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Coup attempt in Sierra Leone

GS Paper 2: Polity and International Relations, Effect of Policies and Polities on India, Important International Institution.

Context-:
Following an assault by unidentified gunmen in the capital, the Minister of Information and Civic Education announced an unsuccessful coup attempt aimed at overthrowing the government.

Details-:
In August 2023, the Sierra Leone police arrested several people, including senior military officers who were accused of planning violent attacks on government institutions.
The recent attacks were an attempt to free the military officers.
An indefinite curfew was immediately levied following the attack and all flights are rescheduled according to curfew.
A cash reward has been declared to anyone who could provide details about the coup leaders.

Factors Contributing to Unrest-:

  • Political Instability:-
      • President Bio's narrow re-election in June led to a contested outcome, causing political instability.
      • The All People’s Congress party alleged election manipulation, boycotting parliament until October.
      • Elected members refused to take office, contributing to the political crisis.
  • Economic Instability:-
      • The high cost of living crisis and severe poverty are prevalent issues in Sierra Leone.
      • In August, the inflation rate surged by 50.94%, exacerbating economic challenges.
      • President Bio's economic policies worsened the crisis, leading to violent protests demanding his resignation.
      • UN reports indicate 59.2% of the population lives in poverty, with a youth unemployment rate of 4.15% in 2022.
  • Police Aggression:-
      • The use of live ammunition to quell the 2020 prison riot raised concerns about police aggression.
      • August 2022 protests resulted in six police officers and 27 protesters dead.
      • The lack of accountability for protest casualties sustains public resentment against the government.
      • Ongoing police aggression contributes to the volatile situation in Sierra Leone.


Will the ECOWAS intervene-:
Sierra Leone is a member country of ECOWAS and hence if any security concern arises in the future, ECOWAS and the member countries will step in to maintain constitutional order.
The visit from the ECOWAS delegates to the country highlights its commitment to democracy.
Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world and if a coup attempt is successful, the consequent ECOWAS intervention and sanction will be detrimental.

Other Instance in Africa-:
Since 2020, six African countries have undergone nine coups and coup attempts.
Countries including Niger, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Sudan are under military rule.
The growing antagonism of people towards democratically elected governments paved the way for the junta to legitimize their takeovers.


About Sierra Leone-:
Sierra Leone is situated on the Atlantic Ocean, bordered by Guinea to the north and northeast, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest.
The capital and largest city is Freetown.
Mount Bintumani (also known as Loma Mansa) is the highest peak in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone's economy is predominantly agrarian, with agriculture employing a significant portion of the population.
Apart from diamonds, Sierra Leone is rich in other natural resources such as gold, bauxite, and rutile.


Related Search-:
Coup in Niger (2023).
Crisis in Sudan (2023 and 2021).
Burkina Faso Coup (2022).
Military Coup in Mali (2021, 2020).

Prelims Specific-:
About ECOWAS
Reason of coup attempt in Sierra Leone
About Sierra Leone (Geography)

Suspension of MPs from Parliament

GS Paper 2: Indian Polity and Constitution; Parliament, State Legislature.

Context-:
A total of 33 Opposition members were suspended from Lok Sabha on Monday for disrupting the proceedings of the House.

Details-:
The current round of suspensions comes after similar action against 14 MPs last week.
The total number of MPs barred from attending the Winter Session now stands at 47 — among the highest ever.
The largest number of MPs suspended from Parliament is from 1989 when 63 lawmakers were asked to walk out.

When are MPs suspended-:
The fundamental principle dictates that it is the responsibility of the Presiding Officer—whether the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha—to uphold order, thereby facilitating the smooth functioning of the House.
To guarantee the proper conduct of proceedings, the Speaker/Chairman possesses the authority to compel a member to withdraw from the House.

How are Lok Sabha MPs suspended-:

  • Rule 373-:
      • Rule Number 373 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business states that in case the Lok Sabha Speaker thinks that the conduct of any member is “grossly disorderly”, he or she may direct that member to “withdraw immediately from the House”.
      • The member is required to “do so forthwith”, and stay away from the “remainder of the day’s sitting”.
  • Rules 374-:
      • Rule 374 empowers the Presiding officers to name the legislators if the MP continues disrupting the House even after repeated warnings.
      • After that, the House can move a motion to suspend the MP for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session
  • Rule 374 A-:
      • The Speaker may invoke Rule 374A in case of grave disorder occasioned by a member coming into the well of the House or abusing the Rules of the House, persistently and wilfully obstructing its business by shouting slogans or otherwise.
      • The member concerned, “on being named by the Speaker, stands automatically suspended from the service of the House for five consecutive sittings or the remainder of the session, whichever is less”.
While the Speaker is empowered to place a member under suspension, the authority for revocation of this order is not vested in her.
It is for the House, if it so desires, to resolve on a motion to revoke the suspension.


How are Rajya Sabha MPs suspended-:
  • Rule 255 -:
      • It empowers the Chairman of Rajya Sabha to direct any Member to withdraw immediately from the House for any disorderly conduct.
  • Rule 256-:
      • This rule empowers the Chairman to name the members who persistently disregard the authority of the Chair or abuse the rules of the Council.
      • After that, the House may adopt a motion suspending the Member for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session.

Note-:
It should be noted that, unlike Lok Sabha (under rule 374A), Rajya Sabha can not suspend its members without passing a motion for the same.

Can courts intervene-:
Article 122 of the Constitution stipulates that the proceedings of the parliament are immune from judicial scrutiny.
Nevertheless, courts have occasionally interfered with the procedural operations of the legislature.


The 1989 suspension-:
The 63 MPs were suspended when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister. With more than 400 MPs, the Congress government then enjoyed a brute majority, much like the BJP now.
On March 15, 1989, the Lok Sabha witnessed an uproar over the tabling of the Justice Thakkar Commission of Inquiry into the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi [a commission of inquiry under Justice MP Thakkar, set up in 1984].
This led to the suspension of 63 MPs in one go, the highest ever.

Related Search-:
Role of Presiding Officier in Parliament.

Prelims Specific-:
Suspension of MPs from Parliament
Rule Number 373, 374, 374A Lok Sabha
Rule Number 255, 256 Rajya Sabha
Judicial Intervention (Article 122)

Manning of the Arctic

GS Paper 3: Achievements of Indians in science & technology and developing new technology

Context:
India will have around-the-year manning of the Arctic with the launch of the first-ever winter expedition in this region.

      • India sent off its first winter expedition, comprising four scientists from four different institutions to Himadri.
India in the Arctic:
India signed the Svalbard Treaty in Paris in 1920.
But it took until 2007 for the first Indian expedition comprising five scientists to visit the International Arctic Research Facilities.
It is to initiate studies in Arctic microbiology, atmospheric sciences, and geology.
India’s permanent research station, Himadri, began operations in July 2008.


Himadri:
Himadri is India’s Arctic Research Station at Ny-Ålesund in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean.
Himadri has been equipped for observations during polar nights (that last longer than 24 hours), and supplied with special winter gear, transport, and logistics support from Norwegian agencies.


Current Expeditions:
Himadri is currently manned for about 180 days every year.
It has so far hosted more than 400 Indian researchers who have made a total of about 200 visits to Svalbard.
Four scientists from various Indian institutes, including the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, IIT-Mandi, Raman Research Institute, and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research in Goa, are conducting a winter expedition until January 15, 2024.


Areas of Research:
The research areas will include atmospheric sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, and climate studies.
Scientists will study lightning over the Arctic in winter, the role of precipitation in climate change, the characterisation of radio frequency environment, and the role of aerosols on climate change.


Bases in the Arctic:
At least 10 countries have set up permanent facilities at the International Arctic Research.
The Svalbard group of islands is the closest human habitation to the North Pole.
The mean temperature in February, the coldest month, is minus 14 degree Celsius, and that in July, the warmest, is 5 degree Celsius.
Due to the extreme cold, taking scientific observations or sampling has remained largely limited to the summer months.
India will join a small group of countries that operate their Arctic research bases through the winter.
The area above the Arctic Circle, north of latitude 66° 34’ N, is part of eight countries — Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the US.
These countries make up the Arctic Council, plus the Arctic Ocean.


Polar Research:
The polar regions, the Arctic and Antarctica, offer pristine environments for scientists to study a range of natural phenomena.
It includes atmospheric, oceanic, biological, geological, glaciological and earth sciences research.
Scientific research in the Arctic region is governed by international legal instruments like the Svalbard Treaty of 1920 and the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas, apart from the individual jurisdictions of the Arctic countries.
In recent years, climate change research has been attracting scientists to the Arctic region.

Impact of warming:
Temperatures in the Arctic region have risen by about 4 degree Celsius on average over the last 100 years.
2023 was the warmest year on record.
The extent of Arctic sea-ice has been declining at the rate of 13 per cent/ decade, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
At this rate, the Arctic could become ice-free in less than 20 years.
Rising sea levels can influence atmospheric circulation.
An increase in tropical sea surface temperatures could lead to increased precipitation in the tropics, a shift in the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, and high chances of an increase in extreme rainfall events.
Global warming might render the Arctic more hospitable, prompting increased interest in exploring and utilizing its resources like minerals.
This shift could spur a race among nations to control trade routes, navigation, and other vital sectors in the region.

Related Search:
Arctic Council
Svalbard Treaty in 1920
India's Arctic Policy

Prelims Specific:
India's base in the Arctic
About Himadri
Current Expeditions by India
Areas of Research
Other Bases in the Arctic
Impact of Warming on Arctic

Sultanpur National Park

Context:
The Sultanpur National Park in Farrukhnagar, Gurugram has reported a decrease of 20-30 per cent in the number of migratory birds this season.

Details:
Migratory birds start coming in by the first week of October and around 22,000 birds visit Sultanpur Park every year by the end of January.
This year, it could be much lower.

Reasons:
One of the reasons for this could be the change in temperature level.
The birds come from cold regions like Siberia, Central Asia and Europe.
The decreased migration could be attributable to the fact that the winter is not cold enough to force them out of the region.
If the birds still find food there, they won’t migrate.
There is a disturbance in these smaller wetlands due to increased human activities and interference, and the number of migratory birds here has come down drastically.


Sultanpur National Park:
Formerly recognized as Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Sultanpur National Park lies within Haryana's Gurgaon district and primarily comprises wetlands.
This park serves as a crucial habitat for diverse aquatic birds, encompassing both migratory and resident species.
Designated as a Ramsar site in 2021, it holds international significance as a wetland area.
The park showcases tropical and dry deciduous vegetation alongside seasonal aquatic plants and artificial islands.
Additionally, it encompasses open grasslands and features a variety of flora such as grasses, dhok, khair, tendu, ber, jamun, banyan trees, and neem, among others.
The Sultanpur Park has recorded around 250 bird species.
The park with an area of 1.42 sq km, is not only a national park and wildlife sanctuary but also a Ramsar site since 2021.

National Geoscience Data Repository Portal

Context:
Ministry of Mines launched the National Geoscience Data Repository (NGDR) Portal, recently.

About National Geoscience Data Repository Portal:
NGDR is a comprehensive online platform for accessing, sharing, and analyzing geospatial information across the nation.
The NGDR initiative was spearheaded by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Bhaskarachaya Institute of Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N).
It represents a significant leap forward in democratizing critical geoscience data, empowering stakeholders across industries and academia with unprecedented access to invaluable resources.

About BISAG-N:

    • Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics [BISAG (N)] is an Autonomous Scientific Society.
    • It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 under the MeitY, Government of India.
    • It is to undertake technology development and management, research & development, facilitate National & International cooperation, capacity building and support technology transfer & entrepreneurship development in the area of geo-spatial technology.
    • BISAG has implemented GIS and geo-spatial technologies for major Ministries and almost all States.
    • For this purpose, geo-spatial science (GIS Remote Sensing, Image Processing, Photogrammetry, GPS, Cell Phone etc.), Information Science System (MIS, Database, ERP, Project Management, Web, Artificial Intelligence etc.) and Mathematics Science System (Geometry, Fluid, Mechanics, Trigonometry, Algebra etc.) have been integrated in-house by BISAG.
    • At present, BISAG is a state agency of the Department of Science and Technology Government of Gujarat, located at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Telecom Bill 2023

Context:
The Centre introduced the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, in Parliament by the Union minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, recently.

Key highlights of the Bill:

      • The bill revokes existing laws—the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933, and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act of 1950.
      • Additionally, it modifies the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act of 1997.
      • It mandates prior authorization from the central government for various telecom-related activities.
      • Spectrum allocation will mostly occur through auctions, except for specific purposes like national security, disaster management, and select services.
      • The government gains powers to intercept or block messages under specific circumstances and may temporarily take control of telecom infrastructure in emergencies.
      • It also has the authority to set standards for telecom equipment and networks.
      • The bill ensures providers' access to public or private property for establishing telecom infrastructure and emphasizes user protection measures, including consent for specified messages and mechanisms to report malware.
      • Notably, it revises the Universal Service Obligation Fund as Digital Bharat Nidhi, permitting its utilization for research and development.
      • It introduces an adjudication process for Criminal and civil offenses, along with penalties for various unauthorized telecom activities.

Reasons behind the introduction of the Bill:
The telecommunications sector serves as a crucial catalyst for both economic progress and societal advancement, serving as the primary access point to digital services.
Safeguarding our nation's security heavily relies on ensuring the safety of our telecommunication networks.
Hence, an imperative exists to establish a legal and regulatory framework that prioritizes the security of these networks, fostering inclusive digital growth.
Given the substantial transformations in telecommunications—both in its nature and technology—in recent years, there is an urgent requirement for legislation that aligns with the evolving needs of our society.