08 February | Daily Current Affairs: Private Bills seek sitting of Parliament for 100 days a year And More

GS PAPER 1

Indian Polity

Senior Opposition members Derek O’Brien and Manoj Kumar Jha have proposed Bills to mandate a minimum of 100-120 parliamentary sittings annually.

Need for Such a Bill

• Declining Parliamentary Sittings: The number of parliamentary sittings has signicantly reduced over the years. In the
• 1950s, Parliament met for around 120-140 days annually, but this has now declined to around 60-70 days.
• Ensuring Legislative Scrutiny: More sittings would allow better examination of bills, policies, and government decisions.
• Strengthening Democracy: A more active Parliament ensures better representation of public issues and enhances accountability.
• Preventing Disruptions: Frequent disruptions lead to lost working hours; a xed calendar can ensure optimal legislative functioning.
• Recommendations from Reports: The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2002) and earlier parliamentary committees have recommended a minimum number of sittings.

Challenges

• Executive Hesitation: The government may resist due to administrative burden and fear of increased scrutiny.
• Opposition Coordination: Ensuring effective debates instead of mere disruptions remains a challenge.
• Lack of Political Consensus: Different political parties may have varying opinions on increasing parliamentary sittings, leading to delays in implementing such a reform.
• Legislative Overload: More sittings may not necessarily translate into better lawmaking if the focus remains on passing bills quickly rather than thorough debate and discussion.

Way Forward

• Fixed Parliamentary Calendar: A structured annual calendar with mandatory sittings can improve efciency.
• Strengthening Parliamentary committee: To ensure detailed examination of bills even during non-sitting periods
• Compensating Lost Hours: Introducing mechanisms to recover hours lost due to disruptions.
• Multi-Session Model: Adding a short session to discuss opposition business and policy review.
• Incentivizing Constructive Participation: Introduce mechanisms such as performance-based evaluations for MPs, ensuring productive discussions and reducing disruptions in parliamentary proceedings.

UPSC Mains PYQ : 2019

Ques : Individual Parliamentarian’s role as the national lawmaker is on a decline, which in turn, has adversely impacted the quality of debates and their outcome. Discuss. (250 words/15m)

GS PAPER 2

Prelims Fact

• TROPEX-25 Exercise involves 65 ships, 9 submarines, and 80 aircraft, along with joint participation from the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX)

• Biennial Naval Exercise: TROPEX is the Indian Navy’s largest biennial operational exercise, conducted every two years in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Duration: The 2025 edition (TROPEX-25) is being held from January to March.
• Objectives: It aims to validate and rene the Indian Navy’s Concept of Operations, testing its ability to respond to conventional, asymmetric, and hybrid threats in a contested maritime environment.
• Participants: The exercise involves approximately 65 Indian Navy ships, 9 submarines, and over 80 aircraft, along with substantial participation from the Indian Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
• Exercise Phases: It includes harbour and sea phases, covering combat operations, cyber and electronic warfare, live weapon rings, and amphibious operations.
• Strategic Importance: The exercise enhances joint operational readiness, ensuring a synchronized, integrated response to safeguard India’s maritime security interests. 

GS PAPER 3

Social justice : Health

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25%, marking the rst cut since May 2020.

Repo Rate Cut After 57 Months

• This decision aims to boost economic growth amid expectations of ination easing to 4.4% in this quarter and averaging 4.2% in 2025-26.
• The reduction in the repo rate may lead to lower borrowing costs for home, car, and other loans.

What is Repo Rate?

• The Repo Rate is the interest rate at which the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lends money to commercial banks in exchange for government securities.
• It is a key monetary policy tool used to control ination and liquidity in the economy.
• A higher repo rate makes borrowing costlier, reducing ination, while a lower repo rate boosts lending and economic growth by making loans cheaper for businesses and consumers.

Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)

• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is a six-member body of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) responsible for setting the repo rate to control ination and economic growth.
• It was established in 2016 under the amended RBI Act, 1934, and follows an ination-targeting framework.
• The MPC has six Three members are from the RBI, including the Governor, and three are external members appointed by the government.
• The MPC meets at least four times a year, and decisions are made by majority vote, with the RBI Governor having a casting vote in case of a tie.

Economic Growth and Ination Projections

• The RBI has projected real GDP growth at 6.7% for 2025-26, an increase from the 6.4% estimated for this year.
• Assuming a normal monsoon, ination is expected to decline further and gradually align with the 4% target.

Mixed Demand Trends

• Rural demand is improving, while urban consumption remains weak.
• Higher employment, tax benets from the budget, and lower ination are expected to support household consumption.

Currency and External Sector Stability

• The RBI does not target a specic exchange rate but intervenes to reduce excessive market volatility.
• India’s foreign exchange reserves are at $630.6 billion (as of January 31, 2025), covering over 10 months of imports.
• The current account decit is expected to remain at a sustainable level.

UPSC Prelims PYQ : 2017

Ques : Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)?

1. It decides the RBI’s benchmark interest rates.
2. It is a 12-member body including the Governor of RBI and is reconstituted every year.
3. It functions under the chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Ans:a)

GS PAPER 4

Prelims Fact

The death toll of Olive Ridley turtles along Tamil Nadu’s coast has surged dramatically, with 1,200 carcasses found by January 31.

Analysis of the news:

• The death toll signicantly exceeds the usual annual average, raising alarms among conservationists and local sherfolk.
• Experts blame destructive shing practices such as bottom trawling and frequent violations of marine regulations for the increased mortality.
• Turbulent monsoon currents have also contributed to the crisis, worsening the situation for the endangered species.
• The alarming rise in deaths has prompted government action and legal scrutiny to enforce stricter marine conservation measures.
• Conservationists and stakeholders are urging sustainable shing solutions to protect Olive Ridley turtles and maintain marine ecosystem balance.

Olive Ridley Turtle

• The Olive Ridley turtle is the smallest and most abundant sea turtle species, found in warm tropical waters, including the Indian Ocean.
• It is famous for mass nesting events called arribadas, notably at Odisha’s Gahirmatha and Rushikulya beaches.
• Listed as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, its threats include accidental bycatch, habitat loss, and pollution.
• India enforces turtle conservation through the Marine Fisheries Regulation Act and seasonal shing bans.
• Conservation efforts like Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) and coastal monitoring are crucial for Olive Ridley protection.

GS PAPER 5

Prelims Fact

The news explores Dashavatar, a traditional theatre form in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district.

• Dashavatar is a traditional theatre form from Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district and northern Goa, rooted in Hindu mythology.
• It has been performed for over 800 years and depicts the ten avatars of Vishnu.
• The performances take place after the paddy harvest until May, coinciding with village fairs (jatras).
• Only men traditionally perform, even in female roles, due to cultural beliefs.
• The form involves improvisation, music, and symbolic props. Artistes, often farmers or small traders, rely on Dashavatar for supplementary income.
• Despite evolving social norms, gender perceptions around the performances remain signicant, inuencing societal acceptance of actors playing female roles.

GS PAPER 6

Editorial Analysis

Context :

• The expansion of digital technology in rural India, especially post-COVID-19, has improved education accessibility.
• However, challenges remain in equitable learning and effective digital integration.

Education Trends in the 1990s and Early 2000s

• The 1990s and early 2000s saw a large-scale expansion of education in India.
• Reports from ASER surveys of that time showed increased enrolment and infrastructure development.
• However, learning levels remained unchanged despite more children going to school.
• Meanwhile, digital technology, mobile phones, and computers were gaining prominence.

Impact of COVID-19 on Digital Learning

• The digital revolution in rural India truly gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• ASER data reects this shift, showing an increase in smartphone usage in rural households.
• Before the pandemic, in 2018, about 36% of rural households had smartphones.
• By 2022, this gure rose to 74%, and by 2024, it reached 84%.
• The proportion of children aged 14 to 16 who personally own a smartphone increased from 19% to 31% in just one year.

Smartphone Usage for Education

• Smartphones were mainly used during the pandemic to access worksheets, videos, and online classes.
• Virtual training sessions became common for students and teachers.
• Even after the pandemic, the digital skills learned during that time have continued to be useful.
• However, it remains unclear whether mothers of young children own smartphones, which is important for supporting children’s learning.

Opportunities for Digital Education in India

• A signicant opportunity lies in open and continuing education for underprivileged communities.
• Many mothers of schoolchildren have little formal education:
• Over 40% have either no schooling or have studied less than Class 5.
• Another 40% have completed between Class 6 and Class 10.
• The remaining have nished Class 10.
• Educating mothers would enhance their ability to support their children’s learning, making this a valuable investment.

Challenges in Digital Learning for the Underprivileged

• Despite multiple technological advancements, education for the underprivileged has not signicantly improved.
• A major barrier has been the availability of personal devices.
• However, ASER 2024 data suggests that smartphone ownership is increasing, reducing this limitation.
• More families may nd it easier to purchase a second phone in the near future.

Breaking Language Barriers in Education

• Hardware has become more accessible, and language barriers are decreasing.
• Local language dictation and translation tools now make learning easier.
• The challenge remains in guiding students on what, where, and how to access learning resources.

Issues with School Attendance and Learning Quality

• While most children have access to schools, attendance remains inconsistent.
• Villages have a mix of children attending private schools, government schools, or private classes, while some do not attend school at all.
• This results in uneven learning outcomes.
• During the pandemic, villages in Maharashtra broadcast learning programs to students.
• A similar model could be used to organize group learning in rural communities.

Evolution of Education Systems

• Historically, each civilization developed its own education system.
• Colonialism and globalization integrated these systems.
• Today, technology and science further connect education systems across countries.
• However, technological advancements are often driven by prot, limiting their availability to underprivileged groups.

Conclusion

• While hardware has become cheaper, AI and new technologies require higher-order devices.
• Philanthropic investments might help expand access to educational technology.
• India needs a well-planned strategy to ensure that technology benets those who need it most.