15 February 2024

• Polity: PRS India's analysis of the 17th Lok Sabha: only 274 sittings and 16 per cent of bills referred to committees.
• Governance: PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana formally announced. One crore households targeted; 75,021 crore rupee outlay.
• Culture: Weimar Triangle (Poland-France-Germany) in the news as a European security cooperation framework.
• Environment: State of the World's Migratory Species report: nearly 50 per cent of CMS-listed species declining; 97 per cent of listed fish face extinction risk.

GS area: Polity (Parliament)

PRS Legislative Research published its analysis of the 17th Lok Sabha's five-year performance (June 2019 to February 2024).

Key findings:

• Sittings: Only 274 sittings, the fewest for any full-term Lok Sabha. Previous Lok Sabhas averaged closer to 350-450 sittings.
• Annual sitting days: Average dropped from 135 per year (1952-70 period) to 55 days in the 17th Lok Sabha.
• Committee referrals: Only 16 per cent of bills were sent to parliamentary standing committees before passage. This is a significant decline from earlier Lok Sabhas where the majority of bills went to committees. Committee scrutiny is the primary mechanism for detailed legislative examination.
• Recorded voting: Only 9 per cent of bills were passed with recorded voting; the rest passed by voice vote.
• MP suspensions: 206 instances of MP suspensions, a record.
• Question Hour: Functioned for approximately 60 per cent of its scheduled time.
• Deputy Speaker vacancy: No Deputy Speaker was elected throughout the term, violating Article 93.

Static linkage: Polity (Parliament, legislative process, committee system, Article 93).

GS area: Environment (Biodiversity, Migratory Species)

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) released the first-ever State of the World's Migratory Species report.

Key findings:

• Declining species: Nearly 50 per cent of CMS-listed migratory species are declining in population.
• Threatened species: Over 20 per cent of CMS-listed species face extinction risk.
• Fish: 97 per cent of CMS-listed migratory fish face extinction risk. This is an alarming figure given the role of migratory fish in food security (salmon, tuna, eels).
• Primary threats: Overexploitation (fishing and hunting), habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and invasive species.
• CMS: The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (also called the Bonn Convention) is an international treaty under the UN Environment Programme, headquartered in Bonn, Germany. India is a party. The treaty addresses species that cross national boundaries during their life cycle.

Static linkage: Environment (CMS, Bonn Convention, migratory species, international conventions).

GS area: Environment (Agriculture, Species), Culture

Assam declared Kaji Nemu as its state fruit.

• Scientific name: Citrus limon (a species of lemon).
• Distinctive features: Unique aroma and flavour compared to the common lemon. Available year-round rather than seasonally.
• Properties: Rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C.
• Cultivation: Grown primarily in Assam. Exported to the UK and UAE markets.
• Geographical Indication: Kaji Nemu has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, protecting its Assamese origin from imitation.

Static linkage: Culture (state symbols, Northeast India), Economy (GI tags, agricultural exports).

GS area: Environment (Biodiversity Conservation, Protected Areas)

The Gupteswar Forest in Koraput District, Odisha, was declared the state's fourth Biodiversity Heritage Site.

• Location: Koraput District, adjacent to the Gupteswar Shiva temple, a major pilgrimage site for tribal communities.
• Area: 350 hectares.
• Biodiversity: Sacred groves within the forest preserve a high density of plant species. The forest supports diverse mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, and orchid species.
• Sacred grove connection: The forest's preservation has historically been linked to the Gupteswar temple. Tribal communities treat the grove as sacred, which provides de facto protection.
• Biodiversity Heritage Sites: Declared under the Biological Diversity Act 2002 by state governments in consultation with local bodies. They protect unique, fragile ecosystems with high biodiversity or associated cultural/sacred value.

Static linkage: Environment (Biological Diversity Act 2002, sacred groves, biodiversity conservation, Odisha).

GS area: International Relations (Europe)

The Weimar Triangle, a cooperative framework between Poland, France, and Germany, was in the news as European defence cooperation intensified.

• Established: 1991 in Weimar, Germany, hence the name.
• Focus: Originally a mechanism for post-Cold War political dialogue in Europe. More recently, it has focused on European security, defence cooperation, combating disinformation, and the Russian threat.
• Context: With the Russia-Ukraine war ongoing and the prospect of reduced US commitment to European security, France and Germany are pressing for greater European strategic autonomy. Poland's inclusion is critical given its eastern border with Ukraine.

Static linkage: International Relations (European security, NATO, Russia-Ukraine conflict).

GS area: Governance (Digital India, Rural Connectivity)

The Smart Gram Panchayat Initiative extended PM-WANI (Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) connectivity to rural areas.

• PM-WANI: Launched in December 2020, PM-WANI creates a network of public Wi-Fi hotspots using a de-licensed model. Any person can set up a public data office (PDO) and offer Wi-Fi services without a licence.
• Begusarai (Bihar): Became the first district with complete PM-WANI coverage at gram panchayat level.
• Architecture: Three-tier structure: Public Data Office (PDO), Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA), and App Provider. Operated by TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications.
• Rural connectivity gap: The initiative targets areas where telecom backhaul is weak and last-mile connectivity depends on Wi-Fi rather than mobile networks.

Static linkage: Governance (digital connectivity, rural infrastructure, PM-WANI, DoT).