21-09-2020

21-SEPTEMBER-2020

The Hindu News Analysis – 21st September 2020 – Shankar IAS Academy

Page Number*
S.
No.
News Articles
C B D H T

1 Define the contours of hate in speech (Editorial) 6 6 6 6 6

2 Make ethics code must for all news channels 1,8 1,8 1,8 1,8 1,8

3 Thailand protesters challenge monarchy, seek PM’s ouster 11 11 13 11 11

4 Great power, little responsibility (OPED) 7 7 7 7 7

5 Parties move no-confidence motion 1 1 1 1 1

6 12 parties give no-trust notice 9 9 9 9 9

7 Govt. tables Bill to amend FCRA 1,8 1,8 1,8 1,8 1,8

8 Prelims Practice Questions @ end of the video

*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram

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Pg: 6 – C, B, D, H, T; Pg: 1,8 – C, B, D, H, T;

PAPER-III
General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity,
Part A—Preliminary Examination
Social Justice and International relations
Paper I - (200 marks) • Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings,
 Current events of national and international evolution, features, amendments, significant
importance. provisions and basic structure.
 Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political • Government policies and interventions for
System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, development in various sectors and issues arising out
etc. of their design and implementation.
Part B—Main Examination PAPER – IV
PAPER – II General Studies-III: Technology, Economic
General Studies-I : Indian Heritage and Culture, Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and
History and Geography of the World and Society Disaster Management
• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & • Challenges to internal security through communication
secularism. networks, role of media and social networking sites in
internal security challenges, basics of cyber security;
money-laundering and its prevention.

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Context Author

• Supreme Court restrained the channel from • Judiciary should take opportunity to
continuing its broadcast of a series ‘Bindas differentiate between hate speech, offensive
Bol’. speech that do not qualify as hate speech,
and certain exemptions.
 Channel aired false statements in relation to
UPSC Civil Services recruitment • Our laws present several complications when
an attempt is made to distinguish permissible
 Targeted Muslim religious community by
speech from hateful criminal conduct.
making the false statements.

• Hate Speech - Philosophical defense of

Prof. Jeremy Waldron.

 Hate speech refers to utterances that incite

violence, hatred, or discrimination against
people on the basis of their collective
identity, be it race, ethnicity, religion,
gender or sexuality.

 A merely offensive statement would not

qualify as hate speech.

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INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860

153A. Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language,
etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.—
(1) Whoever—
a) by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, promotes or
attempts to promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or
any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or illwill between different religious,
racials, language or regional groups or castes or communities, or
b) commits any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious, racial,
language or regional groups or castes or communities, and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public
tranquillity,
c) organizes any exercise, movement, drill or other similar activity intending that the participants in such
activity shall use or be trained to use criminal force or violence or knowing it to be likely that the participants
in such activity will use or be trained to use criminal force or violence, or participates in such activity
intending to use or be trained to use criminal force or violence or knowing it to be likely that the participants
in such activity will use or be trained to use criminal force or violence, against any religious, racial, language or
regional group or caste or community and such activity for any reason whatsoever causes or is likely to cause
fear or alarm or a feeling of insecurity amongst members of such religious, racial, language or regional group
or caste or community,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
(2) Offence committed in place of worship, etc.—Whoever commits an offence specified in sub-section (1) in any
place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, shall
be punished with imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.

• Sections 153A, 295A - are vaguely worded, and they

are frequently invoked to quell speech that offends a
person’s belief.
INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860
• Reasonable restrictions to Right to freedom of speech
295A. Deliberate and malicious acts,
intended to outrage religious feelings of and expression
any class by insulting its religion or
religious beliefs.—  In the interests of

Whoever, with deliberate and malicious 1. the sovereignty and integrity of India,
intention of outraging the religious feelings 2. the security of the State,
of any class of citizens of India, by words,
either spoken or written, or by signs or by 3. friendly relations with foreign States,
visible representations or otherwise, insults
4. public order,
or attempts to insult the religion or the
religious beliefs of that class, shall be 5. decency or morality, or
punished with imprisonment of either
description for a term which may extend to  In relation to
three years, or with fine, or with both. a) contempt of court,
b) defamation or
c) incitement to an offence.

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• The Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994

 Rule 6 – Programme code

 vaguely worded like the provisions in the

IPC.

• The Supreme Court is asked to chisel the

contents of the Programme code into a
feasible, constitutionally committed model.

• Code of Ethics brought by the News

Broadcasters Association (NBA)

• Suggestions of NBA

1. to include its code of ethics in to the

Programme code of the 1994 rules.

2. The amended programme code should be

made applicable and binding for all NBA
members and even to non-members.

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News

• Pro-democracy protests and democratic actions

in Thailand - stepping down of the Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha and reforms to the
monarchy.

Thailand

• Unified Thai kingdom dates back to mid-14th

century

• Known as Siam till 1939.

• Bloodless revolution in 1932 - establishment of

a constitutional monarchy

• Prime Minister as Head of the Government

along with a monarch as Chief of State from
the royal family.

• Bicameral legislature
Pg: 13 – D; Pg: 11 – C, B, H, T;

Source: https://livinginasia.co/

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Part A—Preliminary Examination

Paper I - (200 marks)
 Current events of national and international
importance.
Part B—Main Examination
PAPER-III
General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution,
Polity, Social Justice and International relations
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings and
agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s
interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of developed and
developing countries on India’s interests, Indian
diaspora.
• Important International institutions, agencies and
fora- their structure, mandate.
Pg: 7 – C, B, D, H, T;

World Population Review report

• Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Turkey, Somalia,

International Day of Peace (21st September) Iraq etc. suffered at least 1,000 deaths each
through militarised attacks and battles.
• Established in 1981 by the United Nations
General Assembly. • War in over 25 countries in the Maghreb and
Sahel regions of North and West Africa.
• 2001: UNGA unanimously voted to designate the
• End of 2019 - armed conflicts, persecution
Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.
etc. have displaced 79.5 million people.
• 2020 theme: Shaping Peace Together.
Author’s View

• Reason - Structure of present international

system poses enormous obstacles to peace.

 Role of great powers with military and

economic might.

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UNSC functions and powers

• To maintain international peace and security in

accordance with the principles and purposes of • Reality - Permanent members like the US,
UN. Russia and China fuel instability in the most
ongoing wars.
• To investigate any dispute or situation which
might lead to international friction.  Example: Yemen - US, Saudi Arabia and
UAE Vs Iran
• To recommend methods of adjusting such
disputes or the terms of settlement. • China’s hegemonic expansionism - risks of
military clashes in Asia.
• To formulate plans for the establishment of a
system to regulate armaments etc.

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Stockholm International Peace Research

Institute (SIPRI) report
• Way forward
• International transfers of major arms during
 Diagnose core problem at macro-level
the 2015-19 increased by 5.5 per cent
instead of targeted micro-level diplomatic
compared with 2010-14.
initiatives.
• Largest exporters in past five years: US,
 Need a change in the unjust power
Russia, France, Germany and China.
structure which privileges great powers and
• Flow of arms to the Middle East has establish more equitable world order.
increased (Saudi Arabia - world’s largest
importer).

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Pg: 1 – C, B, D, H, T;
Pg: 9 – C, B, D, H, T;

Part A—Preliminary Examination

Paper I - (200 marks)
 Current events of national and international importance.
 Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public
Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Part B—Main Examination
PAPER-III
General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International
relations
• Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments,
significant provisions and basic structure.
• Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers &
privileges and issues arising out of these .
• Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies.

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CONSTITUTION OF INDIA • Mentioned in ‘Rules of Procedure and Conduct of

75. Other provisions as to Ministers the Loksabha’.
(3) The Council of Ministers shall be collectively
responsible to the House of the People. • Rule 198: A no-confidence motion is “a motion
expressing want of confidence in the Council of
No confidence motion against Council of Ministers.”
Ministers • Procedure:

• Loksabha can remove the ministry from office  Can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha by
by passing a no-confidence motion. any member of the house - No need to give

• Lok Sabha passes a no-confidence motion a reason.

against the council of ministers → all the  Member of the house shall ask a Leave to
ministers including ministers from Rajya Sabha make the motion when called by the Speaker
have to resign. in a written notice of the motion to the

• Constitution of India does not mention about Secretary-General of Loksabha by 10 AM on

Confidence or No Confidence Motion. the day she proposes to move the motion.

 If the Speaker is of the opinion that the Removal of Chairman of Rajya Sabha:
motion is in order, he/she shall read the
• Vice president of India : Ex Officio Chairman
motion to the house, requesting those
of Rajya Sabha.
members who are in favour of it to rise in
their places. • Removed by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha

 At least 50 members support the motion - passed by an effective majority and agreed

leave is granted. to by the Lok sabha.

 If the motion is passed in the house, the • 14 days advance notice is to be given before
Government is bound to vacate the office. moving the resolution.

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Removal of Deputy Chairman OF Rajya

Sabha:

• Removed from office by a resolution of Rajya

Sabha moved after 14 days advance notice of
the intention to move the resolution.

 Resolution should be passed by an effective

majority of the house.

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Pg: 1,8 – C, B, D, H, T;

Important provisions of Foreign

Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)
• Adds a provision allowing the central-
Amendment Bill, 2 02 0 government to permit a person to surrender

• Adds public servants to this list of registration certificate - if the government is

persons/entities prohibited to accept any satisfied after an enquiry that

foreign contribution.  such person has not contravened any

 Public servants - any person who is in provisions of the act

service/ pay of the government, or  management of its foreign contribution has

remunerated by the government for the been vested in an authority prescribed by
performance of any public duty. the government.

• Prohibits the transfer of foreign contribution

to any other person.

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• Any person seeking prior permission,

registration/renewal of registration of FCRA
certificate must provide the Aadhaar number
of all its office bearers, directors/key
functionaries, as an identification document.

 In case of a foreigner, they must provide

a copy of the passport or the OCI card for
identification.

• Extends the period of suspension of

registration by additional 180 days from the
existing provision of suspension of registration
not exceeding 180 days.

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Practice Question – Mains

Q1.Consider the following statements regarding
international transfer of major arms:
1. The largest arms exporters during 2015-2019
are the United States, Russia, France,
Germany and China.
2. India and Pakistan remained the largest arms
importer in the world over the past five years.
3. Due to persistent UN effort, arms imports by
countries in the Middle East decreased by
more than 50% between 2010-14 and
2015-19.
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Practice Question - Prelims
Q2. Consider the following statements.
1. The Law Commission of India has
never dealt with the subject of ‘Hate
speech’.
2. The term ‘Hate Speech’ is mentioned
in the Constitution of India.
Which of the statement(s) given above
is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860

153 C. Whoever on grounds of religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation,
place of birth, residence, language, disability or tribe –

(a) uses gravely threatening words either spoken or written, signs, visible representations within
the hearing or sight of a person with the intention to cause, fear or alarm; or

(b) advocates hatred by words either spoken or written, signs, visible representations, that causes
incitement to violence shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term
which may extend to two years, and fine up to Rs 5000, or with both.

505 A. Whoever in public intentionally on grounds of religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender,
sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability or tribe uses words, or displays
any writing, sign, or other visible representation which is gravely threatening, or derogatory;

(i) within the hearing or sight of a person, causing fear or alarm, or;

(ii) with the intent to provoke the use of unlawful violence,

against that person or another, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to one year and/or fine up to Rs 5000, or both".

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Practice Question – Prelims Previous Year Question – Prelims 2014

Q3.Consider the following statements with
reference to ‘Motion of No Confidence’ in
the house of the People of Indian
Parliament.
1. Any member of the house can move a
no-confidence motion against the
Council of Ministers.
2. A special majority is required for a
no-confidence motion to be passed.
Which of the statements given above
is/are incorrect?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q4.Consider the following statements
regarding a No-Confidence Motion in
India :
1. There is no mention of a No-
Confidence Motion in the Constitution
of India.
2. A motion of No-Confidence can be
introduced in the Lok Sabha only.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Practice Question - Prelims Practice Question – Prelims

Q5.Equator passes through which of the Q6.Consider the following statements with
following countries? reference to Foreign Contribution
1. Thailand (Regulation) Act, 2010.

2. Indonesia 1. It prohibits Government servants and

editors of newspapers from receiving
3. India any Foreign Contributions.
4. Brazil 2. It comes under the purview of Reserve
5. Ecuador Bank of India.
Select the correct answer from the given Which of the statements given above
codes: is/are correct?
(a) 1, 3 and 4 only (a) 1 only
(b) 2, 4, and 5 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 5 only (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) 2, 3 and 5 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2

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Practice Question – Prelims

ANSWER
Q1. Option (c) – 2 and 3 only
Q2. Option (d) – Neither 1 nor 2
Q3. Option (b) – 2 only
Q4. Option (c) – Both 1 and 2
Q5. Option (b) – 2, 4, and 5 only
Q6. Option (a) – 1 only

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