Today in History (September 20^th, 1857)

On September 20, 1857, during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (also known as the Indian Mutiny or Sepoy Mutiny), British troops captured and liberated the city of Delhi from the rebel forces.

Let’s Revise

A) What is the primary focus of the paper ‘Relative Economic Performance of Indian States: 1960-61 to 2023-24’?

1. The impact of foreign investments on Indian states
2. The relative economic performance of Indian states
3. The demographic changes in Indian states
4. The environmental policies of Indian states

Answer: b)
Explanation: The paper examines the relative economic performance of Indian states over the past six and a half decades using indicators such as share in India’s GDP and relative per capita income.
B) Which data source is used for the analysis in the report?

1. Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
2. Ministry of Finance
3. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
4. NITI Aayog

Answer: c)
Explanation: The data for the analysis is taken from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
C) What significant change occurred in the economic performance of southern states after 1991?

1. They experienced a decline in GDP share
2. They became the leading performers in India
3. Their population growth rate increased significantly
4. They faced major economic crises

Answer: b)
Explanation: Since the economic liberalization of 1991, the southern states have emerged as the leading performers, with their per capita income becoming higher than the national average.
D) In 2023-24, what percentage of India’s GDP was accounted for by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu together?

1. 20%
2. 25%
3. 30%
4. 35%

Answer: c)
Explanation: In 2023-24, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu together accounted for approximately 30 percent of India’s GDP.
E) Which state has maintained the highest share of India’s GDP for almost the entire period mentioned?

1. Gujarat
2. Maharashtra
3. Goa
4. Delhi

Answer: b)
Explanation: Maharashtra has maintained the highest share of India’s GDP for almost all of the period mentioned in the content. Maharashtra’s contribution to India’s growth is significant. The state accounts for 12.92% of India’s GDP.
F) How much did Gujarat’s share of India’s GDP increase from 2000-01 to 2022-23?

1. From 5.0 percent to 7.0 percent
2. From 6.4 percent to 8.1 percent
3. From 4.5 percent to 6.5 percent
4. From 7.0 percent to 9.0 percent

Answer: b)
Explanation: Gujarat’s share of India’s GDP increased from 6.4 percent in 2000-01 to 8.1 percent in 2022-23.
G) What significant change occurred in Goa’s relative per capita income since 1970-71?

1. It decreased by half
2. It remained the same
3. It doubled
4. It tripled

Answer: c)
Explanation: Goa’s relative per capita income has doubled since 1970-71.

Summary of Today’s News

India chose to abstain from a UN General Assembly resolution on Israel

• India emphasized that the United Nations should focus on “building bridges” between Israelis and Palestinians.
• This statement came as India chose to abstain from a UN General Assembly resolution urging Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territories based on an International Court of Justice opinion.
• India was one of 43 countries that abstained, while 124 out of 181 members supported the resolution, which included calls for sanctions against Israel.
• India’s UN representative, P. Harish, highlighted the need for collaboration to foster peace, advocating for a two-state solution and emphasizing the importance of the UN charter.
• He condemned the terrorist attacks on Israel in October 2023 and the resulting civilian casualties but did not specifically blame either side for the ongoing violence.
• This abstention marks a shift for India, which has historically supported resolutions demanding Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories.
• Differences in the resolution’s language, particularly a one-year deadline for withdrawal, influenced India’s decision.
• Additionally, Indian defense companies have partnerships with Israeli firms, which could impact India’s arms trade stance.
• The resolution followed recent bombings in Lebanon, attributed to Israel by the Lebanese government.

Union Cabinet Approved One Nation, One Poll Proposal

Context
• The Union Cabinet has approved the “One Nation, One Election” proposal for simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies.
About the Proposal
• The proposal is based on recommendations from a committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
• The plan has two phases:
1. First Phase: Lok Sabha and state assembly elections held together.
2. Second Phase: Local body elections to occur within 100 days of general elections.
• A common electoral roll will be created for all elections.
• An implementation group will oversee discussions nationwide.
• The Cabinet has proposed 18 constitutional amendments, most of which won’t need state assembly approval but must be passed by Parliament.
• A bill will likely be introduced in Parliament during the upcoming winter session.
What Are Simultaneous Elections?
• Simultaneous elections mean holding Lok Sabha and state assembly elections at the same time, aiming to reduce election frequency and costs.
• India previously held simultaneous elections in 1951-52, 1957, 1962, and 1967, but has not maintained this schedule since.
Arguments in Favor
• Reduced Costs: Saves money by avoiding separate elections each year.
• Simplified Process: Managing one election is easier than multiple elections, improving resource efficiency.
• Less Disruption: Fewer elections mean less interruption from the Model Code of Conduct, allowing better governance.
• Clear Accountability: Voters can hold parties accountable for both national and state governance simultaneously.
Arguments Against
• Logistical Challenges: Coordinating elections across states and the central government can be very difficult.
• Regional Issues Overlooked: Local priorities may be overshadowed by national issues, benefiting larger parties.
• Complex Reforms Required: Significant constitutional changes and legal adjustments would be necessary.
Way Ahead
• Synchronizing elections for all government levels could improve governance, making it more transparent and inclusive.
• The law commission will soon release its own report on simultaneous elections.
• It may recommend starting simultaneous elections for all three levels of government—Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies—by 2029.