GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

The institutional weakening of Parliament is eroding the legislative significance, professionalization of politics, and decline in political morality.

Institutional Weakening of Parliament

• Suspension of Opposition MPs: The recent suspension of a significant number of Opposition MPs during the Winter Session highlights the institutional weakening of Parliament.
• Conflict over Discussion Norms: Parliament has transformed into a zone of conflict, sidelining established norms of discussion and deliberation, as the ruling party uses House rules to suppress the Opposition.
• Deeper Political Crisis: The government versus Opposition framework reveals a deeper political crisis, posing a challenge to democratic values and constitutional principles.

Erosion of Legislative Significance

• Loss of Political Significance: Legislative discussions have lost political significance, with MPs adhering strictly to party lines, resulting in unrelated speeches, disruptions, and a lack of meaningful contribution.
• Professionalization of Politics: The professionalization of politics is evident, with leaders viewing politics as a means to gain power and achieve upward mobility, departing from earlier ideals of social service.
• Failure of Democratic Capability: Parliamentarians' failure to foster a culture of mutual learning through healthy discussions weakens the democratic capability of Parliament.

Intellectual Vacuum and Decline of Morality

• Competitive Electoral Politics: Political parties engage in competitive politics, avoiding ideological challenges and embracing dominant narratives for electoral viability, contributing to an intellectual vacuum.
• Lack of Political Ideas: The intellectual bankruptcy of the political class hinders the generation of new political ideas, compromising the level of legislative discussions.
• Decline of Political Morality: There is a serious decline in political morality, as parliamentary rules are invoked without reference to larger democratic principles, transforming the Constitution into a rigid document.

Context:

After the Supreme Court’s Judgment on abrogation of Article 370, the issues and critiques surrounding it glared.

Overview of Indian Federalism

• Unique Constitutional Design: Indian federalism, though the term is not explicitly used in the Constitution, is uniquely designed, aiming to balance Union and state powers.
• Evolution and Division of Powers: The Constitution divides powers and responsibilities between the Union and states, ensuring a balance and addressing concerns like national security and administrative efficiency.
• Centralist Traits and Challenges: Despite federal features, certain unitary aspects empower the Union, creating a centralist character, demanding conscious efforts for maintaining a balanced Centre-state relationship.

Federalism's Practical Challenges

• Erosion of State Powers: Gubernatorial excess in opposition-ruled states impedes governance, contrary to recommendations for cordial Centre-state relations.
• Financial Allocation Issues: Opposition-ruled states facing difficulties in receiving their due shares of GST and other central funds highlight challenges to collaborative federalism.
• Selective Use of Police Power: Selective use of agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and CBI in opposition-ruled states threatens the Rule of Law and federal character.

Concerns and Judicial Response

• Majoritarianism: Suspensions of opposition members raise concerns about majoritarianism, jeopardizing legitimate criticism and raising apprehensions about the future of federalism.
• Supreme Court's Verdict on Article 370: While the court's verdict reaffirms India's sovereignty, the omission of a time limit for restoring J&K's statehood raises criticism, impacting federalist concerns.
• Missed Opportunity for Federalism: The court's failure to address federalist concerns and not setting a time limit for J&K's statehood restoration is a missed opportunity for Indian federalism.

Context:

There is need to move away from the constraints of collective memory and community knowledge to enable a better official response to future challenges.

Shifting Baselines and Environmental Impact

• Recent Rainfall in South Tamil Nadu: Significant rainfall in south Tamil Nadu reversed the northeast monsoon deficit, impacting areas like Thoothukudi and Tiruchendur.
• Devastation Perception: Perceptions of 'devastation' are affected by shifting baselines, leading to underestimation of losses over time.
• Climate Change and Future Baselines: As climate change impacts emerge, a new kind of shifting baseline extends into the future, influencing language and memorialization.

Challenges in Meaning-Making and Official Language

• Jargon and Definitions: Current meaning-making relies on jargon from reports, creating challenges in communicating climate-related scenarios effectively to the public.
• Imperfect Official Vocabulary: Government translations often lack precision, with definitions not accounting for all factors, contributing to potential shifting baselines.
• Role of Officialese: Localised officialese is crucial for memorialising experiences, building context, and enhancing trust in institutions, but requires regular updates.

Global Implications

• State Accountability and Disaster Response: State responses to disasters, determined by official records like medical certificates, impact understanding of 'devastation' and accountability.
• Global Implications of Officialese: Officialese has global implications, influencing the distribution of funds based on the severity of climate-related disasters, requiring new official terms.
• Need for Clarity in Communication: Developing official words for unprecedented situations, like extreme rainfall, is crucial for effective communication, especially in global contexts.