Recently, the Indian Defence Minister held a bilateral meeting with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic in New Delhi.
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country located in Central Europe.
The Czech Republic shares its borders with four countries:
Poland lies to its north and northeast.
Slovakia lies to its east.
Austria lies to its south.
Germany lies to its west and northwest.
The capital city of the Czech Republic is Prague.
The country experiences a temperate climate, characterised by warm summers and cold, cloudy and humid winters.
The important mountain ranges of the Czech Republic include the Carpathian Mountains, Ore Mountains, Sudetic Mountains and Šumava Mountains.
The highest point of the country is Mount Sněžka, located in the Sudetic Mountains. It rises to an elevation of 5,259 feet (1,603 metres).
The major rivers draining the Czech Republic include the Elbe, Oder, Vltava, Moravia and Morava rivers.
The Oder River flows northwards towards the Baltic Sea.
The Czech Republic possesses various natural resources, including arable land, kaolin, graphite, clay, forests and coal.
Recently, botanists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered and described a new plant species named Ceropegia tamilnaduensis.
Ceropegia tamilnaduensis is a newly discovered plant species found on the hill slopes of the Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.
It is a perennial herb found growing at an elevation of approximately 380 metres on a hill slope adjacent to a stream and surrounded by evergreen forests.
The plant has solitary flowers that grow directly from the leaf axils, along with drooping stems.
It possesses a glabrous (hairless) central corona and a pollinial corpusculum with lateral wings.
The species produces unusually large seeds measuring up to 14 mm in length.
Ceropegia tamilnaduensis shows close morphological similarities with two other species.
Ceropegia annamacharyae: It shows similarity in flower structure.
Ceropegia swarupa: It shows similarity in narrow leaves and body structure.
The Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tamil Nadu. It received the status of a Wildlife Sanctuary in 2015.
The sanctuary features 29 mountain peaks, including Sivagiri Mala, which is its highest peak at 1,748 metres. Other important peaks include Totti Malai, Kalli Malai and Aruitalai Mottai.
The sanctuary is sustained by the drainage network of the Cauvery, Moyar, Bhavani, Vaigai and Tamirabarani River Systems.
The important plant species found in the sanctuary include Santalum album (Sandalwood), Shorea, Tectona grandis, Shola tree species, Avicennia mangroves and Strobilanthes kunthiana.
The sanctuary is home to several important wildlife species, including the Nilgiri Tahr, Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Lion-tailed Macaque, Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Gaur and Sloth Bear.
The Finance Bill was recently discussed in the Lok Sabha.
The Finance Bill is a crucial part of the Union Budget and is introduced every year to implement the government's fiscal proposals.
It provides the legislative framework for taxation, expenditure and revenue adjustments for the upcoming financial year.
Article 110(a) of the Constitution provides that a Bill is a Money Bill if it contains provisions dealing with the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax.
The Finance Bill is presented along with the Union Budget and is accompanied by a Memorandum explaining its tax provisions.
Financial Bills are classified into two types under the Constitution.
A Financial Bill (I) contains provisions similar to those of a Money Bill, along with other legislative provisions.
It can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha and requires the President's recommendation.
Except for its introduction, it follows the same procedure as an Ordinary Bill.
A Financial Bill (II) does not contain any of the provisions specified in Article 110 relating to Money Bills. However, it involves expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India.
It can be introduced in either House of Parliament, but requires the President's recommendation before it can be considered.
A Money Bill is a Bill that contains provisions dealing exclusively with matters specified under Article 110 of the Constitution.
These matters include:
Taxation: Imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax.
Government Borrowing: Regulation of the borrowing of money by the Government of India.
Consolidated Fund of India: Custody, payment into or withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Government Expenditure: Appropriation of money out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha certifies whether a Bill is a Money Bill.
The Rajya Sabha cannot amend or reject a Money Bill. It can only make recommendations, which the Lok Sabha may accept or reject.
|
Feature |
Money Bill |
Finance Bill |
|---|---|---|
|
Definition |
Contains only provisions relating to matters specified under Article 110, such as taxation, borrowing and expenditure. |
Includes taxation provisions and other financial matters. |
|
Introduction |
Can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha with the President's recommendation. |
Finance Bill (I): Only in Lok Sabha. Finance Bill (II): In either House. |
|
Role of Rajya Sabha |
Can only make recommendations, which the Lok Sabha may reject. |
Can suggest amendments and reject the Bill. |
|
Joint Sitting |
Not allowed. |
Allowed in case of a deadlock. |
Article 371 is included in Part XXI of the Indian Constitution, which deals with temporary, transitional and special provisions for certain States.
It has been part of the Constitution since 26 January 1950. However, Articles 371(A) to 371(J) were introduced through constitutional amendments under Article 368.
Article 371 deals with the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The Governor of Maharashtra has a special responsibility to establish separate development boards for Vidarbha, Marathwada and the rest of Maharashtra.
Similarly, the Governor of Gujarat has a special responsibility to establish separate development boards for Saurashtra, Kutch and the rest of Gujarat.
Article 371A provides special constitutional protection to the religious and social practices of the Nagas, their customary law and procedure, and matters relating to civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law.
No Act of Parliament concerning these matters, including the ownership and transfer of land and its resources, applies to Nagaland unless the State Legislative Assembly passes a resolution to that effect.
The provision also gives the Governor a special responsibility regarding law and order in the State.
Article 371B deals with Assam and was introduced in 1969.
It empowers the President to provide for the constitution and functioning of a committee of the Assam Legislative Assembly consisting of members elected from the tribal areas.
Article 371C applies to Manipur and was inserted into the Constitution in 1972.
It provides for the constitution of a committee of legislators from the Hill Areas of Manipur.
The Governor has a special responsibility to submit an annual report to the President regarding the administration of the Hill Areas.
Articles 371D and 371E provide special provisions for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Under Article 371D, the President can issue an order to provide equitable opportunities and facilities to people belonging to different parts of Andhra Pradesh in matters of public employment and education.
Article 371F applies to Sikkim and provides that the State Legislative Assembly must consist of at least 30 members.
The Governor has a special responsibility for the maintenance of peace and ensuring equitable arrangements for the social and economic advancement of different sections of the population.
Article 371G applies to Mizoram.
It provides special constitutional protection for the religious and social practices of the Mizos, their customary law and procedure, and matters relating to the administration of civil and criminal justice.
It also protects matters concerning the ownership and transfer of land.
Article 371H applies to Arunachal Pradesh and confers a special responsibility on the Governor regarding law and order in the State.
Article 371I relates to Goa.
It provides that the Goa Legislative Assembly must consist of not less than 30 members.
Article 371J accords special provisions to the Hyderabad-Karnataka Region, now known as Kalyana Karnataka.
It provides for the establishment of a separate development board for the region.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.