11 August 2023

• Polity: A Bill was introduced to amend the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners appointment process, replacing the Chief Justice of India with a Cabinet Minister in the selection committee.
• Governance: A CAG audit on the National Social Assistance Programme found approximately 79 crore rupees transferred to ineligible beneficiaries and over 2,100 payments made to deceased individuals.
• Agriculture: India imports 30 per cent of its urea and 100 per cent of muriate of potash. A Parliamentary panel called for increasing domestic fertiliser production.
• Defence: India received the Israeli Spike NLOS anti-tank guided missile, with a range of 30 kilometres.

GS area: Polity, Constitutional bodies

The government introduced the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. It responds to a Supreme Court ruling of March 2023.

• Supreme Court ruling (March 2023): A five-judge Constitution Bench held that the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners should be by a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India. This would remain the rule until Parliament legislated on the subject.
• The Bill: Creates a three-member Search Committee led by the Cabinet Secretary. The Search Committee presents five names to an Appointment Committee. The Appointment Committee comprises the Prime Minister, one Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM, and the Leader of the Opposition.
• What changes from the Court's ruling: The Chief Justice of India is replaced by a Cabinet Minister. This restores executive dominance over the appointment process.
• Constitutional basis: Article 324(2) provides that the President shall appoint the Chief Election Commissioner as prescribed by Parliament.
• Independence concern: The Election Commission must be independent to conduct free and fair elections. The March 2023 judgment was premised on the need for a truly independent appointment mechanism.

Static linkage: Election Commission, constitutional bodies, separation of powers (GS Paper 2).

GS area: Governance, Social Justice

A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report audited the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) covering the period 2017 to 2021.

• NSAP: Launched in 1995 by the Ministry of Rural Development. It provides social assistance to the elderly poor, widows, and persons with disabilities. Constitutional basis: Articles 41 and 42 (directive principles on public assistance and maternity relief).
• Key CAG findings:
  • Approximately 79 crore rupees improperly transferred to ineligible beneficiaries across 26 states and Union Territories.
  • Over 2,100 payments continued to deceased beneficiaries.
  • 3 crore rupees diverted to campaigns for other ministry schemes.
  • Over 4.65 crore people received benefits during the period.
• NSAP components: Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), Annapurna Scheme (food grains for the destitute), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), and a disability pension scheme.
• CAG: Established under Article 148. The CAG audits the accounts of the Union and every state. Reports are laid before the legislature.

Static linkage: Constitutional bodies, social welfare schemes, audit and accountability (GS Paper 2).

GS area: Agriculture, Economy

A Parliamentary Standing Committee report highlighted India's heavy dependence on fertiliser imports.

• Import dependence: India imports approximately 30 per cent of its urea, 100 per cent of muriate of potash (MOP), and 60 per cent of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP).
• GST anomaly: Fertilisers attract 5 per cent GST. But key raw materials used in domestic fertiliser production, such as sulphuric acid and ammonia, attract 18 per cent GST. This makes domestic production uncompetitive with imports.
• Urea: price control: The selling price of urea is fixed by the government at 5,360 rupees per 45-kg bag. The gap between this and the production cost is paid as a subsidy. Urea accounts for the bulk of India's fertiliser subsidy bill.
• Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS): The NBS policy for phosphatic and potassic fertilisers allows companies to sell at market prices while receiving a per-nutrient subsidy. Urea is outside this system.
• Nano urea: IFFCO's Nano Urea (liquid) was introduced as a partial substitute for granular urea. It is applied as a spray on leaves.

Static linkage: Agricultural inputs, subsidy policy, trade (GS Paper 3).

GS area: Governance, Disaster Management, Urbanisation

China's "Sponge Cities" programme, intended to reduce urban flooding through nature-based infrastructure, faced scrutiny after devastating floods hit Beijing and surrounding areas in August 2023.

• Sponge Cities concept: Urban planning approach that uses permeable surfaces, canals, retention ponds, and restored wetlands to absorb and slowly release rainwater. It aims to handle 70 per cent of rainfall through natural absorption.
• China's programme: Launched around 2015. Billions of dollars invested in 30 pilot cities.
• August 2023 floods: Extreme rainfall triggered by Typhoon Doksuri caused severe flooding in Beijing and Hebei province, questioning the infrastructure's effectiveness against extreme events.
• Lessons for India: India's urban areas increasingly face flash flooding. The National Disaster Management Authority has promoted nature-based solutions. Chennai, Pune, and Bengaluru face acute urban flooding.

Static linkage: Urban planning, disaster management, climate change adaptation (GS Paper 3).

GS area: International Relations (India-UAE)

The Indian Navy and the UAE Navy conducted the Zayed Talwar bilateral naval exercise.

• Participating ships: INS Visakhapatnam (a P15B stealth guided-missile destroyer) and INS Trikand (a P17 stealth frigate) participated from the Indian side.
• Objective: Enhance interoperability, practice cooperative maritime security operations, and deepen the India-UAE strategic partnership.
• India-UAE relations: Relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017. India and the UAE signed the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) in February 2022. The UAE is one of India's largest trading partners.

Static linkage: Maritime security, India's bilateral relations (GS Paper 2).

• Maui wildfire: Devastating wildfires struck Maui, Hawaii in early August 2023, destroying the historic town of Lahaina. The Hawaiian archipelago was formed by a Pacific Plate hot spot. Hawaii is a US state in the central Pacific.
• SuSwagatam Portal: The Supreme Court launched an online portal for e-pass issuance, allowing advocates, interns, and visitors to register for court access.
• Athidhi Portal: The Kerala government launched the Athidhi portal to register migrant workers in the state and provide them unique identification and access to social security benefits.
• Indian Web Browser Development Challenge: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology invited participants from government, industry, academia, and startups to develop an indigenous web browser with an India Root Certificate.