GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

Governors ought to avoid creating opportunities for criticism by contesting elected governments.

Governors' Interference in State Decisions

• Recent Concerns: In recent times, two Indian states, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, have raised concerns about the conduct of their Governors and the delay in granting assent to important legislative Bills passed by their respective state legislatures.
• Unethical use of authority: They feel that some Governors are using their authority to hinder or delay the implementation of decisions made by elected state governments.
• Hindrance in working of elected regime: This issue highlights the problem of political appointees in Raj Bhavan (the official residence of the state's Governor) interfering with the decisions of democratically elected regimes.

Challenges:

• Legislative Bills and Governor’s assent: State governors play a crucial role in the legislative process by providing assent or approval for bills passed by the state legislature.
• Delay in granting assent: The delay in granting assent to Bills, especially in states not governed by the ruling party at the national level, has raised questions about the Governors' intentions.
• Recommendations: It is suggested that a national prohibition should be implemented, as recommended by the Justice M.M. Punchhi Commission, to relieve Governors from the role of chancellor in any university.

Constitutional Authority and Prudent Decision-Making

• Absence of a defined time-frame: The absence of a defined time-frame for granting assent to Bills has allowed some Governors to potentially stall important legislation indefinitely.
• Re-emphasis by Supreme Court: The Supreme Court has emphasized the need for constitutional authorities to act promptly when considering Bills, reminding Governors that the phrase "as soon as possible" in the Constitution carries significant constitutional weight.
• Constitutional Framework: While Governors have a certain degree of discretion, they are bound by the 'aid and advice' clause in the Constitution and should not misuse their discretionary powers.

Context:

India’s States should ensure greater compliance on air pollution.

About the Issue:

• Seasonal Inflection Point: Delhi and adjacent regions of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh face a yearly air quality transition as the southwest monsoon withdraws, creating conditions where pollutants accumulate due to human activities.
• Addressing the Stalemate: Despite numerous studies and initiatives, the air pollution issue reaches a stalemate, managed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) with limited power to recommend actions based on pollution levels.

November's Critical Air Quality:

• Pollution Trends: While the air quality has improved year-round in Delhi from January to October over six years, November continues to witness severe air quality days, depicting a consistent challenge during this month.
• Challenges Ahead: Despite a decrease in stubble burning, the forthcoming weeks may see more such activities. The critical focus should shift to November, emphasizing efforts against vehicular emissions and construction dust for more effective measures.
• Need for Comprehensive Strategy: It is essential to tackle pollution sources beyond stubble burning, demanding a more robust approach, potentially affecting urban areas, emphasizing coordination and compliance between Delhi and the surrounding regions.

Key Emphasis:

• Overcoming November Challenges: November remains a critical period for tackling severe air quality in Delhi and surrounding areas. It requires focused efforts on vehicular pollution, construction dust, and more robust and coordinated measures, shifting beyond just stubble burning.
• Role of CAQM: Bodies such as the Commission for Air Quality Management should enforce their independent authority, enabling better coordination and compliance between Delhi and the neighboring states to effectively address the annual air quality crisis in November.

Context:

India’s States should ensure greater compliance on air pollution.

Addressing Global Health Challenges

• Delhi Declaration: The Delhi Declaration during India's G20 presidency highlighted the commitment to fortify the global health architecture through the One Health approach.
• Global and Local Strategies to Combat AMR: G20 nations could champion international funding mechanisms aimed at enhancing AMR research and development.
• National Initiatives: India has implemented a National Action Plan on AMR, emphasizing surveillance and research, particularly the inter-connections between human, animal, plant health, and the environment.

Proactive Global Health Measures

• AMR Action Plans: At a global level, there's an urgent need for creating regional AMR action plans, focusing on developing nations and their specific regional needs.
• Focus on AMR Research and Development: Efforts to facilitate patent reforms and considering models like the Medicines Patent Pool are essential for effective collaboration.
• Promoting Responsible Citizen Behaviour: The expansion of monitoring networksand the promotion of responsible behaviour among citizens to curb antibiotic misuse are crucial. Involvement of academia and civil society organizations (CSOs) in raising awareness and advocating for policy changes remains pivotal.

Severity of the Issue

• Lancet Report:A Lancet report illustrated the severity of the issue, linking millions of deaths to bacterial AMR, signifying its magnitude as equivalent to diseases like HIV and malaria.
• Susceptible regions:Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia were identified as highly susceptible regions, indicating the severe repercussions of AMR on low and middle-income countries.
• Global Cooperation in Tackling AMR: The efforts of various countries like Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, the UK, and the US in addressing AMR call for a concerted effortsimilar to the one against COVID-19, urging India to lead by example in reducing the burden of AMR.