16 January 2023

• Polity: Tamil Nadu's Governor-CM confrontation over the Assembly address raised constitutional questions about Article 176 and the convention that the address reflects the government's message.
• Environment: Estuarine crocodile census in Bhitarkanika, Odisha counted 1,793 crocodiles. The census uses spotlight surveys, GPS and photographic analysis.
• International: India-Qatar relations were in focus. Qatar is home to about 8 lakh Indian expatriates.
• Governance: The National Clean Air Programme reviewed progress: 95 of 132 non-attainment cities improved, but only 14 of 43 NCAP cities achieved more than 10 per cent PM2.5 reduction.

GS area: Polity (governor, centre-state relations)

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi omitted several paragraphs from his customary address to the state legislature, removing references to the "Dravidian model of governance." The CM protested this as a constitutional violation.

• Article 176: Mandates the Governor to address the legislature at the commencement of the first session after each general election and at the first session of every year. No constitutional provision empowers the Governor to selectively edit the address.
• Constitutional convention: The Governor's address is drafted by the Council of Ministers and represents the government's policy statement. The Governor reads it in full. Editing it violates the convention established by decades of practice.
• Article 163(1): The Governor shall act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, with certain specified exceptions (like dismissal of government). The address is not an exception.
• Historical precedents: Similar disputes occurred in Kerala (1969) and West Bengal (1965). President Rajendra Prasad raised concerns in 1960 about whether the President must address Parliament as directed by the Cabinet.
• Tamil Nadu name change anniversary: The incident occurred around 14 January, the anniversary of Tamil Nadu's renaming from Madras State in 1969.

Static linkage: Governor's role, centre-state relations (GS Paper 2).

GS area: Environment (air quality, governance)

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in January 2019, underwent a progress review in January 2023.

• NCAP mandate: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Target: 20 to 30 per cent reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024 compared to the 2017 baseline.
• Non-attainment cities: 132 cities that consistently failed to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards between 2014 and 2018.
• Progress: 95 of 132 NCAP cities showed improvement in 2021-22 compared to 2017. 20 cities met NAAQS standards.
• Shortfall: Only 14 of the 43 NCAP cities under close monitoring achieved more than 10 per cent PM2.5 reduction between 2019 and 2021. 24 per cent of NCAP cities failed even the data completeness requirement.
• Infrastructure gap: PM2.5 monitoring equipment was installed in only 261 monitoring stations nationally. Zero carrying capacity studies had been completed.
• PM2.5: Fine particulate matter with diameter below 2.5 micrometres. Penetrates deep into the lungs and enters the bloodstream. Causes cardiovascular and respiratory disease.

Static linkage: Air pollution, environmental governance (GS Paper 3).

GS area: International Relations

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Doha. India's relationship with Qatar is driven by energy trade and the large Indian diaspora.

• Diaspora: About 8 lakh Indians in Qatar, the largest expatriate community there.
• Energy: Qatar supplies significant volumes of LNG to India. Bilateral trade was about 15 billion dollars in 2021, of which LNG and LPG imports constituted 13 billion dollars.
• Defence cooperation: India-Qatar Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2008 and extended in 2018. The two navies conduct the joint exercise "Zair Al Bahr."
• Consular challenge: Eight former Indian Navy officers were arrested in August 2022 and held for months on undisclosed charges. The visit included diplomatic efforts on their behalf.
• Strategic context: Qatar hosts the US Central Command forward headquarters. India's relationship with Qatar thus has indirect significance for regional security.

Static linkage: International relations, energy security (GS Paper 2).

GS area: Environment (biodiversity, wildlife)

Odisha's annual census in Bhitarkanika National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary counted 1,793 estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles in 2023, including 20 whitish-coloured specimens.

• Bhitarkanika: A mangrove ecosystem in Kendrapara district, Odisha. One of India's most important nesting sites for estuarine crocodiles.
• Estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus): The largest living reptile. Listed as Least Concern on IUCN Red List globally but Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in India provides it the highest protection.
• Census methodology: Night-time spotlight surveys (eyes of crocodiles reflect light), GPS for precise location recording, and photographic identification of individuals.
• National context: India's estuarine crocodile population recovered from near-extinction in the 1970s following protection measures. Bhitarkanika's count is the benchmark for the species nationally.
• Whitish crocodiles: Leucistic or hypopigmented individuals. Not albino (which would have pink eyes).

Static linkage: Biodiversity, wildlife protection (GS Paper 3).

GS area: Economy (energy, mining)

The National Coal Index tracks changes in coal prices in India using a base year of 2017-18. It is used in two specific regulatory applications.

• Purpose 1: Commercial coal mine auctions. Bids for commercial mining blocks are linked to the NCI, so royalties adjust with market prices.
• Purpose 2: Performance Bank Guarantee revisions. Mining companies lodge guarantees, and these are revised using the NCI.
• Significance: India produces over 700 million tonnes of coal annually. Coal India Limited dominates domestic supply. Commercial mining was opened to private sector from 2020, making a market-linked index necessary.
• Ministry: Coal India operates under the Ministry of Coal. The NCI is published by the Coal Controller's Organisation.

Static linkage: Energy policy, mining (GS Paper 3).

• Village Defence Guards (Jammu): Revived in January 2023. Armed civilians receive rifles and ammunition. Leaders are paid 4,500 rupees per month. Originated during the 1965 and 1971 wars to protect remote villages. Relevant to counter-insurgency and community defence in J&K.
• SPIC MACAY: Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth. Founded in 1977. Has more than 850 chapters globally. Organises performances in schools and colleges.
• National Textile Corporation: Central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Textiles, operating 23 textile mills. Incorporated in 1968.