SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY

Aadhaar – Mobile Linkage Why in news? The Supreme Court recently declared that privacy is a fundamental right. But most telecom operators continue to pressure their users for mandatory Aadhar linkage - thereby violating individual privacy. What is the linking process? Re-verification requires a user to visit a telecom service centre and undergo a biometric (fingerprint) authentication. The fingerprints are then matched with the Aadhaar database to establish authenticity. The messages and calls for Aadhaar linking have only increased in frequency with time. Some operators have even issues threats of disconnection if linkage doesn’t happen with a specified time. What are the legal issues? The Framework -  The Centre is the custodian of the airwaves. It issues licences to private companies for providing mobile voice and data services. Telecom operators are governed by regulations by the Department of Telecommunications (DOT). This includes clauses for subscr...

Addressing The Concerns With NEET What is the issue? National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is distressing rural students with medical aspirations, the test needs a reform.  What is the basis of NEET? NEET is based on a core curriculum approach, whereby the syllabi of all the school boards have been taken into consideration. It has been prepared by the CBSE, Council of Boards of School Education,National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and adopted by the Medical Council of India. What are the issues with Indian education system? India doesn’t have a common core curriculum, there are 50 different boards. There are wide variations with regard to curriculum design, curriculum transaction and curriculum evaluation among these boards. No significant efforts had been taken so far to bring some sort of uniformity in these curriculums. Only few state boards have prepared their content in tune with the curriculum of national boards, particula...

Disqualification Of MLAs - II What is the issue? The recent disqualification of 18 MLAs in Tamil Nadu by the Speaker brings to the fore certain constitutional questions on the role of the Governor and the Speaker. What are the contentious issues? Governor  - The Governor in this case is showing reluctance to order a floor test, despite a request from the opposition party. A Constitution Bench has earlier observed that the activities within a political party, as to any turbulence or unrest, were beyond the concern of the Governor. The Governor can intervene only when a breakaway group constitutes two-thirds of a party, as stipulated in the Tenth Schedule. However, notably the Bench adds that the Governor should take action during a constitutional crisis i.e. when the government is seen to have lost the confidence of or majority in the House. Thus the court bars Governors only from political embroilment and not restrict their constitutional duty and responsibility. ...

Tata’s Hard Choice What is the issue? Tata Steel’s recent merger is a proof of hard commercial considerations in overseas acquisitions. What is the merger about? Tata Steel had announced its tentative plans to merge their European steel operations in a 50:50 joint venture. Tata Steel and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp AG have planned for this merger. This merger will emerge as the second largest steel producer in the high value-added European market. These companies clarified that this merger is driven more by “industrial and strategic logic” than the need for financial engineering or job cuts. What is the need for the merger? This merger is more about reducing exposure to the barely-growing and over-supplied European market. Tata Steel is keen to free up the capital from its overseas plants in order to double its Indian capacity. Global operations have become a millstone around Tata Steel’s neck. ThyssenKrupp has been progressively shedding its commodity businesses to f...