Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

Recently, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) denied the rumours of irregularities in the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) Examination.

Background:-

The Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC) Examination was conducted in July.

Following the exam, some images of question paper portions were allegedly uploaded on social media, which led to speculations about potential irregularities.

About Union Public Service Commission (UPSC):-

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the central recruiting agency in India.

It is an independent constitutional body.

The provisions regarding the composition of UPSC, the appointment and removal of its members and the powers and functions of UPSC are provided in Part XIV of the Indian Constitution under Article 315 to Article 323.

Parallel to the UPSC at the Centre, there is a State Public Service Commission (SPSC) in the state.

The provisions regarding the composition of SPSC, the appointment and removal of its members and the powers and functions of SPSC are provided in Part XIV of the Indian Constitution under Article 315 to Article 323.

Constitutional Provisions:-

Article 315: Constitution of Public Service Commissions (PSC) for the Union and for the States of India.

Article 316: Appointment and term of office of members of UPSC as well as SPSC.

Article 317: Removal and suspension of a member of both the UPSC or SPSC.

Article 318: Power to make regulations for the conditions of service of members and staff of the Commission.

Composition of Union Public Service Commission:-

Appointment of Members: The Chairman and other members of the UPSC are appointed by the President of India.

Term of Office: Any member of the UPSC shall hold office for a term of six years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Reappointment: Any person who has once held the office as a member of a Public Service Commission is ineligible for reappointment to that office.

Resignation: A member of the Union Public Service Commission may resign from his/her office by submitting a written resignation to the President of India.

Removal/Suspension of Members: The Chairman or any other member of UPSC shall only be removed from his/her office by order of the President of India.

The President can suspend the Chairman or any other member from his/her office in respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court.

Conditions for Removal: The Chairman or any other member of UPSC may be removed if he/she:

is adjudged

engages during his/her term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his/her office.

is, in the opinion of the President, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body.

Regulating the Conditions of Service: In the case of the UPSC, the President of India shall:-

Determine the number of members of the Commission and their conditions of service.

Make provisions with respect to the number of members of the staff of the Commission and their conditions of service.

Expenses of UPSC: The expenses of the UPSC including salaries, allowances and pensions of the members or staff of the Commission are charged to the Consolidated Fund of India.

Submission of Reports: The UPSC shall present an annual report to the President of India containing the work done by the Commission.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

Recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) has announced a revision in the existing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

About Graded Response Action Plan:-

Formulated in 2016.

It was officially notified in 2017 for Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

The plan was formulated after several meetings were held by Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) with state government representatives and experts.

These are institutionalized measures to be taken when air quality deteriorates, hence work only as an emergency measure.

GRAP includes the measures, which will be taken by different government agencies to prevent the worsening of the Air Quality of Delhi-NCR and prevent PM10 and PM2.5 levels to go beyond the ‘moderate’ national Air Quality Index (AQI) category. (Air pollution)

If air quality reaches the severe+ stage, GRAP talks about shutting down schools and implementing the odd-even road-space rationing scheme.

The plan requires action and coordination among 13 different agencies in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan (NCR areas).

Measures announced-

Moderate to poor- (when PM2.5 is in the range of 61-120 or when PM10 is in the range of 101-350.):-

Heavy fines for garbage burning.

Close/enforce pollution control regulations in brick kilns and industries.

Mechanised sweeping on roads with heavy traffic and water sprinkling.

Strictly enforce a ban on firecrackers.

Very Poor- (PM2.5 is in the range of 121-250 or PM10 is in the range of 351-430):-

Stop the use of diesel generator sets.

Enhance parking fee by 3-4 times.

Increase bus and Metro services.

Apartment owners to discourage burning fires in winter by providing electric heaters during winter.

Advisories to people with respiratory and cardiac conditions to restrict outdoor movement.

Severe- (PM 2.5 over 250 or PM10 over 430):-

Close brick kilns, hot mix plants, and stone crushers.

Maximise power generation from natural gas to reduce generation from coal.

Encourage public transport, with differential rates.

More frequent mechanized cleaning of roads and sprinkling of water.

Severe+ or Emergency- (PM 2.5 over 300 or PM10 over 500 for 48+ hours):-

Stop entry of trucks into Delhi (except essential commodities).

Stop construction work.

Introduce odd/even schemes for private vehicles and minimise exemptions.

Task Force to decide any additional steps including shutting of schools.

Revised GRAP:

The revised GRAP will come into force from 1st October 2023 and will be applicable to the entire NCR.

The key revisions include the enforcement of the National Green Tribunal or Supreme Court’s order on overaged diesel and petrol vehicles and as per extant statutes during ‘Poor’ Air Quality.

In the case of ‘Very Poor’ Air Quality, remedial measures need to be intensified for the predominant sectors contributing to adverse air quality in each of such hotspots.

During ‘Severe’ Air Quality, NCR State governments will impose strict restrictions on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and GautamBuddh Nagar.

If air quality reaches ‘Severe ’, then NCR State governments might take a decision on discontinuing physical classes even for classes sixth to ninth, class 11th, and conduct lessons in an online mode.

About the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):-

Establishment: 2020.

It was formed by an ordinance in October 2020.

HQ: Delhi. (CAQM)

The commission replaces the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA).

EPCA: it is a Supreme Court-mandated body tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region.

It was notified in 1998 by Environment Ministry under Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Objectives of CAQM:-

For Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas. ( Delhi and Air Pollution)

For better co-ordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index and

For matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Powers of the CAQM:-

The rulings by the Commission on air pollution will override anything contained in any other law.

The powers of the Commission will also supersede that of any other body in matters of air pollution.

Therefore, in cases where conflict may arise between orders or directions issued by the other State governments, State Pollution Control Boards or even the Central Pollution Control Board, the orders of the Commission will prevail.

The Commission will have the power to take measures, issue directions and entertain complaints “for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of air in the National Capital Region”.

It will also coordinate action taken by states on air pollution and will lay down parameters for air quality and emission or discharge of environmental pollutants.

It will also have powers to restrict industries in any area, carry out random inspections of any premises including factories and be able to close down an industry or cut its power and water supply in case of non-compliance.

It will also be monitoring the measures taken by the States to prevent stubble burning.

Merits of CAQM:-

Effective Mechanism to tackle Pollution: The permanent Commission envisages a multi-sectoral, public participatory, multi-state dynamic body for combating pollution on a war footing.

More Teeth: It will now be binding on state governments to follow the directions of the Commission regarding air quality management.

It will also have powers to restrict the setting up of industries in vulnerable areas and will be able to conduct site inspections of industrial units.

Consolidated Approach: The commission will have the power to coordinate with relevant state and central governments on the multi-sector plan including industry, power plants, agriculture, transport, residential and construction.

Penal Powers: The penalty for non-compliance shall be imprisonment of up to five years or a fine up to Rs 1 crore, or both.

Relieves Supreme Court: The Centre seeks to relieve the Supreme Court from having to constantly monitor pollution levels through various pollution-related cases.

Participatory Democracy: the Commission would function under the oversight of the elected representatives with regular reports to the Parliament.

Circular Economy

A Circular Economy is the one where products are designed for durability, reuse and recyclability and thus almost everything is reused, remanufactured, and recycled into a raw material or used as a source of energy.

It includes 6 R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refurbishment, Recover, and Repairing of materials.

Need for Circular Economy:

CE focuses on minimising waste while maximisingutilisation and calls for a production model aiming to retain the most value to create a system that promotes sustainability, longevity, reuse, and recycling.

Though India has always had a culture of recycle and reuse, its rapid economic growth, growing population, impact of climate change and rising environmental pollution, the adoption of a circular economy is more imperative now.

CE can lead to the emergence of more sustainable production and consumption patterns, thus providing opportunities for developed and developing countries to achieve economic growth and inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Significance of Circular Economy:

Protection of the environment: Circular economy benefits the environment by consuming fewer natural resources, and thus reduces ecological footprint.

It helps lower the emissions and produces less polluting waste.

It helps in preservation of biodiversity, as there is less pressure on natural resources like forests.

Benefits for the local economy: There is emphasis on promoting production models that rely on reuse of nearby waste as raw material.

Drives employment growth: Circular Economy fosters the development of a new, more inventive, and competitive industrial model, resulting in higher economic growth and more employment opportunities.

Promotes resource independence: Reusing local resources can reduce reliance on imported raw materials.

It can help in achieving self-sufficiency.

Enhanced Food Security: The circular bio economy can contribute to improved food security by using agricultural residues and waste as feedstock for bio-based products instead of diverting them from food production.

Challenges of the Circular Economy:

Infrastructure and Technology: Developing and upgrading recycling and waste management infrastructure, as well as adopting advanced technologies for resource recovery, can be a major challenge.

Behavioural Change: Encouraging a shift in consumer behaviour towards responsible consumption, product reuse, and recycling requires effective communication and behavioural change campaigns.

Regulatory Framework: Ensuring effective and harmonized policies, regulations, and incentives to support circular economy practices across different sectors is challenging.

Financial Investment: Circular economy projects often require significant upfront investments.

Attracting private and public investment to fund these initiatives can be challenging.

Government Initiatives to promote CE

E-Waste Management Policy: Electrical and electronic waste, including both whole and unfinished discarded equipment from their manufacture and repair processes, is referred to as “e-waste” and “electrical and electronic equipment.

Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022: The Union Environment Ministry has launched this policy to mandate to increase in the thickness of plastic carry bags to over 120 microns and the phase-out of some single-use plastic products.

Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0 (SBM-U2.0): It aims to achieve the objective of safe sanitation in urban areas by making all cities “Garbage Free,” guaranteeing grey and black water management in all cities.

It also aims at making all urban local bodies open defecation free (ODF+) and those with a population of less than 1 lakh as ODF++.

In order to effectively manage solid waste, the mission will concentrate on source segregation of trash, using the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) as a guideline, scientific processing of all sorts of municipal solid waste, and repair of former dumpsites.

City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) 2.0: The Government launched the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) 2.0 to promote circular economy in 18 smart cities to be selected through a competition.

The total funding for the scheme will come from loans and a grant of Rs. 106 crore from the European Union.

The programme starts this year and will run until 2027, with the support of the National Institute of Urban Affairs.