Daily News Simplified - DNS

15 07 19
Notes
SL. THE HINDU
TOPICS
NO. PAGE NO.

1 Warlord and war crimes- Bretton Woods Institution 10

1 Law Commission to be formed soon 13

Speed restrictions and sound alerts mooted for protection of

3 09
dolphins

4 Warlord and war crimes - International criminal court 10

5 Relying on the Constitution is not enough 11

6 Looming challenges to India’s standing 10

Dated: 15. July. 2019 DNS Notes

Title Warlord and war crimes (The Hindu Page 10)

Syllabus Mains GS paper I : World History

Theme Bretton Woods Institutions

Highlight About Bretton Woods institutions

s ➢ Economists and politicians drew two key lessons from inter-war economic experiences.
➢ First, an industrial society based on mass production cannot be sustained without mass
consumption. But to ensure mass consumption, there was a need for high and stable
incomes. Incomes could not be stable if employment was unstable. Thus stable incomes
also required steady, full employment. But markets alone could not guarantee full
employment. Therefore governments would have to step in to minimise Fig. 24 –
German forces attack Russia, July 1941. Hitler’s attempt to invade Russia was a turning
point in the war. Fig. 25 – Stalingrad in Soviet Russia devastated by the war. 2019-20 75
The Making of a Global World Briefly summarise the two lessons learnt by economists
and politicians from the inter-war economic experience? Discuss fluctuations of price,
output and employment. Economic stability could be ensured only through the
intervention of the government.
➢ The second lesson related to a country’s economic links with the outside world. The
goal of full employment could only be achieved if governments had power to control
flows of goods, capital and labour.
➢ Thus in brief, the main aim of the post-war international economic system was to
preserve economic stability and full employment in the industrial world. Its framework
was agreed upon at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference held in July
1944 at Bretton Woods in New Hampshire, USA. The Bretton Woods conference
established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to deal with external surpluses and
deficits of its member nations. The International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (popularly known as the World Bank) was set up to finance postwar
reconstruction.
➢ The IMF and the World Bank are referred to as the Bretton Woods institutions or
sometimes the Bretton Woods twins. The post-war international economic system is
also often described as the Bretton Woods system. The IMF and the World Bank
commenced financial operations in 1947. Decision-making in these institutions is
controlled by the Western industrial powers. The US has an effective right of veto over
key IMF and World Bank decisions. The international monetary system is the system
linking national currencies and monetary system.
➢ The Bretton Woods system was based on fixed exchange rates. In this system, national
currencies, for example the Indian rupee, were pegged to the dollar at a fixed exchange
rate. The dollar itself was anchored to gold at a fixed price of $35 per ounce of gold
➢ The Bretton Woods system inaugurated an era of unprecedented growth of trade and
incomes for the Western industrial nations and Japan. World trade grew annually at
over 8 per cent between 1950 and 1970 and incomes at nearly 5 per cent. The growth
was also mostly stable, without large fluctuations.
➢ For much of this period the unemployment rate, for example, averaged less than 5 per
cent in most industrial countries. Fig. 26 – Mount Washington Hotel situated in Bretton
Woods, US. This is the place where the famous conference was held. 2019-20 India and
the Contemporary World 76 These decades also saw the worldwide spread of
technology and enterprise.
➢ Developing countries were in a hurry to catch up with the advanced industrial countries.
Therefore, they invested vast amounts of capital, importing industrial plant and
equipment featuring modern technology
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Dated: 15. July. 2019 DNS Notes

Title Law Commission to be formed soon (The Hindu -Page.13)

Syllabus Prelims: Polity

GS Paper II: Polity
Theme Law Commission

Highlights Context: As of now, there is no law commission and the proposal to reconstitute the
commission will be brought before the Union Cabinet in the next few days. So, the proposal is
to constitute a new Law Commission by the Union Government. Usually
a law commission is headed by a former SC Judge or a former Chief Justice of HC. The last Law
Commission i.e. 21 st Law Commission was constituted under the chairmanship
of Dr. Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan through a Government Order with effect from 1st
September, 2015 and had a three-year term, ending on 31st August, 2018.

About Law Commission

➢ Constitution of India does not provide for creation of Law Commission of India –
hence, not a constitutional body
➢ Constitution of Law Commission is not carried through any fixed legislation – hence,
non-statutory
➢ It is constituted through a government order – hence, created through an executive
order.
➢ The Reports of the Law Commission are considered by the Ministry of Law in
consultation with the concerned administrative Ministries and are submitted to
Parliament from time to time.
➢ The reports of Law Commission are cited in Courts, in academic and public discourses
and are acted upon by concerned Government Departments depending on the
Government’s recommendations.
➢ After independence, the first law commission was constituted for a period of three
years from 1955-1958 under the Chairmanship of Mr. M. C. Setalvad.

Recommended Suggestions
➢ As of now, the law commission is neither a permanent body nor a statutory body.
➢ In 2015, a proposal was mooted to make the law panel into a permanent body either
through an Act of Parliament or an executive order (resolution of the Union Cabinet).
➢ However, the move was shelved after the Prime Minister’s Office felt that the present
way of constituting the Law Commission should continue.
➢ Even in 2010, the then UPA government also had prepared a draft Cabinet note to
give statutory status to the Law Commission and in this regard, the Law Ministry had
mooted to bring the Law Commission of India Bill, 2010. But the idea was shelved.

Terms of Reference of 21 st Law Commission were:

➢ Review/Repeal of obsolete laws
➢ On issues of Law and Poverty
➢ To review the system of judicial administration to ensure that it is responsive to the
reasonable demands of the times and ensure timely disposal of cases without
unnecessary delays.
➢ Examine the existing laws in the light of Directive Principles of State Policy and to
suggest ways of improvement and reform and also to suggest such legislations as
might be necessary to implement the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives
set out in the Preamble to the Constitution.
➢ Examine the existing laws with a view for promoting gender equality and suggesting
amendments thereto.
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➢ Revise the Central Acts of general importance so as to simplify them and to remove
anomalies, ambiguities and inequities.
➢ Recommend to the Government measure for making the statute book up-to-date by
repealing obsolete laws and enactments or parts thereof which have outlived
their utility.
➢ Consider and to convey to the Government its views on any subject relating to law
and judicial administration that may be specifically referred to it by the Government
through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs).
➢ Consider the requests for providing research to any foreign countries as may be
referred to it by the Government through Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of
Legal Affairs).
➢ Examine the impact of globalization on food security, unemployment and
recommend measures for the protection of the interests of the marginalized.

Personal
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Dated: 15. July. 2019 DNS Notes

Title Speed restrictions and sound alerts mooted for protection of dolphins (The Hindu -
Page. 09)
Syllabus Prelims: Environment
Mains GS Paper III: environmental conservation

Theme Conservation of gangetic dolphins

Highlights Context : Ministry of Shipping in its response to a question in parliament has provided its
plan of safeguard the population of the Ganges River Dolphin by restricting the speeds of
vessels and blowing sirens and horns . It plans to implement these steps in the country’s one
dolphin reserve through which National Waterway-1 connecting Haldia to Varanasi passes.

The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS), from Sultanganj to Kahalganj on the
Ganga in Bihar is the only dolphin sanctuary in the country.

Steps

➢ Vessel speed would be restricted to 2.7 knots in Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin

Sanctuary (VGDS) area to reduce the noise generation from propeller
➢ lf any aquatic mammal/dolphin is spotted, then the measures will be taken to push it
away through sirens/signals
➢ The other mitigation measures, according to the Ministry, include fitting vessels with
propeller guards and dolphin deflectors to minimize dolphin accidents and using
non-toxic paints for painting vessels.

About Dolphin

➢ The South Asian river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is an endangered freshwater

or river dolphin found in the region of South Asia which is split into two subspecies,
the Ganges river dolphin and the Indus river dolphin .
➢ The Ganges river dolphin is primarily found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers
and their tributaries in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
➢ The Ganges river dolphin has been recognized by the government of India as
its National Aquatic Animal and is the official animal of the Indian city of Guwahati.
The Indus river dolphin has been named as the National Mammal of Pakistan and
state aquatic animal of Punjab, India.
➢ IUCN status - Endangered
➢ WPA - Schedule I

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Dated: 15. July. 2019 DNS Notes

Title Warlord and war crimes (The Hindu -Page.10)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II: International Relations

Theme International Criminal court

Highlights a. What is the mandate of ICC?

The International Criminal Court is a permanent international court established to investigate,
prosecute and try individuals accused of crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war
crimes and the crime of aggression.
The international criminal court was established by the treaty known as the Rome Statute of
the International Criminal Court. The ICC prosecutes individuals, not groups or States.

b. What is the jurisdiction of ICC?

State that is member to the Rome Statute is placed within the jurisdiction of the ICC.
ICC may exercise its jurisdiction in situations where the alleged perpetrator is a national of a
member State or when the crime was committed in the territory of a member State.
A State not party to the Statute may decide to accept the jurisdiction of the ICC. Moreover,
the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) can also refer a situation to the ICC.
There is no eligibility clause as to who can send a complaint to the ICC, and is therefore open
to individuals, groups, and States. But, referrals can be made either by a State Party to the
Rome Statute or by the UNSC.

This would aid in understanding the current context of US conflict with ICC. Afghanistan is a
State Party of the ICC and therefore Court has jurisdiction over any War crimes committed on
the territory of Afghanistan by US after 1st May, 2003.
However, Afghanistan has not asked for this investigation and the ICC Prosecutor has
decided to open the investigation on her own authority. The Rome Statute requires the
Prosecutor to seek authorization from the judges of the Court, which is currently awaited and
we will have to wait and see on how it moves forward.

c. What is the link between ICC & the UN?

The Rome Statute was negotiated within the UN, but it created an independent judicial body
distinct from the UN. The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the
United Nations, and is different from the International Criminal Court.
ICC is not an office or agency of the United Nations. However, the Rome Statute allows the
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to refer specific situations to the Court that are
outside the jurisdiction of ICC.

The ICC prosecutor even though has had her visa revoked to the US, she can still travel to UN
Offices in US such as UN Headquarters in New York based on diplomatic immunity.

d. What is India's view on ICC?

India has neither signed and therefore nor ratified the Rome Statute on
the International Criminal Court (ICC).
India considers the inherent jurisdiction of the ICC as a violation of a nation’s sovereignty.
Therefore, India has insisted for having an ‘opt-in’ provision whereby a country could accept
the jurisdiction of the ICC by declaration, specified to an issue and time period.
India is resistant to accepting the inherent jurisdiction of the ICC as it would be seen as being
superior to Indian judicial system.
India remains hesitant towards the ICC as it can be used with political motives against India
with regard to Kashmir and in other matters of India’s internal affair
Dated: 15. July. 2019 DNS Notes

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Dated: 15. July. 2019 DNS Notes

Title Relying on the Constitution is not enough (The Hindu -Page.11)

Syllabus Mains GS Paper II: Social Justice

Theme Emancipation of schedules castes

Highlights Editorial Focus: Dalit emancipation cannot exclusively rely on constitutionalism.

Why?
➢ Liberation through constitutionalism is limited due to the limited ability of
Constitution to deliver change in societal behaviour.This is seen in the landmark case
of Surya Narayan Chaudhury v. State of Rajasthan in 1988. This case prohibited
temples from discriminating against Dalits’ right to worship and enter the sacrosanct
spaces as a rule of law.
➢ The verdict delivered by the Chief Justice of India, Justice J.S. Verma, pointed out the
fact that ‘mere enactment of such a law or guaranteeing a right in the Constitution of
India is not enough and the change needed is really in our hearts and not elsewhere.
It is the willing acceptance of the society which alone is the sure guarantee of
eradication of any social evil.’
➢ The Constitution cannot be treated as a grievance cell since the Constitution in itself
cannot offer immediate resolution. This is because the accessibility of the
Constitution to the oppressed is extremely limited, since any violation of rights under
the Constitution has to be resolved by the Indian courts which is time consuming and
financially constrained.
➢ There are genuine gaps while considering constitutional morality as a common
virtue. This is because several individuals and various caste groups do not consider
Dalits as being equal to them. Therefore such individuals would not follow the
principles of the Indian constitution such equality and fraternity among all Indian
citizens. So the principles of Indian constitution cannot be considered as a common
virtue.
➢ B.R. Amedkar is considered is considered as the main architect or father of the Indian
Constitution. B.R. Ambedkar was also a Dalit and therefore when limitation of the
Indian constitution in ensuring Dalit emancipation in India is highlighted, the criticism
is suppressed by making the argument that this cpnsitituion which is being critiqued
for being weak in ensuring Dalit empowerment was formed by B.R. Ambedkar who
was a Dalit.
➢ The methods of attaining Dalit emancipation, however, remain unknown.
Dated: 15. July. 2019 DNS Notes

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Dated: 15. July. 2019 DNS Notes

Title Looming challenges to India's standing (The Hindu -Page.10)

Syllabus Mains GS Paper II: International relations

Theme India’s position in world politics

Highlights Editorial context: Changing geopolitics requires an altered foreign policy

➢ Now the main focus of the author in this editorial is that the geopolitical scenario of
the world is changing and this has brought up new global issues for India deal with.
Therefore according to the author, various aspects of India's foreign policy also is
required to be changed to fit the changing geopolitics of the world.

Earlier Scenario: Multi-alignment based on strategic autonomy

➢ Now up till now India was able to follow a policy of multialignment based on
strategic autonomy. Now what this means is that India will take its own foreign policy
decisions on any global issue based on India's own national interest, and whichever
bloc or country is able to help India achieve its national interest, India will partner
with that country on that issue.

Current Scenario - Earlier policy unsustainable due to U.S. conflict with Russia/ China and
policies of Donald Trump.
➢ Now according to the author, the earlier policy of multi-alignment based on strategic
autonomy has now become unsustainable. Now this is first due to rise in
confrontation between the US with Russia & China. And secondly this earlier policy
needs to be changed because of the recent policies of Donald Trump.

Recommendations from author:

➢ Began engagement with Pakistan

➢ Involve India further in Afghanistan to secure India's interest in expected US
withdrawal from Afghanistan
➢ Ensure resistance to BRI among India's neighbours
➢ Avoid alignment in the new Cold War between US with with Russia and China
➢ India should focus on developing disruptive technologies such as AI, cyber
technology, etc as part of its defence policy
➢ Focus and build India's economic power
Dated: 15. July. 2019 DNS Notes

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