1. U.S.-U.K. trade deal
- Context: The U.S President announced that the U.S. and U.K. had reached a trade deal, making this the first such deal after the announcement of universal tariffs of 10%.
Key Highlights of the deal:
- Tariff: The U.K. will be able to sell 100,000 cars per year in the U.S. at a tariff of 10%, down from the current 27.5% both sides announced.
- Digital service tax: No changes were made to the U.K.’s 2% digital services tax as part of the deal.
- Tariff on steel and Aluminium: U.S. tariffs on British steel and aluminium would be tariff free
- A change from the 25% tariff rate previously imposed on national security grounds.
- The U.K. is expected to do away with tariffs on U.S. ethanol
- Beef: both countries have agreed to greater market access on beef.
- There will be no weakening of UK food standards on imports,
- The U.S. Department of Commerce: The deal would represent a new $5 billion export opportunity in the farm sector, including in “ethanol, beef, fruits, vegetables, animal feed, tobacco, shellfish, chemicals, textiles, and more”.
Prelims special:
Q. The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as(UPSC 2016)
- G20
- ASEAN
- SCO
- SAARC
Ans: (b)
2. Removal of Judges
- Context: Chief Justice of India (CJI) has forwarded to the President and the Prime Minister the in-house committee report on allegations about the discovery of partially burnt sacks of currency notes in a gutted storeroom of High Court judge Justice.
Procedure for Removal of a Judge:
- Articles 124 and 217: A Supreme Court or High Court judge can be removed by the President on grounds of ‘proved misbehaviour’ or ‘incapacity’. The motion must be passed in both Houses of Parliament:
- By a majority of the total membership of the House, and
- By a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting in the same session (special majority).
- The Constitution does not define the terms ‘proved misbehaviour’ or ‘incapacity’.
- However, the Supreme Court has clarified through its judgments that actions such as wilful misconduct, corruption, lack of integrity, or offences involving moral turpitude constitute misbehaviour.
- Incapacity refers to a medical condition that includes physical or mental limitations preventing the judge from performing duties effectively.
Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968:
- A motion for removal is to be signed by at least 50 members in the Rajya Sabha or 100 members in the Lok Sabha.
- The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has the discretion to admit or reject the motion after consultation.
- If admitted, a three-member committee is constituted, comprising:
- A Supreme Court Judge,
- A High Court Judge, and
- A distinguished jurist.
- The committee investigates the allegations. If the judge is cleared of misconduct or incapacity, the motion is dropped and not pursued further.
- If the committee finds the judge guilty of misbehaviour or incapacity, the report is tabled in both Houses of Parliament, where the motion must be passed by a special majority
Transfer of judges:
- Article 222: It provides for the transfer of HC judges, including the Chief Justice. The President, after consultation with the CJI, may transfer a judge from one HC to any other HC and a compensatory allowance is provided to the transferred judge.
- Interpretation: The executive could transfer a judge, but only after consulting the CJI.
Prelims Special:
Q. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2019)
- The 44th Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an Article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review.
- The Supreme Court of India struck down the 99th Amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of judiciary.
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
Ans: (b)
3. Electoral roll
- Context: The final electoral list of the Kaliganj Assembly Constituency in West Bengal’s Nadia district features a correction and net decrease of over 2,000 voters following a special summary revision by the Electoral Registration Officer.
Electoral roll:
- It is a list of people who have enrolled to vote for particular elections in a particular jurisdiction.
- The Election Commission of India is a permanent Constitutional Body that Prepares and periodically revises electoral rolls and registers all eligible voters.
Electoral Registration Officer (ERO):
- The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is responsible for the preparation of electoral rolls for a Parliamentary/Assembly constituency.
- The Election Commission of India, in consultation with the State/Union Territory government, appoints an officer of the government or the local authorities as the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
Prelims Special
Q. Which one of the following statements is correct as per the Constitution of India?(UPSC 2024)
- Inter-State trade and commerce is a State subject under the State List.
- Inter-State migration is a State subject under the State List.
- Inter-State quarantine is a Union subject under the Union List.
- Corporation tax is a State subject under the State List.
Ans: (c)
4. Giant African Snail
- Context: The snail infestation threat is looming large in the cardamom-growing regions of the high ranges of Idukki.
Giant African Snail(Achatina fulica):
- is an exotic pest introduced from East Africa to India in 1847 itself.
- This is the biggest land snail having a protective shell, measuring about 19 cm in length.
- This snail is a hermaphrodite and lays 50-200 yellowish eggs on the soil surface.
- Hatching takes place in about a week’s period and the young ones grow up to a year and reach sexual maturity.
- The life span of this snail is 3-5 years. And those hatching towards the end of the rainy season take a long time to mature as they undergo hibernation and aestivation for up to two years without food.
- It can cause Eosinophilic meningitis in Humans.
- The snail eats the leaves, stems, fruits and flowers of host plants causing severe damage to the young saplings especially in nurseries.
- It also contaminates leafy vegetables with its excrement.
Invasive species:
- It is an organism that causes ecological or economic harm in a new environment where it is not native.
Prelims special:
Q. With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2015)
- IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments.
- IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.
- CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (b)
5. Nipah
- Context: A 42-year-old woman from Kerala has tested positive for Nipah virus prompting health officials to take preventive action and raise alert levels.
Prelims special:
Q. Which one of the following is synthesised in the human body that dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow?(UPSC 2024)
- Nitric oxide
- Nitrous oxide
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Nitrogen Pentoxide
Ans: (a)