[Mission 2024] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 1 November 2023

GS Paper 3

 Syllabus: Infrastructure (Railways)

Source: TH

Context: The article addresses the pressing need for enhancing the transport of cargo by railways in India.

What is the modal share of freight (cargo) in India?

The railway is one of the cheaper modes of transportation for moving bulk cargo. However, it only has about 32% share

Government initiative for increasing bulk cargo in Railways:

 Dedicated Freight Corridor: The North-South Dedicated Freight Corridor (North-South DFC) is a proposed freight railway connecting New Delhi to Chennai, spanning approximately 2,343 km with 43 planned stations. The Ministry of Railways has tasked the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) with conducting Preliminary Engineering & Traffic Surveys (PETS) for four additional corridors, including the

• East-West Corridor (Kolkata-Mumbai, 2,330 km)
• East Coast Corridor (Kharagpur-Vijayawada, 1,100 km)
• Southern Corridor (Chennai-Goa, 899 km)

Relaxation of Rake Movement Rules: This allows for loading from/to multiple locations, permits mini rakes, and introduces private freight terminals (PFTs).

Gati Shakti Terminal (GCT) Policy: This policy aims to convert all PFTs and private sidings into GCTs. A private siding is a railway line owned by a company and connected to a railway.

Partnership with Private Freight Operators: Indian Railways has encouraged private freight operators to invest in wagons, facilitating the induction of privately owned wagons for specialized cargo such as automobiles and fly ash.

Other initiatives for Indian Railways:

 Role of National Rail Plan (NRP) for 2030: Indian Railways have recently prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) for India – 2030 to create a ‘future ready’ Railway system by 2030. The objective of the Plan is to create capacity ahead of demand, which in turn would also cater to future growth in demand right up to 2050.

Features of the plan:

Suggestions for Indian Railways:

The fiscal health of Indian Railways:

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reported that in the fiscal year 2021-22, the financial health of Indian Railways entered a “concern zone.”

For Challenges hindering the development of Railways in India: Click Here

 Key recommendations from Vivek Debroy’s committee for Indian Railways: Click Here

Insta Links:

• Growth in Indian railways

Mains Links:

Why is Public Private Partnership (PPP) required in infrastructure projects? Examine the role of the PPP model in the redevelopment of Railway Stations in India. (UPSC 2022)

GS4/GS2 Paper 

 Syllabus: Code of Conduct and Ethics/ Parliamentary Committee

Source: TH

 Context: The article discusses the proceedings of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee against Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra and emphasizes the distinction between parliamentary and judicial probes.

What is the case about?

MP Mahua Moitra is facing proceedings from the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee over allegations of receiving money for posing questions in Parliament. She is said to have, also, shared a password for online submission of questions. If implicated, the act could be considered a breach of privilege and contempt of the House.

Previous instances of MPs being expelled for accepting money for parliamentary work:

About Lok Sabha’s Ethics Committee:

Limitations of the Ethics Committee

• Lack of clear definitions for “unethical conduct,” leaving decisions to committee discretion.
• The committee may not address more serious cases of misconduct or violations of law, as these often go to the Privileges Committee.
• It focuses on maintaining parliamentary discipline but lacks authority in criminal investigations.
• Decisions rely on a common-sense approach and may not strictly adhere to legal standards or rules of evidence.

The key difference between judicial and parliamentary probes: 

• Nature:
  • Judicial Probe: Judicial probes are conducted by legally trained professionals within the judiciary. They follow legal procedures and adhere to the rules of evidence.
  • Parliamentary Probe: Parliamentary probes are conducted by members of the parliament or its committees, who are not necessarily legally trained. They follow parliamentary rules and procedures.
• Purpose:
  • Judicial Probe: Judicial probes aim to establish legal guilt or innocence, often in criminal or civil matters. They can lead to legal consequences, including criminal charges or civil liability.
  • Parliamentary Probe: Parliamentary probes primarily focus on issues related to parliamentary discipline, ethics, or breaches of privilege. Their purpose is to maintain the integrity of parliamentary proceedings and may result in actions like suspension or expulsion of MPs.

Ethical issues related to Ms Mahua Moitra’s case:

The ethical issues with the conduct of Ms Mahua Moitra include allegations of accepting bribes for parliamentary questions, the unauthorized use of her parliamentary ID in Dubai while she was in India, and the potential involvement of her parliamentary login in targeting the Adani Group and the Prime Minister. These allegations raise questions about the integrity and transparency of parliamentary proceedings and the ethical behaviour of a Member of Parliament.

Outcome:

If the Ethics Committee deems a complaint to have merit, it can make recommendations. Typically, this involves recommending the suspension of the MP for a specified period. However, the final decision rests with the House, which includes all MPs. They will determine whether to accept the committee’s recommendations and decide the nature and extent of any punishment if deemed necessary. In the event of expulsion or a potentially adverse decision, the accused MP has the option to challenge it in a court of law. The grounds for challenging such a decision in court are limited and generally encompass claims of unconstitutionality, gross illegality, or a denial of natural justice.

Way forward: 

Reforms in the parliament to enhance ethics and transparency: 

• Declaration of Members’ Business Interests: This practice is in place for Rajya Sabha members and involves disclosing personal, pecuniary, or direct interests that could create conflicts of interest. It promotes transparency and accountability.
• The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) recommended:
  • Code of Ethics for Ministers: In addition to the existing Code of Conduct, there should be a Code of Ethics to guide Ministers in upholding constitutional and ethical standards in their duties.
  • Dedicated Units: Offices of the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers should establish units to monitor adherence to the Code of Ethics and Conduct, including handling public complaints.
  • Responsibility of PM/CM: The Prime Minister or Chief Minister should ensure that Ministers follow the Code of Ethics and Conduct.
  • Annual Report: An annual report on adherence to these codes, including any violations and actions taken, should be submitted to the legislature.
  • Minister-Civil Servant Relationship: The Code of Ethics should cover the principles of the Minister-civil servant relationship.
  • Public Disclosure: The Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, and the annual report should be made public.

Conclusion: 

The need for these reforms is to address conflicts of interest and enhance ethical standards among MPs, contributing to good governance and transparency in the legislative process. The reforms are essential for fostering ethical conduct and transparency within the Lok Sabha.

Mains Links:

To what extent, in your view, the Parliament is able to ensure accountability of the executive in India? (UPSC 2021)

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: TH

 Context: Matthew Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing in “Friends,” died recently.

Life lessons drawn from Matthew Perry’s experiences:

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE 

Context: Recently, the Defence Minister mentioned the concept of “Prisoner’s Dilemma” to highlight the importance of countries collaborating instead of working against each other in international relations.

What is the Prisoner’s Dilemma?

It is a classic concept in game theory that illustrates a situation where individuals can make rational choices that lead to a suboptimal outcome for both. It involves two suspects (prisoners) who can either cooperate by remaining silent or betray each other by confessing to a crime. The possible outcomes are:

• If both remain silent (cooperate), they both get a minimal sentence for a lesser offence.
• If both confess (betray), they both receive a moderate sentence.
• If one remains silent while the other confesses, the one who confesses goes free, and the silent one receives a heavy sentence.

Its application in International Relations:

The Prisoner’s Dilemma concept is often applied to international relations to understand situations where countries face choices with conflicting interests. It helps explain why nations may not always cooperate for the best collective outcome. For example, in arms races, two countries may each choose to arm themselves (confess) to gain a competitive advantage, even though disarmament (remaining silent) would be collectively better by reducing the risk of war and saving resources.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Economic Times

 Context: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has achieved membership in the 18-member steering committee of the International Competition Network (ICN), a global body dedicated to competition law enforcement.

• The ICN includes 140 competition agencies and serves as an informal platform for antitrust authorities to foster regular communication and address practical competition concerns.
• The ICN’s members comprise both national and multinational competition authorities, and they collaborate in project-oriented working groups to produce results in the realm of competition enforcement.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Economic Times

 Context: India has begun producing “reference” petrol and diesel, which are specialized fuels used for testing automobiles, making it part of a select group of nations that produce these high-quality fuels.

• The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has developed these fuels with higher specifications to replace imports, ensuring a reliable supply at a lower cost for vehicle manufacturers and testing agencies.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TOI

Context: A recent study using crystals brought back by Apollo astronauts in 1972 has revealed that the Moon is approximately 40 million years older than previously believed.

• The research used these lunar crystals to pinpoint the Moon’s formation age, revising it to a minimum of 4.46 billion years old.
• These crystals, which are the oldest known solids to form after a massive impact, serve as a reference point for lunar chronology.
• The study utilized an analytical method called atom probe tomography to determine the age of the crystals and revealed that the Moon is indeed at least 4.46 billion years old.

Significance:

This information is crucial for understanding the Moon’s role in stabilizing Earth’s rotational axis and affecting tides, which, in turn, has influenced life on Earth.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TOI

 Context: The Subsurface Water Ice Mapping Project (SWIM) has created a map of Mars, indicating regions where NASA missions have detected subsurface water ice.

• This map is a valuable resource for scientists to identify potential landing sites for the first astronauts on Mars.
• Water ice on Mars is crucial for drinking, rocket fuel, and other purposes, as the planet’s thin atmosphere cannot sustain liquid water.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

 Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is hosting a Country-Led Initiative (CLI) event as part of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Aim of the initiative:

The event aims to contribute to discussions on Sustainable Forest Management and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF), focusing on thematic areas related to forest fires and forest certification.

The meeting is expected to result in frameworks and recommendations for forest fire and forest certification management, to be discussed at the 19th session of UNFF in May 2024.

About the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF):

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

 Context:  The Indian Army’s Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand recently conducted its inaugural firing during both day and night operations.

• Besides the 20mm nose gun and 70mm rockets, the LCH is equipped with a helicopter-launched anti-tank guided missile and a new air-to-air missile, which is distinct from the ‘Mistral-2’ used on the IAF LCH.

Various types of aircraft used by the Indian Air Force:

Mapping

Source: TH

 Context: Recently, suspected Maoists launched an attack on forest watchers in Kerala’s Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, near the Chavachi area.

These Maoists have been increasingly active in and around the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, even infiltrating local houses and engaging in activities like distributing propaganda materials. The Kerala government deployed Kerela Thunderbolts force and helicopters to locate those responsible.

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is the northernmost wildlife sanctuary of Kerala (in the Kannur District). It is 55 km² in area and located on the western slope of the Western Ghats. It was established in 1984 with its headquarters near Iritty. The sanctuary borders Wayanad-Brahmagiri, Wayanad’s north slopes, Karnataka’s Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, and Coorg’s forests, with Katti Betta as its highest peak.