UPSC Editorials Quiz : 10 July 2024

Solution: d)

The ongoing spell of extreme heat in many parts of the country has once again reopened discussions on the inclusion of heatwaves as one of the notified disasters under the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005.

If the inclusion does happen, states will be allowed to use their disaster response funds to provide compensation and relief, and carry out a range of other activities for managing the fallout of a heatwave. Currently, states need to use their own funds for these activities.

States have put the demand of including heatwaves as a notified disaster before the last three Finance Commissions.

However, the Finance Commissions have not entirely been convinced. The 15th Finance Commission, whose recommendations are currently being applied, said the existing list of notified disasters “covers the needs of the states to a large extent” and did not find merit in the request to include heatwaves.

The DM Act was enacted in the wake of the 1999 Odisha super-cyclone and the 2004 tsunami. It defines a disaster as a “catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence” arising from “natural or man-made causes” that results in substantial loss of life, destruction of property, or damage to the environment.

If such an event happens, then the provisions of the DM Act can be invoked. The provisions allow states to draw money from the two funds that have been set up under this law — the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) at the national level and the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) at the state level. The states first utilise the funds available in the SDRF, and only if the magnitude of the disaster is unmanageable with the SDRF, states seek the money from the NDRF. In the FY 2023-24, only two states drew money from the NDRF.

While the entire money of the NDRF comes from the central government, states contribute 25% of the money in the SDRF (10% in case of special category states), the rest comes from the Centre. The money in these funds cannot be used for any purpose other than response and management of notified disasters.

Source

Solution: d)

Currently, there are 12 categories of disasters which are notified under this Act. These are cyclones, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloudburst, pest attack, and frost and cold waves.

Source

Solution: a)

Only Statement 2 is correct.

Currently, all major parliamentary committees dealing with sensitive issues are chaired by MPs of the ruling party or its allies.

Most of the issues raised by the opposition in the Business Advisory Committee of the Lok Sabha were not brought to the floor for discussion.

The strongest method available to an opposition MP to force a discussion or debate is the adjournment motion. This well-established parliamentary technique permits a member to move a motion to adjourn the proceedings of the House in order to discuss a matter of urgent public importance. 

Source

Solution: a)

The FC’s recommendations are not justiciable. The Union government need not accept all the recommendations of an FC. Almost all the FCs since the 1stFC recommended the creation of a permanent administrative establishment for FC to monitor the implementation of the recommendations and to collect real-time data on finances and other issues, and also an independent public-debt management institution.

Source

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

• Argentina, as part of the “Lithium Triangle”along with Chile and Bolivia, is a significant producer of lithium, holding the world’s third-largest lithium reserve.
• KABILis a joint venture, involving NALCO, MECL, and HCL, and is focused on identifying and acquiring strategic minerals overseas for India’s use. It is also exploring opportunities for lithium partnerships and acquisitions in other Latin American nations like Chile and Brazil, as well as in Australia for lithium and cobalt exploration.
• India joined the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP), which aims to strengthen critical mineral supply chains.