Election Commission Revised It’s List of National and State Parties

The list of recognised national and state parties was recently updated by the Election Commission of India (EC).

The EC’s decision

The TMC, NCP, and CPI had their national party statuses revoked by the EC, which also recognised AAP as a national party.

The Rashtriya Lok Dal in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi in Andhra Pradesh, the People’s Democratic Alliance in Manipur, the Pattali Makkal Katchi in Puducherry, the Revolutionary Socialist Party in West Bengal, and the Mizoram People’s Conference in Mizoram all had their state party statuses revoked as a result.

The European Commission established stringent technical requirements, solely based on electoral success, for a party to be acknowledged as a national party. An entity could profit or lose

The EC laid down strict technical criteria for a party to be recognised as a national party, based entirely on its electoral performance. A party may gain or lose national/state party status from time to time, depending on the fulfilment of these conditions.

Process of recognition and derecognition

Election Symbols Order, 1968: The process of recognition and derecognition is stipulated under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, which lays down the criteria for recognition as a national or state party.

Specific stipulations: The order has specific stipulations which also find concurrence in the EC’s Political Parties and Election Symbols, 2019 Handbook.

Based on poll performance: The EC’s decision was based on a review of the parties’ poll performances since 2014.

What is a National Party?

The name suggests that a national party would be one that has a presence ‘nationally’, as opposed to a regional party whose presence is restricted to only a particular state or region.

National parties are usually India’s bigger parties.

However, some smaller parties, like the communist parties, are also recognised as national parties.

A certain stature is sometimes associated with being a national party, but this does not necessarily translate into having a lot of national political clout.

Constitution Bench formed in Same-Sex Marriage Case

A fresh Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has been established by the Supreme Court to consider a number of petitions calling for the legalisation of same-sex unions.

A Constitution Bench is what?

The Supreme Court of India’s benches are referred to as the constitution bench.

A Constitution Bench may be established by the Chief Justice of India, who may also refer cases to it.

When the following conditions apply, constitution benches are set up:

Interpretation of the Constitution: Article 145(3) provides for the constitution of at least five judges of the court which sit to decide any case “involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation” of the Constitution of India.

President of India seeking SC’s opinion: When the President has sought the Supreme Court’s opinion on a question of fact or law under Article 143 of the Constitution. Article 143 of the Constitution provides for Advisory jurisdiction to the SC. As per the provision, the President has the power to address questions to the apex Court, which he deems important for public welfare.

Conflicting Judgments: When two or more three-judge benches of the Supreme Court have delivered conflicting judgments on the same point of law, necessitating a definite understanding and interpretation of the law by a larger bench.

The Constitution benches are set up on ad hoc basis as and when the above-mentioned conditions exist.

Constitution benches have decided many of India’s best-known and most important Supreme Court cases, such as:

1. Gopalan v. State of Madras (Preventive detention)

Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (Basic structure doctrine) and

Ashoka Kumar Thakur v. Union of India (OBC reservations) etc.

Why in news now?

The Centre had expressed its concern about the “psychological impact” that same-sex unions could have on children, but refused to link its worries to stigma about same-sex relationships.

The government’s recent affidavit sought to explain how same-sex marriage was antithetical to the view held by many in India that marriage was a “holy union, a sacrament and a sanskar” between a biological man and a woman.

Top-notch Aspirational Toilets to usher in change

All state governments have been given instructions by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to make sure that 25% of new public lavatory seats in any city or urban area are ‘aspirational toilets’.

What do aspirational restrooms do?

The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0’s aspirational toilets programme was introduced in September 2022 with the goal of eradicating open defecation in urban areas.

Indian cities will soon see a quarter of all new public restrooms equipped with high-end amenities including opulent bath cubicles, touchless flushing, nursing rooms and automatic sanitary napkin incinerators.

On Google Maps, these will be labelled as “aspirational restrooms.”

Focus areas for constructing aspirational toilets

The focus areas for constructing these luxury toilets will be tourist and religious destinations, as well as iconic cities.

High-footfall locations such as markets, railway stations, inter-state bus depots, and national highways will be given priority.

Guidelines have been issued to the states for constructing these toilets. It also includes low-height toilets and basins for children.

Hand-dryers, paper napkins, and vending machines for sanitary napkins are proposed to be made available.

Maintenance and funding patterns

One of the business models being explored for the maintenance of these toilets is attaching them with other public services such as restaurants, shopping malls, libraries, cinema halls, or even medicine shops, to make them self-sustaining.

Experts have cautioned that a proper study must be done on the location and the way these toilets will be maintained before beginning any such project.

SpaceX Starship: World’s biggest rocket set for first test flight

The most potent rocket ever built, Starship, will make its first test flight soon according to SpaceX.

About SpaceX Starship

The primary objective of SpaceX’s Starship, a fully reusable spacecraft, is to transport people to the Moon, Mars, and other planets.

Key objectives

Starship will be used by SpaceX to create a self-sufficient human settlement on Mars.

The ultimate goal is to make it possible for people to live on multiple planets.

Additionally, it hopes to make Starship reusable, which will lower the cost of space travel and lower the cost per voyage to a few million dollars.

Pralay Ballistic Missile

To bolster its defence forces’ firepower on its northern frontiers, India plans to purchase 250 additional Pralay ballistic missiles for its services.

Ballistic Missile Pralay

From India’s K-series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), the Pralay tactical missile was created.

It can transport bombs weighing between 350 and 700 kg and has a range of 150 to 500 kilometres.

The missile is a road-mobile system with canisters, which improves its mobility and enables speedy launch and preparation.

Pralay may manoeuvre while in flight and maintain a high speed by following a quasi-ballistic trajectory, making it challenging for hostile missile defence systems to intercept.

Classification

The Indian Defence Ministry has classified Pralay as a “conventional Surface-to-Surface missile”.

This distinguishes it from the Agni series of missiles, which have the capability to carry either conventional or nuclear warheads.

Testing and launch

The missile was launched on a quasi-ballistic trajectory in one of the two tests, which enhances its effectiveness against enemy missile defence systems.

Satellite imagery of the test shows that Pralay is a canisterised road-mobile system, which adds to its mobility and flexibility in responding to evolving threats.