UPSC Key | Mini moon, One nation, one election , Climate Finance and more

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Front Page

One nation, one election set in motion, will be in two phases

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian polity and Governance- Constitution, Political System

Mains Examination: GS-II: Polity, Parliament and State legislatures, Constitutional Bodies. 

What’s the ongoing story- Moving a step closer towards holding all elections simultaneously in the country — in keeping with the BJP’s long-standing ‘One Nation, One Election’ manifesto promise — the Union Cabinet on Wednesday accepted the recommendations of the high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The eight-member panel, in its report submitted in March, suggested that Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections be held together, followed by local body polls within 100 days.

Prerequisites:

— What are Simultaneous Elections?

— What are the constitutional provisions related to the elections in India?

— Know about the Election Commission of India.

Key takeaways: 

— The high-level panel had recommended that, in order to switch to simultaneous polls, the government should take a “one-time transitory measure”, which would require it to identify an “appointed date” on “the date of the first sitting of the House of the People after a general election”. All State Assemblies that go to polls after the “appointed date” would have their terms expire with Lok Sabha. This would synchronise the electoral cycles of the central and state governments.

— Then, as the second step, municipality and panchayat elections should be held within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and state elections, it had said.

— Given that the first sitting of Parliament after this year’s Lok Sabha polls has already passed, government sources indicated that there is room for the implementation committee to make adjustments to the Kovind Committee’s recommendations, as these are merely suggestions and not binding on the government.

— The exact timeline for implementation — whether polls will be held simultaneously in 2029 or 2034 — wasn’t clear on Wednesday. 

— The Kovind Committee had recommended 18 amendments, including 15 Constitutional amendments, to synchronise the terms of Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, simultaneously hold municipal elections, and prepare a common electoral roll.

— According to Law Ministry sources, the implementation of the report will require at least two Constitutional amendments, first to bring Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections together, and the second for synchronising municipal elections and preparing a common electoral roll, which would require ratification by half of the states. 

– A consequential amendment for Union Territories and the National Capital Territory of Delhi would follow. As of now, the Election Commission conducts the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and prepares the electoral rolls for these, while the State Election Commissions do the same for municipal elections.

For Your Information:

From Explained “Simultaneous polls roadmap”

— The One Nation, One Election project hinges on two Constitution Amendment Bills being passed by Parliament, for which the government will need wide agreement across a range of parties. Since the BJP does not have a majority on its own in Lok Sabha, it will have to talk to its allies in the NDA, as well as the opposition parties.

— The first Constitution Amendment Bill to transition to a simultaneous election system will require a ‘special majority’ of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. For this, two conditions have to be satisfied under Article 368 of the Constitution.

— First, half of the total membership of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must vote in favour of the amendment. Second, of the members present and voting, two-thirds must vote in favour of the amendment.

— The second Constitution Amendment Bill will ensure that all local body elections (for municipalities and panchayats) are held within 100 days of the simultaneous elections. For this amendment to go through, an additional condition apart from the two mentioned above must be fulfilled.

— This is because “local government” is a subject under the State List in the Seventh Schedule, which means only states have the power to pass laws on this subject. To amend the Constitution such that local body elections can take place alongside simultaneous elections, Article 368 stipulates that “the amendment shall also require to be ratified (agreed to) by the Legislatures of not less than one-half of the States” in the country.

— In the scheme proposed by the Kovind Committee, if a state Assembly or Lok Sabha is dissolved before the end of its ‘full’ five-year term, a ‘mid-term’ election will take place.

— However, the newly elected state Assembly or Lok Sabha will only serve for the remaining period before the next simultaneous elections are scheduled to take place. This period between a mid-term election and a scheduled simultaneous election will be known as the “unexpired term”.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the benefits of simultaneous elections?

— What are the issues and challenges associated with the simultaneous elections?

— What electoral reforms have been introduced in India?

Post Read Question:

 (1) With reference to the High-level Committee (HLC) on “One Nation, One Election”, consider the following statements:

1. The committee recommended the preparation of single electoral roll and electoral photo identity cards.

2. The Constitution should be amended to enable simultaneous elections.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Knowledge nugget of the day: ‘One Nation, One Election’

Review, modify Indus Waters Treaty, India tells Pak, looks to renegotiate

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations

What’s the ongoing story- Sixty-four years after the two countries signed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in Karachi on September 19, 1960, India has served formal notice to Pakistan seeking “review and modification” of the treaty, signalling serious political intent in Delhi to end it.

Prerequisites:

— What is the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)?

— What is the history of the dispute over the hydroelectric projects between India and Pakistan?

— Map work: Mark the Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej. (Refer Atlas)

— Read about the two Kishanganga hydroelectric power projects and the Ratle Hydroelectric Project.

Key takeaways: 

— India served formal notice to Pakistan on August 30, seeking review and modification of the IWT under Article XII (3) of the pact. Under Article XII (3) of the IWT, its provision may from time to time be modified by a duly ratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two governments.

—  India’s latest notification highlights “fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances” that require a reassessment of obligations made under the IWT. Among New Delhi’s concerns, sources said, are the “change in population demographics, environmental issues and the need to accelerate development of clean energy to meet India’s emission targets, and the impact of persistent cross-border terrorism”.

From Explained ‘Why India wants ‘review and modification’ of Indus water treaty’

— The Indus water treaty between India and Pakistan was signed on September 19, 1960, for the use of water available in the Indus and its tributaries. It was signed in Karachi by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistan President Mohammed Ayub Khan after nine years of negotiations arranged by the World Bank.

— According to the IWT, India enjoys the “unrestricted use” of the three “Eastern Rivers [Beas, Ravi, Sutlej]… except as otherwise expressly provided” whereas Pakistan got control of the three “Western Rivers” [Indus, Chenab, Jhelum]. According to Article III (1) of the IWT, “India is under obligation to let flow” waters of the Western Rivers to Pakistan.

— In effect, the treaty gave India about 30% of the water carried out by the “Indus Rivers System” while Pakistan got 70% of the waters.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the issues associated with the IWT?

— What is the dispute redressal mechanism laid down under the IWT?

— What are the areas of cooperation and conflict between India and Pakistan?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(2) The Indus Waters Treaty does not give India absolute control over the river:

(a) Chenab

(b) Sutlej

(c) Beas

(d) Ravi

Mains

Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations. (UPSC CSE 2016)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

India, Pakistan and the Indus: Climate change means the revision of a treaty

 

Explained

Earth to temporarily get a ‘Mini moon’: What does it mean?

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of National importance, Geography, and General Science.

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

What’s the ongoing story- According to a new study, the Earth’s gravitational field will temporarily capture a small asteroid, called 2024 PT5, in late September. The asteroid will stay for two months before flying off into space. While gaining a “mini-moon” is not new for Earth, the phenomenon is rare — in most cases, asteroids either miss the planet or burn upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere.

Prerequisites:

— Read about celestial bodies: Moon, Asteroids and Planets

— How was the moon formed?

— What is a gravitational field?

Key takeaways:

— Mini-moons are asteroids that are unable to escape Earth’s gravity and remain in orbit for an extended period of time. They are usually very small and difficult to detect; only four mini-moons of Earth have ever been detected, and none are still orbiting the planet, according to a Planetary Society article.

— The asteroid was detected with the assistance of the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). It is reported to be only 33 feet long and too small to be seen with the naked eye or conventional amateur telescopes. However, the asteroid is visible using professional astronomers’ telescopes.

— Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, professor at the Complutense University of Madrid and lead author of the study, told Space.com that 2024 PT5 has arrived from “the Arjuna asteroid belt, a secondary asteroid belt made of space rocks that follow orbits very similar to that of Earth” at an average distance of about 150 million kilometres from the Sun.

For Your Information:

— Mini-moons are considered important in the science community, as they contain precious metals. When they get attracted by Earth’s gravitation, it opens up the possibility of mining those precious metals.

— The asteroid 2024 PT5 is not strictly a mini-moon because it will not complete a full revolution around Earth but will remain in the planet’s orbit for more than 56 days. When astronomers detect a mini-moon, it is usually a man-made object like a spacecraft or satellite.

— The 2024 PT5 asteroid, identified by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System on August 7, will make one complete circuit about Earth between September 29 and November 25, before breaking free of our planet’s gravitational attraction and continuing its path.

Points to Ponder:

— Why do asteroids burn upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere?

— Asteroid 2021 RA10

— Asteroid 2020 RL

Post Read Question:

(3) With reference to the mini-moons, consider the following statements:

1. They are easy to detect.

2. They fail to escape Earth’s gravity and end up orbiting the planet for some time.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

NASA is monitoring 5 asteroids speeding towards Earth next week

Earth to get a temporary mini-moon named 2024 PT5

 

Govt & Politics

Space programme boost

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of National importance, General Science.

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

What’s the ongoing story- The Union Cabinet approved four big-ticket space projects, including the next mission to the moon, a mission to the planet Venus, follow-ups to the ongoing Ganganyaan mission and the setting up of an Indian Space Station. The approvals were in line with the Vision 2047 mapped by the space agency.

Prerequisites:

— Read about recent ISRO missions

— Read about Venus (facts)

— What is ISRO’s vision for 2047?

Key takeaways:

— The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will aim for a March 2028 launch for the Venus mission — when Earth and Venus are at their closest. This will be India’s second mission to a planet, after the Mars Orbiter Mission in 2014.

— The Union Cabinet also approved the continuation of the Gaganyaan mission and the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) for a cost of Rs 20,193 crore. The space agency has set December 2029 as the timeframe for completing all launches and operations of the first BAS module.

— The project will feature eight missions, four of which are required to build the space station. This is in addition to the two uncrewed and one crewed missions that have previously been approved for the first human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan program. The project has been cleared for Rs 1,236 crores. An orbiter travelling around the world will examine the planet’s surface, dust and clouds, volcanism, atmosphere, and ionosphere, as well as the interaction of the planet with the sun.

— The Chandrayaan-4 mission was approved for Rs 2,014 crore over 36 months. According to The Indian Express, the expedition would consist of five modules, which will be sent into space on two separate occasions. The mission is intended to land on the lunar surface, gather samples, keep them in a vacuum container, and return them. The mission will also include docking and undocking, which involves two spacecraft aligning and coming together in orbit, which India has not tried before. India intends to send humans to the moon by 2040.

For Your Information:

— Venus is the second brightest object in the sky, behind the moon. It appears brilliant because of the dense cloud cover, which reflects and scatters light. However, while Venus, the second closest planet to the Sun, is known as Earth’s twin due to their comparable proportions, the two worlds differ significantly.

— Despite being the hottest planet in the solar system, it comes after Mercury, the planet nearest to the Sun. Surface temperatures on Venus can reach 471 degrees Celsius, which is hot enough to melt lead.

— EnVision is an ESA-led program with NASA support. It is expected to be released sometime in the 2030s. EnVision’s earliest launch chance is in 2031, followed by 2032 and 2033.

— The spacecraft will carry a range of instruments to study the planet’s atmosphere and surface, monitor trace gases in the atmosphere and analyse its surface composition. A radar provided by NASA will help to image and map the surface.

— DAVINCI+ is short for ‘Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging’ and is the first US-led mission to the planet’s atmosphere since 1978. It will try to understand Venus’ composition to see how the planet formed and evolved. This mission also consists of a descent sphere that will pass through the planet’s thick atmosphere and make observations and take measurements of noble gases and other elements.

Points to Ponder:

— Other space mission to Venus

— Important space mission of NASA and ESA

— Read about VERITAS

Post Read Question:

(4) Consider the following space missions:

1. Akatsuki

2. VERITAS

3. EnVision

4. Cassini

How many of the space missions given above are related to exploration of planet Venus?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

European Space Agency’s EnVision mission to Venus

What are the two missions that NASA has selected for the exploration of Venus?

Rs 35k crore allocated for PM-AASHA

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of National importance, Social Sector Initiatives.

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

What’s the ongoing story- The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of schemes of PM-AASHA to provide remunerative prices to farmers and control price volatility of essential commodities for consumers.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the 15th Finance Commission

— What is the difference between the MSP and the monthly modal price?

— Read about Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) schemes

Key takeaways:

— The overall financial outlay will be 35,000 crore during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle, which runs till 2025–26. In accordance with the present PDPS rules, “The farmer would be paid the difference between the MSP and the monthly modal price/actual sale price subject to a maximum of 25% of the MSP value based on MSP notified for the year/season.”

— PM-AASHA now combines the Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) schemes to improve efficiency for farmers and consumers. PM-AASHA will now include PSS, PSF, Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS), and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).”

For Your Information:

— The Union Cabinet sanctioned Rs 79,156 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gramme Abhiyan, a new tribal welfare initiative unveiled in the Union Budget in July.

— The scheme’s primary goal is to provide saturation coverage and the implementation of central initiatives to improve the socioeconomic situation of tribal communities. It would encompass 63,000 villages across 545 districts in 30 states and is expected to benefit 5 crore indigenous people.

— “The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan envisions saturation of critical gaps in social infrastructure, health, education, livelihood, through different schemes of the Govt of India by convergence and outreach and ensure holistic and sustainable development of tribal areas and communities based on learnings and success of PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan,” a government release said.

— The scheme will consist of 25 welfare components under six broad categories – household and community infrastructure, connectivity, health, education, electrification and economic empowerment.

— “The tribal villages covered under the Abhiyan would be mapped on PM Gati Shakti Portal with the gaps identified by the concerned department for its scheme-specific requirements,” the government release added. The best-performing districts will be awarded based on the physical and financial progress, the release said.

Points to Ponder:

— What are the six components under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan

— When is Janjatiya Diwas celebrated?

— Read about PM Gati Shakti Portal 

Post Read Question:

Discuss the significance of the PM Janjatiya Unnati Gram Abhiyan in the context of tribal welfare in India. What are the key components of the scheme?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Remembering Birsa Munda on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

Explained: Connecting ministries for infrastructure projects

 

Editorial

Two years of cheetahs in Kuno

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of National & International importance, Biodiversity & climate change.

Mains Examination: GS-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

What’s the ongoing story- Two years after cheetahs were introduced in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, the country has at least 24 of the big cats. These striped animals were declared extinct from India in the early 1950s and the population in Kuno could herald the revival of the species in the country.

Prerequisites:

— Read about Cheetah

— Difference between Asiatic and African Cheetah

— Map work: Kuno National Park

Key takeaways:

— Cheetahs are free-ranging carnivores. Their survival is tested in the wild. Creating a self-sustaining population will necessitate weaning a large number of people off protective care.

— Kuno’s final free-ranging cheetah, seven-year-old Pawan, apparently drowned in unknown circumstances in August, becoming the eighth adult animal brought from Africa to die since the project’s inception.

 

— A Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to investigate the incident was disbanded in less than a day. The National Tiger Conservation Agency (NTCA), the project’s nodal organisation, has yet to provide a cogent explanation for this rushed decision.

— Experts have claimed that the episode demonstrates the ongoing lack of transparency around Project Cheetah. NTCA has also been chastised for moving goalposts over the last two years.

For Your Information:

— India was home to Asiatic cheetahs, not the African type introduced in 2022. “To establish a free-ranging breeding population of cheetahs in and around Kuno” was the original purpose of Project Cheetah.

— As part of the first-ever intercontinental big cat translocation, 20 cheetahs have been transferred to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023.

— The ‘Action Plan for Reintroduction of Cheetah in India’ proposes bringing in 12-14 cheetahs each year from South Africa, Namibia, and other African countries for five years to build a founder stock.

— Because of changes in circadian rhythms between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, certain cheetahs evolved thick winter coats during the Indian summer and monsoon last year, in anticipation of the African winter (June to September).

Points to Ponder:

— Location: Banni Grasslands

— IUCN Status of African Cheetah

— Read about the Action Plan for Reintroduction of Cheetahs in India

Post Read Question:

(5) Consider the following National Parks/Wildlife Sanctuaries:

1. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary

2. Kuno National Park

3. Gir National Park

4. Satpura National Park

Which of the National Park/Wildlife Sanctuaries given above are sites for Cheetah reintroduction?

(a) 2 and 3 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Two years of Project Cheetah: India awaits Kenya’s approval for new batch

Project Cheetah audit flags concerns: ‘Unjustified’ expenses, Centre-state coordination

 

Express Network

Exact definition of climate finance needed, says Environment Minister 

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance and environment

Mains Examination: GS-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story- The world has to close the inequality gap between countries on the issue of technology and finance to achieve the joint goal of tackling climate change and an exact definition of climate finance is needed, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said Wednesday during the RE-Invest summit at Gandhinagar.

Prerequisites:

— What is climate finance?

— What is a Conference of Parties?

— Read about the Paris Agreement. 

Key takeaways: 

— Climate finance refers to the investments that are needed to tackle climate change by way of either preventive steps to reduce emissions, known as mitigation or preparatory steps to tackle its impacts, known as adaptation. This funding can be local, national or transnational, drawn from public, private or alternative sources, as per the United Nations.

— Yadav’s comments come a day after Azerbaijan, the host of this year’s Conference of Parties 29 (COP) summit, the annual United Nations climate conference, announced that it will launch a new fund to support developing countries in their actions against climate change. This year’s summit will see negotiations on finalising an agreement on climate finance that will help developing countries fight climate change.

— Currently, developed nations are obliged to raise $100 billion annually to support developing nations. However, as per the Paris Agreement, this ceiling has to be revised after 2025, hence the negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan later this year.

— Yadav, while addressing the plenary session on ‘India’s pathway to Net-Zero’, also added that developing countries have significant needs that they have to fulfil and thus Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CDBR-RC) principle must be the basis for talks.

— India is the world’s third or fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, its contributions will still be lesser if the emissions are seen from a per-capital perspective. He said that India is the third largest emitter despite accounting for 17 per cent of the world’s population.

— The CBDR-RC refers to the differing responsibilities of developed and developing countries towards mitigating climate change, as the former have contributed more to historical industrial emissions.

For Your Information:

— Azerbaijan, the host of this year’s climate conference, has decided to launch a new fund to finance climate action in the developing world.

— The Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF) would seek “voluntary” contributions from fossil-fuel producing countries and companies, with Azerbaijan, itself a petroleum economy, making the initial contribution. It is not clear how much money this new fund is hoping to raise.

— The CFAF is part of a large package of proposals that Azerbaijan has prepared for inclusion in the final outcome of COP29 (29th edition of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), which is to be held in the country’s capital, Baku, from November 11 to 22.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the role of the United Nations Climate Change Conference?

— Why are developing nations demanding climate finance?

— What are the challenges of climate financing?

Post Read Question:

(6) With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2016)

1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.

2. The Agreement aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

What is climate finance — and why developing countries need it

India abstains from UNGA vote on Israel

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Important international institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

What’s the ongoing story- India on Wednesday abstained in the UN General Assembly on a resolution that demanded that Israel bring an end, “without delay”, to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within 12 months.

Prerequisites:

— What is the UNGA?

— Map work: Israel, Palestine, and other places in news related to the Israel-Hamas war. 

— Know about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Key takeaways: 

— The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution, with 124 nations voting in favour, 14 against and 43 abstentions, including that by India.

— Those abstaining included Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Nepal, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

— Israel and the US were among the nations who voted against the resolution titled ‘Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’.

For Your Information:

— The UN General Assembly (UNGA), the United Nation’s chief policy-making and representative organ, was created in 1945. It meets from September to December every year, and then again between January and August.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of the UN General Assembly?

— How does the voting system in the UN General Assembly work?

— What are the implications of UN General Assembly decisions for member states?

— What are the reforms required in the UN General Assembly?

Post Read Question:

(7) In which of the following matters placed before the UN General Assembly, a resolution by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting is required?

1. Admission of new members to the UN

2. Election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council

3. Election of members of the Economic and Social Council

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3