General Studies – II
Polity
1) Delay in conveying decision on assent to Bills has to be curbed by the Governors of the state. Do you agree with this view? Comment (200 Words)
Refer - The Hindu
International Relations
2) Increasing Russian oil purchases beyond a point can have various implications. Substantiate (200 Words)
Refer - Business Line
General Studies – III
Environment
3) Do you think that the Indian Premier League is a great opportunity to bat for climate action globally? Explain (200 Words)
Refer - The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 2 years
KEY POINTS
· The Supreme Court has given a timely reminder to Governors that the Constitution expects that a decision to return a Bill to the State Assembly for reconsideration should be made “as soon as possible”.
· It has drawn attention to the phrase found in the first proviso to Article 200, seeking to convey a sense of immediacy in the matter of returning a Bill.
· This effectively means it would be constitutionally impermissible for Governors to hold on to Bills indefinitely without communicating their decision to the House.
· The Court’s observation addresses the issue of delay, but it is only one aspect of the controversy.
· The issue of granting assent is seen in most parliamentary democracies as a formality, but the peculiar discretionary powers with which Governors are clothed in India have given much scope for controversy.
· The Governor’s power to withhold assent or return a Bill, with a message, for reconsideration is seen as discretionary.
· There are three clear problems associated with Article 200, which deals with assent to Bills.
· There is no doubt that these ought to be changed, either by amending the Constitution or through an appropriate Supreme Court verdict, so that misuse of gubernatorial discretion can be kept in check.
KEY POINTS
· According to the Secretary, most of the Russian crude purchased by Indian refiners was below the price cap, but some cargoes were above that price too.
· But, the cap price is applicable on FOB (free on board) basis the liability and ownership of the goods have been transferred from a seller to a buyer,
· Payment challenges can impact the cost and reliability of crude oil imports from Russia. Apart from supply sustainability, refining constraints can also be an impediment.
· Russian crude now accounts for about 35 per cent of Indian imports, but is close to the maximum potential of 40-45 per cent set by refining constraints.
· India’s problem has been always the inability of policymakers to strike a balance between security of supply and prices of various energy imports.
· They chased lower prices and ended up paying a heavy price during periods of shortages and stiff competition from other countries.
· China will use its strategic petroleum reserves to prevent oil prices from rising, while OPEC will struggle to prevent oil prices from declining.
· So, in such a situation India’s ability to negotiate favourable pricing and contract terms will come to play, if it does not want to be too reliant on a single supplier.
KEY POINTS
· India has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2070, and has also committed to reducing the emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030.
· Specifically, for the IPL, studies estimate that a single match produces emissions in the range of 10,000 tCO 2e to 14,000 tCO 2e (or tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent).
· The emissions generated by sports venues only account for about 5% of the total, whereas digital viewership during events such as the IPL contribute to more than three-fourths to the total emissions footprint.
· Adopting climate tech and leveraging existing tech advancements are crucial in quickly and accurately measuring emissions from various sources.
· Simple changes such as replacing LCD screens in our homes with energy-efficient LED displays can reduce the emission from each TV screen by 35%-40%, resulting in as much as a 20% reduction in the overall carbon footprint of such highly televised sports tournaments.
· Marylebone Cricket Club’s World Cricket committee found that climate change is altering the sport’s landscape, impacting the length of the cricket season, and disrupting the playability of pitches.
· The IPL has a unique opportunity to take a lead role in promoting climate action by prioritising sustainability.
· The organisation’s broad social platform can influence attitudes towards sustainability and reach out to people from all backgrounds and areas.
