1 June 2023 : The Hindu Editorial

The Hindu Editorial

1-June-2023

Daily Current Affairs For UPSC ,The Hindu Editorial Summary

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1. A parliamentary democracy or an executive democracy

Topic: GS2 – Polity

Context:

• • • The inauguration of the new Parliament building in India sparked controversy due to the exclusion of the President of India and the symbolism surrounding the Sengol sceptre.

    • The focus on these controversies overshadows the larger issue of the increasing subordination of Parliament in India’s parliamentary democracy.

Issue:

Constitutional design:

• • • The growing irrelevance of Parliament in India is not solely due to unscrupulous politicians but is a result of the constitutional design.

    • The Indian Constitution facilitates the marginalization of Parliament and the concentration of power in the executive branch.

    • Safeguards against executive dominance, such as the requirement for the executive to command a majority in Parliament, intra-party dissent, and opposition rights, have been weakened or eroded.

    • The Speaker, who should represent the interests of Parliament against the executive, is not independent and often acts in a partisan manner.

    • Bicameralism, with an Upper House representing diverse interests, is undermined by misclassification of bills and the use of ordinance-making power.

    • When these features function properly, it is difficult for the executive to override Parliament, allowing for a more deliberative and representative body.

    • The current situation in India hampers Parliament’s role and tilts towards a dominant executive, undermining the functioning of a parliamentary democracy.

Dilusion of constitutional features:

• • • The Tenth Schedule, or the “anti-defection law,” introduced in 1985, has eliminated intra-party dissent by penalizing disobedience of the party whip with disqualification from Parliament.

    • The Indian Constitution did not provide a specific space for the political Opposition in the House, giving the executive complete control over parliamentary proceedings without constitutional checks.

    • The Speaker in the Indian system is not independent and is not obligated to act impartially, leading to partisan behaviour that advances the interests of the executive over the interests of the House.

    • Partisan behaviour of the Speaker affects the quality of deliberations in the lower house and has a negative impact on the Upper House, such as when bills are classified as “money bills” to bypass scrutiny in the Rajya Sabha and prevent important amendments from being passed.

    • These factors contribute to the dilution of parliamentary democracy in India and the concentration of power in the executive branch.

Role of Raja Sabha:

• • • The role of the Upper House is undermined by misclassification of bills by the Speaker and the constitutionally-sanctioned ordinance-making power.

    • Ordinances are used as a parallel process of law-making to bypass the Upper House and create a fait accompli.

    • In the absence of a fractured mandate and a coalition government, there are limited checks on the executive in Parliament.

    • The anti-defection law eliminates intra-party dissent, the Opposition’s participation depends on the executive’s discretion, and partisan Speakers control debates to protect the executive from embarrassment.

    • The marginalization of Parliament under the Indian Constitution has led to the concentration of executive power, resembling a system with strong executives but lacking checks and balances.

    • The decline in the quality of parliamentary deliberations reflects the structural marginalization of Parliament.

    • The question arises whether India can still be considered a parliamentary democracy or if it has transformed into an executive democracy.

    • Constitutional changes and reforms would be necessary to restore parliamentarianism and rebalance power between the executive and Parliament.

2. Farmers need to be given timely, accurate information on rainfall

Topic: GS3 – Agriculture

Context:

• • • The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a near-certainty of an El Niño, which is typically associated with diminished rainfall in certain parts of India.

Issue:

• • • Despite the El Niño prediction, the IMD maintains its outlook of a ‘normal’ monsoon at 96% of the long-term average.

    • The IMD believes that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) phenomenon could offset the rainfall loss caused by El Niño, although IODs are not as strongly linked to abundant rainfall.

    • This is the first time since 1997 that both El Niño and a positive IOD are expected to occur simultaneously during the monsoon season.

    • The IMD indicates that rainfed agriculture zones may experience significant variation in rainfall, which could lead to long dry spells followed by heavy downpours.

    • The distribution of rainfall, particularly in central India during July and August, will be crucial for agricultural output.

    • More accurate rainfall assessments are available through the IMD’s extended-range forecasts, which provide fortnightly predictions.

    • Efforts should be made to provide accurate and timely information to farmers at the block level, using all available channels, to help them prepare for the monsoon season.

3. Biodiversity is us, and we are biodiversity

Topic: GS3 – Environment and ecology

Context:

• • • The observance of International Biodiversity Day (May 22) was yet another reminder of the pivotal role our natural world plays in resolving the climate change crisis, which, along with the decline of biodiversity, poses an existential threat to our future.

Issue:

• • • Biodiversity is found everywhere and includes a rich variety of life forms and their interconnections with each other and the environment.

    • Maintaining and enhancing biodiversity helps sequester carbon dioxide and cool the land and oceans.

    • Biodiversity provides multiple benefits, including fulfilling our basic needs for food, shelter, medicines, mental health, recreation, and spiritual enrichment.

    • Nature-based solutions that draw upon biodiversity are crucial for addressing environmental decline and securing our future.

    • Biodiversity restoration can help revive degraded lands, polluted rivers, and oceans and sustain agriculture in the face of climate change.

    • Biodiversity forms the foundation of a new sustainable green economy.

    • Conserving and managing biodiversity has been inadequate globally, including in India.

    • Biodiversity is declining worldwide, and isolated ecosystems are degrading due to various factors.

    • Loss of species, climate stressors, and continuous human pressures contribute to the degradation of ecosystems.

Nurturing and managing biodiversity:

• • • Civil society has a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity.

    • A paradigm shift is needed in the care of biodiversity.

    • The term “Forest” used to describe natural heritage is flawed as biodiversity exists in various ecosystems, including water bodies, rivers, deltas, and oceans.

    • Multifunctional landscapes should be considered, where the participation of local communities and their aspirations, beliefs, and traditional knowledge are central to conservation efforts.

    • The Forest Rights Act of 2006 called for increased involvement of indigenous groups in biodiversity ownership and management but remains largely unimplemented.

    • There is a need to go beyond the Forest Rights Act and fundamentally change the way biodiversity is managed.

    • Biodiversity should be mainstreamed into daily actions, including in development programs, government departments, and public and private institutions.

    • Decentralization of biodiversity management is necessary, involving multiple stakeholders and empowering local communities through gram sabhas and biodiversity management committees.

Mainstreaming biodiversity:

• • • The proposed National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Wellbeing aims to mainstream biodiversity in India.

    • It was conceptualized and developed by leading conservation biologists under the Biodiversity Collaborative based in Bengaluru.

    • The Mission has been approved in principle by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Council.

    • The Mission aims to address critical challenges such as climate change, natural and regenerative agriculture, and ecosystem and public health through nature-based solutions.

    • The ultimate goal is to enhance and conserve biodiversity for human well-being and to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty alleviation, nutrition and health, and environmental protection.

    • The Mission emphasizes citizen engagement in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.

    • Consideration of biodiversity will be embedded in development programs of both the public and private sectors.

    • The Mission aims to foster curiosity about nature and instil a sense of responsibility for safeguarding biodiversity in every child and student.

    • Undertaking this pledge would be a fitting celebration of our precious and irreplaceable natural world.

4. Is India missing the graphene bus?

Topic: GS3 – Science and technology.

Context:

• • • Graphene is an emerging technology that has the potential to disrupt the human-machine interface.

    • India is a leader in AI and a potential challenger in quantum computing but needs to catch up in the area of graphene.

Issue:

• • • Graphene is the thinnest, strongest, and most conductive material, surpassing copper in electrical conductivity and steel in strength-to-weight ratio.

    • Graphene has a wide range of applications, including revolutionizing electricity, conductivity, energy generation, batteries, sensors, aerospace, automotive, sports equipment, construction, high-performance batteries, super-capacitors, touchscreens, conductive inks, environmental monitoring, healthcare, wearable devices, water purification, and desalination.

    • Graphene has potential applications in defence and aerospace for armour, stealth coatings, reducing radar signatures, electromagnetic interference, and sensing hazardous substances.

    • The global graphene market size was valued at $175.9 million in 2022 and is expected to grow rapidly.

    • China, the US, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and Singapore are leading countries in graphene research and production.

    • India has made progress in graphene research and production but lags behind China and Brazil.

    • India’s niche in graphene is innovation, with applications such as increasing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, ultracapacitors, EMI shielding, and stealth technology.

    • The establishment of the India Innovation Centre for Graphene in Kerala is a step in the right direction.

    • Governments, including India, should play a crucial role in promoting graphene research and development, similar to initiatives in China and Europe.

    • India needs to be among the leaders in graphene to avoid a situation where production gets concentrated in a few locations worldwide.

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