TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19.7.2024

1. SC TO HEAR PETITIONS AGAINST PASSING LAWS AS MONEY BILLS (POLITY)

• Background: The Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, has agreed to list petitions challenging the use of the Money Bill route by the Centre to pass certain contentious amendments in Parliament.
• This issue has significant implications for the legislative process and the balance of power between the two houses of Parliament.
• Money Bill: Definition: A Money Bill is defined under Article 110 of the Indian Constitution. It primarily deals with financial matters such as taxation, borrowing of money by the government, expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India, etc.
• Provisions: According to Article 110(1), a Bill is deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters:
• Imposition, abolition, remission, alteration, or regulation of any tax.
• Regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any guarantee by the Government of India.
• Custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, and payments into or withdrawals from these funds.
• Appropriation of money out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
• Declaring any expenditure to be expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund of India or the increasing of the amount of any such expenditure.
• Receipt of money on account of the Consolidated Fund of India or the public account of India or the custody or issue of such money.
• Any matter incidental to any of the matters specified above.
• Passage of Money Bill: Lok Sabha’s Role: A Money Bill can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament) with the recommendation of the President.
• Rajya Sabha’s Role: Once the Lok Sabha passes a Money Bill, it is sent to the Rajya Sabha (the upper house) for its recommendations. The Rajya Sabha cannot reject or amend a Money Bill but can only make recommendations, which the Lok Sabha may choose to accept or reject.
• The Rajya Sabha must return the Bill with its recommendations within 14 days, failing which the Bill is deemed to have been passed by both Houses in the form it was originally passed by the Lok Sabha.
• Controversies and Legal Challenges:
• Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Amendments: Amendments made to the PMLA through Money Bills have been challenged. These amendments gave the Enforcement Directorate extensive powers of arrest, raids, etc.
• Finance Act of 2017: This Act, passed as a Money Bill, altered the appointments to 19 key judicial tribunals, including the National Green Tribunal and Central Administrative Tribunal. The categorization of this Act as a Money Bill has been contested.
• Aadhaar Act: The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, was also passed as a Money Bill. This was challenged in the Supreme Court, which upheld its validity in a majority verdict in 2018. However, Justice Chandrachud dissented, arguing that the decision to declare the Aadhaar law as a Money Bill should be reviewed.
• Judicial Review:
• Rojer Mathew Case: In November 2019, a five-judge Bench referred the question of whether certain amendments could be passed as Money Bills to a seven-judge Bench. This reference includes legal questions concerning the amendments made from 2015 onwards in the PMLA and the Finance Act of 2017.
• Current Status: The Chief Justice of India has agreed to list these petitions for hearing by the Constitution Bench.
• Implications: The use of the Money Bill route to pass significant amendments has raised concerns about the circumvention of the Rajya Sabha, which plays a crucial role in the legislative process.
• The outcome of the judicial review by the seven-judge Bench will have far-reaching implications for the legislative process and the balance of power between the two houses of Parliament.

2. ICAR TO REALASE 323 NEW VARIETIES OF 56 CROPS TODAY (AGRICULTURE)

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is set to launch the “One Scientist, One Product” programme to enhance research and innovation in agriculture and animal husbandry. This initiative aligns with ICAR’s broader goals of improving crop varieties and agricultural technologies.
• One Scientist, One Product Programme: Objective: To encourage each of the 5,521 scientists under ICAR to develop a unique product, technology, model, concept, or significant publication.
• Implementation: Scientists or groups of scientists will identify their focus product at the beginning of each year. Progress will be monitored quarterly at the institute level and biannually at the headquarters level.
• Duration: The programme is planned for five years, with continuous monitoring and evaluation. Release of Crop Varieties:
• New Varieties: ICAR will announce the release of 323 varieties of 56 crops, including cereals, oilseeds, forage crops, and sugar cane.
• Climate-Resilient Varieties: Out of these, 289 are climate-resilient varieties designed to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses.
• Bio-Fortified Varieties: 27 varieties are bio-fortified to enhance nutritional content.
• Five-Year Plan: Seed Hubs: Priority will be given to establishing seed hubs for high[1]yielding oilseeds and pulses varieties.
• 100-Day Action Plan: ICAR aims to develop 100 new seed varieties and 100 farm technologies within 100 days as part of the Centre’s action plan. Production Boost:
• Breeder Seeds: Approximately 16 million hectares are under bio[1]fortified varieties of different crops, including wheat, rice, pearl millet, lentil, and mustard.
• Climate-Resilient Technologies: Deployment of these technologies has led to enhanced production even during abnormal years.
• Historical Data: Variety Releases: From 2014-15 to 2023-24, ICAR released a total of 2,593 high-yielding varieties, including 2,177 climate-resilient varieties and 150 bio-fortified crop varieties.

3. PANEL REPRIMANDS ODISHA GOVERNMENT FOR BUILDING VIOLATION IN FOREST LAND ( ENVIRONMENT)

• The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) is an expert body under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• It is responsible for evaluating and making recommendations on proposals that involve the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, such as industrial projects, infrastructure development, and other activities.
• Legal and Constitutional Backing: 1. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980:
• Primary Legislation: The FAC operates under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, also known as Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
• Objective: The Act aims to conserve forests and regulate the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.
• Section 2: This section mandates that any diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes requires prior approval from the Central Government. The FAC evaluates these proposals and makes recommendations to the government.
• Role and Functions:
• Evaluation: The FAC assesses the environmental impact of proposed projects on forest land.
• Recommendations: It can approve, reject, or impose conditions on the diversion of forest land.
• Monitoring: The FAC ensures compliance with the conditions imposed on approved projects.
• Constitutional Backing: Article 48A: Part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, it directs the State to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.
• Article 51A(g): It imposes a fundamental duty on every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.
• Recent Context: Issue with Odisha Government: The FAC reprimanded the Odisha government for unauthorized construction on forest land for the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri without prior approval.
• Environmental Concerns: The FAC has also asked for an evaluation of the impact on Olive Ridley turtles, which breed in the vicinity of the proposed airport site.

4. INDIA AND RUSSIA HAVE DOUBLED RUPEE – ROUBLE PAYMENT IN 2024 (INTERNATIONAL)

• India and Russia have significantly increased their trade transactions in national currencies (rupee-rouble) despite sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the European Union. This shift aims to reduce dependency on the U.S. dollar and mitigate the impact of international sanctions on bilateral trade.
• Key Concepts: National Currency Trade:
• Definition: National currency trade involves conducting international trade transactions using the domestic currencies of the trading countries, in this case, the Indian Rupee (INR) and the Russian Rouble (RUB).
• Benefits: Reduces exchange rate risk, lowers transaction costs, and minimizes dependency on third-party currencies like the U.S. dollar.
• Sanctions and Economic Impact: Sanctions: Economic sanctions are restrictive measures imposed by countries or international organizations to influence the behavior of a target country. In this context, the U.S. and EU imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• Impact: Sanctions can limit access to international financial systems, restrict trade, and affect economic stability.
• Rupee-Rouble Trade Mechanism: Sberbank’s Role: Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, facilitates a majority of payments for Indian exports to Russia. It has seen a significant increase in rupee-denominated transactions and deposits.
• Payment Processing: The volume of payments processed by Sberbank doubled in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with an 80% increase in the number of transactions.
• Economic Cooperation: Trade Target: India and Russia have set a trade target of $100 billion by 2030.
• Prime Minister Modi’s Visit: The recent visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow has further strengthened economic ties and is expected to boost trade in national currencies.

5. 1,151 CR. INVESTMENT CAN HELP INDIA IN BATTERY TECH. RACE (SCIENCE ANF TECHNOLOGY)

• Total Investment: ₹1,151 crore over five years.
• Objective: To give India a significant international lead in advanced battery technology for electric vehicles (EVs) and ensure India does not lose the race to be among the leaders in battery technology. “E-mobility R&D Roadmap”
• Focus Areas: Energy Storage Cells: Development of advanced battery cells.
• Electric Vehicle Aggregates: Components and systems for EVs. Materials and Recycling: Sustainable materials and recycling processes.
• Charging and Refuelling: Infrastructure for charging and refuelling EVs.
• Current Dependency: Lithium-Battery Imports: India’s EV fleet is currently dependent on imported lithium batteries.
• Domestic Reserves: Announced large lithium reserves in India are yet to be sufficiently exploited.
• Government Initiatives: Recent steps to allow the private sector to mine rare earth minerals.

ONE LINER

1. The World Audio Video and Entertainment Conference (WAVES) is being held in Goa for the first time in India
2. Outstanding Work in Politics and Public Life – Kayithe Millath Award to N.Ram and Abusale Sharif.