InstaLinks help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically.
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 2:
3. The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
4. Network For Greening Financial System.
5. Quality standards for 4 more spices.
GS Paper 3:
1. The Global Forest Goals Report 2021: UN Report.
Facts for Prelims:
1. International Labour Day.
2. Operation Samudra Setu-II.
3. Armed forces get powers for relief work.
GS Paper : 2
Topics Covered: Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
President’s Rule in Delhi:
Context:
AAP MLA Shoaib Iqbal has demanded imposition of President’s Rule in Delhi in view of the massive surge in COVID-19 cases.
What’s the issue?
He said neither him nor the government is able to offer any help to the people affected by the second wave of COVID-19. Therefore, the President’s rule must be imposed.
Observations made by the High Court on the current situation:
- The Delhi High Court said “the state has failed to protect the right to life of citizens”, while expressing anguish over the death of a COVID-19 patient whose family had been pleading for an ICU bed for the last three days.
- It said, the state has failed to protect the right to life of people guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.
What is President’s Rule in the Indian context?
Article 356 of the Constitution of India gives the President of India power to suspend state government and impose President’s rule of any state in the country “if he is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution”.
- It is also known as ‘State Emergency’ or ‘Constitutional Emergency’.
- Upon the imposition of this rule, there would be no Council of Ministers.
- The state will fall under the direct control of the Union government, and the Governor will continue to head the proceedings, representing the President of India.
Parliamentary Approval and Duration:
- A proclamation imposing President’s Rule must be approved by both the Houses of Parliament within two months from the date of its issue.
- The approval takes place through simple majority in either House, that is, a majority of the members of the House present and voting.
- Initially valid for six months, the President’s Rule can be extended for a maximum period of three years with the approval of the Parliament, every six months.
Report of the Governor:
Under Article 356, President’s Rule is imposed if the President, upon receipt of the report from the Governor of the State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
Revocation:
A proclamation of President’s Rule may be revoked by the President at any time by a subsequent proclamation.
Such a proclamation does not require parliamentary approval.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Imposition of President’s Rule.
- Related Provisions.
- Report of Governor.
- Parliamentary approval and duration.
- Revocation.
- What happens to the State legislature Under President’s Rule.
Mains Link:
What is President’s Rule? Why it is controversial? Discuss.
Sources: the Hindu.
Topics Covered: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Scheduled drugs’ list:
Context:
Bombay High Court has asked the Centre to include Remdesivir in the list of scheduled drugs and to regulate its pricing.
- The direction came while the Bench was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) petition on the shortage of oxygen, non-availablity of Remdesivir, Tocilizumab injections, and hospital beds in Nagpur district.
Other measures suggested by the Court:
The court also said that it is possible to regulate the pricing if a liberal interpretation is given to the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act (DCA).
- The provisions of the DCA allow restriction or regulation of prices of a drug that was essential during a natural calamity or epidemic.
- Both the Drugs Control Act and DCA enable the central government to issue a notification to fix rates of essential drugs during an epidemic.
Need for:
If the powers conferred on the Central government are exercised, it will go a long way. It will stop extortion of money from families of COVID-19 patients, and will also put a full stop to the black-marketing of the drug.
Background:
The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 contains provisions for classification of drugs under given schedules and there are guidelines for the storage, sale, display and prescription of each schedule.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Classification of drugs in India.
- Schedule H vs X drugs.
- Important drugs under this schedule.
Mains Link:
What are scheduled drugs? How are they classified? Discuss.
Sources: the Hindu.
Topics Covered: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011:
Context:
Importers of medical devices, used particularly for providing oxygen support to Covid-19 patients, are now allowed to import these devices without prior mandatory declaration for the next three months.
Background:
The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, make it mandatory to get the approvals prior to the import.
But, considering the pandemic situation of COVID-19 and to meet the demand of (sic) medical devices, the Central Government has given permission.
About the Legal Metrology Act 2009:
- The Department of Consumer Affairs, administers the Legal Metrology Act 2009.
- The act provides for application of legal requirements to measurements and measuring instruments.
- The objective of Legal Metrology is to ensure public guarantee from the point of view of security and accuracy of the weighments and measurements.
- The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities), Rules 2011 are primarily intended to ensure that the consumers are able to make informed choices by being informed of essential declarations on the pre-packed commodities.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Overview of the act.
- Prior permission.
- Exemptions.
Sources: PIB.
Topics Covered: Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.
Network For Greening Financial System:
Context:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has joined the Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) as a member.
About NGFS:
- Launched at the Paris One Planet Summit on December 12, 2017.
- It is a group of central banks and supervisors willing to share best practices and contribute to the development of environment and climate risk management in the financial sector.
- It also seeks to mobilise mainstream finance to support the transition towards a sustainable economy.
- Composition: Includes central banks and financial supervisors.
- Secretariat is hosted by the Banque de France.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- About NGFS.
- Composition.
- Objectives.
- Functions.
- Members.
Mains Link:
Write a note on NGFS.
Sources: ET.
Topics Covered: Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.
Quality standards for 4 more spices:
Context:
The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) has finalised and recommended quality standards for four spices; cloves, oregano, basil, and ginger.
- The committee forwarded these four new standards to the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) for adoption.
What is CCSCH?
- Formed in 2013, CCSCH is the youngest of the Codex Commodity Committees.
- The Committee is Chaired by India and Spices Board India is its Secretariat.
- This committee is mandated to elaborate worldwide, science-based quality standards for spices and culinary herbs, in accordance with the Codex principles of consumer protection and fair trade practices.
About CAC:
Set up in 1963, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is an intergovernmental body established jointly by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Programme to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- About Codex Alimentarius.
- About CAC.
- What is CCSCH?
Mains Link:
Write a note on the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH).
Sources: PIB.
GS Paper : 3
Topics Covered: Conservation related issues.
The Global Forest Goals Report 2021: UN Report:
Context:
Released recently, the Report has been prepared by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations.
- It provides an initial overview of progress of Goals and targets contained within the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030.
Key findings:
- Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated the challenges faced by countries in managing their forests.
- Overall impact: More than just a health crisis, Covid-19 is driving losses of lives and livelihoods, extreme poverty, inequality, and food insecurity, and it has put the ‘Future We Want’ further out of reach.
- Impact on Global Output: It is estimated that world gross product fell by an estimated 4.3% in 2020. It is the sharpest contraction of global output since the Great Depression.
- On the economic front, forest-dependent populations have faced job loss, reduced income, diminished access to markets and information, and for many women and youth, a contraction in seasonal employment.
- Many forest dependent populations, especially those in remote or hard to reach places, have faced difficulties accessing healthcare or find that government assistance programmes and basic services are disrupted.
- Pandemic driven health and socio-economic outcomes have increased pressure on forests. This is because, to ease their growing vulnerability, many indigenous peoples and local communities, as well as returning migrants and urban workers, have retreated deeper into the woods to seek food, fuel, shelter, and protection from the risks of Covid-19.
- One million species were at risk of extinction and that 100 million hectares of tropical forest were lost from 1980 to 2000.
What needs to be done?
- Sustainably resourced and managed forests can bolster employment, disaster risk reduction, food security and social safety nets, for starters.
- With regard to global health, safeguarding and restoring forests are among the environmental actions that can reduce the risk of future zoonotic disease outbreaks.
- The report called for a future course of action that included greater sustainability and a greener and more inclusive economy to tackle the threats of Covid-19, climate change and the biodiversity crisis faced by forests.
Sources: down to earth.
Facts for Prelims:
International Labour Day:
Celebrated across the world on May 1.
Often referred to as May Day.
The date was chosen by a pan-national organization of socialist and communist political parties to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on 4 May 1886.
Operation Samudra Setu-II:
- Indian Navy has launched Operation Samudra Setu-II to augment the ongoing national mission for meeting the Oxygen requirements.
- Last year Indian Navy had launched Operation Samudra Setu as part of the Vande Bharat Mission and repatriated approx 4000 (3992) stranded and distressed Indian citizens from Maldives, Sri Lanka and Iran.
Armed forces get powers for relief work:
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has invoked special provisions and granted emergency financial powers to the armed forces to empower them and speed up their efforts to tide over the current COVID-19 situation.
- The emergency financial powers will help formation commanders to establish and operate quarantine facilities, hospitals and undertake procurement, repair of equipment, items, material and stores, besides provisioning of various services and works required to support the ongoing effort against the pandemic.
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