Call us @ 08069405205
InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 2:
1. Live streaming of SC hearing
2. Should the ECI insist on inner-party elections?
3. Freeing the caged parrot
GS Paper4:
1. Hate speech through Visual Media
Content for Mains Enrichment (Essay/Ethics)
1. Importance of Books
2. New Zealand push for Simple Language Bill
3. House applauds its women MLAs
Facts for Prelims:
1. EWS quota
2. Ukraine conflict of ‘profound concern’
3. Hi-tech hub-and-spoke system for Healthcare
4. Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022
5. PM-CARES Fund
6. National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)
7. Popular Front of India
8. Maharatna Company Status
9. Convergence portal of govt’s 3 flagship schemes
10. 1st annual Breakthrough Agenda Report 2022
11. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
12. Tomistoma
13. C-Band
14. DART
15. Mapping
Syllabus: Indian Judiciary
Source: Indian Express
Context: SC will live stream the constitutional bench hearing from September 27, as a part of 3rd phase of e-courts projects (use of information technology in Judiciary)
Why Live-Stream?
SC ( Swapnil Tripathy case, 2018): Live telecast of court proceedings is part of the right to access justice under Article 21.
Other Courts?
Six HC are already live streaming their proceedings on YouTube: Gujarat, Orissa, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh.
What is Constitutional Bench?
Under Article 145(3), “any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution” must be decided by a Bench of at least five judges. Such a Bench is called a Constitution Bench.
Benefits:
Issues:
Supreme Court has approved a set of guidelines and it has the power to withhold broadcasting in sensitive matters e.g. matrimonial disputes, matters involving juveniles, national security, rape cases etc.
International Examples: Courts in the US allow for audio recordings and transcripts of oral arguments. In the UK, recording of proceedings of SC is allowed.
Insta Links
Virtual courts and the way forward
Mains Links
Q. The idea of the e-Court system can provide the judiciary with an opportunity to address the problem of delayed justice. Discuss. (250 Words)
Q. Which one of the following in Indian polity is an essential feature that indicates that it is federal in character?
(a) The independence of judiciary is safeguarded.
(b) The Union Legislature has elected representatives from constituent units.
(c) The Union Cabinet can have elected representatives from regional parties.
(d) The Fundamental Rights are enforceable by Courts of Law.
Answer: (a)
The establishment of an independent judiciary necessarily indicates the federal character of Indian polity. The Constitution establishes an independent judiciary headed by the Supreme Court to settle the disputes between the Centre and the states or between the states.
Syllabus: Parliament-structure, functioning and conduct of business and issues arising from it etc.
Directions: This is from an editorial piece. Can be used as an example for Intra party democracy
Source: The Hindu
Context: The Congress is set for elections for the post of party president.
Legal ground on which elections can be mandated within political parties?
Importance of internal elections:
What will State funding of Political parties do?
Should there be new laws making organizational elections mandatory?
Insta Links:
Political parties in India
Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs)
Mains Links:
Q. On what grounds a people’s representative can be disqualified under the Representation of People Act, 1951? Also, mention the remedies available to such a person against his disqualification. (UPSC 2019)
Prelims Links:
A political party in a state is considered Recognised if:
Select the correct answer using the codes given below;
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (a)
Justification:
State recognised political party:
Syllabus: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies etc
Directions: A question on CBI was asked in last year’s Mains.
Source: Indian Express
Context:
Supreme Court cases on CBI:
Recommendations for improving the functioning of CBI and CVC:
Conclusion:
Insta Links:
Mains Links:
Q. The jurisdiction of the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) regarding lodging an FIR and conducting a probe within a particular state is being questioned by various States. However, the power of States to withhold consent to the CBI is not absolute. Explain with special reference to the federal character of India. (UPSC 2021)
Prelims Links:
With reference to Central Vigilance Commission, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (b)
Justification:
Topic: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems;
Source: The Hindu
Context: Expressing its anguish and displeasure over hate speeches via debates on TV channels, the Supreme Court called the “visual media” the “chief medium of hate speech” and questioned the government why it is “standing by as a mute witness when all this is happening” and treating it as “a trivial matter”.
The bench underlined that “hate drives TRPs, drives profit” basically going against media ethics and said it will consider laying down some guidelines which will hold the field until the legislature comes up with a law on the matter.
Pointing out that “hate speech can be in different forms… sort of ridicule a community” and its spread through the visual media can have a “devastating effect”, the bench of Justices K M Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy, inclined to regulate such debates, asked the Centre to state whether it proposed to come up with any law on the subject.
The bench was hearing a clutch of petitions on alleged hate speech via some TV shows. The petitioners have sought directions from the court to the Centre to take steps to curb incidents of such speech.
Hate Speech:
The United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech defines hate speech as “any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, colour, descent, gender or other identity factors.”
FIVE CORE PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL JOURNALISM
Journalists cannot always guarantee ‘truth’, but getting the facts right is the cardinal principle of journalism. Always strive for accuracy, give all the relevant facts we have and ensure that they have been checked.
Journalists must be independent voices; should not act, formally or informally, on behalf of special interests whether political, corporate or cultural.
Objectivity is not always possible, and may not always be desirable (in the face for example of brutality or inhumanity), but impartial reporting builds trust and confidence.
Journalists should do no harm. What is published or broadcast may be hurtful, but should be aware of the impact of our words and images on the lives of others.
A sure sign of professionalism and responsible journalism is the ability to hold themselves accountable.
Quotes:
“Social media provides a global megaphone for hate.” By ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General, 2021
Mains Link:
Q. Hate speech poses complex challenges to freedom of speech and expression along with spreading hatred. Do you think curbing hate speech in visual media through legislation would be effective? 10M
Source: BBC Culture
Direction: This time UPSC has interlinked topics in Essay e.g. Economy with forest or English literature/Poets with polity. So, having some basic knowledge outside your area of competence becomes important. In this context, we will be bringing up certain abstract topics. You don’t need to remember or note down. Just go through it once.
Importance of Books:
Issues:
How to revive book culture?
Source: The Guardian
Direction: This example can be mentioned in GS2, Essay and Ethics – as initiatives taken for good governance.
Context: New Zealand has presented a bill in parliament, which highlights the use of plain and simple language in official communication/ government legislation.
Legislation will require government communications to be clear and concise. This has been emphasized so that any person can understand what the government is trying to communicate and what the government policies are about. This would also mean accountability and inclusivity.
Minority and marginalized communities often struggle to understand jargon-laden complicated Victorian English.
When governments communicate in ways that people don’t understand, it can lead to people not engaging with services that are available to them, losing trust in government and not being able to participate fully in society. Those most affected are people who speak English as a second language, have not attended university, have disabilities, or are elderly.
Plain language movement originated in the 1920s – UK, US and Canada had seen this before.
Plain language means shorter sentences, simple acronyms etc. As language is a vehicle. It’s just a means to an end.
Source: Indian Express
Direction: This example can be used as a solution to the persisting issue of less participation of women in the legislative process.
Context: In a first-of-its-kind initiative by the UP Legislative Assembly – a day was reserved for women members to speak on issues concerning them.
The special session turned out to be an “eye-opener” for political parties, as they discovered new orators among them, who not only voiced their own issues and the problems faced by them but also talked about their constituency and their party’s ideology.
Some cited anecdotes, others quoted former US First Lady Michelle Obama and French philosopher Albert Camus, making many of their male counterparts sit up and take note of them.
At the start of the session, Speaker Satish Mahana said that when he floated the idea of reserving a day for women MLAs to speak, many had expressed surprise whether they would be able to speak at length for the entire day.
I will now make a list of male members who are hesitant to speak and have not got the opportunity to speak in the Assembly. I will give a similar opportunity to them to speak.
Directions: It is the continuation of the previous articles on ews
Source: The Hindu
Context:
Key Highlights:
Basic Structure of Constitution:
Source: The Hindu, Indian Express
Context:
Key Highlights:
Source: D2E
Context: ICMR and IISc will jointly develop a hi-tech hub-and-spoke system for improved healthcare. The system will collect and curate data through institutions across the country to facilitate research.
AI & Robotics Technology Park, a non-profit foundation promoted by IISc, will serve as the initiative’s partner for technology development and programme management.
By leveraging premier medical institutions as hubs and bringing together medicine and data science experts, the team driving this initiative will seek to standardise data collection from many ‘spoke’ institutions. It will also help curate that data and aim to make it available to the broader community of researchers and innovators, in accordance with applicable policies and laws.
Source: Indian Express
Direction: Since it is still a draft bill, just go through it once.
Context: The bill to consolidate and replace Indian Telegraphy Act, 1885; Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and Telegraphy Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950.
Need:
Features:
The new bill will help in the development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services, telecom networks and infrastructure, in addition to the assignment of spectrum.
Source: Live Mint
Context: Ratan Tata, KT Thomas (former SC judge) and Kariya Munda ( former deputy speaker) have been appointed as trustees of the PM CARES Fund
PM CARES ( PM Citizens’ Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation Fund) was launched in 2020, following COVID-19 to combat, and containment and relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak and similar pandemic-like situations in the future.
Other such funds
National Means cum Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)
Context: A national-level workshop was conducted recently.
It is awarded to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class 8.
Source: Indian Express
Context: As many as 100 people linked to the Popular Front of India have been arrested following searches by the National Investigation Agency in connection with anti-terror activities.
The Popular Front of India (PFI) is an Islamic nonprofit organization in India. It was formed in 2007 as a successor to National Development Front (NDF).
However, it has been linked to violence, radicalisation and allegations of money laundering.
Source: PIB
Context: Power sector-focussed non-banking finance company (NBFC) REC Ltd. has been accorded the status of a ‘Maharatna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise.
Benefits:
About REC
Source: Economic Times
Context: The convergence portal between the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) was recently launched.
Benefits:
About these schemes:
Source: IEA
Direction: You can relate the term ‘Breakthrough’ (meaning ‘important discovery’) with ‘Clean technology’ to remember.
Context: A report on the progress of how countries have aligned their action plan and investment for clean technology commitment to mitigate climate change.
What is Breakthrough Agenda (BA)?
1st set of agendas came up in COP26 last year (also known as Glasgow Breakthroughs) on sectors such as-
Source: WHO
Context: A report by WHO has highlighted that NCDs are responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide but only 5% of healthcare aid goes to the prevention of NCDs
What are NCDs?
The term NCDs refers to a group of conditions that are not mainly caused by an acute infection, result in long-term health consequences and often create a need for long-term treatment and care.
WHO Recommends:
Previously
Source: D2E
Context: Increasing human intrusion into the habitat of Tomistoma (due to palm oil plantation, illegal gold mining and settlements) may be causing it to attack people in Indonesia, a new study has suggested.
The Tomistoma (Tomistoma schlegelii) is a shy and reclusive species that typically retreat from areas with a high degree of human activity.
Source: Indian Express
Context: India’s Aviation safety regulator (DGCA) has written to the telecom department flagging concerns over the likely interference of the 5G C-Band spectrum with aircraft radio altimeters.
A radio altimeter is an instrument that provides direct height-above-terrain information to various aircraft systems. These altimeters as well as a part of the 5G telecom services operate in the C-Band and therefore risks interference.
The benefit of C-Band:
For telecom service providers, the C-Band presents a sweet spot for rolling out 5G services, ensuring coverage as well as high bandwidth, resulting in faster internet speeds. For aircraft operations, the use of altimeters in this band ensures highly precise measurements of the plane’s altitude.
However, experts say, India has auctioned the C-Band spectrum in frequency ranging from 3.3 GHz to 3.6 GHz. Aircraft radio altimeters mainly use frequencies ranging from 4.2-4.4 GHz. So, there is a significant 500 MHz gap between the two frequency ranges.
Source: Indian Express
Context: In the first-of-its-kind, save-the-world experiment, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft will crash into a small moonlet called Dimorphos.
Purpose:
The impact of the collision should be just enough to nudge the asteroid into a slightly tighter orbit around its companion space rock — demonstrating that if a killer asteroid ever heads our way, we’d stand a fighting chance of diverting it.
Other missions to asteroids:
Mapping
Join our Official Telegram Channel HERE
Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE
Follow our Twitter Account HERE
Follow our Instagram ID HERE
Related Posts
InsightsIAS has redefined, revolutionised and simplified the way aspirants prepare for UPSC Civil Services Exam. Today it’s India’s top website and an institution when it comes to imparting quality content, guidance and teaching for IAS Exam.
InsightsIAS Headquarters, Nanda Ashirwad Complex, 3rd Floor, Above Village Hyper Market, Chandralyout Main Road, Attiguppe , Bengaluru – 560040
[email protected]
Now reach all our Branches with ease!!!! Call us @ 08069405205
Want to work at Insights IAS? Write in to us at
[email protected]
Copyright © Insights Active Learning