 Welcome to the Hindu News Analysis by Shankarayi's Academy. Displied are the list of news articles taken for today's analysis and their page numbers in different editions of the newspaper. The link for the handwritten notes in the PDF format and the time stamping of the discussed articles are provided in the description and also in the comments section for the benefit of mobile phone viewers. Now let's move on to the analysis of first news article. This news article talks about a decision by Supreme Court to examine a contempt petition against the Chief Election Commissioner and leaders of prominent political parties. The petition is about not fully adhering to the order of the Supreme Court regarding allowing of individuals with criminal background to contest in elections. This is the order that was against criminalization of politics. Simply know that when we say criminalization of politics, it refers to the fact that persons with criminal antecedents are contesting in an election, winning the election and becoming legislators or ministers of various departments or ministries. But the information regarding criminalization of politics is not available. That is with reference to the political parties, the person selected for contesting, these are not available. So Supreme Court has previously given many directions in its judgments to bridge the gap in the information regarding criminalization of politics because these information play a very important role so that the voters could take informed decision on the day of election by registering their vote. One such judgment was given in February 2020 in the case law called as Ram Babu Singh Thakur versus Sunil Arora and others. Now let's see their directions in this particular case law given by the Supreme Court. The first direction is that it shall be mandatory for political parties at the central election level and also at the state election level to upload the detailed information regarding selected candidates who have pending criminal cases. Such uploaded information should include the nature of the offenses and relevant particulars like whether charges have been framed or not, which is the concerned court in the set case, then what is the case number and other details. Also this information has to be uploaded in the website of the political party. It should be uploaded along with the reasons for such selection. That is, why a person with criminal background has been selected as candidates by the political party. In addition to this, the political parties should also mention the reason as to why other individuals who do not have criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates. Now the reasons for selection of candidates shall be with reference to the concerned candidates qualifications achievements and merit. Now that means the reason for the selection of the individual as candidate should not be just based on winnability at the polls. This was the second direction. We can say that the political parties have to publish the entire criminal history of their candidates for the assembly election and also for Lok Sabha election along with the reasons that encouraged these political parties to field suspected criminals over decent individuals. Now the next direction is regarding publishing of such information. We just saw that the information should be first published in the website of the political party. Then it should also be published in one local vernacular newspaper and one national newspaper. Then it should be published on the official social media platforms of the political party. This includes even Facebook, Twitter, pages of the particular party. Now we are ensuring that these details are to be published because everyone you know the voters should know about their candidates first before taking an informed decision. More importantly these details should be published within 48 hours of their selection and it shall be published two weeks before the first date for filing of nominations whichever period is earlier among these two and at that time these details have to be published. But today's news is that this direction has been willfully disobeyed by political parties in the Bihar elections. It is alleged that the parties publish the details of their candidates in only one Hindi newspaper. In addition, they have given similar or repeated reasons for their choice of candidates. We can find reasons like popularity of the person, social work, educational background have shown a good effort in handling the COVID-19 crisis. It seems that they have not given the details of the social work or the details of the educational background etc. Now another repeated reason was that the cases were filed against the selected individuals out of political vendetta and these cases were filed because of rival political parties. So they have not given a clear description of what they were mandated to do by the Supreme Court. Then the remaining directions are you know the concerned political party shall submit a report of compliance with these above directions of the Supreme Court. This has to be submitted to the election commission within 72 hours of selection of a particular candidate and more importantly if a political party fails to submit this compliance report with the election commission then the election commission can bring such non-compliance of a political party to the notice of the Supreme Court. Such non-compliance will be deemed as contempt of Supreme Court's orders or directions and based on this direction only a contempt petition has been filed against as reported in the news article and it seems that even the chief election commissioner has also failed in complying with parts of the order. Now let's move on to the analysis of next news article. This news article is based on a recently released report. The report is titled as Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities The Burden on Indian Society. This report was recently published by the World Bank in collaboration with Safe Life Foundation. It is important that we have to take note of two SDG targets under two SDG goals in relation to preventing deaths from road accidents and in relation to road safety. If you take goal number three ensuring good health and well-being there is a target 3.6. It states by 2020 half the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents. When you come to goal number 11 to make cities and human settlements inclusive safe resilient and sustainable there is target 11.2. It states that by 2030 provide access to safe affordable accessible sustainable transport systems for all then improving road safety notably by expanding public transport and here special attention should be given to the needs of those in vulnerable situations who are women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons. Some vital road crash statistics from this report in the context of the world and specific to our country is given here for your reference. You can find that around 13 lakh people die because of road crashes every year around the world. In India more than 400 deaths are happening in a single day because of road accidents or road crash. Though India has just 1% of world's vehicles it accounts for 11% of all road accident deaths and 6% of total road crashes. The report highlights that there are more deaths from road crashes among poor families rather than the rich. Also the low-income households they have reported twice the number of deaths after the road crash in comparison with high-income households. Then the risk of a victim undergoing disability after a crash was also two times more likely among poor families. So in this context the report provides valid suggestions to India under six broad themes. Today let us focus only on some of the important suggestions. We usually get main questions that are asked about what are your suggestions to improve something. Here in this context what are your suggestions to improve road safety provide some valid measures related to road safety etc. The first theme is to enhance effectiveness of institutional mechanisms and awareness building then to institutionalize post-crash emergency care and to make health infrastructure and coverage more accessible and inclusive then to provide social security nets for crash victims from low-income households then to create an accessible legal framework for availing insurance and compensation by the road crash victims then to address the disproportionate gender impact of road traffic injuries through participative governance and special schemes for women then to strengthen post-accident support for children and young adults through state support. Now here we have one component that is to address disproportionate gender impact of road traffic injuries. What are we referring to? See in terms of gender road crashes or road accidents impact women differently from that of men. See 86 percent of total road crash victims are male compared to 14 percent of women. This is according to Ministry of Road Transportation Highways in a report published in 2018. How this number affects? See this complicates the scenario after the accident where the burden of caregiving activities burden of earning the income for the family almost falls on the women of those households where a male suffers an injury or where a male dies due to road crash. So there is different impact. This has to be sufficiently addressed. That's what they are saying under theme number five. Now let's come to first enhancing effectiveness of institutional mechanisms and awareness building. Here they are saying that it should be made mandatory for all states to publish their targets on road safety. Every year this is required so that their performance can be measured against these targets. Then the police authorities have to be sensitized and trained in relation to the rights of these victims that are the road crash victims and other road users. Here we are talking about the rights of bystanders. Police officials are involved in investigation and also in enforcing rules under Motor Vehicles Act. So they have to be sensitized. In fact they should be trained to support these crash victims, road crash victims and their families. Then all state governments have actually created a committee called as District Road Safety Committee. This is as per Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. To be precise this was done in 2018 as per the instructions of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety which is based on a repetition. The challenge here is the roles and responsibilities of these committees are not yet standardized. So standardization has to be done and the roles and responsibilities of these committees should be made measurable, reportable and also verifiable so that we can measure the effectiveness of these committees in ensuring road safety. And as we know Motor Vehicle Amendment Act 2019 it has proposed a board called as National Road Safety Board. However it is not yet constituted. So the report calls to constitute this body so as to ensure coordination between different stakeholders and also to perform various functions as mandated by the law. Now with reference to post-crash emergency care and making health infrastructure and coverage more accessible and inclusive, the report calls for lowering out-of-pocket expenditure particularly in the context of low-income households. The report finds that out-of-pocket expenses was the most significant direct cost that is borne by victim families, particularly among the low-income households. Now we have given you various suggestions of the report under all the six themes for your reference. If you take theme number three, there is a suggestion that is to support to continue education. Here we are talking about government creating specific schemes so as to ensure that children belonging to the households that are impacted because of road crashes should continue their education. Because of a road accident the entire family's economy may come to a standstill. So therefore the children are made to come out of education and they have to earn for their family. Now this scenario should stop. Government should step in. These children must be able to continue their education. That's what they are trying to say. So these are some of the important points with reference to the analysis of this news article. Now let's move on to the next part of the discussion. This news article describes three important observed characteristics of Mars. These characteristics were observed through scientific investigations. See researchers have observed water vapor in the thin atmosphere of Mars. Now this provides new clues as to whether Mars could have once hosted life. Then they have also found traces of ancient valleys and river channels in Mars. Now this suggests that liquid water once flowed across Mars' surface and in present the water in Mars is mostly locked up as ice. But it is found that some of it is vaporizing in the form of hydrogen leaking from the atmosphere. February 2021 becomes important for this red planet Mars for two reasons. One is that the first Arab interplanetary mission spacecraft called as AL AMAL of United Arab Emirates has entered the orbit of Mars on 9th February. See it is an orbiter mission. Now this makes United Arab Emirates as the fifth space agency to reach the planet and know that UAE plans for Mars settlement of human beings by 2017-80. The name of the mission is AL AMAL meaning hope. It will be the first true weather satellite at Mars according to NASA and it will provide the first complete picture of Martian atmosphere and its layers. And UAE has become the second nation in history to succeed in placing a spacecraft into the Martian orbit on their very first attempt or in their maiden attempt. So who is the first nation in history to succeed in placing a spacecraft in Martian orbit on the very first attempt? We are the first nation. It is India. India's Mangalyan was the first Mars mission in the world to succeed Mars orbit insertion in the first attempt. See Mangalyan was India's first venture in interplanetary space and our achievement is also portrayed on the reverse side of 2000 rupee note. Now what is the other important happening with reference to Mars in February? See on the very next day of UAE entering Mars orbit that is on 10th February China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft also enters the Mars orbit. This China's mission is orbiter rover mission. In about three months the spacecraft will attempt to send a landing capsule that will carry a rover onto a massive plane on Mars. This plane is called as Utopia Planetia that is on the northern hemisphere of Mars. So it's an orbiter rover mission that is aspirated by China. Now it has reached the Mars atmosphere. So these are some of the information with reference to Mars and the current significant events associated with it. Now let's move on to the next part of the discussion. This question corner in science and technology page deals with the question can tail hair of elephants reveal their stress levels? Now the tough of hair at the end of an elephant's tail usually helps to kill insects so as to protect itself from them. The researchers have now found that this hair can be used to study the health of elephants particularly the stress levels. By studying the growth rate of this tail hair and by studying the levels of immunoreactive cortisol in this hair researchers now say that tail hair can be used to assess stress in the life of this animal. See cortisol is a stress hormone which is generally studied with reference to various animals so as to decode the stressful past events. Now by this study it is found out that use of tail hair is an alternative matrix to reconstruct the physiological history of elephants. Now it is also further clarified that by studying cortisol along with other biomarkers in the hair particularly the tail hair how various captive conditions have affected the animal or the elephant could also be assessed like housing grouping diet and how diseases have even affected the elephants. So they are concluding that analyzing hair cortisol levels along with other biomarkers like reproductive hormones can facilitate more meaningful biological interpretation of elephants life. So these are some of the information with reference to the analysis of news article. You know that tail hair of elephant is analyzed with reference to cortisol and stress levels so as to interpret the health of the animal the physiological history of the animal to decode the stressful past events of the animal. Now let's move on to next part of the discussion. Now see this news article it is in the context of Andhra Pradesh where the elections for panjayats are being conducted now. In this context you would remember that Andhra's state election commissioner was removed last year by the present state government through an ordinance. However the ordinance was later struck down by the high court of Andhra Pradesh. So there has been a friction between state election commissioner and the current ruling government of Andhra Pradesh. In this regard state election commissioner has recently ordered the enforcement authorities the police to file a case against minister of ruling party for making malicious attacks on state election commissioner. In this context let us see the constitutional provisions related to state election commission. See article 243 capital K of Indian constitution is related to state election commission and its powers. Now before discussing the provisions of article 243 capital K first let us see the need for a state election commission. See under the constitution the establishment of local self government institutions is the responsibility of the states. But many state governments were not serious about empowering panjayati raj institutions and the elections were not conducted regularly until 1990s. Therefore the constitution was amended through 73rd constitutional amendment act of 1992 so as to give powers to rural local bodies that are the panjayati raj institutions. And as we know there is also 74th constitutional amendment act of 1992 this is relating to municipalities are the urban local bodies. Now come to article 243 capital K whose provisions are given here for your reference. See as per this article the superintendents direction and control of preparation of electoral rules for the elections to the panjayats and the conduct of all elections to the panjayats shall be vested in a state election commission. And this commission consists of a state election commissioner who is appointed by the governor of the concerned state. And here are his conditions of service and tenure shall be determined by the governor. So therefore the conditions of service and tenure may vary from state to state. But state election commissioner can be removed from the office only in the manner and grounds prescribed for the removal of a judge of a high court. See a judge of a high court shall be removed from office only by an order of the president. And this order of the president should be passed after an address by each house of parliament that is supported by a majority of total membership of that house and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of members of that house present in voting. And this address which is passed has to be presented to the president in the same session for the removal on the ground of proved misbehavior or proved incapacity. So this provision which guarantees security of tenure to the judge of a high court is extended to the state election commissioners as well. The article 243 capital K also provides that the conditions of service of state election commissioner should not be varied to her disadvantage after her appointment. And according to this article on the request of the state election commission the governor of the state should make available the staff necessary for them to discharge the functions. What are the functions we are referring to that is preparation of electoral rules for all elections to the panchayats and conduct of all these elections to the panchayats. Then it also states that the state legislature can make laws with respect to all matters relating to elections to the panchayats subject to the provisions of the constitution. Therefore it can be said that the constitution has bestowed the state election commissioners with enough powers to superintendent the local body elections in a particular state and has also provided security of tenure by equating the removal process with that of high court judge. And in order to nullify the political revenge her or his conditions of service cannot be changed to disadvantage after the appointment. Earlier this provision in the constitution was tampered with by an ordinance by the Andhra Pradesh government and since it is against the constitution it was nullified by the Andhra Pradesh high court. Since then there is this tussle between the state election commission and the ruling government of Andhra Pradesh. So by analyzing this article we saw few important provisions mentioned in the constitution with reference to the state election commission. Now let's move on to the analysis of next news article. This news article talks about kyasanur forest disease. See it is a viral hemorrhagic fever which is endemic in karnataka. So there is a constant presence of this disease in the state of karnataka. The virus causing this disease is named as kyasanur forest disease virus. Now this is because the virus was first identified in kyasanur forest area of Shimoga district in the state of karnataka. It was first identified in 1957. It was identified in the black-faced langur and the red-faced bonnet monkey and therefore it is also referred as monkey fever by the local population. Autistic species with scientific name hemophysalis spiningera are the reservoir of this virus and once these species are infected they remain infected till the end of their life and they are able to pass this virus to their offspring through the egg also. If you talk about common hosts we can say rodents, shrews and mongies. They are common hosts after being bitten by an infected tick. Cattle are the important hosts for adult ticks but it is found that they develop neutralizing antibodies against kyasanur forest disease virus and this suppresses virus amplification. And humans are infected because of a tick bite or by coming into contact with an infected animal particularly by coming into contact with a sick or a recently dead monkey. And it is also reported that no person-to-person transmission has been described so far. While we say that this disease has a constant presence in the state of karnataka it is also reported in Kerala in the recent times particularly we can find cases since 2012-13. The cases were also reported from Tamil Nadu, Goa, Government of India reports that the virus were also found in Saurashtra region in Gujarat state then in forested regions that are west of Kolkata in West Bengal and also found in Andaman islands. And note that there is no specific treatment available for this particular disease. There is only supportive therapy which includes maintenance of hydration and usual precautions for patients with bleeding disorders. It is important for us to know who are at the risk of exposure. People with recreational exposure or occupational exposure to rural or outdoor settings within the state of karnataka are potentially at risk because they may come in contact with the infected ticks. For example, we can say hunters, herders, forest workers and farmers who carry out their occupation in this area they are at risk. According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seasonality is another important risk factor as they report that more cases are reported during a specific time period. So these are some of the information with reference to the analysis of this news article. Now let's move on to next part of the discussion. This news article talks about a statement made by Chief Justice of Madras High Court at a workshop on negotiation skills and mediation advocacy. The CJ also announced the upgrading of Thaluk level services committee as a District Legal Services Authority. The news article also mentions the term National Legal Services Authority. In this context let us see some important provisions of the Legal Services Authority Act of 1987 which established National Legal Services Authority. See this law it was enacted to constitute legal services authorities at various levels. The objective is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society. By this we can ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities. Then they were constituted so as to organize local adults to secure that the operation of legal system promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity. If you take constitution we can find article 39 capital A which deals with equal justice and free legal aid. It is one of the directive principles of state policy. Here the states are secure that the operation of legal system promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity and the state shall also provide free legal aid by suitable legislation or schemes so as to ensure that opportunities are not denied to any citizen to secure justice by reason of economic or other disabilities. This Act came into force in November 1995 after a few amendments were made in the original piece of legislation and the Act establishes National Legal Services Authority then at the state level it establishes State Legal Services Authority and for every High Court there is a High Court Legal Services Committee and there is also District Legal Service Authority at the level of district and also Thaluk Legal Services Committee at the level of Thaluk's. In general they will give effect to the policies and directions of National Legal Services Authority then provide free legal aid to the eligible beneficiaries and also to conduct Lok Adalat in their appropriate jurisdictions. For example a state level Legal Services Authority conducts Lok Adalat at the level of state whereas a district level Legal Services Authority organizes Lok Adalat within the district. See when we say Lok Adalat it refers to an alternative dispute redressal mechanism. It is a forum where disputes or cases that are pending in the court of law or the disputes or cases that are at pre-litigation stage these are settled or compromised amicably. See Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authority Act of 1987. Note that this compromise is not applicable to non-compoundable offenses. Non-compoundable offenses are those offenses for which there cannot be a compromise and coming to Lok Adalat see the persons who are deciding the cases in these Adalats they are called as members of Lok Adalats. They have the role of statutory conciliators only and they do not have any judicial role therefore they can only persuade the parties to come at a conclusion so as to settle the dispute outside the court. So Lok Adalat is a mechanism outside the court of law and these members they cannot pressurize or force any of the parties to compromise or to settle cases either directly or indirectly. Now with reference to National Legal Services Authority which is constituted under section three of the Act it is the apex body that monitors and evaluates the implementation of legal aid program and it also lays down necessary policies and principles for making the legal services available and section 12 of the Act it prescribes the criteria for persons who are eligible to enjoy the legal services that are ensured by this legislation and we know that last year there was a prelims question with reference to who are eligible to avail free legal services from the legal services authorities. The details of the eligible persons are given here for your reference. So those persons who satisfy any or all of the criteria they will be entitled to enjoy legal services provided the concerned authority is satisfied that the person has a preliminary case or a prima facie case to prosecute or to defend. If the legal services authority is satisfied then it provides the person with the counsel at the expense of the government or the state then it also provides the required court fee in the matter and it bears all incidental expenses in connection with the case and the person to whom legal aid is provided is not called to spend anything on the litigation once it is supported by a legal services authority. Earlier there was a major drawback in the scheme of organization of Lok Adalats however this was settled by way of an amendment called as the legal services authorities amendment act of 2002. See the drawback was that the original Act said that Lok Adalats arrives at compromise or settlement between the parties and in case parties do not arrive at any compromise or settlement then the case is either return to the court of law or the parties are advised to seek remedy in a court of law. Now this may lead to unnecessary delay in the dispensation of justice it was felt particularly in relation to public utility services. So there was also a proposal that Lok Adalats must be given the power to decide the cases on merit in times when both parties fail to arrive at any compromise or settlement in the context of public utility services this was proposed so as to reduce the workload for the regular courts and also to settle such issues at the pre litigation stage itself that is before approaching the court itself. Therefore the principal act that is the legal services authorities Act of 1987 was amended and the amendment act set up a permanent Lok Adalats at various places so as to provide pre-litigative mechanism for cancellation and settlement of cases relating to public utility services and when we say public utility service it refers to transport service for the carriage of passengers or goods by air road or water it refers to postal service telephone service supply of power light or water to the public by any establishment then on public conservancy or sanitation then service in hospital or dispensary then insurance service and other service as notified by the appropriate governments either central government or appropriate state government and the amendment act clearly stated that when the parties fail to reach at an agreement the permanent Lok Adalats shall decide the dispute in case the dispute does not relate to any offense. All these were done by inserting a chapter called as chapter 6 capital A called as pre-litigation conciliation and settlement. So this amendment played a very important role in reducing the burden at the regular courts for filing various compromisable disputes particularly in the reference of public utility services. So these are some of the important provisions with reference to the analysis of this news article now let's move on to next part of the discussion. This news article talks about commencement of 11 hour boat ride on Hoogli River by the West Bengal Transport Corporation. This context let's see some facts related to river Hoogli and its parent river Ganga. See Hoogli river is a long distributory of river Ganga. The river is located in West Bengal river splits from river Ganga as a canal in Murshidabad district at the Farakha barrage drains into Bay of Bengal. We can see while it drains it is very closer to Sagar Island and coming to its parent river Ganga we know that it has got largest river base in India that constitutes 26% of country's land mass and that supports around 43% of India's population. It rises in the Gangodri glacier in the Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand at the Uttarkashi district. At its source point the river is called as Bhagirathi. The river flows down the valley up to Devprayag. At Devprayag the river joins with another hill stream called as Alaknanda. After joining the river is called as Ganga. Now coming to the basin of river Ganga it outspreads not only in India but also in Tibetan part of China then also in Nepal and Bangladesh and these are the states in which and Ganges basin covers these states and the unit territory of Delhi in India. See the basin is bounded by Himalayas on the north on the west it is bounded by Aravili and on the south it is bounded by Vindyas and Chotanakpur Plateau and on the east it is bounded by Brahmaputra Ridge. Now this description might be important they may give the description and ask which river is bounded by. Correct answer would be River Ganga. See the principal tributaries that join the river from the right we can say Yamuna and the Son and the tributaries that join the river from the left we can say Ramganga, Gagra, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda know that it is an east flowing river and it drains in Bay of Bengal. These are few information with reference to river Hoogley and its parent river Ganga. Now let's move on to next part of the discussion. We have come to the last session the practice questions discussion session. See this question the articles 129 and 142 of constitution of India provides for which of the following. Proclamation of president's rule in a state power of supreme court to punish for contempt of itself appointment of chief justice of India and judges of supreme court disqualifications of members of either house of parliament. Now there is an easy way to attain this question basically aspirants are expected to know from which provision to which provision each chapter is covered under constitution like from which provision to which provision fundamental rights is covered or from which provision to which provision union judiciary is covered etc. Articles 124 to 147 deals with union judiciary options A and D are not in relation with the union judiciary. Now remaining two options are with respect to the supreme court. Now the appointment of judges of supreme court including the chief justice of India comes under article 124 clause 2. So here the correct answer is option B. See under these articles the supreme court has the power to punish for contempt of itself and it is under these articles recently supreme court has issued directions regarding the criminalization of politics. So the correct answer is option B. This question is with reference to the motor vehicles amendment act 2019. The question reads as per the motor vehicles amendment act 2019 the national road safety board shall advise the central or the state governments on which of the following aspects pertaining to road safety and traffic management. Registration and licensing of motor vehicles formulation of standards for road safety road infrastructure and control of traffic the facilitation of safe and sustainable utilization of road transport ecosystem promotion of new vehicle technology the safety of vulnerable road users. See all these comes part of the advice that to be given by the national road safety board and know that this is as per section 215 capital B inserted into the principal act the motor vehicles act of 1988. The board actually can give advice on all aspects pertaining to road safety and traffic management. The board is not just restricted by these parameters that is why we see not limited to so the correct answer is option D. See this question with reference to elections for panchayat raj institutions. Two statements are given as per Indian constitution the super intense direction and control of all elections to panchayats in a state is vested with governor of the state. It is incorrect it is vested with the state election commission. The state election commission is appointed by president of India after consulting with the governor of the state concerned. It is incorrect the state election commissioner is appointed by the governor of the concerned state. So both the statements are wrong correct answer option D. See this description it is a disease endemic to a southern state of India hard ticks are its reservoirs cattle are the important hose for adult ticks but they also produce neutralizing antibodies against the disease causing virus which of the following diseases is described above. Correct answer is option A kyasanur forest disease. We have given a practice main's question in GS paper 2. You may write answers and post it in the comment section. With this we come to the end of today's the Hindu news analysis. If you like the video click the like button comment share and subscribe to Shankaray's Academy YouTube channel for more updates and content on civil service exam preparation.