 Welcome to the Hindu News Analysis by Shankar A.S. Academy. We would like to inform that Shankar A.S. Academy has started admission for the third test batch for pre-storming 2021. That is the prelims test series for the upcoming prelims 2021. Shankar Academy's pre-storming prelims test series is India's first full-fledged artificial intelligence-supported preliminary test series. The test will commence from 8th January 2021. You may enrol for the test batch and keep yourself prepared for the upcoming prelims. These 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 timestamping of the discussed articles are provided in the description and also in the comments section. We request the viewers to kindly bear with the background score of rainfall. It is quite unavoidable and sorry for the inconvenience caused. Now let's move on to the analysis of first news article. This open article is about providing 24 bar 7 power or electricity for all. The author has listed the existing scenarios, issues and the way forward to achieve it. The syllabus relevant for the analysis is highlighted here for your reference. See India's electricity needs are increasing rapidly. We can see households buying more electric appliances nowadays so as to satisfy their domestic needs. So our residential electricity consumption, it is expected to at least double by the year 2030 within 10 years. So this means uninterrupted electricity must be provided by power distribution companies. So in line with ensuring this and to empower the consumers of electricity, recently government has notified the electricity rights of consumers rules 2020. Now these rules emanate from the thought that the power systems exist so as to serve the consumers and consumers have rights to get the reliable services and quality electricity. Therefore, under the rules, it is the right of consumer to have minimum standards of service for supply of electricity from a distribution license. So the rules will ensure that new electricity connections, refunds and other services, they are given in a time bound manner. More importantly, any willful disregard to consumer rights will result in leaving penalties on the side of service providers under these particular rules. That is, if a distribution licensee fails to supply electricity within the period specified by state electricity regulatory commission, therefore the licensee shall be liable to a penalty that is fixed by this commission. The penalty shall not exceed Rs 1000 for each day of default. Now, even though the rules empower consumers, it is reported that it enhances the burden of discombs that are already struggling. Discombs already have financial issues that are recently aggravated by the pandemic. This is because electricity payment rates dropped as consumers are also struggling to pay the bills. This is because electricity consumption has risen during the period of pandemic because many people were in homes due to lockdown and also to safeguard themselves from infected by the virus. At the same time during the pandemic time, there is also reduction in their income. So these are all the problems faced by discombs during the pandemic. But government already sanctioned the liquidity injection for electricity distribution companies in May 2020. A financial package worth Rs 90,000 crore was extended to the stressed discombs to assist them. But Arthur feels that these are short term fixes, so some long term measures are also needed. So this is where Arthur suggests to embrace energy efficiency. See, when we say energy efficiency, it refers to using technology that requires less energy to perform the same function. For example, using a light emitting diode or LED light bulb or a compact fluorescent light or CFL bulb that requires less energy than using an incandescent light bulb source to produce the same amount of light. It has many benefits. You know, it is one of the fastest and most cost effective ways so as to save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to create jobs and to meet growing energy demand. As you see here, on a whole, we can say that energy efficiency can bring down household energy bills and reduce financial stress faced by distributing companies. Now to enable using energy efficient products, Bureau of Energy Efficiency started a program in the year 2006. This program is called as Standards and Labelling Program or Ascendal Program. Now a key objective of this scheme is to provide the consumer an informed choice about the energy saving of a relevant marketed product. By taking note of the energy that is saved by the particular product during use, the consumer is getting the information about electricity cost saving potential of the particular product. Now the scheme targets display of energy performance labels on high energy end use equipment and appliances. It lays down minimum energy performance standards. Presently this program covers star rating for 26 appliances or equipment. Now it is of two types, mandatory and voluntary. Now let's come to the question, what is India's position in adopting energy efficient appliances and products? Now the answer for this is provided by a recent report called as awareness and adoption of energy efficiency in Indian homes. This report is called as India residential energy survey. It is conducted together by council on energy environment and water and initiative for sustainable energy policy. This is the largest pan India survey on energy access and consumption patterns in Indian households. The report lists various findings of this survey. According to its findings, 24% of Indian households are aware of Bureau of Energy Efficiency star label. It was found that more than 75% of air conditioners and 60% of refrigerators that are used in Indian homes were star labeled. In addition, around 90% of Indian homes use LED lamps or tubes. While this is some kind of positive news, it is also found that there is poor adoption of energy efficient ceiling fans and televisions. As you can see here, only 3% of the owners have energy efficient fans. The reason for this is attributed to relatively higher cost and limited availability of energy efficient fans in the market. So one of the issues is that some of the products covered under the scheme are not that much available or popular in the market. Now let's come to the second issue that the appliances or equipment are costly. For example, the most efficient fans cost more than double the price of conventional fan models. Now the third issue is some of the regularly used appliances are not covered by the scheme. For example, induction cookstores. So manufacturers are not pushed to produce such energy efficient appliances. Therefore, as a way forward, the author provides suggestions to attain 24 bar 7 power for all by tackling these issues which we have discussed so far. First suggestion is to improve the availability and affordability of energy efficient appliances. For this, innovative business models are needed that can attract manufacturers to produce more efficient technology and also to bring it within the purchasing capacity. Secondly, a nationwide consumer awareness campaign on energy efficiencies should be conducted. Thirdly, monitoring supply quality and changing consumption pattern on a real-time basis is required for ensuring consumer rights. Then it is about building consumer confidence. This can be done by deploying smart meters and smart metering network. See smart meters or power meters that have communication functions. That is, it will serve as an electronic meter that is capable of recording and transmitting power consumption data. They provide information which are necessary and critical to achieve efficient energy management. In addition, they also display cumulative power usage which are performed by conventional mechanical meters. Now, this will enable the consumers to know how efficiently energy is consumed. It will also help them to manage energy consumption. So, these are some of the information with reference to the analysis of this op-ed article. In this analysis, we discussed few information related to the electricity rights of consumer rules 2020, the existing scenarios, issues and the way forward to achieve or to provide 24 bar 7 electricity for all. Now, let's move on to the analysis of next news article. This editorial is in the context of role of a governor in center-state relations. In the recent years, there have been several controversies regarding role of governor from acting as an agent to the center to acting against the decisions of council of ministers headed by chief minister at the level of states. Today's article is with reference to governor of Kerala where he refused to call on a special session of state legislative assembly when the state ruling government wanted to pass a resolution against the form laws. The syllabus relevant for the analysis of this editorial article is highlighted here for your reference. The author states that the misuse of the governor's office to undermine duly elected state governments is particularly a disruption of federalism. As we said earlier, the refusal of Kerala governor to convene a special session of Kerala assembly on December 23 for the request of the state government has once again proved this point. He further questioned the urgency of the special session and even thought that the assembly lacked the jurisdiction to offer a solution to the formers protest. So this is an encroachment upon the powers of the state legislature and also the state elected government and also considered as an abuse of governor's authority as a nominal head under the constitution. It is reported that later the Kerala government made an amended request for convening the session and that the governor of Kerala accepted it. And in the session, a resolution was passed and this resolution has raised the procedural and substantive questions that are related to the three form laws for which the protests and democratic actions are going on. The resolution pointed out that agriculture is a state subject and it is a matter that seriously affects the states. Therefore, the bills should have been discussed in a meeting of the Interstate Council and it said that the bills were passed in haste in a hurry without even referring them to the Standing Committee of the Parliament which the assembly termed as a serious matter. And the article states that it has become habitual for the center to overlook regional concerns and making of the form laws without consulting states is in line with this trend. In addition to this, the federal body which is the council of states that is the Rajasabha has also been systematically undermined in some cases by arbitrarily labeling certain bills as money bills. And these bills could have been having some kind of impact with reference to the functioning of states or the federalism. Importantly, the resolution noted that as the form bills seriously affect the states, they should have been discussed in Interstate Council. This would have helped in bringing most of the states into confidence by accommodating the concerns of states. See Article 263 of Indian Constitution. It provides for the establishment of an Interstate Council to affect coordination between the states and between center and states. A president can establish Interstate Council at any time. It appears that public interest would be served by its establishment. Article 263 specifies the duties that can be assigned to such council. It can enquire into disputes and advise upon disputes which may arise between states. Then it can investigate and discuss subjects in which there is a common interest among the states or the center and the states. Then it can make recommendations upon any such subject and particularly for the better coordination of policy and action on such policy. Now coming to the membership, this council consists of the prime minister as the chairman. Its members include chief ministers of all states, then chief ministers of union territories having a legislative assembly. Then it includes administrators as members for union territories which do not have a legislative assembly. Then six members of cabinet rank in the union council of ministers are also nominated by the prime minister as its members. Note that this council is a recommendatory body. It recommends on issues relating to interstate, center state and on center union territories relations. In relation to this, the Sarkaria commission recommended for the establishment of a permanent interstate council under article 263. And accordingly, government has established interstate council in the year 1990. Though the council was established for promotion of cooperation and coordination, it has been largely reported as ineffective. For example, it has held less than 20 meetings in the last 30 years of its existence. Then Kerala resolution also stated that the central government is deliberately and systematically undermining the council of states or the Rajeshava by arbitrarily labeling certain bills as money bills. Now what is the issue with labeling normal bills as money bills? See, as per article 109 of Indian constitution, the money bill can be introduced only in the Lokshava and not in Rajeshava. And a money bill must be passed in Lokshava by a simple majority of all members present in voting. After a money bill is passed by Lokshava, it shall be sent to Rajeshava for its recommendations. And Rajeshava or the council of states is bound to send its recommendations of the bill within 14 days from the date it received the particular bill. Now if the recommendations are not given by Rajeshava within 14 days, then the bill is deemed to be passed. Also, it is up to the Lokshava to accept or reject the recommendations made by Rajeshava. So it means that a money bill can't be rejected by Rajeshava, at most Rajeshava can suggest recommendations and that too are not binding on Lokshava. And also as per article 110 of Indian constitution, if any question arises whether a bill is a money bill or not, then the decision of speaker of Lokshava shall be final. So from here we can understand that unlike ordinary bills, Rajeshava has limited role when it comes to money bills. And the central government is often accused by the state governments that the important bills are passed in parliament as money bills so as to bypass the opposition of Rajeshava, which is a vital chamber of federalism called in the constitution as the council of states. So such a measure adopted by central government is called to bypass the checks and balances among the houses in the parliament. So these are some of the important information with reference to the analysis of this news article which prescribes which talks about certain important concerns regarding the center state relations are broadly the federalism. Now let's move on to the analysis of next news article. This news article talks about the Supreme Court's ultimatum given to the central government on the prevention of cruelty to animals rules 2017 called as the prevention of cruelty to animals care and maintenance of case property animals rules 2017. The syllabus relevant for the analysis is highlighted here for your reference. See this rules of 2017 it was notified in May 2017 under the prevention of cruelty to animals act of 1960. Now in the light of the above rules Supreme Court has directed that the authorities have got no power to seize and confiscate livestock from people who depend on them for a livelihood. And as per the 2017 rules note that livestock on which people depend for livelihood can be seized even before finding them guilty of cruelty towards animals. So in this regard the bench led by the Chief Justice of India has given a weak ultimatum to the center to either amend or to suffer a stay on the 2017 rules that allowed for seizure and confiscation. In this context let us see in detail about the prevention of cruelty to animals act, the disputed rules and also section 29 of the act that is mentioned in the news article. See in the beginning the constitution of India did not impose any sort of binding obligation on the state to protect animal welfare or to protect animals from cruelty. Now it was due to the effect of civil societies and the social movements the union government enacted the prevention of cruelty to animals act. This law aimed at animal welfare and it is India's first piece of legislation on animal welfare law. This law lists down what constitutes an offence of animal cruelty and it aims to protect both domestic and captive animals from unnecessary pain and suffering. This act under its chapter 2 has provided for establishment of animal welfare board of India. This board looks after the enforcement of the act and it also contributes towards animal welfare. On October 13, 2020 in our Hindu news analysis we discussed about section 28 of the PCA Act of 1960 wherein Supreme Court said that courts can't meddle in food habits. That day we also discussed about the animal welfare board of India. The act also criminalizes different types of actions that have got chances in ending up with cruelty of animals. The actions mentioned under the provisions are given below for your reference. We can see they include beating, kicking, torturing, mutilating or administering an injurious substance or cruely killing an animal. It is also illegal to override, overdrive, overload or to work an unfit animal. Similarly it is also an offence to cruely transport or confine or chain or tether an animal. Tether here refers to tying an animal with a rope or chaining an animal so as to restrict its movement. Now animal fighting or shooting competitions in which animals are released from captivity will be shot are also a violation under this act. In addition to this an owner is found to be guilty if he or she fails to provide sufficient food, drink or shelter or if such owner unreasonably abandons any animal or permits any deceased or disabled animal to roam or to die in the street. However the act has also defined exceptions which is also highlighted here for your reference. Apart from these exceptions it also includes performance of experiments on animals that are aimed at advancing discovery of drugs and the exceptions also include concession for killing any animal in a manner required by the religion of any community. We discussed this aspect precisely on 13th October 2020. Now one of the shortcomings of this law is that it punishes even the most serious forms of animal violence with a very small amount of fine. Section 11 of PCI Act 1968 lists a series of offenses, it varies from abandoning an animal to kicking it, mutilating it or even killing an animal. Here we have to note that the act prescribes same punishment for all these offenses that is even the series of offenses are treated on par with less serious ones. Now this highlights clear departure from the established principles of punishment of penology, this is one criticism or shortcoming of this particular act. Now let us come to the news that talks about the 2017 rules and also the section 29 of PCI Act that is mentioned in the news article. See in 2017 an association of cattle traders and transporters they approached the Supreme Court against the 2017 rules which is called as PCI, Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals Rules of 2017. Now they said that it is being used as a tool to seize and forfeit their cattle and they were being forcibly deprived of their cattle. And this happened and even before the accusation is proved the livestock are sent to cow shelters, cowshalas or other appropriate shelters. They also remarked that seizure and forfeiture is taking place based on the 2017 rules and they claim that the rules have travelled beyond the boundaries laid down under the PCI Act of 1960. Now see the 2017 rules allows a magistrate to forfeit the cattle of an owner who is facing trial under the PCI Act. Now the animals are then sent to infirmaries or animal hospitals, wet hospitals or cowshalas or animal shelters. The authorities can give such animals for adoptions as well. Now you can find that rule 3 states when an animal has been seized under the provision of the act, the magistrate may direct the animal to be housed at an infirmary or at an animal welfare organization or cowshala during the pendency of the litigation. Now this line is very important that is during the pendency of the litigation. This term is found in the rules and there is also one another rule, rule number 8 which deals with status of animal upon disposal of litigation. It states that if the accused is convicted then the magistrate shall deprive him of the ownership of animal and forfeit the seized animal to an animal welfare organization. While this is with reference to the rules, let us come to section 29 of the Act. It states that if the owner of any animal is found guilty of any offense under this act, the court upon his conviction may, if it thinks fit, in addition to punishment it may make an order that the animal shall be forfeited to the government. And in clause 2 it states no order shall be made unless it is shown by evidence as to a previous conviction or to the character of owner or to the treatment of animal that the animal if left with the owner is likely to be exposed to further cruelty. Only if these conditions are fulfilled an order could be made so as to forfeit the particular animal to the government that may allow the animal to be seized or confiscated from the owner or in this case a convict. Here it is not pendency of litigation, here we talk about conviction under section 29 of the Act. Rather in the rules we talked about during the pendency of litigation. So Supreme Court observed that rules are not in line with section 29 of the Act and that it is not right before conviction you come to a conclusion that so and so has committed an act to seizure their livestock which is a livelihood resource. So the bench led by Chief Justice of India remarked to the centre to delete the rule else Supreme Court will impose a stay on the execution of 2017 rules. These are some of the information with reference to the analysis of this news article. We saw some important provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 and we also analyzed the present news and we saw section 29 of PCA Act. Now let's move on to the analysis of next news article. This news article talks about the availability of food for the vultures in the Mudumalai Tiger reserve. Now in order to increase the food availability for vultures the forest department is allowing dead cattle from a cow shelter that is located nearby to be left for the vultures. See the news article states that Mudumalai is home to three critically endangered and one endangered species of vultures. Now we can say that it is home to white-rumped vulture, long-built vulture and red-headed vulture and these are critically endangered found in Mudumalai Tiger reserve. And there is also another vulture called as Egyptian vulture that is endangered and it is also found in Mudumalai Tiger reserve. Occasionally there is also recorded visits of scenarius vulture and also Himalayan griffon vulture to the Mudumalai Tiger reserve. The breeding success of vultures can vary due to several factors. Of these factors the most important is the food availability. See a pair of mating vultures is said to even abandon their nest if they do not find food. So it is for this reason this initiative may prove to be very important to conserve the species. See each month two or three cattle at the Ghoshala die because of natural causes. So only those cattle that die of old age and natural causes that will be left to these vultures which are scavengers. Now let's see few information about Mudumalai Tiger reserve. See it is in the Nilagiri district of Tamil Nadu. It is located at the tri-junction of three states Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Now it plays a unique role as it forms part of Nilagiri biosphere reserve. This reserve is the first biosphere reserve in the country that is declared in the year 1986. Now we can see the landscape of the Tiger reserve here. Mudumalai Tiger reserve has a common boundary with the Vayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. In Kerala we can see it has this boundary on its west. Then on the north it has common boundary with Bandipu Tiger reserve in the state of Karnataka. The reserve is known for tall grasses commonly referred as elephant grasses and it also has bamboo of giant variety. Then it has valuable timber species like teak, rosewood and other species. There are also several species of endemic plants or flora. The important animals and birds that are found in this reserve are highlighted here for your reference. So these are some of the information with reference to the analysis of this news article. We saw the news and also some important facts about this Mudumalai Tiger reserve. Now let's move on to the next part of the discussion. This news article states that Kerala has placed down high alert since Monday because of bird flu outbreak in Kotaim and Alapala. The presence of H5N8 subtype of the influenza A virus was reported in ducks in both these districts. So as per guidelines of the central government, culling of ducks or selective killing in the infected regions is to be undertaken. Now let us see about influenza virus that has affected the ducks. Influenza type A virus has two subtypes, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. This division of virus is based on the two proteins that is present on the surface of the virus. Based on this classification, there are 18 known HA subtypes and 11 known NA subtypes. And based on these subtypes, different combinations of HA and NA proteins are possible. For example, H7N2 virus indicates that influenza virus A has a HA7 protein and NA2 protein. Similarly, H5N1 virus has HA5 protein and NA1 protein. Among these, all known subtypes of influenza A viruses can infect birds except two subtypes H17N10 and H18N11. This is because these two subtypes have been found only in bats. Now the influenza type A H5 which infected ducks in Kerala has nine subtypes. The subtypes are given here for your reference. Now even though the virus is lethal for birds, the reported H5N8 strain of avian influenza has lower likelihood to spread among humans if you compare this with H5N1. So as per the current news, there is less cause of worry. Now let us see what caused the infection. See while the source of infection is yet to be confirmed, the suspect is being made on the role of migratory birds in the passing of the virus. However, one serious cause of concern is the repeated H5N1 outbreaks in Kerala which was witnessed in 2014 and in last year. The H5N8 outbreak also happened earlier in Alapula in the year 2016. So considering the seriousness of the situation, a high level meeting was convened at the animal husband redirect rate to assess the situation. Now a state level nodal officer to tackle the emergency has also been appointed. So these are some of the information with reference to the analysis of this news article. Now let us move on to the next part of the discussion. This news article talks about the oath taking ceremony of the 42nd Chief Justice of Madras High Court. The occasion was administered by the Governor of Tamil Nadu. The Governor handed over a warrant issued by the Indian President to the appointed Chief Justice. In this context, let us see some related information with reference to this news. See, the 3rd Schedule of Indian Constitution deals with the forms of oath and affirmations for the posts of Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, Judges of Supreme Court, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, State Ministers, State Legislature and Judges of the High Court. See, every judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the President by warrant under her hand. Coming to oath or affirmation, see as per article 219, every person appointed to be a judge of a High Court shall make and subscribe an oath or affirmation before the Governor of the State or before some person appointed by the Governor of the State. The oath or affirmation will be in accordance with the form set out in the 3rd Schedule of Indian Constitution. If you see the affirmation that is to be made by Chief Justice of a High Court or a judge of a High Court, it has statements such as, I will be of true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India and that she or he will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that she or he will duly and faithfully and to the best of her ability, knowledge and judgment will perform the duties of her office without fear or favor, without affection or ill will. And the news article presents 3 important information with reference to High Courts in Kolkata, Bombay and Madras. It states that the Kolkata High Court was established on July 1, 1862 and this is followed by Bombay High Court on August 14, 1862 and then Madras High Court on August 15, 1862. Therefore, the news article states that Kolkata houses the world's charted High Court in India. 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. We have come to the last session, the practice questions discussion session. See this question with reference to energy efficiency which was asked in Prelims 2016. On which of the following can you find the Bureau of Energy Efficiency star label? Ceiling fans, electric geysers, tubular fluorescent lamps. See the correct answer for this question is option D, 1, 2 and 3. See star label is given under the standards and labeling program. Presently this program covers star rating for 26 appliances or equipment. This program was started in 2006 by Bureau of Energy Efficiency. This question is with reference to judges of High Court. The question reads which one of the following statements regarding the judges of High Court is incorrect. Every High Court shall be a court of record and shall have all the powers of such a court including the power to punish for contempt of itself. The statement is correct as per article 215 of Indian Constitution. Then option B, every High Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and such other judges as the President may from time to time deem it necessary to appoint. Again this statement is also correct as per article 216 of the Constitution. Then a High Court Judge may by writing under her hand address to the President resign her office. Again this statement is also correct as per 217 article. The last statement, every person appointed to be a judge of a High Court shall make and subscribe before the Governor of the State or some person appointed in that behalf by the Governor and author affirmation according to the form set out in the fourth schedule. Except for the term fourth schedule the statement is correct. If it had been third schedule the statement would be correct. Fourth schedule deals with allocation of seats in the Council of States. It is the third schedule that deals with author affirmation. Therefore incorrect statement is option D. See this question consider the following pairs. They are asking which of the pairs given above are incorrectly matched. Why trumped vulture is not vulnerable rather critically endangered. Egyptian vultures are endangered correctly matched. Red headed vultures are not least concerned rather critically endangered. So correct answer is option C, one and three only. Why trumped vulture, red headed vulture along with long billed vultures they are all critically endangered. Now see this question with reference to influenza type A virus. Two statements are given they are asking which of the statements are correct. Influenza type A virus has two subtypes hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. This statement is correct. Subtypes H17N10 and H18N11 of influenza A virus have been found in birds except bats. Now this statement is incorrect because these subtypes of influenza A virus have been found only in bats. So here the correct answer is option A one only because the question asks us to select the correct statements. We have given you two main practice questions. You may write the answers for these questions 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 it among your friends and those who are in need of such resources and subscribe to Shankaray's Academy YouTube channel for more updates and content on civil service exam preparation.