UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 31-01-2020
iasparliament
January 31, 2020
Economic Survey
The Economic Survey is a report the government presents on the state of the economy in the past one year, the key challenges it anticipates, and their possible solutions.
The first Economic Survey was presented in 1950-51, Until 1964, the document would be presented along with the Budget.
The document is prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the guidance of the Chief Economic Adviser (CEA).
Once prepared, the Survey is approved by the Finance Minister.
One day before the Union budget, the Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) of the country releases the Economic Survey.
For the past few years, the Economic Survey has been presented in two volumes.
For example, in 2018-19, while Volume 1 focused on research and analysis of the challenges facing the Indian economy, Volume 2 gave a more detailed review of the financial year, covering all the major sectors of the economy.
The Economic Survey is a crucial document as it provides a detailed, official version of the government’s take on the country’s economic condition.
The government is not constitutionally bound to present the Economic Survey or to follow the recommendations that are made in it.
If the government so chooses, it can reject all suggestions laid out in the document.
However, while the Centre is not obliged to present the Survey at all, it is tabled because of the significance it holds.
Misery Index
Recently, there has been a demand to measure Indian economy on ‘Misery Index’.
The first misery index was created by Arthur Okun in 1960’s and was equal to the sum of inflation and unemployment rate figures to provide a snapshot of the US economy.
The higher the index, the more is the misery felt by average citizens.
It has broadened in recent times to include other economic indicators, such as bank lending rates.
In recent times, variations of the original misery index have become popular as a means to gauge the overall health of the global economy.
A variation of the original misery index is the Bloomberg misery index, developed by the online publication.
Anticipatory Bail
‘Bail’ is a document procuring “the release of a person from legal custody, by undertaking that he shall appear at the time and place designated and submit himself to the jurisdiction and judgement of the court.”
As opposed to ordinary bail, which is granted to a person who is under arrest, in anticipatory bail, a person is directed to be released on bail even before arrest made.
According to Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, “When any person has reason to believe that he may be arrested on an accusation of having committed a non-bailable offence, he may apply to the High Court or the Court of Session for a direction under this section and, if the court thinks fit, direct that in the event of such arrest, he shall be released on bail.”
The provision empowers only the Sessions Court and High Court to grant anticipatory bail.
Anticipatory bail became part of the new CrPC in 1973 (when the latter replaced the older Code of 1898), after the 41st Law Commission Report of 1969 recommended the inclusion of the provision.
While granting anticipatory bail, the Sessions Court or High Court can impose the following conditions
A condition that the person shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required;
A condition that the person shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer.
A condition that the person shall not leave India without the previous permission of the Court.
In addition, such other condition as may be imposed under sub-section (3) of section 437, as if the bail were granted under that section.
Recently Supreme Court ruled that no time restriction should ordinarily be fixed for anticipatory bail and that it can continue even until the end of the trial.
Public Health Emergency of International Concern
A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is a formal declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO).
It is declared during an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.
It is formulated when a situation arises that is "serious, sudden, unusual or unexpected", which "carries implications for public health beyond the affected State's national border" and "may require immediate international action".
Under the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR), states have a legal duty to respond promptly to a PHEIC.
Since 2009, there have been six PHEIC declarations:
In 2009 H1N1 (or swine flu) pandemic,
In 2014 polio declaration,
In 2014 outbreak of Ebola in Western Africa,
In 2015–16 Zika virus epidemic,
In 2015-16 Kivu Ebola epidemic,
In 2020 novel coronavirus outbreak.
The recommendations are temporary and require reviews every three months.
SARS, smallpox, wild type poliomyelitis, and any new subtype of human influenza are automatically PHEICs and therefore do not require an IHR decision to declare them as such.
A PHEIC is not only confined to infectious diseases, and may cover an emergency caused by a chemical agent or a radio nuclear material.
It is a "call to action" and "last resort" measure.
Most epidemics and emergencies do not gain public attention or fulfil the criteria to be a PHEIC.
EX- SAMPRITI
SAMPRITI-IX is a joint military training exercise between India and Bangladesh.
It will be conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya from 3rd-16th February, 2020.
The exercise aims to build, strengthen and promote positive relations between the Armies of India and Bangladesh.
The exercise is hosted alternately by both countries.
The eighth edition of the exercise was conducted at Tangail, Bangladesh.
