19 September 2024

• Polity: The Union Cabinet approved holding simultaneous elections (Lok Sabha + state Assemblies + local bodies) based on the Kovind Committee recommendations.
• International: India received FATF's highest "regular follow-up" rating in its Mutual Evaluation Report, making it the only major federal economy in this category.
• Security: The Cabinet sanctioned Rs 31,000 crore to fence the 1,643 km India-Myanmar border; the Free Movement Regime was scrapped.
• Science: Naga King Chilli (Raja Mircha) festival celebrated its third edition at Seiyhama village, reinforcing its GI tag and Guinness record status.

GS area: Polity (elections)

The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state Assemblies and local bodies (Municipal Corporations and Panchayats). The proposal is based on the recommendations of the Kovind Committee.

Key details:

• Two-phase approach:
  • Phase 1: Align Lok Sabha and all state Assembly elections.
  • Phase 2: Conduct local body elections within 100 days of Phase 1.
• Constitutional amendments required: Changes to Articles 83, 85, 172, 174, 356 and others. A constitutional amendment requires a special majority in both Houses under Article 368. Some amendments would also require ratification by at least half the state legislatures.
• Single electoral roll: A common voter list to be created in consultation with State Election Commissions. Currently Lok Sabha/Vidhan Sabha rolls are managed by the ECI and local body rolls by State Election Commissions.
• State Assembly terms: Assemblies constituted after Phase 1 would serve only the remaining period until the next synchronised cycle.
• Arguments in favour: Reduced cost of elections. Reduced frequency of Model Code of Conduct disruptions to governance. Policy continuity.
• Arguments against: Reduces accountability of state governments. A no-confidence motion mid-term would create a constitutional problem. Local issues may get subsumed by national issues.

Static linkage: Election Commission, Articles 83, 85, 172, 174, cooperative federalism.

GS area: Economy (financial crime), International Relations

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) released India's Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) on 19 September 2024, placing India in the "regular follow-up" category. This is the highest rating FATF assigns.

Key facts:

• FATF: The Financial Action Task Force is an intergovernmental body that sets global standards for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. Established in 1989 (G7 Paris summit). Headquarters in Paris.
• Membership: 39 members (37 countries + European Commission and Gulf Co-operation Council).
• India's status: The only major federal economy (alongside UK, France and Italy) to achieve "regular follow-up" rating. Other countries of similar size are in enhanced or regular follow-up.
• Gaps identified:
  • Non-profit organisations (NPOs): Insufficient oversight of the sector.
  • Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs): Domestic PEPs not adequately defined under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
  • Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs): Precious metals and stones sector vulnerable.
• Terrorism financing: Report identified ISIL/Al-Qaeda-linked groups and regional insurgencies as primary terrorism financing threats to India.
• PMLA: The Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 is India's primary AML law. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is the investigating agency.

Static linkage: Money laundering, FATF, PMLA, Enforcement Directorate.

GS area: Security, International Relations, Polity (North-east)

The Union Cabinet approved Rs 31,000 crore to fence the 1,643-km India-Myanmar border across four states.

Key facts:

• States covered: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
• Progress as of September 2024: Only 30 km of the total 1,643 km fenced.
• Free Movement Regime (FMR) scrapped: The FMR previously allowed residents of border areas to travel up to 16 km across the border without a visa. The government scrapped this in early 2024.
• Rationale for scrapping FMR: Cited as a factor enabling illegal immigration, drug trafficking and arms smuggling. The border was cited as the root cause of Manipur's ethnic violence.
• Manipur context: The Meitei-Kuki conflict (since May 2023) displaced over 60,000 people. The government linked cross-border movement to the arming of Kuki-Zo groups.
• Operational challenges: Dense jungle, mountainous terrain and river crossings make fencing technically difficult and expensive.
• Strategic concern: Myanmar's ongoing civil war (since the February 2021 coup) has generated refugees and increased illegal movement.

Static linkage: Internal security (North-east), India-Myanmar relations, border management.

GS area: History and Culture

Two smaller items for prelims from the day's coverage:

• Battle of Saragarhi (12 September 1897): 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikh Regiment held Saragarhi post for seven hours against 8,000-10,000 tribal fighters on the North-West Frontier. All awarded the Indian Order of Merit (Class I).
• Naga King Chilli festival: Third edition at Seiyhama village, Nagaland. The Raja Mircha exceeds 1 million Scoville Heat Units. GI tag granted. Guinness-certified as the world's hottest chilli (superseded by later varieties in Guinness rankings but the GI tag remains).

GS area: Science (astronomy)

Asteroid 2024 PT5 from the Arjuna asteroid belt was temporarily captured by Earth's gravity and followed a horseshoe-shaped orbit.

• Size: Approximately 33 feet (10 metres) in diameter.
• Arjuna asteroid belt: A group of near-Earth asteroids that share Earth's orbital characteristics. They are a reservoir of potential future mini-moons.
• Discovery: NASA's ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System).
• "Mini-moon" definition: Not a true moon. The object does not make a closed orbit around Earth. It follows an elongated, horseshoe-shaped trajectory, briefly falling into Earth's gravitational influence before continuing its heliocentric orbit.
• Duration: The capture lasted several weeks.

Static linkage: Astronomy, near-Earth objects, planetary defence.

GS area: Science and Technology, Environment

India's first CO2-to-methanol pilot plant, a public-private partnership between IIT Delhi and Thermax Limited, was operational in Pune.

• Process: Captures CO2 (from industrial emissions or directly from air) and converts it to methanol using catalysts and hydrogen.
• Methanol blend goal: India targets 15 per cent methanol blending in diesel to reduce crude oil imports.
• Coal power context: Coal-based thermal power accounts for approximately 30 per cent of India's carbon emissions. Capturing and converting this CO2 addresses both climate and energy security goals.
• Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS): The broader policy framework under which the plant operates. India's CCUS policy is nascent compared to the EU or US.

Static linkage: Carbon capture, methanol economy, climate policy.

• CCI antitrust findings: Competition Commission of India found that Amazon and Flipkart gave preferential treatment to selected sellers through exclusive launches, deep discounting below cost, and subsidised warehousing. Both platforms given time to respond before final orders.
• Kleptoparasitism and H5N1: A study linked kleptoparasitism (food theft) among seabirds to H5N1 avian influenza spread during migratory journeys, where saliva-coated prey passes the virus between species.