[The Big Picture] Vacancies in Key Posts : What is the impact?

Summary:

• For some time now concerns are being expressed in several quarters about the vacancies in key posts in government institutions. Like Chief Information Commissioner, Central Vigilance Commissioner, Vigilance Commissioner, High Court judges and police department.

• The post of CIC has been vacant since 5 weeks.

• A question also had been raised in the Supreme Court about the transparency in the methodology of shortlisting for various constitutional/non constitutional posts.

• The selection is being delayed due to 2 issues: One is the composition of the selection committee. Second is the procedure for shortlisting the eligible candidate.

• There is considerable opacity in shortlisting of the eligible candidates.

• It is being said that complacency in the government is the reason for all these delays.

• Whatever might be the reason, the onus is on the government to quickly fill these posts.

• All these institutions are required for oversight, vigilance and scrutiny. Hence, strengthening of these institutions is necessary.

• These vacancies also create workload. And hence the justice will be delayed.

• Some leaders say that since there is no leader of the opposition, appointments to various key posts (which require the Opposition leader to be a part of the selection committee) are delayed. But, experts opine that even the leader of the largest party in opposition could fill the post of Opposition Leader in the selection committee.

Source: RajyaSabha TV

[The Big Picture] Defying Election Commission : How to handle it?

Summary:

• Some of the influential leaders have always been defying the election commission’s Code of Conduct and its orders.

• This is also said to be a corrupt practice and violation of law.

• National parties are not paying much attention on this.

• The best solution is to place the responsibility on political parties. Civil society can only play a complimentary role.

• Model Code of Conduct has been adopted by political parties.

• There are 3 main stakeholders in this process; one, Election Commission; second, the political parties; third, the people who are going to vote. All three have to play role to maintain the order.

• These are also the defiance and violation of Representation of People act.

• Election commission should have some judicial powers to take direct action during the times of elections on certain issues.

• This is the time for the people of India to say NO to communal and non-secular politics. The entire country must rise as one.

• It is clear that Election Commission has not been very effective in dealing with such cases. And hence, there is a need to empower the Election Commission to deal with such cases.

Source: RajyaSabha TV

[The Big Picture] Al Qaeda Vs IS : Can it pose a threat to India?

Summary:

• For years the Al-qaeda has operated in many parts of the world with its biggest strike in America among others in the last decade.

• Meanwhile the breakaway group of Al-qaeda -the Islamic state- has been indulging in deadly activities in Iraq and Syria. It has challenged its parent organization.

• The recently released video by al-qaeda has shown that it is planning to launch attacks on India and some of its neighbours.

• In India terrorism has been mainly dominated by lashkar e taiba and its various avatars.

• IS has started attracting some Indian youth.

• Real threat is the money which is attracting the youth.

• India has to have its own investigation system dedicated to investigate Islamic State’s roots in India.

• What IS has done in the recent past is said to be the creation of mobile anarchy.

• The terrorist organizations have been splitting up due to differences in ideologies.

• The IS does not seem to be a western creation.

• New modules are sprouting up to recruit new people.

• Communal disturbances and alienation in India have been attracting Terrorist organization to recruit people from India.

• The funding sources for Terrorist organizations are also keeping an eye on the marginalized sections of India.

• Marginalization and lack of inclusiveness in economic and political processes are the reasons for indulging and participating in such activities.

• Studies conducted by some security agencies have shown that radicalization in India is on the rise.

• Minority representation in the Indian Parliament is very less.

• There are home grown terror activities in India and these internal issues need to be tackled immediately. And this can prevent external forces from coming to India.

• Because of unemployment, poverty and ideologies, the youth is being attracted.

• The funding to the terrorist organization should be cut.

• Along with the measures to counter terrorism, several other things have to be looked upon to ensure that Indians don’t get attracted to these terrorist outfits.

Source: RajyaSabha TV

[The Big Picture] Modi’s US Visit : Has it heralded a new beginning?

Summary:

• The Indo -US relation which is going through a rough period needs to be restored. Prime Minister Modi’s visit is expected to improve the bilateral relationship.

• The US has also been showing some special interest in India in the recent years.

• The PM did not discuss about Geopolitics.

• The PM proposed “make in India” global initiative in US and asked the US companies to come and invest in India.

• He also expressed his willingness to make India as a link between east and the west.

• It is necessary for India to play a balanced role to tap the opportunities from both the eastern and western countries.

• The PM has been trying to instil a new confidence in corporate industries in US. And the PM has also been spreading the message of effective governance.

• There seems to be certain similarity in the political trajectory of Narendra Modi and Barack Obama. And in the American scheme of things, at least, it matters if there are personal equations.

• The US has also been modest in their estimation. They said that the deliverables are possible in 3 areas: defence and security cooperation, clean energy and climate change.

• This visit is not just about rebooting the hung relationship between the two countries but it is also about imparting a fresh focused approach.

• He also expressed India’s readiness to revive the relationship and realize the untapped potential it has got.

• After the visit of Indian PM, the investors and business community in US have found some ground for confidence.

Source: RajyaSabha TV

[The Big Picture] FDI in insurance: Will it kick-start investments?

Summary:

• The FDI in insurance sector has been raised from 26% to 49%. This proposal had been pending since 2 years.

• This proposal first came in 1998.

• The insurance sector was thrown open to private players in the year 2000.

• This move will be welcomed globally and would increase the investments in the country.

• This is something which a lot of companies outside India were waiting to happen.

• However, we have to be cautious seeing the current market situation and economic downturn. We should not be too ambitious.

• First 26% is through the automatic route and next upto 49% is through the FIPB route.

• FIPB has much diverse set of people sitting there and it is possible to take a wholesome view.

• Companies would have preferred to go through non FIPB route completely. And Companies also wanted to get the option to have controlling stake in terms of the Board of Directors and things like that. But the government is not willing to delegate such powers.

• It is the fund which foreign companies bring into India, is of special interest

• The previously set 26% cap had not attracted many companies.

• The East Asian crisis, 2007 economic crisis and European Union crisis have exposed the whole world to the kind of volatility and risks that exist in the financial sector.

• The kind of reforms that had to be undertaken, post the crisis, were actually not undertaken.

• The insurance cap will also apply to the pension sector. Hence there are risks associated with it.

• India performed reasonably well during the crisis because of the good regulatory structures in place.

• India, with 3.2% of the GDP, has one of the smallest penetration of insurance in the world.

• This proposed increase would affect the general insurance public sector companies. But some argue by saying that the problem of the public sector companies lies in the underwritten policies.

• Insurance funds are the long term funds which bring in foreign funds and provide capital to the infrastructure sector. Infrastructure sector really needs the fund for a longer period of time.

• Insurance is the sector where there is a huge solvency requirement.

• Insurance funds are basically subscriber funds.

• We should look for a more competitive environment which requires a level playing field for both Public Sector and Private Sector companies.

• There are also chances of Indian market being exposed to the risks of Global financial market due to opening up of the sector.

Source: RajyaSabha TV

[Quiz] Daily MCQ - 14, 15 February 2015

1. Which among the following states has maximum number of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in February 2015?

[A]Karnataka
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C]Tamil Nadu
[D] Telangana


2. Which one of the following committee was constituted to review environmental laws in the country? 

[A]Subramanian Committee
[B]Kasturi Rangan Committee
[C]Madhav Nair Committee
[D]Ullas Karanth Committee


3. Which among the following companies has developed the mobile agro advisory system called “mKrishi”? 

[A]TCS 

[B]Infosys
[C]Wipro
[D]IBM


4. Which country was the partner country in India’s first Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST)? 

[A]USA
[B]China
[C]Germany
[D]Russia


5. The per capita availability of doctors per 1000 people in India is ____? 

[A]0.5
[B]2
[C]0.6
[D]1.5


6. Who among the following has been named as new heir of Mysore Royal Family? 

[A]Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs
[B]Chaduranga Kantharaja Urs
[C]Aditya Gurudev Urs
[D]Chandra Shekar Urs


7. The Shubhamsari (Subansiri) project, is the 2000MW hydroelectric project is coming up in which of the following states? 

[A]Tripura
[B]Arunachal Pradesh
[C]Haryana
[D]Sikkim


8. Which among the following cities has been ranked top in the list of Brookings Institution’s 2014 Global Metro Monitor Map? 

[A]Macau
[B]Istanbul
[C]Bengaluru
[D]Izmir


9. The host country of 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup is __? 

[A]France
[B]Germany
[C]India
[D]South Africa


10. India’s rank in the recently released World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) 2015 is __? 

[A]120 

[B]135
[C]136
[D]140

Answer :

1. C

2. A

3. A

4. C

5. C
6. A
7. B
8. A
9. C
10. C

For Solution : Click Here

[The Big Picture]Jayalalithaa Conviction: How to hasten justice?

Summary:

• The conviction of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, after the case was made to drag on for 18 years, has brought to fore once again the laxity in the justice delivery system.

• The influential and wealthy dragging the case at the cost of justice has much been discussed.

• There are similar other cases which are dragging on in different Indian courts with similarly alarming regularity.

• Following a recent order of the Supreme Court that the cases against elected representatives should be completed in one year, the government is drawing a plan to hasten up the justice delivery.

• Can these proposed changes to both-the role of court and the role of police-be effective?

• The main reason for delay in cases is frequent adjournments. Another reason is transferring of cases from one state to another.

• There are many other factors which contribute in delaying the cases- like less number of judges, lack of infrastructure, lack of effective policies etc.

• It is said that our criminal justice system is on the rocks today.

• In every case, the general tendency of the accused is to seek as many adjournments as possible.

• The prevention of corruption act contemplates day to day trial but then that doesn’t take place as a matter of rule. Therefore the whole system requires overhauling.

• In our judiciary system, the accused is presumed to be innocent till he is convicted.

• Rule of law postulates that punishment follows trial and not the other way.

• Making someone accountable without giving them the freedom and autonomy to function can become disastrous.

• Police reforms are also needed to make our criminal judiciary system more efficient.

Source: RajyaSabha TV

[The Big Picture]Coal block allocation cancellations : Implications and future?

SUMMARY:

• SC has cancelled 214 of the 218 coal block allocations made since 1993.

• The apex court had held that the allocations made by the various regimes at the center since 1993 were illegal and were made arbitrarily.

• The court has also directed the companies, which were allocated coal blocks but had not operationalized, to pay compensation to the government for the loss to the exchequer.

• The findings of the CAG had said that the loss of rupees 295 per ton was caused due to the non- operation of the mines. It was also upheld by the court.

• Few companies, which are already operating, are given a time- period of 6 months to wind down their operations.

• The government had urged the court to spare 44 blocks. But the court hasn’t made any exceptions. It has upheld the transparency and has taken the judgement holistically.

• It will be a benchmark judgement which will enhance transparency in public dealing involving all the natural resources.

• This is a time for introspection for all the parties.

• This judgement provides an equal platform for all the steel companies. Earlier, the companies with captive coal blocks had an unfair advantage.

• So far as coal is concerned, the mine and minerals act says that if it is for a private company it has to be auctioned.

• SC judgement on presidential reference on natural resource allocation says that auction is not necessary in every natural resource allocation.

• But when it is being given to any private company for commercial purpose then allocating through any other methods except competitive method would fall foul of article 14 of the constitution.

• The SC in its 2G judgement held that two things are essential for competitive method. One is, Fairness between the various competitors. Second is, the people of the country, who own the resources, should get a fair compensation.

Source: RajyaSabha TV

[The Big Picture]CBI: Should it be within the ambit of RTI and Whistleblower laws?

Summary:

• As many the controversial cases the CBI has been investigating it seems to be involved in as many controversies itself.

• The CBI director is accused of meeting the persons who are friends or relatives of those accused under the cases being investigated.

• According to a former CBI director, it is not appropriate to receive the people known to accused or accused himself at the director’s residence which is the unwritten law. It is appropriate to meet such persons at the offices to avoid speculations.

• The present CBI director has defended himself by saying that it was necessary for him to meet those people to get to know whether his officers are doing the right thing or wrong thing.

• Question which arises is: Does a senior police officer need to meet the accused or his representatives to find out whether his officers are doing the right thing or not?

• CBI is now under Deptt. of Personnel, Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances, Government of India.

• DoPT works like a secretariat of CBI but not the other way round.

• CBI has the tendency of hitting the iron when it is hot.

• CBI is an autonomous agency under the CrPC. Some sections under CrPC give autonomous powers to the investigating powers to the officers under CBI.

• Need of the hour is to remove the constraints on their functioning.

• More and more cases are being handed over to CBI by not only the central Government but also by the Supreme Court and High courts. And many posts in CBI are kept vacant. So there should be functional autonomy and the Director should be made accountable to the Courts directly.Functional autonomy include filling up of the vacant posts by the director himself.

• According to the RTI law, intelligence agencies and security agencies and organizations under schedule 2 of the RTI act are outside the ambit of RTI. But many argue that the CBI doesn’t fit into either of these categories.

• The question now is: why the CBI has been kept out of the ambit of the law as it is neither the security nor intelligence organization? CBI defends itself by saying that the RTI is impeding its investigations.

• The government to protect itself from providing information on sensitive issues like 2G scam, granted blanket protection to the CBI.

• Revelation of identity of whistleblower is not the right thing to do according to many experts.

Source: RajyaSabha TV