Appointment of Supreme Court and High Court Judges 1. The above provisions do not clearly specify the role of consultation in the appointment of judges, i.e., whether it is binding or not on the President.
2. The above provisions do not state the exact number of judges. President is required to consult.
Emergence of Collegium System Detailed role and composition of Collegium for the appointment of judges of Supreme Court and appointment and transfer of judges of High Court has been laid down by Supreme Court itself through two judgements:
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Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCARA) vs. Union of India (1993) Under this case, the Supreme Court gave the following directions relating to the appointment of judges of Supreme Court and appointment and transfer of judges of High Court: 1. President shall give primary consideration to the opinion of Chief Justice of India while appointing the judges, i.e., President is required to make appointments according to the opinion of CJI.
2. The opinion of CJI is basically opinion of Judiciary expressed through CJI, i.e., CJI is required to consult other judges while giving opinion.
3. President may, only with logical reasons, ask the CJI to reconsider his opinion.
4. The whole process of consultation shall be in writing.
5. While appointing judges, seniority principle (in terms of number of years served) should be followed.
Appointment of Judges Case (1998) The Supreme Court has further clarified the process relating to appointment and transfer of judges in this case.
1. While appointing the judges of the Supreme Court, CJI shall consult four senior most judges of the Supreme Court.
2. While transferring a High Court judge, apart from consulting four senior most judges of the Supreme Court, CJI shall also consult the Chief Justice of High Court from where the judge is being transferred and the Chief Justice of High Court to where the judge is being transferred.
3. While appointing the judges of the High Court, the CJI shall consult two senior most judges of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned.
4. In all the above cases, if next in line to become Chief Justice of India is not included then he too shall be included.
5. If the President requires the CJI to reconsider the opinion, the same panel which made recommendations earlier shall be reconstituted.
6. No opinion contrary to that of CJI shall be communicated to the President.
7. Similarly, if two or more judges (other than CJI) give an adverse opinion, such opinion shall not be communicated to the President.
(Adapted from The Hindu and background from PrepMate-Cengage Polity book, Page 145)
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17. Naroda Patiya case (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II; Polity & Governance)
On April 29, survivors of the massacre at Naroda Patiya, where 97 people were killed in the 2002 riots of Gujarat, will gather to discuss their future course of action. On April 20, the Gujarat High Court acquitted former BJP Minister Maya Kodnani, who had been jailed for being the kingpin of the violence.
Advocate Shamsad Pathan, who appeared for the victims in the case, admitted that the verdict amounted to a big setback and they would have to decide how to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict.
What happened? On February 28, 2002, a mob of around 5,000 people, led by Bajarang Dal leader Babu Bajarangi, gathered at Naroda Patiya and attacked the lower middle-class Muslim hub. The riots that lasted almost the whole day left 97 people dead and many injured. Houses were looted and shrines destroyed. Among the dead were 36 women and 35 children.
Where do victims live? After the riot, survivors shifted to safe places such as Narol, Juhapur and Vatva. Even after 16 years of the violence, only a handful of families have returned to their original homes, while the rest have settled in other places.
It s no use going back there because it only brings us memories of those brutally killed, said a victim, now settled in Juhapura. He lost three members of his family. In 2012, Kodnani was sentenced to 28 years in jail for her role in the riots in Naroda Patiya. The riots broke out after the Godhra train carnage, in which 58 kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya lost their lives. It was one of the worst communal flare-ups in the State, in which over 1,000 people were killed.
Why was she acquitted? At a hearing in the case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Supreme Court to reinvestigate the most crucial cases of the riots, had told the trial court that a day after the Godhra incident, 11 people had seen Kodnani inciting mobs in the Naroda area, her Assembly constituency in north Ahmedabad. The witnesses told the court that they saw her handing out swords to rioters, and at one point even firing a pistol.
However, after a protracted battle in the High Court during which several judges recused themselves from hearing her appeal, the Division Bench of Justices Harsha Devani and A.S. Supehia, which had reserved its order last August, observed that the witness statements were inconsistent and had failed to prove Kodnani s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Justices Devani and Supehia said the investigation carried out by the SIT did not inspire much confidence. Website: www.prepmate.in Telegram Channel: @upscprepmate Prepmate Cengage Books Preview: https://prepmate.in/books/ Youtube channel: PrepMate Edutech For updates on WhatsApp, share your name & city on WhatsApp No. 75972-40000
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Of the 32 persons convicted by the trial court, the High Court upheld the conviction of 13 persons, acquitting 18, including the key accused, while one convict died during the appeal pending in the court. The High Court also reduced the quantum of sentence awarded to all convicts to 21 years in jail.
Additionally, the High Court convicted three others, who were among the 29 persons acquitted by the trial court, and their sentences will be announced on May 9. They are Umesh Bharwad, P.J. Rajput and lawyer Rajkumar Chaumal.
In 2003, the Supreme Court stayed the proceedings in nine most crucial cases, including the Naroda Patiya case, on a petition filed by the National Human Rights Commission and Citizens for Justice and Peace, an NGO. In 2008, the court constituted a SIT, headed by former CBI Director R.K. Raghavan, to reinvestigate these nine cases, and special courts were set up to conduct fast-track trials under the monitoring of the Supreme Court.
What lies ahead? Working with Jan Sangharsh Manch, an outfit set up by the late advocate Mukul Sinha to fight for justice for the victims of the riots, Mr. Pathan is bringing survivors, witnesses and others together to chalk out a strategy for their legal battle in the Supreme Court.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
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International Organizations and Relations
1. Nepalese PM K.P. Oli and his relationship with India (Relevant for GS Prelims and GS Mains Paper II)
It is wholly in keeping with other contradictions in Nepal Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli s political career that he should have emerged victorious from one of the country s most divisive campaigns to lead a rainbow coalition of parties with everyone ranging from Maoists to royalists and Nepal s hill elite to Madhesi parties in it. What is his aim? During the 2017 campaign, he often targeted India, and by extension, the Madhesis who claimed support from India. In March 2017, after the Oli-led Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN- UML) launched its election campaign, several Madhesi activists protested, and at least three were killed in clashes at Rajbiraj. But as Prime Minister, Mr. Oli, whose coalition won two-thirds of the seats, has made India his first visit abroad.
At home, he is trying to build a maximalist government, winning the support of Madhesi parties like the FSFN and the RJNP that he is expected to support in the provincial government in turn. In an interview to The Hindu, Mr. Oli claimed that not only had he won 88% of the votes in the confidence motion in Parliament, most other members would have liked to vote for him too, if they had not been bound by party norms. It is an irony that Mr. Oli, often seen as the rebel within his own party, now strives for the mantle of Nepal s most widely popular leader. What is his politics? Called Dhruba as a child, Mr. Oli grew up in eastern Nepal s Jhapa, brought up by his grandmother after his mother died of smallpox when he was just four. As a teenager, he took part in the Jhapa revolt or the peasant uprising against landowners in 1967. At 18, he signed up for the Communist party, and was almost immediately arrested. Now an ultra- nationalist, he was once a part of ultra-left-wing plots against Nepal s elite, inspired by India s Naxal movement. Although he rarely refers to his time in and out of prison, where he spent more than 14 years, his associates say he was moulded by his experiences there. He has learnt to count on himself more than anyone else, even if that makes him a loner, said one journalist who has known Mr. Oli for decades. He also taught himself in prison, and while he never completed a degree, he made himself conversant with philosophy and history and fluent in English by reading.
Is he pro-India? Mr. Oli was released in 1987 and formed a front that brought down the Panchayat regime, and later launched the CPN-UML. In the 1990s, Mr. Oli gained administrative experience as Home Minister and also played a major role in supporting the Mahakali water-sharing agreement with India. The CPN-UML split over what it called an unequal agreement, but
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Mr. Oli remained an outlier. He was seen supporting a pro-India stance, a far cry from his more recent role against India during the promulgation of Nepal s Constitution, and the four-month economic blockade that followed. What happens next? According to supporters, he is the most energetic leader they have seen for years, though the 66-year-old has had several health problems, including a kidney transplant in 2007 in Delhi.
But the most curious contradiction remains one of his faith. Ideologically, Mr. Oli is no more the young radical youth of the 1970s.
But he will preside, according to plan, over the merger of his party with Maoists on April 22 to create a unified Communist Party of Nepal. He balances his communist beliefs with a hearty dose of religiosity, including attending all religious events and frequently quotes Sanskrit slokas. Asked whether he felt he faced more challenges ahead, Mr. Oli said he feared nothing as long as he had the blessings of Pashupatinath.
Perhaps as an acknowledgement to his earlier motivators Marx and Lenin, however, Mr. Oli took his oath in the name of the Nepali people, not God as is the norm, when he was sworn in as Prime Minister.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
2. Fifteen years after: on Iraq war (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
Endless Iraq war Fifteen years ago, a few weeks into the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, a 39-foot statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad s al-Fardous Square was brought down under the watch of American troops. It was an iconic moment that highlighted more than just the end of the Ba ath party s decades-long reign. Within a month, U.S. President George W. Bush had declared mission accomplished in Iraq. But one and a half decades later, the country is still fighting the ghosts of the destructive war. Lack of legitimacy The war, which began on March 20, 2003, had no legitimate basis, being founded on misleading intelligence information, if not downright lies. The U.S. did not have a UN mandate to use force against Iraq. Repeated attempts by the Bush administration to get Security Council approval failed.
Fought on false claims But the U.S. went ahead with forming an international coalition that included the U.K., and attacking Iraq, citing mainly two reasons that the Saddam administration possessed weapons of mass destruction and that it had ties with al-Qaeda. Both claims turned out to be false. The occupying troops failed to find— any weapon of mass destruction in Iraq, while al-Qaeda in Iraq was actually founded after the invasion.
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Disastrous post war management The post-war management of Iraq was disastrous. The U.S. first disbanded the Iraqi military, leaving tens of thousands of soldiers jobless overnight, which posed a security threat. There was no coherent strategy to stabilise post-Saddam Iraq or to address the sectarian power struggle to fill the vacuum.
Massive death and destruction It is difficult to see what the U.S. and its allies achieved from a war that killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and displaced millions. More importantly, by destroying the state apparatus in Iraq, Washington threw a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country into utter chaos.
Rise of ISIS It was in this chaos that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi found the fertile ground to build his terrorist empire which, after his death and under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, transformed itself into the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. In effect, the war got rid of a ruthless dictator, but left the country in a worse and much more dangerous situation in fact, in disarray and perpetual violence. — Present position of Iraq Iraq now has a functional government, but with deepening sectarian and ethnic fault lines.
Despite the humanitarian and political tragedy that is still unfolding, none of the architects of the war has been taken to task. No action has been taken even based on the U.K. s Chilcot report, which took apart the arguments used to justify the war. The Iraq war will remain a reminder of not only one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of the century but also of a grave failure of the international system.
(Adapted from the Hindu)
3. U.S., Britain, France rain over 100 missiles on Syria (Relevant for GS Prelims)
U.S., British and French forces struck Syria with more than 100 missiles in the first coordinated Western strikes against the Damascus government, targeting what they called chemical weapons sites in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack.
Major escalation The bombing represents a major escalation in the West s confrontation with Mr. Assad s superpower ally Russia but is unlikely to alter the course of a multi-sided war which has killed at least half-a-million people in the past seven years. That, in turn, raises the question of where Western countries go from here, after a volley of strikes denounced by Damascus and Moscow as reckless and pointless.
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Response of Assad government Syria released video of the wreckage of a bombed-out research lab, but also of President Bashar al-Assad arriving at work as usual, with the caption morning of resilience.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, with Damascus allies saying the buildings hit had been evacuated in advance.
The strikes had been limited so far to Syria s chemical weapons facilities.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
4. Koreas to talk peace (Relevant for GS Mains Paper II)
What the high-stakes meeting is all about
What is the inter-Korean summit? The leaders of North and South Korea, Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in, will meet in the demilitarised zone between the two countries on Friday to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and the official end to the Korean War (1950-53) which has technically still not concluded.
How did the summit come about?
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North Korea had conducted a number of nuclear and ballistic missile tests under Mr. Kim s rule, including in 2017, defying United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Consequently, tensions ran high between stakeholders in the region as Mr. Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump exchanged threats of war. Mr. Moon, who took over as President of South Korea last May, has been a proponent of engagement between the Koreas, a cause he has pushed. In his 2018 New Year s Day speech, Mr. Kim said he would send a North Korean delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February. Since then, there have been several high- level diplomatic meetings leading to the setting up of the summit.
How is the U.S. involved in peace talks? The U.S. is a major stakeholder in the region where two of its key allies, South Korea and Japan, are located. The U.S has over 28,000 troops in South Korea and the country s involvement in peace talks is to be expected. As the thaw occurred, Mr. Kim conveyed his willingness to talk with Mr. Trump via the South Koreans. The two leaders will meet at the end of May or in early June. U.S. Secretary of State nominee, Mike Pompeo, made a secret visit to Pyongyang to meet with Mr. Kim around April 1, possibly to prepare for the Trump- Kim summit. The outcome of the U.S.-North Korea meeting is particularly difficult to predict because both Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump are unpredictable and prone to dramatic gestures. According to Mr. Moon, the North Koreans have not demanded that U.S. troops withdraw from South Korea as a precondition for denuclearisation but have asked for security and an end to hostility. Mr. Trump, whilst praising Mr. Kim, has said that sanctions will remain in place until a deal is reached.
What about China? China is the largest trading partner of both North and South Korea. Some 90% of North Korea s trade passes through China. Mr. Kim has had a cooler approach to China relative to his father or grandfather, both of whom ran North Korea before him. As China participated in UN sanctions against North Korea, the relationship between the two countries was further strained. Mr. Kim made a sudden visit to Beijing last month his first foreign trip as North Korea s leader, and Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to visit Pyongyang later this year. His manoeuvres could be a clever strategy to engage with —all stakeholders, some of whom, like the U.S. and China, have competing interests in the region. Reaching out to China before talks with the U.S. could also provide some backing to North Korea. It is likely though that Mr. Kim will want to reduce North Korea s dependence on China over the longer term. China, on the other hand, is unlikely to be satisfied for long with the side role that it seems to be playing at the moment in the peace process.
(Adapted from The Hindu)
5. A day of smiles as Koreas aim for denuclearization (Relevant for GS Mains Paper II)
Kim Jong-un, Moon Jae-in promise an end to Korean war The leaders of North and South Korea embraced after pledging to work for the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula , on a day of smiles and handshakes at the first inter-Korean summit in more than a decade. Website: www.prepmate.in Telegram Channel: @upscprepmate Prepmate Cengage Books Preview: https://prepmate.in/books/ Youtube channel: PrepMate Edutech For updates on WhatsApp, share your name & city on WhatsApp No. 75972-40000
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Earlier, Kim Jong-un became the first North Korean leader since the 1950-53 Korean War to set foot in South Korea, after shaking hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in over a concrete curb marking the border in the heavily fortified demilitarized zone.
To work with U.S., China The two Koreas announced they would work with the U.S. and China this year to declare an official end to the 1950s Korean War and seek an agreement on permanent and solid peace. The Panmunjom Declaration, named after the truce village that hosted the talks, included promises to pursue phased arms reduction, cease hostile acts, transform their fortified border into a peace zone and seek multilateral talks with other countries, including the U.S. President Moon Jae-in agreed to visit the North Korean capital Pyongyang later this year, they said.
Difference from the past Scenes of Mr. Moon and Mr. Kim joking and walking together marked a striking contrast to last year s barrage of North Korean missile tests and its largest-ever nuclear test that led to sweeping international sanctions and fears of war. Their meeting comes weeks before Mr. Kim is due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in what would be the first-ever meeting between sitting leaders of the two countries.
After a furious year of missile launches and Nuclear testing, a historic meeting between North and South Korea is now taking place. Good things are happening, but only time will tell! Mr. Trump said on Twitter. KOREAN WAR TO END! The United States, and all of its GREAT people, should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea! (Adapted from The Hindu)
6. Common wealth? on Commonwealth leaders summit (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper II)
CHOGM London: Attempt to revive The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in London came with hopes of a re-energised Commonwealth . To begin with, the summit was being held in the U.K., the founder of the grouping of mostly former British colonies, after 32 years. Besides, Queen Elizabeth II, the head of CHOGM, attended the summit, which she has done infrequently in the last few years owing to her health. CHOGM members were looking to revive the 53-nation grouping as Commonwealth 2.0, amidst Britain s rocky exit from the EU. Greater role expected from India In India too, the summit was seen to be a promising place to play a leadership role, and Prince Charles s visit to Delhi to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi bolstered that belief. Mr. Modi was the first Indian Prime Minister to attend CHOGM in a decade, after Website: www.prepmate.in Telegram Channel: @upscprepmate Prepmate Cengage Books Preview: https://prepmate.in/books/ Youtube channel: PrepMate Edutech For updates on WhatsApp, share your name & city on WhatsApp No. 75972-40000
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Manmohan Singh skipped the summits in Australia (2011) and Sri Lanka (2013) over bilateral differences, and Mr. Modi skipped the summit in Malta (2015) out of indifference. So it was widely expected that India would step up to a bigger role, and help chart a future course for the Commonwealth.
Outcome of commonwealth 1. Given the expectations, the outcome of the meet was underwhelming. It was announced Prince Charles would succeed his mother as the head of the Commonwealth, ignoring calls for the position to be more democratically shared or rotated. 2. There were substantive statements on the Blue Charter on Ocean Governance and on the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment, which could together counter China s Belt and Road Initiative.
But there was little by way of a road map to achieve the goals.
3. Prime Minister Theresa May apologised for her Home Office s threat to deport thousands of immigrants brought as manual labour in the 1940s on the ship Empire Windrush from the Caribbean but failed to convince most members of the Commonwealth that Britain would reverse its policies on immigration. The U.K. s hard line on Indian illegals , which prevented the signing of a bilateral agreement on immigrant returns between Mr. Modi and Ms. May, too indicates that post-Brexit London is likely to welcome trade in goods from the Commonwealth, not services.
Way forward The Commonwealth remains a great platform for development aid, democratic values and educational opportunities, but its relevance is unlikely to increase unless it adopts a more egalitarian and inclusive attitude to its next generation of Commonwealth citizens, to partake in a prosperity their forefathers built.
COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS Commonwealth is an intergovernmental organization of 53-member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire. Commonwealth countries span Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific and are diverse they are amongst the world s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries. Thirty-one of Commonwealth members are classified as small states countries with a population— size of 1.5 million people or less. The headquarters of Commonwealth is located at London, the United Kingdom. — Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Every two years, the heads of governments of Commonwealth states meet to discuss issues affecting the Commonwealth and the wider world at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
All members have an equal say regardless of size or economic stature. This ensures even the smallest of member states has a voice in shaping the Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth.— The Queen is also the monarch of 16 members of the
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Commonwealth, known as Commonwealth realms. The other Commonwealth members have different heads of state: 31 members are republics and five are monarchies with a native monarch.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015, also known as CHOGM 2015, was the 24th meeting of the heads of government of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was held in Malta.
The 25th CHOGM was originally scheduled to be held in Vanuatu in 2017 but could not be held after a cyclone devastated the country s infrastructure in March 2015. The meeting was rescheduled for April 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Adapted from The Hindu and Background from PrepMate-Cengage IOBR Book, Chapter 2)
7. India s performance in Commonwealth games (Relevant for GS Prelims, GS Mains Paper III)
What are Commonwealth games? Commonwealth is an intergovernmental organization of 53-member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire. Commonwealth countries span Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific and are diverse they are amongst the world s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries. Thirty-one of Commonwealth members are classified as small states countries with a population— size of 1.5 million people or less. The headquarters of Commonwealth is located at London, the United Kingdom. — Commonwealth Games The Commonwealth Games, a multi-sport event, is held every four years; the 2010 Commonwealth Games were held in New Delhi, India, and the 2014 Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow, Scotland. The 2018 Commonwealth Games were held at Gold Coast, Australia.
A summary of India's overall performance at the Gold Coast games India finished third in the medals tally at the Commonwealth Games 2018with 66 medals (26 Gold, 20 Silver and 20 Bronze). Only Australia with 198 medals and England with 136 were ahead.
India's 26 Golds was also third, behind Australia (80) and England (45).
The list of India s medal winners at the Gold Coast Games:
Gold (26) Saina Nehwal clinched women s singles gold in badminton.
Boxer Vikas Krishan wins gold in 75kg category at Commonwealth Games.
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Manika Batra wins gold in table tennis women's singles, becoming the first Indian woman to do so.
Vinesh Phogat wins gold in women s wrestling freestyle 50 kg Nordic event.
Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian javelin thrower to claim a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
In the 52kg Boxing event Gaurav Solanki won gold.
In wrestling, Sumit Malik claimed the gold medal in the men s freestyle 125 kg.
Sanjeev Rajput won gold in 50m Rifle 3 Position shooting event.
M.C. Mary Kom won 45-48 kg category boxing event, claiming gold in her debut Commonwealth Games.
Bajrang Punia won the gold medal in freestyle 65kg wrestling.
Tejaswini Sawant won the 50m rifle position event 15-year-old Anish Bhanwala bagged gold in men's 25m rapid fire pistol.
In men's freestyle 74kg wrestling, double Olympic-medallist Sushil Kumarwon gold.
Rahul Aware added another gold medal to India's tally, winning in the Men's Freestyle 57kg wrestling event.
In the double trap women shooting, India's Shreyasi Singh won gold.
Shooter Heena Sidhu won gold in 25m pistol event to give India its 11th gold medal in the Games.
The Indian mixed team badminton claimed gold for the first time in the Games' history.
In the 10m men's air pistol event, India's Jitu Rai won gold. This is his second Commonwealth gold.
In the women's table tennis event, the Indian team won its first ever Commonwealth gold medal.
In 10m women's air pistol, Manu Bhaker won gold and added sixth gold for India at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Weightlifter Punam Yadav became the third woman to win gold for India, coming out on top in the women's 69 kg category at the CWG 2018.
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Weightlifter Venkat Rahul Ragala became the fourth Indian to claim a gold medal in the men's 85 kg category.
Weightlifter Satish Kumar Sivalingam won India's third gold in the men s 77kg category.
Weightlifter Sanjita Chanu landed India its second gold medal, winning the top spot in the women s 53kg category.
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu was the first gold medal winner for India, on the opening day, in the women's 48 kg category.
Indian men s table tennis team wins gold beating Nigeria 3-0.
Silver (20) P.V. Sindhu picked up the women s singles silver medal in badminton playing against Saina Nehwal. Kidambi Srikanth settled for badminton silver.
Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Joshna Chinappa settle for silver in women s doubles squash.
In mixed doubles squash, Dipika Pallikal and Saurav Ghosal claim silver.
Boxer Manish Kaushik won silver in the Men's 60 kg category.
India s Amit Panghal won silver after losing a very close bout in the Boxing Men s 46-49kg Final. Manika Batra and Mouma Das fought hard before going down against defending champions Feng Tianwei and Yu Mengyu to settle for a silver medal in the women s doubles, a first ever for India in the Commonwealth Games. Anjum Moudgil bagged silver in the women s 50m rifle 3 positions event.
Wrestler Pooja Dhanda made a late push in the women s 57kg final bout to win silver.
Wrestler Mausam Khatri failed to make use of his wealth of experience as he settled for a silver medal in men s freestyle 97 kg event.
Seema Punia came up with a best effort of 60.41m in the women's discus throw, which she did in her opening attempt to win her fourth successive CWG medal Mehuli Ghosh won silver in the 10m women's air rifle event.
In the 105-category weightlifting for men, Pradeep Singh won the silver.
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In 10m women's air pistol, Heena Sidhu won the silver and added second silver for India at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Weightlifter P. Gururaja opened India s medal account on the first competition day, claiming a silver in the men s 56kg category. Tejaswini Sawant won a silver medal in 50m prone finals in shooting.
Wrestler Babita Kumari won silver in 53kg event.
Bronze (20) Manika Batra and G. Sathiyan claimed mixed doubles bronze in table tennis.
Sharath Kamal claimed bronze in table tennis Men's Singles.
Harmeet Desai and Sanil Shankar Shetty bagged bronze in the men s doubles Table Tennis competition. Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy win bronze at women's doubles badminton.
In wrestling, Somveer claims bronze in Men's Freestyle 86 kg.
In wrestling, Sakshi Malik claimed bronze in the Women's Freestyle 62 kg.
Naman Tanwar won bronze in the boxing Men's 91 kg.
Manoj Kumar won bronze in the boxing Men's 69 kg.
Hussamuddin Mohammed won bronze in the boxing Men's 56 kg.
Divya Kakran won bronze medal in the women s freestyle 68 kg by outplaying Bangladesh s Sherin Sultana 4-0. In the women's discus throw, Navjeet Dhillon grabbed the bronze with her final throw of 57.43m.
In women's freestyle 76kg wrestling event, Kiran bagged a bronze medal.
Delhi-born Ankur Mittal claimed the bronze in men's double trap shooting event.
Om Mitharval won bronze in the 50m men's pistol event and in the 10m men's air pistol event.
India's Apurvi Chandela won bronze in the 10m women's air rifle event.
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One more medal for weightlifting, Vikas Thakur added a shade of bronze to Indian weightlifters golden run at the Commonwealth Games, claiming the third position in the 94kg category by equalling his personal best. Ravi Kumar settles for bronze in men s 10m air rifle event at 21st Commonwealth Games.
Teenager Deepak Lather from Haryana