- PRIVATE MEMBERS BILLS GET SHORT SHRIFT IN BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
SUBJECT: POLITY
- Definition: Bills introduced by Members of Parliament who are not Ministers. These offer a platform for individual MPs to raise issues and propose legislation.
- Current Status: A negligible amount of time is allocated to Private Members’ Bills in both Houses. No Private Member’s Bill has been passed since 1970.
- Time Allocation (17th Lok Sabha):
- Bills: 9.08 hours
- Resolutions: 16.43 hours
- Time Allocation (Rajya Sabha -same period):
- Bills: 27.01 hours
- Resolutions: 20.78 hours
- Challenges: Lack of seriousness and attendance from members.
- Unfavorable scheduling (Friday afternoons).
- Bills pending for years without discussion.
- Proposed Solutions: Reschedule discussions to mid-week (Wednesdays).
- Impact:The declining use of Private Members’ Bills limits the voice of individual MPs and hinders their ability to contribute to legislative processes. This also restricts alternative perspectives and potential solutions from being considered
2. THIRUVALLUVAR
SUBJECT: HISTORY
- A celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher. The exact period when he lived is debated, with estimations ranging from the 3rd century BCE to the 5th century CE
- Magnum Opus: Thirukural, a classic Tamil text consisting of 133 chapters, each containing 10 couplets (kurals).
- Themes of Thirukural: Covers a wide range of topics related to human life and ethics, categorized into three sections:
- Aram(Virtue):Deals with moral principles and righteous conduct.
- Porul(Wealth):Focuses on material prosperity and good governance.
- Inbam(Love):Explores the various aspects of love and family life.
- Universality: TheThirukuralis admired for its universal and timeless wisdom, transcending specific religious or cultural boundaries. It has been translated into numerous languages.
- Influence: Thiruvalluvar’s teachings have had a profound impact on Tamil culture and continue to be a source of guidance and inspiration.
- Legacy: Revered as a great moral and philosophical figure. His statue in Kanyakumari stands as a testament to his enduring legacy
3. WAYANAD LANDSLIDES A DISASTER OF SEVERE NATURE SAYS CENTRE
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- The categorization of the Wayanad landslides as a “disaster of a severe nature”is based on the assessment of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT)deployed by the central government.
- This designation, while acknowledging the significant impact of the landslides, falls short of the “national calamity” status sought by the Kerala state government.
- The distinction is important because the “national calamity” declaration does not exist within the current framework of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines.
- There is no official categorization of “national calamity” in India’s disaster management framework.
- The Disaster Management Act of 2005does not define or recognize this term.
- While there have been past proposals to establish such a classification, none have been formally adopted.
- Therefore, the aid provided is channeled through the existing SDRF and NDRF mechanisms, which are based on the “severe nature” assessment.
- This categorization allows for the allocation of funds from the SDRF, with supplementary assistance from the NDRF, as per established procedures
4. NASA PROBE FLIES CLOSER TO THE SUN THAN ANY SPACECRAFT
SUBJECT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- NASA’s Parker Solar Probeflew closer to the sun than any previous spacecraft on December 24, 2024.
- Achieved a distance of 6.1 million kilometers from the sun’s surface.
- Withstood temperatures exceeding 930 degrees Celsius on its heat shield
- Launched in August 2018.
- Seven-year mission to study the sun and improve space weather forecasting.
- Confirmation of the flyby expected on December 28, 2024, due to communication blackout
- Heat shield maintains internal instrument temperature near room temperature (29°C).
- Speed during flyby: ~690,000 km/hr
5. CENTRE INKS CONTRACTS FOR AIP, TORPEDOES FOR SUBMARINES
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- AIP Module: Construction and integration of indigenously developed Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) module(₹1,990 crore with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited).
- Torpedo Integration: Integration of DRDO-developed electronic heavyweight torpedo (₹877 crore with Naval Group, France)
- AIP will enhance submarine endurance.
- Torpedo integration addresses the lack of a modern heavyweight torpedo.
- Generate employment.
