Today’s daily current affairs briefing for UPSC aspirants explores the latest developments relevant to the upcoming civil services examination. Our focus today includes a critical analysis of recent policy changes, international affairs, and national developments, all of which play a pivotal role in shaping India’s socio-political and economic landscape. Stay informed and stay ahead in your UPSC preparations with our daily current affairs updates, as we provide you with concise, well-researched insights to help you connect the dots between contemporary events and the broader canvas of the civil services syllabus.
Supreme Court Has Deepened Constitutional Idea of Personal Liberty
Tags: GS-2, Polity & Governance- Constitution- Judiciary- Supreme Court
Why in the news?
- On December 6, 1948, the Constituent Assembly of India debated the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.
- K. M. Munshi argued for including due process protections, asserting that the right to life and liberty should not be subject to ordinary laws.
Historical debates about due process and personal liberty:
- Philosophical principles of due process
- It ensures that the deprivation of life, liberty, or property follows established legal procedures and prevents unchecked state power.
- In the Indian independence movement, this demand coincided with the desire for individual freedom in a new legal system.
- Munshi’s Argument: Protection from abuse of law
- In the Constituent Assembly, K. M. Munshi recommended the inclusion of due process in Article 21.
- He argued that fundamental rights should not be subordinated to weak laws, and warned that governments without due process could undermine individual liberty by public policy or national security concerns.
- Conflict with due process: Efficiency concerns
- Despite Munshi’s comments, there was considerable objection to due process under Article 21.
- Constitutional Adviser N.K. Dr. Rau and others. B.R. Ambedkar sought to balance individual freedom with the needs of government in a diverse, newly independent society.
The Role of Judicial Interpretation in Upholding Personal Liberty:
- A. K. Gopalan v. State of Madras (1950):
- Article 21 states that no person shall be deprived of life or personal liberty except within the procedure established by law.
- Initially, A.S. This restrictive interpretation prioritized legality over justice, leaving the state more free to enact restrictive laws without regard to individual rights
- Maneka Gandhi and the Union of India (1978):
- The case of the Union of India brought about major changes in constitutional law.
- confiscated Gandhi’s passport without specification under the Travel Act, arguing that it violated his personal liberty under article 21.
- The Supreme Court extended the interpretation of Article 21 to require that the procedure should be fair, just and reasonable, coincidental or not. pattern .
- This decision restored due process protections in Indian law, although it lacked the original intent of the Framers.
Article 21 – Promotion of judicial functions and human dignity:
- Francis Corley Mullin v . The Superintendent, Delhi Union Territory (1981)
- The Supreme Court ruled that the right to life under Article 21 includes the right to live with dignity, including the rights necessary to lead a meaningful life.
- The judgment emphasized that personal liberty included not only the freedom to exercise self-restraint, but also personal liberty and privacy.
- Emphasizing that the right to life extended and included more than mere survival quality of life.
- Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India (1984):
- In this case, the court recognized that the right to life included the right to earn a living. He held that the subsistence necessary for deprivation of dignity was Article 21.
- This interpretation extended Article 21, emphasizing that the State must ensure that citizens can live with dignity and security
- Right to Privacy Judge K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017):
- This landmark case recognized that the right to privacy is central to the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.
- The Supreme Court’s decision appeared in the context of the Aadhaar scheme, forcing progress special mark in the recognition of privacy as a fundamental right.
- Recent Developments: Balancing Securities Law and Individual Liberty
- The Supreme Court’s commitment to personal liberty has been challenged by national security laws like the UAPA and PMLA.
- These laws impose strict bail conditions and permit prolonged detention, conflicting with personal liberty rights.
- Nonetheless, the Court has reaffirmed the primacy of Article 21 in several key rulings, protecting individual rights despite these restrictions.
Source: IE
Spike in India’s trade deficit
Tags: GS-3, Economy- Fiscal Policy- deficit
Why in the news?
- In the first quarter of 2024-25, momentum slowed, with export values dropping 1.5% in July and further contracting by 9.3% in August, reaching an eight-month low.
- Imports hit a record $64.4 billion in August, leading to a merchandise trade deficit of $29.7 billion, the second highest after October 2023’s record $29.9 billion gap.
Reasons behind the triggering of the wider trade deficit:
- Export Contraction Amid Rising Imports:
- India’s exports declined in July-August 2024, falling a whopping 1.5% in July and 9.3% in August.
- Even so, imports grew 7.5% in July and 3.3% in August, pushing the July trade deficit to a nine-month high of $23.5 billion, widening $6.2 billion in August
- Decline in regional manufacturing and major exports:
- Sharp decline in key sectors such as petroleum, minerals and jewelry.
- Oil exports fell by 22.2% in July and 37.6% in August, while jewelry exports fell by more than 20% in both months.
- Growth in key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and stone and metal products.
- Oil Import Bill and Trade Fraud:
- A fall in oil prices ($6 a barrel) in August led to a 30% drop in India’s imports, dropping them to $11 billion—the lowest level in three years in
- Due to lower exports of precious stones and jewelry, with some contribution from various goods and electronics.
- Gold Import Surge:
- India’s gold imports rose to a record $10.1 billion in August, more than double the July figure and in sharp contrast to July’s 10.7% decline.
- The gold import duty reduction in the budget (15% to 6%), higher gold prices and festive collections by the country’s jewelry industry.
Risk associated with significant commercial capital:
- No significant economic risk in the trade crisis:
- India’s high growth rate means that global demand will naturally exceed global export demand.
- Trade deficits are not a concern for a growing and rapidly growing economy, unless there are foreign exchange issues.
- Foreign capital inflows and foreign reserves:
- With the country’s foreign exchange reserves as on August 2, 2024 reaching a record high of $675 billion
- This is enough to cover 11.6 months of imports, although it could decrease slightly if imports remain above $60 billion.
- Outsourcing provides stability
- India’s services exports, which rose by more than 10% from April to August 2024, provide some stability and an additional buffer against widening trade deficits.
Foreign trade in goods:
- Global trade prospects for 2024:
- Although global trade is expected to grow faster in 2024 than in 2023, demand remains weak in most developed markets.
- Geopolitical risks, ongoing conflict with the US. upcoming elections, and increased tariffs on Chinese goods create a tough environment for India and other players
- Impact of U.S.-China Trade Tensions:
- As China’s domestic economy falters and the U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods rise, China may shift its focus to non-U.S. markets. of, and to dispose of cheaper goods.
- This could have a negative impact on India, especially reducing demand for Chinese imports.
- Oil prices and export concerns:
- Global demand will decline, pushing down oil prices, and affecting India’s oil export prospects.
- While lower oil prices benefit oil importers, India’s oil outlook remains weak and overall worries about global demand continue to rise.
Long-term challenges for India’s export growth:
- India’s goal of increasing industry and exports to $1 trillion by 2030 faces major hurdles.
- Economists highlighted the global economic slowdown, rising tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and new trade policies such as the EU approach to reforming carbon caps and deforestation regulations.
- While short-term opportunities for export growth are possible, the long-term outlook will be difficult.
Source: TH
100 years of establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- NISA
Tags: GS-1, Agriculture Geography- Government Policies & Interventions- ICAR- NISA
Why in the news?
- Recently, the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu graced the centenary celebration of the ICAR-National Institute of Secondary Agriculture (NISA) in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
About ICAR- NISA:
- About: ICAR-NISA was established in 1924 as the Indian Institute of Natural Rivers, in Ranchi, Jharkhand. In 2022.
- Rename: It was renamed in 2022 as ICAR-NISA and comes under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
- Secondary Agriculture
- It includes value addition to primary agricultural products and other agricultural related services such as beekeeping, poultry, agricultural excursions and so on.
- It refers to the practices/methods used to process all agricultural inputs, residues and by-products into value-added products for pharmaceutical, engineering, pharmaceutical and specific food applications.
- Secondary agriculture is a broad term that includes food and non-food production.
- Examples: extraction of vitamins from rice and oil from refined rice, jaggery from sugarcane, cottage scale unit for making jams and pickles.
- Potential Growth:
- Consumers demand value-added products such as ready-to-eat, functional foods.
- The importance of unconventional agro-organic regeneration equipment.
- Large quantities of agricultural byproducts.
- Significance of Secondary Agriculture:
- Environmental sustainability: Crop residues and agricultural wastes can be put to better use than burned or thrown away.
- Farmer income: Positive economic returns from such activities Beekeeping, lakh culture and so on.
- Added Value: Increases retention time and increases overall productivity.
- Cottage Industry: Promotes agricultural/rural cottage industries and the use of technology.
- Challenges of secondary agriculture:
- From high-value companies agricultural residues/products such as active pharmaceuticals and others are in its infancy.
- Small landowner mobilization in India the rest of the vegetables are hard.
- Lack of research on appropriate technology.
- Lack of awareness about agricultural production processes Garbage is produced by farmers.
Source: PIB
PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA)
Tags: GS-3, Economy- Growth & Development- Inclusive Growth- Infrastructure
Why in the news?
- Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Park (PM MITRA) in Maharashtra’s Amravati.
About PM MITRA Park Scheme:
- About:
- In 2021, the Ministry of Textiles announced 7 PM- MITRA Parks states.
- States:
- Covered under it include Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh , Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- Vision: It is driven by the 5F vision i.e., – Farm to Fiber to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.
- Objective: To develop large scale integrated modern technology systems for the entire textile value chain industry.
- Period: 2021-22 to 2027-2
- Department of Use: General utility vehicles belonging to the Central and State Governments.
- Eligibility and Selection Criteria: Contiguous and unencumbered land of at least 1000 acres, national clothing and technical design.
- MITRA gardens can be greenfield or brownfield.
- Implementation:
- A Special Purpose Vehicle owned by the Centre and State Government will be set up for each park which will oversee the implementation of the project.
- The Ministry of Textiles will provide financial support in the form of Development Capital Support upto Rs 500 crore per park to the park SPV.
- A Competitive Incentive Support (CIS) upto Rs 300 crore per park to the units in PM MITRA Park shall also be provided to incentivise speedy implementation.
- Potential Benefits of PM Mitra Park Scheme:
- Reducing export costs/increasing competitiveness: To carve 1 from processing/dyeing and printing to garment manufacturing place.
- Business generation: Each park is set to cost 1 lakh direct jobs and 200,000 jobs indirectly.
- Achieving SDG goals: e.g., SDG 9 (“Building resilient systems to promote sustainable technology and encourage innovation”).
- Other initiatives taken for textiles Industry:
- Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SAMARTH), addresses the skilled manpower requirement across the textile sector.
- Amended Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS), provides credit linked Capital Investment
- Subsidy (CIS) to units for purchase of benchmarked machinery in different segments of Textile Sectors.
- National Technical Textiles Mission Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles
Source: ET
Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Scheme
Tags: GS – 2,Government Policies & Interventions– Growth & Development
Why in the news?
- Recently, the Prime Minister emphasized that the Prime Minister’s Vishwakarma Yojana embodies the spirit of ‘sammanah, samarthah, samridhi’ (respect, power, prosperity).
About Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana:
- Objective: To provide comprehensive support to artisans and artisans engaged in traditional industries to strengthen and enhance their livelihoods.
- Implementation: The scheme is being implemented by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with support from state and local government agencies
- Beneficiaries: The scheme targets artisans and artisans working in 18 traditional trades, including carpentry, metalwork, ceramics and tailoring.
Benefits:
- Admission: Artists get PM Vishwakarma certificate and certificate.
- Skills Development: Sponsorship for initial and advanced training.
- Incentive tools: e-vouchers for equipment purchases.
- Credit: Unsecured loans with low interest rates.
- Digital Transaction Incentives: Rewards for Digital Transactions.
- Marketing Support: Assistance with branding, e-commerce and marketing.
- Formalization: Beneficiaries of the MSME ecosystem are brought on board as entrepreneurs.
Source: PIB
Credit Default Swaps
Tags: GS-3, Economy- Growth & Development- Market
Why in the news?
- Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) announced that mutual funds can now sell credit default swaps (CDS).
About Credit Default Swaps:
- Allows an investor to swap or offset their credit risk with that of another investor.
- The buyer pays an ongoing premium similar to the payments on an insurance policy.
- The seller agrees to pay the security’s value and interest payments if a default occurs.
- It can be used for speculation, hedging, or as a form of arbitrage.
- Credit default swaps played a role in both the 2008 Great Recession and the 2010 European Sovereign Debt Crisis.
What are Mutual Funds?
- It is a trust that collects money from a number of investors who share a common investment objective and invests the same in equities, bonds, money market instruments and/or other securities.
- The income / gains generated from this collective investment is distributed proportionately amongst the investors after deducting applicable expenses and levies.
Source: TH
Quad Group
Tags: GS-2, IR- Bilateral Groupings & Agreements- QUAD
Why in the news?
- Recently, the Prime Minister of India is participating in the fourth Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware in the United State of America (USA).
About the Quad Group:
- Four democracies: India, Australia, US. and Japan, known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) strategic alliance.
- Aim: To ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.
- Objectives: Focuses on maritime security, climate change, investment and technological innovation.
- History: Built for disaster relief in 2004 after the Indian Ocean tsunami. It was formalized in 2007 but stalled due to China’s opposition and India’s reluctance.
- Resurrection: Rejoined in 2017; In 2019, he was promoted to minister.
- Summit: The first virtual summit in March 2021, followed by the first in-person summit in September 2021.
- Structure: There is no formal secretariat or decision-making body, instead it builds on existing agreements between members.
Source: TH
Debt Recovery Tribunals
TAGS: GS-2, Polity & Governance- DRT
Why in the news?
- The Finance Ministry recently directed banks to implement effective monitoring and oversight mechanisms for managing pending cases in Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs).
About Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT):
- Established: Under Debt Recovery due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 (DRT Act).
- Action: To enforce the rights of creditors in India and accelerate debt collection.
- Types of Cases Handled:
- Mandate: Handle debt collection disputes from banks and financial institutions, especially for loans above ₹20 lakh.
- Sarfaesi Act, 2002: Banks are allowed to accept secured loans without court intervention. Aggrieved parties may file a Securitization Appeal (SA) with the DRT.
- Structure:
- President: A qualified Chief Justice who is a District Judge appointed by the Central Government.
- Membership: Professional and technical membership appointed by the government.
- Powers under Section 22(2) of the DRT Act:
- Call the person in between and investigate.
- Request documentation and evidence.
- to provide for panels to examine witnesses.
- Review decisions and rule on cases of default or decide ex parte.
- Jurisdiction: DRTs handle debt collection issues in specific geographical jurisdictions for banks and financial institutions.
- Appeal and Enforcement: An appeal against a DRT order can be lodged with the Debt Recovery and Appeal Tribunal (DRAT).
- Current Status: There are 39 DRTs and 5 DRATs all over India, each headed by a Chairman and a Chairman.
Source: TH
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