In news

The Chief Justice of India has recently said that fundamental duties in the Constitution are not merely to serve a "pedantic or technical" purpose, rather, they were incorporated as the key to social transformation. 

Opinion of the Supreme Court:

The Court opined that,

• Fundamental Duty is meant to guide citizens to engineer a social transformation.
• While the constitution has granted us inalienable rights, it places upon us certain fundamental duties.
• The fundamental duties serve as a reminder to citizens that while enjoying their rights, they also have to be quite conscious of the duties they owe to their country, their society and to their fellow citizens.

About the incorporation of Fundamental Duties

• The idea of Fundamental Duties is inspired from the Constitution of Russia (erstwhile Soviet Union).
• These were incorporated in Part IV-A of the Constitution by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976on the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee.
• Originally 10 in number, one more duty was added through the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002.
• All the eleven duties are listed in Article 51-A of the Constitution(the sole Article in Part-IV-A).
• Like the Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental duties are also non-justiciable in nature.

Nature of Fundamental Duties

• Fundamental duties are essentially taken from Indian tradition, mythology, religions and practices. 
  • These were the duties that are the codification of tasks integral to the Indian way of life.
• It also drew on examples of “ancient India '' and Hindu scripture Bhagvad Gita to reason that “people in India have had a tradition of performing their duties' '.
• The Fundamental Duties are intended to serve as a constant reminderto every citizen that while the Constitution conferred on them certain Fundamental Rights specifically. 
• It also requires citizens to observe certain basic norms of democratic conductand behaviour because rights and duties are correlative.
• The Verma Committee on Fundamental Duties of the Citizens (1999)identified the existence of legal provisions for the implementation of some of the Fundamental Duties. 
  • The committee provided with provisions like:
    • No person can disrespect the National flag, Constitution of India and the National Anthem under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
    • The Protection of Civil Rights Act (1955)provided for punishments in case of any offence related to caste and religion.
• However, while Fundamental Rights are justiciable, the Fundamental Duties are non-justiciable (the violation of fundamental duties, i.e. the non-performance of these duties by citizens is not punishable).
• These duties are not enforceable by law. However, a court may take them into account while adjudicating on a matter. 

Significance of Fundamental Duties

• Consistent Reminder of Democratic Conduct
• Castigates Against Anti-Social Activities
• Promotes a sense of Discipline and Commitment
• Help Determine Constitutionality of Law

Criticism of Fundamental Duties

• They are made non-justiciable in nature.
• Important duties such as tax-paying, family planning etc are not covered.
• Vague and ambiguous provisions which are difficult to be understood by a common man.
• Superfluous provisions since they would generally be followed even if they were not included. 

Supreme Court’s Judgements on Fundamental Duties

• The Supreme Court’s Ranganath Mishra judgment 2003held that fundamental duties should not only be enforced by legal sanctions but also by social sanctions.
• In AIIMS Students Union v. AIIMS 2001, it was held by the Supreme Court that fundamental duties are equally important as fundamental rights.
  • Though fundamental duties are not enforceable like fundamental rights they cannot be overlooked as duties in Part IV A.
  • They are prefixed by the same word fundamental which was prefixed by the founding fathers of the Constitution to ‘right’ in Part III.

Source link:

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fundamental-duties-are-not-just-pedantic-they-are-key-to-social-transformation-cji/article65771369.ece
• https://easternmirrornagaland.com/fundamental-duties-not-merely-pedantic-or-technical-key-to-social-transformation-nv-ramana/

Image Source Link:

• https://twitter.com/pro_vizag/status/1331850074159124480?lang=nb

In news

A recent study led by NASA has raised new concerns about how quickly climate change is weakening Antarctica's floating ice shelves thereby contributing to the rising global sea levels.

About the study

• The new research on Antarctica doubles the previous estimates of loss from ice shelves and details how the continent is changing.
• The researchers found that the edge of the ice sheet, from Antarctic coastline has been shedding icebergs faster than the ice can be replaced.
• Ice loss from calving has weakened the ice shelves and allowed Antarctic glaciers to flow more rapidly to the ocean, accelerating the rate of global sea level rise.

• Generally, Ice shelves act like buttresses to glaciers, keeping the ice from simply sliding into the ocean. When ice shelves are stable, they have a natural cycle of calving and replenishment that keeps their size fairly constant.
• The study further claimed that the thinning and calving, the total has decreased the bulk of Antarctica’s ice shelves by 12 trillion tonnes since the year 1997, twice more than anticipated, the same area as Switzerland.

Importance of Antarctica

• Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean are key drivers of Earth’s oceanic and atmospheric systems.
• About 90% of Earth’s ice is found here, and 70 per cent of all available fresh water is locked up in the Antarctic ice sheet.

• Thus, on melting it would raise sea levels by 58 metres.
• Further, Antarctic environment provides valuable information about climate change, as continental ice contains climate records extending back more than 800,000 years, which have been obtained from ice cores.
• Further, the Antarctic environment and biosphere are highly sensitive indicators of present-day environmental change.

 Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022

• The Bill seeks to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
• It also seeks to protect the Antarctic environment and regulate activities in the region.
• The Bill seeks to extend the application of domestic laws to research stations set up by India in the Antarctic region.
• Also, the Bill provides for a harmonious policy and regulatory framework for India’s Antarctic activities through well-established legal mechanism.
• The Bill proposes to set-up Indian Antarctic Authority (IAA) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences as the apex decision making authority.
• Further, the Bill will also help in increased international visibility, credibility of India in Polar governance leading to international collaboration and cooperation in scientific and logistics fields.

Source:

• ‘Antarctica is crumbling at its edges’: NASA's satellite image shows ice shelf thinning faster than predicted
• NASA Studies Find Previously Unknown Loss of Antarctic Ice
• Lok Sabha passes the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022

Image source:

• https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/30/climate/antarctica-ice-climate - change.html  
• https://twitter.com/ZLabe/status/1550932531985485828/photo/1

In News:

The SC has recently observed that freebies and social welfare schemes are two different things, and stated that, a balance has to be struck between the economy losing money and welfare measures.

Characteristics of Freebie Culture in India

Advantage/Significance:

• Removing Inequity
  • The government seeks to address the issue of inequity by ensuring access to a wide range of basic facilities such as banking, electricity, housing, insurance, water etc.
  • Removing this inequity to access helps boost the productivity of the population.
• Providing Access
  • Benefits under schemes like PM Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Missionhave eliminated the excessive upfront cost of access for citizens.
  • Moreover, they are leading to irreversible empowerment and self-reliance.
• Use of Technology in Direct Transfer Benefits
  • Identification of beneficiaries through the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) and prioritisation based on deprivation criteria has enabled the government to assist those who need freebies the most. 
• Giving more focus to expenditure on growth generating items  
  • Investors, both domestic and foreign, and credit rating agencies look to macro stability in terms of sustainable levels of debt and fiscal deficit.
  • One of the biggest achievements of the government it worked responsibly and gave more focus to on growth generating items to keep fiscal deficit under control by handling taxes and revenues well since 2014.

Negative aspects

• Upsetting India’s quest for Sustainable Development
  • India took various initiatives at COP21 in Paris, International Solar Alliance and the COP26 in Glasgow to forge a path of growth towards intergenerational equity.
  • However, these objectives will be achieved through many forms of freebies.
  • Example: Subsidies are being promised in one form or the other by way of free electricity. This deteriorates health of state distribution companies (Discoms) and seriously undercuts their financial viability.
  • India’s inability to meet an orderly transition to an era of renewable energy critically depends on the health of state electricity boards, which is undercut by the freebie culture.
  • A fixation on unrealistic tariffs and cross-subsidy in energy utilisation (charging higher prices to one type of consumers to lower prices for another group) prevent a credible coal plan, which is central to India’s energy planning.
• Manufacturing and Employment
  • Freebies lower the quality and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector by detracting from competitive infrastructure.
  • They prevent growth and gainful employment.
  • It is because there is no substitute for growth even if there is an increase in employment.
• Revdi (Freebies) for One, Disaster for Other
  • As a result of reducing prices for consumers beneficiaries, the government overcharge industrial and commercial contracts in order to maintain the internal fiscal balance. Subsequently the competitiveness of growing industries is reduced, which results in slower industrial growth and commercial price hike.
  • Therefore, it is not how cheap the freebies are for the beneficiaries, but how expensive they are for the economy, life quality and social cohesion in the long run.
• Increased Fiscal Deficit
  • Subsidies and freebies create pressure on government revenues, leading to an increased fiscal deficit and increased interest payments.
• Distort Informed Decision Making of Voters
  • Unregulated populism by offering and distributing 'irrational freebies' during election campaigns often create bias in the minds of voters, specially the unprivileged class as they are easily swayed by freebies and impact the informed decision making to choose their representative.
• Temporary Nature
  • Freebies sometimes suffer negative transitions from universal, then optional, and then a halfway house through surcharges, these promises are only valid till incumbents face fiscal constraints and are forced to withdraw benefits.
• Private Goods- Based Freebies
  • Freebies on Private goods and services do not lead to a tangible social benefit.
  • For example, free distribution of electricity does not provide any collective social benefits thus can be contemplated as Private Goods.

Content Source link: 

• https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/aug/12/freebies-and-welfare-schemes-two-different-things-says-supreme-court-2486681.amp,
• https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/what-distinguishes-welfare-measures-from-freebies/article62108481.ece, https://theprint.in/india/freebies-welfare-schemes-different-sc/1078432/,

Image Source Link:

• https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cant-couch-all-freebies-as-welfare-schemes-sc-101660239490025.html

• Context: A woman from Bengaluru has recently filed a petition in the Delhi High Court to stop her friend, who was suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome from travelling to Europe to undergo  
• Also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a serious and debilitating disease that affects the nervous system, the immune system and the body’s production of energy.
• Its causes are still unknown.

• However, the potential triggers include viral or bacterial infection, hormonal imbalances and genetic predispositions.
• There is no specific test for the disease, and doctors rely on medical examinations, blood and urine tests.
• CFS can affect anyone, from children to adults of all ages (more common in women and people between 40 and 60 years old).
• The symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome include a significantly lowered ability to do activities that were performed before the illness.
• This is accompanied by at least 6 months (or longer) of debilitating fatigue that is more severe than everyday feelings of tiredness that is not relieved by sleep or rest and exercising usually makes the symptoms worse.
• Other symptoms include trouble sleeping, difficulty in thinking, memory retention and concentration, dizziness, headaches, tender lymph nodes etc.
• As of yet, there is no specific cure or approved treatment.

Source:

• https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-health/explained-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-8087287/

Image source:

• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/184802

• Context: The UK Defence Ministry in its intelligence assessmentof the ongoing Ukraine war has sounded an alarm on the possible use of PFM-1 series ‘Butterfly Mines’ by the Russian military in Donetsk and Kramatorsk.
• Butterfly mine is a very sensitiveanti-personnel landmine.
• It is extremely dangerous, even for small children as an applied force of 5 kgis enough to detonate the mine.

• The major difference between PFM-1 & PFM-1S is thatthe latter comes with a self-destruction mechanism which gets activated within 1 to 40 hours.
• They can be dropped from helicoptersor through ballistic dispersion using artillery and mortar shells.
• They glide to the ground without exploding and later explode on coming in contact.
• These mines are difficult to detect becausethey are made of plastic and can evade metal detectors.
• The anti-personal mines are banned by international convention on land mines but Russia and Ukraine are not signatories to it.

Source:

• Explained: What is the controversial ‘Butterfly Mine’ Russia has allegedly used in Ukraine

Image source:

• https://root-nation.com/en/articles-en/weapons-en/en-pfm-1-land-mines/

• Context: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJ&E) is preparing to undertake a nationwide survey to enumerate all people engaged in hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, an activity that has led to at least 351 deaths since 2017. 
• NAMASTE stands for National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem.
• It aims to achieve outcomes like zero fatalities in sanitation work in India, no sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter and that all Sewer and Septic tank sanitation workers have access to alternative livelihoods.
• It is a joint venture of-
  • Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
  • Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 
  • The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. 

• The Skill Development and trainings of Safai Mitras is being taken up with the support of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through the National Safai Karamchari Finance Development Corporation.
• The scheme will also provide for sanitation workers to train for and go into any of the approved list of alternative occupations in sectors like agriculture, services, electronics assembling, handicrafts and so on.
• Manual scavenging is a banned practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act, 2013.
• The Act bans the use of any individual for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of or otherwise handling in any manner, human excreta till its disposal.
• It is to be noted here that the Ministry of AYUSH has launched a portal named NAMASTE,a comprehensive web-portal for Standardized Terminologies and National Morbidity Codes of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Systems of Medicine(not to be confused).

Source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-to-enumerate-people-engaged-in-hazardous-cleaning-of-septic-tanks-sewers/article65761912.ece

Image source:

• https://tapasfoundation.com/manual-scavenging-in-india/

• Context: The Eligibility rules for opening an Atal Pension Yojana (APY) account is set to change from 1st October 2022.
• As per the recent modification, if a subscriber, who joins on or after 1st October, 2022, and is found to an income tax payer, then the APY account of such person shall be closed and the accumulated pension wealth till date would be given to the subscriber.
• The scheme was launched in 2015,with the objective of creating a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector.

• The scheme is administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authoritythrough National Pension System (NPS).
• Any citizen of Indiacan join the APY scheme. The age of the subscriber should be between 18-40 years. The contribution levels would vary and would be low if a subscriber joins early and increases if she joins late.
• The benefits of the scheme include:
  • It provides a minimum guaranteed pension ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 on attaining 60 years of age.
  • The amount of pension is guaranteed for lifetime to the spouse on death of the subscriber.
  • In the event of death of both the subscriber and the spouse, the entire pension corpus is paid to the nominee.
• Contributions to the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) are eligible for tax benefits similar to the National Pension System (NPS).
• The scheme has been implemented comprehensively across the country covering all states and Union Territories with male to female subscription ratio of 57:43.

Source:

• https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/personal-finance/atal-pension-yojana-new-rule-centre-announces-change-in-eligibility-details-here-article-93496820#:~:text=The%20latest%20modification%20mandates%20that,be%20given%20to%20the%20subscriber.

Image source:

• https://www.financialexpress.com/money/good-news-for-atal-pension-yojana-subscribers-no-penalty-on-delayed-apy-contributions-till-sept-30/2066355/

Essence - The article highlights the need for course correction to achieve balanced and equitable growth by 2047. It expresses hope and underlines that by 2047 (on completing 100 years of independence) India will a major force to reckon with on the world stage, but there are serious challenges facing it internally. The divide between rich and poor is well evident and highlighted in reports on the wealth distribution in the country (the top 1% own 33% of the total wealth).

The article further argues that looking at the present state of affairs in the country the development looks extremely biased and in favour of a small group of people. The rights enshrined in the constitution and highlighted in the preamble, including – the right to social justice and freedom of conscience, and free expression of thoughts, are not followed in true spirits. For India to achieve its dream of 2047, it is important that we work to remove bottlenecks for the equitable and holistic development of India.

Why should you read this article?

• The article is important to understand the bottlenecks in India’s equitable development and growth.
• The article helps understand the factors needed to be considered in future planning.

Source:

• https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/kanimozhi-karunanidhi-writes-commitment-inclusivity-social-justice-nation-march-to-100-8092003/\

Essence – The editorial envisages India at 2047 as a global innovation leader powered by its inclusive and sustainable knowledge economy. It identifies research, innovation and technology as the work horse for achieving VisionIndia@2047. It highlights 3 major areas i.e. Research and innovation in health sector, Women’s participation in economy and renewable energy, are areas where India has a huge locked potential. It also discusses various ongoing programs that focuses on these major areas.

Towards the end it projects creation of inclusive, digitally empowered society and knowledge based economy as the prerequisite for India to emerge as the 3^rd largest economy by 100^th year of its Independence. 

Why should you read this article?

• To know the importance of health care, Women’s participation and renewable energy in providing the traction to a knowledge based economy.

Source:

• https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india100-a-digitally-powered-and-sustainable-innovation-hub-8090430/

In news

A movie teaser has been released recently, that is based on the historical novel Ponniyin Selvan, which is a narrative that unfolds over a thousand years during the reign of the Chola Empire.

About Cholas

• The Chola dynasty was well established by the 3rd century BCE, a fact mentioned in one of the Ashokan pillars. And, they continued to be in power till 1279 CE i.e for more than 1,500 years.
• Cholas had controlled land that was more than five times the size of Britain.
• The Chola territories stretched from the islands of the Maldives in the South to as far North as the banks of the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh.
• Under Rajaraja Chola I (Rajaraja the Great) and his son Rajendra Chola, the dynasty became a military, economic and cultural power in Asia.

• Wielding their military prowess and wealth of agricultural settlements, they reigned supreme over the trade routes and high seas of South Asia.
• They fuelled a Tamil cultural Renaissance, which saw the genesis of the Sangam age, a golden age of Tamil literature and poetry, the legacy of which still thrives in south India.
• The Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram (built by Rajendra I) and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram (built by Rajaraja II), are testimony to the Chola Empire’s achievements in sculpture, architecture, and bronze casting.
• The art of bronze casting reached its zenith during this time, which used the ancient lost-wax technique.
• However, the power of the Cholas declined around the twelfth century with the rise of the Pandyas and the Hoysala, eventually coming to an end towards the end of the thirteenth century.

Quote:

“Every man’s ability may be strengthened or increased by culture” by John Abbot.

Source:

• Ponniyin Selvan: Who Were the Cholas, One of the World’s Longest-Ruling Dynasties

Image source:

• https://www.myind.net/sites/default/files/field/image/9ae79a97_capture.png