Ordinance-Making Power of Governor (Article 213 of the Constitution) (TH)
C) Art, Culture and History
The battle of Bhima-Koregaon (TH)
D) Indices, Reports, Surveys, Committees and Organisations
Digital Payments Index (DPI) (TH)
E) Agriculture, Geography, Environment and Biodiversity
Dzukou Valley (TH)
Severe Cold Wave, Cold Wave and Cold Day (TH)
Migratory birds have been found dead under mysterious circumstances at the Pong Dam (IE)
A) Economic Developments: India and World
IFSCA becomes member of IOSCO (PIB)
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has become an Associate Member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
The IOSCO is the international organization that brings together the world’s securities regulators, covering more than 95% of the world’s securities markets, and is the global standard-setter for the securities sector.
IOSCO works closely with the G20 and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in setting up the standards for strengthening the securities markets.
The IOSCO Objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation have been endorsed by FSB as one of the key standards for sound financial systems.
The membership of IOSCO would provide IFSCA the platform to exchange information at the global level and regional level on areas of common interests.
Further, the IOSCO platform would enable IFSCA to learn from the experiences and best practices of the regulators of other well-established financial centers.
India’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB) (livemint)
In what is claimed to be a maiden innovative move on civic terrain, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has signed an MoU with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India to co-create India’s ‘first Social Impact Bond (SIB)’.
This SIB will support the PCMC in improving healthcare services for local residents, especially with respect to the pandemic, while incurring minimum investment risks, said UNDP.
This is the first time that a government body will act as the ‘outcome funder’ in a bond, whereas traditionally most government-funded public projects require large and early investments by the government with a substantial gestation period of outcomes and involve various kinds of risks.
B) Polity, Bills, Acts and Judgments
3.Ordinance-Making Power of Governor (Article 213 of the Constitution) (TH)
Context: An editorial.
Analysis
Governorcan promulgate an ordinance only when the legislative assembly (in case of a unicameral legislature) is not in session or (in case of a bicameral legislature) when both the Houses of the state legislature are not in session or when either of the two Houses of the state legislature is not in
The last provision implies that an ordinance can be promulgated by the governor when only one House (in case of a bicameral legislature) is in session because a law can be passed by both the Houses and not by one House alone.
He can promulgate an ordinance only when he is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate
His ordinance-making power is co-extensive with the legislative power of the state legislature.
This means that he can issue ordinances only on those subjects on which the state legislature can make laws.
An ordinance issued by him has the same force and effect as an act of the state
An ordinance issued by him is subject to the same limitations as an act of the state
This means that an ordinance issued by him will be invalid to the extent it makes any provision which the state legislature cannot make.
He can withdraw an ordinance at any time.
His ordinance-making power is not a discretionary power.
This means that he can promulgate or withdraw an ordinance only on the advice of the council headed by the chief minister.
An ordinance issued by him should be laid before the legislative assembly or both the Houses of the state legislature (in case of a bicameral legislature) when it
An ordinance issued by him ceases to operate on the expiry of six weeks from the reassembly of the state legislature.
It may cease to operate even earlier than the prescribed six weeks, if a resolution disapproving it is passed by the legislative assembly and is agreed to by the legislative council (in case of a bicameral legislature).
If the Houses of the state legislature are summoned to reassemble on different dates, the period of six weeks is calculated from the later of those dates.
This means that the maximum life of an ordinance can be six months and six weeks, in case of non-approval by the state legislature (six months being the maximum gap between the two sessions of Legislative Assembly).
If an ordinance is allowed to lapse without being placed before Legislative Assembly, then the acts done and completed under it, before it ceases to operate, remain fully valid and effective.
An ordinance like any other legislation can be retrospective, that is, it may come into force from a back date.
It may modify or repeal any act of state legislature or another ordinance.
It can alter or amend a tax law also.
However, it cannot be issued to amend the Constitution.
There is no established practice requiring the Governor (or the President under Article 123 of the Constitution) to state the circumstances for immediate action.
The court can inquire whether circumstances existed that enabled the Governor to be satisfied of the necessity of promulgating an ordinance.
The Supreme Court in theD.C. Wadhwa case (1987) ruled that successive promulgation of ordinances with the same text without any attempt to get the bills passed by the assembly would amount to a violation of the Constitution and the ordinance so repromulgated is liable to be struck down.
The Ordinance making power does not constitute the President or the Governor into a parallel source of lawmaking or an independent legislative authority.
Governor cannot make an ordinance without instructions from the President in three cases:
(a) If a bill containing the same provisions would have required the previous sanction of the President for its introduction into the state legislature.
(b) If he would have deemed it necessary to reserve a bill containing the same provisions for the consideration of the President.
(c) If an act of the state legislature containing the same provisions would have been invalid without receiving the President’s assent.
In justification of the ordinance making power of the President/Governor, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar said in the Constituent Assembly that the mechanism of issuing an ordinance has been devised in order to enable the Executive to deal with a situation that may suddenly and immediately arise when the Parliament/state legislature is not in session.
It must be clarified here that the ordinance-making power of the President/Governor has no necessary connection with the national emergency envisaged in Article 352.
The President/Governor can issue an ordinance even when there is no war or external aggression or armed rebellion.
C) Art, Culture and History
4.The battle of Bhima-Koregaon (TH)
Context: The battle of Bhima-Koregaon, one of the last battles in 1818 of the Third Anglo-Maratha War which culminated in the Peshwa’s defeat, should be included in history textbooks, said the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.
Analysis
A small village in Pune district of Maharashtra, Bhima-Koregaon is associated with an important phase of Maratha history.
On January 1, 1818, a Dalit-dominated British Army had defeated a Peshwa army, led by Peshwa Bajirao II, in Koregaon.
The battle attained a legendary stature for Dalits, who consider the win as a victory of the Mahars (a Scheduled Caste) against the injustices perpetrated by the Brahminical
A pillar, known as Vijay Sthamb (victory pillar), was installed by the East India Company in memory of those who fought for them in the battle.
Every year on January 1, the Ambedkarite Dalits gather at Bhima Koregaon to pay their respect at the Vijay Sthamb (victory pillar).
Third Anglo-Maratha War
Sequence of Events
The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818) came about because of conflict between the British and the Pindaris.
The British suspected that the Marathas were providing help to the Pindaris, who were mercenaries fighting for the Marathas.
There was a lot of interference from the British Residents in the internal affairs, particularly regarding succession.
In a bid to increase revenue, Peshwa Baji Rao introduced certain stringent measures. The British accused him of maladministration.
The Marathas decided to go to war to retain their freedom.
Peshwa Baji Rao II tried to form a confederacy of the Maratha chiefs against the English. He roped in the support of the Pathan chief Amir Khan and the Pindaris.
Peshwa Baji Rao II’s forces, supported by those of Mudhoji II Bhonsle of Nagpur and Malharrao Holkar III of Indore, rose against the East India Company.
Pressure and diplomacy convinced the fourth major Maratha leader, Daulatrao Shinde of Gwalior, to remain neutral even though he lost control of Rajasthan.
British eventually won resulting in the break up of the Maratha Empire.
On June 3, 1818, the Peshwa surrendered and was captured and placed in a small estate at Bithur, near Kanpur.
Most of his territory was annexed and became a part of the Bombay Presidency. All the Maratha powers had surrendered.
D) Indices, Reports, Surveys, Committees and Organisations
5.Digital Payments Index (DPI) (TH)
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constructed a composite Digital Payments Index (DPI) to capture the extent of digitization of payments across the country.
Analysis
The RBI-DPI has been constructed with March 2018 as the base period. DPI score for March 2018 is set at 100.
The DPI for March 2019 and March 2020 works out to 153.47 and 207.84 respectively, indicating appreciable growth.
The RBI-DPI comprises five broad parameters: Payment Performance (weight 45%), Payment Enablers (weight 25%), Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors (15%), Payment Infrastructure – Demand-side factors and (10%), and Consumer Centricity (5%).
Each of these parameters has sub-parameters which, in turn, consist of various measurable indicators.
RBI-DPI will be published on the RBI’s website on a semi-annual basis from March 2021 onwards with a lag of four months.
E) Agriculture, Geography, Environment and Biodiversity
6.Dzukou Valley (TH)
Context: The Indian Air Force has engaged a Mi-17V5 helicopter to tame a massive wildfire in Dzukou Valley, a popular trekking destination on the Manipur-Nagaland border.
Tribals burn down forest areas for hunting the terrified wild animals and doing shifting cultivation. There are some disputes between Manipur and Nagaland which also lays claim to the valley.
Analysis
Dzuko Valley in Nagaland also called the (valley of flowers of North East) is more popular with trekkers for its interesting and challenging trekking circuits.
It prides itself for being one of the most-visited tourist sites in not only Nagaland but the entire Northeast India.
Dzüko Lily- a flower is found only in this valley. These rare flowers begin to bloom during the onset of monsoon season.
Severe Cold Wave, Cold Wave and Cold Day (TH)
Context: The India Meteorological Department declared that Delhi was under the spell of asevere cold wave, but relief from the dipping mercury was on the horizon as light rain is expected under the influence of a western disturbance between January 3 and January 5.
Analysis
The showers will most likely cause a rise in the minimum temperature by a few notches.
A severe cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature dips to 2 degrees Celsius or the departure is more than 6.4 degrees from the normal.
Cold Day
In the plains of north India, foggy conditions prevail during winter for several days or weeks.
The minimum temperature on these days remains above normal, while maximum temperature remains much below normal.
When maximum temperature is less than or equal to 16°C in Plains, it will be declared “Cold Day.”
Cold Wave
Wind chill is a measurement of the rate of heat loss from your body when you’re exposed to low temperatures combined with wind.
Wind chill factor is taken into account while declaring the cold wave situation.
The wind chill effective minimum temperature (WCTn) is defined as the effective minimum temperature due to wind flow.
For example, when the minimum temperature is 15 degrees Celsius and the wind speed is 10 mph, WCTn will be 10.5 degrees Celsius (it is calculated using a formula not relevant for UPSC).
When WCTn is 0°C or less, Cold Wave should be declared irrespective of the normal minimum temperature of the station.
However, this criterion is not applicable for those stations whose normal minimum temperature is below 0°C.
Migratory birds have been found dead under mysterious circumstances at the Pong Dam (IE)
More than 750 migratory birds have been found dead under mysterious circumstances at the Pong Dam lake in Kangra in recent days.
Pong-Dam
A reservoir has been constructed on the river Beas in the wet land of Shivalik hills of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, which has been named as Maharana Pratap Sagar.
It is also known as Pong reservoir or Pong Dam.
This reservoir or lake is a famous wildlife sanctuary and one of the international wetland sites declared by Ramsar Convention in India.
Click hereto get Current Affairs Booster Course Click hereto get our all Courses Click hereto follow our latest updates
If you find this post helpful, then do share your thoughts with us by commenting