CURRENT AFFAIRS 2019 – 2020 (PAPER II) for KAS MAINS 1 facebook.com/kasmentor www.kasmentor.com 9061474766/9061484877 PAPER –II (A) Indian Constitution, Public Administration, Political System, Governance, Social Justice and International Relations EVM Controversy Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, function, power and privileges. Context: Recently, opposition parties discussed future course of action on the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs. They raised their concern regarding EVMs with Election Commission. Credibility of EVMs were questioned in the previous General elections of Parliament and State Assemblies. Out of 120 democratic countries only 25 have experimented with or used electronic voting machines to elect their governments. It indicates that EVM is not a dominant choice globally for recording votes in elections. Background: India is the world leader in the use of EVMs. The Election Commission has been conducting all elections through EVMs since 2001.The Indian EVM is a direct recording device, which is a stand-alone machine. The Election Commission has clarified several times that Indian EVMs don't talk to any machine outside its own system - be it through wired network, internet, satellite, and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The EVM is not connected to server, so cyber hacking of Indian EVMs is not possible unless an authorised person acts with malafide intention. In 2014, a whopping 55.38 crore people cast their votes in EVMs in the parliamentary elections. 2 facebook.com/kasmentor www.kasmentor.com 9061474766/9061484877 Analysis EVM challenge: Forensic Lab test for EVMs Throughout these years, the Election Commission has denied all the claims of EVM tampering and in 2017, it got a scientific proof to back up its claim. In May, the Bombay High Court had ordered an examination of EVMs from the ‘Parvati constituency in Pune’. The order was issued to rule out tampering during elections to Maharashtra legislative assembly in 2014.One control unit, one ballot unit and two batteries were sent to the lab. An EVM comprises a control unit and a ballot unit. As per the report received from the lab,the machine is a stand-alone, non- networked, one-time programmable unit, which is neither computer controlled externally nor could be connected internally or to any network. The report was made public after being submitted to the high court.The Election Commission had also thrown open EVM hackathon challenge to prove that the machines are incorruptible. But no political party showed interest. Feminisation of India Politics Topic: Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, function, power and privilages. The feminisation of Indian politics means the increase in women's participation in the politics of the country. The word Political Participation has deep meaning. It not only means the Right to vote but also includes the involvement of women in the decision-making process, power-sharing, running political parties, holding political offices, and policymaking at all levels of governance of the state. To understand the political participation of women, we need to divide the political involvement of women in three-level: 3 facebook.com/kasmentor www.kasmentor.com 9061474766/9061484877 Political participation of women at the national level(Basically in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, National political parties, or any other ways by which women further their political interest).Political participation of women at the state level politics(In the legislative assembly or any state-level politics). Political participation of women at the local level in the panchayat and the municipalities. Constitutional Provisions: Constitution has provided equal opportunities for both men and women in all the spheres including the political area with article 14, article 15, and article 16 of the constitution Moreover, Article 325 and 326 guarantees political equality, equal Right to participate in political activities, and the Right to vote, respectively. Apart from this, the 73rd Constitutional amendment has added article 243(D)(3), which provides reservation to the women. It provides reservation to women not less than 1/3rd of the total number of seats to be filled by direct elections of the panchayat. Due to this, more than 10 lakh women entered the local level politics of the country. However, no such reservation is provided at the national level as well as the state level. and hence only 78 women elected to the parliament in the recent Lok Sabha election Similarly, in state-level politics, the participation of women is less. Need of women in Indian politics: Increasing the women in Indian politics will help in better representation of women's and children's concerns in policymaking. 4 facebook.com/kasmentor www.kasmentor.com 9061474766/9061484877 Women legislators in India gave a better performance in their constituencies by approx 1.8% per year more than male legislators. Even in terms of corruption, efficiency, and motivation, women show better results. Male legislators are almost three times as likely as the female legislature to have criminal charges pending against them when they contest the election, Even in terms of assets accumulation in office, women do this 10% point lower than men. Since economic infrastructure is valuable input, Women politicians are more likely to complete the project. It is based on the performance of MLA in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Despite so many favourable points for women, women make up 14% of the Lok Sabha and 11% of the Rajya sabha. Women constitute only 9% of State assembly members and only 5% of the state Council members. Reason for less entry of women in Indian politics Low status in society: Women are treated as a second class citizen, and patriarchal society often think that women are only for domestic responsibilities The restraining cultural norms, Poor economic status: Women often face the problem of finance for their participation in the election. Lesser exposure to education Women are often considered as a liability in some parts of the country and deprived of fundamental rights such as education. Lack of leadership training: Women's participation is often limited at the low level in the political party, and no leadership training is provided to them. Lack of political will: Political parties in India tend not to follow provisions in their constitutions reserving seats for women in different committees 5 facebook.com/kasmentor www.kasmentor.com 9061474766/9061484877 On the reserved seats, at the local level, political leaders take positions in the name of their wife, and after winning elections, actual power is used by their male counterparts instead of women. (Concept of sarpanch pati raj) NE Autonomous Council Topic: Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States Cabinet has approved the amendment to Article 280 and the sixth schedule to the Constitution in order to increase powers of Autonomous Councils in Sixth Schedule areas of North East. The sixth schedule to the Constitution includes 10 autonomous district councils of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. The 10 autonomous councils among the 4 states under schedule six to the Constitution are: Assam Bodoland Territorial Council Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Dima Hasao Autonomous District Council Meghalaya Garo Hills Autonomous District Council Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Tripura Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Mizoram 6 facebook.com/kasmentor www.kasmentor.com 9061474766/9061484877 Chakma Autonomous District Council Lai Autonomous District Council Mara Autonomous District Council Bill for Trade Union Recognition Topic: Directive Principles Why in news? Union government has proposed to grant statutory recognition to TUs by amending the Trade Unions Act, 1926 (TU Act). What is the status of Trade unions in India? The trade union movement in India, for various reasons, has been characterised by a multiplicity of unions. Hence, a tripartite national body determines the membership criteria for designating trade union organisations as central trade union organisations (CTUOs). On the basis of this process, certain unions are deemed ‘recognised’. Trade unions with a verified membership of five lakh spread over at least four States and four industries as on December 31, 2002 were given the status of CTUOs by the Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), as per the 2002 exercise, currently there are 13 CTUOs. What is government’s plan on trade unions? The Centre proposes to grant statutory recognition to TUs by amending the Trade Unions Act, 1926 (TU Act), so that other central and state ministries take them seriously.The proposed Section 28-A in the TU Act would require the Centre and the States to provide for statutory recognition of trade unions. 7 facebook.com/kasmentor www.kasmentor.com 9061474766/9061484877 The amendment provides that in the event of any dispute over recognition by the Central or the State governments, it will be decided by an authority, and by means provided by the appropriate government. What are the concerns with the proposal? The TU Act merely provides for voluntary registration of trade unions, and not for their statutory recognition by employers for collective bargaining purposes. Despite demands by trade unions and employers, statutory recognition by employers does not exist in the Act. In the absence of statutory union recognition and bargaining obligation, any minority union can vitiate industrial relations in a firm either on its own or by connivance with employers. The proposal also completely ignores the serious “allegations and complaints” made by various CTUOs that the Labour Ministry has been carrying out several labour reforms without consulting them. February 2019 Section 124 A of IPC Topic: Fundamental rights Why in news? The Law Commission is in the process of revisiting the section 124-A of Indian Penal Code. It calls for a thorough reconsideration and presents the various issues related to it before the public for a national debate. What is Sec 124 A of IPC? Sec 124-A deals with sedition, and was introduced by the British colonial government in 1870.