Category Politics & Parliaments

Which Chief Minister was arrested in India?

The Enforcement Directorate arrested the former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on January 31 in connection with a land scam case. The arrest came as soon as he resigned as the Chief Minister. Following his arrest, which has been challenged in the court of law, tribal bodies announced protests across the State.

Meanwhile, Champai Soren took over as the new Chief Minister. He also underwent a floor test to prove his party’s majority in the House. “At present we have 43 MLAs and four are in hospital. We have the support of 47 MLAs. The Governor is yet to give the time to form the government,” Champai Soren told the media ahead of the trust vote last week. To form the government, the ruling alliance needs only 41 MLAs.

The newly formed government passed the confidence motion in the State Assembly. The Jharkhand Mukti CM Champai Soren (left) with Hemant Soren.

Morcha with 29 seats and its ally Congress with 17 were confident of easily sailing through the trust vote. Hemant Soren was also present in the Assembly to attend the floor test. A special court in Ranchi allowed Soren to participate in the trust-vote.

What is a trust vote?

A trust vote, also known as a confidence motion or vote of confidence, is a parliamentary procedure where members of the Legislative Assembly or Parliament vote to express their confidence or lack of confidence in the government. When a government is formed, it needs to prove that it has the support of the majority of the members of the legislative body. If the government loses a trust vote, it typically means that it no longer enjoys the majority support and is expected to resign, leading to either the formation of a new government or fresh elections.

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What is the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act in India?

The new traffic rules under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, came into force in many states on September 1. Under the Act, heavy fines are imposed for offences such as over-spreading, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without states are not happy with the hefty fines and have opted to reduce the quantum of fines as suggested. What is the scope of the penalties imposed under it? Let’s find out in this week’s Five Ws & One H….

The Motor Vehicles Act is an Act of Parliament which regulates all aspects of road transport vehicles. The Motor vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which sought to make changes to the 1988 Act, was passed in the Rajya Sabha in July and in the Lok Sabha in Aught. The new traffic rules with sticker penalties, under the 2019 Act, came into effect on September 1.

How have the penalties been increased under the recently amended Act?

The penalties for breaking traffic rules have gone up multi-fold. For driving without a license, the new fine is ?5000, which is 10 times the earlier fine of ?500.
The maximum penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol has been increased from ?2000 to ?10000.
For speeding or racing, the fine has been increased from ?500 to ?5000.
Not wearing a seatbelt while driving would attract a fine of ? 1000 as against the earlier fine of ?100.
If a vehicle manufacturer fails to comply with motor vehicle standards, the penalty will be a fine of up to ?1Lakh.
The Central government may increase the fines by 10% every year.

Why are the other provisions as per the new Act?

The new Act has extended the period for renewal of driving licenses from one moth to one year after the date of expiry.
The Act also promises to protect those who render emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim of an accident, from any civil or criminal liability.
The minimum compensation for death or grievous injury in hit-and-run cases has been increased from ?25000 to ?2- Lakh in case of death, and from ?12500 to ?50000 in case of grievous injury.
The central government will develop a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during the ‘golden hour’ – the time period of up to one hour following a traumatic injury, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest.
The Act requires the Central government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in the country.

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What is the role of the Ministry of Jal Shakti?

If you have been following the news, you will be aware that the Union Jal Shakti Ministry will be conducting field surveys ahead of the monsoon season as part of the ‘Catch the Rain’ programme. But do you know what the role of the Ministry of Jal Shakti is and when it was set up? Come, let’s find out.

When was it formed?

The Ministry of Jal Shakti (water power) was established in May 2019 by the Indian Government to focus on the management and development of water resources in the country. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation were merged to form the Ministry of Jal Shakti to address water-related issues. The Ministry was formed in the face of mounting water crisis witnessed by the country over the past few decades. Its main objective is to create an integrated approach to water management and provide clean drinking water to all citizens. It also encompasses issues such as inter-State water disputes, cleaning of the Ganga and its tributaries, interlinking of rivers and assessing the impact of climate change on water resources.

Major initiatives

Some of the major initiatives of the Jal Shakti Ministry are the Jal Jeevan Mission, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Namami Gange Programme, and the National Aquifer Mapping Programme. The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in August 2019, aims to provide adequate potable water through tap water connections to all rural households by 2024. Under implementation in partnership with the States, it focusses on promoting water conservation efficient use of water resources tensure sustainability of water supply systems, rainwater harvesting, renovation of water bodies, and use of recycled water. Through its Namami Gange Programme, the Ministry has taken steps to rejuvenate and conserve River Ganga and its tributaries. This includes setting up of sewage treatment infrastructure to reduce pollution, river front development. ban on disposal of waste, and promotion of eco-friendly methods of cremation of the dead. The National Aquifer Mapping Programme is aimed at developing plans for sustainable management of groundwater resources. The ‘Catch the Rain’ programme focusses on strengthening water sources in 150 water-stressed districts identified by the Jal Jeevan Mission. According to a statement, a central team will conduct two field visits to the identified districts before and after monsoon, first to assess the preparation for the campaign and then to assess its impact.

Besides these initiatives, the Ministry works with the States, UTS, and other stakeholders to implement water management programmes and conducts awareness campaigns to promote water conservation. All these efforts are expected to have a major impact on the country’s water governance and management in the future.

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Have you heard about multilateralism?

During the recently held Group of Twenty (G20) Foreign Minister’s meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said multilateralism is in crisis today as global governance has failed in preventing wars and upholding international cooperation. Let us learn more about multilateralism.

What is multilateralism?

 Multilateralism is the process of organising relations between groups of several states. It is usually associated with the period after the Second World War as numerous multilateral agreements were signed, though led primarily by the U.S. Indivisibility is the core principle of multilateralism. For instance, if a war is declared against a state, then all the states in a multilateral set up are considered to be at war against the opponent.

Multilateralism helps in developing a bond among nations, discourages unilateralism, enables small powers to voice their opinions, and empowers them to exercise their rights.

Organisations embodying the principle of multilateralism include World Health Organisation (WHO), World Trade Organisation (WTO) and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). They provide the global framework for peace and stability.

Multilateralism vs. unilateralism vs. bilateralism

The basic difference between unilateralism, bilateralism, and multilateralism is that unilateralism supports one-sided action.

Bilateralism means coordination between two countries, and multilateralism is coordination among more than three countries.

Multilateralism requires states to follow international norms in contrast to unilateralism, where a single state can influence how international relations can be conducted.

Multilateralism vs. multipolarity

Multilateralism is an institutional form that coordinates relations among three or more states on the basis of generalised principles of conduct.

Multipolarity is the system where more than two competing nations have almost equal power and influence on the global economy, society, culture, and military. The concept came about after the Second World War as it became clear that the U.S. would no longer be the single great power globally (during the Cold War it was a bipolar world led by the U.S. and the U.S.S.R).

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What is the status of new parliament in India?

The new Parliament building inaugurated in New Delhi recently is high on symbolism and reflects the aspirations of "new India"

If you have been following the news, you must be aware of the recent inauguration of the new Parliament building in New Delhi. Now let's look at some fascinating features of the new structure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the new Parliament building in New Delhi to the citizens on May 28, 2023. After installing the historic "Sengol" (a sceptre signifying the transfer of power from the British in 1947) in the Lok Sabha chamber, he delivered a speech in which the PM said the new Parliament reflected the aspirations and resolve of the "new India" to work towards achieving greater heights and that it would be a testament to the dawn of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). He lauded the use of material from different parts of the country in the building to symbolise "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat".

In the shape of a triangle

The new Parliament building is part of the Central Vista redevelopment project. A beautiful blend of traditional motifs and modern technology, the new building reflects India's diversity in its architecture. Constructed by Tata Projects Ltd, it was completed in about two-and-a-half years at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 1,200 crore. The triangular-shaped four-storeyed building has a built-up area of 64,500 sq. m. The building has three main gates – Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar. It also has a Constitution Hall on the ground floor to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for MPs, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas, and ample parking space.

State-of-the-art facilities

The new building has been designed keeping in view the future increase in the number of members. The Lok Sabha Chamber has 888 seats and the Rajya Sabha chamber has 384 seats. The LS can accommodate 1,272 members during a joint session of the Houses. The new Parliament building is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and high-tech gadgets to enable members to perform their functions in a better way. The Houses will be paperless with Wi-Fi enabled tablets provided to members. The new building also has six new committee rooms and 92 rooms for use as offices of Ministers.

The public entrances lead to three galleries – the Sangeet Gallery which exhibits dance, song, and musical traditions of India, the Sthapthya Gallery depicts the architectural heritage of the country, and the Shilp Gallery showcases distinct handicraft traditions of different States.

High on symbolism

The new parliament building is home to nearly 5,000 artwork, including paintings, wall panels, stone sculptures, and metal murals. While the interior in the Lok Sabha has motifs and colours of the national bird peacock (on carpets, ceiling and lattice work of windows), a lotus theme runs through the Rajya Sabha chamber. The "Sengol" in the Lok Sabha symbolises India's freedom, sovereignty, and fair governance. A Foucault's Pendulum hanging from the roof of the Constitution Hall is meant to symbolise "the integration of the idea of India with that of the universe". The national emblem made of bronze sits atop the building.

With carpets from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, bamboo flooring from Tripura and stone carvings from Rajasthan, the new Parliament reflects India's diverse culture. The teakwood used in the building was sourced from Nagpur in Maharashtra, while the red and white sandstone was procured from Sirmathura in Rajasthan. The Kesharia green stone was from Udaipur, and the red granite from Lakha near Ajmer. The steel structure for the false ceilings in the LS and RS chambers was sourced from the Union Territory of Daman and Diu, while the furniture in the new building was crafted in Mumbai.

Besides, the building used manufactured sand or M-sand from Charkhi Dadri in Haryana for preparing concrete mix for the construction. M-sand is considered environment friendly as it is manufactured by crushing large hard stones or granite and not by dredging of river beds.

It is said that the construction of the new Parliament building gave employment to 60,000 workers and a digital gallery dedicated to them forms part of the complex.

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What is meaning of term ‘Right wing’?

Right wing generally refers to an individual or a political party that holds capitalist views (intent on investing in trade and industry for profit) and advocates highly conservative policies bound by tradition.

 Groups subscribing to this view are in favour of a free market not controlled by government and private ownership. Characterised by ideas of authority, tradition and nationalism, the right-wing political ideology is centred around beliefs that certain social onders are unavoidable. its economic policies support low taxes and less regulation on businesses by the government. The rightwing ideology is in contrast to the left wing ideology which favours social equality in opposition to established social hierarchy. The two wings mark the opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Do you wonder how the term right wing originated? Well, it is said to have originated during the French Revolution in the late 18th Century when the supporters of the king, the conservatives, were seated on the right side of the presiding officer in the French parliament, and those with radical views, the anti-royals, on the left.

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