Daily Current Affairs 05th June 2020 iasshiksha.com/daily-current-affair/daily-current-affairs-05th-june-2020/
Today’s Important Topic’s For UPSC Preparation 1. INDIA’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. 2. #SaalBhar60. 3. ANTI-DEFECTION LAW AND TENTH SCHEDULE. 4. SECTION 2(H) OF THE RTI ACT, 2005.
INDIA’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE CONTEXT India’s unemployment rate improved from the 45-year high of 6.1% in 2017-18 to 5.8% in 2018-19, says the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
WHAT DOES THE SURVEY SAY? India’s unemployment rate improved from the 45-year high of 6.1% in 2017-18 to 5.8% in 2018-19. The labour force participation rate also improved marginally, from 9% in 2017-18 to 37.5% in 2018-19. Women’s unemployment fell from7% to 5.2%, while male unemployment only fell from 6.2% to 6%. Urban unemployment was still at a high of 7% in 2018-19, a marginal drop from 7.8% in 2017-18, while rural unemployment fell from 5.3% to 5%. all-India Rates
(1)
Rural
Urban
Rural + Urban
male
female
person
male
female
person
male
female
person
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
PLFS (2018-19) LFPR
55.1
19.7
37.7
56.7
16.1
36.9
55.6
18.6 37.5
WPR
52.1
19.0
35.8
52.7
14.5
34.1
52.3
17.6 35.3
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UR
5.6
3.5
5.0
7.1
9.9
7.7
6.0
5.2
5.8
PLFS (2017-18) LFPR
54.9
18.2
37.0
57.0
15.9
36.8
55.5
17.5 36.9
WPR
51.7
17.5
35.0
53.0
14.2
33.9
52.1
16.5 34.7
UR
5.8
3.8
5.3
7.1
10.8
7.8
6.2
5.7
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ANALYSIS OF THE TABLE IN 2018-19 LFPR Rural population has high labour force participation rate than urban population. Among females too rural female is greater than urban. Among male participation rate is more for urban than rural WPR Rural population has highest percentage when compared to urban population. Among female rural has more percentage than urban while for males the scenario is opposite. UR Unemployment rate is more among urban population when compared to rural. Urban male is more unemployed than rural male same is the case when compared between urban and rural female.
WHAT IS PERIODIC LABOUR FORCE SURVEY? Considering the importance of availability of labour force data at more frequent time intervals, National Statistical Office (NSO) launched Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) on April 2017 The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation conducts the survey. Quarterly survey (For urban areas only) – Captures only the current weekly status (CWS) data. Annual survey (For both rural and urban areas) – Measures both the usual status and CWS.
KEY INDICATORS OF PFLS The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) gives estimates of Key employment and unemployment Indicators like the Labour Force Participation Rates (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), Unemployment Rate (UR), etc. These indicators are defined as follows: Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population. Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
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Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labour force. Activity Status- Usual Status: The activity status of a person is determined on the basis of the activities pursued by the person during the specified reference period. When the activity status is determined on the basis of the reference period of last 365 days preceding the date of survey, it is known as the usual activity status of the person. Activity Status- Current Weekly Status (CWS): The activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of survey is known as the current weekly status (CWS) of the person. Principal activity status– The activity status on which a person spent relatively long time (major time criterion) during 365 days preceding the date of survey, was considered the usual principal activity status of the person. Subsidiary economic activity status– The activity status in which a person in addition to his/ her usual principal status, performs some economic activity for 30 days or more for the reference period of 365 days preceding the date of survey, was considered the subsidiary economic status of the person.
#SaalBhar60 CONTEXT A 12-year-old climate activist’s campaign seeking healthy air after the lockdown will use the World Environment Day platform on Friday to amplify its demand that the government ensure that particulate matter (PM) 2.5 levels in cities remain at 60 micrograms per cubic metre.
BACKGROUND According to data by Urban Emissions (India), an independent research group on air pollution, Mumbai witnessed a major dip in PM 2.5, nitrogen dioxide as well as PM 10 levels during the lockdown period. Mumbai recorded its AQI(AIR QUALITY INDEX) as 28, which is the cleanest air the city saw so far this year. Mumbai is listed as one of the 122 non-attainment cities (that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards) under the CPCB’s National Clean Air Programme and has been asked to reduce air pollution by 20-30%.
WHY AT LEVEL 60? PM 2.5 levels at 60 micrograms per cubic metre is the safe limit for 24 hours as prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
ABOUT NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME Objective – The overall objective of the programme includes comprehensive mitigation actions for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution. It also aims to augment the air quality monitoring network across the country and strengthen the awareness and capacity building activities. 3/6
Also, city-specific action plans are being formulated for 102 non-attainment cities that are considered to have air quality worse than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The Smart Cities programme will be used to launch the NCAP in the 43 smart cities falling in the list of the 102 non-attainment cities. Target – It proposes a tentative national target of 20%-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 2024, with 2017 as the base year for comparison. However, the government has stressed that NCAP is a scheme, not a legally binding document with any specified penal action against erring cities. Implementation – NCAP talks of a collaborative, multi-scale and cross-sectoral coordination between central ministries, state governments and local bodies. The CPCB will execute the nation-wide programme for the prevention, control, and abatement of air pollution within the framework of the NCAP. NCAP will be “institutionalised” by respective ministries and will be organised through inter-sectoral groups that will also include the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, NITI Aayog, and experts from various fields.
ANTI-DEFECTION LAW AND TENTH SCHEDULE CONTEXT The Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court has directed Nagaland Assembly Speaker to conclude the disqualification proceedings against seven lawmakers of the Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) and pass appropriate orders within six weeks.
BACKGROUND On April 24, 2019, the NPF filed disqualification petitions against its seven suspended MLAs for “wilfully” defying its collective decision to support the Congress candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. NPF claimed the seven MLAs had willfully given up their party membership, thereby attracting provisions under the 10th Schedule (anti-defection law) of the Constitution. These MLAs, however, said as the NPF’s decision to support the Congress candidate was “against the principle of regionalism”, they said they had backed the other candidate. The NPF had not contested the polls.
ABOUT ANTI-DEFECTION LAW The Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution in 1985 by the 52nd Amendment Act. 1. It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House. 2. The decision on question as to disqualification on ground of defection is referred to the Chairman or the Speaker of such House, and his decision is final. The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.
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Disqualification: If a member of a house belonging to a political party: 3. Voluntarily gives up the membership of his political party, or 4. Votes, or does not vote in the legislature, contrary to the directions of his political party. However, if the member has taken prior permission, or is condoned by the party within 15 days from such voting or abstention, the member shall not be disqualified. 5. If an independent candidate joins a political party after the election. 6. If a nominated member joins a party six months after he becomes a member of the legislature.
Exceptions under the law: Legislators may change their party without the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances. 7. The law allows a party to merge with or into another party provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger. 8. In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge, nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.
Decision of the Presiding Officer is subject to judicial review: The law initially stated that the decision of the Presiding Officer is not subject to judicial review. This condition was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1992, thereby allowing appeals against the Presiding Officer’s decision in the High Court and Supreme Court. However, it held that there may not be any judicial intervention until the Presiding Officer gives his order.
SECTION 2(H) OF THE RTI ACT, 2005 CONTEXT A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been moved before the Delhi High Court seeking greater transparency in the PM CARES FUND by bringing it under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
BACKGROUND The petition by Surender Singh Hooda cited recent newspapers reports of the PM CARES Fund refusing to divulge information sought by one Harsha Kundakarni under the RTI Act by claiming that the fund is not a ‘public authority’ within the ambit of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.
ABOUT SECTION 2(H) The expression ‘public authority’ has been given an exhaustive definition under section 2(h) of the Act. “Public authority” means any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted — 5/6
by or under the Constitution; by any other law made by Parliament/State Legislature. by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government, and includes any— body owned, controlled or substantially financed; non-Government organisation substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE ACT AND RECENT PROPOSED CHANGES Section 1(2): It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Section- 2 (f): “Information” means any material in any form, including Records, Documents, Memos, emails, Opinions, Advices, Press releases, Circulars, Orders, Logbooks, Contracts, Reports, Papers, Samples, Models, Data material held in any electronic form and information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a Public Authority under any other law for the time being in force. Section- 2(j): “Right to Information” means the right to information accessible under this Act which is held by or under the control of any public authority and includes the right to: Inspection of work, documents, records; Taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records; Taking certified samples of material; Obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device. Section 4 of the RTI Act requires suo motu disclosure of information by each public authority. Section 8 (1) mentions exemptions against furnishing information under RTI Act. Section 8 (2) provides for disclosure of information exempted under Official Secrets Act, 1923 if larger public interest is served. The Act also provides for appointment of Information Commissioners at Central and State level. Public authorities have designated some of its officers as Public Information Officer. They are responsible to give information to a person who seeks information under the RTI Act. Time period: In normal course, information to an applicant is to be supplied within 30 days from the receipt of application by the public authority. If information sought concerns the life or liberty of a person, it shall be supplied within 48 hours. In case the application is sent through the Assistant Public Information Officer or it is sent to a wrong public authority, five days shall be added to the period of thirty days or 48 hours, as the case may be. The proposed RTI Amendment Act 2018 is aimed at giving the Centre the power to fix the tenures and salaries of state and central information commissioners, which are statutorily protected under the RTI Act. The move will dilute the autonomy and independence of CIC. The Act proposes to replace the fixed 5 year tenure to as much prescribed by government.
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