Highlights
- Polity: The Central government issued the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, reasserting the LG's authority over services.
- Defence: The sixth Scorpene submarine Vaghsheer commenced sea trials on 18 May.
- G20: The third meeting of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group was held with a mega beach clean-up event.
- International: India's Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals are projected to grow 58.4 per cent to 19,119 by 2027.
- Environment: The Indian Navy–Saudi Arabia training exercise underscored maritime cooperation.
1. NCT Delhi services ordinance: the Centre strikes back
GS area: Polity (Federalism, Centre-state relations)
Within days of the Supreme Court Constitution Bench ruling on Delhi services, the Central government promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance 2023.
- What the ordinance does: Establishes a National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) comprising the Chief Minister of Delhi and two senior IAS officers (the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary).
- Decision-making: Decisions by majority vote. This allows the two IAS officers (who report to the Centre) to outvote the elected Chief Minister.
- Effect on the SC ruling: The ordinance effectively overrides the 11 May Constitution Bench ruling that had given the elected Delhi government control over services.
- Constitutional route: An ordinance under Article 123 can only be promulgated when Parliament is not in session. It must be approved by Parliament within six weeks of reassembly.
- Political controversy: The ruling was seen as reversing a judicial verdict through executive action within days of its delivery.
Static linkage: Article 123, ordinance power, Article 239AA, Delhi's constitutional status (Polity).
2. INS Vaghsheer: sixth Scorpene submarine on sea trials
GS area: Defence (Science and Technology)
The sixth Project-75 Scorpene-class submarine, INS Vaghsheer (Yard 11880), commenced sea trials on 18 May 2023.
- Project 75: A programme under which six Scorpene-class submarines were built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai under technology transfer from Naval Group, France.
- Five submarines already delivered: INS Kalvari (2017), INS Khanderi (2019), INS Karanj (2021), INS Vela (2021), INS Vagir (2023).
- Vaghsheer's schedule: Planned for delivery in 2024.
- Significance: Diesel-electric attack submarines. Equipped for anti-surface, anti-submarine and intelligence gathering missions. They can launch torpedoes and Exocet missiles.
- Navy's broader modernisation: Project 75-I is planned as the next tranche for six advanced submarines with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP).
Static linkage: Defence indigenisation, Project 75, Navy modernisation (Science and Technology/Defence).
3. G20 ECSWG: environment meeting with LiFE theme
GS area: International Relations, Environment
The third meeting of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) was held from 21 to 23 May 2023, during India's G20 presidency.
- India's G20 theme: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (One Earth, One Family, One Future).
- LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment): India is promoting this as a G20 agenda item. It asks for individual behaviour change to reduce consumption.
- Mega Beach Clean-Up: Launched at the ECSWG meeting as a symbolic action showing G20 countries' commitment to ocean health.
- ECSWG focus areas: Land degradation, ocean conservation, biodiversity loss and climate finance.
Static linkage: G20, LiFE Mission, India's climate diplomacy (International Relations/Environment).
4. India's wealth growth and UHNWI projection
GS area: Economy (Social indicators)
Knight Frank's 2023 Wealth Report projected India's Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (with assets of 30 million US dollars or more) would increase by 58.4 per cent to 19,119 by 2027.
- Billionaires: Expected to rise from 161 to 195 by 2027.
- High-Net-Worth Individuals (1 million US dollars or more): Expected to reach 1.65 million.
- Significance for prelims: India's wealth growth sits alongside extreme poverty. The coexistence of growing ultra-wealth and persistent deprivation is a recurring mains topic.
Static linkage: Economic inequality, India's development (Economy/Society).
5. Indian Navy–Saudi Arabia: maritime training
GS area: International Relations (Defence cooperation)
Fifty-five cadets from Saudi Arabia's King Fahd Naval Academy arrived in Kochi on 16 May for 24 days of maritime training with the Indian Navy.
- Training ships: INS Tir and INS Sujata.
- India-Saudi relations: Bilateral trade has grown substantially. Saudi Arabia is a key source of crude oil for India. Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia is among the largest bilateral communities.
- Strategic context: India's defence diplomacy in the Gulf has expanded as part of its Act West policy and SAGAR vision.
Static linkage: India-Saudi bilateral relations, maritime security, SAGAR (International Relations).
6. Briefly noted
- USAID-IACC partnership: The United States Agency for International Development and the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce renewed their MoU for five years, covering health, climate change, education and women's empowerment.
- NIA Operation Dhvast: A nationwide counter-terror operation targeted at terror funding, targeted killings, extortion and drug and weapons smuggling. 129 locations raided; 3 arrests.
- Global Road Safety Week (15-21 May): Seventh biennial UN campaign. Theme: "StreetsforLife: Rethink Mobility." Road accidents kill approximately 1.3 million people annually globally.
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