[Mission 2023] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 13 February 2023

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Parliament — Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these

Source: IE

 Context: Some opposition leaders are protesting the removal of parts of their speech on the motion of thanks on the President’s address during the current session of Parliament.

Concerns:

• A disconnect between the speeches in the parliamentary record and the publicly available version online.
• It also means that every individual (including MPs) who shared the speech as was delivered by an MP on the floor of the House is in breach of the privilege of Parliament.

Conclusion: The Parliament is the “platform to fix the accountability of the Executive” and criticism of the government amounts neither to an allegation against an individual Member nor to an attack on the dignity of the House/s.

Insta Links:

Privilege of MPs does not extend to criminal cases, Rajya Sabha Chairman

Mains Links: 

Q. “Once a speaker, Always a speaker’! Do you think the practice should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be its implications for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India? (UPSC 2020)

Prelims Links: UPSC 2017

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Devolution of Powers and Finances up to Local Levels and Challenges Therein

Source: IE 

Context: To make Indian cities smarter, the health of municipal finances must be improved.

Background: The WB suggests that India will need to invest approximately $840 billion in urban infrastructure over the next 15 years.

The health of municipal finances in India:

• Urban local bodies’ (ULBs) own revenue is only 47% of their total revenue and the property tax accounts for approximately 29% of it.
  • As per the RBI, at least 141 municipal corporations (in FY21) saw a sharp decline in revenue (by more than 25%) or a significant increase in expenditure (by over 75%).
  • There was a decline in projected growth in property tax.
• GST implementation and the pandemic added to these revenue losses.
• Disbursal of external grants from the state and Centre is a concern. The CAG’s performance audit (2020) noted a saving of Rs 5,000 crore due to the non-disbursal of grants in Karnataka.

Impact of shortfall in revenue:

• Cuts in essential services – for example, sewerage services were affected.
• Delayed salary and pension disbursements. For example, 18,000 primary school teachers under the DMC are yet to receive their past few month’s salaries.

Way ahead – A multi-pronged strategy to bridge the gap:

• Many ULBs and municipal corporations need a fiscal stimulus.
• Additional funding needs to be explored. For example,
  • A revolving fund along with an overdraft facility when revenues and fiscal transfers are delayed.
  • Green bonds along with a joint corpus funded by the Centre and states.
• Rationalisation of property tax. Updating existing databases, reassessing properties using digital tools and imposing taxes on non-compliers and defaulters.
• Concessions (free water and electricity) will need to be rationalised.
• Expenditure efficiency needs to be boosted by pushing for outsourcing (for garbage services) and exploring PPP models (hybrid annuity models) and participatory budgeting.
• Performance-linked incentives. For example, the Centre’s incentives to states to cover aspects like framing building bylaws, pushing for public transport, etc.
• Innovative financing mechanisms can be pursued. For example, asset monetisation, financing from carbon credit generation, etc.
• A push for user charges (levies like betterment, impact fees and tax increment financing should be explored) for public service delivery.
• States and the Centre must ensure that disbursements are made on time.

Some best practices:

• Municipal bonds: Municipal corporations have raised over Rs 6,250 crore since 2017.
• Tamil Nadu’s municipalities are utilising pooled finance and aggregating funds to raise funds from the market for multiple projects.
• Maharashtra seeks to implement land value capture in a range of forms, with municipalities charging property owners for a specific project.
• Gujarat offers an interesting example in land pooling systems – any increase in land value due to public investment or civic initiatives is taxed.

Conclusion: Unlocking smart cities will require rethinking urban financing.

Insta Links:

Municipal Mess – From MCD to BMC, paralysis of urban local bodies undermines local governance and democracy

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Security Challenges and their Management in Border Areas

Source: TH

Context: According to India’s External Affairs Minister, the government’s recent border infrastructure projects focus on the north and east along India’s 3,488 km border with China (or LAC).

Background:

• Reports claim that Indian forces have lost access to 26 of 65 patrolling points along the LAC since 2020.
• The timing is crucial because of the upcoming meetings of the G-20 Foreign Ministers and the Foreign Ministers of the SCO

About the projects:

• Ramping up infrastructure in Ladakh, HP, UK, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Many of these projects which have been in the pipeline for several decades have been expedited.
  • For example, the length of roads constructed in the China border areas (6,806 km between 2014 to 2022) is almost double the length constructed from 2008-2014.
• Projects connecting India to “friendly” neighbouring states such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar.
  • Improving cross-border connectivity via highways, bridges, inland waterways, railroads, electricity lines and fuel pipelines.
  • Modernising and constructing integrated check posts (ICPs) at all the border crossings to smooth trade.
  • Funding and constructing infrastructure projects. For example,
    • The Mahakali motorable bridge and the Maitri Setu between Tripura and Bangladesh,
    • The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP),
    • The Sittwe port project and the road to Mizoram, etc.

Need for ramping up the border infrastructure:

• Strategic reasons: Successive skirmishes with the Chinese PLA in Chumar in 2014, Doklam in 2017, and the Galwan clashes in 2020.
• Border preparedness: To update the quality of structures, the technology involved and their maintenance.

Insta Links:

Major upgrade for India infrastructure along LAC

Mains Links:

Q. Analyse internal security threats and transborder crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including the Line of Control (LoC). Also, discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard. (UPSC 2020)

GS Paper 4

Source: TH, IE, IE

Example 1: Justice S. Abdul Nazeer

Context: He is a retired Supreme Court judge who recently became the Governor of Andhra Pradesh. 

Ethical learnings from his life:

• Hard work and determination: He started his life in difficult circumstances, even scavenging for fish to supplement his family’s income.
  • He went on to become a successful lawyer and judge, demonstrating the importance of hard work and determination.
• Perseverance: He compared it to the “duck syndrome,” with him paddling hard under the water to keep himself afloat.
• Respect for elders and sacrifices of parents: Justice Nazeer has spoken about the sacrifices of his mother for the family and has shown respect for his elders.
• Openness to diversity and inclusive mindset: Justice Nazeer has learned Sanskrit, demonstrates a diversity of interests and has an open mind.
  • This teaches us the importance of being open to different cultures, traditions and perspectives.
• Ethical decision-making: As a judge, Justice Nazeer stood for what is right and placed the nation first.

Ethical Issues with his appointment as Governor (after he retired from being SC judge):

• Potential to raise questions about the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers between the branches of government
• It undermines the impartiality of the judiciary and erodes the public’s trust in the justice system.
• Gives an image of the quid pro quo between executive and judiciary

Counterview: However, It is important to note that the appointment of judges as governors is not uncommon in India and in many other countries. In such cases, the individual must maintain their impartiality and avoid any actions that could be perceived as compromising the independence of the judiciary. 

Example 2: Recently a Gurgaon couple have been arrested for brutally torturing their 17-year-old domestic help.

• Union Minister of Tribal Affairs has said “Such barbaric acts in a civilised society are not only unfortunate but also a question of humanity”. 

Ethical issues concerned in the case:

• Human Rights Violation: The minor girl was subjected to torture, physical abuse, and exploitation by her employers.
• Child Abuse
• Failure of the System: The minor girl was rescued only after someone tipped off the authorities
• Discrimination based on Caste and Tribe: The girl is from a Scheduled Tribe.
• Inadequate Support and Protection Mechanisms

Example 3: Journalist Shashikant Warishe

Shashikant Warishe, a 48-year-old journalist from the Rajapur area of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra, died after being mowed down by a person against whom Warishe had written an article.

Ethical issues related to the case:

• Freedom of speech and expression: The journalist Shashikant Warishe was killed because of the articles he wrote (being critical of the government’s proposed Ratnagiri refinery project).
• Violence against journalists
• Environmental concerns: Warishe was covering the issues about pollution and land acquisition from the proposed refinery, which highlights the importance of responsible reporting on environmental issues.
• Human rights violations
• Responsibility of the government: It is the government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of journalists and to hold those who violate their rights accountable.