{"id":58605,"date":"2022-10-15T13:17:48","date_gmt":"2022-10-15T07:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.synergyraftar.com\/?page_id=58605"},"modified":"2023-02-06T16:22:18","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T10:52:18","slug":"in-news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.synergyraftar.com\/in-news\/","title":{"rendered":"In-News"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"58605\" class=\"elementor elementor-58605\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-586dbbe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"586dbbe\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-71dd7b7\" data-id=\"71dd7b7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49077ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"49077ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 30-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">In-News<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d91a8a5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d91a8a5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-77068e3\" data-id=\"77068e3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c60887 elementor-tabs-view-horizontal elementor-widget elementor-widget-tabs\" data-id=\"8c60887\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"tabs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 30-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-vertical .elementor-tabs-wrapper{width:25%;flex-shrink:0}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-vertical .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active{border-inline-end-style:none}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-vertical .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active:after,.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-vertical .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active:before{height:999em;width:0;right:0;border-inline-end-style:solid}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-vertical .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active:before{top:0;transform:translateY(-100%)}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-vertical .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active:after{top:100%}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-horizontal .elementor-tab-desktop-title{display:table-cell}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-horizontal .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active{border-bottom-style:none}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-horizontal .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active:after,.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-horizontal .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active:before{bottom:0;height:0;width:999em;border-bottom-style:solid}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-horizontal .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active:before{right:100%}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-horizontal .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active:after{left:100%}.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-content,.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-title,.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-title:after,.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-title:before,.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tabs-content-wrapper{border:1px #d5d8dc}.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tabs{text-align:start}.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tabs-wrapper{overflow:hidden}.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-title{cursor:pointer;outline:var(--focus-outline,none)}.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-desktop-title{position:relative;padding:20px 25px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;border:solid transparent}.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active{border-color:#d5d8dc}.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active:after,.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-desktop-title.elementor-active:before{display:block;content:\"\";position:absolute}.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-desktop-title:focus-visible{border:1px solid #000}.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-mobile-title{padding:10px;cursor:pointer}.elementor-widget-tabs .elementor-tab-content{padding:20px;display:none}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-tabs .elementor-tab-content,.elementor-tabs .elementor-tab-title{border-style:solid solid none}.elementor-tabs .elementor-tabs-wrapper{display:none}.elementor-tabs .elementor-tabs-content-wrapper{border-bottom-style:solid}.elementor-tabs .elementor-tab-content{padding:10px}}@media (min-width:768px){.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-vertical .elementor-tabs{display:flex}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-vertical .elementor-tabs-wrapper{flex-direction:column}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-vertical .elementor-tabs-content-wrapper{flex-grow:1;border-style:solid solid solid none}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-view-horizontal .elementor-tab-content{border-style:none solid solid}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-alignment-center .elementor-tabs-wrapper,.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-alignment-end .elementor-tabs-wrapper,.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-alignment-stretch .elementor-tabs-wrapper{display:flex}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-alignment-center .elementor-tabs-wrapper{justify-content:center}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-alignment-end .elementor-tabs-wrapper{justify-content:flex-end}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-alignment-stretch.elementor-tabs-view-horizontal .elementor-tab-title{width:100%}.elementor-widget-tabs.elementor-tabs-alignment-stretch.elementor-tabs-view-vertical .elementor-tab-title{height:100%}.elementor-tabs .elementor-tab-mobile-title{display:none}}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tabs\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tabs-wrapper\" role=\"tablist\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1471\" class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-desktop-title\" aria-selected=\"true\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1471\" aria-expanded=\"false\">November<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1472\" class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-desktop-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1472\" aria-expanded=\"false\">December<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1473\" class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-desktop-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1473\" aria-expanded=\"false\">January<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1474\" class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-desktop-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1474\" aria-expanded=\"false\">February<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tabs-content-wrapper\" role=\"tablist\" aria-orientation=\"vertical\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-mobile-title\" aria-selected=\"true\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1471\" aria-expanded=\"false\">November<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1471\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1471\" tabindex=\"0\" hidden=\"false\"><strong>Drawing the Line<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant\u00a0 Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disagreements between Judiciary and Government in appointment of judges in the Supreme Court.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obstacles in attracting professional talent towards joining the judiciary.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for transparency and evaluation in the appointment process without compromising its integrity.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internal reforms within the judiciary and the criminal justice system as a whole to address the problems of pendency of cases and vacancies in judicial posts.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/editorials\/kiren-rijiju-and-the-collegium-debate-the-battle-between-the-judiciary-and-the-executive-8296890\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Poor get their due<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central Premise of the judgement : Economic deprivation with its attendant consequences to be addressed by Government\u2019s affirmative action policies for the empowerment of the poor not covered by caste based reservation.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reservation considered as an exception to the equality principle and hence not a part of the basic structure of the constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court rejected the tying of substantive equality to a fixed category of backwardness.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The majority view builds upon the \u2018Living Tree Constitutionalism\u2019 and unfolds an expansive judicial gaze upon the constitution to ensure its continuing relevance in the advancement of national goals. At the same time, it affirms that in a parliamentary democracy, policy choices representing harmonisation of conflicting interests through pragmatic adjustments is purely a legislative function.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/economically-weaker-sections-quota-supreme-court-dr-ashwani-kumar-8297014\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>TRAI working on technology to detect pesky calls<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regulatory Authorities<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital era governance<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of regulatory bodies in making various stakeholders accountable<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring transparency in democracy.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindubusinessline.com\/info-tech\/tech-under-work-to-detect-pesky-calls-messages-joint-action-plan-on-financial-frauds-trai\/article66198917.ece#:~:text=Telecom%20regulator%20TRAI%20on%20Monday,regulators%20to%20curb%20financial%20frauds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>MCD polls: parties yet to reach out to us, hear our concerns, say Muslim voters<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Political Culture<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Citizen-administration interface<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of elections connecting the government and the governed.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Note: Can avoid the politics involved, note the urban governance aspects involved.<\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/cities\/Delhi\/mcd-polls-parties-yet-to-reach-out-to-us-hear-our-concerns-say-muslim-voters\/article66195767.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Bail vs Jail<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for higher judiciary\u2019s intervention in granting bail,<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prison Statistics India, 2021<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Requirement of more prisons vs Innovative solutions of relieving the pressure off prisons.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pertinent role of both &#8211; judiciary and legislature<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/editorials\/president-murmu-caution-overcrowding-prisons-wake-up-call-executive-judiciary-8293265\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Offender vs Offence<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortcomings of Juvenile Justice(Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Goal of reformation being subserved as leniency in dealing with children in conflict with law is emboldening them to indulge in heinous crime.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blanket immunity from criminal process for a juvenile offender vs case-by-case assessment by a competent court(and not JJ Board) as to whether or not such juvenile had attained sufficient maturity of understanding to judge the nature and consequence of his\/her action.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/offender-vs-offence-juvenile-justice-bill-8293489\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Bihar\u2019s Har Ghar GangaJal Scheme<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant\u00a0 Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Efficient use of excess water in the Ganga during monsoon flooding season<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Case study for Urban water supply and preventing natural disasters<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/bihar-har-ghar-gangajal-scheme-explained-8292243\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>DBT and Tenancy<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant\u00a0 Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommendation for conversion of subsidy burden in agriculture to direct income support<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limitation of DBT Schemes, zero\/low interest loans, crop insurance, disaster compensation and other agri-related schemes in reaching the tenant farmers.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Underestimation of tenant farmers due to farm tenancy agreements being largely oral, unwritten contracts, seldom recorded leases.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Win-Win situation on leasing of lands for tenants and the owners.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urgent need for subsuming agri-subsidies and tenant payments of DBT under the present income support schemes.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-economics\/why-dbt-schemes-need-to-fix-the-problem-of-tenant-farmers-8293280\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>SC questions \u2018lightning speed\u2019 of EC appointment<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rationale of appointment of CEC based on promotions of ECs.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Independent and Neutral mechanism for appointments of CEC and ECs.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/supreme-court-questions-appointment-process-of-election-commissioner-arun-goel\/article66177483.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Disquiet in Northeast<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Border disputes due to overlooking the needs and demands of local communities.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuing law and order problems<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rise of Tribal factions<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/disquiet-in-the-northeast-the-hindu-editorial-on-assam-meghalaya-boundary-dispute\/article66178257.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>A word of advice on OTT and the draft Telecom Bill<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provisions of draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Distinguishing between domain of carriage(Telecom services) and domain of applications comprising value added communication services(OTT platforms).<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arguments for keeping OTT communication services out ofthe ambit of Telecom law which regulates terrestrial carriage.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Including OTT communication services in the Telecom bill shall influence the energy, innovation and funding that characterises India\u2019s startup ecosystem today.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/a-word-of-advice-on-ott-and-the-draft-telecom-bill\/article66179200.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong> India is losing its cherished right to know<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organisations<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Civil Service<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of institutions in guarding transparency in administration.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Citizen administration interface<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability of administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/india-is-losing-its-cherished-right-to-know\/article66175139.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Space, not time<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and constitutional framework<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union administration, Political culture<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of independent institutions in guarding the tenets of the constitution<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/space-not-time-the-hindu-editorial-on-election-commissioner-tenures\/article66174497.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong> India is losing its cherished right to know<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role and functioning of the Right to Information Act, 2005 and the Central Information Commission.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impact of RTI(Amendment) Act, 2019.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changing behaviour of bureaucrats with increasing discretion.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/india-is-losing-its-cherished-right-to-know\/article66175139.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Think local climate action, think Meenangadi<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neolocalism<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">District Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disaster Management<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of local level governance overcoming challenges like climate change<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use of technological advancements in governance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handling disasters: Role of local communities<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/think-local-climate-action-think-meenangadi\/article66170804.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong> India\u2019s fiscal consolidation trend intact, to see strong revenues, says Moody\u2019s<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plan and Priorities<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need of fiscal consolidation<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial accountability of the government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/Economy\/indias-fiscal-consolidation-trend-intact-to-see-strong-revenues-debt-stabilisation-moodys\/article66169180.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>The dissenting judgement versus the razing of equality<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and constitutional framework<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li>Relevance:\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring the values of equality and justice through vibrant policy making and implementation.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of judiciary in making administration accountable<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/the-dissenting-judgment-versus-the-razing-of-equality\/article66165455.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Charting the economic journey ahead<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plans and Priorities<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balancing economic growth and resilience of social sector services.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Challenges and solutions on the journey from developing to developed country.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/charting-the-economic-journey-ahead\/article66161307.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Draft digital data protection Bill tabled for comments<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Revision in the provisions of the bill<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hefty increase in penalty amounts up to \u20b9\u008f500 crore,<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easing rules on Cross-border data flows, in a big relief for large tech firms.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narrows down the scope of the data protection regime to personal data protection, leaving out non personal data from its ambit<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bill proposes to impose a penalty of \u20b910,000 on individuals providing unverifiable or false information while applying for any document, service, proof of identity or address, or registering a false or frivolous complaint with a Data Fiduciary (who collects and processes the data) or with the Board.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Introduced the concept of \u2018Consent Managers\u2019 in the Bill.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data Fiduciaries collecting personal data from individuals will need to provide \u201citemised notice\u201d in clear and plain language containing a description of personal data sought and the purpose of processing of such personal data.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bill requires the consent of the individual to be the basis for processing of their personal data, except in certain circumstances where seeking the consent of the Data Principal is \u201cimpracticable or inadvisable due to pressing concerns<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every request for consent will need to be presented to the Data Principal in clear and plain language, and an option to access such a request for consent in English or any language specified in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Data Principal shall have the right to withdraw her consent at any time,<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bill also gives the power to the government to offer exemption from its provisions \u201cin the interests of sovereignty and integrity of India\u201d and to maintain public order.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The revised Bill has proposed a Data Protection Board of India, which will be notified by the Central government.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/months-after-withdrawal-govt-reintroduces-draft-data-protection-bill-for-public-comments\/article66152815.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Malady and remedy<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for reconsideration of its 2015 judgement striking down the Constitution amendment and the law creating a National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delays in accepting recommendations of the collegium by the executive.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to overcome the lacunae of the collegium system &#8211; opaqueness and lack of accountability.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Restriction on attracting best legal talents.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government may work towards an alternative mechanism, one that does not have the perceived infirmities that led to the invalidation of the earlier law as the NJAC mechanism enabled the outnumbering of judicial members by executive nominees.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/malady-and-remedy-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-collegium-system-of-judicial-appointments\/article66153999.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong> India has shown how to democratise technology for the good of humanity<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Techniques of Administrative Improvement<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plans and Priorities<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technology in India as a force of equality and empowerment rather than inequality and exclusion.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Case Studies: Ayushman Bharat, CoWIN, Svamitva Scheme, Credit disbursement, DBT etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/cities\/bangalore\/india-showed-world-how-to-democratise-technology-use-it-as-a-weapon-against-poverty-prime-minister-narendra-modi\/article66143802.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>This unseating of vice chancellors is faulty<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Core issue : Whether appointment of VCs should be made as per the UGC Regulations or the provisions of the State University Act.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provisions of Article 254 : If provisions of the State law are repugnant to the provisions of the Union law, the State law will become void.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Balance between an Act passed by a legislature and regulations made by a subordinate body such as the UGC(subordinate law\/delegated legislation).<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The regulations made by a subordinate authority of the Union overriding a law made by a State legislature will amount to a violation of federal principles and a negation of the concurrent legislative power granted to the State by the Constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for re-examining the regulation making jurisdiction of the UGC on the matters relating to the appointment of the VCs of State Universities.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court held in S. Satyapal Reddy vs Govt. Of A.P. (1994) that \u201cthe court has to make every attempt to reconcile the provisions of the apparently conflicting laws and the court would endeavour to give harmonious construction\u2026The proper test would be whether effect can be given to the provisions of both the laws or whether both the laws can stand together\u201d. When this is done in most of the cases, there would be no need to strike down a State law on the ground of repugnancy.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/this-unseating-of-vice-chancellors-is-faulty\/article66145326.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Quest for transparency in FTA negotiations<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for transparency and greater scrutiny of the Free Trade Agreements(FTA) process both during and after the negotiations.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Requirement of institutional apparatuses that enable the scrutiny of the actions of the executive, during and after the signing of the FTA.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Case study of UK in developing robust mechanisms to foster transparency in FTA negotiations.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though the executive\u2019s constitutional prerogative of entering into an FTA or international treaties, in general, is indisputable, this power should be exercised in a manner that makes the executive answerable.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/quest-for-transparency-in-fta-negotiations\/article66144419.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Unknown sources of income spiked after electoral bond entry<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The observation that the share of \u201cunknown sources of income\u201d has increased following the introduction of electoral bonds, achieving the opposite of what it was intended to do.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Share of such unknown sources of income for national parties increased from 66% between FY15 and FY17 to 71% between FY19 and FY21 whereas share of unknown sources of income increased from 55% to 68% for regional parties.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The electoral bonds\u2019 share formed 57% and 64% of the national and regional parties\u2019 total incomes in the FY19-FY21 Period, respectively<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/data\/data-unknown-sources-of-political-income-spiked-after-electoral-bond-entry-bjp-cornered-lions-share\/article66148659.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>What is the target level of retail inflation?<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Importance of Monetary Policy in controlling inflation<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mandates for RBI in case of elevated levels of inflation(above inflation target range i.e. 2%-6%) for more than 3 quarters.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/Economy\/what-is-the-target-level-of-inflation\/article66145840.ece#:~:text=Retail%20inflation%20at%206.77%25%20is,between%202%25%20and%206%25\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong> Political heads have to be restrained in speech: SC judge<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Code of Conduct for political leaders in making public statements.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Individual conduct should not be used to collectively denounce\u00a0 the State.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ethics in Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/holders-of-public-office-are-subject-to-an-unwritten-rule-to-not-blabber-hurtful-remarks-against-fellow-citizens-sc-judge-bv-nagarathna\/article66139679.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Undermining federalism, eroding States\u2019 autonomy<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plans and Priorities<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instruments of fostering Cooperative Federalism.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central Government\u2019s policies undermining the spirit of cooperative federalism.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues with acceptance of the recommendations of the Finance Commission.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortcomings in the implementation of the FRBM Act and use of off-budget borrowings.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effect on state finances due to the levying of cesses and surcharges.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Burdening the states with increased share of expenditure in CSS and appropriation of State\u2019s autonomy by the Union.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/undermining-federalism-eroding-states-autonomy\/article66141425.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Health as the focus of air pollution policy<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Downsides of isolated nature of policy making<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inability to address the core problem identified in environmental legislation &#8211; public health.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inappropriate composition of regulators to fulfil their legal obligations. Need for multidisciplinarity in the regulatory bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for transparency in defining the criterion of standards. For instance, opaqueness in the definition of NAAQS which needs to consider both- local conditions and impact on health due to\u00a0 the exposure of vulnerable populations.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Positive externalities of scientific and deliberative policy making.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/making-health-the-focus-of-air-pollution-policy\/article66140242.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>What does the World Bank report say about India\u2019s cities?<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for greater private and commercial investments to meet financial gaps in urbanisation.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sources of finances for urban development- 48% is derived from State governments, 24% from the Central government and 15% from urban local bodies\u2019 own surplus, Public-private partnership (3%), commercial debt (2%) and loans from Housing and Urban Development Corporation, or HUDCO (8%).<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reasons undermining financial sustainability and viability<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The revenue sharing designs between the Public and Private entities is not particularly viable for private investors and does not fully account for risksharing<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or risktransfer mechanisms for project risks<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solutions to increase cities\u2019 fiscal base and creditworthiness.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/Economy\/what-does-the-world-bank-report-say-about-indias-cities\/article66142065.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>The shape of Indian economic pie must change<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ease of doing business for capital\u00a0 vs Ease of earning and living for citizens<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues of Monetarism vs Welfarism<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changing nature of post-industrial economy leading to a\u00a0 disadvantaged position of the employees.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need of balancing historical social and new economic discrimination by reforming institutions and economic ideology.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/the-shape-of-the-indian-economic-pie-must-change\/article66136863.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Where no child is left behind<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of effective framework to recruit good teachers and establish teacher development institutions.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of Community Collectives and Panchayats in ensuring accountability of schools and teachers in delivering learning outcomes.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use of technology to overcome teacher incompetency.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1qT-GZZk6tOg2eL_9VzKsS20shbdyiiui0mJBmUEBpOo\/edit#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>What are the hurdles to building schools for tribals?<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government widening its influence over State subjects.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative constraints in fulfilling the amended criteria for setting up of Eklavya Model Residential Schools.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effectiveness of Standing Committees in evaluating Government schemes and programmes.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/what-are-the-hurdles-to-building-schools-for-tribals\/article66137446.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Saving the precious<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disaster Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">District administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centre-State Administrative coordination<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li>Relevance:<\/li>\n \t<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policy vacuum<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Policy implementation issues at ground level<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Challenges for developing countries &#8211; climate change, huge population to sustain.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/preserving-the-precious-the-hindu-editorial-on-ground-water-use\/article66132386.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Unlaundered Truth<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Personnel Administration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corruption and money laundering issues in governance.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Political influence over administration, and misuse of independent agencies.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring accountability and control in administrative functioning.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Criminal justice system- matters of prosecution and conviction.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/unlaundered-truth-the-hindu-editorial-on-sanjay-rauts-bail-and-the-functioning-of-central-agencies\/article66121020.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Content Slot<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good Governance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control- Role of media<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regulatory Bodies<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public awareness and participation in governance through the media.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of regulatory authorities like TRAI, in ascertaining accountable private media channels.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utilising technology for good governance.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/content-slot-the-hindu-editorial-on-guidelines-for-operation-of-television-channels\/article66120496.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>A way out of Kerala\u2019s fiscal vulnerability<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centre-State Relations<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plan and Priorities<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good Governance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Public Management<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fiscal status of states, and role of bodies like RBI, Finance commission in supporting the same.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impact of prudent fiscal management on good governance parameters and outcomes.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of the private sector in capital formation in the country<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cooperative federalism.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/a-way-out-of-keralas-fiscal-vulnerability\/article66120929.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Should chief ministers have a say in the appointment of governors.<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centre-State Relations<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and administration- Governor<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms since independence<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evolution of Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian Administration- administration in coalition regime<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability, role and responsibilities of the office of the governor.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legacy of British rule in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommendations of various committees and commissions on appointment of Governors.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/should-chief-ministers-have-a-say-in-the-appointment-of-governors\/article66120133.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>The EWS judgement and the shadow of Pandora<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration and Civil Services<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring equity and justice through public policy formulation.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development model dynamics depending on social-economic context.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equal representation of all sections of the society in the administration.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/the-ews-judgment-and-the-shadow-of-pandora\/article66116346.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Policing with talent, resource sharing, not squabbling<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union-State Relations<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Civil Services<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cooperative and collaborative policing in developing societies.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developing a vibrant training and technology arena for an efficient criminal justice system as well as law and order machinery of the country.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Addressing the corruption and criminalisation in Indian administrative bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coordination of centre and state, integrational national interests with local requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/policing-with-talent-resource-sharing-not-squabbling\/article66116246.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Needless needling &#8211; The ties between the Governor and the government in TN must be reset<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union-State Relations<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishing mutual respect and understanding between the institution of governor and state government.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of governor as a constitutional head of the state government.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/needless-needling-the-hindu-editorial-on-governor-government-ties-in-tamil-nadu\/article66115452.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>The Governor versus the government &#8211; Governance and public interest will likely be the casualties of the standoff<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union-State Relations<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of governor as a constitutional head of the state government.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Political precedents vs contemporary issues in governance.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/the-governor-versus-the-government\/article66115488.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Enforcing the ban on the two finger test<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Civil Services<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for modernisation of the police, role of technology and adequate funding for the same.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development of administrative machinery at local level to ensure implementation of the policies.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reforms- in-house training, strengthening communication channels, interoperability of the criminal justice system.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/enforcing-the-ban-on-the-two-finger-test\/article66115405.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Our Choking Cities<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plans and Priorities<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good Governance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Citizen-administration collaboration in policy implementation at ground.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of urban local bodies and agencies in tackling urban challenges like pollution.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for ensuring accountability and monitoring for continuous feedback on policy outcomes.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adoption of system based approach by administration in congruence with the need of current development issues.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Multistakeholder, networked governance for planning and execution.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/our-choking-cities-how-we-can-improve-air-and-water-quality-in-urban-spaces-8259527\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>After the dust, a clearer picture of Agnipath\u2019s direction<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morale and Motivation<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of feedback and mid-course corrections in public policy formulation.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Training of the personnels in various governance units.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lateral entry in Armed forces, at centre and state levels.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aspects of morale, motivation, cooperation in government organisations.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/after-the-dust-a-clearer-picture-of-agnipaths-direction\/article66112018.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Content moderation through co-regulation<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regulatory Institutions<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grievance redressal mechanism to resolve emerging issues in public-government interface.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of social media in influencing the narrative in the country impacting governance outcomes.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability of social media platforms in ensuring democratic public participation.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Co-regulatory mechanisms to allow states to outsource content regulation to platforms, which are better equipped to tackle modern content moderation challenges and technology.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Security of state- impact of technology and social media.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/content-moderation-through-co-regulation\/article66111242.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>CSIR-NGRI to install early warning system against floods, rockslides, and avalanches in Himalayan States.<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration(Disaster Management)<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Techniques of Administrative improvement<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data management and utilisation for proactive disaster handling.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coordination between national, state and local agencies in administration of disaster prone areas.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use of technology in administrative decision making.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/csir-ngri-working-on-early-warning-systems-in-himalayan-states\/article66110721.ece#:~:text=The%20National%20Geophysical%20Research%20Institute,to%20prevent%20Chamoli%20kind%20of\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Economics, exclusion &#8211; Use of sole income criterion for quotas is questionable, but it should be made to work in a non-exclusionary way<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constitutional validity of quotas based on economic criteria<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non-Discriminatory nature of exclusion of SC\/ST and SEBC from the quota\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quota for EWS as distinct and separate from the 50% ceiling for reservations for backward classes.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Validity of EWS quota for private educational institutions.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/economics-and-exclusion-on-sc-upholding-10-ews-quota\/article66108548.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>The frontliners of the first 1,000 day window of life<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian administration(Citizen-Administration Interface)<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Techniques of Administrative improvement<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of Anganwadi Workers, Auxiliary Nursing Midwife and Accredited Social Health Activists(ASHA) workers in delivering last mile interventions.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for regular skilling, supportive supervision and motivation of frontline workers to deliver contextualised, focused and quality nutrition and health services.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Case Studies\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/the-frontliners-of-the-first-1000-day-window-of-life\/article66108240.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Single GST rate, direct tax sans exemption will be ideal\u2019<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effect of a single tax rate on the benefits accrued to the economy &#8211; to prevent differentiation, subjective interpretation and litigation.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Removing distinctions between corporate and personal income tax.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cooperative federalism<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/single-gst-rate-exemption-less-direct-tax-regime-would-be-ideal-debroy\/article66108264.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Bring back old pension scheme, govt. Employees write to Cabinet Secretary<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Techniques of Administrative improvement<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Relevance:\n<ul>\n \t<li>Realisation of meagre pension despite 10% contribution of their wages every month in NPS vis-a-vis the OPS.<\/li>\n \t<li>Fiscal burden due to reinstating OPS.<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nature and premise of NPS.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effect of social security net in developing countries like India.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/central-government-employees-federation-intensifies-demand-for-old-pension-scheme\/article66104422.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Vision for urban transportation headlines mobility conference<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">E-Governance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urbanisation and development in India.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transport plays a critical role in the economy of the country as well as citizen welfare, management of which requires comprehensive policy planning.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utilisation of technology in the logistics and transport sector enabling essential city planning.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/umi-conference-ends-with-discussion-on-vision-for-urban-transportation-in-the-year-2047\/article66105347.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Uniform Civil Code<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and constitutional framework<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union-State relations<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementation issues faced in fulfilling the precepts of the constitution like Justice, Secularism and Equality.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development challenges faced by the administration in policy formulation integrating interests of various sections of the society.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of Supreme Court in policy domain.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/explained-the-uniform-civil-code\/article66105351.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>What is the status of remote voting for NRIs?<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy- formulation and implementation<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Techniques of administrative improvement- e governance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian Administration- Role of constitutional bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utilizing technology for ensuring citizen participation in governance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of constitutional bodies like Election Commission of India in making political interface accessible.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public policy implementation with changing dynamics of the society.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/explained-what-is-the-status-of-remote-voting-for-nris\/article66101350.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Child Welfare Police Officers a must in all police stations<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appointment of CWPOs to deal with children, either as victims or perpetrators under Juvenile Justice(Care and protection of children) Act, 2015<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Setting up of a Special Juvenile Police Unit in every district.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best Practices in Justice delivery and upholding rights of vulnerable sections of society.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/home-ministry-asks-states-to-appoint-child-welfare-police-officers\/article66091919.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>SC for a single platform for livestreaming all the courts\u2019<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">e-Governance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Techniques of Administrative Improvement<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating a national infrastructure to live stream proceedings from subordinate courts to the Supreme Court.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Live streaming proceedings being a part of the right to access justice under<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Article 21<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Protection of Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De-congestion of courts and improved physical access to courts for litigants who have to otherwise travel long distances to come to the SC were cited by the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Attorney general (AG)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to propose for live streaming of cases.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/working-on-a-single-platform-and-national-model-for-live-streaming-in-all-courts-j-chandrachud\/article66090214.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Raj Bhavan, Rajdharma<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evolution of Indian Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration(Role of Governor in Centre-State Relations)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Downsides of the office of Governor<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doctrine of Pleasure<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discretionary Powers of Governor<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constitutional debates over the role of Governor<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Politicization of the Governor\u2019s office<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/governor-arif-mohammad-khan-has-exceeded-his-constitutional-remit-by-seeking-the-resignation-of-a-minister-in-kerala-8243619\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>The weakest link in the air pollution fight<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizations<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of Regulatory Institutions (Mandates of CPCB, SPCB and PCC)<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Structure and functioning of the SPCBs<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Institutional Constraints of Regulatory Institutions<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reforms needed to enhance the capacity, capability and expertise of Regulators<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evolution of policy formulation in environmental governance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/the-weakest-link-in-the-air-pollution-fight\/article66082739.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>8,416 public grievances addressed as part of special drive by Health Ministry<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Techniques of Administrative Improvement<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good Governance<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reforms in internal accountability mechanisms<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minimum Government Maximum Governance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving public service delivery\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving administrative techniques and highlighting best practices<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/8416-public-grievances-addressed-as-part-of-special-drive-by-health-ministry\/article66082391.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Defunct Central PSU becomes centrepiece of alternative industrial development model by Kerala<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Sector Undertakings<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NPM<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Techniques of Administrative Improvement<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Revamping sick PSUs<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobilization of resources for utilizing existing capacity<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Possible reasons\/consequences of transfer of ownership of a PSU to a state government from the Central Government.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/kerala\/defunct-central-psu-becomes-centrepiece-of-alternative-industrial-development-model-by-kerala\/article66082137.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Decentralise MGNREGS for better implementation<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus: <\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural development,\u00a0 Urban Local Government, Development Dynamics, Public Policy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for flexibility at ground for effective implementation of the schemes.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greater devolution of functions and authority thereby enhancing accountability.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/decentralise-mgnregs-for-better-implementation-says-study\/article66077782.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>The amendments to the IT Rules, 2021<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus: <\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy, Techniques of Administrative Improvement, Significant issues in Indian Administration, Introduction- challenges of LPG, Governance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of wider consultation and public participation in public policy.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governance with changing dynamics, i.e. advent of technology and issues related to it, like privacy.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effectiveness of Grievance redressal mechanism and online dispute resolution to make justice more accessible and efficient.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/technology\/explained-the-amendments-to-the-it-rules-2021\/article66079214.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Governor acting like an Opposition party<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus: <\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour- Leadership, State government and administration.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of Governor from various perspectives i.e. as an agent of the center, as a leader of the state governance.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relationship between center and state.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/cities\/Tiruchirapalli\/governor-acting-like-an-opposition-party-says-minister\/article66077679.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Disqualifications of the MLAs facing criminal charges<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus: <\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian Administration, Law and Order administration- Criminalisation, Comparative public administration- political culture.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Functionality and significance of RPA, 1951 act.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle and money power in politics, corrupting the administration.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tainted political leadership due to deterioration of political culture.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/other-states\/azam-khans-conviction-disqualification-from-assembly-create-a-flutter-in-up\/article66076712.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Accountability for the Morbi Bridge Tragedy<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus: <\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control, Significant issues in Indian administration(Disaster Management), State Government and Administration, Urban Local Government, Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liability of the State under the Rule of Law<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of regulatory bodies in maintenance of public goods\/property of State.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Political and Executive Accountability\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/double-engine-failure-there-must-be-full-accountability-for-the-morbi-bridge-tragedy-in-gujarat-8241401\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-mobile-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1472\" aria-expanded=\"false\">December<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1472\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1472\" tabindex=\"0\" hidden=\"hidden\"><p><strong>Courts should step up to clear long-pending cases by Independence Day: CJI<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digitization of justice delivery &#8211; Reducing pendency of cases, increasing disposal of cases\/appeals, reducing burden on prisons and upholding personal liberties<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evaluation of performance of judges based on the conviction rates shall be done away with as they are not a measure in the dispensation of justice in any manner. Rather, these practices create a sense of bias for the district judiciary and create a culture of fear psychosis. Both of which are undesirable outcomes.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/clear-long-pending-cases-by-independence-day-cji-to-courts-in-the-country\/article66321376.ece#:~:text=Voicing%20concern%20over%20long%2Dpending,years%E2%80%9D%20by%20Independence%20Day%202023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Remote EVM ready to help migrants vote outside States: EC<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development of a prototype of a multi constituency remote electronic voting machine (RVM) to enable remote voting by migrant voters.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The voter turnout in General Elections of 2019 was 67.4% and the Election Commission is concerned about the issue of over 30 crore electors not exercising their franchise and also differential voter turnout in various States\/Union Territories.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The inability to vote due to internal migration is one of the prominent reasons to be addressed to improve voter turnout and ensure participative elections.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concept note<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The EC had circulated among the political parties a concept note highlighting the challenges of defining domestic migrants, implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, ensuring secrecy of voting, facility of polling agents for identification of voters, process and method of remote voting and counting of votes and other issues.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The definition of migrant voter will also need to be reworked with respect to retaining registration at the original place in the context of the legal construct of \u201cordinary residence\u201d and \u201ctemporary absence\u201d. Also, the territorial constituency concept of remote voting and defining remoteness itself, that is an outside constituency, outside district or outside State will need to be dealt with.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0This modified form of EVM can handle up to 72 multiple constituencies from a single remote polling booth.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initiative, if implemented, can lead to a social transformation for the migrants and connect with their roots as many times they are reluctant to get themselves enrolled at their place of work for various reasons such as frequently changing residences, not enough social and emotional connect with the issues of an area of migration, and unwillingness to get their name deleted in the electoral roll of their home\/native constituencies as they have permanent residence\/property,<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/election-commission-says-ready-with-remote-evm-which-will-enable-migrants-to-vote-outside-their-states\/article66316385.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Study shows T.N. is worst performing in RTI responsiveness<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparative Public Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The State Information Commission of Tamil Nadu has been the worst performing in responsiveness under the Right to Information Act, furnishing only 14% of the information sought, according to a report card on the performance of Information Commissions (ICs) in India for 2021-\u00ad22 by the Satark Nagrik Sangathan.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SIC of Tamil Nadu was the worst performing as it denied most of the information sought, including regarding the number of appeals and complaints dealt with by the IC, details of penalty imposed and compensation awarded stating that the information could be provided only \u2018after getting the approval of State Legislative Assembly\u2019, though no such provision exists in the RTI Act.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SIC of Chhattisgarh denied information on several points stating that under the prevailing State rules, in one application, information on only one topic could be sought.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The report card further said that a large number of ICs across the country were returning cases without passing orders. Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh returned around 40% of the appeals or complaints received by them.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also found that several ICs have an extremely low rate of disposal per commissioner. Of all the 29 ICs, only the CIC has adopted a norm on the number of appeals or complaints to be disposed of by each commissioner in one year.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/tamil-nadu-information-commission-worst-performing-in-rti-responsiveness-says-study\/article66317846.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Laboured wages<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Theories<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Withholding of funds for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in West Bengal laid bare a key implementation issue \u2014 wage delays.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The delay in the payment, which is contrary to what is stated in Section 3 of the NREG Act, has resulted in a drop in the number of households working under the scheme in the State \u2014 from 77 lakh during the pandemic years to 16 lakh in the current financial year.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wage delays have been a chronic problem with MGNREGS, which, beyond being a form of insurance for the poorest rural households, was a boon during the pandemic years.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While an emphasis on reducing misuse is necessary \u2014 in particular, ensuring that the scheme is put into use by actually undertaking public works \u2014 the misplaced reliance on technocratic approaches has stymied its implementation.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/laboured-wages-the-hindu-editorial-on-mgnregs-payment-to-states\/article66314540.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>A failed attempt at decriminalisation<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evolution of Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Jan Vishwas Bill, 2022, (Bill) was tabled in the Parliament with the objective of \u201cdecriminalising\u201d 183 offences across 42 legislations and enhancing the ease of living and doing business in India. It is a welcome move and can be viewed as an attempt to reverse the trend of overcriminalization.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the Bill either omits penal provisions or replaces them with fines in legislations such as the Air Act, Environment Protection Act, Forest Act, Drugs and Cosmetics Acts, Cinematograph Act, Patents Act among others.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An examination of the provisions of the Bill reveals that stress has been on the replacement of imprisonment clauses with fines. This can hardly be termed as \u2018decriminalisation\u2019.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This can hardly be termed as \u2018decriminalisation\u2019. There is much that is required for the efforts aimed at decriminalisation to fructify in any meaningful way. (Shortcomings of The Jan Vishwas Bill, 2022)<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/a-failed-attempt-at-decriminalisation\/article66315018.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Delegated law should not travel beyond purview of parent Act: SC<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Law<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delegated legislation, including rules and regulations formed by the State and Central authorities, should not supplant but supplement the parliamentary statute from which it draws power, the Supreme Court held in a judgement.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A delegated power to legislate by making rules or regulations cannot be exercised so as to bring into existence substantive rights, obligations or disabilities not contemplated by the provisions of the parent statute.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/rules-made-by-centre-state-cannot-exceed-powers-granted-by-parent-statute-sc\/article66313557.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Norms to rank cities based on financial Governance launched<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union government launched guidelines for a new finance-based ranking of cities, which would evaluate urban units on 15 key parameters, including resource mobilisation, expenditure performance and fiscal governance.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rankings are aimed at motivating city and State officials to implement municipal financial reforms.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A \u2018City Beauty Competition\u2019 initiative was also launched to rank cities on accessibility and aesthetics.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/guidelines-for-finance-and-beauty-based-ranking-of-cities-launched\/article66314234.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>A Suitable Officer<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration and Civil Services<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to revamp implementation capabilities to attain intended results of considered policy intentions in the manufacturing sector.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reasons for failure of implementation machinery &#8211; Inadequate knowledge and skills, lack of motivation, environmental constraints, weak supervision and monitoring etc.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IAS officers need to be equipped with specialised domain knowledge and experience in the manufacturing sector to evaluate the impact of laws, regulations etc. on competitiveness of the industry.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dominant pervasive problem of distrust between the public and private sector leading to cost and time overruns and loss of competitiveness.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to reform the system of Human Resource Development and bring it in line with best global practices. For instance, setting up a wing in DoPT and in its counterparts in the states to be manned by professionals in Human Resource Development whose function would be to select officers on the basis of aptitude from the bureaucracy and provide them domain competence in framing policies in manufacturing and industrial development.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues in promotions and postings have prevented skilling of officers and appointment of the \u2018right person for the right job.\u201d This has led to the perception that the IAS officers have failed in the area of economic development.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to assign job roles based on expertise and experience which may be delinked from salary and incentives to create a harmonious organisational culture.(Position Classification)<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/maruti-suzuki-ias-officers-manufacturing-sector-8347458\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>What is the CAG audit report on Assam\u2019s NRC?<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In its report, the CAG stated that there was a fivefold increase in the originally planned budget of \u20b9288.18 crore resulting out of time delays and changes to software for updating the National Register of Citizens(NRC) for Assam under the directions of the SC.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flagged serious irregularities, including \u201chaphazard development\u201d of software for the exercise, making it prone to data tampering, and flagged undue profits worth crores amassed by the system integrator (SI) by violating the Minimum Wages Act.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The report also found that the amount of wages paid to the outsourced staff was 45.59%-64.27% less than what was approved by the NRC coordination committee.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CAG noted that secure and reliable software was required for the SC directed exercise, but as many as 215 software utilities were added to the core software.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CAG stated that the intended objective of preparing a valid and error-free NRC was not met despite incurring excess expenditure.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/what-is-the-cag-audit-report-on-assams-nrc\/article66311741.ece#:~:text=A%20recent%20Comptroller%20and%20Auditor,undue%20profits%20worth%20crores%20amassed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Parliamentary panel pulls up govt. for failure to create Tourism Council<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has suggested fast tracking the creation of a National Tourism Council on the lines of the GST Council to directly make recommendations to the Union and the State governments.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inclusion of tourism on the Concurrent List will help in simplifying the issues of the pandemic hitIndian tourism sector since tourism is a multisectoral activity.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">States yet to accord industry status to hospitality projects.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Projects taking longer than five years may incur high cost and schedule or time overruns, which will put extra financial burden and resource crunch on the implementing agencies involved.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/merely-drafting-a-national-tourism-policy-not-enough-need-a-tourism-council-parliamentary-committee\/article66311067.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Constitutional silences, unconstitutional inaction<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deliberate gaps in the Constitution to enable a future Parliament to modify and amend the Constitution that was in accordance with the aspirations and the will of the people.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the silences in the Constitution is in Article 200 which does not prescribe a timeline for the Governor to provide assent to Bills sent by the Legislative Assembly. This has been used to advantage by the Governors of various Opposition-ruled States to obfuscate the mandate of democratically elected governments.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a Governor, a central Government appointee, withholds assent to a law validly passed by the Legislature, he is undoing the will of the Legislature through unconstitutional devices, thereby directly attacking the federal edifice of the Constitution.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no timeline prescribed for even the President, under Article 201 of the Constitution, to decide on the outcome of the Bill. Even as there is no timeline for the President to grant assent, there is a timeline of six months applicable to the State Assembly to reconsider the Bill if the President decides to refer it back to the House.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the realm of administrative law, unreasonable delay in granting administrative sanction would be violative of the rule of law. Therefore, it implies that the Governor will have to grant assent or decline the same within a \u2018reasonable time\u2019.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Governor\u2019s duty is only to ensure that an elected government is working within the parameters of the Constitution. It does not mean that the Governor can sit on the Bills indefinitely, merely because there is no time limit prescribed for the Governor to decide on the bills.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Constitution should be read contextually to provide a meaning that the Governor must act on the Bills within a reasonable time, say three months. The constitutional silences should not give way for unconstitutional inaction, leaving space for anarchy in the rule of law.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/constitutional-silences-unconstitutional-inaction\/article66304885.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Upholding the autonomy of the Election Commission<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues with far-reaching ramifications for Indian democracy: is complete executive control over appointments to the ECI constitutional? And if not, what manner of appointment is sufficient to preserve the independence of the ECI, and the fairness of elections?<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthy constitutional democracies need what are known as \u201cfourth branch institutions\u201d (or, alternatively, \u201cintegrity institutions\u201d). These ensure that\u00a0 many of the basic rights and guarantees that we enjoy can be effective only with an infrastructure of implementation.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These \u2018fourth branch institutions\u2019 need to be functionally independent from the political executive as they are the vehicles for implementing rights against the executive.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The South African and Kenyan Constitutions have dedicated constitutional provisions for \u201cfourth branch institutions\u201d such as Human Rights Commissions, Election Commissions, and so on, calling these \u201cintegrity institutions\u201d, and requiring them to be \u201cindependent.\u201d The appointments process for such bodies normally involves multiple stakeholders from different wings of the state.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issue in the Indian context : The government decides who gets to be in charge of running fourth branch institutions.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although Indian constitutional history is no stranger to the perils of executive power over appointments to independent bodies, and the fashioning of remedies against that.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appointment processes shall involve the government, the Opposition, independent experts, and judicial experts, in a manner that no one centre of power has dominance, or a veto.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Court shall put into place certain interim guidelines, and leave a more permanent, structural solution up to the legislature. The guiding principles, at all times, must be functional and effective independence from the executive, from the moment of appointment to the retirement, and then beyond.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/upholding-the-autonomy-of-the-election-commission\/article66285945.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Fluid boundaries<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The boundary conflict between Maharashtra and Karnataka.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The border dispute has its origins in the States\u2019 reorganisation in 1956 and has flared up every now and then since the 1960s.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carving out political units that neatly correspond with various linguistic groups is impossible in India.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1957, Maharashtra claimed 814 villages and the three urban settlements of Belagavi, Karwar and Nippani in Karnataka; Karnataka not only rebuffed Maharashtra\u2019s claims but also began to claim areas in Kolhapur, Sholapur and Sangli districts in Maharashtra.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fluid political and cultural boundaries criss-crossing the landscape of India are conducive to new fires being lit through divisive politics for which the judiciary can do very little.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sensibility prevails in accepting Court\u2019s decision on any dispute, but harmony can be achieved only through embracing and promoting a political culture that is respectful of diversity that cannot be neatly demarcated.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/fluid-boundaries-on-border-dispute-between-karnataka-and-maharashtra\/article66285568.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>The minimum tax on big businesses<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">136 countries have agreed on a plan to redistribute tax rights across jurisdictions and enforce a minimum tax rate of 15% on large multinational corporations. It is estimated that the minimum tax rate would boost global tax revenues by $150 billion annually.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EU members have agreed to implement a minimum tax rate on big businesses in accordance with Pillar 2 of the global tax agreement framed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) last year.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This shall ensure that big businesses with global operations do not benefit by domiciling themselves in tax havens in order to save on taxes.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corporate tax rates across the world have been dropping over the last few decades as a result of competition between governments to spur economic growth through greater private investments.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global corporate tax rates have fallen from over 40% in the 1980s to under 25% in 2020, thanks to global tax competition that was kick\u00adstarted by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. The OECD\u2019s tax plan tries to put an end to this \u201crace to the bottom\u201d which has made it harder for governments to shore up the revenues required to fund their rising spending budgets.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The minimum tax proposal is particularly relevant at a time when the fiscal state of governments across the world has deteriorated as seen in the worsening of public debt metrics.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some governments, particularly those of traditional tax havens, are likely to disagree and stall the implementation of the OECD\u2019s tax plan.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/Economy\/explained-the-minimum-tax-on-big-businesses\/article66282941.ece#:~:text=Last%20year%2C%20136%20countries%20had,revenues%20by%20%24150%20billion%20annually\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Contextualising Ambedkar\u2019s idea of a moral democracy<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparative Public Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evolution of Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conceptualisation of democracy by viewing political, social and economic philosophies through the moral lens.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Democracy as a concept that affected every aspect of human life.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Importance of rationality and critical reasoning to analyze the maintainability of\u00a0 any subject matter.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ambedkar\u2019s attempt to divide morality into social morality (equality among human beings and a recognition of respect) and constitutional morality (pre-requisite to maintaining a system of democracy in a country based on the imbibed constitutional values). In this attempt, he rejected the caste system as being antithetical to moral democracy.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Analysis of Indian society on the basis of Particularism and Universality.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Ambedkar, the roots of democracy lie within the realm of religion, without which associated living was not possible. Thus, instead of removing aspects of religion completely, he attempts to reconstruct a new version of democracy that accepts the democratic aspects of religions like Buddhism.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ambedkar envisioned democracy as a moral project, where there was a harmonious amalgamation of the concepts of equality, liberty and fraternity.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/specials\/text-and-context\/contextualising-ambedkars-idea-of-a-moral-democracy\/article66282954.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Good governance beyond motherhood and apple pie<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Going beyond\u00a0 cliches and platitudes of good governance<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instances of India&#8217;s experience with administrative reforms to realise good governance.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good governance is also the responsibility of enlightened citizens who should give some thought to complex trade\u00adoffs and not just only demand good governance but also contribute to it.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/good-governance-beyond-motherhood-and-apple-pie\/article66278842.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>A wasted chance and Decriminalisation of offences under GST<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to make indirect tax regime more effective.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GST Council side\u00adstepped the broader solution to deal with rising GST disputes \u2014 the long\u00adpending move to set up appellate tribunals.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A \u2018pathbreaking\u2019\u00a0move\u00a0to\u00a0decriminalise\u00a0certain\u00a0offences by\u00a0taxpayers under Section 132 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017, with\u00a0a\u00a0higher\u00a0 \u20b92\u00a0crore threshold\u00a0for\u00a0initiating\u00a0prosecutions,\u00a0except\u00a0in cases\u00a0involving\u00a0fake\u00a0invoices.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imposing penal provisions in an ambiguous ecosystem significantly alters how businesses perceive risk and uncertainty, directly impacting their ability to conduct business. The law already contains sufficient penalties that serve as a deterrent against tax evasion. Investors may be discouraged by the fear of criminal sanctions in small, trivial, and petty matters, even before their engagement in any business activity or investment.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 48th GST Council meeting has recommended various measures to decriminalise the GST offences such as<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">raising the minimum threshold of tax amount for launching prosecution under GST from one crore to two crore, except for the offence of issuance of invoices without supply of goods or services or both, reducing<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the compounding amount from the present range of 50 to 150% of the tax amount to the range of 25 to 100%, and\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">decriminalising certain offences specifi\u008ded under Section 132 of the CGST Act, 2017, such as obstructing or preventing any officer from doing his duties, deliberate tempering of material evidence and failure to supply information.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If decriminalisation of GST offences are implemented with adequate checks, then prosecution, arrest and imprisonment in GST cases would only be in the rarest of rare cases of hard, habitual, deliberate defaulters and blatant specific fraudulent practices. Other minor grievances may be dealt with in other resolution mechanisms such as Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, private ruling and mediation, faceless adjudication and appeals, etc.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/Economy\/explained-decriminalisation-of-offences-under-gst\/article66279310.ece#:~:text=The%2048th%20GST%20Council%20meeting%20has%20recommended%20various%20measures%20to,services%20or%20both%2C%20reducing%20the\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">India\u2019s crushing court backlogs, out-of-the box reform<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms since independence\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance :<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/pendency-remains-hurdle-to-supreme-courts-role-as-timely-protector-of-citizens-rights\/article66275519.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the CJI the top court has to hear every little cry for personal liberty and safeguarding rights.<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pendency as a perennial drawback that affects the court\u2019s role as the timely protector of citizens\u2019 rights.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government\u2019s zeroing in on bail applications as one of the reasons for slow justice comes at a time when 10 bail pleas are heard every day by all 13 Benches of the Supreme Court.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CJI has made it clear that bail petitions deal with the question of personal liberty and should not be delayed.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overburdening if the judiciary because of the widened access to the SC and the system as a whole.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increase in population of the country and rise in awareness regarding their rights,vacancies of judges, frequent adjournments and lack of adequate arrangements to monitor, track and bunch cases for hearing are also factors which lead to pendency.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conventional reform prescribes more of the same \u2014 more judges, more courts, more staff, more infrastructure. But we know that we do not have the resources of either money or men and women. Need out-of-the box reforms to release the clogging courts.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/indias-crushing-court-backlogs-out-of-the-box-reform\/article66278766.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Constitution is a moral education document: CJI<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance :<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CJI views Constitution as a moral education document which was aimed at creating a moral code of conduct in society.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constitutional morality focuses on the rights of individuals and protects it from popular morality notions of the society.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The influence of Morals on laws.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/our-constitution-is-a-moral-education-document-cji-chandrachud\/article66274139.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Old is not Gold<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allows government servants to avert their contribution of 10% of their basic pay and dearness allowance towards the employee pension funds, as envisaged in the National Pension Scheme (NPS) since inception in 2004.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">States reverting to OPS can achieve some short term gains as they need not put up the matching contribution of 10% towards employee pension funds<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reverting to OPS will tax the State\u2019s exchequer as pension payments form nearly 25.6% of States\u2019 own tax revenue.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breaking a consensus on pension reforms and reverting to OPS amounts to an imprudent option as it will only benefit organised government sector employees, increase the fiscal burden of carrying these payments and take up a significant portion of the State\u2019s budget, thereby curtailing its outlays on general welfare as a whole.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/old-is-not-gold-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-return-to-the-old-pension-scheme\/article66267860.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Is the RTI Act fulfilling its purpose?<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparative Public Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vital reform to help activists and individuals ensure transparency and accountability in governance.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holds high offices to account by acknowledging the rights of the people to know the utilisation of taxpayers\u2019 money. This has enabled them to expose scams such as the Adarsh, Commonwealth Games and Vyapam scams along with human rights violations, and then force accountability in those cases as well.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Information Officers diluting the original provisions of the act by refraining from diverting the application to the appropriate department.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Problems pertaining to sharing information and subsequent impact.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The impact on the RTI Act by the updated\u00a0 Data Protection Bill with undermining of the proactive disclosure under the provisions of the bill.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/is-the-rti-act-fulfilling-its-purpose\/article66266153.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Public servants can be found guilty of graft on circumstantial proof: Supreme Court<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Civil Services<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court held that the demand and acceptance of bribe or illegal gratification by a public servant can be inferred by a court on circumstantial proof in the absence of direct evidence.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Addressing whether public servants could be convicted for corruption under Section 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) and 13 (1)(d)(i) and (ii) (criminal misconduct by a public servant) in the absence of direct oral or documentary evidence due to unavailability of the complainant owing to his death or for any other reasons.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A court of law could use its discretion to make a \u201cpresumption of fact\u201d of the offer made and bribe demanded or accepted by an accused official based on the material on record.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/public-servants-can-be-convicted-in-corruption-case-on-circumstantial-evidence-basis-says-supreme-court\/article66266384.ece#:~:text=Public%20servants%20can%20be%20found,proof%3A%20Supreme%20Court%20%2D%20The%20Hindu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Himachal: Fiscal challenge in Cong Old Pension Scheme(OPS) promise<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mounting committed expenditure shrinking scope of spending on development &#8211; 67.2% of revenue receipts.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18.2% of revenue expenditure of the state is spent on pension bills.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Own Tax revenues form only a small share(25%) of the state&#8217;s total revenues compared to all-state average ratio of states\u2019 own taxes to total receipts at 38%<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With cumulative pension bills jumping 100 times in the last 3 decades, increasing life spans and a large chunk of OTRs being taken away by pensions, OPS shall exert more pressure on the exchequer in the future.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-politics\/himachal-congress-promise-of-return-to-old-pension-scheme-poses-a-huge-challenge-8313485\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">A corrosive strike at court<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><\/li><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contradictions within the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of clear majority of of judges(sitting\/retired)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even number of members in the NJAC as per Article 124A.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No casting vote with CJI, being the chairperson of the commission.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No domain expertise mentioned for the eminent members of NJAC.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Section 5(1), NJAC Act, 2014 required NJAC to recommend the senior most judge as the CJI if considered fit to hold office. But, it did not mention the criteria of fitness.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Veto power with any 2 members of NJAC etc.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for independence of judiciary for the functioning of constitutional democracy.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/supreme-court-collegium-njac-executive-judiciary-8314343\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>All\u2019s in the Name:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">District Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Local Governance<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to re-examine the role of district administration with constitutionally mandated establishment of PRIs and Municipal bodies.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Importance of various functions performed by the District Collector<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transformation to the role of District Commissioner from District Collector\/magistrate.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promotion of Collector Raj by state governments to further its vested interest by limiting devolution of powers and responsibilities to the local governing bodies.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relationship of District Administration with elected local bodies.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Standardisation and unification of functions of DCs\/DMs.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/need-to-restructure-district-collector-role-8312235\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>The impasse over appointment of judges.<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union government and administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constitutionalism<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Politicisation of justice<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Idea of basic structure and constitutionalism in Indian polity.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Independence of judiciary in a democracy.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_delhi\/issues\/17736\/OPS\/GVKAJUC3M.1+G3HAJUKBR.1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Money laundering probe: no HC relief to Raghav Bahl<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of Media<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Judicial accountability<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of media in bringing efficiency in administration by holding it accountable to the citizens.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Judicial system in upholding the values of the constitution in a democracy.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintaining transparency for tackling the issue of corruption in administration.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/legal.economictimes.indiatimes.com\/news\/industry\/delhi-hc-refuses-to-stay-money-laundering-probe-against-raghav-bahl\/96020038#:~:text=The%20Delhi%20High%20Court%20on,the%20investigation%20at%20this%20stage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Redevelopment of Dharavi:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Redevelopment of one of the densest urban habitations in Asia.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brownest of Brown field projects.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drawing out of a Master Plan on the basis of survey and mapping to incorporate eligible and ineligible beneficiaries.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/simply-put-the-new-plan-for-dharavi-mumbai-slum-revamp-5550989\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>As MPC meets to decide interest Rate, snapshots of Inflation and Growth<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of Monetary Policy Committee(MPC) in containing Inflation<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impact of inflation on economic growth<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Components of aggregate demand driving the GDP momentum.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-economics\/explainspeaking-rbi-monetary-policy-committee-india-gdp-8306213\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>A Question of Politics<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Thinkers &#8211; W.Wilson<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant\u00a0 Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pivotal contribution of Institutional leadership in maintaining institutional integrity.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of institutions being limited to enforcement and political consensus being relegated to the background.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Institutional independence as a function of the dynamic space of changing balance of power between competing political factions.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manifestation of political power in multiple ways and not only dependent on the process of appointments.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Repeated public commentary on about the misgivings of these institutions can pave the way for institutional dilution, undermining their credibility and legitimacy in public opinion.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for targeted and specific institutional criticism to prevent erosion of institutional trust.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/supreme-court-judges-appointments-collegium-executive-8305867\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Small is Beautiful<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparative Public Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Local Governance(Rural and Urban Development)<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conflictual tensions between economic development and ecological sustainability.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for decentralised interventions based on Gandhian principles that leverage local talents, crafts, and environment to create livelihood opportunities without disturbing natural ecology.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promoting local initiatives and gaining momentum, scale and market access through support of government and collaborative linkages with corporates, NGOs and specialists.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/india-cop27-binsar-sharm-el-sheikh-8305851\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Democracy Interrupted<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant\u00a0 Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Criminalisation of Politics abetting corruption.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increasing trend of criminalisation of politics being linked to political control of state machinery, corruption, vote-bank politics and loopholes in legal systems.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Undermining good governance in the light of criminals becoming\u00a0 political bosses of bureaucrats and subvert the system to serve their interests.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weakening of the three pillars of democracy subverting the fundamental concept of the democratic system.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recommendations of various committees and judicial observations in the regard of Criminalisation of Politics.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for time-bound justice delivery system, firmer constitutional institutions like Election Commission and proper strengthening of relevant laws for cleansing of this evil.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Checking nexus between crime, money and muscle power and growing dependence of political parties on the electability of criminals must be addressed.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/india-democracy-criminals-in-politics-8305855\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Laying the ground to delegitimise the Supreme Court<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and control<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interface between Executive and judiciary<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Judicial control in upholding constitutional values in a democracy.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/laying-the-ground-to-delegitimise-the-supreme-court\/article66209883.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Towards a robust triumvirate<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant\u00a0 Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Role of independent institutions in ensuring democratic values.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Checks and balances in Indian polity<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/towards-a-robust-triumvirate\/article66205257.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>The costs of GST<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FInancial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to examine the social, administrative and political costs of GST after 5 years of experience with the new tax regime.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Positive outcomes and shortcomings in the application of GST.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Missing social and political costs having financial and administrative snowballing effects which are not incorporated in quantifiable parameters of GST.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues between states and centre, putting Indian federalism in a tight spot.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increasing cesses and surcharges by the centre to guard its revenue.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for inclusion of gasoline,diesel, jet fuel, real estate and electricity.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reforms in the GST Council.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues related to real estate and intermediaries.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delays in establishment of an appellate tribunal related to GST is increasing the burden on the judiciary.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/the-cost-of-gst-trishali-chauhan-christophe-jaffrelot-8321139\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Big Tech and the need in India for ex-ante regulation<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regulatory Bodies<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to rethink the market power of Big Tech companies.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is an urgent need for ex-ante legislation to prevent market failures and mitigate possible anticompetitive conduct.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use of data, issue of consumer protection<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Market distortion can also lead to poorer quality of services, data monopoly, and stifle innovation.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a consumer, there is a need to establish harmony of the Competition law with the new Consumer Protection Act 2020 and Ecommerce rules.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Competition Act of 2000, was largely constituted to deal with the physical marketplace. There is an urgent need to contextualise the law to the digital marketplace and devise new provisions with adequate exante legislation.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/big-tech-and-the-need-in-india-for-ex-ante-regulation\/article66255539.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>City could get its Mayor on January 6<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">District Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mayoral system in Delhi<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Method of election and Electorate for Mayoral Election<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provision of reservation for the office of Mayor<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/cities\/Delhi\/city-could-get-its-mayor-on-january-6\/article66263196.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Building climate resilience collectively<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The document titled \u2018LongTerm-Low Carbon Development Strategy (LTLCDS)\u2019 has Multisectoral measures to reach a net-zero emissions status, climate resilient urbanisation forms a cornerstone of the Government of India\u2019s strategy under the Paris Agreement.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The three pronged and long-term plan for urban areas focuses on adaptation and resource efficiency in urban planning, climate-responsive and climate-resilient buildings, and municipal service delivery.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demonstrating urban planning strategies aimed at climate resilience through specific actions and interventions (backed by sound data) and linking them to various finance streams accessible to the urban local bodies is important.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Case Studies on Bhopal and Jaipur for climate change adaptation.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Active involvement by government,Nongovernmental, Community based Organisations, and academic institutions will help build a Sustainability profile and arrive at specific interventions<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/building-climate-resilience-collectively\/article66263836.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-mobile-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1473\" aria-expanded=\"false\">January<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1473\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1473\" tabindex=\"0\" hidden=\"hidden\"><p><strong>A Battle- Fit Police<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Police Reforms:\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technological solutions for better policing and tackling Internal security challenges &#8211; Terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrimes, cryptocurrency etc.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Repealing obsolete laws<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prison Reforms<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhanced cooperation and operational synergy among all the state\/UT police forces.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Police Sensitivity and Training<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Addressing Structural Issues:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for enactment of Model Police Act as drafted by Soli Sorabjee in 2006.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthening the Police Infrastructure and filing up of vacancies.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Revamping and improving the housing facilities of the police personnel.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Redesigning and monitoring in-service training.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accepting the concept of \u2018federal crimes\u2019 as recommended by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission.to deal with offences having inter-state and\u00a0 national ramifications.These shall be investigated by a federal law enforcement agency<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/prakash-singh-conference-pm-modi-basic-policing-problems-8394335\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>This is an \u2018address\u2019 of great constitutional importance<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 176 of the Constitution requires the Governor to mandatorily address the Members of legislature at the commencement of the first session of each year and to inform them of the causes of its summons.<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 It says that the legislature will discuss the matters referred to in such an address. The \u201caddress\u201d here means the complete address and not a truncated version.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here, the Constitution gives a specific direction to the House to find time to discuss the contents of the Governor\u2019s address. This underscores the importance the Constitution attaches to such an address by the Governor. The address under Article 176 contains the policies and programmes of the elected government of the State. Executive accountability to the elected representatives of the people is the essence of parliamentary democracy.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skipping paragraphs of the address would simply mean that the Governor does not approve or agree with those ideas. The address by the Governor under Article 176 is the address prepared by the government. It does not contain any of the personal views of the Governor.The Governor cannot change a word on his own. So, by wilfully not reading certain portions of the address the Governor has gone against the mandate of Article 176.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other Issues :\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are sitting on the Bill passed by the Assembly without exercising any of the options given by the Constitution. It is clearly against the mandate of the Constitution.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governors have suddenly become proactive. They have begun to openly challenge and criticise Chief Ministers and State governments. Some Governors are even holding press conferences to attack Chief Ministers.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Different viewpoints about the position of Governor:<\/span><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Shamsher Singh (1974) to Nabam Rebia (2016), the Supreme Court has consistently held that Governors can act only on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. He cannot exercise any executive powers independently ignoring the elected government.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court had in Shamsher Singh said, \u201cThe Constitution does not aim at providing a parallel administration within the State by allowing the Governor to go against the advice of the Council of Ministers.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">B.R. Ambedkar said in the Constituent Assembly: \u201cIf the Constitution remains in principle the same, then the Governor should be a purely constitutional Governor. It should not have power of interference in the administration of the province.\u201d<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/this-is-an-address-of-great-constitutional-importance\/article66383837.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>In NREGA reforms, prioritise the worker and her dues<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most recent concern of the central government is over the programme\u2019s \u201cregressive\u201d spending pattern, where poorer States spend less NREGA funds than better-off ones. A committee to suggest reforms has been constituted instead of listening to the longstanding demands of workers and their collectives.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The zeal with which reforms are introduced often outpaces the capacity to adapt. Every time the administrative system gets back on its feet after a reform move, it is hit by another. Poorer States struggle more to adapt when compared to those that are better off because of weaker administrative capacity<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NREGA is underperforming because its most basic design principles have been forgotten or wilfully ignored. These include:<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to address delays in wage payments to restore the faith of workers in the programme. The process of wage payments created by the central government has become even more convoluted. For instance, seven or more functionaries have to sign off before payment due to a worker can be approved<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthening implementation capacities where expenditure is low instead of curbing expenditure where employment generation is high. For a universal, demand-based social security programme such as NREGA, reforms cannot be based on \u2018targetting\u2019 better. There has to be a focus on exclusion and not inclusion \u201cerrors\u201d.Instead of using expenditure and income poverty as the only markers, exclusion must be identified at the household level.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Running the programme like a Demand-based law, and not a scheme. Intermittent and unpredictable fund releases by the central government are one of the fundamental reasons why State governments are unable to ensure the full potential of NREGA.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making discussions on any proposed reforms participatory as NREGA emerged from the demands of a vibrant peoples\u2019 movement across India and its cornerstones have been its pathbreaking provisions for public accountability.There has to be a leveraging of consultative processes and forums built into it, such as the State and Central Employment Guarantee Councils.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An earnest attempt to map the impact of each of its \u201creforms\u201d on access to and the expenditure of NREGA, particularly in poorer States. A slew of \u201creforms\u201d \u2014 the majority have focused on centralisation such as the electronic fund management system, geotagging of assets and a national mobile monitoring system (NMMS) \u2014 have disrupted implementation.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Committee shall consider some principles in order to guide its discussions and recommendations. Reforms to NREGA must prioritise the access of workers to entitlements with ease and dignity, rather than focus on administrative and fiscal efficacy alone.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/in-nrega-reforms-prioritise-the-worker-and-her-dues\/article66447362.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Warning bells<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The highly leveraged Adani group\u2019s market troubles, in the wake of a U.S.based short seller\u2019s report alleging \u2018stock manipulation and questionable accounting practices\u2019, dragged down banking shares led by the State Bank of India and even the state-owned LIC appreciably, triggering investor concern about broader financial sector stability.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s regulators including SEBI and the Reserve Bank of India have an opportunity, rather an obligation, to clear the air by allaying fears of any broader systemic contagion.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given the extent of public trust reposed in these companies in the form of savers\u2019 deposits and life insurance policies as well as taxpayer resources that have been invested to keep the PSU lenders adequately capitalised, financial system regulators would be serving the larger public interest by preemptively communicating messages of reassurance.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regulators could also enhance credibility in India as an investment destination by tightening not just the listing requirements but more crucially the enforcement actions in case of egregious breaches of the laws.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Indian regulators also need to address the debate on the credibility of credit-rating agencies.At a time when India holds the G20 presidency, authorities must ensure the regulatory framework is seen in nothing less than the best light.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/warning-bells-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-adani-saga\/article66447037.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>The path to righting historical wrongs in Tamil Nadu<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The plight of the Scheduled Tribe communities and the need for some remedies.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many Adivasi groups in India continue to suffer the stigma of criminality due to the Habitual Offenders Act, 1952, which replaced the colonial Criminal Tribes Act, 1871. This law is a \u201ccrude colonial construct\u201d, which should be repealed at the earliest.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The structural issues with governance and the negation of tribal communities\u2019 concerns need to be addressed. For instance, a study by Jocelyn I. Lee and Steven A. Wolf in 2018 on the rate of the formal distribution of rights claims under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act, found that no title rights were issued in Tamil Nadu because of a ban on the issuance of titles by the High Court till early 2016.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u201cdevelopment-induced displacement\u201d trajectory adopted by the country has often been at the expense of the Scheduled Tribes (STs), either by way of exclusion or forced \u201cinclusion\u201d in a \u201cmainstream\u201d that is completely alien to their \u201cworld view\u201d through what the Xaxa Committee in 2014 had called the \u201cashramisation\u201d of the tribal.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The makers of the Constitution, even while underlining the importance of sharing the values of modernity with the STs, who have a great deal of heterogeneity among themselves, had been careful enough to provide a certain degree of autonomy to them to have a say in their development pursuit.Accordingly, the Fifth and Sixth Schedules, which are governed by Articles 244 (1) and (2) of the Constitution, provides certain rights to tribes.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Fifth Schedule had been also termed by the Mungekar Committee in 2009 for tribal development as a \u201cConstitution within Constitution\u201d. It allows for the creation of Scheduled Areas by the President of India<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The criteria for creation of scheduled areas is based on four factors following the Dhebar Commission (1960-61): preponderance of the tribes in the population; compact and reasonable size; underdeveloped nature of the area; and marked disparity in the economic standards of the people.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Areas with more than 50% ST population had been declared Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) areas in Tamil Nadu.But by declaring new scheduled areas and with the enforcement of the Fifth Schedule, not only are Panchayati Raj Institutions reserved for STs under the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, but three kinds of autonomy are made available to the STs through the gram sabhas:\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developmental autonomy pertaining to land alienation, land acquisition, tribal subplan, social sector institutions, etc.;\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autonomy over the resolution of disputes as per tribal laws and customs;\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autonomy over the ownership and management of natural resources.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moving forward would be only fulfilling a commitment made in 1976 by the Government of India and reiterated by the Mungekar Committee.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Governments need to show political will and set aside their electoral interest to create a self-governed path for tribal development. Of course, these measures alone are not the panacea to all tribal problems. It should be complemented with clear policies and a plan for tribal development reflected in the yearly Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP). The formulation of this plan must include representatives of different tribes to make it people-centric and people-driven.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/the-path-to-righting-historical-wrongs\/article37550138.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Portentous overkill<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recent directions to block access to the BBC Documentary on websites using emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021 and Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000, has only resulted in citizens gaining access through screenings and shares over smartphones \u2014 akin to how the suppression of information has the unintended consequences of raising more awareness, or the \u2018Streisand effect\u2019.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government should not arbitrarily block the dissemination of media content just because it is critical of the regime.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The events that led to the pogrom, the horrific crimes, the callousness of the then regime and the lack of sufficient recourse to law and order steps, have all been well recorded and commented upon in the Indian press.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The online blocking of the first episode using emergency powers cannot be justified on the basis provided by the MIB that it is \u201cpropagandist\u201d, and only reflects a recent tendency to utilise IT rules to assert executive power rather than address this as a free speech issue &#8211;\u00a0 misinformation and hate speech. The IT rules were amended in February 2021 to allow for increased government control over online news publications \u2014 actions that are now being heard in courts.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent High Court orders have also weighed in on the need to protect free speech and have stayed the government\u2019s moves to control freedom of expression on digital platforms.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/portentous-overkill-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-blocking-access-to-and-arrests-over-bbc-documentary-on-pm-modi\/article66436875.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>PM calls for prison reforms and repeal of obsolete laws<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparative Public Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the 57th All India Conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police organised by the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Prime Minister suggested making the police forces more sensitive and training them in emerging technologies and emphasised the importance of the National Data Governance Framework for smoothing of data exchange across agencies.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Prime Minister suggested that while we should further leverage technological solutions like biometrics etc., there is also a need to further strengthen the traditional policing mechanisms like foot patrols etc.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He recommended repealing obsolete criminal laws and building standards for police organisations across States and discussed strengthening of border as well as coastal security by organising frequent visits of officials to these locations.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The PM emphasised enhanced cooperation between the State Police and the Central agencies to leverage capabilities and share best practices and further suggested replicating the model of the conference at the State\/district levels for discussing emerging challenges and evolving best practices among their teams.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/adopt-emerging-technologies-while-strengthening-traditional-policing-like-foot-patrols-pm-modi-at-dgps-meet\/article66421314.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>A reminder of the flaws in India\u2019s urbanisation policies<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A report by the World Bank, released in November last year, on financing India\u2019s urban infrastructure needs, focuses on private investments ameliorating urban problems. This push to attract private capital since 1990s continues to plague India\u2019s policy paradigm in the urban sector.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After three decades of reforms, urban finance predominantly comes from the government. Of the finances needed to fund urban capital expenditures, 48%, 24% and 15% are derived from the central, State, and city governments, respectively. Public\u2013private partnership projects contribute 3% and commercial debt 2%.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The core idea of the WB report and the solutions suggested include \u201cimproving the fiscal base and creditworthiness of the Indian cities. Cities must institute a buoyant revenue base and be able to recover the cost of providing its services\u201d. In simpler terms, it means increasing property taxes, user fees and service charges to name a few.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The basic problem with this report and other reports drawn up in a similar fashion include\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are made using a top to bottom approach, with too much of a focus on technocentric solutions using very high capital intensive technologies. For the urban context, plans must be made from below by engaging with the people and identifying their needs.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need for empowering the city governments and the people at large, heeding to the recommendations of the national task force that reviewed the 74th Constitutional Amendment, chaired by K.C. Sivaramakrishnan,<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban governance is in shambles. Regular elections should be held in cities and there must be empowerment through the transferring of the three Fs: finances, functions, and functionaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cities primarily are run by parastatals and the city governments hardly have any role to play in the smooth functioning of such parastatals<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An improved urban legal framework that includes a stable and certain fiscal transfer regime, accords financial powers to ULBs [urban local bodies] along with attendant rules\/regulations will determine the medium-to-long term scale of investment flows for urban infrastructure.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/a-reminder-of-the-flaws-in-indias-urbanisation-policies\/article66421089.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Necessary pushback<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court collegium has done well to push back against the Union government\u2019s attempts to block the appointment of some advocates as High Court judges.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communications between the collegium and the Centre offer a glimpse into the untenable nature of the government\u2019s objections to proposed appointees, making it abundantly clear how badly the current regime wants to control judicial appointments.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government appears to think that potential candidates for judicial appointments should not have political views of their own, or that a tendency to make their views or opinion known will amount to a possible bias in their functioning as judges.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indeed, one can say that the history of judicial appointments is replete with instances of government law officers, who invariably enjoy the confidence of the political leadership at the Centre or the States, and lawyers who represent political leaders being offered positions on both the Supreme Court and High Court Benches.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The act of filtering out candidates who may not further the government\u2019s\u00a0 political agenda will surely give the impression of a threat to judicial independence.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/necessary-pushback-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-supreme-court-collegiums-reiteration-of-recommendations\/article66420319.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>There is hardly any autonomy at the panchayat level<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">District Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The article explains the issue of state government control over functioning of panchayats.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, an up-sarpanch in Telangana\u2019s committed suicide due to <\/span><b>indebtedness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. He had taken out a loan to undertake development works in the village and was unable to pay after the State government\u2019s inordinate delay in releasing bill payments.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Assessment of the extent of decentralization of powers to panchayats:<\/b><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Issue of funding<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Gram panchayats remain fiscally dependent on grants from the State and the Centre for everyday activities. Broadly, panchayats have <\/span><b>three main sources of funds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 their own sources of revenue, grants in aid, and discretionary or scheme-based funds.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their <\/span><b>own sources of revenue<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> constitute a tiny proportion of overall panchayat funds. For instance, in Telangana, less than a quarter of a panchayat\u2019s revenue comes from its own sources of revenue.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, <\/span><b>access to discretionary grants <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for panchayats remains dependent on <\/span><b>political and bureaucratic connections<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Even when higher levels of government allocate funds to local governments, sarpanchs need help in accessing them. An <\/span><b>inordinate delay in transferring approved funds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to panchayat accounts stalls local development.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also severe constraints on panchayats for using the funds allocated to them. State governments often<\/span><b> impose spending limits<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on various expenditures through panchayat funds. In almost all States, there is a <\/span><b>system of double authorisation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for spending panchayat funds. Apart from sarpanchs, disbursal of payments requires <\/span><b>bureaucratic concurrence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.The sarpanch and the panchayat secretary, who reports to the Block Development Officer (BDO), must co-sign cheques issued for payments from panchayat funds.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><b>Interference of higher authorities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 State governments also bind local governments through the local bureaucracy. Approval for public works projects often requires t<\/span><b>echnical approval<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the engineering department and <\/span><b>administrative approval<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from local officials of the rural development department.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Higher-level politicians and bureaucrats often intervene in selecting beneficiaries for government programmes and limiting the power of sarpanches further.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sarpanchs need to have <\/span><b>good relationships<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with politicians and local bureaucrats if they want access to <\/span><b>discretionary resources, timely disbursement of funds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and be able to successfully execute any project or programme in their village.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ability of sarpanches to <\/span><b>exercise administrative control<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over local employees is also limited. In many States, the recruitment of local functionaries is conducted at the district or block level. Often the sarpanch does not even have the <\/span><b>power to dismiss<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> these local-level employees.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><b>Dismissal process<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Sarpanchs can be dismissed while in office. Gram Panchayat Acts in many States have <\/span><b>empowered district-level bureaucrats<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, mostly District Collectors, to act against sarpanchs for official misconduct.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Across the country, there are <\/span><b>regular instances<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of bureaucrats deciding to dismiss sarpanchs from office. In Telangana, more than 100 sarpanchs have been dismissed from office in recent years.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a need to reexamine the provisions of the respective Gram Panchayat laws and consider greater devolution of funds, functions, and functionaries to local governments by the states.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State-level politicians and government officials resist giving sarpanchs power because they feel that sarpanchs will misuse funds allocated to a village.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, India has limited decentralisation because if local governments get genuine autonomy to allocate the monies, power will shift from the MLAs and State government controlled bureaucracy to the sarpanch.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/there-is-hardly-any-autonomy-at-the-panchayat-level\/article66414499.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">Under Constitution, law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The public criticism aired by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) judgment may be seen as comments by a high constitutional authority against \u201cthe law of the land\u201d.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court has held that its judicial pronouncements lay down the law. Article 141 of the Constitution mandates that a law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts, even the Supreme Court.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That is, as long as the NJAC judgment, which upholds the Collegium system of judicial appointments, exists, the court is bound to comply with the verdict. Parliament is free to bring a new law on judicial appointments, possibly through a Constitution amendment, but that too will be subject to judicial review.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Article 368 postulates only a \u2018procedure\u2019 for amendment of the Constitution. The same could not be treated as a \u2018power\u2019 vested in Parliament to amend the Constitution so as to alter the \u2018core\u2019 of the Constitution, which has also been described as the \u2018basic features\/ basic structure\u2019 of the Constitution,<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/under-constitution-law-declared-by-the-supreme-court-is-binding-on-all\/article66369225.ece#:~:text=Article%20141%20of%20the%20Constitution,including%20the%20Supreme%20Court%20itself\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>A Governor and a Chief Minister at loggerheads<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi walked out of the Assembly after Chief Minister M. K. Stalin said only the portions of the Governor\u2019s speech prepared and approved by the State Cabinet. Deviations from the original text would be expunged.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, had made ministerial advice binding on the President but no such provision has been made for the Governor. The Supreme Court of India, however, has in several landmark judgements defined limits of the discretionary powers.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the 2016 Nabam Rebia judgement, a Five judge Bench led by then Chief Justice of India, J. S. Khehar, said that Article 163 of the Constitution does not give the Governor a \u201cgeneral discretionary power to act against or without the advice of his council of ministers\u201d.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non-BJP State governments have alleged that these constant faceoffs have resulted in delays in getting gubernatorial assent for Bills passed by the Assembly and have affected governance.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several experts panels were set up to suggest to improve Centre-State Relations. Most of these reports have advocated for appointing nonpolitical Governors through independent mechanisms after consultations with the concerned Chief Ministers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sarkaria Commission had pointed out that the role of the Governor \u201cis to see that a government is formed and not to try to form a government\u201d. However, the recommendations of these reports have not been taken up by any government so far.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/tamil-nadu\/explained-what-led-to-the-governor-cm-rift-in-tamil-nadu\/article66378960.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Capital stalemate<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration and Civil Services<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government of NCT of Delhi has alleged that the aldermen appointed by Mr. Saxena were given voting rights in violation of the MCD Act, a question that remains unclarifi\u0090ed. The party has pointed out that the Lieutenant Governor is ignoring the Council of Ministers and issuing orders to the bureaucracy directly on all matters, regardless of the division of power established by the Supreme Court between the two entities.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technically, the Lieutenant Governor has executive control over only the three reserved subjects of police, public order and land; all other subjects (transferred subjects) lie with the elected government. But by virtue of being in control of the bureaucracy, and exercising the power to transfer, suspend or take any action against any employee of the Delhi government, the Lieutenant Governor\u2019s authority extends beyond those.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court\u2019s calls for statesmanship and wisdom by actors have not resolved the stalemate, which is seriously impacting governance in the national capital. The heightened political competition between the AAP and the BJP has worsened the situation, but the root of it all is the legal ambiguity that needs to be dispelled.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/capital-stalemate-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-conflict-between-the-chief-minister-and-lieutenant-governor-in-delhi\/article66370864.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Reckless spree<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration(Disaster Management)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The land subsidence in Joshimath has become emblematic of a geological disaster that has in fact manifested across India, in the neighbourhood of several large resource extraction projects<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts and civil society have called on the government on many occasions to ease its dam-building spree, of late over rivers in the north and the Northeast; to moderate tourism in the regions to be sustainable; and to not blow off unstable hillsides to widen roads.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Joshimath, which is particularly prone to landslides, questions about zoning, carrying capacity and tipping points have all been set aside. The government must undertake whatever repair and restoration efforts it is undertaking at Joshimath at all the other sites as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The national and the State governments must listen to both science and the people already living near mines and dams. There is an argument<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to allow economically developing countries to emit more before becoming carbon-neutral, but it is not a free pass to plunder natural resources at the cost of climate justice.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/reckless-spree-the-hindu-editorial-on-joshimath-sinking\/article66365678.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>The \u2018Union\u2019 government sends out a message of unity and confluence<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Tamil Nadu government\u2019s decision to shun the usage of the term \u2018Central government\u2019 in its official communications and replace it with \u2018Union government\u2019 is a major step towards regaining the consciousness of our Constitution.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Constituent Assembly did not use the term \u2018Centre\u2019 or \u2018Central government\u2019 in all of its 395 Articles in 22 Parts and eight Schedules in the original Constitution.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the aims and objects in the\u00a0 Objectives Resolution defined that India shall be a Union of territories willing to join the \u201cIndependent Sovereign Republic\u201d. The emphasis was on the consolidation and confluence of various provinces and territories to form a strong united country.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many members of the Constituent Assembly were of the opinion that the principles of the British Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) be adopted, which contemplated a Central government with very limited powers whereas the provinces had substantial autonomy. The Partition and the violence of 1947 in Kashmir forced the Constituent Assembly to revise its approach and it resolved in favour of a strong Centre.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Constituent Assembly, B.R Ambedkar observed that the word \u2018Union\u2019 was advisedly used in order to negative the right of secession of States by emphasising, after all, that \u201cIndia shall be a Union of States\u201d.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ambedkar justified the usage of \u2018Union of States\u2019 saying that the Drafting Committee wanted to make it clear that though India was to be a federation, it was not the result of an agreement and that therefore, no State has the right to secede from it. \u201cThe federation is a Union because it is indestructible,\u201d<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The members of the Constituent Assembly were very cautious of not using the word \u2018Centre\u2019 or \u2018Central government\u2019 in the Constitution as they intended to keep away the tendency of centralising of powers in one unit. The \u2018Union government\u2019 or the \u2018Government of India\u2019 has a unifying effect as the message sought to be given is that the government is of all.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/the-union-government-has-a-unifying-effect\/article34938894.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Barking up the wrong tree<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Election Commission of India (EC) has announced its intention of introducing remote voting across the country\u2014 a facility to enable voters who are residents elsewhere to vote in their home constituencies. Considering that India has a significant fraction of migrant population, this provision is much required.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the EC\u2019s overemphasis on the RVMs appears to be misplaced. There is much more to remote voting than voting electronics, and the commission\u2019s proposal appears to be sketchy and grossly inadequate.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, how will it be ensured that all those who wish to apply for remote voting are able to do so without let or hindrance, and that all applications are processed fairly without inadvertent or selective exclusions? s it needs to be ensured that all applications \u2014 and the decisions on them \u2014 are publicly verifi\u008dable, from both remote and home locations. This can only be done with verifiable zero\u00adtrust technology that is crucially linked to digitisation of the electoral rolls, which, by itself, requires a thorough examination.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second, how will it be ensured that a person allowed to vote remotely is invalidated for local voting and also that nobody is incorrectly invalidated? Since the two lists will be at different locations, the correctness will not be easy to demonstrate in a publicly verifiable way.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Third, how will the votes \u2014 both the electronic votes and the VVPAT slips \u2014 be consolidated and counted? Will the counting and the VVPAT audit happen at the remote location, or at the home constituency after consolidation?<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fourth, who will be the polling agents at the remote locations? How will it be ensured that in a different political environment at the remote site, a remote voter will not be coerced?<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The above problems are not insurmountable, but they will require considerably more due diligence. They will also require a significant shift of emphasis from designing electronics to ensuring verifiability.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, this misplaced emphasis on unverifiable voting machines has been a long\u00adstanding, ostrich like problem with the EC.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One way out to ensure public verifiability \u2014 as an approximation to software independence \u2014 is to audit the electronic results with a count of the VVPATs, either with a complete count or that of a statistically significant sample. The procedure for doing this, called risk limiting audit, is well established in voting literature. Unfortunately, it appears that election results are declared in India without any VVPAT audits at all. Even the Supreme Court\u2019s stipulation of auditing five randomly selected EVMs in every Assembly constituency against VVPAT counts appears to be without any sound statistical basis.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/barking-up-the-wrong-tree\/article66362355.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Bad and ugly<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behavior<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The constitutional convention is that the President or the Governor should not depart from the text, as it is nothing but a statement of policy of the elected government.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most Chief Ministers have in the past avoided confrontation despite the occasional departure from the convention. Mr. Stalin, however, chose to hand out an immediate riposte in the very presence of the Governor through a resolution<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The events highlight the consequences of a confrontationist attitude on the part of constitutional functionaries.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Future confrontations can be avoided if the Governor gives up his penchant for making politically loaded remarks and is heedful of the State\u2019s political sensibilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the longer term, the role of the Governor in the country\u2019s constitutional scheme needs a thorough overhaul, so that incumbents in Raj Bhavan give up their sense of overlordship and focus on their core constitutional functions.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/bad-and-ugly-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-tamil-nadu-governors-walkout-from-the-assembly\/article66360889.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>\u2018Excluding civil servants from a State\u2019s realm negates autonomy\u2019<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration and Civil Services<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SC\u2019s question to Delhi Government whether civil servants posted in the national capital in relation to public order, police and land will come outside the purview of the executive power of the Delhi government.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the core of the case is how \u201ccivil servants are accountable to the respective Ministers who, in turn, are accountable to the legislature, which is accountable to the people\u201d.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excluding civil servants from a local or State government\u2019s realm negates autonomy, which is the very purpose of government in federalism.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2018 judgment, though holding that the Lieutenant Governor Of Delhi was bound by the \u201caid and advice\u201d of the popularly elected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, had not cally dealt with the issue of \u2018services\u2019.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On February 14, 2019, a\u00a0 two-judge Bench of the court had given a split opinion on the question of control over \u2018services\u2019 in Delhi.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/excluding-civil-servants-from-a-state-governments-realm-negates-autonomy-kejriwal-government-tells-sc\/article66362010.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>A step towards fighting corruption<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personnel Administration and Civil Services<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a judgment in December 2022 \u2014 Neeraj Dutta v. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi) \u2014 the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court came down heavily on corruption among public servants in the country and lowered the bar for the quantum of evidence required to convict persons charged with corruption.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through its ruling, the Supreme Court debunks the myth that absolute proof of guilt alone can help convict an offender. The court has now laid down that even if prosecution witnesses turn hostile, a conviction would be in order if all the circumstantial evidence marshalled by the prosecution and produced before the court points unmistakably to the guilt of the accused &#8211; a great step towards ensuring integrity in public services,<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supreme Court has set the standard of \u2018preponderance of probability\u2019, a yardstick that is usually not acceptable to sustain conviction in criminal trials. Earlier, the belief was that only conclusive proof, namely, proof that does not leave an iota of doubt in the minds of the courts, was required. This has now been diluted. The court has directed that infirmities such as nonavailability of the complainant, either because he is dead or otherwise not traceable, should not stand in the way of accepting the story of the prosecution. The same liberal application of the law of evidence will now apply to cases where prosecution witnesses turn hostile, either because of inducement or intimidation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why this Ruling?<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">There are two aspects to the fight against corruption:<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The severity of the law and its application; and\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The strength of public opinion that would help carry forward the campaign for a clean public life. Both are equally important.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The more you enhance penalties for criminal behaviour, the higher will be the quantum of proof required by the courts to be convinced of the guilt of those arraigned before them. It is probably this hard reality that persuaded the Constitutional Bench to lower the bar for the quantum of evidence required to convict persons charged with corruption\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/a-step-towards-fighting-corruption\/article66357085.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">Municipal corporations in India are gasping for funds<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The combined budget of all the municipal corporations in India is much smaller than that of the Central and State governments, an RBI analysis of finances of urban local bodies &#8211; \u201cReport on municipal finances\u201d\u00a0 concluded.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Own-Tax Revenue <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; Taxes earned by municipal corporations in India are grossly inadequate to meet their expenditure needs. In India, the own tax revenue of municipal corporations, comprising property tax, water tax, toll tax and other local taxes, formed 31-34% of the total revenue in the FY18-FY20 Period. This share was low compared to many other countries and it also declined over time.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Total Revenue <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8211; Using budgetary data from 201 municipal corporations across India, the RBI report calculated their overall revenue receipts \u2014 consisting of own tax revenue, own non-tax revenue and transfers. In 2017-18 (actuals), it was estimated to be 0.61% of the GDP and according to budget estimates of 2019-20, it increased slightly to 0.72% of the GDP. This was much smaller than Brazil\u2019s 7% and South Africa\u2019s 6%.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Property Taxes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Another major issue with the municipal corporations\u2019 revenue raising capabilities was their dependence on property taxes. In 2017-18, the property taxes formed over 40% of the municipal corporations\u2019 own tax revenue. Despite such dominance, property tax collection in India was much lower compared to OECD countries due to undervaluation, and poor administration,<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Expenditure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Over 70% was spent on revenue expenditures such as salaries\/wages\/bonus (25%), operational and maintenance charges (16.2%), pensions (7.4%), etc., while less than 30% was capital expenditure.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The corporations are mostly dependent on transfers from the Union and State Governments with their revenue raising potential being limited.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/data\/data-municipal-corporations-in-india-are-gasping-for-funds\/article66360699.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>A mountain reeling under human aggression<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration(Disaster Management)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While implementing a freeway project in the Himalayas, a major question that arises is whether the mountain morphology with steep slopes and sharp gradients is easily amenable to human engineering \u2014 a caveat raised by many expert committees in the past.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Himalayan terrain demands sustainable tourism, not mass tourism. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) report on the Chamoli disaster in April 2022 clearly states that \u201cin the long term, it will be necessary to focus on finding alternative sources of energy, as the area appears to be environmentally sensitive\u201d.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A development strategy for the Himalayas should not come at the cost of the environment. The Joshimath episode is a warning that the Himalayan environment is at a tipping point and it may not be able to withstand another push generated by intrusive anthropogenic activities in the form of massive construction projects of townships, highways, tunnels, railway tracks and dams \u2014 an ecosystem already grappling with the consequences of global warming.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It should be primarily based on the region\u2019s natural resources such as forest, water, biodiversity and ecotourism. Rather than building massive dams, focus should be on small projects that would be helpful in providing local energy supply.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An appropriate strategy for human wellbeing should use traditional knowledge, agricultural practices, construction practices and local cultural aspects.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/a-mountain-reeling-under-human-aggression\/article66356312.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>A participatory mapping exercise<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The demarcation of a 1km buffer zone around the protected forests in Kerala on the direction of the Supreme Court has raised serious concerns in society. This is often beset by a paucity of reliable ground-level data.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forest areas are being used for various Non-forestry Purposes, including the expansion of human settlements, leading to the fragmentation of forest patches. The forest settlement boundary is pushed deep into the Western Ghats, exposing trails of wildlife movement, and aggravating human-wildlife conflicts. In 2021, there were instances of 8,107 human-wildlife conflicts.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fixing the boundary between natural forest vegetation and humanised landscape is necessary. It warrants a detailed land use survey on a cadastral scale at the plot level. Participation of local people is imperative.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drawing from past experiences, local panchayat and residents can be mobilised to undertake the programme of land use and asset survey for the panchayats bordering the protected forests.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students from schools and colleges, along with teachers can be involved. Scientific institutes and departments may be mandated to extend technical support.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ownership of the maps and local action must rest with the local inhabitants.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/buffer-zone-a-participatory-mapping-exercise\/article66354452.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Imagining the politics of fraternity<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the eyes of our nation\u2019s founders, fraternity was not merely a value to aspire to, but a foundational principle to be upheld by all the political forces; hence, it was included in the Preamble as well as in the fundamental duties of our Constitution.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditionally there were two ideas of fraternity.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first emerged from the JudeoChristian World view which envisaged a brotherhood among men owing to the belief that all men were \u2018children of God\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second more radical and secular idea of fraternity was born out of the crucible of the French Revolution. Here, fraternity denoted a sense of solidarity and brotherhood among those who were opposed to the tyrannical monarchical order. This idea became the basis of modern citizenship.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Indian context, Bandhutva emerged during the process of anticolonial struggle and the concomitant process of nation building. The most ardent champion of Bandhutva was Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In The Buddha and his Dhamma, Ambedkar argued that any society which sanctioned the supremacy of one group over the other is bound to have perpetual conflict. The only way to resolve this conflict is to make fraternity universally effective. For Ambedkar, fraternity was the fundamental enabling condition for the realisation of liberty and equality, which would otherwise merely be \u2018coats of paint\u2019.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are living in an age of extreme inequality. Across the world, the principle of fraternity is threatened by the political culture spawned by extreme social and economic polarisation with one enabling the other. This is leading to rise of xenophobia and racial tensions.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/bharat-jodo-yatra-imagining-the-politics-of-fraternity\/article66353200.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Avoid further delay in conducting the Census<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Importance of Census Data and implications of its delay:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Constitution talks about the use of Census data for delimitation of constituencies and for determining the quantum of reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Census alone can provide population data for every village and town in the country. Sample surveys can provide reliable data on social and demographic indicators only at higher geographic levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In many towns and even panchayats that have seen rapid changes in the composition of their population over the last decade, this would mean that either too many or too few seats are being reserved.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apart from the population count, the Census has also been providing data on population characteristics, housing and amenities.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For answers to questions on the improvement in literacy and educational levels, economic activity, migration, etc., or the impact of programmes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, one must depend on sample surveys. But this information cannot be used to find answers to how many villages have literacy rates below 75% or which tehsils have a low percentage of people getting protected water supply which can be attained by comprehensive Census data..<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rural-urban distribution of population has been rapidly changing over the years. There is high population growth in the urban areas. Some cities have been growing faster than others through inmigration.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The pandemic resulted in deaths among adults and the aged relatively more than children. Its impact on age distribution in severely affected areas would be of interest as it would give an indirect estimates of the number of deaths.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Constitution does not say what should be the periodicity of the census. The Census Act, 1948, which predates the Constitution, provides the legal background for several activities relating to the Census without mentioning anything about its Periodicity. This provision puts the onus of deciding when to conduct a Census on the executive. This is unlike the position in several countries such as the U.S. and Japan where the Constitution or the Census law mandates a Census with defined periodicity.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Census is a single-shot operation and there is no scope for a retake. The Central government\u2019s stated stand is that the data for the National Population Register would be updated during the Census. As the Census has been considerably delayed, it would be advisable to separate these two and disassociate the Census from a politically sensitive issue.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first Census after 2026 would be used for delimitation of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies and for apportionment of parliamentary seats among the States. Due to the disparity in growth rates between the States, there could be changes in the distribution of seats in Parliament. That Census is likely to be held in a more politically charged atmosphere. Hence, it is necessary that this Census is done as early as possible.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"2\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/avoid-further-delay-in-conducting-the-census\/article66353343.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>A timely halt<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">District Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court\u2019s timely intervention has halted the forcible eviction of some 50,000 people from Haldwani in Uttarakhand, where the occupants are accused of squatting on railway property for decades.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is significant that the Bench underscored the human angle to the issue and spoke about the need for rehabilitation before eviction while staying the Uttarakhand High Court order.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conflicts between occupants of public land and the state that wants to reclaim the land are a never ending saga in the country. A shortage of housing, as well as inadequate recognition of the right to shelter, means that large masses of people encroach on vacant land, be it on the bed of water bodies or government property.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are court judgments that stress rehabilitation measures and consultation with the oustees before eviction. Some courts have also recorded the view that mandatory rehabilitation may prove to be an incentive for encroachment.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India does not have a good record on rehabilitation of those evicted from public spaces, and this case presents an opportunity to the Supreme Court to lay down the law on meaningful rehabilitation as well as effective prevention of encroachments.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/a-timely-halt-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-haldwani-eviction-issue\/article66353549.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Remote work helped in saving jobs during COVID: ILO report<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Theory<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Report: \u2018Working Time and Work-Life Balance Around the World\u2019,<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Short time work and worksharing measures or other forms of job retention helped people reduce the volume of work and save jobs during the COVID19 pandemic,<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The system of reduced working hours and flexible working time arrangements can benefit economies, enterprises and workers, and lay the ground for a better and more healthy worklife balance,.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The report looked at the two main aspects of working time &#8211;\u00a0 working hours and working time arrangements (also called work schedules) and the effects of both on business performance and workers\u2019 work-life balance.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u2018Great Resignation\u2019 phenomenon has placed worklife Balance at the forefront of social and labour market issues in the post-pandemic world\u201d<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/remote-work-helped-in-saving-jobs-during-covid-19-ilo-report\/article66347224.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>To boost \u2018Make in India\u2019, Centre flags unfair tender norms<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Sector Undertakings<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plans and Priorities<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union government has flagged over a dozen \u201crestrictive and discriminatory\u201d conditions which prevented local suppliers from participating in bidding processes initiated by its various departments and Ministries. This is in violation of the Public Procurement Preference to Make in India (PPP-MII) Order, 2017, issued to protect the interests of local suppliers.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DPIIT in consultation with the Department of Expenditure and the Government e Marketplace (GeM) had identified over a dozen conditions commonly introduced in tender conditions that went against the local suppliers but suited the interests of foreign manufacturers and<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excessive turnover requirement as a prequalifying criteria, insisting on specific experience of supplying products to other nations such as export to G8 countries, specifying foreign brands either for finished products or for part of scope of work were among conditions that prevented the local manufacturers from taking part in the procurement process,<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/to-boost-make-in-india-centre-flags-unfair-tender-norms\/article66345689.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Political parties are not like companies<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparative Public Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical\u00a0 and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The flawed analogy of Political Parties viz-a-viz Corporations<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A key difference between a political party and a company is that parties have claimants and volunteers while a company has employees. This difference has an impact on all aspects of Decision-making and operations of the two entities.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The purpose of a political party is to capture state power in service of some stated social agenda.On the other hand, most private companies operate in a narrowly defined and apolitical space selling goods and services.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A political party must manage tradeoffs between multiple conflicting interests, generate consensus, and then mobilise the electorate around its chosen narrative. This is a more nebulous space than one in which predefined goods and services are exchanged for profit.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike employees, political functionaries cannot be \u2018fired\u2019, especially since many may not have a post to begin with. This is because political functionaries don\u2019t just perform a role but also serve as representatives of some or other interests. The ability to enforce discipline in a political party is thus directly related to the ability of the leadership to consolidate power at the top.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a political party, power is more informal and dynamic than in a corporation. Hence, corporate notions of hierarchy, compartmentalisation, professionalisation, discipline and accountability do not translate well within a political setting. In a corporation, a promoter can outsource management to a \u2018professional\u2019 without worrying about losing control as long as s\/he controls majority shares. However, in a political party, power once delegated can be lost if the representative interests realign.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given these vagaries in the functioning of political parties, there are indeed discernible trends towards \u2018corporatisation\u2019 and \u2018professionalisation\u2019 of parties. These include anti defection law which divests political discretion from elected representatives by constraining them to the whip and vesting all decisionmaking in the party leadership. Chief Ministers using the bureaucracy to bypass Ministers and the use of political consultants to bypass the party organisation are other examples of professionalization of political parties.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of improving efficiency, this has resulted in further degradation of overall public purpose. Pruning political discretion from positions has made individuals in those positions expendable like employees and less capable of negotiating the party\u2019s internal power structures. The \u2018professionalisation\u2019 of politics has also facilitated rampant party hopping by political functionaries in the manner of employees flitting across companies. This reduces the overall credibility of the political space.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/political-parties-are-not-like-companies\/article66346175.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>As Joshimath sinks, all projects stopped<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">District Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With residents of the Joshimath town reporting frequent landslips and hundreds of houses in the hill town in Uttarakhand developing cracks, the district administration has issued orders to stop all construction work.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The administration has also been tasked with working on an immediate action plan and a longterm one to manage the situation. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team will be deployed on priority basis.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ministry of Jal Shakti on Friday constituted a committee to conduct a rapid study of the occurrence of land subsidence and its impact in the Joshimath region. In a statement, the Ministry said the committee would ascertain the cause and effects of landslips, and the measures to be taken to safeguard human settlements, buildings, highway infrastructure and the riverine system.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/joshimath-sinking-administration-stops-auli-ropeway-construction-work-of-helang-bypass-and-ntpc-hydropower-project\/article66343274.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Why is Japan offering money to move out of Tokyo?<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to local media reports, Japan will pay up to one million yen (approximately \u20b96 lakh) per child to families if they move out of the Tokyo metropolitan area to reduce population concentration in the capital area.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The impact of emigration from rural to urban spaces has been felt sharply in rural areas the most, where the number of local community members have decreased, leading to a shrinkage in local and smallscale economic opportunities. Once people move out and local economies decline, it becomes difficult to maintain essential life services in these areas, and the region loses its charm and functionality.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Japan\u2019s two-pronged solution to this problem includes achieving the goal of a vibrant local community and correcting the overconcentration in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Tokyo is also prone to earthquakes, and the overconcentration of the population and economy makes the nation vulnerable to loss.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To strengthen its efforts of reducing overconcentration in Tokyo, the government plans to pursue\u00a0 policies like offering a lucrative sum of money, improving ties with local communities, creating a profitable economy, and promoting a work-life balance focused on peace of mind.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/explained-why-is-japan-offering-citizens-money-to-move-out-of-tokyo\/article66338290.ece#:~:text=To%20strengthen%20its%20efforts%20of,a%20lucrative%20sum%20of%20money\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Freedom in authority<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organisations<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court has shown sound restraint while examining the issue of misuse of free speech, especially by political functionaries holding public office.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bench correctly concluded that the specified grounds for reasonable restrictions in Article 19(2) are \u201cexhaustive\u201d and nothing further can be added by judicial fiat. The majority also declined to expand the notion of \u2018collective responsibility\u2019 to fix liability on the state for such remarks.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a differing opinion, Justice BV Nagarathna said that it is possible to attribute vicarious responsibility to the government if a minister\u2019s view represents that of the government and is related to the affairs of the state.Political leaders do need an occasional reminder that they should show utmost restraint, as their public utterances tend to get circulated and also influence their followers.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court has restated and clarified several principles, including that of constitutional tort, or a civil wrong that is actionable. The main opinion concludes that a mere statement by a minister that goes against an individual\u2019s fundamental rights may not be actionable, but becomes actionable if it results in actual harm or loss. Justice Nagarathna, on the other hand, holds the view that there should be a proper legal framework to define acts and omissions that amount to \u2018constitutional tort\u2019<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court\u2019s overall view that fundamental rights are enforceable even against private actors is indeed a welcome one. This largely settles the question of whether these rights are only \u2018vertical\u2019, that is, enforceable only against the state, or \u2018horizontal\u2019 too, that is enforceable by one person against another.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/freedom-in-authority-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-right-to-free-speech\/article66343456.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Why has a high-power Ladakh committee been formed?<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A high-powered committee to discuss measures to protect Ladakh\u2019s unique culture and language taking into consideration its geographical location and strategic importance; ensure protection of land and employment for the people of Ladakh; strategise inclusive development and discuss issues related to the empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill District Councils of Leh and Kargil.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The civil society groups renewed their demand to seek full Statehood for Ladakh after repeated failure to ensure progress on the demand for inclusion under the sixth schedule of the Constitution.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not keen to give any special status to Ladakh, the MHA informed a parliamentary standing committee recently that the objective for inclusion of tribal population under the sixth schedule is to ensure their overall socioeconomic development, which, the UT administration has already been taking care of and that sufficient funds are being provided to Ladakh to meet its overall developmental requirements for instance, increase in reservation of STs in direct recruitment from 10% to 45%.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/explained-why-has-a-high-power-ladakh-committee-been-formed\/article66339539.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>The values of local self governance<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Theories<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since local governments seldom derive their authority directly from the Constitution, India\u2019s constitutional reforms for decentralisation are exceptional.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On 30th anniversary of the constitutional amendments, it is important to ask fundamental questions: Why should local governments be empowered? Why are they weak despite constitutional reforms? How can the idea of local self governance be revived?<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding the normative basis of local self-governance is important since this also informs the institutional form local governments take. Local self-governance is linked to the idea of subsidiarity and is typically grounded on two broad arguments.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, it provides for efficient provision of public goods since governments with smaller jurisdictions can provide services as per the preferences of their residents.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second, it promotes deeper democracy since governments that are closer to the people allow citizens to engage with public affairs more easily.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the constitutional promise of local self-governance, local governments, especially municipalities, operate with limited autonomy and authority.This includes the discretion given to the States regarding devolution of powers and levying of local taxes and reluctance of state governments to dilute their control over the cities which are economic powerhouses and a source of funding for state governments and political parties.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the courts\u2019 contrasting judgements on various accounts,\u00a0 the Patna High Court\u2019s recent order declaring some provisions of the Bihar Municipal (Amendment) Act, 2021 as unconstitutional is pathbreaking.\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2021 amendment had transferred the powers of appointment of Grade C and D employees of municipalities from the Empowered Standing Committee of the municipality to the State government controlled Directorate of Municipal Administration. The court held that these provisions violate the 74th Amendment since the recentralization of power and the weakening of self-governance \u201cAre incompatible with the idea, intent and design of the constitutional amendment\u201d.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hence, debates on federalism should include larger discussions on how power should be divided and shared between governments at the Union, State, and local level since local governments are, normatively and structurally, an integral part of the federal framework of the Constitution.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/the-values-of-local-self-governance\/article66337780.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">Overly deferential<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court in the judgment on demonetisation upheld the government\u2019s power to demonetise notes without quantitative restrictions and accepted the claim that there was adequate consultation between the Union government, which initiated the proposal, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The majority has brushed aside substantial arguments based on proportionality, holding that demonetisation survives every test for proportionality: there was a legitimate purpose (unearthing fake currency and hoarded wealth and combating terror funding), there was a nexus between the action and the objectives, and the court did not have the expertise to suggest a less intrusive way of achieving these objectives.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it does not properly address the question on whether the adverse consequences could have been limited.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Justice B.V. Nagarathna\u2019s dissent, holding the process to be flawed and the RBI\u2019s approach to be without application of mind, is a consolation for those who want the courts to hold those in power to account.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/overly-deferential-on-supreme-court-judgement-on-demonetisation\/article66334471.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>How is India moving to regulate online gaming?<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Administration and Management<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released draft amendments in relation to online gaming. The idea is to ensure that online games are in conformity with Indian laws and to safeguard users against potential harm.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The draft proposes a self-regulatory mechanism which, in future, may also regulate the content of online gaming.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposals are aimed at safeguarding the interests of users by introducing set procedures and norms for verification and user engagement.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It defines what constitutes an online game and addresses the discourse in the sector about the definitions of a \u2018game of skill\u2019 and \u2018game of chance\u2019.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the monetary aspect of it, operators would have to inform the user about the policy related to withdrawal or refund of their deposit, measures taken for its protection, the manner and distribution of winnings and the fees and other charges to be paid by the user.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They would also have to be informed about the risk of potential financial loss and addiction associated with the game. Addiction is to be combated using repeated warning messages should the user exceed a reasonable duration while playing a certain game.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before hosting or publishing a game, the platform would have to verify it from the Self-regulatory body it is associated with. The platform is expected to appoint a key management personnel or senior employee as its Chief Compliance Officer who would be entrusted with coordinating with law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with their orders or requisitions.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It must have in place an appropriate mechanism for receipt and resolution of grievances. The complainant must be able to track the status of the same using a unique ticket number.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts have welcomed the government\u2019s initiative to bring online gaming under a central regulation.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rules still bucket all gaming intermediaries into a broad category irrespective of size or risk. They all require similar compliances, including the need to have India based officers. This can make it difficult for global players to start their services in India.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/technology\/explained-how-is-india-moving-to-regulate-online-gaming\/article66335467.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Over the borderline<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government of India is paying special attention to the development of border villages, especially from a security perspective.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Importance of\u00a0 the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) to promote development and communication in border villages. The scheme is for funding development of \u201cborder villages with sparse population, limited connectivity and infrastructure (that) often get left out from the development gains,\u201d<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VVP would cover construction of village infrastructure, housing, tourist centres, road connectivity, provisioning of decentralised renewable energy, direct-to-home access for Doordarshan and educational channels, and support for livelihood generation. There were also plans to open the villages along the China border in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh for tourists.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need to verify the appropriateness of holding border areas close to the rest of the country. This is a dynamic challenge and requires a sensitive approach towards the ethnic and cultural strings of the local populations.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/over-the-borderline-on-paying-special-attention-to-development-of-border-villages\/article66331217.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Towards reducing India\u2019s prison footprint<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Behaviour<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The President\u2019s emphasis on how the judiciary, executive, and legislature must work together to help those incarcerated. She intriguingly questioned: How are we claiming that we are progressing as a nation, if we are still building prisons to address the issue of overcrowding?<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In stark contrast, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to allocate 1.6 lakh square metres of land to Delhi\u2019s prison department to construct a district prison complex in Narela. The Delhi prison administration is essentially creating solitary confinement which will have a severe detrimental effect on prisoners\u2019 mental health.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frank Gehry, at the Yale School of Architecture in 2017, in a course on architecture and mass incarceration.promoted models which\u00a0 featured open and communal space, fresh air, and spaces for family visits and therapy. These emphasized the need to break away from the traditional conception of prisons as mere warehouses and cages, even for the most violent inmates. The students viewed prisoners and prison staff as their clients, rather than the state bureaucracy, and this impacted their designs.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prisons in India are still governed by the Prisons Act, 1894, a colonial legislation which treats prisoners as subpar citizens, and provides the legal basis for punishment to be retributive, rather than rehabilitative. These laws are also highly casteist, and remain largely unchanged since they were drafted by the British.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dalits and Adivasis are overrepresented In Indian prisons. The National Dalit Movement for Justice and the National Centre for Dalit Human Rights\u2019 report \u2018Criminal Justice in the Shadow of Caste\u2019 explains the social, systemic, legal, and political barriers that contribute to this.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress is antithetical to setting up prisons, and congestion in prisons must be addressed in non-carceral ways. These could include releasing unwell or old inmates, reducing penalties, allowing bail at affordable costs, employing anti-carceral ways of holding people accountable for their crimes, and expediting trials.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our approach to crime should be preventive, rather than reactive. Instead of investing thousands of crores in finding \u201cstate of the art\u201d ways to cage and harm people, the LG should reflect on the soul of India\u2019s Constitution which imposes welfare obligations on the state.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/towards-reducing-indias-prison-footprint\/article66329746.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>SC lists U.P.\u2019s plea against order on civic polls<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Local Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The case raises the fundamental question whether quota for political representation in urban self-government bodies can be equated with reservation in higher education and public employment.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The appeal by UP Government shall be countered by a 2010 Constitution Bench judgment of the Supreme Court in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">K. Krishnamurthy vs Union of India<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which had clearly held that the \u201cnature and purpose of reservation in relation to local bodies is considerably different from that in relation to higher education and public employment\u201d. This cannot be mechanically applied in the context of reservations enabled by Articles 243D and 243T [reservation of seats in panchayats, municipalities].<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court had explained that though social and economic sense could act as a barrier to effective political participation and representation, such backwardness cannot be the sole criteria for identifying the backward classes inadequately represented politically.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/sc-agrees-to-hear-appeal-on-january-4-challenging-direction-to-hold-up-municipal-polls-without-reservation-for-obc\/article66329427.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>ST Commission holds its ground on impact of new rules on Forest Rights Act<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Commission for Scheduled Tribes had pointed out that the Forest Conservation Rules, 2022 had done away with the clause to mandatorily seek consent of the gram sabhas before the Stage 1 clearance or even after Stage 2 clearance.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In such a scenario, project proponents, having received partial clearance,will be pushing the State governments and Union Territory administrations for \u201cdiversion at the earliest\u201d, which would be\u201c seriously impacting the process of recognition of rights under the FRA\u201d.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The panel highlighted the applications for divergence which were granted clearance and cases of misrepresentation with regard to Forests Rights Act, 2005.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/national-commission-for-scheduled-tribes-position-on-new-forest-conservation-rules-will-be-same\/article66330603.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Ayes and nays<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High rate of internal migration within India\u00a0 has often led to migrants often seeing their political and economic rights compromised at their place of origin and residence.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Remote Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) prototype can be used for up to 72 constituencies simultaneously from a single, remote polling booth.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A hurried move will only do more damage to the integrity of the electoral process, which many fear is eroding, and for valid reasons.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ECI\u2019s ambitious plan comes against this backdrop of public scepticism about its own impartiality and, less justifiably, about the reliability of the EVMs.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The proposed plan will add more questions to the mix, including some fundamental ones such as about the correlation between citizenship and territoriality. Defining a migrant who is eligible to vote remotely is going to be controversial.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/ayes-and-nays-the-hindu-editorial-on-remote-electronic-voting-machines-for-domestic-migrants\/article66327588.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>The advent of \u2018app-solute\u2019 chaos in NREGA under the guise of transparency<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Theories<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Management and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Government and Administration\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digitally capturing the attendance of workers employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has been made universal by the Centre from January 1, 2023 via the National Mobile Monitoring Software(NMMS) App.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launched by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) , the application is meant for \u201cimproving citizen oversight and increasing transparency\u201d in National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) works.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is to be deployed by NREGA Mates, local women at the panchayat level who are selected and trained to monitor NREGA worksites. The main feature of the app is the real-time, photographed, geotagged attendance of every worker to be taken once in each half of the day.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues with deployment of the app<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While such an app may be useful in monitoring the attendance of workers who have fixed work timings, in most States, NREGA wages are calculated based on the amount of work done each day, and workers do not need to commit to fixed hours.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to the traditional burden of household chores and care work on women, the app is likely to disproportionately affect women workers.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A stable network is a must for real-time Monitoring; unfortunately, it remains patchy in much of rural India. This could lead to workers not being able to mark their attendance, and consequently lose a day of wages.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The app has adversely impacted NREGA Mates as well. Now, to be a Mate, one needs to have a smartphone. This new condition disqualifies thousands of women who do not own smartphones from becoming Mates.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non-resolution of the implementation errors in the pilot projects with the same problems persistent in the recent expansion of the usage of the app.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond the problems in implementation, the intended purpose of such an application, and its effectiveness remain unclear.With no physical attendance records signed by workers anymore, workers have no proof of their attendance and work done.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The MoRD has not provided much clarity on either the magnitude of this corruption or the manner in which the NMMS addresses it. There are no parameters established to assess the app\u2019s performance, either on transparency, or on quicker processed payments.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It seems ironic that an application meant to improve citizen oversight and transparency was implemented with no consultation and discussion with NREGA workers, functionaries, or government field officials. The NMMS is consequently blind to the actual functioning of NREGA on the ground.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of focusing on this app or introducing other complex technological reforms, social audits must be strengthened. Social audits are Citizen-centric instruments, where the citizens of the panchayat have a direct role and say in how NREGA functions in their panchayat.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/the-advent-of-app-solute-chaos-in-nrega\/article65561536.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-tab-title elementor-tab-mobile-title\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1474\" aria-expanded=\"false\">February<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1474\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1474\" tabindex=\"0\" hidden=\"hidden\"><p><strong>Is judicial majoritarianism justified?<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability and Control<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Law and Order Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant Issues in Indian Administration<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The blind acceptance of numerical majorities in judicial decision-making and the constitutional disregard of analysis and appreciation of arguments and evidence in dissenting judgments have been in news recently after the recent Supreme Court Judgement on demonetization.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is judicial majoritarianism?<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The requirement for a majority consensus flows from Article 145(5) of the Constitution, which states that no judgment in such cases can be delivered except with the concurrence of a majority of the judges but that judges are free to deliver dissenting judgments or opinions.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numerical majorities are of particular importance to cases, which involve a substantial interpretation of constitutional provisions. In such cases, Constitutional Benches, consisting of five or more judges, are set up in consonance with Article 145(3) of the Constitution.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such Benches usually consist of five, seven, nine, 11 or even 13 judges.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issue of why numerical majorities of judicial bodies are accepted without any debate, while numerical majorities in representative bodies such as the Lok Sabha are often looked at with suspicion.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Constitutional history:<\/b><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The dissenting opinion of Justice H.R. Khanna in A.D.M. Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla (1976) upholding the right to life and personal liberty even during situations of constitutional exceptionalism is a prime example.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another example is the dissenting opinion of Justice Subba Rao in the Kharak Singh v. State of U.P. (1962) case upholding the right to privacy which received the judicial stamp of approval in the K.S. Puttaswamy v. UOI (2017) case.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Solution\/Way Forward:<\/b><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seniority-based assessment: Ronald Dworkin proffers a system that may either give more weightage to the vote of senior judges given that they have more experience or to the junior judges as they may represent popular opinion better.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inculcate critical discourse<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/specials\/text-and-context\/is-judicial-majoritarianism-justified\/article66460574.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">Fire and ice &#8211; Problem Facing Ladakh<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Government and Administration<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demands of agitating people in Ladakh:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inclusion of the region in the Sixth Schedule under Article 244 of the Constitution<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Full-fledged Statehood,\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts and\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Job reservation for locals.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\">They describe the demands as key to protecting Ladakh\u2019s identity, culture, and fragile environment.<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\">Main issues facing Ladakhi people<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ladakh came under a bureaucracy soon after its status was changed to that of a UT in August 2019. The bureaucracy has been hostile and unresponsive to the local population.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The constant tussle between locals and elected representatives of the two Hill Councils of Kargil and Leh has only widened over the months.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leh\u2019s political and religious bodies formed the Leh Apex Body(LAB) in 2020. In the Kargil district, some political parties and Shia Muslim-affiliated seminaries joined hands in November 2020 to form the Kargil Democratic Alliance(KDA). It is advocating for re-joining with the erstwhile J&amp;K State and restoration of its special status under Article 370.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Response of the center<\/span><\/li><li>The two committees appointed by it to reassure the local populations have made little progress in the last two years.<\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second committee appointed this year under the Minister of State has only deepened local anger. It has no mandate to address the issues being raised.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/editorial\/fire-and-ice-the-hindu-editorial-on-ladakh\/article66464114.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><strong style=\"font-size: inherit;\">The funding and demand for MGNREGA<\/strong><\/p><ul><li>In Syllabus:<\/li><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Development Dynamics<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural Development<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Economic Survey 2022-23 showed that<\/span><b> 6.49 crore households demanded work <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">under the MGNREGS. According to the survey, the program had a <\/span><b>positive effect<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on household income, agricultural productivity, and expenditures for production. It added that this helped with \u201cincome diversification and infusing resilience into rural livelihoods.\u201d<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significance of MGNREGA to Rural Employment<\/span><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The program was useful not only for rural workers but also for migrant laborers, particularly during the <\/span><b>COVID-19 pandemic,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which caused widespread reverse migration.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It offered <\/span><b>a crucial lifeline to a record 11 crore workers <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies have provided empirical evidence to support the assertion that earnings received under the MGNREGA program <\/span><b>helped cover 20% to 80% of the income lost as a result of the lockdown.<\/b><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About 8.55 crore households demanded MGNREGA work in 2020-21, followed by 8.05 crore in 2021-22, compared to a total of 6.16 core households asking for work in the pre-pandemic year 2019-20.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current trend<\/span><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The latest economic survey data showed that as of January 24 this year, 6.49 crore households had already requested jobs under the scheme with two more months until the financial year ends.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notably, this demand-side figure is still higher than pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating that rural households are still requesting work under the plan despite the removal of pandemic restraints and changes in migratory trends.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, the Ministry of Rural Development informed Parliament in August of last year that demand under MGNREGS had doubled in the previous seven years, with 3.07 crore households requesting work in May 2022 compared to 1.64 in the same month in 2015.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was despite the pandemic-induced surge in demand.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Challenges:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Lower budgetary allocation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, an advocacy group, stated that &#8220;every year, roughly 80-90% of the budget gets consumed within the first six months,&#8221; which causes a halt in operations on the ground and a holdup in paying workers&#8217; wages.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Delay in wage payments:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The delay in wage payments is another problem that still prevents the program from being implemented properly. According to information made public by the Center, 18 States were still owing 4,700 crores in MGNREGA salaries as of December 14, 2022, barely three months before the fiscal year&#8217;s conclusion. Notably, the Indian Supreme Court ordered the government to make sure that wages were paid on time in 2016, describing the practice of making employees wait for pay for months as &#8220;forced labour.&#8221;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Delay in Material costs:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Additionally, as of December 14, 19 States owed the government material charges totaling 5,450 crores (for MGNREGA projects). Additionally, since a delay in payment disrupts the supply chain, the delay in material costs has a cascading effect on the MNREGA operation.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Number days of employments:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Scheme provides each household 100 days of employment each year, however according to a report by PRS Legislative Research, less than 10% of households have, on average, worked 100 days at a wage since 2016\u201317. Additionally, this fiscal year saw the lowest number of days of employment per household i.e 42 days, under the MGNREGS in five years.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Minimum Wage rate:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The fact that the minimum wage rate under MGNREGS is set by the central government using the Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Laborers has also drawn criticism from a panel of the Rural Development Ministry. Since agricultural labourers and MGNREGS employees perform different types of work, it was suggested that the minimum wage be determined in relation to the Consumer Price Index-Rural, which was more recent and provided for larger spending on healthcare and education.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Parliamentary Committee said last year that fake job cards, rampant corruption, late uploading of muster registers, and irregular payment of jobless allowance are a few other problems impeding the functioning of MGNREGA.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/business\/Economy\/explained-the-funding-and-demand-for-mgnrega\/article66454860.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Alienation: the separation of labour from the product, process, humanity and society<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Syllabus:\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Theorists (Consequences of Taylorism)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administrative Reforms<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public Policy<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relevance:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Theory of alienation<\/b><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The idea of alienation was developed by a young Marx out of his study of Friedrich Hegel.\u00a0 Karl Marx explained the idea of alienation for the first time in his book \u201cEconomic and Philosophical Manuscripts\u201d. Later, he further elaborated on the idea in his book \u201cCapital\u201d.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per Merriam-Webster dictionary, alienation refers to the withdrawal or separation of a person from an object or position of former attachment.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, according to Marx, alienation refers to a feeling of separation from one\u2019s own labour and the loss of power over it.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Types of alienation<\/b><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\">Karl Marx discussed four types of alienation, which includes:<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Alienation of the worker from their product of labour<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: In this form of alienation, a worker is neither involved in the design and development of a product nor has any kind of control or ownership over the product.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, the worker usually does not even receive any benefit from the existence of that product other than his wages. The product hence is not made for the worker\u2019s own use but for the purpose of producing a profit for the capitalist.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therefore the worker is said to be alienated from their own product of labour.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Alienation of the worker from the process of labour: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This form of alienation is closely related to alienation from the product of labour.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per this form of alienation, despite not being involved in design and development, the workers are often forced to work for long hours, in poor conditions, and perform repetitive tasks for low wages.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Workers do not have control over production and are coerced to work as a means of survival.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Alienation of the worker from his Gattungswesen (species-essence): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gattungswesen or species-essence is Marx\u2019s definition of human nature which consists of the person\u2019s inherent potential.<\/span><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per this form of alienation, the worker loses his inherent identity and the opportunity for self-development.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This often leads to psychological dissatisfaction for the worker.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Alienation of the worker from other workers: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to this form of alienation, in a capitalist mode of production, workers become an ever-cheaper commodity the more goods they produce.\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, his\/her mental and physical energies are exhausted due to imposed or forced work and he\/she is left with no time to interact with others.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Workers also start becoming competitive with each other in order to save their jobs. <\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b style=\"font-size: inherit;\">Other perspectives on alienation<\/b><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Writers have further tried to provide a social-psychological perspective to the concept of alienation by linking it to powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, self-estrangement and social isolation.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to experts, there can be several causes for these forms of alienation which includes:<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bureaucracy and organisational structures<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of ownership<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social disorganisation\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of technology\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor management<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few authors opine that assembly-line workers (production line workers) experience the greatest sense of alienation and workers\/professionals like physicians or teachers experience the least form of alienation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some authors further believe that alienation would most probably be the lowest in an organisational setup where members have control and opportunities for self-fulfilment in their roles.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This idea of alienation is different from that of Marx as this idea is a more reformist view, whereas Marx considered it necessary to abolish private property and change social and economic structures.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, the idea of alienation is also used in a political dimension with the alienation of the electorate being one of the key reasons for the disaffection of people over various government policies.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><b>Criticisms<\/b><\/p><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There have been criticisms over Marx\u2019s explanation that it was not worked out in terms of its consequences and how it might be addressed or eliminated.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, the solution of communism has not yet occurred, and it cannot be expected in the near future.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marx\u2019s idea of alienation has provided an overview of the labour market, and the living and working conditions of his era. However, most of those have changed significantly in modern times.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, labour laws are in place across the world which has led to a greater division of labour.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At present, only some of the workers witness poor working conditions and not all. Furthermore, the effects of labour on different segments are dependent on the countries they live in.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Critics also argue that the concept of Marxism focuses only on class and ignores various other key forms of segregation.<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Critics point out that Marx studied the idea of alienation only in terms of the exchange of labour and private property. However, the concept of alienation can also be related to the segregation of society based on ethnicity, race, caste and gender.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts like Ricoeur have argued that since the idea of alienation is popular, it is often used in subjective experiences of estrangement diluting the scientific and analytical potential of the concept.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The theory is also criticised by philosophers such as Althusser, for its essentialism.\u00a0<\/span><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Modern-day experts also opine that Marx\u2019s theory of alienation is underdeveloped and tentative.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, according to experts, this concept of alienation suffers from the danger of paternalism.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/specials\/text-and-context\/alienation-the-separation-of-labour-from-the-product-process-humanity-and-society\/article66456011.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8247e79 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8247e79\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c80f032\" data-id=\"c80f032\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7969dd5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"7969dd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 30-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In-News November December January February November Drawing the Line In Syllabus: Accountability and Control Philosophical and Constitutional framework of Government Law and Order Administration Union Government and Administration Significant\u00a0 Issues in Indian Administration Relevance: Disagreements between Judiciary and Government in appointment of judges in the Supreme Court. 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