R2R NEWSPAPER NOTES

R2R SSB batches starting from 4th of July. Referred articles were published in The Hindu.

1. Opening New Doors for Parliament's Library Service

• Parliamentary Research Services (PRLS) Role:
  • PRLS is an integral part of the Indian Parliament, providing research, documentation, and information services to Members of Parliament (MPs).
  • It aims to equip MPs with timely and quality information to facilitate their participation in legislative debates and policymaking.
  • Historically, MPs have not fully leveraged these services, despite their importance in a complex legislative process.
• Challenges and Initiatives:
  • Limited engagement: MPs often rely on political aides or external consultants, leading to a disconnect with the specialized research available within Parliament.
  • Low utilization: In the past 15 years, the director has sent over 10,000 emails to MPs, but the estimated usage of the email content is only 1-2%.
  • Understaffing: PRLS operates with limited human resources and infrastructure, hindering its capacity to provide comprehensive support. For instance, 40 to 50 MPs have a LAMP fellow, yet PRLS remains understaffed.
  • New initiatives: PRLS is undergoing a transformation to become more proactive and responsive to MPs' needs, including:
    • Improving delivery mechanisms for research outputs.
    • Expanding its outreach to MPs and their staff.
    • Developing a robust online repository of information.
    • Collaborating with international parliamentary research services like IFLA and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
    • The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) is collaborating with PRLS to build a diverse knowledge repository and identify global trends affecting the European Union.
    • Argentina's Scientific Office for Legislative Advice (OCAL) is sharing expertise on external collaborations.
• Swati Sudhakaran & Abantika Ghosh (Advisors, Public Policy Advisory Firm in New Delhi): They are involved in the process of enhancing PRLS, emphasizing the need for robust research and analysis to inform legislative processes.
• Vision for the Future:
  • The goal is to make PRLS a world-class research and referral service.
  • It aims to address challenges like artificial intelligence governance and climate change.
  • Promoting south-south collaboration with countries like Brazil, Africa, and Colombia to enhance research quality.
  • The initiative seeks to strengthen the linkage between lawmakers and researchers, ensuring that policymaking is well-informed and evidence-based.

• Core Principles of the Indian Constitution:
  • The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is the bedrock of the republic, embodying the ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.
  • It initially did not include the terms 'socialist' and 'secular'.
• Inclusion of 'Socialist' and 'Secular':
  • The words 'socialist' and 'secular' were added to the Preamble by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, during the Emergency.
  • This inclusion aimed to explicitly reflect the existing ethos of the Constitution, rather than introduce new concepts.
  • The Supreme Court of India has repeatedly affirmed that secularism is part of the 'basic structure' of the Constitution.
• Understanding Socialism in India:
  • Indian socialism is not a rigid dogma but a blend of democratic and economic socialism.
  • It emphasizes social and economic justice, aiming to eliminate inequalities and secure equitable distribution of resources.
  • The Directive Principles of State Policy further articulate the socialist vision, guiding the state towards social welfare and economic development.
  • Article 39 and 43 are key articles related to this.
• Understanding Secularism in India:
  • Indian secularism is not irreligious neutrality but a positive assurance that the state will treat all religions equally, protecting the rights of minorities.
  • It ensures citizens have the freedom of conscience, belief, faith, and worship.
  • Articles 25, 26, 29, and 30 are crucial for religious freedom and minority rights.
  • The Supreme Court's landmark judgment in Kesavananda Bharati (1973) held that Parliament cannot alter the basic structure of the Constitution, which includes secularism.
• M.A. Baby (General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)): Advocates for the continued relevance and importance of socialism and secularism in the Indian context, emphasizing their role in achieving social justice and upholding constitutional values.
• The Real Agenda and Debate:
  • There have been calls to remove 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Preamble, particularly from conservative groups.
  • Proponents of retaining these terms argue that their removal would undermine the fundamental values of the Constitution and India's identity as a democratic, secular, and socialist republic.
  • The debate highlights the ongoing struggle to define India's future path, with some seeing these terms as vestiges of the past and others as essential safeguards for the nation's pluralistic and equitable society.

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