26 June 2024, The Hindu
Lok Sabha to witness rare contest for Speaker’s post
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GS 2: Parliament and State Legislatures- structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges
- The 18th Lok Sabha is all set to witness a rare contest for the Speaker post on Wednesday between the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Om Birla and Kodikunnil Suresh of the Congress after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and the INDIA group of Opposition parties failed to arrive at a consensus.
- On Tuesday, Congress leader K.C. Venugopal and DMK’s T.R. Baalu from the Opposition and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister J.P. Nadda had met at Mr. Singh’s office in Parliament to evolve a consensus.
Railways to bring down speed of select Vande Bharat, Gatiman Express trains
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GS 3: Indian Economy - Infrastructure – Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
- The Indian Railways will soon cut down the speed of premium trains, including Vande Bharat and Gatiman Express, from the present 160 kmph to 130 kmph on select routes to ensure safety.
- Highly placed railway sources told The Hindu on Tuesday that the North Central Railway had written to the Railway Board to slow down Train No 12050/12049 Delhi-Jhansi-Delhi Gatiman Express, Train No 22470/22469 Delhi-Khajuraho-Delhi Vande Bharat Express, Train No 20172/20171 Delhi-Rani Kamalapati-Delhi Vande Bharat Express, and Train No 12002/12001 Delhi-Rani Kamalapati-Delhi Shatabdi Express trains.
After 20 years of resistance, Nagaland to vote in civic polls with 33% reservation for women today
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Prelims syllabus: Current events of national and international importance.
- After 20 years of resistance to the reservation of seats for women, Nagaland will vote for the urban local bodies (ULBs) on Wednesday.
- Of the 16 districts in the State, the civic polls will be held in 10 because of the non-participation of the communities in six eastern districts where the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) exercises its clout.
Agony still in Manipur, a year later
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GS 3: Security challenges and their management in border areas
- The high-level security meet on Manipur convened by the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, in New Delhi on June 17, 2024, was loudly conspicuous by its exclusion of the Manipur Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh.
- It also threw light on the way the Centre has been handling the violent ethnic clashes in Manipur between two of its major communities, the Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribes.
- There seem to be no signs of respite even after a year of bloodletting.
- It seems to confirm the long-held suspicion that there has been undeclared President’s Rule in the State, with the Manipur government having been placed in virtual animated suspension.
India needs the anchor of a national security strategy
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GS 3: Security- Challenges to internal security (external state and non-state actors)
- The new National Democratic Alliance government faces some thorny old problems in national security.
- It will have to make decisions — or else continue to defer them — on everything from whether to build another aircraft carrier, to the process of implementing theaterisation, to managing strategic relations with the United States and competition with China.
- How will the coalition government, with competing demands on its resources and attention, make those decisions?
Call for consensus
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GS 2: Parliament and State Legislatures- structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to govern by consensus even as the 18th Lok Sabha began its first session.
- The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc have both reiterated their rhetoric on protecting the Constitution, which was one of the central themes of the recent campaign during the 2024 general election.
- While both sides say they seek consensus, and are loyal to the Constitution, a demonstration of any convergence between them on any key question of governance or politics, unfortunately, remains elusive.
- The first session was in fact marked by mutual hostility that carried over from the campaign.
- The NDA and the INDIA bloc sparred over the selection of the pro tem Speaker and now appear set for a face-off over the Speaker’s post.
- The Opposition has expressed willingness to support the NDA’s candidate in return for the post of Deputy Speaker.
Preventing another NEET fiasco
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GS 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
- During the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) this year, scores and ranks were inflated.
- As a consequence, many candidates may not get admission to their desired college as predicted based on previous years’ scores.
- Coaching and admission counselling centres, typically run by business tycoons, have realised that clients, the NEET aspirants, have failed to secure preferred seats despite their advice.
- However, despite this fiasco, the industry has found a way to enhance their brand value through media and social media coverage.
Analysing Maharashtra’s water crisis
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Prelims syllabus: Current events of national and international importance.
- After the deficient monsoon last year, the Maharashtra government declared many parts of the state to be drought-hit earlier this year.
- Much of the Marathwada region received less than 75% of its average rainfall. Its impact manifested across the region over this summer as wells ran dry, and officials brought tankers to provide drinking water and water for irrigation.
- Multiple reservoirs in the region, especially in Beed and Dharashiv districts, were reported to have 0% ‘live’ water storage left.
- This situation is in sharp contrast with the State’s coastal areas, where rainfall has often been in excess, leading to severe flooding.
Will the Agnipath scheme be revamped?
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GS 2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and the States and the performance of these schemes
- The recruitment of soldiers into the armed forces as Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme has been a major issue in the recent general election.
- After the election results, NDA allies, the Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), raised the issue of Agnipath and called for a discussion on it.
- The government is open to changes and discussions are on, officials in the know said.
‘Water stress can hurt credit profile’
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GS 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment
- Moody’s Ratings warned on June 25 that India’s growing water shortage and increasingly frequent climate change-driven natural disasters, amid a rise in consumption and rapid economic growth, can negatively affect the country’s sovereign credit strength.
- Currently rated Baa3 stable by Moody’s, which denotes the lowest investment grade rating, India is susceptible to increasing water stress, and any drop in water supply, for which it is heavily reliant on monsoon rains, could disrupt operations in factories and farms.
- This, the firm said, would result in inflation in food prices and declines in income for affected businesses and communities, while sparking social unrest.
