Daily Current Affairs 23 June 2020 | UPSC Current Affairs 2020

Current Affairs Of Today Are

1) Decarbonising Transport

• NITI Aayog in collaboration with International Transport Forum (ITF) will launch the “Decarbonising Transport in India” project on 24 June, to develop a pathway towards a low-carbon transport system for India.
• India has been a member of ITF, an intergovernmental organization for transport policy, since 2008.
• ITF Secretary-General Young Tae Kim and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant will open the public online launch event. Senior officials of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, and ITF will also be present.
• The online event will inform transport and climate stakeholders in India about planned project activities. It will also offer the opportunity to provide inputs regarding India’s transport challenges and how they relate to CO2 reduction ambitions. The discussion will help to focus the project further on India’s specific needs and circumstances.
• The “Decarbonising Transport in India” project will design a tailor-made transport emissions assessment framework for India. It will provide the government with a detailed understanding of current and future transport activity and the related CO2 emissions as a basis for their decision-making.
• The India project is carried out in the wider context of the International Transport Forum’s “Decarbonising Transport” initiative. It is part of the “Decarbonising Transport in Emerging Economies” (DTEE) family of projects, which supports transport decarbonization across different world regions. India, Argentina, Azerbaijan, and Morocco are current participants. The DTEE is a collaboration between the ITF and the Wuppertal Institute, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

Source: PIB

2) Foldscope could be a better alternative to the clinical microscope

• Foldscope is an affordable origami-based microscopy device composed of a series of paper clippings. Upon assembly, the device can hold a specimen slide for observation, and this specimen can be viewed via a mobile phone camera attached to it. Dr. Alka Rao‘s group at the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh, in collaboration with a team of doctors from a government hospital in Panchkula, Haryana, a private hospital in the National Capital Region (NCR), and a medical college from Imphal, have explored and validated the clinical utility of Foldscope in the diagnosis of diseases using various patient samples.
• The study evaluated the use of the Foldscope in the clinical diagnosis of oral and urinary tract infections and evaluated its efficacy as a motivational tool for improving oral health among school children in India.
• The study identifies that Foldscope is particularly convenient to diagnose urinary tract infection (UTI) and monitor kidney stones. Using this tool, one can easily monitor their own-kidney stone status at home with a simple glass-slide, a Foldscope, and a phone in hand. Such monitoring could perhaps avoid kidney stone reaching a painful state or surgery in recurring cases.
• To do the assessment, a patient sample like urine is smeared on a transparent glass slide and visualized under a Foldscope mounted on a cell phone. Sample images can be enlarged using the zoom function of the mobile, which can be stored on the mobile memory card for later reference/patient records. Foldscope can be assembled using paper clips and mounted on cell phones using coupler and glue drops.
• The researchers qualitatively compared the Foldscope to a clinical microscope by examining five different types of clinical samples. Of the different types of clinical samples, the Foldscope was effective in detecting infection in dental plaque samples and urine samples. The team further analyzed 31 dental plaque samples of patients aged 3–13 years and 25 urine samples of patients aged 11–62 years.
• Taken together, the study data suggest that the Foldscope can be used as an in-house diagnostic tool and personal health monitoring tool on a routine basis due to its affordability and zero maintenance cost. The study findings have been published in the Journal of Microscopy.

Source: PIB

3) Study of optical properties of super-massive black-hole can provide a clue to emission mechanism from its close vicinity

• Through 153 nights, 17 scientists from 9 countries in Europe and Asia including researchers from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India took 2263 image frames and observed the changes in a very high energy gamma-ray emitting blazar ‘1ES 0806+524’ using seven optical telescopes in Europe and Asia.
• A blazar is a feeding super-massive black-hole (SMBH) in the heart of a distant galaxy that produces a high-energy jet viewed face-on from Earth. Blazars are one of the most luminous and energetic objects in the known universe with a jet composed of ionized matter traveling at nearly the speed of light directed very nearly towards an observer.
• Dr. Ashwani Pandey, guided by Dr. Alok C. Gupta from ARIES in their study published in the Astrophysical Journal, has provided the most extensive observations of this blazar, thereby chalking out the detailed optical properties of the blazar. The team studied in great details 1ES 0806+524’ flux, color, and spectral index variations within a day and long timescales of the blazer and explained the mechanism behind the variations. 
• They explained the large flares as the result of the propagation of a shock in the relativistic jet that accelerates electrons to high energies followed by subsequent cooling. According to their study, the small amplitude changes can be understood to arise from small variations in the viewing angle, and hence in the Doppler factor, caused by either wiggling or helical jets or the motion of the most intense emitting region on a roughly helical trajectory within the jet. Variations on intra-day timescales can be explained by the turbulence expected in a relativistic plasma jet according to the study.
• In this age of multi-wavelength (MW) time-domain astronomy in which the transient astronomical sources are of great interest due to their rapid change in flux and polarization. Simultaneous MW observation of a particular transient source for an extended period is important for understanding the emission mechanism in different electromagnetic (EM) bands. Blazars are among one of the most favorite astronomical transient objects because they emit radiation in the complete EM spectrum, and their flux and polarization are highly variable.

Optical Variability of the TeV Blazar 1ES 0806+524 on Diverse Timescales

Source: PIB

4) Assessment of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

• Recently, a study by the Ministry of Rural Development has observed that the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) has not been able to achieve the desired objectives and failed to make a significant impact.
• The study was conducted as part of the Fifth Common Review Mission (CRM) for “independent assessment” of the progress of various programs and schemes of the Rural Development Ministry.

Key Points

• Study/Assessment: The study was conducted by a team comprising retired bureaucrats, academics and research organizations, etc. The team visited around 120 villages, in 21 districts across eights states
• Major Findings:
• Low selection of Panchayats: Since the launch of the scheme only 1,855-gram panchayats have been selected across five phases, with only seven in Phase 5.
• Lack of Interest and Funds: Model villages under the scheme are hit by a lack of interest and funds. In many of SAGY villages, the MPs did not give any significant funds from Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). Example:
• In Arood village of Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh, out of 118 activities planned in 2014, only about 60 %have been achieved and the rest are pending for lack of funds.
• Lack of Political Will: The concept of SAGY has not percolated down to field officials due to a lack of accountability and political will.
• Issues with Declaration: Even villages declared as Adarsh Grams in some districts were found yet to be declared Open Defecation Free.
• Limited Impact: In some cases, where MPs have been proactive, some infrastructure development has taken place, but the scheme has not made any perceptible impact.
• Low Convergence of MGNREGA with MPLAD: Lesser convergence of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with MPLAD was observed in few villages.
• Rural Roads: The study expressed concern over the quality of roads constructed under schemes of state governments and maintenance of rural roads under central Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
• Positive Impact: Progress of work was better in the Gram Panchayats where the MP has taken a keen interest and allocated substantial amounts from MPLAD. Example:
• A village in Bhilwara Rajasthan was found to be very urbanized due to the various development schemes were taken up at the initiative of the Ex-MP.
• Recommendations:
• Need to Enhance Impact: The report recommended that the Ministry of Rural Development may review the scheme for enhancing its impact.
• Uniform Norms: It has urged the Centre to frame a “National Rural Road Policy” to ensure uniform norms of construction and maintenance, irrespective of whether the road belongs to a state scheme or PMGSY.
• Additional Funds: The Centre should examine if the Finance Commission can provide funds for maintenance of rural roads, as many states have requested that the Centre should share the cost of maintenance.

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

• SAGY is a village development project which was launched on 11th October 2014 on the birth anniversary of Jai Prakash Narayan.
• Goal:
• Under the Yojana, Members of Parliament (MPs) are responsible for developing the socio-economic and physical infrastructure of three villages each by 2019, and a total of eight villages each by 2024.
• Objectives:
• To substantially improve the standard of living and quality of life of all sections of the population through Improved basic amenities, higher productivity, and better livelihood opportunities.
• To generate models of local level development and effective local governance which can motivate and inspire neighboring Gram Panchayats to learn and adapt.
• To nurture the identified Adarsh Grams as schools of local development to train other Gram Panchayats.
• Process:
• Gram Panchayat: The basic unit for development.
• Lok Sabha MP: Chooses a Gram Panchayat from within his/her constituency.
• Rajya Sabha MP: Chooses Gram Panchayat from the rural area of a district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she is elected.
• Nominated MPs: Choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of any district in the country.
• The MPs engage with the community, facilitate the Village Development Plan, and mobilize the necessary resources particularly from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and philanthropies.
• MPs also fill up critical gaps in the plan using the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADs) funds.

Adarsh Gram: Model Village

• A Model village is one that has adequate physical and institutional infrastructure (sustainable environment, sanitation, clean water, and livelihood) in which the minimum needs of all sections of the society are fully met so that they live in harmony with each other.

Way Forward

• The vision behind the evolution of SAGY villages was to create model villages by ensuring convergence and dovetailing of schemes and its proper implementation on a priority basis. However, the seriousness required to achieve the motto is lacking. There is a need for MPs to be more responsible for the scheme.
• SAGY gives focus to community participation and social mobilization of the village community can trigger a chain of other development activities in the village.
• At the same time, the Ministry of Rural Development should ensure that the SAGY villages are dealt with the vision envisaged under the scheme and are not left behind.

Source: Indian Express

5) Secrecy of Ballot

In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court has held that secrecy of the ballot is the cornerstone of free and fair elections.

• The choice of a voter should be free which is ensured by the secret ballot system in a democracy.

Key Points

• Highlights of the Judgement:
• The SC held that the principle of secrecy of ballots is an important postulate of constitutional democracy and referred to Section 94 of the Representation of People Act (RPA) 1951.
• The section upholds the privilege of the voters to maintain confidentiality about their choice of the vote.
• The law must protect the right of voters to the secrecy of the ballot. Even a remote or distinct possibility that a voter can be forced to disclose for whom she/he has voted would act as a positive constraint and a check on the freedom to exercise the franchise.
• However, a voter can also voluntarily waive the privilege of non-disclosure.
• The privilege ends when the voter decides to waive it and decides voluntarily to disclose their vote.
• The court held that voters can neither be prevented from disclosing nor can be subjected to a complaint by anyone.
• Background:
• The judgment came on an appeal against the Allahabad High Court decision, setting aside the voting of a no-confidence motion in a Zila panchayat in Uttar Pradesh in 2018.
• A no-confidence motion or vote of no-confidence or a no-trust vote can be sought to express that there is no longer confidence in the government.
• Allahabad HC found that some of the panchayat members had violated the rule of secrecy of the ballot.
• The SC referred to Section 28(8) of the Uttar Pradesh Kshettra Panchayat and Zila Panchayat Adhiniyam, 1961, and ordered a re-vote of the motion within the next two months, by the secret ballot system.
• This provision states that a motion of no confidence shall be put to vote in the prescribed manner by secret ballot.
• Restoring Secrecy of Ballot:
• The secrecy of ballot has become a notional concept after the introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
• Since voters believe that only they and their trusted ones know who they voted for which is not true actually because EVMs give a near accurate idea of voting patterns.
• Each EVM is used for about 1,400 electors and votes cast in the EVMs are individually counted and tallied booth-wise.
• Before the introduction of EVMs, ballot papers were often mixed to prevent intimidation of voters by disclosure of voting patterns.
• The idea of voting patterns gives an advantage to political parties which can be neutralized if totalizers are deployed to count votes in a constituency.
• Totalizer:
• It is a mechanism that allows votes from 14 booths to be counted together.
• This result obtained is without disclosure of votes polled by candidates at particular voting booths/stations, which will allay the fears of voters against any pre-poll intimidation or post-poll victimization by any candidate.

Representation of the People Act 1951

• The holding of free and fair elections is the sine-qua-non of democracy. To ensure the conduct of elections in free, fair, and impartially, the constitution-makers incorporated Part XV (Articles 324-329) in the constitution and empowered Parliament to make laws to regulate the electoral process.
• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the watchdog of free and fair elections in the country and Article 324 of the Constitution provides for its establishment.
• In this context, the Parliament has enacted the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, and Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• Key provisions of the RPA 1951:
• It regulates the actual conduct of elections and by-elections.
• It provides administrative machinery for conducting elections.
• It deals with the registration of political parties.
• It specifies the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of the Houses.
• It provides provisions to curb corrupt practices and other offenses.
• It lays down the procedure for settling doubts and disputes arising out of elections.

Way Forward

• In a democracy, there is perhaps nothing more important than the credibility of the electoral process therefore elections should not only be fair but should be seen to be fair.
• The Election Commission needs to bat for making democracy truly vibrant and for voters’ rights to free and fair elections as well as the secrecy of their ballot. It cannot afford to allow parties the room to punish and reward voters based on their voting patterns or indulge in what politicians euphemistically call booth management.

Source: The Hindu

6) Gee’s Golden Langur

• Primatologists have observed that the threat of electrocution and inbreeding is increasing among the Gee’s Golden Langur.

Key Points

• Scientific Name: Trachypithecus geei
• About: Golden langurs can be most easily recognized by the color of their fur, after which they are named.
• It has been noted that their fur changes colors according to the seasons as well as geography (region they live in).
• The color of the young also differs from adults in that they are almost pure white.
• They are highly dependent on trees, living in the upper canopy of forests. They are also known as leaf monkeys.
• Habitat: It is endemic to western Assam, India, and southern Bhutan.
• Their habitat is restricted to the region surrounded by four geographical landmarks: the foothills of Bhutan (North), Manas river (East), Sankosh River (West), and Brahmaputra river (South).
• Threats:
• Restricted Habitat: As mentioned above, their habitat is restricted by natural boundaries further increasing the threat of extinction.
• Habitat Fragmentation: Their habitat in Assam has fragmented drastically especially after a thrust on rural electrification and massive deforestation.
• Inbreeding: Obstructions such as wires, and gaps in the forest due to felling, have increased the threat of inbreeding among golden langurs.
• Conservation Efforts/Status:
• The Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi entrusted the state zoo with the project for the conservation breeding of golden langur in Assam in 2011.
• In 2019, Bhutan recorded a drop of 62% in the population of golden langurs over the 2009 census.
• The recorded estimation in Assam in 2009 was 5,140. This year’s census could not be completed due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
• Protection Status:
• IUCN List of Threatened Species: Endangered
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Source: The Hindu

7) Presena Glacier Covered with Tarps

Giant sheets of tarpaulin (tarps) are being used to cover Presena glacier in northern Italy to slow melting caused by global warming.

• It is a part of the conservation project (undertaken by Italian firm Carosello-Tonale) which was launched in 2008 — at that point, only 30,000 sq meters of the glacier were covered.

Key Points

• Covering of the Glacier:
• Tarpaulin sheets (tarps) are being laid over 1,00,000 sq meters of the Presena glacier.
• Rs. 34,091 tarpaulin sheets will be sewn together once they are stretched over the snow to keep warm air out. Bags of sand are used to weigh them down.
• This six-week process is repeated every year once the ski season is over and summer begins in full force.
• A ski season is a period when skiing, snowboarding, and other alpine sports are viable in an alpine resort.
• The process of removing the protective tarps will begin in September and will take six months.
• Tarpaulin Sheets:
• Tarpaulin is a large sheet of strong, flexible and water-resistant material, often coated and made of plastics such as polyethylene.
• Geotextile tarpaulins reflect sunlight, maintain a temperature lower than the external one, and thus preserve as much snow as possible.
• There are similar glacier cover systems on a few Austrian glaciers, but the surface covered by the tarpaulins is much smaller.
• Concern:
• Since 1993, the Presena glacier has lost more than one-third of its volume.
• The area is continuously shrinking, so the efforts are made towards covering the area as much as possible.

Presena Glacier

• Situated between the regions of Trentino and Lombardy in Northern Italy, the glacier is part of the Presanella mountain (Alps) group.
• It has a high altitude natural environment.

Source: Indian Express

8) Scientists detect ionospheric irregularities during major space weather events that influence communication & navigation systems

• The Earth's magnetic field lines are nearly horizontal over magnetic equator due to which equatorial ionosphere is a bed for a variety of plasma instabilities to cause plasma disturbances and plasma irregularities. These plasma irregularities pose severe problems to the communication and navigation systems and interfere with surveillance operations as well as disruption in detection and tracking of aircraft, missiles, and satellites.
• A multi-instrument based ionospheric study of space weather storms over India by the Scientists from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) have found that the occurrence of equatorial spread F (ESF) irregularities and GPS scintillations are significantly affected by the geomagnetic storms depending upon the time of the onset of the geomagnetic storm. The Equatorial Spread-F (ESF) caused due to the F region plasma irregularities is a complex phenomenon encompassing a wide range of scale sizes of irregularities in electron and ion densities as well as in electric fields. They also produce ionospheric scintillations in VHF and GPS receivers when radio wave traverses through the ionosphere.
• They have also found that during geomagnetic storms, partial enhancement in pre reversal enhancement (PRE) (an eastward electric field enhancement before turning the westward near the sunset hours in the equatorial ionosphere) in the zonal eastward electric field occurs during post-sunset resulting in around 30% increase in spread F instead of total inhibition during equinox and winter seasons. The PRE is believed to be produced by F region dynamo, where it causes the F region of the ionosphere to rise to very high altitude due to sudden increase of the eastward electric field. The study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research showed the occurrence of ESF in summer is suppressed by around 75% due to a partial increase in PRE. The researchers observed pre-sunrise height enhancement mostly during winter, which caused ESF to occur at around 50%, followed by equinox and summer.
• Understanding the thermosphere‐ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions that control the electrodynamics behind the dynamical evolution of ionospheric irregularities under disturbed periods like geomagnetic storms is most important in developing and maintaining communication and navigation systems.
• Accordingly, the electrodynamics under these major space weather events was studied using the chain of a ground-based special type of radar Doppler ionosondes along with GPS Receivers over India for the examination of the equatorial and low latitude ionosphere.
• In this present study conducted by Dr. Ram Singh under the guidance of Dr. S. Sripathi from IIG, the coupling of high latitude electric fields, winds, and traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) on the equatorial and low latitude ionosphere were investigated during three major space weather events that occurred on 17th March, 23 June, and 20 December 2015. These three magnetic storms were strong geomagnetic storms during the complete solar cycle-24 (a cycle that the Sun’s magnetic field goes through approximately every 11 years)
• The scientists observed remarkable increase of virtual height of the ionosphere to as high as 560 km over magnetic equator with the vertical drift of 70 m/sec due to strong eastward direct penetration electric field which caused intense Equatorial spread F (ESF) irregularities in ionosondes and L-band scintillations in the GPS receivers across Indian region on 17th March.
• Nocturnal thermospheric meridional winds, as estimated through the study using two ionosondes during this stormed night, suggested the equatorward surge of gravity waves in a period of 2 hrs. The suppression of anomaly crest over Indian longitude on the next day of the storm is linked to the westward disturbance dynamo electric fields and disturbance wind effects.
• Besides, the scientists also found that enhanced winds during geomagnetic storms can either add or suppress the existing ion densities to produce either positive or negative storms that modify the electrodynamics of the ionosphere, thereby influencing navigation and communication that form a crucial part of our lives.

(A) a sketch of the geometry of vertical ionospheric sounding, N(h) represents the profile of the electron density variation with altitude, f is the transmitted frequency of the radio wave, and fN is the ionospheric plasma frequency. (B) shows the location of ionosondes and GPS receivers superposed onto the India map.

Variations of ionospheric virtual height and vertical plasma drifts on 17th March 2015 geomagnetic storm (St. Patrick's day storm) over the Tirunelveli.

Temporal variation of ionospheric frequencies at different heights (isoheights) at every 5 km 220-350 km between height interval. Vertical lines show phase propagation of gravity wave fluctuations with ~48 min periodicity, downward phase propagation velocity ~46 m/s, vertical wavelength ~130 km, and horizontal wavelength ~452 km. (high-resolution CADI ionosonde data obtained from Allahabad station).

Source: PIB

9) National People’s Party

Political troubleshooting is going on in Manipur after the four MLAs of the National People's Party (NPP) along with few others had withdrawn support from the ruling government recently.

Key Points

• National People’s Party:
• The NPP got the status of the national party in 2019 after it was recognized as a state party in four states — Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.
• It is the eighth party to get the recognition — after INC, BJP, BSP, NCP, CPI, CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress. It is also the first party from Northeast India to be recognized as a national party.
• Types of Parties:
• The Election Commission of India lists political parties as “national party”, “state party” or “registered (unrecognized) party”.
• The conditions for being listed as a national or a state party are specified under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
• National Party:
• For recognition as a national party, a party has to satisfy these conditions:
• 6% valid votes polled in any four or more states at a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the State legislative assembly; and, also, it wins four seats in the Lok Sabha from any state or states.
• 2% of all Lok Sabha seats in the last such election, with MPs, elected from at least three states.
• Recognition as a state party in at least four states.
• State Party:
• For recognition as a state party, any one of five conditions needs to be satisfied:
• Two seats plus a 6% vote share in the last Assembly election in that state.
• One seat plus a 6% vote share in the last Lok Sabha election from that state.
• 3% of the total Assembly seats or 3 seats, whichever is more.
• One of every 25 Lok Sabha seats (or an equivalent fraction) from a state.
• An 8% state-wide vote share in either the last Lok Sabha or the last Assembly polls.
• Loss of Recognised Status:
• Once recognized as a national or a state party, a political party loses its given status only if it fails to fulfill any of the conditions for two successive Assembly and two successive Lok Sabha elections.
• That means a party retains that status irrespective of its performance in the next elections.

Source: The Hindu

10) Civil Services Board

• Recently, the Punjab government has set up a three-member Civil Services Board (CSB) for transfers and postings of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in the state.

Key Points

• CSB:
• The CSB is headed by the Chief Secretary of a state and has senior most additional chief secretary or chairman, Board of Revenue, Financial Commissioner, or an officer of the equivalent rank and status as a member.
• The CSB provides for the state to follow the Centre’s guidelines on giving a fixed tenure of at least two years for cadre officers.
• If anyone recommends the transfer of the officers before the completion of tenure, then the board will examine and affect it. The final authority in this regard is the Chief Minister.
• Benefits:
• If the officials have a fixed tenure they will be able to provide better administration.
• They will also feel safe and try to stick to the rules instead of pleasing political bosses.
• Every official requires 3-6 months to get into the routine at his/her new place of posting. If they stay there for two years, it would mean better delivery and stable tenure to people.
• Issues Involved:
• If the tenure of bureaucrats is fixed, it may create functional and administrative problems.
• The officers may overstep the authority and jurisdiction of the state government.
• It may make them less answerable and accountable to legislators.
• With the fixed tenure rule, the political executives feel their influence has been reduced to nothing since all the powers to examine a recommendation for a transfer lies with the CSB.
• The bureaucrats feel the urge to go to courts for effective implementation of guidelines in letter and spirit.
• E.g. Haryana had the CSB in place but the guidelines are not followed there.
• Background:
• The Punjab government’s notification is based on a 2014 order issued by the Central government. The order was aimed at providing stability of tenure and checking political interference.
• Punjab is the 20th state to adopt the CSB.
• In October 2013, the Supreme Court had also mandated minimum tenure for bureaucrats, to insulate the bureaucracy from political interference and to put an end to frequent transfers of civil servants by political bosses.
• Frequent and arbitrary transfers of officers before completion of a reasonable tenure on any post have always been considered as a major reason for the declining standards of administration.
• IAS officers like Ashok Khemka, Durga Sakthi Nagpal, and Kuldip Narayan, among others, have allegedly been victims of arbitrary suspensions and transfers.

Way Forward

• A healthy working relationship between Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and civil servants is critical for good governance. Therefore, the state needs to take every stakeholder of governance in confidence.
• The state can learn from the loopholes of other states in implementing the fixed tenure rule.

Source: The Hindu