January 2022

1 INSIGHTSIAS SIMPLYFYING IAS EXAM PREPARATION January 2022 INSIGHTSIAS SIMPLIFYING IAS EXAM PREPARATION 2 INSIGHTS IAS INSIGHTS IAS Table of Contents INSIGHTS into EDITORIAL GENERAL STUDIES II 5 pertinent issue of trust and the Indian politician 5 in governance 8 islands of excellence must not be marooned 12 the licence: On NGOs and funding 15 now, recast the selection process of the ECs 19 and empower city governments 23 India s demographic dividend 27 suspension of MLAs up for judicial review?

2 31 without freedom 34 implementation of safety protocols in fireworks industry 38 conjunction: On evolution of democratic society 41 for the education emergency 44 Bill that could alter the mediation landscape 48 drones more effectively: Civil Aviation Ministry 52 , China ink key deals 55 is India challenging WTO verdict on sugar ? 59 GENERAL STUDIES III 63 GST compensation as a reform catalyst 63 in new Economic Shakti for New India 66 economic recovery, and factors it will depend on 70 budget for inclusive and sustainable growth 74 s economy and the challenge of informality 77 defence.

3 On anti-dumping duty on Chinese goods 81 consequences of an ill-considered green strategy 84 baton of forest restoration in the net zero race 89 proposal for Indian Environmental Service 92 what the doctor ordered for the livestock farmer 96 global toll of bacterial resistance to drugs 99 ESSAYS 3 INSIGHTS IAS INSIGHTS IAS 4 INSIGHTS IAS INSIGHTS IAS 5 INSIGHTS IAS INSIGHTS IAS INSIGHTS into EDITORIAL GENERAL STUDIES II pertinent issue of trust and the Indian politician Introduction: After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it was concluded in a survey by Association of democratic reforms that nearly 43% of the newly elected members of the lower house have criminal cases against them.

4 In the 2004 national election, the percentage of candidates with pending criminal cases was 24% which rose to 33% in 2009, 34% in 2014 and 43% in 2019. Thus, the increase in the member parliaments with criminal charges in these times will cause a strong impact among the faith of citizens of India in the democratic structure and its functioning mechanism. This can cause disastrous effects among the democratic spirit of the people and the faith they put up in the Constitution. 6 INSIGHTS IAS INSIGHTS IAS Causes of criminalisation of politics in India: There can be different causes of criminalisation of politics in India.

5 1. In India, in most cases, there is a nexus between the criminals and the politicians. 2. This connection can be due to the muscle power of the criminals in their areas and their influence over the people which can indeed prove to be a bliss upon the politicians when they go for the election campaigning to win and in return the criminals get immunity from prosecution and support from the administration to run their illegal works. 3. This nexus can prove to be a ticket for the criminals to contest for the election.

6 4. The criminalization of politics can also be due to the lack of awareness of the people to choose their representatives and the lack of knowledge about the representatives due to which criminals are very often elected as MLAs and MPs. 5. The use of caste and religion is very common in a country like India where we have people with different cultures, languages and religions. Provisions in the Indian Constitution to uphold fair and free elections in India: 1. Article 324 of the Indian Constitution grants powers to the Election Commission of India to direct and control free and fair elections in India.

7 The powers of Superintendence have been vested in the Election Commission. 2. Article 325 of the Constitution ensures universal suffrage and provides that no person be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special, electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex. 3. Article 102 of the Constitution sets grounds for disqualification of MPs whereas Article 191 sets out the same grounds for disqualification for member legislative assemblies. 4. The Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 also provides a legal framework for the conduct of elections in India.

8 5. The key provisions of the act include allocation of seats in the House of the People and in the Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils of States. 6. The Act also lays down procedures for electoral rolls and the manner of filling seats. There are provisions under ROPA for disqualification of candidates. 7. The President of India can also delimit constituencies but after consulting with the Election Commission of India. 8. In addition to all these, the Financial Bill of 2017 encompassed provisions which laid down that no party would receive an amount exceeding Rs.

9 2,000 per person as donation. 7 INSIGHTS IAS INSIGHTS IAS Educational Awareness and Trust in politicians: Higher levels of education are negatively related to trust in politicians. 1. Those with matriculation and higher levels of education are deeply sceptical, relative to the illiterates, as they are likely to be better aware of political skulduggery and shenanigans and not so easily swayed by rhetoric. 2. The caste hierarchy throws up a fascinating contrast.

10 Both the Brahmins who are at the top of this hierarchy and Dalits who are at the lower rung express high trust in politicians, relative to the Other Backward Classes, but perhaps for very different reasons. 3. While as long as the superiority of Brahmins is not challenged and Dalits are protected through affirmative action, they are more likely to repose high trust in politicians. 4. Affiliation to social networks, two or more is positively associated with greater trust in politicians, as manifestation of collective identity, relative to those not affiliated to any.