■ NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION
#NHRC
□ ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION
◇ The National Human Rights Commission is a statutory (and not a constitutional) body. It was established in 1993 under a legislation enacted by the Parliament, namely, the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1991.
◇ Commission is the watchdog of human rights in the country, that is, the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the international covenants and enforceable by courts in India.
◇ The specific objectives of the establishment of the commission
are :
• To strengthen the institutional arrangements through which human rights issues could be addressed in their entirety in a more focussed manner;
• To look into allegations of excesses, independently of the government, in a manner that would underline the government’s commitment to protect human rights; and
• To complement and strengthen the efforts that have already been made in this direction.
#NHRC
□ ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION
◇ The National Human Rights Commission is a statutory (and not a constitutional) body. It was established in 1993 under a legislation enacted by the Parliament, namely, the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1991.
◇ Commission is the watchdog of human rights in the country, that is, the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the international covenants and enforceable by courts in India.
◇ The specific objectives of the establishment of the commission
are :
• To strengthen the institutional arrangements through which human rights issues could be addressed in their entirety in a more focussed manner;
• To look into allegations of excesses, independently of the government, in a manner that would underline the government’s commitment to protect human rights; and
• To complement and strengthen the efforts that have already been made in this direction.
COMPOSITION
1. The commission has a Chief Information Commissioner and up to ten Information Commissioners.
2. Initially, the commission had five commissioners, including the Chief Information Commissioner. As of 2019, there are six Information Commissioners besides the Chief Information Commissioner.
3. The President appoints the commissioners based on the recommendation of a committee. The Prime Minister chairs this committee and includes the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister chosen by the Prime Minister.
4. Commissioners must be well-respected individuals with extensive knowledge and experience in law, science, technology, social service, management, journalism, media, or administration.
5. Commissioners cannot be members of Parliament or state legislatures, and they cannot hold any other political office or be involved in business or any profession.
1. The commission has a Chief Information Commissioner and up to ten Information Commissioners.
2. Initially, the commission had five commissioners, including the Chief Information Commissioner. As of 2019, there are six Information Commissioners besides the Chief Information Commissioner.
3. The President appoints the commissioners based on the recommendation of a committee. The Prime Minister chairs this committee and includes the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet Minister chosen by the Prime Minister.
4. Commissioners must be well-respected individuals with extensive knowledge and experience in law, science, technology, social service, management, journalism, media, or administration.
5. Commissioners cannot be members of Parliament or state legislatures, and they cannot hold any other political office or be involved in business or any profession.
■ FUNCTIONS OF CVCs
◇ To tender advise to the Central government and its authorities on such matters as are referred to it by them.
◇ To exercise superintendence over the vigilance administration in the ministries of the Central government or its authorities.
◇ To undertake or cause an inquiry into complaints received under the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers’ Resolution and recommend appropriate action.
◇ The Central Government is required to consult the CVC in making rules and regulations governing the vigilance and disciplinary matters relating to the members of Central Services and All India Services.
◇ To tender advise to the Central government and its authorities on such matters as are referred to it by them.
◇ To exercise superintendence over the vigilance administration in the ministries of the Central government or its authorities.
◇ To undertake or cause an inquiry into complaints received under the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers’ Resolution and recommend appropriate action.
◇ The Central Government is required to consult the CVC in making rules and regulations governing the vigilance and disciplinary matters relating to the members of Central Services and All India Services.
■ SOLAR ENERGY
◇ Sun is ultimate source of all energy on the earth. India, being a tropical country, is well endowed with plenty of solar energy.
◇ India receives nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine every year which is equivalent to over 5000 trillion kWh per year.
◇ The daily average of solar energy incident over india varies from 4 to 7 kWh/m square depending upon the location.
◇ Although solar energy can be gainfully used in any part of the country except some higher areas in the Himalayan ranges, the thar desert of rajasthan holds great promise in the direction.
◇ A major chunk of the desert is declared as Solar energy enterprise zone like the one in Nevada (USA).
◇ Sun is ultimate source of all energy on the earth. India, being a tropical country, is well endowed with plenty of solar energy.
◇ India receives nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine every year which is equivalent to over 5000 trillion kWh per year.
◇ The daily average of solar energy incident over india varies from 4 to 7 kWh/m square depending upon the location.
◇ Although solar energy can be gainfully used in any part of the country except some higher areas in the Himalayan ranges, the thar desert of rajasthan holds great promise in the direction.
◇ A major chunk of the desert is declared as Solar energy enterprise zone like the one in Nevada (USA).
📍 METHODS TO CONTROL
2. COST SIDE MEASURE
💡 As a cost side measure, governments may try to cool down the price by cutting down the production cost of goods showing price rise with the help of tax breaks— cuts in the excise and custom duties (as happened in June 2003 in India in the case of crude oil and steel). This helps as a short-term measure.
💡 In the long-term, better production process, technological innovations etc., are helpful. Increasing income of the people is the monetary measure to avoid the heat of such infation.
◾Source - Indian Economy by Ramesh singh.
2. COST SIDE MEASURE
💡 As a cost side measure, governments may try to cool down the price by cutting down the production cost of goods showing price rise with the help of tax breaks— cuts in the excise and custom duties (as happened in June 2003 in India in the case of crude oil and steel). This helps as a short-term measure.
💡 In the long-term, better production process, technological innovations etc., are helpful. Increasing income of the people is the monetary measure to avoid the heat of such infation.
◾Source - Indian Economy by Ramesh singh.
■ GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
#Energysources
◇ There are vast possibilities of developing and exploiting geothermal energy in india. About 340 hot spring localities have been identified, many of them have temperature nearing boiling point.
◇ Assessment of geothermal energy potential of selected sites in Jammu and Kashmir, HP, UK,kharkhand and chhattisgarh has been undertaken.
◇ A five KW geothermal pilot power plants has been commissioned at Manikaran in Kullu district of HP. A potential of 4-5 mW geo-thermal power has been estimated in Puga valley of Ladakh in J and K.
◇ Plan to exploit this potential has been finalised. Sanction for installation of a geothermal power plant at Tattapani geothermal fields in Chhattisgarh has been granted .
▪︎SOURCE - D.R. Khullar.
#Energysources
◇ There are vast possibilities of developing and exploiting geothermal energy in india. About 340 hot spring localities have been identified, many of them have temperature nearing boiling point.
◇ Assessment of geothermal energy potential of selected sites in Jammu and Kashmir, HP, UK,kharkhand and chhattisgarh has been undertaken.
◇ A five KW geothermal pilot power plants has been commissioned at Manikaran in Kullu district of HP. A potential of 4-5 mW geo-thermal power has been estimated in Puga valley of Ladakh in J and K.
◇ Plan to exploit this potential has been finalised. Sanction for installation of a geothermal power plant at Tattapani geothermal fields in Chhattisgarh has been granted .
▪︎SOURCE - D.R. Khullar.
■ WORKING OF CVC
◇ The CVC conducts its proceedings at its headquarters New Delhi. It is vested with the power to regulate its own procedure. It has all the powers of a civil court and its proceedings have a judicial character. It may call for information or report from the Central government or its authorities so as to enable it to exercise general supervision over the vigilance and anti-corruption work in them.
◇ The CVC, on receipt of the report of the inquiry undertaken by any agency on a reference made by it, advises the Central government or its authorities as to the further course of action. The Central government or its authorities shall consider the advice of the CVC and take appropriate action. However, where the Central government or any of its authorities does not agree with the advice of the CVC, it shall communicate the reasons to the CVC.
◇ The CVC has to present annually to the President a report on its performance. The President places this report before each House of Parliament.
◇ The CVC conducts its proceedings at its headquarters New Delhi. It is vested with the power to regulate its own procedure. It has all the powers of a civil court and its proceedings have a judicial character. It may call for information or report from the Central government or its authorities so as to enable it to exercise general supervision over the vigilance and anti-corruption work in them.
◇ The CVC, on receipt of the report of the inquiry undertaken by any agency on a reference made by it, advises the Central government or its authorities as to the further course of action. The Central government or its authorities shall consider the advice of the CVC and take appropriate action. However, where the Central government or any of its authorities does not agree with the advice of the CVC, it shall communicate the reasons to the CVC.
◇ The CVC has to present annually to the President a report on its performance. The President places this report before each House of Parliament.
📌 INDIAN COUNCIL ACT OF 1861.
🔸️ It made a beginning of Representative institutions by assosiating Indian with law - making Process.
🔸️ Viceroy Canning nominated three Indians to the legislative council - The Raja of Benaras, Maharaja of Patiala and Sir Dinkar rao.
🔸️ It initiated the process of Decentralisation by restoring the legislative Powers to the Bombay and Madras presidency.
🔸️ It also provided for the establishment of new legislative councils for Bengal, NWFP and Punjab.
🔸️ It also gave a recognition to the Portfolio system, introduced by Canning.
🔸️ It made a beginning of Representative institutions by assosiating Indian with law - making Process.
🔸️ Viceroy Canning nominated three Indians to the legislative council - The Raja of Benaras, Maharaja of Patiala and Sir Dinkar rao.
🔸️ It initiated the process of Decentralisation by restoring the legislative Powers to the Bombay and Madras presidency.
🔸️ It also provided for the establishment of new legislative councils for Bengal, NWFP and Punjab.
🔸️ It also gave a recognition to the Portfolio system, introduced by Canning.