Daily News Digest 16 March 2024

Table of content

• Railways plans to develop multi-modal transport hubs
• Nausena Bhawan
• Neurological issues leading cause of ill health, disability
• Sebi relaxes FPI disclosure norms
• Atmospheric Research Testbed (ART)
• One Nation, One Election

Railways plans to develop multi-modal transport hubs

Time to Read :🕑 5 Mins

Why in news?

The Indian Railways plans to develop mega railway terminals with multi-modal connectivity in aspirational cities across India with a population of more than 1 million. .

About

• The programme is part of the infrastructure being developed for the ‘Viksit Bharat’ initiative.
• The Railway Board has communicated to General Managers of all Zonal Railways that the project could also be extended to cities where a sizeable population was expected.
  • Giving a list of cities with more than 10 lakh population and called for suggestions to include new locations/stations.
• The Ministry of Railways has also taken up enhancement of passenger experience on a mission mode and warned that any laxity on the part of its senior officers will not be tolerated.
• The Principal Chief Mechanical Engineers (PCMEs) of Zonal Railways have been instructed to closely monitor and ensure sustained housekeeping and maintenance activities and take necessary action on a real-time basis.

Nausena Bhawan

Time to Read :🕑 5 Mins

Why in news?

The newly built Nausena Bhawan in Delhi Cantonment was officially opened by the Defence Minister.

About News

• The Indian Navy as it establishes its first independent headquarters in Delhi.
  • Previously, the Navy operated from 13 different locations, necessitating a consolidated and purpose-built facility such as Nausena Bhawan.
• The architectural design of Nausena Bhawan was selected through a rigorous all-India competition, ensuring the building’s functionality and aesthetic appeal.
• Comprising three wings across four stories, the building incorporates innovative construction technologies to optimize efficiency and sustainability.
• Efforts toward energy and water conservation are evident throughout the complex, with the integration of solar generation systems and advanced building materials.
• The building has achieved Green Rating IV under the integrated habitability assessment.
• The complex is equipped with a state-of-the-art integrated building management system, ensuring efficient coordination and monitoring of security services and utility systems.

Neurological issues leading cause of ill health, disability

Time to Read :🕑 5 Mins

Why in news?

According to a new study, the conditions affecting the nervous system – such as strokes, migraines and dementia– have surged past heart disease to become the leading cause of ill health worldwide.

Key Finding

• More than 43% of the global population experienced a neurological condition in 2021, the analysis found.
• The study was carried out by the U.S.-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which has become a global reference for health statistics.
• IHME said the results showed that nervous system conditions are now “the world’s leading cause of overall disease burden”.
  • Cases of these conditions have soared by 59% in the last three decades, with the increase mainly driven by the fact that the world’s population was ageing fast.
  • The researchers looked at how 37 different neurological conditions affected ill health, disability and premature death across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021.
  • This data was used to estimate how many years of healthy life were lost to each condition, called disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).
  • More than 443 million years of healthy life were lost to nervous system disorders globally in 2021, an 18% increase from 1990, the study found.
  • However, if the population’s age and growing size was adjusted for, DALYs and deaths from these conditions actually fell by around a third, the researchers said.

Sebi relaxes FPI disclosure norms

Time to Read :🕑 7 Mins

Why in news?

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has granted relief to certain FPIs by exempting them from the additional disclosure framework.

About

• The Sebi Board approved a proposal to exempt additional disclosure requirements for FPIs having more than 50 per cent of their India equity AUM in a single corporate group, in case the concentrated holdings of the FPIs are in a listed company with no identified promoter if certain conditions are met.
• In a circular in August 2023, Sebi had asked select FPIs to provide granular details regarding their beneficial ownerships, economic interest and control up to the level of all natural persons.
  • These were FPIs, who held more than 50 percent of their Indian equity Assets Under Management (AUM) in a single Indian corporate group and those that individually or along with an investor group held more than Rs 25,000 crore of equity AUM in Indian markets.

As per the latest update on FPIs,

• The Sebi board approved a proposal to relax the timelines for disclosure of material changes by FPIs.
  • Currently, FPIs must disclose to their DDP (designated depository participant) material changes to information provided earlier, within seven working days.
• Sebi said a minimum time period of 180 days or the end of the registration block, whichever is later, will be provided for the disposal of securities in case of adverse change in the compliance status of the home jurisdiction of the FPI or non-submission of documents for reclassification of FPI category from I to II.
• In cases where the securities held by an FPI have not been disposed of even after the lapse of the specified time period of 180 days, an additional time-period of 180 days will be provided to the FPIs for the disposal of their securities, subject to a financial disincentive of 5 per cent of sale proceeds, which will be credited by the custodian to SEBI’s Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF). Securities remaining unsold after the expiry of the additional 180-day period will be deemed to have been compulsorily written off by the FPI.

Other approval

• The Sebi Board also approved the launch of a Beta version of optional T+0 settlement, for a limited set of 25 scrips, and with a limited set of brokers.
  • In parallel, SEBI will continue to do further stakeholder consultation, including with the users of the Beta version.
  • The Board will review the progress at the end of three months and six months from the date of this implementation, and decide on further course of action.
  • Sebi has decided to do away with the requirement of a one per cent security deposit in public/rights issue of equity shares and also provide flexibility in extending the offer closing date due to force majeure events.

Atmospheric Research Testbed (ART)

Time to Read :🕑 11 Mins

Why in news?

The first phase of India’s Atmospheric Research Testbed in Central India (ART-CI) was inaugurated at Silkheda in the Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh.

About Atmospheric Research Testbed (ART)

• The ART is an open-field, focused observational and analytical research programme at Silkheda.
• The facility aims to conduct ground-based observations of weather parameters like temperature, wind speeds, etc. and in-situ (on-site) observations of the transient synoptic systems – like low-pressure areas and depressions that form in the Bay of Bengal – during the southwest monsoon season from June to September.
• Studying these systems and their associated cloud parameters will be used to generate high volumes of data over a long period.
  • It can then be compared with the existing weather models so that improvements can be made to obtain accurate rainfall predictions.
  • The setup at ART will also be used for calibrating and validating various satellite-based observations, part of weather predictions and forecasting.
• Spread over 100 acres, the ART has been developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences for Rs 125 crore.
• The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, is in charge of the operations.
• Funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the facility will house 25 high-end meteorological instruments for studying vital cloud processes associated with the monsoons over central India’s Monsoon Core Zone (MCZ).

Instruments are ART equipped with

• To obtain continuous observations of convection, clouds, and precipitation, and monitor the major modes of variabilities, the ART is equipped with over two dozen high-end instruments, radars and more.
  • At 72 metres, ART will house India’s tallest meteorological tower.
• Some of the instruments deployed are an aethalometer for performing aerosol studies,
  • A cloud condensation nuclei counter.
  • A laser ceilometer to measure cloud sizes.
  • A micro rain radar to calculate raindrop size and its distribution.
  • A Ka-band cloud radar and a C-band doppler weather radar to help track the movement of rain-bearing systems over this zone.
• Under the first phase, remote sensing-based and in-situ measurements using 25 meteorological instruments have commenced.
• In the second phase, ART will deploy instruments such as a radar wind profiler and balloon-bound radiosonde, and soil moisture and temperature measuring equipment.

Important of ART

• At present, 45% of India’s labour force is employed in the agriculture sector.
  • Much of Indian agriculture is rain-fed, as is cultivation along the Monsoon Core Zone (MCZ), which spans the central India region from Gujarat to West Bengal.
• The southwest monsoon season accounts for 70 per cent of the country’s annual average rainfall (880mm).
  • Throughout India, the majority of Kharif cultivation is undertaken between July and August, which see an average monthly rainfall of 280.4mm and 254.9mm (1971–2020 average), respectively.
• During this four-month-long season, several rain-bearing synoptic systems, namely the low pressures or depressions, develop in the Bay of Bengal.
  • Inherently, these systems move westwards/northwestwards over to the Indian mainland and pass through the MCZ, causing bountiful rainfall.

Importance to have data about monsoons over central India

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues rainfall forecasts for the country’s four homogeneous regions – north, west, east and south peninsular India. In addition, it issued a special rainfall forecast for the MCZ, which is considered India’s food bowl.
  • However, there is still limited understanding about the role of these synoptic systems, their associated cloud physics, cloud properties and their overall role in enhancing the monsoon rainfall.
• Central India, therefore, acts as a natural laboratory for scientists and meteorologists to perform a hands-on study of the Indian monsoons.
  • They can record data and make observations about the allied systems, clouds, and other associated physical and atmospheric parameters.
• Additionally, climate change is driving erratic rainfall patterns in the tropical regions, like India.
  • It has also strengthened the low-pressure systems, which are aided by high temperatures. This results in very heavy rainfall recorded along their trajectory during the monsoons.
• Now, with ART, scientists will be able to generate and obtain long-term observations on cloud microphysics, precipitation, convection, and land-surface properties, among a host of other parameters.
  • This information will be assimilated and fed into the numerical weather models to enhance forecast output, especially the rainfall forecasts.
  • More accurate forecasts will ultimately help the farming community plan their activities better.

Why located in Madhya Pradesh

• The ART has been established at Silkheda, a location that falls directly in line with the path of major rain-bearing synoptic systems.
  • This will facilitate direct monitoring and tracking.
• Besides, the locality is pristine and free of anthropogenic and other pollutants, making it the best site in central India for setting up sensitive, high-end meteorological instruments and observatories for recording data.

One Nation, One Election

Time to Read :🕑 11 Mins

Why in news?

The High-level Committee (HLC) on One Nation, One Election submitted its report to the President of India.

About simultaneous elections

• Simultaneous elections, popularly referred to as “One Nation, One Election”, means holding elections to Lok Sabha, all state Legislative Assemblies, and urban and rural local bodies (municipalities and panchayats) at the same time.
• Currently, all these elections are held independently of one another, following timelines dictated by the terms of every individual elected body.

The committee has made the following recommendations:

• Amending the Constitution: The Constitution should be amended to enable simultaneous elections in two steps.
  • In the first step, simultaneous elections will be held to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
    • For this, no ratification by the states will be required for the constitutional amendment.
  • In the second step, elections to municipalities and the panchayats will be synchronised with elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies in such a way that local body elections are held within 100 days of the elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
    • This will require ratification by not less than one-half of the states
• Single electoral roll and election ID:For the purpose of preparation of single electoral roll and electoral photo identity cards for use in elections to all the three tiers of government, the Constitution should be amended, so that the Election Commission of India can prepare a single electoral roll and election ID in consultation with the State Election Commissions.
  • These amendments will require ratification by not less than one-half of the states.
• In case of a hung house, etc:In the event of a hung House, a no-confidence motion, or any such event, fresh elections should be held to constitute the new Lok Sabha or state Assembly for the unexpired term of the House.
• Meeting logistics requirements: The committee has recommended that for meeting logistical requirements,
  • The Election Commission of India will plan and estimate in advance, in consultation with the State Election Commissions, and take steps for the deployment of manpower, polling personnel, security forces, EVMs/VVPATs, etc. so that free and fair simultaneous elections are held in all the three tiers of the government.

The need for holding simultaneous elections

• Frequent elections burden the government exchequer with additional expenditure. If the expenditure incurred by political parties is also added, these figures will be even higher.
• Asynchronous elections cause uncertainty and instability, thwarting supply chains, business investments and economic growth.
• Disruption of government machinery due to asynchronous elections causes hardship to citizens.
• Frequent use of government officials and security forces adversely affects the discharge of their duties.
• Frequent imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) causes policy paralysis and slows down the pace of developmental programmes.
• Staggered elections induce ‘voters’ fatigue’ and present a significant challenge in ensuring their participation.

Challenges of Simultaneous Election

• Federalism: India is a country of diversity, which has its federal structure with the division of powers between the central and state governments. Simultaneous elections are an attack on the autonomy and independence of state governments. This can not only weaken this federal structure but also increase the conflict of interest between the Centre and states.
• Significant amendments to the Indian Constitution:It would require significant amendments, like key provisions relating to the terms of elected bodies (e.g., Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies).
  • At least five Articles of the Constitution — 83, 85, 172, 174 and 356 — and several statutory laws would have to be amended before any such proposal could be implemented.
  • It will also be necessary for Union and state assemblies to have fixed tenures.
  • This means that the House’s tenure cannot be extended at any cost, except in case of a declared emergency.
  • It would also allow for the House to be dissolved before the expiry of its term.
  • Amending the Constitution is a lengthy and politically challenging process that requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament. States will also have to give consent.
• Legally complex: Coordinating the terms of different levels of government (central, state, and local) to simultaneously coincide with the election cycle is legally complex. For example, the terms of state governments vary, and some states are given special provisions under Article 371 of the Constitution.
  • State governments in India have a large degree of autonomy and can oppose any move that violates their powers.
  • This move amounts to an attack on the autonomy of the states.
  • It may affect their independent functioning, which is constitutionally protected.
• New election cycle:Local elections follow a decentralised system of governance, in which local bodies enjoy significant autonomy. Simultaneous elections would require changes to the laws governing local body elections to align them with the new election cycle.
• Logistical:In our country, with a population of almost 150 crore, it is a logistical challenge. In India, elections are festivals of democracy. This requires careful planning and coordination, which can be difficult if simultaneous choices have to be made.
• Leaders at multiple levels of government at the same time: point to a potential information overload for voters, given that they have to pick their leaders at multiple levels of government at the same time. Every voter has different considerations and consequently, different voting preferences at national, state and regional levels.
• National issues eclipsing local issues: Simultaneous elections run the danger of national issues eclipsing local issues. This can have a poor impact on voters’ decision-making abilities while picking candidates — due to confusion or overwhelm.

Way Forward

• Many feasibility studies and reports appreciate the proposed solution of ONOE. The ECI, Law Commission, and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Personnel Ministries have, in principle, supported the idea of simultaneous elections and a single voter list.
• In 2017, the Niti Aayog published a discussion paper authored by Bibek Debroy and Kishore Desai, analysing the “what”, “why” and “how” of simultaneous elections. It offers an in-depth analysis which shall be read by all and charts out the plan to synchronise the assembly elections with general elections in two-phases, as was in the Standing Committee report. It also explains how to avoid the disruptions of simultaneous elections once they are synchronised.
• We need more informed conversations, in the public domain as well as at the national-state level. One Nation One Election and a single voter list offer a “one-stop solution” to mitigate the stress caused by the recurring election cycle.

Conclusion

Achieving political consensus on holding simultaneous elections among different political parties, especially regional parties, is a legal and political challenge in itself. Convincing all political stakeholders to agree on the necessary legal changes is a significant hurdle.