Brief of newspaper articles for the day bearing
relevance to Civil Services preparation
- GS PAPER 2
- Will explore options to pellet guns: Govt. {Internal Security}
- Why simultaneous elections make sense {Polity}
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China, Pak. conduct joint patrol along PoK border {International Affairs}
- GS PAPER 3
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Get on with the GST {Economy}
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GS PAPER 2
[1] Will explore options to pellet guns: Govt.
Context
Home Minister is aiming to set up an expert committee to recommend non lethal alternatives to disperse crowd.
Analysis
- This decision has come up after the MPs expressed their concern over the use of pellet guns by the forces in the ongoing agitation in Kashmir. Use of pellet guns has lead to loss of lives and severe injuries such as eye injuries and complete blindness.
- These pellet guns although described as non-lethal have been used earlier also and then also a lot of lives were lost due to this.
- The committee will have to submit its report in 2 months.
Home minister also expressed displeasure over certain barbaric acts in the valley, where the deaths of security personnel were celebrated.
[2] Why simultaneous elections make sense
Context
Recently Prime Minister mooted an idea to conduct the elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies simultaneously.This seems to be a good idea for myriad reasons.
Analysis
- Apart from Lok Sabha and state assembly elections if we include the local bodies elections too, there is no year without some election taking place. This affects stability and administration
- Winning elections becomes the first priority of all the politicians and due to this effective governance and administration is put on a back-burner.
- Also, since model code of conduct becomes applicable during elections, no new programs can be taken up by the incumbent government. This hampers the economic development.
- If all the elections are held simultaneously, the parties will have full 4 years to focus on efficient administration and governance.
But what about premature dissolution?
- In our constitution we have clauses which can lead to premature dissolution of Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
- This can be done either when the PM/CM advises the President/Governor to dissolve the Lok Sabha or when a no-confidence motion is passed by the Lok Sabha.
- This premature dissolution goes against the simultaneous elections model, as in case of dissolution elections will have to be conducted for Lok Sabha or state assembly.
How can this be overcome?
- To overcome this – No confidence motion, which is not mentioned in the constitution but in the Rules and Conduct of Business of the Lok Sabha- should be amended.
- It can be done adopting the Germany way, which provides that the leader of the party who wants to replace the chancellor has to move the no-confidence motion along with the confidence motion. If the motions succeed, the president appoints him as the chancellor.
- By this method, the country will always have a government which enjoys the confidence of Lok Sabha. It will be known in advance to the people that who would be the PM and uncertainties can be avoided. Lok Sabha can complete its full tenure of 5 years. Applying this to the state and local bodies, our country can have simultaneous elections.
[3] China, Pak. conduct joint patrol along PoK border
Introduction
Chinese and Pakistani border troops have for the first time launched joint patrolling of the border connecting Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with Xinjiang Province.
These patrols are followed by the reports that over 100 Uighurs have fled the Xinjiang region to join the Islamic State (IS).
Facts
Chinese troops have been patrolling the area since 2014, but it is the first time that the joint patrol has been launched.
No cause has been specified by any govt. behind this, but speculations are that these patrols have coincided with reports of over 100 Uighur Muslims sneaking out of Xinjiang to join the IS.
Views of a US think tank on the incident
Tough religious restrictions on Muslims in the region is, the cause behind this, according to a US think tank, as these recruits had no prior experience with jihad.
The New America Foundation in its report had said bans and controls on Muslim practices like fasting during Ramzan has led many to join the IS.
Why Pakistan cooperating?
Pakistan has been one of the biggest beneficiary from China with many projects are undergoing in the region. Hence Pakistan cannot risk annoying China.
Recently Pakistani military, under pressure from China, carried out massive air and ground operations to clear the Uighur militants’ bases in Pakistani tribal areas.
Currently, work is under way for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is to connect both countries through highways, rail, optic-cable network and pipelines.
Once the $46 billion project is complete, Xinjiang will get linked to Pakistan’s Gwadar port.
GS PAPER 3
[1] Get on with the GST
Context
The new session of Parliament has begun and the incumbent government is trying hard to ensure the adoption of Constitution bill so as to bring in the long pending, Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Analysis
- Prime Minister himself urged to the MPs to give importance to the national interest and give their support to the GST bill.
- Many parties including the major opposition parties have started showing willingness to work on weeding out the differences and bring in the GST.
- Govt. has also brought about the changes in those provisions which were being opposed to make the bill more acceptable e.g the clause which empowered centre to levy 1% additional levy on inter-state supply of goods and services has been repealed.
- The only remaining bone of contention is the question on explicit cap on GST rate and whether such cap should be included in the amendment.
Conclusion
Such problems can be weeded out by cooperation but everyone must accept the fact the GST will be a big boost for economic activity. It will subsume an number of indirect taxes and will prevent tax cascading which affects producers and consumers both.
[2] Industry urges Centre to speed up PPP revamp
Context
Private sector is urging the government to reboot the public private partnership framework and also clear the pending dues.
Analysis
- Apart from urging the govt. to reboot PPP framework, a committee of private sector infrastructure developers asked to clear the payment of dues owed to them by various state governments and central govt.
- The addressing of these concerns of private developers would help revive private sector investment in the economy.
- The committee accepted that the problem of stressed assets in the infrastructure sector remains serious more so in power, road, construction sector.
- Government in its budget has allocated Rs. 500 crores for creating a new institution called PPP India, to decide upon the feasible approaches of PPP. This reflects that the govt is keen on bringing the PPP back.
- A high level committee chaired by Vijay Kelkar also suggested the government to reboot PPP. Same was suggested by CII.
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