Deepak UPSC Notes

2021-12-13 03:11:47 Types of coal Ochish/sharhlash

2021-12-13 03:11:47 Uses of coal Ochish/sharhlash

2021-12-13 03:11:47 Coal

GS-3, Mineral & Energy Resources

Coal

This is the most abundantly found fossil fuel. It is used as a domestic fuel, in industries such as iron and steel, steam engines and to generate electricity. Electricity from coal is called thermal power.

The coal which we are using today was formed millions of years ago when giant ferns and swamps got buried under the layers of earth. Coal is therefore referred to as Buried Sunshine.

The leading coal producers of the worldinclude China, US, Australia, Indonesia, India.

The coal producing areas of India include Raniganj, Jharia, Dhanbad and Bokaro in Jharkhand.

Coal is also classified into four ranks:anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous, and lignite. The ranking depends on the types and amounts of carbon the coal contains and on the amount of heat energy the coal can produce. Ochish/sharhlash

2021-12-13 03:11:47 Rat hole mining Ochish/sharhlash

2021-12-13 03:11:47 Rat Hole Mining

GS Paper - 1

Mineral & Energy Resources

Environmental Pollution & Degradation

Rat hole mining involves digging of very small tunnels, usually only 3-4 feet high, which workers (often children) enter and extract coal.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned it in 2014, on grounds of it being unscientific and unsafe for workers. 

According to available government data, Meghalaya has a total coal reserve of 640 million tonnes, most of which is mined unscientifically by individuals and communities.

Since the coal seam is extremely thin in Meghalaya, no other method would be economically viable. Removal of rocks from the hilly terrain and putting up pillars inside the mine to prevent collapse would be costlier. In Meghalaya this is the locally developed technique and the most commonly used one.

Impact of Rat Hole Mining 

The water sources of many rivers, especially in Jaintia Hills district, have turned acidic.

The water also has high concentration of sulphates, iron and toxic heavy metals, low dissolved oxygen (DO) and high BOD, showing its degraded quality.

The roadside dumping of coal is a major source of air, water and soil pollution.

Off road movement of trucks and other vehicles in the area for coal transportation also adds to theecological and environmental damage of the area.

The practice has been declared as unsafe for workers by the NGT. Ochish/sharhlash

2021-12-13 03:11:47 Issues With Sedition Law:

Relic of Colonial Era: 

Colonial administrators used sedition to lock up people who criticised the British policies.

Stalwarts of the freedom movement such as Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhagat Singh, etc., were convicted for their “seditious” speeches, writings and activities under British rule.

Thus, rampant use of the sedition law recalls the colonial era.

Stand of Constituent Assembly: 

The Constituent Assembly did not agree to include sedition in the Constitution. The members felt it would curtail freedom of speech and expression.

They argued that the sedition law can be turned into a weapon to suppress people’slegitimate and constitutionally guaranteed right to protest

Disregarding Supreme Court’s Judgement: 

Supreme Court in Kedar Nath Singh vs State of Bihar case 1962, limited application of sedition to “acts involving intention or tendency to create disorder, or disturbance of law and order, or incitement to violence”.

Thus, invoking sedition charges against academicians, lawyers, socio-political activists and students is in disregard of the Supreme Court’s order.

Recent Developments:

In February 2021, the Supreme Court (SC)protected a political leader and six senior journalists from arrest, for allegedly tweeting and sharing unverified news, in multiple sedition FIRs registered against them.

In June 2021, the SC while protecting two Telugu (language) news channels from coercive action by the Andhra Pradesh government emphasized on defining the limits of sedition. Ochish/sharhlash

2021-12-13 03:11:47 Sedition Law

GS Paper - 2

Issues Arising Out of Design & Implementation of Policies

Government Policies & Interventions

Fundamental Rights

Judgements & Cases

Indian Constitution


Historical Background of Sedition Law:

Sedition laws were enacted in 17th century England when lawmakers believed that only good opinions of the government should survive, as bad opinions were detrimental to the government and monarchy.

The law was originally drafted in 1837 by Thomas Macaulay, the British historian-politician, but was inexplicably omitted when the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was enacted in 1860.

Section 124A was inserted in 1870 by an amendment introduced by Sir James Stephen when it felt the need for a specific section to deal with the offence.

Sedition Law Today: Sedition is a crime under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Section 124A IPC:

It defines sedition as an offence committed when "any person by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India".

Disaffection includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity. However, comments without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, will not constitute an offence under this section

Punishment for the Offence of Sedition:

Sedition is a non-bailable offence. Punishment under the Section 124A ranges from imprisonment up to three years to a life term, to which fine may be added.

A person charged under this law is barred from a government job.

They have to live without their passport and must produce themselves in the court at all times as and when required Ochish/sharhlash

2021-12-13 03:11:47 Governance

Delimitation

GS Paper - 2

Indian Constitution

Elections

Statutory Bodies

What is Delimitation?

Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country to represent changes in population.

Why Delimitation?

To provide equal representation to equal segments of a population.

Fair division of geographical areas so that one political party doesn’t have an advantage over others in an election.

To follow the principle of “One Vote One Value”.

How delimitation is carried out?

Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.

Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census.

Once the Act is in force, the Union governmentsets up a Delimitation Commission.

The first delimitation exercise was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission) in 1950-51.

The Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952.

Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.

Delimitation Commission

The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.

Composition: 

Retired Supreme Court judge

Chief Election Commissioner

Respective State Election Commissioners

Functions:

To determine the number and boundaries of constituencies to make population of all constituencies nearly equal.

To identify seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, wherever their population is relatively large.

In case of difference of opinion among members of the Commission, the opinion of the majority prevails.

The Delimitation Commission in India is a high power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court. Ochish/sharhlash