General Studies Paper 3

• Context: Digital technology is playing an important role in achieving India’s G20 Presidency goal (“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future”).

Background:

• The Indian Presidency’s priority is to make the digital financial system more efficient, secure, and stable.
• For this to happen, financial sector regulatory reforms are essential.
• However, there is no comprehensive global policy framework for  crypto assets despite the rapid evolution of the crypto universe.
• The global standard-setting bodies (such as the FATF, Financial Stability Board (FSB), Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), etc) have been coordinating the regulatory agenda.

Probable benefits of crypto assets:

• Cheaper and faster cross-border payments
• More integrated financial markets
• Increased financial inclusion

Challenges:

• Greater interconnectedness between crypto assets and the traditional financial sector
• Complexity and volatility around crypto assets
• Critical digital infrastructure/platforms
• Global information gaps pertaining to the crypto asset

Status of Crypto regulation  in India:

• RBI has announced Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), a sort of official cryptocurrency, for retail as well as wholesale users in 2022 on a pilot basis.

How can the Indian G20 Presidency shape Global Policy Dialogue on Crypto Assets?

• Broaden the discussion on crypto assets:Beyond financial integrity concerns and capture the macroeconomic implications and widespread crypto adoption in the economy.
• Inform policymakers: On the broader macroeconomic and financial stability implications of crypto assets.
• Highlight the consequences of crypto adoption:On the internal and external stability of a country’s economy as well as on the structure of its financial system.

Way Forward: IMF’s 9 points crypto asset action plan – 

• Safeguard monetary sovereignty and stability by strengthening monetary policy frameworks and do not grant crypto assets legal tender status.
• Guard against excessive capital flow volatility and maintain the effectiveness of capital flow management measures.
• Analyse and disclose fiscal risks and adopt unambiguous tax treatment of crypto assets.
• Establish legal certainty of crypto assets and address legal risks.
• Develop oversight requirements for all crypto market actors.
• Establish a joint monitoring framework across different domestic agencies and authorities.
• Establish international collaborative arrangements.
• Monitor the impact of crypto assets on the stability of the international monetary system.
• Strengthen global cooperation to develop digital infrastructures.

General Studies Paper 2

• Context: Recently the Election Commission of India recognized the party formed by a group of MLAs defecting from the state legislative assembly in Maharashtra as the original party.

Anti-defection Law:

• Origin:
  • Aaya Ram Gaya Ram was a phrase that became popular in Indian politics after a Haryana MLA Gaya Lal changed his party thrice within the same day in 1967.
  • The anti-defection law was a response to the similar toppling of multiple state governments by party-hopping MLAs.
  • Parliament added it to the Constitution in 1985.
• The Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution by 52nd Amendment Act.
• It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection.

What constitutes defection?

• The law covers three kinds of scenarios:
  • Voluntarily giving up:
    • When legislators elected on the ticket of one political party “voluntarily give up” membership of that party or vote in the legislature against the party’s wishes.
    • A legislator’s speech and conduct inside and outside the legislature can lead to deciding the voluntarily giving up membership.
  • Independent members:
    • The second scenario arises when an MP/MLA who has been elected as an independent joins a party later.
  • Nominated legislators:
    • The law specifies that nominated legislators can join a political party within six months of being appointed to the House, and not after such time.
  • Violation of the law in any of these scenarios can lead to a legislator being penalised for defection.
• Applicable to: 
  • The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.
• Deciding authority:
  • The Presiding Officers of the Legislature (Speaker, Chairman)are the deciding authorities in such cases.
  • The Supreme Court has held legislators can challenge their decisions before the higher judiciary.
• How long does it take for deciding cases of defection?
  • The law does not provide a time frame within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.
  • The court in its recent judgment has held that, ideally, Speakers should take a decision on a defection petition within three months.
• Exceptions in Law:
  • Legislators may change their party without the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances.
    • The law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger.
    • In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.

Significance:

• Stability:
  • Defection causes destabilisation, which leads to governments falling and new governments coming up with the help of the defectors.
    • The law aims to bring stability to governments by discouraging legislators from changing parties.
  • Loyalty:
    • Also, anti-defection law tries to bring a sense of loyalty of the members towards their own party.
      • It aims to ensure that members selected in the name of the party are also loyal to the part manifesto and the basic philosophy of the party to which he belongs.

Criticisms around the law

• No scope for acting independently:
  • The key problem with a law that penalises legislators for acting independently is that it goes against the idea of a parliamentary democracy.
  • The disqualification provisions of the Anti-Defection Law binds legislators to the official position taken by their party on any issue.
• No accountability to the constituency:
  • The requirement of abiding by the party direction also reduces the accountability of legislators to their constituency.
• Choosing Party leadership over ideological cohesion:
  • What the law tries to do is to stabilise party systems by consolidating control of the party leadership instead of through ideological cohesion or ownership of the party.
    • By doing this, it is framing democracy not as a system of representation and accountability, but as a contest between factions which have consolidated power.
  • Split as a defence against disqualification:
    • According to the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, if there is a split in a particular party, and one-third of the legislators move along with the breakaway group, they will not be disqualified. So, split was a defence against disqualification.
    • It is being misinterpreted as is seen in Maharashtra because there is no authoritative interpretation of the law.
  • No timeline for presiding officer to decide:
    • In the 10th Schedule currently, there is no timeline fixed for the Speaker to determine the issue and the purpose of this anti-defection law is defeated.
  • Lure of office:
    • It is widely claimed that Ideological defection doesn’t take place in India & the legislators defect for the lure of office.

Suggestions & way ahead

• Substantive decrease in defections:
  • Owing to the implementation of the Tenth Schedule, there has been a substantive decrease in the defection cases.
  • The provisions of the Tenth Schedule have stood the test of time and several judicial scrutinies.
• Apply only when to test the stability of the government:
  • The law aims to maintain stability in governments but the Anti-Defection Law currently applies to every vote, and even in Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils of states, where the government’s stability is not at stake.
  • There have been proposals to limit the Anti-Defection Law to votes which test the stability of the government such as no-confidence motions and money bills.
• The Dinesh Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms (1990): 
  • The committee had recommended that disqualification on grounds of defection should be limited to:
    • An elected member voluntarily giving up membership of his political party, and
    • Voting contrary to the party whip only in respect of vote of confidence/no-confidence, money bill, or motion of vote of thanks to the President’s address.
  • Retaining support is government’ s responsibility: 
    • The onus is on the government to retain the support of a majority of MPs, including those from the same party.
    • Only then can the government be held accountable for its actions.

General Studies Paper 2

• Context: A year after start of  Russia-Ukraine conflict  there are still signs of escalation everywhere. Calculations on both sides that this would be a short, swift war have proved wrong.
• The anniversary of war comes in the backdrop of Russia’s withdrawal from New START treaty.

What is the Current Status of the War?

• The West has recently announced the supply of more advanced weapons to Ukraine, deepening its involvement in the conflict.
  • In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin has already reinforced Russian positions along the 1,000-km long frontline in Ukraine.
• Risks of a direct confrontation between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), both nuclear powers, are also on the rise as the war is extended.
• Russia wanted to install a Moscow friendly regime and to take the whole of Ukraine’s east and south, stretching from Kharkiv in the northeast through the Donbas in the east (which comprises Luhansk and Donetsk) to Odesa, the Black Sea port city in the southwest, turning the country into a land-locked rump. Russia has failed to meet any of these objectives.
• Nevertheless, Russia has taken substantial portions of Ukrainian territories,including Mariupol. Russia’s territorial gains in Ukraine peaked in March 2022, when it controlled some 22% of pre-2014 Ukraine.
• Ukraine recaptured some land in Kharkiv and Kherson. But still, Russia controls some 17% of Ukraine.
• Focused fighting has been going on in some flashpoints along the frontline including Bakhmut, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.

What has been the West’s Response?

• Approach:
  • Punish Russia’s economy through sanctions and thereby weaken its war machine.
  • Arming Ukraine to counter the Russian offensive.
• Major Aid Providers:
  • The S. is Ukraine’s biggest aid provider— it has pledged military and financial assistance worth over USD 70 billion.
  • The EU has pledged $37 billion and among the EU countries, the K. and Germany top the list.
• Evaluation of Western Response:
  • While the approach of arming Ukraine has been effective in at least halting the Russian advances, hurting Russia economically has been a double-edged sword.
    • Sanctions on Russia, one of the top global producers of oil and gas, hit the global economy hard, worsening an inflationary crisis across the West, particularly in Europe.
    • Russia also took a hit, but it found alternative markets for its energy exports in Asia, redrawing the global energy export landscape. In 2022, despite sanctions, Russia raised its oil output by 2% and boosted oil export earnings by 20%.
    • The Russian economy was estimated to have contracted by 2% in 2023, but, according to the IMF, it is expected to grow 0.3% in 2023 and 2.1% in 2024.
    • In comparison, Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is expected to grow 0.1% in 2023, while the U.K., Ukraine’s second biggest backer, is projected to contract by 0.6%.

Is there a Possibility for a Negotiated Settlement?

• Both sides had exchanged several drafts about a potential peace plan in March 2022, but the S. and the U.K. staunchly opposed Ukraine reaching any agreement with Russia. Talks collapsed in March.
• In July 2022,Turkey brokered a deal on taking out Russian and Ukrainian food grains through the Black Sea known as Black Sea Food grain initiative.  Also, Warring parties had reached some prisoner exchange agreements.
• But barring these, talks between the two sides are non-existent.
  • Russia, despite the slow progress of its “special military operation”, remains adamant.
  • Zelensky recently stated that he would not reach any agreement with Russia making territorial compromises.
  • There is absolutely no push from the West for talks.
  • China has stepped in with its own peace initiative, which is not in public domain yet.
• For any peace plan to succeed a few Key issues are to be addressed.
  • Ukraine’s territorial concerns.
  • Russia’s security concerns.
  • Washington and Moscow should reach some kind of understanding as Ukraine, given its dependence on the West, would require clearance from west for any final settlement.
    • However, in context of Russian withdrawal from New START Treaty,possibility of such settlement in the near future looks bleak.

How has the War Reshaped Geopolitics?

• Increased focus on Security and Defence:
  • The war has re-energized the Europe-US security alliance. NATO has opened its door to the proposed inclusion of Sweden and Finland, that will, once in (Turkey’s approval is awaited), form the new military frontiers of the alliance against Russia.
• Trust Deficit:
  • The trust deficit between Russia and the West is at an-all time high.The US-led alliance is pouring weapons into Ukraine.
    • Though US President seems reluctant to accept all of Ukraine’s demands, including for combat aircraft including F16s, perhaps mindful of the risk of widening the war.
  • China Factor:
    • Moscow formalized its friendship with China in 2022 as “limitless”. But China also does not want to jeopardize its Europe ties.
    • China has not contributed with weapons to Russia and also expressed its reservation against nuclear war.
    • However, the US and Europe remain concerned about Chinese arms supplies to Russia.

What has been India’s Stand?

• The Ukraine war has been an opportunity to practice strategic autonomy.Adopting a neutrality India has maintained its relationship with Moscow while iterating support to global peace.
• India worked around Western sanctions to buy oil from Russia. As much as 25% of India’s oil purchase is now from Russia, from less than 2% before the war.
• Recently,India abstained on a UNGA resolution on first anniversary of the war, asking Russia to withdraw from its territory as the resolution had limitations in reaching the lasting goal of securing lasting peace.
  • India has abstained on all three votes so far on the Ukraine crisis at the UN General Assembly since Russian invasion.
• But the longer the war continues, the more pressure on India from the Western alliance to choose the “right side”.
• India has expressed the hope that it can use its G-20 presidency to bring peace.

Way Forward

• There is an urgent need for the parties of the war to return to negotiation table as the escalation of hostilities and violence is in no one’s interest.
• International principles and jurisprudence make it clear that parties to a conflict should ensure civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targeted, and the global order is based on international law, the UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states. These principles must be upheld without any exception.

General Studies Paper 3

• Context: The Government is pushing hard for transition to Green Economy. One vital aspect of this transition is transition to Green Mobility. Enhancing the share of Electric Vehicles in transportation is necessary to ensure green mobility. The finding of Lithium deposits in J&K and possibility of developing domestic battery manufacturing ecosystem in India has led to new excitement about EVs. However, the adoption of EVs still faces several hurdles. Addressing these challenges is necessary to ensure greening and decarbonisation of the transportation sector.

EVs and their benefits:

• Electric Vehicles (EVs) have an electric motor instead of an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). ICE-based vehicles work on fossil fuels. EVs use a large traction battery pack to power the electric motor. The power to run the vehicle is provided by the motor (instead of fuel-engine in ICE vehicles). Because an EV runs on electricity, the vehicle emits no exhaust from a tailpipe. An EV does not contain the typical liquid fuel components, such as a fuel pump, fuel line, or fuel tank.

Benefits of EVs

• Lower running costs: The running cost of an electric vehicle is much lower than an equivalent ICE vehicle. Electric vehicles use electricity to charge their batteries instead of using fossil fuels like petrol or diesel. EVs are more efficient, according to one estimate, EVs can convert ~60% of the electrical energy from the grid to power the wheels, but petrol or diesel cars can only convert 17%-21% of the energy stored in the fuel to the wheels. The efficiency combined with the electricity cost means that charging an EV is is cheaper than fuel based vehicles.
• Low Maintenance Cost: EVs have very low maintenance costs because they have lesser moving components compared to ICE vehicles (e.g., Electric vehicles don’t have gears and there are no complicated controls). The servicing requirements for EVs are lesser than the conventional petrol or diesel vehicles. Therefore, the yearly cost of running an electric vehicle is significantly low.
• Zero Tailpipe Emissions: EVs can help reduce carbon footprint because they have zero tailpipe emissions (carbon-dioxide emissions through combustion of fossil fuels). This can reduce air pollution as well as slow down the pace of global warming. EVs are thus essential for greening of transportation sector. Even if emissions from the production of electricity (like thermal power plant) are taken into account, petrol or diesel vehicles emit almost 3 times more carbon dioxide than the average EV.
• Noise Pollution: Electric Motors function silently, and produce much less noise compared to IC Engines. This can address noise pollution in urban areas or near highways.

Challenges in adoption of EVs:

• Lack of Infrastructure: At present, charging stations comprising of both slow and fast charging capabilities are available for all kinds of vehicles in the market. However, the number of the charging stations is inadequate. This implies their availability is restricted and even the ones that are deployed do not function optimally. Hence, the lack of charging infrastructure is a major hindrance to the adoption of EVs at scale.
• Performance: The EV manufacturers have been unable to implement the practicality of EVs being ‘value for money’ for consumers. The original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) are not developing EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). As a result, the companies that are into EVSE are unsure about the types of EVs , charging technology and its time of launch. This uncertainty does not allow the EVSE OEMs to do long term planning.
• Range Anxiety: It refers to an EV owner’s fear that the vehicle’s battery does not have sufficient charge for it to reach the destination. It is linked to how far the EV can travel on a single battery charge and the availability of charging points. This is a consequence of limited infrastructure and duration of battery charge.
• Long time for Charging Batteries: The battery charging time is much longer than the time taken for refuelling the ICE vehicles. Fast charging can result in overheating of batteries, hence it is avoided. This reduces the acceptability of EVs.
• Financial Constraints: The initial cost of owning an electric car is currently higher than that of ICE vehicles mainly due to the cost of the battery. Manufacturers anticipate cost parity by 2025 – if not sooner. They are collaborating with the electric car battery production supply chain to lower costs and improve overall efficiency. Apart from this, limited credit options and high EMI make it tough for the EV Sector to operate.
• Battery Technology: One of the most significant barriers to EV adoption is the battery manufacturing process and supply chain. To enable EVs, new mining and supply networks are required. The lithium-ion battery is the most common and frequently utilised EV energy source. India has no manufacturing capacity for Lithium-ion cells and relies completely on imports of EV batteries. This also increases costs.

Possible solutions to increase adoption of EVs:

• First, the range anxiety problem can be addressed by increased battery efficiency and expansion of charging points. Battery efficiency can be improved by further research, and expansion of charging points need greater investments.
• Second, Battery swapping can also tackle range anxiety. And it could be very efficient, especially for certain types of EVs and in certain geographies. In battery swapping, the discharged battery can be replaced by a charged battery. This will cut down the waiting time required in charging the battery.
• Third, Because of the lengthy charging time, chargers must be placed in regions where people may leave their automobiles for extended periods of time. This needs a reconsideration of the charging geography. Setting up charging stations nearer to offices, commercial complexes can play a key role.
• Fourth, To raise the overall reliability and quality of their products, there is a need to prioritise the domestic production of key components for batteries. The country’s reliance on imports of these components may have an impact on India’s international trade policies or EV objectives.
• Fifth, The Government must promote private investment in battery manufacturing plants and achieve economies of scale, while also focusing on the newer technologies.
• Sixth, Stabilizing the policy environment by focusing on tax breaks and non-fiscal incentives might assist to alleviate demand uncertainty, allowing the business to reach economies of scale
• Seventh, Using renewable energy sources can make the use of electric vehicles more eco-friendly. The electricity cost can be reduced further if charging is done with the help of renewable energy sources installed at home, such as solar panels.

General Studies Paper 3

• Context: The target of having 500 GW of non-fossil generating capacity by 2030 may look impressive. But, it may prove to be elusive unless we can enhance our storage capacity.

Why is storage not a prominent challenge for the energy sector in current times?

• India has more than 200 GW of coal-based capacity. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission recognises 55% as the technical minimum. It means that a 1,000 MW plant can run at 550 MW.
• The additional operating cost for running the plant at 55% capacity is allowed by the CERC as legitimate expenditure.

Why is there a need for a focus on storage capacity in the future?

• When India’s renewable capacity goes up further, some of the coal-based units would generate at the technical minimum and the extra renewable energy would be used to charge the batteries.
• This stored energy could be used to supply electricity during the non-solar hours, especially when the coal-based generating units would be phased out gradually.
• Some minimum coal-based generation would be required for meeting a part of the base load.

What are storage options for India and hurdles faced by storage options?

• These options are hydrogen-based storage, lithium-ion batteries and pump storage plants.
• Hydrogen storage is feasible for long-term storage. One can use this stored energy, for example, in situations when coal mining goes down or when hydro generation depletes due to low reservoir levels.
• For day-to-day storage, batteries are still the ideal source. Though the cost of batteries has declined by about 80% over the last decade, it is still quite expensive. Moreover, the pace of decline in the cost of batteries has reached a plateau.
• Pump storage plants, India has a total capacity of about 4.7 GW but only 3.3 GW is functional. A survey of the CEA estimated a pump storage potential of about 100 GW.
• Pump storage plants have not really grown in India due to several factors, including high investment costs, long gestation periods, non-remunerative pricing models and lack of adequate sites having the topography that is required for operating a pump storage plant.

What will be other challenges for the renewable energy sector in India?

• The financial condition of our distribution companies will be another hindrance. The additional solar and wind capacity has to come from the private sector.
• No developer will invest unless there is some credible payment security mechanism.
• Problems with land acquisition, and securing the right of way for laying down transmission lines will also continue to hinder progress.

General Studies Paper 1

• Context: Over the past week, maximum temperatures have been 5-11 degrees C higher than normal inmost parts of northern and western India.

Reasons for abnormal heat:

• According to the IMD, an anticyclonic formation over south Gujarat is one of the main reasons for the warming on the west coast.
• Around Maharashtra and Goa, a weaker-than-usual sea breeze along the Konkan coast was aggravating the effects of the
• This year is widely expected to be a little hotter than the previous two years, mainly because of the expected end of the strongest-ever La Niña

What are heat domes?

• A heat dome is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs when a high-pressure system traps hot air in a region, causing temperatures to rise and creating a dome of hot air. This dome of hot air can persist for several days or weeks, leading to prolonged periods of extreme heat and heat waves.
  

Effects of Heat Dome:

• They are dangerous for human health,especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with preexisting health conditions.
• Impacts food production
• Increasing wildfires.
• Lead to droughts and other environmental impacts
• Increased energy demand and strain on the power grid due to increased use of air conditioning.

What can be done?

• Staying hydrated, avoiding outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, and providing cooling centres for vulnerable populations.
• Governments and policymakers can also take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change to prevent the frequency and intensity of heat domes from increasing further.

General Studies Paper 2

• Context: Over three years after the present Lok Sabha first met, the position of Deputy Speaker still remains vacant.

Presiding officers of Lok Sabha

• Speaker & Deputy Speaker:
  • There are two presiding officers for the Lok Sabha, namely the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, who are elected by the members of the House.
• Constitutional provisions:
  • Under Article 93 of the Constitution, as soon as the House meets after the election these two presiding officers are elected one after the other.
    • Article 178contains the corresponding position for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of a state.
  • Officers of Parliament:
    • The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are described in the Constitution as officers of Parliament, which signifies their importance in the parliamentary system.

About the Deputy Speaker 

• Origin:

• The history of the office of Deputy Speaker goes back to the government of India Act of 1919 when he was called Deputy President as the Speaker was known as the president of the central legislative assembly.
• Functions:

• • Although the main functions of a Deputy Speaker were to preside over the sittings of the assembly in the absence of the Speaker and chair the select committees etc., the position was considered necessary to share the responsibility of running the House with the Speaker and guide the nascent committees.

• Post independence:
  • This tradition was continued after Independence, when a Deputy Speaker was elected to the chair, besides the Speaker, the meetings of the Constituent Assembly (Legislative).
    • The first Speaker was G V Mavalankar and the first Deputy Speaker was M Ananthasayanam Ayyangar who was elected by the Constituent Assembly (Legislative)
  • Thereafter, every Lok Sabha had a Deputy Speaker who would be elected after a few days of the election of the Speaker.
• Who can be chosen as a deputy speaker?
  • Choosing an Opposition member as the Deputy Speaker has been, by and large, followed as a healthy convention.
  • But if a government does not favour an Opposition member for political reasons, it is free to choose a member from its own party.
• Election of deputy speaker:
  • President is not required to fix the election date:
    • The date of election of the Speaker is decided by the President who needs to go by the advice of the Union cabinet which, in fact, chooses the date.
    • In the case of the Deputy Speaker, there is no constitutional requirement for him to wait for the advice of the Union cabinet in fixing the date of election of the Deputy Speaker.
  • Mandate to Speaker:
    • As per Rule 8 of the Rules and Procedure of Lok Sabha it is the Speaker who has to fix the date of the election of the Deputy Speaker.
    • Once the date is fixed, any member can propose the name of any other member through a motion for the consideration of the House. The House can then proceed to elect its Deputy Speaker.
    • The practice followed so far has been to elect the Speaker after the oath-taking.
    • Motion:
      • The Deputy Speaker is elected once a motion proposing his name is carried in the House.
      • Thereafter, within a few days, the Deputy Speaker is also elected. Once elected, the Deputy Speaker usually continues in office for the entire duration of the House.
    • Independent from Speaker:
      • The Deputy Speaker is independent of the Speaker, not subordinate to him, as both are elected from among the members of the House.
    • Powers & Functions:
      • Article 95(1) says “While the office of Speaker is vacant, the duties of the office shall be performed by the Deputy Speaker”.
        • In general, the Deputy Speaker has the same powers as the Speaker when presiding over a sitting of the House.
        • All references to the Speaker in the Rules are deemed to be references to the Deputy Speaker when he presides.
      • No appeal:
        • Although the Deputy Speaker gets to exercise these powers only in the absence of the Speaker his decisions are final and binding when he gives a ruling.
        • It has been repeatedly held that no appeal lies to the Speaker against a ruling given by the Deputy Speaker.
      • Presiding committees:
        • In addition to presiding over the House in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker chaired committees both inside and outside of Parliament.
      • Significance of the position:
        • The Deputy Speaker ensures the continuity of the Speaker’s office by acting as the Speaker when the office becomes vacant:
          • Illness, or
          • by death, or
          • because of resignation or
          • any other reason.
        • When the Speaker’s post falls vacant, it is the Deputy Speaker who assumes all the powers of the Speaker and exercises both legislative powers and administrative powers

Issue of non-election

• Lok Sabha:
  • In the present Lok Sabha, the House has not elected a Deputy Speaker even after three years and seven months of its term are over.
  • The non-election of the Deputy Speaker has now reached the Supreme Court, which has reportedly sent notice to the Union government.
• State Assemblies:
  • The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre and five states — Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand — over the failure to elect a Deputy Speaker.
• Centre’s position:
  • The Treasury benches have maintained there is no “immediate requirement” for a Deputy Speaker as “bills are being passed and discussions are being held” as normal in the House.
  • A Minister argued that “there is a panel of nine members — senior, experienced and selected from different parties — who can act as chairpersons to assist the Speaker to run the House”.
• Judiciary’s intervention:
  • Courts usually don’t intervene in the procedural conduct of Parliament. Article 122(1) says:
    • “The validity of any proceedings in Parliament shall not be called in question on the ground of any alleged irregularity of procedure.”
  • However, experts said that the courts do have jurisdiction to at least inquire into why there has been no election to the post of Deputy Speaker since the Constitution does envisage an election “as soon as may be”.

Way ahead

• Article 93contains a mandatory provision that needs to be carried out by the House.
• In the present circumstances, the post of Deputy Speaker is desirable to maintain neutrality and smooth functioning of the Parliament.

General Studies Paper 3

• Context: Union Budget 2023 mentioned“Green Growth” as one of the seven priorities or Saptarishis.

About Biodiversity

• Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth.  Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.
• Identified species:
  • The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)states that only about 1.75 million species have so far been identified, including numerous insects, while there may be some 13 million species.
• Significance:
  • Interaction, coexistence & codependence:
    • Sum and variation of our biological wealth, known as biodiversity, is essential to the future of this planet.
    • Often called the web of life, biodiversity signifies the variety of species on earth, which are all connected and sustain the balance of ecosystems, enabling humans to coexist. 
      • They interact with the environment to perform a host of functions.
    • Ecosystem services:
      • Some familiar ecosystem services rendered by diverse living forms, of which plants and animals are the most visible, include
        • Providing humans with food, fuel, fibre, shelter, building materials, air and water purification, stabilisation of climate, pollination of plants including those used in agriculture, and moderating the effects of flood, drought, extreme temperatures and wind.
      • A disruption of these produces severe impacts such as failed agriculture, aberrant climate patterns and cascading losses of species that accelerate the degradation of earth.

Threats to biodiversity 

• Biodiversity loss continues to be largely invisible despite its victims being extremely visible.
  • Extinction:
    • Based on current trends, the UN reckons, an estimated 34,000 plant and 5,200 animal species, including one in eight of the world’s bird species, face extinction.
    • About 30% of breeds of main farm animal species are currently at high risk of extinction.
  • Deforestation:
    • Forests are home to much of the known terrestrial biodiversity, but about 45% of the earth’s original forests are gone, cleared mostly during the past century.
  • Causes:
    • The core threat to biodiversity on the planet is the combination of
      • Human population growth and
      • The resources used by that population.
        • The human population requires resources to survive and grow, and many of those resources are being removed unsustainably from the environment.
      • The five main threats to biodiversity are
        • habitat loss,
        • pollution,
        • overexploitation,
        • invasive species, and
        • climate change.
      • Increased mobility and trade have resulted in the introduction of invasive species while the other threats are direct results of human population growth and resource use.

Biodiversity in India & priority for “Green Growth”

• Biodiversity:
  • India currently hosts 17% of the planet’s human population and 17% of the global area in biodiversity hotspots, placing it at the helm to guide the planet in becoming biodiversity champions.
• India’s initiative towards “Green Growth”:
  • The emphasis on green growth is welcome news for India’s biological wealth as the country is facing serious losses of natural assets such as soils, land, water, and biodiversity.
  • The National Mission for a Green India:
    • The National Mission for a Green India aims to increase forest cover on degraded lands and protect existing forested lands.
  • The Green Credit Programme:
    • The Green Credit Programme has the objective to “incentivize environmentally sustainable and responsive actions by companies, individuals and local bodies”.
  • MISHTI:
    • The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) is particularly significant because of the extraordinary importance of mangroves and coastal ecosystems in mitigating climate change.
  • PM-PRANAM:
    • The Prime Minister Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM) for reducing inputs of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides is critical for sustaining our agriculture.
  • Amrit Dharohar scheme:
    • The Amrit Dharohar scheme directly mentions our biological wealth and is expected to “encourage optimal use of wetlands, and enhance biodiversity, carbon stock, eco-tourism opportunities and income generation for local communities”.
      • If implemented in letter and spirit, Amrit Dharohar, with its emphasis on sustainability by balancing competing demands, will benefit aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Suggestions

• Implementation & monitoring:
  • It is critical that these programmes respond to the current state of the country’s biodiversity with evidence-based implementation.
  • A science-based and inclusive monitoring programme is critical not only for the success of these efforts but also for documentation and global learning.
• Utilising modern concepts of sustainability:
  • New missions and programmes should effectively use modern concepts of sustainability and valuation of ecosystems that consider ecological, cultural, and sociological aspects of our biological wealth.
• Wetland ecosystems:
  • The future of our wetland ecosystems will depend on how we are able to sustain ecological flows through the reduction in water use in key sectors such as agriculture
  • There is a need for investments in water recycling in urban areas using a combination of grey and blue-green infrastructure.
• Focus on ecological restoration:
  • As far as the Green India Mission is concerned, the implementation should focus on ecological restoration rather than tree plantation
  • Choosig sites where it can contribute to ecological connectivity in landscapes fragmented by linear infrastructure is also required.
• Mangrove initiative:
  • Site selection should also be carefully considered for the mangrove initiative with a greater emphasis on the diversity of mangrove species with retention of the integrity of coastal mud flats and salt pans themselves, as they too are important for biodiversity.

Way ahead

• These efforts must be inclusive of local and nomadic communities where these initiatives will be implemented.
  • Traditional knowledge and practices of these communities should be integrated into the implementation plans.
• Each of these programmes has the potential to greatly improve the state of our nation’s biodiversity if their implementation is based on the latest scientific and ecological knowledge.
• As a consequence, each programme should include significant educational and research funding to critically appraise and bring awareness to India’s biological wealth.

General Studies Paper 2

• Context: The Russian President announced to suspension of its participation in the last remaining major military agreement with the US –New START.
• The original Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty/START-I was signed between the US and the erstwhile USSR in 1991and came into force in 1994.
• START-I,which capped the number of nuclear warheads (to 6,000) and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs to 1,600), lapsed in 2009.
• This was replaced first by the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT)/the Treaty of Moscow and then by the New START treaty.

What is the New START?

• Officially, the Treaty between the USA and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, entered into force on February 5,
• It placed new verifiable limits (to be met by 2018)on intercontinental-range nuclear weapons. For example, 700 deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs (submarine-launched) and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments, etc.
• The US and Russian Federation subsequently agreed to extend the treaty through February 4, 2026.
• How is compliance with the treaty ensured?The two parties have conducted on-site inspections, exchanged notifications, held meetings with the Bilateral Consultative Commission, and held data exchanges.

What is the latest situation on compliance?

• US: Russia was not complying with the New START, jeopardising a source of stability in their relationship.
• Russia:The USA’s goal is Russia’s strategic defeat, and for Russia the “theatre of the absurd” (the idea of existentialism) is important.

Conclusion:

• Over the decades, the two sides signed various arms control agreements, imposing breaks on the nuclear arms race – an alarming feature of the Cold War competition.
• However, deep fissures in their relationship and the suspension of almost all the treaties in recent years, have once again raised the risk of a nuclear arms race

General Studies Paper 1

• Context: The La Niña itself is going on for a record-breaking third consecutive year; forecasts for 2023 are predicting that El Niño  will occur with more than a 50% probability.

About El Niño and La Niña:

• El Niño refers to a band of warmer water spreading from west to east in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Similarly, a La Niña occurs when the band of water spreads east-west and is cooler.
• Both phenomena affect the weather worldwide and can have drastic effects on economies that depend on rainfall.
• Together, El Niño and La Niña make up a cyclical process called the El Niño Southern Oscillation (or ENSO).

Issues in predicting El Niño:

• El Niño forecasts before spring tend to be notoriously unreliable due to a so-called ‘spring predictability barrier’. 
• The tropical Pacific Ocean soaks up heat like a sponge and builds up its volume of warm water. During El Niño, this warm water spills from the western part of the Pacific Ocean to the eastern part.
• But the earth has had three straight La Niña years, which means the Pacific’s warm-water volume is fully loaded and is likely to birth an El Niño soon.

Effects on the northern Indian Ocean:

• It tends to produce the largest deficit in the monsoon, approximately15%.
• The vertical shear (change in the intensity of winds from the surface to the upper atmosphere) tends to be weaker as well. This in turn can favour enhanced cyclogenesis, i.e. cyclone formation.