UPSC Daily Current Affairs- September 13, 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Context

The Varanasi District and Sessions Court has rejected the plea of the organization which manages the Gyanvapi mosque complex, challenging the maintainability of the civil suits filed by some women seeking the right to worship Goddesses on the outer wall of the complex.

About Gyanvapi Mosque

• The Gyanvapi Mosque was built in 1669 during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who ordered the demolition of the existing Vishweshwar temple at the site, and its replacement by a mosque.
• The plinth of the temple was left untouched, and served as the courtyard of the mosque.
• One of the walls too was spared, and it became the qibla wall, the most important wall in a mosque that faces Mecca.
• Material from the destroyed temple was used to build the mosque, evidence of which can be seen today.
• The name of the mosque is said to have derived from an adjoining well, the Gyanvapi, or Well of Knowledge.
• An old sculpture of the Nandi bull inside the compound of the present Kashi Vishwanath Temple faces the wall of the mosque instead of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
• It is believed that Nandi is in fact, facing the sanctum sanctorum of the original Vishweshwar temple.

The temple to Lord Shiva

• For more than 100 years after the mosque was built, there was no temple at the site.
• The present Kashi Vishwanath Temple was built in the 18th century by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, immediately to the south of the mosque.
• Over the decades it emerged as one of the most prominent and revered centres of the Hindu religion.
• Many Hindus have long believed that the original deity of the erstwhile Vishweshwar temple was hidden by the priests inside the Gyanvapi well during Aurangzeb’s raid.
• This has fired the desire to conduct puja and rituals at the sacred place where the mosque now stands.

Longstanding claims

• From time to time, petitioners have laid claim to the mosque, saying it remains the original sacred place of Hindu worship.
• The Ayodhya movement also aimed to “liberate” the Kashi-Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi mosque site and the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura as well.

What was the case before the Court?

• The temple worshipers side had argued that the mosque was built on the site of an older temple, while the another side pleaded that the mosque was built on Wakf premises.
• The plea also said that The Places of Worship Act of 1991 barred the changing of the character of the mosque.
• The case was initially heard by the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Varanasi, but it was transferred by the Supreme Court to the District Judge on grounds of the “complexity of the issues involved in the civil suit”.
• The Supreme Court said it would wait for the district court’s decision on the mosque committee’s application before intervening in the matter.

Issue in Limelight

• In April 2021, Fast Track Court Civil Judge ordered the Archaeological Survey of India to get a comprehensive archaeological physical survey” done of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex.
• It was tasked to find out as to whether the religious structure standing at present at the disputed site is a superimposition, alteration or addition or there is a structural overlapping of any kind, with or over, any religious structure.
• The mosque is not an ASI-protected site, and the ASI has no role in its maintenance or upkeep.

What are the people seeking now?

• Worshippers find the cut-off date of August 15, 1947, is “arbitrary, irrational and retrospective” and prohibits Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs from approaching courts to “reclaim” their places of worship.
• Such places, they argue, were “invaded” and “encroached” upon by “fundamentalist barbaric invaders”.
• Certain groups have opposed the law even when it was introduced, arguing that the Centre has no power to legislate on “pilgrimages” or “burial grounds” which are under the state list.

GS-II

Context

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog will assist each state to set up similar bodies, replacing their planning boards for faster and inclusive economic growth along with the vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.

What is NITI Aayog?

• NITI Aayog is the apex public policy think tank of the Government of India.
• It replaced the Planning Commission on 1^st January, 2015 with emphasis on ‘Bottom –Up’ approach to envisage the vision of Maximum Governance, Minimum Government, echoing the spirit of ‘Cooperative Federalism’.
• It has two Hubs.
  • Team India Hub acts as interface between States and Centre.
  • Knowledge and Innovation Hub builds the think-tank acumen of NITI Aayog.

What is the Need for Setting up NITI Aayog-like Bodies in States?

• States are the Indian economy’s growth drivers. The national gross domestic product (GDP) growth is an aggregation of states’ rates of growth except for sectors like defence, railways and highways.
  • Health, education and skilling are primarily with the state government.
• State governments’ role is critical to improving ease of doing business, land reforms, infrastructure development, credit flows and urbanisation, all of which are vital for sustained economic growth.
• Most states so far have done little to rejuvenate their planning departments/boards, which earlier dealt with the Planning Commission and prepared parallel state five year-plans with the Centre.
  • Most states’ planning departments, with huge manpower, are almost defunct and have no clarity what work they will do.

What is the Agenda for Implementation?

• Initially, it aims for 8-10 states to set up such bodies, before reaching out to all by March 2023.
  • Four states i.e., Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam have already begun work in this regard.
  • Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat will likely begin work soon.
• A plan has been chalked out by NITI Aayog to:
  • Help in the creation of teams that will examine the existing structure of state planning boards.
  • Conceptualise the State Institution for Transformation (SIT) in the next 4-6 months.
    • Lateral entry of professionals will be encouraged in SITs to undertake high-quality analytical work and policy recommendations.
• Besides reorienting state planning boards as SITs, a blueprint will be made on:
  • Guiding states in policy formulation.
  • Monitoring and evaluation of government policies and programmes.
  • Suggesting better technology or models for delivery of schemes.

Context

Recently, the government of India organized a Virtual Networking Meet for Agri and Food Geographical Indication (GI) products in association with the Embassy of India, Doha and Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC) Qatar.

• This Meet provided a platform for interaction between the India exporters and importers of Qatar on the strength of India in export of agri and food products of Indian origin and distinct attributes.

What is a Geographical Indication (GI) Tag?

• About
  • Geographical Indication (GI) is an indication used to identify goods having special characteristics originating from a definite geographical territory.
  • The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
  • It is governed and directed by the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
    • It was decided and also stated under Articles 1 (2) and 10 of the Paris Convention that the “protection of industrial Property and Geographical Indication are elements of Intellectual Property”.
  • It is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods).
• Validity: This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.
• Significance
  • Once a product gets this tag, any person or company cannot sell a similar item under that name.
  • GI registration of a product provides it legal protection and prevention against unauthorised use by others.
  • GI tag helps in promoting the exports of the product.
  • It also provides comfort to customers about the authenticity of that product.
• Agri GI Products
  • Presently, there are more than 400 registered Geographical Indications in India of which around 150 are agricultural and food products GI.
  • More than 100 registered GI products fall under the category of Agriculture and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) scheduled products (fresh fruits and vegetables, processed foods, animal products and cereals).

How has India’s Relations with Qatar been?

• Developments during Indian Vice President visit June 2022
  • India-Qatar Start Up bridge: The Vice President launched the “India-Qatar Start Up bridge” that aims to link the start-up ecosystems of the two countries.
    • India has emerged as the 3^rd largest ecosystem for startups globally, with over 70,000 registered Startups.
    • India is home to 100 unicorns with a total valuation of over USD 300 billion.
  • Environment and Climate Change: The Vice President invited Qatar, as India’s trusted partner in its energy security, to be a partner in this journey for sustainability and join the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
  • Joint Business Council Between Business Chambers
    • A Joint Business Council between Business Chambers of India and Qatar has been established and that a Joint Task Force on Investments would take its work forward.
    • Invest India and Qatar Investment Promotion Agency was appreciated for entering into a partnership of guiding and assisting businesses on both sides to tap new and emerging opportunities.
  • Collaborations at Multilateral Forums: Greater collaboration between India and Qatar at multilateral forums like the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), Asian Parliamentary Assembly, and others was emphasized.
• Trade
  • India’s Exports to Qatar: In 2020, India exported USD 1.34 Billion to Qatar.
    • The main products that India exported to Qatar are Rice, Jewellery and Gold.
    • During the last 25 years the exports of India to Qatar have increased at an annualized rate of 16.5%, from USD 29.3 Million in 1995 to USD 1.34 Billion in 2020.
  • India’s Imports from Qatar
    • In 2020, Qatar exported USD 7.25 Billion to India. The main products that Qatar exported to India were Petroleum Gas, Crude Petroleum and Halogenated Hydrocarbons.
    • During the last 25 years the exports of Qatar to India have increased at an annualized rate of 19%, from USD 94.4Million in 1995 to USD 7.25 Billion in 2020.
    • Qatar accounts for 41% of India’s total natural gas imports.

Context

India voiced concern over the “lack of measurable progress” in Sri Lanka’s promised political solution to the long-pending Tamil national question.

Back in news: Tamil Issue

• India has made an unexpected (for SL) reference to the crisis-hit island nation’s “debt-driven” economy in the context of its current crisis.
• Indian delegation noted the lack of measurable progress by Government of Sri Lanka on their commitments of a political solution to the ethnic issue.
• It sought for full implementation of the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, delegation of powers to Provincial Councils and holding of Provincial Council elections at the earliest.

Has India retreated from supporting Sri Lanka?

• India’s statement comes ahead of a resolution on Sri Lanka that will likely face a vote at the Council.
• Since 2009, India has voted thrice in favour of the UN resolution on Sri Lanka — two were critical — and abstained twice, in 2014 and 2021.
• Irrespective of its vote, India has consistently underscored the need for a political settlement within the framework of a united Sri Lanka, ensuring justice, peace, equality and dignity for the Tamils of Sri Lanka.

What is the 13th Amendment?

• It is an outcome of the Indo-Lanka Accord of July 1987, signed by the then PM Rajiv Gandhi and President J.R. Jayawardene, in an attempt to resolve the ethnic conflict and civil war.
• The 13th Amendment led to the creation of Provincial Councils and assured a power-sharing arrangement to enable all nine provinces in the country, including Sinhala majority areas, to self-govern.
• Subjects such as education, health, agriculture, housing, land and police are devolved to the provincial administrations.

Why is it contentious?

• The 13th Amendment carries considerable baggage from the country’s civil war years.
• It was opposed vociferously by both Sinhala nationalist parties and the LTTE.
• The opposition within Sri Lanka saw the Accord and the consequent legislation as an imprint of Indian intervention.
• It was widely perceived as an imposition by a neighbour wielding hegemonic influence.
• The Tamil polity, especially its dominant nationalist strain, does not find the 13th Amendment sufficient in its ambit or substance.
• However, some find it as an important starting point, something to build upon.

Why India objects over this?

• Because of restrictions on financial powers and overriding powers given to the President, the provincial administrations have not made much headway.
• In particular, the provisions relating to police and land have never been implemented.

Why is it significant?

• Till date, the Amendment represents the only constitutional provision on the settlement of the long-pending Tamil question.
• In addition to assuring a measure of devolution, it is considered part of the few significant gains since the 1980s, in the face of growing Sinhala-Buddhist majoritarianism.

Context

The Supreme Court Collegium led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) U.U. Lalit has recommended eight names for appointment to the Bombay High Court.

What is Collegium System?

• The Collegium of judges is the Indian Supreme Court’s invention.
• It does not figure in the Constitution, which says judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by the President and speaks of a process of consultation.
• In effect, it is a system under which judges are appointed by an institution comprising judges.
• After some judges were superseded in the appointment of the CJI in the 1970s, and attempts made subsequently to effect a mass transfer of High Court judges across the country.
• Hence there was a perception that the independence of the judiciary was under threat. This resulted in a series of cases over the years.

Evolution: The Judges Cases

• First Judges Case (1981) ruled that the “consultation” with the CJI in the matter of appointments must be full and effective.
• However, it rejected the idea that the CJI’s opinion, albeit carrying great weight, should have primacy.
• Second Judges Case (1993) introduced the Collegium system, holding that “consultation” really meant “concurrence”.
• It added that it was not the CJI’s individual opinion, but an institutional opinion formed in consultation with the two senior-most judges in the Supreme Court.
• Third Judges Case (1998): On a Presidential Reference for its opinion, the Supreme Court, in the Third Judges Case (1998) expanded the Collegium to a five-member body, comprising the CJI and four of his senior-most colleagues.

The procedure followed by the Collegium

• Appointment of CJI
  • The President of India appoints the CJI and the other SC judges.
  • As far as the CJI is concerned, the outgoing CJI recommends his successor.
  • In practice, it has been strictly by seniority ever since the supersession controversy of the 1970s.
  • The Union Law Minister forwards the recommendation to the PM who, in turn, advises the President.
• Other SC Judges
  • For other judges of the top court, the proposal is initiated by the CJI.
  • The CJI consults the rest of the Collegium members, as well as the senior-most judge of the court hailing from the High Court to which the recommended person belongs.
  • The consultees must record their opinions in writing and it should form part of the file.
  • The Collegium sends the recommendation to the Law Minister, who forwards it to the Prime Minister to advise the President.
• For High Courts
  • The CJs of High Courts are appointed as per the policy of having Chief Justices from outside the respective States. The Collegium takes the call on the elevation.
  • High Court judges are recommended by a Collegium comprising the CJI and two senior-most judges.
  • The proposal, however, is initiated by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned in consultation with two senior-most colleagues.
  • The recommendation is sent to the Chief Minister, who advises the Governor to send the proposal to the Union Law Minister.

Loopholes in the Collegium system

• Lack of Transparency: Opaqueness and a lack of transparency, and the scope for nepotism are cited often.
• Judges appointing Judge: The attempt made to replace it with a ‘National Judicial Appointments Commission’ was struck down by the court in 2015 on the ground that it posed a threat to the independence of the judiciary.
• Criteria: Some do not believe in full disclosure of reasons for transfers, as it may make lawyers in the destination court chary of the transferred judge.

Context

Recently, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has applied to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the deemed university status.

What is the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)?

• About
  • The NCERT is an autonomous organization set up in 1961 by the Government of India to assist and advise the Central and State Governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education.
  • The Executive Committee (EC) is the highest decision-making body of NCERT and is chaired by the Education Minister.
• Objectives: To undertake, promote and coordinate research in areas related to school education, prepare and publish model textbooks, supplementary material, newsletters, journals and develop educational kits, multimedia digital materials, etc.

What is a Deemed University?

• About: Deemed University is a type of higher education institute, it has been recognized by the status of “deemed to be university” under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956.
  • In broad terms, it means that the institution has been granted permission to offer its own degree programs, which are equivalent to those provided by regular universities.
• Benefits: There are many benefits of being a Deemed University, such as increased funding opportunities and attracting better faculty. Additionally, these institutions often have more flexible admissions policies.
  • The authority to revise the curriculum.
  • The right to conduct examinations and evaluations.

What are the other Different types of Universities in India?

• Central University: A university established or incorporated by a Central Act. The establishment and operation are funded by the Union Government.
• State University: A university established or incorporated by a Provincial Act or by a State Act.
• Private University: A university established through a State/Central Act by a sponsoring body viz. A Society registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860, or any other corresponding law for the time being in force in a State or a Public Trust or a Company registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956.
• Institution of National Importance: An Institution established by Act of Parliament and declared as Institution of National Importance. They are funded by the Government of India and include all the IITs, NITs and AIIMs institutes.
• Institution under State Legislature Act: An Institution established or incorporated by a State Legislature Act.

Why did NCERT apply for Deemed University Tag?

• Lack of Government Decision: The government’s proposal to make the NCERT an institute of national importance is on hold.
• Benefits: The status would allow NCERT to offer its own graduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees and have autonomy in terms of introduction of programmes, course structure, conducting examinations and management, among others.
• Present Status: The graduate and post-graduate programmes offered by NCERT’s Regional Institute of Education (REI) are affiliated with local universities like Barkatullah University, Bhopal, M D S University, Ajmer, University of Mysuru, Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar and North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong.
• Need: Despite offering innovative teacher education courses through REIs for decades, the NCERT is still dependent on the approval of local universities to introduce programmes.
• Opposition: There is opposition within the NCERT expressing that the “deemed university” status will erode NCERT’s autonomy.

GS-III

Context

Recently, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), which is under the Ministry of Defence, launched Taragiri, the third stealth frigate of Project 17A.

What is Project 17A?

• About
  • Project 17 Alpha frigates (P-17A) were launched by the Indian Navy in 2019 to construct a series of stealth guided-missile frigates.
  • These are currently being constructed by two companies - Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
  • These guided-missile frigates have been constructed with a specific stealth design, which has radar-absorbent coatings and is low-observable which can make its approach undetectable for the enemies.
    • The new technology also reduces the infrared signals of the ship.
  • The first stealth ship launched under Project 17A was the Nilgiri, which was launched in 2019.
  • Udaygiri, the second ship, was launched in May 2022, and will likely be commissioned in 2024.
• Present Status: Further, seven P17A Frigates are under various stages of construction at MDL and GRSE.
• Benefits
  • It provides additional benefits such as economic development, and employment generation for Indian Shipyards, their sub-contractors and the ancillary industry.
  • Around 75% of the orders of Project 17A have been placed on indigenous firms including MSMEs, thus reinforcing the country’s quest for Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
    • Indigenous construction of complex frontline ships such as Stealth Frigates has catapulted the nation to a higher pedestal in the arena of shipbuilding.

What are the Key Highlights of Taragiri?

• Taragiri is named after a hill range in the Himalayas located at Garhwal.
• The ship has been built using an integrated construction methodology which involves hull block construction in different geographical locations.
• The ship will have state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, an advanced action information system, an integrated platform management system, world-class modular living spaces, a sophisticated power distribution system and a host of other advanced features.
• It will be fitted with a supersonic surface-to-surface missile system.
• The ship’s air defence capability, designed to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles will revolve around the vertical launch and long-range surface-to-air missile system.

Context

India’s statistics ministry generates only one high-frequency gauge of economic activity. And that lone barometer, the index of industrial production (IIP), is completely broken.

About IIP
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index that indicates the performance of various industrial sectors of the Indian economy. It is a composite indicator of the general level of industrial activity in the economy.

How is IIP calculated?
IIP is calculated as the weighted average of production relatives of all the industrial activities. In the mathematical calculation Laspeyre’s fixed base formula is used.

What are the Core Industries in India?

• The main or the key industries constitute the core sectors of an economy.
• In India, there are eight sectors that are considered the core sectors.
• They are electricity, steel, refinery products, crude oil, coal, cement, natural gas and fertilizers.

Which has highest weightage in IIP?
The eight core sector industries in decreasing order of their weightage: Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.

Why is IIP important?

• IIP is the only measure on the physical volume of production. 
• It is used by government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India, etc. for policy-making purposes. IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation of the quarterly and advance GDP estimates.

Who releases IIP data?

• The IIP data is compiled and published by CSO every month.
• CSO or Central Statistical Organisation operates under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• The IIP index data, once released, is also available on the PIB website.

How useful are monthly IIP figures to draw a conclusion about India’s growth?

• IIP figures are monthly data and as such it keeps going up and down.
• In fact, the release calls them “quick estimates” because they tend to get revised after a month or two.

IIP Index Components

• Mining, manufacturing, and electricity are the three broad sectors in which IIP constituents fall.
• The relative weights of these three sectors are 77.6% (manufacturing), 14.4% (mining) and 8% (electricity).
• Electricity, crude oil, coal, cement, steel, refinery products, natural gas, and fertilizers are the eight core industries that comprise about 40 per cent of the weight of items included in the IIP.

Basket of products

• Primary Goods (consisting of mining, electricity, fuels and fertilisers)
• Capital Goods (e.g. machinery items)
• Intermediate Goods (e.g. yarns, chemicals, semi-finished steel items, etc)
• Infrastructure Goods (e.g. paints, cement, cables, bricks and tiles, rail materials, etc)
• Consumer Durables (e.g. garments, telephones, passenger vehicles, etc)
• Consumer Non-durables (e.g. food items, medicines, toiletries, etc)