Subject/Topic Wise Current Affairs for UPSC Exam

Punchhi Commission Report

Punchhi Commission Report The Punchhi Commission's report on relations between the federal government and its constituent states will now be reviewed for state responses, according to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Historical Background: A Commission on Centre-State Relations was established by the Indian government, with Judge Madan Mohan Punchhi serving as its head. Goal: To examine and review the operation of the current agreements between the Union and States, as well as various court rulings regarding powers, duties, and obligations in all areas, including legislative relations, administrative relations, the role of governors, emergency provisions, financial relations, economic and…

08 March, 2023 Federal issues

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Three-Capital Plan of Andhra Pradesh

Three-Capital Plan of Andhra Pradesh Vishakhapatnam will be the future capital of Andhra Pradesh, according to the state’s Chief minister. Historical aspect: Andhra Pradesh was divided into Telangana in 2014, with Hyderabad designated as the state's capital. The 2014-appointed Sivaramakrishnan Committee advocated for decentralization and identified the Vizag sub-region as a suitable location for the capital. The state government of Andhra Pradesh approved the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) Act, 2014 in 2015 to designate Amaravati as the state's future capital. Hyderabad, the former capital of undivided Andhra Pradesh, is now part of Telangana, hence Andhra Pradesh needs…

06 February, 2023 Federal issues

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Conflict over Control of Services

Conflict over Control of Services between the Delhi Government and the Centre A recent disagreement over service control between the Delhi government and the Centre is being heard by a five-judge Supreme Court Constitution Bench. Details about the news: The Supreme Court is now hearing a case involving disagreements between the Union and the Delhi government about the management of transfers and the general operation of administrative services in Delhi's National Capital Territory (NCT). What is the conflict? Few believe that the Delhi government has any control whatsoever over administrative services. While other sources claim that the Lieutenant Governor can…

13 January, 2023 Federal issues

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Dispute on the Assam-Meghalaya Border

Dispute on the Assam-Meghalaya Border The killing of six people in an Assam police shooting comes ahead of the second phase of talks between the two states to resolve their boundary dispute, and there are fears that it will cast a long shadow over the talks. Background During the British colonial era, undivided Assam included modern-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. Meghalaya was formed in 1972. Its borders were drawn according to the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act of 1969, but the border has been interpreted differently since then. Meghalaya's government identified 12 areas of difference with Assam in 2011,…

02 December, 2022 Federal issues

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NIA Offices by 2024

NIA Offices by 2024 Recently, the Union Home Minister announced at the two-day ‘Chintan Shivir’ (brainstorming session) in Faridabad that all states in the country will have National Investigation Agency (NIA) offices by 2024 as a strategy to counter-terrorism. About National Investigation Agency (NIA) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is the primary counter-terrorist task force of India. The agency is empowered to deal with the investigation of terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states under written proclamation from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Agency came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency…

27 October, 2022 Federal issues

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Removal of Puducherry’s Lieutenant Governor

Removal of Puducherry’s Lieutenant Governor Context Kiran Bedi’s ouster is a result of her failure to stick to her constitutionally mandated role The removal of Kiran Bedi as Puducherry’s Lieutenant Governor has provided a sense of relief to the elected government, led by the Congress, in the Union Territory. LG’s disruption of smooth administration Her acrimonious relationship with Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy over the last four and a half years eventually led the Centre to be forced to act against its own nominee to enable smooth administration at a time when the announcement of the Assembly elections is just round…

19 February, 2021 Federal issues

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Issue of Tamil Nadu Governor under Article 161

Issue of Tamil Nadu Governor under Article 161 Context Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has decided that only the President can decide the issue of granting remission to the seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. View of the Supreme Court It has often been stressed by the Supreme Court that the clemency powers of the President, under Article 72, and the Governor, under Article 161, stand on an equal footing, and are exercised solely on Cabinet advice. Article 161 in The Constitution Of India 1949 The Governor of a State shall have the power to grant pardons,…

09 February, 2021 Federal issues

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SC & 4G Services in J&K

SC & 4G Services in J&K Part of: GS-II- Governance and Federal Issues (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Recently, the Supreme Court refused to restore 4G services in Jammu & Kashmir and ordered the setting up of a high-powered committee to look into the contentions raised by petitioners against limited 2G services in the Union Territory. In August 2019, the Central government had suspended all modes of communications in the wake of the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, granted under Article 370. Eventually, services were partially restored, with internet speed restricted to 2G. A plea was filed by ‘The Foundation for Media Professionals for the restoration of high-speed…

13 May, 2020 Federal issues