UPSC Key- May 29, 2023: Know about New Parliament, Kargil Review Committee, NavIC, Commemorative Coins and Model Prisons Act, 2023

New Parliament building will become basis for creation of a new India: PM

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: 

• General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

• General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- THE inauguration of India’s new Parliament, built over the last two years, marks a moment in the life of a nation that draws on its civilizational history and, at the same time, holds the promise of a more prosperous and equitable future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here Sunday. Suggesting that India is witnessing an awakening of national consciousness similar to what was seen during the decisive last 25-year phase of the freedom struggle, Modi projected the building as a symbol of a resurgent “new India” and linked it to his government’s welfare deliveries in the past nine years. As many as 21 Opposition parties, led by the Congress, stayed away from the function protesting what they called was the Government’s “grave insult” to the President by not inviting her.

• New Parliament new era-what you think?

• How do you view India’s Parliament?

• What are the important functions of Parliament, in your opinion?

• What is the role of Indian Parliament?

• How New Parliament Building is different from old Parliament Building?

• India’s present Parliament House is a colonial-era building designed by whom?

• New Parliament Building-what are its features

• For Your Information-According to the Government, The Parliament House building construction was started in 1921 and commissioned in 1927. It is almost 100 years old and a Heritage Grade-I building. Over the years, the parliamentary activities and the number of people working therein and visitors have increased manifold. There is no record or document of the original design of the building. Therefore, the new constructions and modifications have been done in an ad-hoc manner. For example, two new storeys constructed in 1956 over the outer circular part of the building hid the dome of the Central Hall and changed the facade of the original building. Further, the coverings of Jaali windows have reduced the natural light in the halls of two houses of the Parliament. Therefore, it is showing signs of distress and over-utilization and is not able to meet the current requirements in terms of space, amenities and technology.

• How are Constitution of India and Parliament related?

• The Government’s “grave insult” to the President by not inviting her-Comment

• If the Prime Minister symbolises the trust of Parliament, what does “President of India” symbolise?

• India was shedding the “mentality of slavery,”-Why slavery and what kind of slavery?

• “Parliament is not just a building but a reflection of the aspirations and dreams of 140 crore Indians”-comment

• What do you understand by the expression “of the people, by the people, for the people”?

• What is the architecture style of new Parliament?

• There were certain controversy with New Parliament. Can you recall few of them?

• What is the Central Vista project?

• How does the new parliament architecture symbolize new India’s?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍PM symbol of House trust, deeply satisfied he inaugurated it: President

📍Walk in to set new benchmarks of discipline, dignity: Speaker

📍Ringing in the new, letting the Light in

📍The new Parliament will give new energy and new strength to the world’s largest democracy

📍We, the People versus I, the PM

📍India’s new Parliament, and why it is needed

📍Inauguration of new Parliament: Some other magnificent Parliament buildings

Fresh violence breaks out in Manipur; CM says 40 Kuki militants killed by forces so far

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story– A DAY ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Manipur, his first since clashes erupted there on May 3, the state witnessed a fresh round of violence Sunday, resulting in at least two deaths, including that of a policeman, in separate instances of firing. This came even as Chief Minister Biren Singh said that around 40 Kuki militants — who he said were targeting civilians — have been killed so far by security forces. Singh did not specify the period during which the militants were killed.

• Map Work-Manipur and adjoining areas

• Why fresh round of violence?

• What is the present status?

• What exactly triggered the violence in the state?

• Who are Kuki and Meitei?

• Which are the major communities residing in Manipur?

• For Your Information-The Meiteis are the largest community in Manipur. There are 34 recognized tribes, which are broadly classified as ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ and ‘Any Naga Tribes’. The central valley in the state accounts for about 10% of the landmass of Manipur, and is home primarily to the Meitei and Meitei Pangals who constitute roughly 64.6% of the state’s population. The remaining 90% of the state’s geographical area comprises hills surrounding the valley, which are home to the recognized tribes, making up about 35.4% of the state’s population.

• For some time now, two parallel and provocative narratives in the portrayal of Manipur history were being pushed from certain quarters-What are those two parallel and provocative narratives?•

• What was the Manipur High Court directive?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Shah on line with Biren, other CMs as more security forces rushed in

📍Why Kuki-Paitei tribes are opposed to CM Biren Singh

📍Behind Manipur flare-up, tribal anger, HC order

Delhi Police detain protesting wrestlers, clear Jantar Mantar site

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination:  

• General Studies I: Role of women and Social empowerment

• General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- IN WHAT is being seen by protesting wrestlers as an attempt to bring the curtains down on their protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police on Sunday detained Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia for violation of law and dismantled arrangements at the protest site. The wrestlers were dragged, lifted off the road and put into police vans when they tried to cross security barricades and march to the new Parliament building, outside which a women’s mahapanchayat was scheduled.

• Why did the Delhi Police detain the wrestlers?

• Why wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23?

• What exactly are police saying?

• What is the accusation against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh?

• Who is Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh?

• What are the “major findings” after a preliminary scrutiny of the probe committee that looked into allegations of sexual harassment?

• Indian Olympic Association-Know role and members

• What is internal complaint committee?

• What is the role of internal complaint committee?

• When was Wrestling Federation of India established?

• Did India’s most esteemed female wrestlers make the correct decision by publicly condemning the Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh?

• “The recent case of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is characterised by a dangerous combination of political nexus and male domination of positions of power”-Analyse

• ‘Politicians and politics should not have any say in sports’-do you agree?

• What does politics have to do with sports?

• Politics and Sports-where to draw the line?

• “These recent cases of harassment of women in sports are merely the tip of an iceberg. The true shape of this particular problem has become quite gigantic and complex, as was highlighted by the women wrestlers”-Discuss

• ‘Absence of Internal Complaints Committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013 in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)’-comment

• Can the problem be solved by putting together anti-sexual harassment committees in all sports departments, federations, and government sports bodies?

• Does the Vishaka guidelines apply to female athletes?

• Women in sports in India-what data’s and facts says?

• What is the major issue that affects female athletes participation in sports?

• What are the challenges faced by Indian sportswomen?

• How are females discriminated against in sporting activities?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍As support for protesting wrestlers grows in Punjab, the return of a familiar line of attack: ‘Khalistani’

📍‘Arrogant king crushing voice of public on streets’: Opposition leaders slam Delhi Police action against wrestlers

EXPRESS NETWORK

Cross staffing of Army officers to IAF, Navy soon

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- In a major step towards bringing integration in the Indian military and creation of theatre commands, a large batch of around 40 Army officers will soon be posted to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Navy establishments where they would perform similar roles as they do in the Army, The Indian Express has learnt.

• Why cross-staffing postings?

• “Cross-staffing postings can be significant step in creating cross functional teams which will be a primary requirement for achieving theaterisation”-Comment

• Cross-staffing postings-Know its pros and cons

• For Your Information-The officers would be transferred to missile units, for handling UAVs and for logistics, repair and recovery and material and supplies management among other roles in the two other services. There are several common equipment, weapon systems and platforms across the services and the cross staffing of officers will help each other understand the service they are posted in, better, thus paving way for greater synergy and integration among them.

• What is theaterisation of Armed Forces?

• Integrated Theatre Commands of the Indian Armed Forces-Know in detail

• Kargil Review Committee’s on theaterisation of Armed Forces -What was there in the report?

• What are Theatre Commands?

• What work has been done on Theatre commands?

• Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC)-Role and Importance

• Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of Defence Staff-Compare and Contrast

• Why did the Government of India amend the Army Rules, 1954, the Naval Ceremonial, Conditions of Service and Miscellaneous Regulations, 1963, and the Air Force Regulations, 1964?

• What will be the upcoming Issues and Challenges for the recent amended service rules of the armed forces?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Armed Forces give shape to contours of theatre plans

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

Nutrition in a warmer world

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-Ashok Gulati, Purvi Thangaraj write: At the Hiroshima Summit 2023, the G7 nations stressed that the peak for global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions should be reached by 2025. They also committed to an “Acceleration Agenda” for G7 countries to reach net-zero emissions by around 2040 and urged emerging economies to do so by around 2050. China has committed to net zero by 2060 and India by 2070.

• “Emerging trends in climate change may not give humanity the luxury of being too late. Severe costs are likely to be inflicted in terms of human lives and livelihoods, especially for those working in the agriculture sector, with every 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature compared to pre-industrial levels”-Comment

• “The impact of climate change may be disproportionate for India”-How?

• “Indian agriculture faces a double whammy”-what sort of double whammy?

• What can Indian policymakers do?

• Do you think that focusing on agricultural research, development, education and extension (ARDE) can be a game changer?

• “Agricultural research, development, education and extension (ARDE)”-Know in detail

• For Your Information- ARDE is critical for improving resource use efficiency, especially for natural resources such as soil, water, and air. The development of seeds that are more heat resistant is already a reality. Precision agriculture, such as drip irrigation, can result in large water savings. Implementing sensor-based irrigation systems, for example, enables automated control, improving resource use efficiency. Fertigation and development of nano-fertilisers can not only save on the fertiliser subsidy but also reduce its carbon footprint. Implementing such innovative farming practices and/or products will help more efficient use of water and other natural resources, resulting in higher output with fewer inputs, while lowering GHG emissions. Research at the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) shows that mulching not only contributes to higher soil organic carbon (SOC) but also saves on water and reduces GHG emissions.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍G-7 Hiroshima summit: Who’s attending and what will be discussed?

THE WORLD

Erdogan wins Turkey’s runoff polls, adds 5 years to his two-decade rule

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story– Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won re-election Sunday, extending his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade as the country reels from high inflation and the aftermath of an earthquake that leveled entire cities. A third term gives Erdogan an even stronger hand domestically and internationally, and the election results will have implications far beyond Ankara. Turkey stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and it plays a key role in NATO. With more than 99% of ballot boxes opened, unofficial results from competing news agencies showed Erdogan with 52% of the vote, compared with 48% for his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

• What is the election in Turkey for?

• Map Work-Turkey

• What were the main issues in the election?

• Why are Turkey’s elections so important?

• Do You Know-Turkey matters to the world, thanks both to its location and its status as a significant economic and military power. Turkey shares a border with Syria and Iran, is separated from Russia and Ukraine by the Black Sea, and is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea. It controls the Bosphorus strait, which is the only passage for Russia and Ukraine, among other countries, to access the Mediterranean Sea and thus most of the world through water. Turkey has territories in both Asia and Europe, making it unique. It is a NATO member with a standing Army second only to America’s, but Erdogan is pally with Russian President Vladimir Putin. For the West, Turkey is a bulwark between itself and the chaos in the Middle East — absorbing refugees and serving as military base when needed — as well as an ally on account of being a stable democracy in an unstable region.

• How does Turkey matter for India?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Turkey’s elections: issues, candidates and why they matter

EXPLAINED

NavIC launch: why regional navigation system matters

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story– The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the first of the second-generation satellites for its navigation constellation successfully on Monday morning. The 2,232 kg satellite, the heaviest in the constellation, was launched by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket that lifted off from Sriharikota at 10:42 am. Each of the seven satellites currently in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) constellation, operationally named NavIC, weighed much less — around 1,425 kg — at liftoff. They all rode the lighter Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), ISRO’s workhorse launch rocket.

• What is NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation)?

• How does NavIC compare?

• Why is India promoting NavIC?

• What is the significance of NavIC?

• Applications of NavIC-Know in detail

• What are the issues and challenges associated with NavIC?

• What other navigation systems around the world are in use?

• What’s new in the second-generation NavIC satellite?

• What is the significance of the atomic clock on board the NVS-01 payload?

• What about the age of the satellites?

• What practical purpose does the NAvIC constellation serve for users?

• What is the advantage of having a regional navigation system?

• Do You Know-India is the only country that has a regional satellite-based navigation system. There are four global satellite-based navigation systems — the American GPS, the Russian GLONASS (GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema), the European Galileo, and the Chinese Beidou. Japan has a four-satellite system that can augment GPS signals over the country, similar to India’s GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation). Once fully operational — with ground stations outside India for better triangulation of signals — NavIC open signals will be accurate up to 5 metres and restricted signals will be even more accurate. GPS signals by contrast are accurate up to around 20 metres. Work is underway to set up ground stations in Japan, France, and Russia, ISRO officials said. NavIC provides coverage over the Indian landmass and up to a radius of 1,500 km around it. In this region, NavIC signals will likely be available in even hard-to-reach areas. Unlike GPS, NavIC uses satellites in high geo-stationery orbit — the satellites move at a constant speed relative to Earth, so they are always looking over the same region on Earth. NavIC signals come to India at a 90-degree angle, making it easier for them to reach devices located even in congested areas, dense forests, or mountains. GPS signals are received over India at an angle.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍What is NavIC, India’s home-grown alternative to the GPS navigation system?

Symbolism of the Sengol

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India and Indian National Movement.

Main Examination: General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story–  An ancient South Indian tradition symbolising a dharmic kingship has been ceremonially resurrected with the installation of the sceptre of righteousness in India’s new Parliament building. Here’s what the sengol meant historically, and what the ceremony suggests today.

• What is a Sengol? What was the tradition associated with it? What period can we date it to and which dynasty/dynasties was it associated with?

• How sacred sengol symbolizes “virtual and ethical rule”?

• Why was the Sengol given to Nehru?

• How was the Sengol made?

• How was the Sengol handed over to Nehru?

• For Your Information- A sengol or chenkol is a royal sceptre, signifying kingship, righteousness, justice, and authority, among other qualities linked to the correct wielding of power. Its origins lie in Tamil Nadu, and it served as a kingly emblem. Among the Madurai Nayakas, for example, the sengol was placed before the goddess Meenakshi in the great temple on important occasions, and then transferred to the throne room, representing the king’s role as a divine agent. It was also, therefore, a legitimising instrument: the Sethupatis of Ramnad, for instance, when they first attained kingly status in the seventeenth century acquired a ritually sanctified sengol from priests of the Rameswaram temple. It marked the ruler’s accountability to the deity in the exercise of power, as well as his graduation from chiefly status to a more exalted kingly plane. As such, the sengol may be described, in its historical context, as a symbol of dharmic kingship.

• What do we know about the 1947 ceremony in which Nehru was reportedly handed over a sceptre?

• The government said it was C Rajagopalachari who suggested the particular ceremony to Nehru. Is this true? If yes, why did Rajagopalachari suggest it?

• The government also said the Sengol was the symbol of transfer of power from British to Indian hands. Is it true? If not, what did the sceptre signify?

• What then, is the significance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi re-enacting the 1947 ceremony during the inauguration of the new Parliament and installing the historic sengol near the Lok Sabha Speaker’s seat?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍THE SUPREME AUTHORITY

📍The Sengol does not bode well

📍‘Sengol’ to be installed in the new parliament: Significance of the sceptre, first given to Nehru

Rs 75 COMMEMORATIVE COIN UNVEILED: FEATURES, AND WHERE TO GET IT

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-A new commemorative coin with a denomination of Rs 75 was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday. India has been minting commemorative coins to mark historic events and pay homage to notable personalities since the 1960s.

• Commemorative coins are made available for purchase by whom?

• What is the meaning of commemorative coins?

• Are the commemorative coins worth anything?

• What is Securities of Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL)?

• Does Securities of Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) comes under RBI?

• Are coins minted by RBI?

• Do You Know-The actual price of commemorative coins is much more than their face value. They cannot be treated as legal tender valued at their denomination.

• What is a Face Value of a coin?

• What is the difference between face value and intrinsic value of a coin?

• For Your Information-While the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has the sole right to issue banknotes in India, the power to design coins rests with the Centre. Section 25 of the RBI Act states that the design, form, and material of bank notes shall be such as may be approved by the central government after consideration of the recommendations made by the Central Board of RBI. The Coinage Act, 2011, on the other hand, gives the central government the sole power to design and mint coins in various denominations. The role of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is limited to issuing the coins, supplied by Centre, for circulation.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍PM Modi releases Rs 75 coin on new Parliament inauguration day: Features, how to get it

Model Prisons Act, 2023: How it differs from existing laws, why its need was felt

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that it has finalised the preparation of the Model Prisons Act, 2023, to replace the existing 130-year-old colonial law in an attempt to shift the focus of incarceration from “retributive deterrence” to “reform and rehabilitation”. Intending to provide guidance and address gaps in the existing prison laws, the 2023 Act seeks to bring in the use of technology in prison management, make provisions for the grant of parole, furlough, and remission, and introduce special provisions for women and transgender inmates.

• What is the backdrop against which the 2023 Act is being introduced?

• What are the new provisions being proposed?

• What were the previous prison laws?

• Do You Know- The first legislation that governed the management and administration of prisons in India was the Prisons Act, of 1894. It defined a “prison” as “any jail or place used permanently or temporarily under the general or special orders of a State Government for the detention of prisoners”, excluding police custody and subsidiary jails. Further, it demarcated prisoners into three different categories according to the nature of their crimes, such as “criminal prisoner”, “convicted criminal prisoner” and “civil prisoner”. The 1894 Act dealt with provisions for accommodation, food, clothing, bedding segregation, and the discipline of prisoners, including solitary confinement. It also laid down provisions for the prisoners’ employment, health, and visits. However, the act had no provisions for reformation or rehabilitation and permitted “whipping, provided that the number of stripes shall not exceed thirty,” albeit for only male prisoners. Moreover, this Act did not apply to “civil jails in the State of Bombay, outside the city of Bombay, and those jails administered under the provisions of Sections 9–16 of the Bombay Act, 1874. Thus, the Prisoners Act 1900 was introduced with the objective of consolidating the “several acts relating to prisoners” and replacing the “separate enactments by a single act, expressed more simply and intelligibly.” The Act dealt with the prisoners within presidency towns and those outside; it also included provisions on how to deal with lunatic prisoners and allowed prisoners to be removed from prisons on conditions like receiving death sentences and maintaining good behaviour within prisons. Besides these, there were other legislations, like the Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1950, which also provided for the removal of prisoners from one state prison to another.

• Is the Model Prisons Act, 2023, binding on states?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍With focus on rehabilitation, Centre prepares new prisons Act to replace pre-independence law

ECONOMY

Digital India Bill draft in early June: What to expect?

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- India’s tech regulations are at an inflection point as the country plans to overhaul rules governing the Internet economy. A data protection Bill is nearing its finalisation and a draft law is being reworked to set a framework for the telecommunications sector. But perhaps the most important law currently in the pipeline is the Digital India Bill, which will be the successor to the decades-old Information Technology Act, 2000, the country’s core Internet law.

• What is the new law for the Internet?

• What do we know about the Bill so far?

• The Digital India Bill-Know its key provisions

• What is the proposed Digital India Bill?

• Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022, and a policy for non-personal data governance-Know key provisions

• “Online platforms should continue enjoying safe harbour protections, which is currently afforded to them under the IT Act, 2000, or such protections should become conditional”-What do you understand by “safe harbour protections”?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Govt will release first draft of Digital India Bill in June first week: MoS IT

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