Exam View: Timeline of Basic structure doctrine; Emergency and basic structure doctrine.

Context: Basic structure doctrine prevented fundamental rights from being eroded during the Emergency. Basic structure includes principles of federalism, secularism, separation of powers, independent judiciary and free, fair and period elections.

Decoding the editorial: Timeline

• Post-Independence: Land reform laws acquired large estates without adequate compensation and these were struck down as being violative of the fundamental right to property under Articles 19(1)(f) and 31.
• Ninth Schedule: Parliament swiftly made the first amendment to the Constitution in 1951, creating the Ninth Schedule. Any law placed in this Schedule could not be questioned in any court of law.
• 1951 Shankari Prasad Singh Deo v. Union of India: The Supreme Court upheld the First Amendment and held that Parliament’s power to amend any part of the Constitution was untrammelled.
  • In the next 15 years, our Constitution was amended no less than 17 times and the Ninth Schedule which had only 13 Acts, now had 64.
• 1965 Sajjan Singh v. State of Rajasthan: For the first time, two out of the five-judges, Justices Hidayatullah and Mudholkar, questioned the right of the Parliament to take away even the critical fundamental rights.
• 1967 Golaknath case: The Supreme Court held, by a majority of 6:5, that Parliament had no power to amend or take away any of the fundamental rights.
  • The nationalisation of banks in 1969 and the abolition of privy purses were struck down and Mrs Gandhi introduced the 24th, 25th and 26th amendments to nullify these rulings.
  • The 29th amendment that added two Kerala laws to the Ninth Schedule was challenged by Kesavananda Bharati.
• 1973 Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala: On April 24, 1973, a bench of 13 judges delivered the landmark ruling in Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, popularly known as the Fundamental Rights case.
  • A bench of 13 judges became necessary as the earlier Golaknath case was heard by a bench of 11 judges.
  • The judgement of 703 pages was a split verdict. By a wafer-thin majority of 7:6, it came to one core conclusion: “Parliament cannot alter the basic structure or framework of the Constitution.”
  • Six out of the 13 judges held that the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution was unlimited.
  • Justice Khanna agreed but held that the power of Parliament to amend the Constitution, although extensive, did not extend to alter or take away its basic structure or essential features.

Emergency and basic structure doctrine:

• During the Emergency, a bench of 13 judges was mysteriously constituted by Chief Justice Ray to reconsider the Kesavananda Bharati verdict.
• In answer to the query as to who had asked for the review, Justice Ray pointed out that the State of Tamil Nadu had done so.

• The then Advocate-General boldly stated that no such review was asked for by his state, seriously embarrassing Chief Justice Ray.
• The next day the bench was abruptly dissolved, thus ending the clumsy attempt to review the basic structure doctrine.
• Constitutional amendments made during the Emergency and in later years show that it was the basic structure doctrine that prevented constitutional and fundamental rights from being eroded, if not destroyed.

In News: India-UAE Cooperation to sow regional food security

About

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) food security has been built on imports from global markets, is now focusing on the twin objectives of food access and readiness to confront supply chain crises. India, the world’s second-largest food producer, is an essential partner in the UAE’s ambition to strengthen food security. The India-UAE food security partnership stands to benefit from multiple points of convergence.

India's Capabilities:

• Leader in Agri-exports: India has a strong position as a global agri-export powerhouse due to its abundant arable land, favourable climate, and growing food production and processing sector.
• Humanitarian Food Assistance to developing countries: India has also been involved in humanitarian food aid to developing countries, demonstrating its commitment to regional and global food security.
• Supply chain management and food parks: India has made significant investments in food parks and modern supply chain management to benefit from bilateral trade agreements, showcasing its intent to excel in the global food marketplace.
• Government PDS and Subsidy programme: India runs the world's largest food subsidy program, the Public Distribution System, providing affordable grains to nearly 800 million citizens, and ensuring access to daily meals. India's POSHAN Abhiyaan' is the world's largest nutrition program for children and women, emphasizing the importance of nutrition in food security.
• In the realm of food security, India’s G-20 presidency seeks to address the three Cs, of “Covid, Conflict, and Climate” issues pernicious to food security in India and across the globe.

United Arab Emirates Contribution:

• Investment in India: The UAE has committed USD 2 billion in investment towards constructing food parks in India during the I2U2 Summit 2022.
• Food Security Corridor to strengthen global supply chain: The UAE has signed a food security corridor on the sidelines of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), enhancing India's presence on the global food value chain.
• Agri-trading and commodity platform in Dubai - Agriota: The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre has launched Agriota, an agri-trading and commodity platform, connecting Indian farmers to the UAE's food ecosystem and enabling direct access to Emirati markets.

Significance of the India-UAE Food Security Partnership:

• Gateway to West Asia and Africa market for India: The UAE's strategic location between Asia and Europe can serve as India's food export gateway to West Asia and Africa, offering benefits beyond maintaining and diversifying its food reserves. India stands to gain from the UAE's private sector projects, generating non-farm agri-jobs and providing better prices for farmers' products.
• Strategies and frameworks for food security in the Global South: India's G-20 presidency provides an opportune moment to showcase successful strategies and frameworks for food security in the Global South. India can leverage and strengthen trade pathways with the UAE to build a sustainable, inclusive, efficient, and resilient future of food as it sets the global developmental agenda.

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/india-uae-cooperation-to-sow-regional-food-security/article66756579.ece

In News: The Ministry of Rural Development's (MoRD) Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) launched “Sangathan Se Samridhhi– Leaving no Rural Woman Behind”, a national campaign under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Samaveshi Vikaas,

About DAY-NRLM:

• DAY-NRLM is a centrally sponsored flagship programme of the MoRD that seeks to alleviate rural poverty through building sustainable community institutions for the poor.
• It aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
• The poor would be facilitated to achieve increased access to their rights, entitlements and public services, diversified risk and better social indicators of empowerment.
• Key Features of DAY-NRLM:
  • Social Mobilization of at least one woman member from each identified rural poor household, under the Self Help Group (SHG) network
  • The Mission involves working with community institutions through community professionals to promote self-help.
  • DAY-NRLM works to ensure financial inclusion on both the demand and supply sides
  • DAY-NRLM assists women, who came out from poverty and invisibility, in their ventures. In this sense, the Mission is aptly defined as for the poor, of the poor, and by the poor.
  • The mission emphasises on convergence with other programs of the Ministry of Rural Development and other Central Ministries.
  • SHG members are eligible for receiving interest subvention under the scheme.

Sangathan Se Samriddhi Campaign:

• It is a national campaign under DAY-NRLM, aimed at mobilising 10 crores women from eligible rural households under the SHG fold. Currently, 9 crores women are already part of the SHG movement.
• This special drive aspires to bring all the vulnerable and marginalised rural households under the SHG fold to enable them to draw benefits provided under the programme.
• The campaign's primary objective is to mobilise disadvantaged rural communities unaware of the benefits of the DAY-NRLM program.
• The campaign will be organised in all states, with the expectation of forming more than 1.1 lakh SHGs during the period
• Various interventions to create SHG ecosystems would be:
  • Organizing General Body Meetings of Village Organizations and experience sharing by SHG champions to motivate left out households to join SHGs.
  • Conducting Community Resource Person drives.
  • Mobilising eligible women from PMAY-G beneficiary households.
  • Training new SHG members and reviving defunct SHGs.
  • Opening SHG bank accounts and creation of a common database of SHGs promoted by other stakeholders.

Significance of the campaign:

• Rural population accounts for 65% of India’s total population. It is extremely important that women from these areas are accorded all possible opportunities to enable them to contribute significantly into making our country a 5 trillion economy.
• DAY-NRLM has a vision that at least one woman member from every rural household can join a SHG and take advantage of the opportunities and financial support offered under the programme to improve their livelihoods.
• The government has envisaged a target that every woman associated with SHGs should be able to earn one lakh rupees per annum. This will empower them and automatically have a considerable effect on the country’s GDP.

Source: 

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1917633

In News: A ‘hybrid’ solar eclipse called the Ningaloo Eclipse happened on April 20, 2023, which is an extraordinary astronomical event that occurs once in 400 years.

About Ningaloo Eclipse:

• The eclipse is called the Ningaloo eclipse because it was best viewed from the Ningaloo coast in Western Australia. A total eclipse was visible only in one town i.e. Exmouth. The other places are in Timor Leste and Papua West.
• The eclipse went from an annular to a complete eclipse before returning to an annular eclipse. The total solar eclipse had the shadow of the moon pass over the Ningaloo region in a 40-kilometre-wide track.
• During the annular solar eclipse, the Moon did not completely block out the Sun but looked like an overlaid disc on the Sun, giving it a "ring of fire" appearance.
• The reason for hybrid eclipse is the curved earth’s surface resulting in an eclipse to shift between annular and total as the Moon’s shadow moves across the globe.

Different types of Eclipse:

• Total eclipse happens when the Moon completely blocks out the Sun while passing between the Earth and the Sun. Viewers who are in the shadow of the Moon will see a darkened sky and a faint halo around the Sun – its corona.
• Annular eclipse happens when the Moon is at its farthest point from the Earth which causes the moon to appear smaller than the Sun like a dark disk on top of a larger, brighter disk.
• Partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun but is not perfectly aligned. Hence, only a part of the Sun appears covered.
• Hybrid Eclipse is a type of solar eclipse that looks like an annular solar eclipse or a total solar eclipse, depending on the observer's location along the central eclipse path.

Source:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/ningaloo-eclipse-2023-know-best-place-to-witness-rare-hybrid-eclipse-on-april-20/articleshow/99560693.cms

In News: Govt plans to pre-pay the off-budget liabilities, but investors are unwilling to forego high interest-bearing bonds.

About Off-Budget Liabilities:

• Off-budget liabilities refer to government obligations that are not included in the official budget of a country.
• These liabilities are often hidden from public scrutiny, which can create a lack of transparency and accountability in government finances.
• These can take many forms, including loans or guarantees issued by state-run agencies, quasi-fiscal operations, or contingent liabilities that are not accounted for in the official budget.
• These liabilities may be incurred by public sector entities, such as state-owned enterprises or development banks, to finance government programs or projects.
• These are not reported in the government's official accounts or fiscal documents which makes it difficult for policymakers, investors, and the public to get a complete picture of government debts.
• These can also create risks for the government and taxpayers if not properly managed or disclosed, they can result in unexpected costs and losses for the government.
• In some cases, off-budget liabilities may be contingent liabilities that are only realized if certain conditions are met, such as the failure of a state-run enterprise or a financial crisis.
• Previously, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India and the 15th Finance Commission had had urged the Centre to come clean the off-Budget liabilities.

https://www.financialexpress.com/market/govt-plans-to-pre-pay-off-budget-bonds/3049549/

In News: The Supreme Court dismisses the appeal of the Kerala government against the order of the Kerala High Court.

About Translocation of Elephants:

• Translocation of elephants refers to the process of moving an elephant from its natural habitat to another location.
• This process is often undertaken to address human-elephant conflict (HEC), where elephants damage crops, destroy homes and sometimes harm humans.
• The process is often highly stressful for elephants as it includes capturing, restraining, and transporting elephants can lead to injuries, distress, and even death.
• It can also have a significant impact on elephant populations, especially if the translocated elephant is a matriarch or a breeding female.
• Studies have also shown that the relocation of elephants may shift the area of conflict rather than solving the problem altogether.
• Elephants often adapt to their new environment and continue to raid crops or homes, which results in further conflict.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/shifting-elephants-shifts-conflict-what-lessons-from-the-past-say-8565783/lite/

In News: Doctors weighs on the need for Universal Screening Tests for Early Heart disease detection

About Screening of Heart Ailments:

• Heart ailments, also known as cardiovascular diseases, are a group of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels.
• These disorders can lead to various complications such as heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and peripheral arterial disease.
• According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally with nearly 18 million deaths each year.
• Screening tests are an essential tool for identifying heart ailments early and preventing serious complications.
• Purpose of screening test is to detect fat deposits which reduces blood flow to the heart leading to sudden deaths caused by heart attacks, heart rhythm abnormalities, or strokes.
• However, large-scale imaging tests are not available in most district hospitals in India and even in some medical colleges these tests cost around ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 in the public or private sector.

Common types of screening:

• Blood Pressure Test: High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the leading causes of heart diseases.
  • It is a simple and non-invasive test that measures the force of blood against the walls of the arteries.
  • A reading of 120/80 mmHg or lower is considered normal, while a reading of 130/80 mmHg or higher indicates hypertension.
• Cholesterol Test: High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase the risk of heart diseases.
  • It measures the levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood.
  • High levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and low levels of HDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart diseases.
• ECG Test: An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
  • It is a non-invasive and painless test that can detect abnormalities in the heart's rhythm and electrical conduction system.
  • An ECG can also diagnose heart attacks, arrhythmias, and other heart diseases.
• Stress Test: A stress test is a type of ECG test that measures the heart's response to physical activity.
  • During the test, the patient exercises on a treadmill or stationary bike while the heart's electrical activity is monitored.
  • The test can detect heart diseases that may not be apparent during rest.
• Echocardiogram: An echocardiogram is a test that uses ultrasound waves to create images of the heart.
  • The test can detect abnormalities in the heart's structure and function, such as aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and heart failure.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/should-universal-screening-tests-be-mandated-to-detect-early-heart-disease/article66750952.ece

In News: Bengal tops list of States with most ponds and reservoirs in the first-ever waterbody census

About Waterbody Census:

• The first-ever waterbody census has been conducted by Ministry of Jal Shakti which has analysed over 24 lakh waterbodies across Indian states.
• According to the findings, West Bengal accounts for the most waterbodies at 7.47 lakh with South 24 Parganas alone having the highest number of waterbodies (3.55 lakh) while Sikkim has the least waterbodies at 134.
• Nearly 5% (14,42,993) of waterbodies are ponds, 15.7% (3,81,805) are tanks, 12.1% (2,92,280) are reservoirs and nearly 0.9% (22,361) are lakes
• Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of tanks while Tamil Nadu has the highest number of lake, while Maharashtra is the leading state with water conservation schemes.
• Nearly 1.6% of all enumerated waterbodies are reported to be encroached of which4% of waterbodies are in rural areas and 4.6% in urban areas.
• 8% of encroached waterbodies have less than 25% area under encroachment and 11.8% of encroached waterbodies have more than 75% area under encroachment.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bengal-tops-list-of-states-with-most-ponds-and-reservoirs-first-ever-waterbody-census-8567772/

Why in news? Hundreds of prisoners captured during the war in Yemen were reunited with their families, amid diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict.

About:

• Yemen is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
• It shares borders with Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the east, and is surrounded by the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea.
• Yemen has a rich history that dates back to ancient times, and it has been a center of trade and cultural exchange for centuries.
• Yemen's capital and largest city is Sana'a, is known for its ancient architecture, is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Major river: Wadi Hadramawt.
• Highest peak: Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb, also known as Mount Shu'ayb or Mount Ram.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/explained-what-are-the-latest-developments-in-yemen/article66753144.ece

Why in news? The Ministry of Health has proposed the operationalization of ‘100 food streets across 100 districts’ in the country to promote safe and hygienic food practices.

About:

• The aim of this project is to encourage safe and healthy practices to reduce food-borne illnesses and improve overall health outcomes.
• The initiative will be implemented through the National Health Mission (NHM) in convergence with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and with technical support from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Financial assistance to States/UTs (in the ratio of 60:40 or 90: 10) in the form of Rs.1 crore per food street/districts will be given.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ministry-of-health-proposes-100-food-streets-across-country-to-promote-hygiene-and-safety/article66759989.ece

Why in news? Most parts of Delhi recorded a heat index from 44 to 49 degrees Celsius in April last year, data used for a research article on heatwaves showed.

About:

• Heat index is a measure of how hot it feels when humidity is factored in along with the air temperature, and the figures were calculated using data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• India’s first-ever heat Index was introduced by the Indian Meteorological Department in 2016.
• The heat index provides the citizens with accurate and updated information on the heat conditions specific to their areas.
• It is calculated using a formula that takes into consideration the effect of humidity on the body's ability to cool down through sweat evaporation.
• High heat index values indicate that the weather may be dangerous for prolonged exposure, as it can lead to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/heat-index-highest-in-parts-of-southwest-delhi-lowest-in-new-delhi-8567890/

Why in news? Recently, a village in Maharashtra moved to the Bombay High Court, demanding the implementation of the Gramdan Act.

About:

• Gramdan is an expansion of the Bhoodan movement started in 1951 by Gandhian Vinoba Bhave.
• While Bhoodan meant redistribution of land from bigger landowners to the landless, under Gramdan, the entire village will put its land under a common trust.
• The Gramdan Movement emphasized the idea of "gram swaraj" or village self-rule and sought to empower rural communities through a process of voluntary land donations, where wealthy landowners would donate their land to the community for collective use.
• The land would then be redistributed among the landless and marginalized members of the community, with the aim of creating a more egalitarian and self-sufficient society.
• The Gramdan Movement also emphasized the importance of education, healthcare, and social equality.
• Vinoba Bhave was a prominent Gandhian activist and spiritual leader, who believed in the principles of non-violence, self-sufficiency, and community-based development.
• Today, seven states in India have 3,660 Gramdan villages, the highest being in Odisha (1309). The states are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/why-this-maharashtra-village-is-fighting-for-the-long-forgotten-gramdan-act-88831

Why in news? Recently, the border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, which was going on since 1972 has been resolved permanently.

About:

• Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804-km long boundary.
• The agreement is expected to settle the dispute relating to 123 villages covering over 700 kilometres of the border between the two states, taking into account historical perspective, demographic profile, administrative convenience, proximity to the border, and aspirations of the residents.
• This will be final agreement neither of states will make any new claim in future relating to any area or village.
• A detailed survey will be conducted by the Survey of India in the presence of representatives from both state governments to determine the boundaries after the agreement.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1918376

Why in news? Indian scientists working in the Garbh-Ini programme, have identified 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or genetic markers, that have been found to be associated with preterm — or premature — birth.

About

• Genetic markers or DNA markers are specific sections of DNA that are associated with particular traits, characteristics, or conditions.
• These can be either DNA sequences or specific variations in the DNA sequence, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are the most common type of genetic marker.

Significance of Genetic Marker:

• Used in genetics research and clinical practice to identify and study genetic variations that may be linked to diseases, disorders, or other biological traits.
• Single nucleotide polymorphisms regulate important biological processes such as inflammation, apoptosis, cervical ripening, telomere maintenance, selenocysteine biosynthesis, myometrial contraction, and innate immunity.
• The identification of genetic markers associated with preterm birth could help in predicting high-risk pregnancies and monitoring them closely, leading to improved maternal and neonatal outcomes.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-scientists-find-genetic-markers-associated-with-premature-births-8565651/