The Hindu Newspaper Analysis 7 April 2023

The Hindu Newspaper Analysis for UPSC

The Hindu Newspaper Analysis 6 April 2023

• Social media platforms and other intermediaries on the Internet are now required to make sure that “fake news” articles about the Union government, deemed and declared as such by its Press Information Bureau (PIB), are taken down from their platforms when they are alerted to such posts.
• The changes were notified on Thursday evening through the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023, amending the IT Rules, 2021.

 The Hindu Editorial Today

• Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi said on Thursday that if a Governor withholds assent to a Bill passed by the Assembly, it means the “Bill is dead”.
• Ravi said the Supreme Court has defined withholding assent as the Bill falls through, the Bill is dead. “It is a decent language used instead of the word ‘reject’. When you say ‘withhold’, the Bill is dead.
• Veto Power of the President of India is guided by Article 111 of the Indian Constitution.
• Article 200 of the Indian Constitution deals with the powers of the Governor with regard to assent given to bills passed by the State legislature and other powers of the Governor such as reserving the bill for the President’s consideration.
• Article 201 pertains to ‘Bills Reserved for Consideration’.
• When a bill is sent to the governor after it is passed by the State Legislature, he/she can give assent to the bill or withhold assent to the bill or return the bill (if it is not a money bill) for reconsideration.
• However, if the bill is passed again with or without amendments, the Governor has to give assent to the bill or reserve it for the consideration of the President.
• Such reservation is obligatory if the bill passed endangers the position of the state high court, is against the provisions of the Constitution, opposes Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP), is against the larger interest of the country, of grave national importance or deals with compulsory acquisition of property

• In a surprise move on Thursday, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unanimously decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5%, citing global financial stability concerns as a key factor in the decision. Five of the MPC’s six members also voted to keep policy focused on the withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation progressively aligns with the target, while supporting growth.
• The MPC has raised interest rates continuously since May to stem inflation. The RBI said it would remain watchful and would not hesitate to take further action as may be required.
• “It’s a pause and not a pivot,” RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said at a press conference.

About MPC:

• The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was amended by Finance Act (India), 2016 to constitute MPC.
• It is tasked with framing monetary policy using tools like the repo rate, reverse repo rate, bank rate, cash reserve ratio (CRR).
• It has been instituted by the Central Government of India under Section 45ZB of the RBI Act that was amended in 1934.
• The committee will have six members. Of the six members, the government will nominate three. No government official will be nominated to the MPC.
• The other three members would be from the RBI with the governor being the ex-officio chairperson. Deputy governor of RBI in charge of the monetary policy will be a member, as also an executive director of the central bank.

• The Supreme Court verdict setting aside the denial of broadcasting permission to Malayalam channel MediaOne is one that protects the media against arbitrary action and bars the use of undisclosed national security considerations as a pretext to shut down an outlet.
• The Court has struck a blow for media freedom by ruling that the government could not term critical coverage or airing of critical opinions as “anti-establishment”, and so initiate action.
• A significant aspect of the judgment is that it seeks to end the casual resort to ‘sealed cover procedure’ by courts by suggesting an alternative approach to state claims of immunity from publication in public interest.
• Drawing upon both Indian and foreign jurisprudence, the Bench has said it is now an established principle of natural justice that relevant material must be disclosed to the affected party, ensuring that the right to appeal can be effectively exercised.
• It acknowledges that confidentiality and national security could be “legitimate aims for the purpose of limiting procedural guarantees”.
• However, a blanket immunity from disclosure of all reports could not be granted and that the validity of the involvement of such considerations must be assessed by the use of relevant tests.

• Bhutan is not just a neighbour, but a very important and strategic one. Its border with India is over 600 km long, and it plays the role of a buffer between China and India.
• Where Bhutan decides its boundary with China (to the west) is of exceptional relevance to India because that is a trijunction of the three countries.
• Bhutan is fully conscious of India’s strategic needs. As per their 2007 Treaty of Friendship, India and Bhutan consult at a high level in order to be able to maximise or reinforce their mutual strategic interests.

• The Union Home Ministry on Thursday recommended an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged violation of FCRA provisions by Oxfam India, one of the largestNGOs working on food, shelter and education of vulnerable groups.
• The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration of Oxfam India that enabled it to receive foreign funds was not renewed by the Ministry in 2021.
• On Thursday, a senior government official said that the NGO was registered under the FCRA for undertaking “social” activities and its registration was valid till December 31, 2021.
• The official said that Oxfam continued to transfer foreign funds to various other entities even after the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020, which prohibits such transfers, came into force.

Foreign Contribution Regulation Act?

• FCRA was enacted during the Emergency in 1976 amid apprehensions that foreign powers were interfering in India’s affairs by pumping money into the country through independent organisations.
• The law was amended again in 2020, giving the government tighter control and scrutiny over the receipt and utilisation of foreign funds by NGOs.
• The FCRA requires every person or NGO seeking to receive foreign donations to be:
• registered under the Act
• to open a bank account for the receipt of the foreign funds in State Bank of India, Delhi
• to utilize those funds only for the purpose for which they have been received and as stipulated in the Act.
• FCRA registrations are granted to individuals or associations that have definite cultural, economic, educational, religious, and social programmes.

Validity:

• FCRA registration is valid for 5 years, and NGOs are expected to apply for renewal within six months of the date of expiry of registration.
• The government can also cancel the FCRA registration of any NGO if it finds that the NGO is in violation of the Act, if it has not been engaged in any reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of society for two consecutive years, or if it has become defunct.
• Once the registration of an NGO is cancelled, it is not eligible for re-registration for three years.

Q) Chhukha Hydroelectric Project, recently seen in the news, is located in which one of the following countries?

1. Nepal
2. Bhutan
3. Bangladesh
4. Myanmar

हाल ही में खबरों में रही छूखा जलविद्युत परियोजना निम्नलिखित में से किस देश में स्थित है?

1. नेपाल
2. भूटान
3. बांग्लादेश
4. म्यांमार

Explanation :

India recently agreed to an upward revision of tariff of the Chhukha hydroelectric project.

About Chhukha Hydroelectric Project:

• It is a run-of-the-river reservoir-based project.
• Location: It is located in the Wangchu River/basin in Chukha, Bhutan.
• Installed capacity: 336 MW.
• It was built by the Government of India (GoI) at the cost of Rs. 246 crores.
• The GoI fully funded this project with a 60 per cent grant and a 40 per cent loan.
• The project construction commenced in 1979 and subsequently entered into commercial operation in 1986.

Power Purchase Agreement: The power generated from the project is sold to the Eastern Regional Power Grid of India under a power purchase agreement.

Q) Nathu La Pass lies in which state?

1. Himachal Pradesh
2. Uttarakhand
3. Sikkim
4. Bihar

नाथू ला दर्रा किस राज्य में स्थित है?

1. हिमाचल प्रदेश
2. उत्तराखंड
3. सिक्किम
4. बिहार

Explanation :

A massive avalanche recently struck the popular Nathu La mountain pass in Sikkim, trapping several tourists.

About Nathu La Pass:

• Location: It is a mountain pass in the Himalayas in the East Sikkim district.
• Altitude: It is situated at an altitude of 4302 m and is one of the highest motorable roads in the world.
• Nathu means “listening ears”, and La means “pass” in Tibetan. It forms a part of an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road.
• Nathu La connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.
• It is guarded on both sides by Chinese and Indian soldiers.
• Nathu La is one of the three open trading border posts between India and China; the other two are in Himachal Pradesh (Shipkila ) and Uttarakhand (Lipulekh).
• Sealed by India after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Nathu La was re-opened in 2006 following numerous bilateral trade agreements.

Q) World Energy Transitions Outlook report, which was recently seen in the news is given by which organization?

1. 1. World Bank
   2. International Renewable Energy Agency
   3. International Monetary Fund
   4. None of these

वर्ल्ड एनर्जी ट्रांज़िशन आउटलुक रिपोर्ट, जो हाल ही में समाचारों में थी, किस संस्था द्वारा दी गई है?

1. विश्व बैंक
2. अंतर्राष्ट्रीय अक्षय ऊर्जा एजेंसी
3. अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मुद्रा कोष
4. इनमें से कोई नहीं

Explanation :

Recently, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released the World Energy Transitions Outlook report.

• The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future.
• It was officially founded in Bonn, Germany, on 26 January 2009.
• Its membership comprises 167 countries and the European Union.
• It is an official United Nations observer.

Q) With reference to the Competition Commission of India, consider the following statements:

1. It was established under the Competition Act, of 2002.
2. The Commission consists of one Chairperson and six Members who shall be appointed by the Central Government.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

भारतीय प्रतिस्पर्धा आयोग के संदर्भ में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिये:

1. यह 2002 के प्रतिस्पर्धा अधिनियम के तहत स्थापित किया गया था।
2. आयोग में एक अध्यक्ष और छह सदस्य होते हैं जिन्हें केंद्र सरकार द्वारा नियुक्त किया जाएगा।

उपरोक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं?

1. केवल 1
2. केवल 2
3. 1 और 2 दोनों
4. न तो 1 और न ही 2

Explanation :

Recently, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upheld the ₹1,337 crore fines imposed on Google by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was established in March 2009 by the Government of India under the Competition Act, 2002 for the administration, implementation, and enforcement of the Act.
• It is a quasi-judicial body which gives opinions to statutory authorities and also deals with other cases.
• Composition of the CCI
  • The Commission consists of one Chairperson and six Members who shall be appointed by the Central Government.
  • The Chairperson and other Members shall be whole-time Members

Q) Kangra Valley, recently seen in the news, lies in which state?

1. Assam
2. Arunachal Pradesh
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Sikkim

हाल ही में समाचारों में रही कांगड़ा घाटी किस राज्य में स्थित है?

1. असम
2. अरुणाचल प्रदेश
3. हिमाचल प्रदेश
4. सिक्किम

Explanation :

Kangra Tea from Himachal Pradesh was recently granted the European Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

About Kangra Tea:

• It is a type of tea produced in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is a high-quality tea known for its unique flavour, aroma, and colour.
• It is made from the leaves, buds, and tender stems of the Camellia sinensis species cultivated in the Kangra valley.
• Black tea and green tea have both been cultivated in the Kangra Valley.
• In India, Kangra tea received the Geographical Indication (GI) designation in 2005.
• Features:
• Kangra tea leaves are narrow and have a multi-stemmed frame.
• Green tea has a subtle woody aroma, while black tea has a sweet, lasting aftertaste.
• It has a light colour and a high body in liquor.

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