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1 November 2023

1 November 2023

Highlights

  • Governance: The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee continued proceedings against MP Mahua Moitra over allegations of accepting money for parliamentary questions.
  • Economy: Indian Railways carried about 32 per cent of total freight traffic. The National Rail Plan 2030 targets a 45 per cent share.
  • Defence: The Light Combat Helicopter Prachand completed successful day and night firing operations for the Indian Army.
  • Environment: India hosted a Country-Led Initiative under the United Nations Forum on Forests in Dehradun.
  • Space: NASA's Subsurface Water Ice Mapping project released its fourth Mars ice map to guide future landing sites.

1. Mahua Moitra case: the Ethics Committee and Parliament's accountability machinery

GS area: Polity (Parliament, Parliamentary Committees)

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee examined allegations that MP Mahua Moitra received money and gifts in exchange for asking specific questions in Parliament and shared her parliamentary login credentials with a third party. The case puts two parliamentary accountability bodies in the spotlight.

  • Ethics Committee: established as an ad hoc body in 2000 and made permanent in 2015. Its members are appointed by the Speaker for one-year terms. It investigates unethical conduct by members and recommends action.
  • Privileges Committee: the older body, dealing with breach of privilege rather than ethics. It has its own jurisdiction but overlaps with the Ethics Committee when conduct is grave.
  • 2005 Cash-for-Query scandal: the precedent. Eleven MPs were expelled after a sting operation showed them accepting money for questions. The current proceedings follow that template.
  • What the committee does: it conducts a prima facie inquiry before formally examining the accused member, protecting against frivolous complaints.
  • Second ARC recommendation: a Code of Ethics for Ministers, annual compliance reports to the legislature, and mandatory declaration of business interests by members.

The deeper point is about the institution's design. Parliament has no ombudsman outside itself. The Speaker appoints the committee and the committee reports to the Speaker. Critics note this limits independent scrutiny.

Static linkage: Parliament (Polity), Parliamentary committees.

2. Indian Railways freight: the 45 per cent target

GS area: Economy (Infrastructure)

The National Rail Plan 2030 set a target to raise rail's share of total freight from about 32 per cent to 45 per cent. The plan also targets an average freight train speed of 50 km per hour. The current operating ratio in 2021-22 was 107:100, meaning Indian Railways spent more than it earned, with over 75 per cent of expenses going to staff costs and pensions.

  • Dedicated Freight Corridors planned: North-South (Delhi to Chennai, 2,343 km), East-West (Kolkata to Mumbai, 2,330 km), East Coast (Kharagpur to Vijayawada, 1,100 km), Southern (Chennai to Goa, 899 km).
  • Gati Shakti Terminal Policy: allows private players to set up freight terminals on private land, increasing loading and unloading points.
  • Mini rakes: the relaxed Rake Movement Rules now allow smaller rake configurations and multiple loading locations, cutting idle time.

The modal shift argument is straightforward. Rail emits far less CO2 per tonne-kilometre than road transport. Freight shifting to rail also reduces congestion and road wear costs. The bottleneck is speed and reliability rather than capacity.

Static linkage: Indian Railways (Economy, Infrastructure).

3. Prachand: India's indigenous light combat helicopter

GS area: Science and Technology (Defence)

The Light Combat Helicopter Prachand is India's first indigenously developed multi-role combat helicopter. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited designed and built it. The Indian Army completed successful day and night firing operations this week.

  • Range: 700 km.
  • Operating altitude: up to 5,000 metres above sea level, making it suited for Himalayan operations.
  • Weapons: 20 mm nose gun, 70 mm rockets, anti-tank guided missiles and air-to-air missiles.
  • Significance: India's highest-altitude attack helicopter. HAL's delivery reduces dependence on foreign attack helicopters for high-altitude warfare.

Static linkage: Defence (Science and Technology, Internal Security).

4. United Nations Forum on Forests

GS area: Environment (International Institutions)

India hosted a Country-Led Initiative under the United Nations Forum on Forests in Dehradun. The UNFF was established in 2000 by the UN Economic and Social Council. It has universal membership from all UN member states.

  • Four Global Objectives on Forests: reverse the decline in global forest cover; enhance forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits; increase the area of sustainably managed forests; reverse the decline in official development assistance for forest management.
  • 19th session: scheduled for May 2024, where outcomes from Country-Led Initiatives will feed in.
  • India's forest cover: about 21.7 per cent of geographical area as of the 2021 State of Forest Report.

Static linkage: Environment (Forests, Biodiversity).

5. Competition Commission of India joins ICN steering committee

GS area: Governance (Regulatory Bodies)

The Competition Commission of India joined the 18-member steering committee of the International Competition Network. The ICN is an informal network of 140 competition agencies globally, dedicated to improving competition law enforcement through convergence of practice.

  • CCI: established under the Competition Act 2002 and became operational in 2009. It investigates anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position and combinations.
  • ICN: not a treaty body. It operates through working groups and produces recommended practices that agencies adopt voluntarily.
  • India's antitrust record: CCI has imposed significant penalties on cartels in the cement, car, and airline industries.

Membership of the steering committee gives India a voice in shaping global competition norms.

Static linkage: Governance (Regulatory bodies, Economic laws).

6. Moon's age revised: 4.46 billion years

GS area: Science and Technology (Space)

A new study using lunar crystals from Apollo missions in 1972 revised the minimum age of the Moon to 4.46 billion years. The earlier estimate was about 40 million years younger. Researchers used atom probe tomography to date zircon crystals.

  • Why it matters for prelims: Earth-Moon system formation questions often appear. The Giant Impact Hypothesis holds that the Moon formed from debris after a Mars-sized body struck early Earth.
  • Implication: the older Moon means the Earth stabilised earlier, affecting the understanding of early planetary rotation and the origin of tides.

Static linkage: Space (Science and Technology).

7. Briefly noted

  • Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary: the northernmost wildlife sanctuary in Kerala, located in Kannur district. Area: 55 sq km. Established in 1984. Shares borders with Wayanad-Brahmagiri and Karnataka's Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary. Recent news: suspected Maoist activity in the surrounding area prompted deployment of Kerala Thunderbolts force.
  • Reference fuel production: India began producing high-specification reference petrol and diesel. Indian Oil Corporation developed these fuels, which are used for vehicle testing and engine calibration rather than commercial sale. The development reduces import dependence for testing fuels.

Practice MCQs

Check yourself

With reference to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, consider the following statements:

  1. It was established as a permanent committee in 2000.
  2. Its members are appointed by the Speaker for one-year terms.
  3. It conducts a prima facie inquiry before formally examining an accused member.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Check yourself

Consider the following statements about the National Rail Plan 2030:

  1. It targets increasing rail's freight share to 45 per cent.
  2. It targets an average freight train speed of 50 km per hour.
  3. The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor connects Mumbai to Chennai.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Check yourself

The Light Combat Helicopter Prachand is associated with which of the following?

Check yourself

Which of the following statements about the International Competition Network (ICN) is correct?

Check yourself

With reference to the United Nations Forum on Forests, consider the following statements:

  1. It was established by the UN General Assembly in 2000.
  2. It has universal membership from all UN member states.
  3. Its four global objectives include reversing the decline in forest cover.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?