Current Affairs 8th April 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Parliament’s Performance

Context: Recently, the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24) concluded its proceedings.

Glimpse of the Performance OF the 17th Lok Sabha

Legislative Activity and Parliamentary Focus

• The polity has been dynamic, with the Prime Minister’s Office receiving 1,146 questions from Rajya Sabha members, answering only 28.
• Interest in the Prime Minister’s responses has decreased, from 5,000 inquiries in the 15th and 16th Lok Sabhas to 1,700 in the 17th.
• Shifts in parliamentary interests include increased attention to Health and Family and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ministries.
• National security and internal affairs, once highly scrutinised, have seen a decrease in attention.

Ministries Under Scrutiny

• Health and Agriculture Ministries received the most questions, indicating priority areas for Parliament.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs saw a 32% decline in inquiries, suggesting a shift in focus away from national security.
• The Finance Ministry, while still crucial, experienced a drop in parliamentary interest, although there’s an uptick in questions admitted for discussion, hinting at a push for financial transparency.

Challenges and Oversight

• The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted health and education sectors, with education maintaining its importance in parliamentary questions.
• An increase in disallowed questions in the Rajya Sabha suggests challenges in parliamentary oversight.
• Significant Ministries like Health, Home Affairs, Defence, Agriculture, and Finance accounted for a substantial portion (36.6%) of disallowed questions in both houses, pointing to systemic oversight issues.

Parliamentary Interventions

• Zero Hour usage has significantly increased in both houses (Rajya Sabha: 62% increase, Lok Sabha: 34% increase), indicating a focus on addressing urgent issues.
• There’s a decline in the use of other interventions like Half-an-Hour Discussions, indicating a potential area for improvement to enhance debate quality.

Opportunities and Accountability

• The 17th Lok Sabha showed proactivity in question admission and discussions, yet overlooked opportunities for raising important issues.
• Missed discussions on critical societal issues like student suicides due to competitive exams highlight gaps in addressing public concerns through parliamentary means.
• Historical instances of the Opposition influencing legislative decisions emphasise the need for more engaged and accountable parliamentary practices.

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India’s Antarctica Bases

Context: India set up its first post office in Antarctica at Dakshin Gangotri, the nation’s inaugural scientific base, in 1984.

India’s Engagement with Antarctica

Initial Steps

• Request to UN General Assembly: In 1956, at the behest of Jawaharlal Nehru and V.K. Krishna Menon, India proposed discussing “The Question of Antarctica” at the UN, aiming for its peaceful use and general welfare.
• Antarctica Treaty Formation: Despite India’s early interest, it was not involved in the 1959 Antarctica Treaty discussions or signing in Washington DC, primarily among 12 countries claiming stakes in Antarctica.

Indian Antarctic Expeditions

• Operation Gangotri: India’s first Antarctic expedition launched in 1982 under Indira Gandhi’s leadership, focusing on ecological research, including studies of the Indian Ocean, monsoons, life in icy regions, and marine biodiversity.
• Membership in Antarctic Treaty: Success from initial expeditions led to India becoming a treaty member in August 1983, with China joining in 1985.

Achievements in Antarctica

• Research Bases: India established its unmanned base, Dakshin Gangotri, in 1984, followed by two manned stations, Maitri (1988) and Bharati (2012), which are currently operational.
• Expeditions: India has conducted forty expeditions to Antarctica, contributing significantly to global scientific knowledge and research in the region.

Odesa

Context: Drone attacks by Russia damaged equipment at energy facilities in the Odesa region (Ukraine).

About Odesa

• Location and Significance: Odessa, also spelled Odesa, ranks as Ukraine’s third-largest city, known for its vital seaport and position as a transportation nexus in the country’s southwest, near the Black Sea’s northwestern coast.
• Nicknames: The city is affectionately dubbed “The Pearl by the Sea,” recognized also as “The Southern Capital,” “Odessa-mama,” and likened to “Southern Palmyra” for its significance and charm.

• Maritime Facilities: It operates as an all-season port and encompasses the Port of Odessa as well as the Port Yuzhny, which houses a substantial oil terminal in the city’s outskirts.
• Recognition:
  • In 2023, The World Heritage Committee decided to add the historic centre of Ukraine’s Black Sea port city of Odesa to its list of World Heritage sites.
  • It has also been inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Examples, Case Studies and Data for Value Addition

• International Relations (GS 3): India abstains at the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) on a vote calling for a Gaza ceasefire, and arms embargo against Israel.
• Miscellaneous: Every year 6th of April is celebrated as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

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