Hi Guys,
I feel and I am sure you would agree that in this information age, each topic has plethora of material available. More often than not, it is not possible to go through all of it to arrive at an informed and balanced opinion. Some reasons are - much effort needed on an individual's part, multiple sources of information, incompleteness and/or 100% reliability issue of most of the sources etc.
We have all covered topics but from different points and have disparate opinions. I propose that we start discussions on contentious/current issues so that all can contribute to them and bring different aspects together to elucidate pros and cons more fully. We need to prepare for below streams as per UPSC syllabus (categorization is rough) -
1. Polity, governance, Administrative systems, Constitution, statutes etc
2. Environment, Demographics and reproductive health, Sanitation, bio-diversity and Disaster management etc
3. Economics concepts, FYPs, Missions for different sectors, Infrastructure development initiatives etc
4. History, Culture and Arts, Geography
5. IR, International agencies, conventions and Security challenges
Including month of July, we have about 5 months till Mains. We can allot one month for each of topics. Above list can be shuffled as per consensus of participants and need not be in same sequence. Similarly topics in each stream can be decided by vote of majority or any other way all agree.
While posting, please refrain from trivial, disparaging and/or personal discussion/posts to maintain quality and decorum.
Lets start with Stream 1 in July. Here is first topic to kick start the discussion -
Polity - Topic 1 :
Can article 370 be repealed unilaterally by Indian parliament i.e. is art. 370 covered by art. 368? Is J&K part of 'Union' of India as envisaged by founding fathers or art 370 is the sole link for extension of executive authority of Union?
Comments
1. External Affairs
2. Defence
3. Communications
4. Ancillary powers related to election, statistics gathering and judicial pronouncements
Thus art. 370 is the sole link of exercise of executive power of parliament. Though, article 368 gives sweeping powers to parliament to amend, vary and repeal any provision/article in constitution, once art. 370 is repealed, Union will effectively unilaterally forfeit any control over state of J&K.
In my opinion, J&K can be safely said not to be fully integrated with 'Union' of india and temporary provisions in art 370 still govern relationship. It will continue until legislative assembly of J&K passes resolution to authorize parliament to repeal art 370 and accede to provisions applicable to other states.
Different take or caveat on this?