{"id":84550,"date":"2021-02-22T21:00:15","date_gmt":"2021-02-22T15:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=84550"},"modified":"2021-02-23T10:43:26","modified_gmt":"2021-02-23T05:13:26","slug":"9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-february-22-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-february-22-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief \u2013 February 22, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Good evening dear reader<\/p>\n<p>Here is our 9pm current affairs brief for you today<\/p>\n<div class=\"content-box-blue\">\r\n<p><strong>About 9 PM Brief<\/strong>- With the <span style=\"color: #000000;\">9 PM Daily Current affairs for UPSC brief we intend<\/span> to simplify the newspaper reading experience. In 9PM briefs, we provide our reader with a summary of all the important articles and editorials from three important newspapers namely The Hindu, Indian Express, and Livemint. This will provide you with analysis, broad coverage, and factual information from a Mains examination point of view.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>About Factly<\/strong>- The Factly initiative covers all the daily news articles regarding Preliminary examination. This will be provided at the end of the 9 PM Brief.<\/p>\r\n<p>Dear Aspirants,<\/p>\r\n<p>We know for a fact that learning without evaluation is a wasted effort. Therefore, we request you to please go through both our initiatives i.e 9PM Briefs and Factly, then evaluate yourself through the 10PM Current Affairs Quiz.<\/p>\r\n<p>We plan to integrate all our free daily initiatives to comprehensively support your success journey.<br \/><strong>Happy Learning!<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-brief\/\">Read Previous 9 PM Brief<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tid=\"messageBodyContent\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/daily-current-affairs-summaries\/\">Article wise list of 9 PM Brief<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>List of\u00a0 9 PM Current Affairs Articles<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#note1\">Clean energy is the key to COVID-19 recovery<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Note2\">Impacts of School Closures and way forward<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Note3\">Importance of Perseverance Mission on Mars<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Note4\">The trend of Undermining the Role of Upper House<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Note5\">Centre\u2019s decision over Finance Commission\u2019s recommendations<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"note1\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/clean-energy-is-the-key-to-covid-19-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Clean energy is the key to COVID-19 recovery<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Source- <a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=GH88A6BII.1&amp;imageview=0\">The Hindu<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Syllabus- GS 3 <\/strong>&#8211; Investment models.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis &#8211;<\/strong> United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) report shows that energy demand reductions have mainly impacted fossil fuels. But Renewable energy development continued to grow throughout 2020. This shows that clean energy is key to the COVID-19 recovery, not fossil fuels.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Introduction-<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>UN-ESCAP released the Regional Trends Report, 2021. The report titled \u2018<strong>shaping a sustainable energy future in Asia and the Pacific &#8211; A greener, more resilient and inclusive energy system\u2019. <\/strong>The report\u00a0examines the ambitions and progress of ESCAP member states in achieving sustainable energy goals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Importance of continuous energy supply during the pandemic-<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Hospitals and healthcare facilities require continuous energy supply to function 24X7.<\/li>\n<li>Allowing work from home, distance learning and communication of essential health information status all required uninterrupted power.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support for cold chain systems and logistics <\/strong>also need an uninterrupted power supply. This is essential for the proper transportation, distribution and storage of the Covid-19 vaccine.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>How to make society more resilient to future crises such as COVID-19?<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Governments should make <strong>meaningful progress on SDGs<\/strong>. The government can achieve this by addressing the systemic issues that made societies more vulnerable to COVID-19. Such as addressing issues in health, decent work, poverty and socio-economic inequalities,<\/li>\n<li><b>Fiscal stimulus packages focused on investments that support SDGs.<\/b> This can be achieved by not investing in industries such as fossil fuels. At the same time focusing more on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects is required. This will create industries that are resilient to crisis.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>What are the advantages of promoting clean energy?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Clean energy will create more jobs<\/strong>. Evidence suggests that clean energy will create more jobs than fossil fuel projects for similar investments. For example, an increase in spending on clean cooking and electricity access will enhance economic activities in rural areas. Further, it will improve the health and well-being of women and children.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Low-carbon infrastructure and technologies reduce global warming.\u00a0<\/strong>This will take a step closer towards achieving ambitious climate pledges, and the Paris Climate deal.<br \/>\nIt is also important to note that several countries have announced the <strong>carbon neutrality targets.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>COVID-19 crisis has shown that we can restrict fossil fuels and can be more adaptive and resilient. But we should not waste the opportunities given by the crisis to phase out fossil fuels.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div data-tid=\"messageBodyContent\">\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"Note2\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/impacts-of-school-closures-and-way-forward\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Impacts of School Closures and way forward<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=GH88A6BJA.1&amp;imageview=0\">The Hindu<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS 2: <\/strong>Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis<\/strong>: Policies to deliver education during COVID-led school closures has increased the disparities. Disparities need to be rectified by suitable policy measures to deliver universal education to all.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Background<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lockdown measures to contain COVID spread has forced the government to resort to school closures.<\/li>\n<li>The governments tried to address the situation by giving a push to the digital distance learning method.<\/li>\n<li>However, studies indicate that the initiative failed to take into account existing divides such as spatial<strong>, digital, gender and class.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>The digital learning methods widened the digital divide between the rich and the poor and the urban and rural areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What were the steps taken by the government? <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The government used various means such as text\/video\/audio content through SMS, WhatsApp, radio and TV programmes to reach out to students and engage them.<\/li>\n<li>Further, the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development in March 2020 started sharing the following free e-learning platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 117.5%; height: 223px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 56px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 28px;\" width=\"539\"><strong>1.Diksha portal: <\/strong>It contains e-learning content aligned to the curriculum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 63px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 55px;\" width=\"539\">2<strong>.<\/strong> <strong>e-Pathshala<\/strong>: It is an app by the National Council of Educational Research and Training for Classes 1 to 12 in multiple languages<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 78px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 78px;\" width=\"539\">3. <strong>SWAYAM:\u00a0 <\/strong>It consists of 1,900 complete courses including teaching videos, computer weekly assignments, examinations and credit transfers, aimed both at school (Classes 1 to 12) and higher education.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 84px;\">\n<td style=\"height: 62px;\" width=\"539\">4. <strong>SWAYAM Prabha: <\/strong>It is a group of 32 direct to home channels devoted to the telecasting of educational programmes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>What are the issues concerning the use of digital distance learning method?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The attempts at initiating a rapid transition to digital learning following the pandemic have many lessons,<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>First,<\/strong> according to a recent <strong>UNICEF report<\/strong>, the massive school closures exposed the uneven distribution of technology required for <strong>remote learning. <\/strong>It reduced the chances of <strong>social and economic mobility<\/strong> through education.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Second,<\/strong> it also disrupted the significant school programmes that resulted in high enrollment as well as regular attendance. (The mid-day meal scheme, the school health Programme and pre-matric scholarships to girl children).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Third,<\/strong> the abilities of the families and communities to support their children\u2019s education reduced.\u00a0For example, A survey promoted by the <strong>Centre for Budget and Policy Studies<\/strong> found that in families which faced cash and food shortages, only 50% of the boys and girls were confident of returning to school.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fourth, <\/strong>students with lesser access to digital connectivity forced them to share the burden of household chores. Also, their educational routine disrupted. In many cases, students don&#8217;t remember what they learnt earlier.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fifth, <\/strong>apart from the above issues the education sector faced many challenges. Such as delivery of pedagogical processes, classroom assessment frameworks, students\u2019 support and teacher-student engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table style=\"width: 121.333%;\" width=\"573\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\" width=\"573\"><strong>Case study of Rajasthan:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rajasthan has a low literacy rate in India. It is the 2nd worst in overall literacy rate and worst in female literacy rate. (<strong>NSS,2017-18).<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>20% of girls in the age group 15-16 were out of school against the national average of 13.5 (<strong>Annual Status of Education Report 2018<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<li>Despite pioneering initiatives in education such as the <strong>Lok Jumbish and Shiksha Karmi<\/strong> projects, it suffers from systemic issues in education related to quality, equity and gender.<\/li>\n<li>In Rajasthan, the access of girls to education during the COVID-19 period was limited to 11%. Girls who had online access reported links through WhatsApp (92%) and YouTube (12%).<\/li>\n<li>The reasons for students inability to access online education were lack of devices, poor or no internet connectivity, and also girls\u2019 preoccupation with household activity.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0In contrast, the schools run by NGO\u2019s performed better. They did not resort to online education. Instead, teachers visited individual students at home and also taught children in small groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What needs to be done?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>First<\/strong>, Education planning should be made context-specific, gender-responsive and inclusive.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Second, the <\/strong>government should take enabling measures even when schools are closed. Such as;\n<ul>\n<li>providing access to online education,<\/li>\n<li>removal of barriers in pre-matric scholarships and<\/li>\n<li>ensuring the provision of mid-day meals, iron and folic acid tablets and<\/li>\n<li>provision of personal hygiene products to girl students<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Third, <\/strong>currently, there are around 300 million children reported to be out of school in India across all age groups. This number can increase once schools will reopen.\n<ul>\n<li>Hence, the authorities should establish the re-enrolment of children as mandated by the <strong>National Education Policy 2020.<\/strong> <strong>Mass outreach programmes <\/strong>should be developed with<strong> civil society <\/strong>to encourage re-enrollment<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fourth,<\/strong> to retain the poorest at schools\u2019 remedial tuitions and counselling along with scholarships, targeted cash transfers and other entitlements are advisable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fifth, <\/strong>we can also think about making secondary education for girls free.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Finally, <\/strong>to implement all these measures we need to support the education sector with adequate budgetary resources<strong>. <\/strong>Hence, it is important to increase the share of education to 6% of GDP, as emphasized by the President of India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"Note3\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/importance-of-perseverance-mission-on-mars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Importance of Perseverance Mission on Mars<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=GH88A6BJ4.1&amp;imageview=0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Hindu<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Syllabus: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GS 3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Synopsis: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Perseverance mission on Mars will test out technologies to help sustain the presence of humans there. \u00a0Further, it will help the future manned mission to Mars along with several other important experiments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Introduction\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The scientific community is suspecting that life may have existed on Mars before Earth. Thus, there might be a possibility of microscopic life on the planet. Understanding this will enhance our studies of evolution and nurture of life outside the earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Landing of Perseverance rover:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>NASA\u2019s mission on Mars has focused on finding traces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and trails of water. The water may be related to the possible existence of life on the planet.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The curiosity rover which landed on Mars in 2012 found out regions that could have hosted life.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recent NASA mission, Mars 2020, landed on the <strong>Jezero Crater<\/strong> in Mars on February 18.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>What does the new Mars mission aim to do?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mission is expected to last at least the duration of<strong> one Mars year<\/strong>, i.e. 687 earth days.\u00a0 The goals for this mission are to look for signs of ancient life and collect rock and soil samples.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perseverance will take the investigation made by the earlier Curiosity rover to the next level by <strong>studying the Jezero Crater<\/strong>. This particular crater was chosen because it was found to be home to an ancient delta according to an aerial study.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><b>Clay minerals and carbonates were found on the crater. <\/b>It <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">makes this crater a good place to search for life\u2019s existence.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rover will <b>study the geology of mars and store samples<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in a place that can be accessed by a future mission. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rover will <strong>test out technologies<\/strong> that will <strong>help to sustain the presence of humans<\/strong> in future. This includes <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">testing an instrument that <\/span><b>extracts oxygen from atmospheric carbon dioxide<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rover carries a <b>helicopter named Ingenuity. <\/b>Ingenuity<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0is specially designed to <strong>fly in Mars\u2019s thin atmosphere<\/strong>. Its only purpose would be to <strong>demonstrate flight on Mars<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>The conclusion\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/importance-of-mars-2020-perseverance-rover\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Perseverance Mission<\/a> will be able to answer whether little green microbes did inhabit Mars in the distant past or not. But till then we have to wait and watch the progress.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"Note4\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/the-trend-of-undermining-the-role-of-upper-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The trend of Undermining the Role of Upper House<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=GH88A6BJ6.1&amp;imageview=0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=GH88A6BJ6.1&amp;imageview=0<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Syllabus<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: GS 2 &#8211; Parliament and State legislatures\u2014structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers &amp; privileges, and issues arising out of these<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Synopsis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The ruling party who dominates the lower house is sometimes seen undermining the role of the Upper House. Such an approach dilutes the principle of bicameralism and undermines the spirit of the Constitution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Background<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recent passage of the <\/span><b>Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Karnataka\u2019s legislative council has attracted criticism.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reason for criticism is that the <\/span><b>bill was passed through a voice vote<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in place of a division vote as demanded by the opposition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The opposition parties had a majority and didn\u2019t support the bill. This has created an impression that the bill was passed without majority support.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Instruments to undermine the Upper House<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>First<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the use of<\/span><b> voice vote<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> undermines the higher number of opposition members in the upper house. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this process, the presiding officer gives a decision as per his judgment, because the names or numbers of legislators voting on each side are not recorded.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A similar thing was seen in the passing of controversial farm laws by Rajya Sabha in 2020.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Second<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the presiding officer sometimes declares a bill as a \u2018<strong>M<\/strong><\/span><b>oney Bill\u2019 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">even if it is not covered under the definition of a money bill.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the second house can only give recommendations on it and can\u2019t stop its passage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For Example, Aadhaar, electoral bonds, retrospective validation of foreign political contribution, etc. passed as money bills.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Third<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the government <\/span><b>promulgates the ordinance <\/b>and frequently re-promulgates it.<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is an abuse of temporary legislative power given to the executive who tries to give it permanency by re-promulgation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The objective is to forbid the second house from performing its constitutional role as the majority is already enjoyed in the lower house.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Role of Upper House<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>First<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it gives <\/span><b>credible second opinions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on bills introduced by the ruling party in the lower house.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Second<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, to <\/span><b>prevent <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the country from the <\/span><b>brute will of the majority<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of one party in the lower house. This becomes crucial as even the courts are barred from intervening in the legislative process.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Third<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it <\/span><b>duly represents the interests of states<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the national level. Rajya Sabha is representative of all the Indian states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Fourth<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it <\/span><b>upholds the principle of separation of powers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in a robust way. The majority of the executive is often chosen from lok sabha by the ruling party. This allows the executive domination over the legislature and easily passes bills in Lok Sabha.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Way Forward<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The speaker\/chairman of the house must act in the spirit of positive morality. It would allow him to function objectively.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The demands of opposition should be respected. For example, division vote instead of voice vote should be used.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The money bill issue can be rightly tackled if the Supreme Court hears the case over its misuse, gives its verdict in due time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The executive and ruling party must respect the dissent of the Second Chamber as done in case of repeal of the 42nd amendment.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Janta Government was not able to completely repeal it as Congress enjoyed a significant majority in Rajya Sabha.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greater focus should be on debates and discussions rather than solely focusing on quick passing of bills.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Parliament was not convened for a long time during the pandemic and later got convened after suspending the question hour so that swift passage can happen. This approach needs to be changed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"note1\"><a id=\"Note5\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/centres-decision-over-finance-commissions-recommendations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Centre\u2019s decision over Finance Commission\u2019s recommendations<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><b>Source<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=GH88A6BJ2.1&amp;imageview=0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/Home\/ShareArticle?OrgId=GH88A6BJ2.1&amp;imageview=0<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Syllabus<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: GS 2 &#8211; powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Synopsis<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The <\/span><b>15th Finance Commission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has submitted its recommendations for 2021-26 to the Centre. Amongst which maximum have been accepted by the Centre while others are put on a hold by it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Background<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The commission headed by<\/span><b> N.K Singh <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">was required to give recommendations for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although due to COVID-19, it was required to submit an interim report for a year 2020-21 and later give a road map for <\/span><b>2021-22 to 2025-2026.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, the recommendations were to be given keeping in mind the multiple challenges. This included dissolution of the planning Commission, introduction of GST and above all the fiscal and revenue stress induced by the pandemic.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The commission gave the recommendations based on a judicious interpretation of the unusual terms of reference given to it. This has ensured that recommendations are based on the<\/span><b> principle of equity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Recommendations accepted by the Centre:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>41% of the Centre\u2019s taxes <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">would be distributed amongst the states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Revenue deficit grants <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">amounting to 2.95 lakh crore would be given to 17 states in 5 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grants towards urban and local bodies would be conditional upon:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Setting up of a State Finance Commission<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online publication of Local bodies accounts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sanitation and Water services provided by local bodies (60% weightage)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Setting up of a <\/span><b>non-lapsable defence modernisation fund <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for augmenting capital expenditure on defence beyond the normal budgetary allocations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Recommendations put on hold<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking out 1.53 lakh crore rupees from the consolidated fund of India to partly finance defence modernization fund.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sectors specific and other grants to States amounting to 1.8 lakh crore rupees.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Way Forward:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centre must take proactive steps to win the confidence of States, especially in the current stressful times.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The instances of introducing more cess and surcharges should be reduced as these are not shared with States, like the recent agricultural infrastructure development cess.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centre needs to take States along with it to drive the country on a sustainable fiscal path and ensure equitable growth throughout the country.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"mJbaai6PM7\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/factly-news-articles-for-upsc-prelims-feb-22-2021\/\">Factly :-News Articles For UPSC Prelims | Feb 22, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Factly :-News Articles For UPSC Prelims | Feb 22, 2021&#8221; &#8212; Free UPSC IAS Preparation For Aspirants\" src=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/factly-news-articles-for-upsc-prelims-feb-22-2021\/embed\/#?secret=Czvlvj69Hw#?secret=mJbaai6PM7\" data-secret=\"mJbaai6PM7\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Good evening dear reader Here is our 9pm current affairs brief for you today Read Previous 9 PM Brief Article wise list of 9 PM Brief List of\u00a0 9 PM Current Affairs Articles Clean energy is the key to COVID-19 recovery Impacts of School Closures and way forward Importance of Perseverance Mission on Mars The&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-daily-current-affairs-brief-february-22-2021\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief \u2013 February 22, 2021<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":80068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-9-pm-brief","category-public","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/9-PM-Brief-1-e1615452440806.png?fit=600%2C335&ssl=1","views":{"total":0,"cached_at":"","cached_date":1702818760},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84550\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}