The Hindu News Analysis – 13th January 2022 – Shankar IAS Academy

S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T

1 Act now, recast the selection process of the ECs (Editorial) 8 8 6 6 6

2 Somanath appointed new Chairman of ISRO 10 10 8 8 8

MP
3 Bolstered by heritage (Metro Plus) 1
- - - -

4 Reaping India’s demographic dividend (OPED) 9 9 7 7 7

5 Retail inflation accelerates to 5.59% 1, 10 1, 10 1, 8 1, 8 1, 8

6 Panel seeks response on app 10 10 8 8 8

7 Prelims Practice Questions

@ end of the video
8 Mains Practice Question
*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram
Pg: 8 – C, B;
Pg: 6 – T, D, H
Editorial Election Commission of India (ECI)

• Controversy - informal meeting of the • Permanent Constitutional Body established under Article
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and 324 of Indian Constitution in 1950.
Election Commissioners (ECs) with the
• Independent autonomous authority.
Principal Secretary to the PM.
• Responsible for administering Union and State election
• Questions on independent and impartial
processes in India.
nature of ECI.
Article 324(1) - elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya
• Author’s suggestion - change the
Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and the offices
existing selection process of ECs.
of President and Vice President.

• Responsible for the superintendence, direction and

control of the entire process for conduct of elections.
 Functions & Roles of ECI
- Prepares, maintains and periodically updates Electoral
Rolls.
- Supervises nomination of candidates, registers political
parties, monitors the election campaign including funding
by candidates. Organises the polling booths and looks
• Main objective - ensuring elections to take
after the counting of votes and the declaration of results.
place in an orderly and fair manner.
- Quasi-judicial jurisdiction - settles disputes between the
splinter groups of recognised parties.
- Advisory jurisdiction - post election disqualification of
sitting members of Parliament and State Legislatures.
Disqualifying candidate who has failed to lodge an account
of his election expenses within the time and in the manner
prescribed by law.
- Removing or reducing the period of such disqualification.
- Ensure prevention of electoral offences, malpractices and
corrupt practices (impersonation, bribing and inducement
of voters), threat and intimidation to the voters.
Composition
• Initially - single member body having the
• Article 324(2) - Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
CEC.
and Election Commissioners (ECs).
• 1989 - became multi-member body through
Appointed by the President.
President’s notification
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
Fixed the number of ECs - at two.
PART XV - ELECTIONS
324. Superintendence, direction and control of elections to Withdrawn in 1990.
be vested in an Election Commission.—.
• 1990 to 1993 - single member body.
(2) The Election Commission shall consist of the Chief
Election Commissioner and such number of other • 1993 - again became multi-member body
Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may
through President’s order.
from time to time fix and the appointment of the
Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Fixed the number of ECs - at two.
Commissioners shall, subject to the provisions of any
law made in that behalf by Parliament, be made by the 3-member body till now.
President.
 • Removal - Article 324(5).

• Constitution does not prescribe the EC - on the recommendation of CEC.

number of ECs.
CEC - like manner and on the like grounds as a
• Tenure of CEC and ECs - “Chief Judge of the Supreme Court.
Election Commissioner and other
Removal of Judge of the Supreme Court -
Election Commissioners (Conditions of
impeached by Parliament - Article 124(4)
Service) Act, 1991”.

6 years, or up to 65 years of age, CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

whichever is earlier. 124. Establishment and constitution of Supreme Court.—

(4) A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his
• Salary and perks of CEC and ECs - office except by an order of the President passed after an
address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority
same as Judges of the Supreme Court
of the total membership of that House and by a majority of
of India. not less than two-thirds of the members of that House
present and voting has been presented to the President in the
same session for such removal on the ground of proved
misbehaviour or incapacity.
 . Practice Question – Prelims
Previous Year Question – Prelims 2017
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The Election Commission of India is a five
member body.
2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the
election schedule for the conduct of both
general elections and bye-elections.
3. Election Commission resolves the disputes
relating to splits/mergers of recognized
political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Q. With reference to Election Commission of India
(ECI), consider the following statements:
1. ECI has been a multi-member body since its
inception.
2. Constitution prescribes the number of Election
Commissioners to be appoint by the President.
3. The Chief Election Commissioner and other
Election Commissioners are placed on par on
matters of retirement age, salaries, removal and
other benefits.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 3 only
(c) None of the above
(d) 1 and 2 only
Pg: 10 – C, B;
Pg: 8 – T, D, H
• Launchers or Launch Vehicles - used to carry spacecraft to space.

• India has two operational launchers:

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

Parts of a Launch Vehicle

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (or SSLV)

• A small-lift launch vehicle.

• Being developed by Indian Space Research

Organisation (ISRO).

• Payload capacity -

Low Earth orbit - 600 kg

Sun-synchronous orbit - 300 kg

• Capability to support multiple orbital drop-

offs.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
Specifications
• Third generation launch vehicle of India.
1. Carry a payload of about 1,750 kg to
• First Indian launch vehicle - to be equipped Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits (SSPO) and
with liquid stages. 1,425 kg to Sub geosynchronous transfer
• Vehicle successfully launched two spacecraft - orbit (GTO).
Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter
2. There are four stages in PSLV’s journey
Spacecraft in 2013. from lift-off to placing satellites into orbit.
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)

• GSLV Mark I - GSLV rockets using the Russian Cryogenic Stage (CS).

• GSLV Mark II and Mark III - use the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS).

GSLV Mk II

• Largest launch vehicle developed by India - currently in operation.

• Fourth generation launch vehicle.

• Three-stage vehicle with four liquid strap-ons.

 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV) launched Chandrayaan 1
in 2008.
2. The SSLV was developed with the aim of
launching small satellites commercially
at drastically reduced price.
Which of the statements given above is/are
incorrect?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Pg: 1 – Metro Plus –
Chennai Edition
PGS-India

• Participatory Guarantee System of India.

• A quality assurance initiative.

• Emphasizes the participation of stakeholders,

including producers and consumers and it operates
outside the frame of third party certification.

• Certified farmers are listed - consumers can look

up and get in touch and purchase produce
directly.

• Based on participatory approach.

• Implemented by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers

Welfare.

Source: https://pgsindia-ncof.gov.in/
National Program for Organic Production

• Ministry of Commerce and Industry

• To provide a focused and well-directed

development of organic agriculture and quality
products.

• Proposes for the promotion of organic farming

and provides an institutional mechanism for
the implementation of National Standards for
Organic Production.

• Provides information on systems, criteria and

procedure for accreditation of Inspection and
certification bodies and the national organic
logo.
 To develop organic farming and organic
• Standards and procedures have been
processing
formulated in harmony with other
To accredit certification programme of
International Standards regulating import and
Certification Bodies seeking accreditation
export of organic products.
To facilitate certification of organic
• Objectives
products in conformity to the National
To provide the evaluation of certification
Standards for Organic Products.
programme for organic agriculture and
• NPO P is managed by Agricultural and
products including the wild harvest,
Processed Food Products Export Development
aquaculture, livestock products
Authority (APEDA)
To facilitate certification of organic
• Assisting the exporters of organic products
products in conformity with the importing
under components of its export promotion
countries organic standards.
scheme.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements with
reference to National Program for Organic
Production NPOP:
1. It is implemented under Ministry of
Agriculture and farmers welfare
2. It’s objective is to facilitate certification
of organic products in conformity with
the importing countries organic
standards.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Pg: 9 – C, B;
Pg: 7 – T, D, H
 Part A—Preliminary Examination
Paper I - (200 marks)
Current events of national and international importance.
Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector
Initiatives, etc.
Part B—Main Examination
PAPER-III
General Studies‐ II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations
• Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human
Resources.
PAPER-IV
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster
Management.
Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.
Demographic Dividend

• The growth in an economy that is the result

of a change in the age structure of a
country’s population.

• Brought by a decline in fertility and mortality

rates.

• 2020 - 26.16 percent of the Indian population

fell into the 0-14 year category, 67.27
percent into the 15-64 age group and 6.57
percent were over 65 years of age.

• 2/3rd of the population comes under working

age.
Where a country can find demographic dividends • Enable the labour force to have better
productivity and boost income.
• Savings
• With the passage of time - the share of the
• Labor supply
older population will rise - dividend is
• Human capital
available only for a period of time, ‘the
• Economic growth window of demographic opportunity’.

What will happen if demographic dividend is not • Falling fertility, rising median age, a falling
utilised dependency ratio - demographic transition.

• Fertility declines - the share of the young • Benefit to the GDP is lower than its peers in
population will fall and that of the older will Asia.
rise. • Forward-looking policies incorporating
• Enable higher investment per child - education, population dynamics, education and skills,
skills. healthcare, gender sensitivity, and providing
rights and choices to the younger generation.
What can be done
• Investment should be made more in
• Updated National Transfer Accounts (NTA)
children and adolescents.
assessment.
India ranks poorly in Asia in terms of
Lee and Chen (2011-12) and M.R. Narayana
private and public human capital
(2021) - India’s per capita consumption pattern
spending.
is lower than the other Asian countries.
It needs to invest more particularly in
A child in India consumes around 60% of the
nutrition and learning during early
consumption by an adult aged between 20 and
childhood.
64, while a child in China consumes about 85% of
a prime-age adult’s consumption. Focus should be on transitioning from
secondary education to universal skilling
State-specific NTAs should be calculated every
and entrepreneurship, as done in South
year and States should be ranked for investing
Korea.
in the youth.
• Health investments
• Making reproductive healthcare services
Public spending on health has remained flat
accessible on a rights-based approach.
at around 1% of GDP in India.
Crucial to provide universal access to
Evidence suggests that better health
high-quality primary education and basic
facilitates improved economic production.
healthcare.
Draft policies to promote health during the
The unmet need for family planning in
demographic dividend.
India at 9.4% as per the latest National
Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21).

It is very high when compared to 3.3% in

China and 6.6% in South Korea.
• Education • Female workforce

An enabler to bridge gender differentials. 2019 - 20.3% of women were working or

looking for work, but 34.1% in 2003-04.
The gender inequality of education -
concern. New skills and opportunities for women
and girls - needed.
In India, boys are more likely to be
enrolled in secondary and tertiary school State should provide safe transport
than girls.
Finding work - delay the age of marriage
In the Philippines, China, Thailand, Japan, and make them participate in the economy
South Korea and Indonesia, the gender
Enable them to exercise their rights and
differences are rather minimal.
choices.
South Korea’s female workforce
participation rate of 50% has been built on

Legally compulsory gender budgeting to

analyse gender disaggregated data and
its impact on policies,

Increasing childcare benefits,

Boosting tax incentives for part-time

work.

Prediction - if included women engaged in

domestic duties in India who are willing to
work had a job, female labour force
participation would increase by about 20%
• Addressing the diversity between States • A new federal approach to governance reforms
for demographic dividend should be put in place
The status and pace of population ageing
for policy coordination between States on
vary among States.
various emerging population issues such as
For example - southern states, which are migration, ageing, skilling, female workforce
advanced in demographic transition, participation and urbanisation.
already have a higher percentage of older
Conclusion
people.
• Without proper policies - the increase in the
Differences in age structure reflect
working-age population may lead to rising
differences in economic development.
unemployment, fueling economic and social risks.
Offers boundless opportunities for States to
• An inter-ministerial coordination for strategic
work together, especially on demographic
planning, investment, monitoring and course
transition, with the north-central region as
correction should be an important feature of
the reservoir of India’s workforce.
the governance arrangement.
 .

Practice Question – Mains

GS – II / III
Q. India is in the stage of demographic
transition. In lights of this statement give
insights to fully realise the potential of
demographic dividend of India.
(250 Words, 15 Marks)
Pg: 1 – C, T, B, D, H

Pg: 10 – C, B;
Pg: 8 – T, D, H
• News - Data from National Statistical Major Components of WPI:
Office (NSO). 1. Primary articles - further subdivided into Food Articles
and Non-Food Articles.
Retail inflation - accelerated to 5.59% in
Food Articles include items such as Cereals, Paddy,
December.
Wheat, Pulses, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, Eggs, Meat &

Consumer food price inflation - Fish, etc.

Non-Food Articles include Oil Seeds, Minerals and
accelerated to 4.05% in December.
Crude Petroleum.
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) 2. Fuel & Power - tracks price movements in Petrol, Diesel
and LPG.
• Measures - average change in the prices of
3. Manufactured Goods - spans across a variety of
commodities for wholesale at the level of the
manufactured products such as Textiles, Apparels, Paper,
early stage of transactions. Chemicals, Plastic, Cement, Metals, and more.
Including manufactured food products such as Sugar,
• Does not cover services.
Tobacco Products, Vegetable and Animal Oils, and
• Base year - 2011-12. Fats.
Consumer Price Index (CPI)

• Measure of retail inflation rate.

• Gives actual reflection of the price rise in the country.

• Change in retail prices of goods and

services consumed by a defined
population group in a given area
with reference to a base year.

• Base year - 2012.

Important CPIs

• Represent specific segment of population.

1. CPI for Industrial Workers (IW): It measures

• CPI-Urban - C PI for the entire urban
the extent of change in the retail prices of
population,
goods and services consumed by the industrial
workers. • CPI-rural - C PI for the entire rural
population
2. CPI for Agricultural Labour (AL): It measures
the extent of change in the retail prices of • CPI Combined (Urban+Rural) - sole inflation
goods and services consumed by the measure for setting inflation target and
agricultural labourers. ensuring price stability.

3. CPI for Rural Labour (RL): It measures the

extent of change in retail prices of goods
and services consumed by rural labourers.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. WPI is compiled and released on a monthly
basis by the Office of Economic Adviser, under
the Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT) in the Ministry of
Commerce & Industry.
2. CPI-IW, CPI-AL, and CPI-RL are compiled and
released by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry
of Labour.
3. CPI (rural/urban/combined) is released by the
the National Statistical Office (NSO).
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3only
(c) 1, 2, 3 only
(d) 2 and 3 only
Pg: 10 – C, B;
Pg: 8 – T, D, H
Parliamentary Committees

• Established - study and deal with various Accordingly, a parliamentary committee means a

matters that cannot be directly handled by committee that:

1. Is appointed or elected by the House or nominated
the legislature due to their volume.
by the Speaker / Chairman.
• Parliament lacks the necessary time and 2. Works under the direction of the Speaker /
experience to conduct a thorough examination Chairman.

of all legislative initiatives and other issues. 3. Presents its report to the House or to the Speaker
/ Chairman.
• Composition, term, functions of Parliamentary 4. Has a secretariat provided by the Lok Sabha / Rajya
Committees - governed by the norms of two Sabha.

Houses.
 Classification of Parliamentary Committees

Classification of
Parliamentary Committee

Standing Ad Hoc
Committees Committees

• Permanent • Temporary
• Work on continuous • Cease to exist on
basis. completion of the task
assigned to them
 Parliamentary
Committees

Standing Ad Hoc
Committees Committees

Financial Department Committees to Committees to Committees Relating House-Keeping

Committees al Standing Inquire Scrutinise and to the Day-to-Day Committees or
Committees Control Business of the Service
House Committees

Inquiry Advisory
Committees Committees
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. Recommendations made by
Parliamentary Committees are binding
in nature.
2. The Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the
Chairman of the Business Advisory
Committee, General Purposes
Committee and Committee on Rules.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 .
Previous Year Question – Prelims 2017
Q1. Consider the following statements:
1. The Election Commission of India is a five
member body.
2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the
election schedule for the conduct of both
general elections and bye-elections.
3. Election Commission resolves the disputes
relating to splits/mergers of recognized
political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q2. Consider the following statements:
1. Recommendations made by
Parliamentary Committees are binding
in nature.
2. The Chairman of Rajya Sabha is the
Chairman of the Business Advisory
Committee, General Purposes
Committee and Committee on Rules.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 . Practice Question – Prelims
Q3. With reference to Election Commission of India
(ECI), consider the following statements:
1. ECI has been a multi-member body since its
inception.
2. Constitution prescribes the number of Election
Commissioners to be appoint by the President.
3. The Chief Election Commissioner and other
Election Commissioners are placed on par on
matters of retirement age, salaries, removal and
other benefits.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 3 only
(c) None of the above
(d) 1 and 2 only
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q4.Consider the following statements:
1. Geosynchronous Satellite Launch
Vehicle (GSLV) launched Chandrayaan 1
in 2008.
2. The SSLV was developed with the aim of
launching small satellites commercially
at drastically reduced price.
Which of the statements given above is/are
incorrect?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q5. Consider the following statements:
1. WPI is compiled and released on a monthly
basis by the Office of Economic Adviser, under
the Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT) in the Ministry of
Commerce & Industry.
2. CPI-IW, CPI-AL, and CPI-RL are compiled and
released by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry
of Labour.
3. CPI (rural/urban/combined) is released by the
the National Statistical Office (NSO).
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3only
(c) 1, 2, 3 only
(d) 2 and 3 only
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q6. Consider the following statements with
reference to National Program for Organic
Production NPOP:
1. It is implemented under Ministry of
Agriculture and farmers welfare
2. It’s objective is to facilitate certification
of organic products in conformity with
the importing countries organic
standards.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Practice Question – Prelims
Answers
Q1. Option (d) - 3 only
Q2. Option (b) - 2 only
Q3. Option (c) - None of the above
Q4. Option (a) - 1 only
Q5. Option (c) - 1, 2, 3 only
Q6. Option (b) - 2 only
 .

Practice Question – Mains

GS – II / III
Q. India is in the stage of demographic
transition. In lights of this statement give
insights to fully realise the potential of
demographic dividend of India.
(250 Words, 15 Marks)