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The Hindu Editorial Analysis
We understand the significance of reading The Hindu newspaper for enhancing reading skills, improving comprehension of passages, staying informed about current events, enhancing essay writing, and more, especially for banking aspirants who need to focus on editorials for vocabulary building. This article will explore today’s editorial points, along with practice questions and key vocabulary.
Officials Say Gas from New Sources Will End the Shortage
- The current shortage of natural gas in India is expected to be temporary, because the high prices of gas are now making it economically possible to import gas from faraway countries, according to government officials.
- However, gas imports from distant countries take a long time to arrive, which means that India may still face a shortage for some time in the short term.
- India’s LPG production has increased by about 10% after the government decided to give priority to LPG supply for households instead of industrial users.
- A government official, who did not want to reveal his name, said that on March 5 the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas ordered all oil refining companies to increase LPG production as much as possible.
- The ministry instructed that all propane and butane produced, recovered, or available should be used to increase LPG production.
- The official also explained that making quick changes in LNG supply is very difficult.
- Apart from Qatar, other possible countries from which India can import LNG include Norway and the United States.
- However, gas shipments from countries like the United States and Norway take a long time to reach India.
- According to estimates from the shipping industry, a ship travelling to the U.S. or Norway and returning to India with gas cargo may take around two months.
- Another government official said that India has already diversified its sources of LPG and LNG supply, and gas cargo shipments are already reaching the country.
- Earlier, India used to import gas from Qatar at a price of about $6–8 per MMBtu (metric million British thermal unit).
- Currently, the price of gas has increased to around $15 per MMBtu.
- The official explained that when gas prices cross $10 per MMBtu, it becomes economically practical for India to import gas even from distant suppliers like the United States and Norway, even though they are far away.
- The official further said that natural gas will not remain a long-term problem for the country.
- However, some short-term supply difficulties may still continue for some time.
- To deal with concerns raised by restaurant owners about LPG supply, the government formed a committee on Monday.
- This committee includes three executive directors from oil marketing companies (OMCs).
- The committee has been given the responsibility to examine the requests made for LPG supply and try to provide some LPG quantity to restaurateurs.
- The official assured that all genuine requirements will be considered and relief will be given as much as possible.
Lok Sabha Takes Up Resolution to Remove Speaker Amid Accusations Traded by MPs in the House
- The Lok Sabha on Tuesday began discussing a resolution moved by the Opposition to remove Speaker Om Birla.
- During the discussion, both the Treasury benches and the Opposition members exchanged strong accusations about whether the Speaker has remained neutral or not.
- Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju described the resolution as an “attack on democracy”.
- On the other hand, Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said that the resolution was brought because it had become necessary to protect the neutrality of the Speaker’s position.
- While starting the debate, Gogoi criticised the behaviour of the Speaker and accused him of acting in a partisan manner.
- He said that bringing such a resolution had become necessary to “save the Constitution.”
- He also stated that the Opposition felt sad about bringing such a motion because many members personally respect the Speaker, but they believed it was their “dharma and duty” to protect the dignity and discipline of the House.
- The discussion on the resolution has been given a total time of 10 hours, and it will continue on Wednesday and end with a vote.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to speak during the debate on Wednesday before the voting takes place.
- The proceedings started when Congress MP Mohammad Jawed read out the notice requesting the removal of the Speaker.
- The motion was also supported and moved by Congress MPs K. Suresh and Mallu Ravi.
- During the debate, a short procedural disagreement took place about who should preside over the session.
- AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi raised a point of order, asking why BJP MP Jagdambika Pal was presiding over the session.
- He argued that Pal had been appointed to the panel of chairpersons by the Speaker himself, which he believed raised a concern.
- However, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Minister Kiren Rijiju opposed this objection.
- They said that the argument was irrelevant and that Mr. Pal was fully capable of conducting the proceedings during the debate.
- After the presiding officer asked MPs who supported the notice to stand, more than the required 50 MPs stood up in their seats.
- Because of this, the resolution was officially accepted for discussion in the House.
- While speaking, Gogoi claimed that the Opposition was repeatedly denied chances to raise important issues in the Lok Sabha.
- He mentioned the treatment of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.
- According to Mr. Gogoi, Rahul Gandhi was interrupted 20 times in February while trying to speak during the Motion of Thanks debate.
- He said that these interruptions came from the Chair, members of the panel, and senior leaders from the Treasury benches.
- He stated that the Speaker is expected to remain neutral, but uncorrected transcripts of the debate would show how often the Leader of the Opposition was interrupted.
- He further said that while Mr. Gandhi was standing and speaking, another member was called to speak instead.
- Gogoi questioned whether such behaviour reflected the parliamentary traditions that the House should follow.
- He also accused the authorities of using microphones to silence MPs, saying that this goes against the traditions and rituals of Parliament.
- Gogoi also mentioned cases where statements made by Opposition MPs were removed from official records, while allegations made by members of the Treasury benches were allowed to remain.
- During the debate, Kiren Rijiju strongly rejected all the accusations made by the Opposition.
- He defended Speaker Om Birla and said that the Speaker had always acted in an impartial and fair manner.
- Rijiju also said that the Speaker had given several opportunities to Opposition MPs to raise their concerns in the House.
- He accused the Congress party of attacking constitutional institutions after losing power in 2014.
- According to him, the present resolution was an attempt to weaken the position of the Speaker.
- He repeated that bringing such a resolution against the Speaker was similar to attacking democracy itself.
- He also rejected the claims of bias and said that Opposition members were given enough chances to ask supplementary questions and raise matters of public importance.
Assam Disburses ₹3,600 Crore to Women in the State’s Largest Single-Day Direct Benefit Transfer Program
- Around 40 lakh women in Assam received ₹9,000 each on Tuesday under a government welfare scheme, and the total money transferred was ₹3,600 crore.
- This became the largest single-day Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) ever conducted in the state.
- Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the money was transferred under the government’s flagship Orunodoi Scheme, which supports families living below the poverty line.
- He also said that the amount included a Bihu festival bonus of ₹4,000.
- Bohag Bihu, also known as Rongali Bihu, is celebrated for about one month starting from mid-April, and the bonus was given in connection with this festival.
- Out of the ₹9,000 transferred, ₹5,000 was made up of four monthly payments from January to April.
- Under the Orunodoi scheme started in 2020, each beneficiary normally receives ₹1,250 every month.
- The Chief Minister said that the additional payment should not be considered an election freebie.
- He explained that the government has been running the scheme carefully for the last six years, and seven eligibility conditions are used to select beneficiaries.
- He also told mediapersons that the payment had nothing to do with elections.
- He explained that if it had been election-related, then everyone would have received the money, and therefore it cannot be called a freebie.
- In a post on the social media platform X, Mr. Sarma said that Orunodoi is one of India’s earliest beneficiary transfer schemes, and the government has been providing monthly financial support to eligible families since 2020.
- According to him, the scheme and several other welfare programmes have helped many people in Assam come out of poverty and have provided a strong social security system.
- The BJP-led government has already distributed about ₹17,000 crore under this scheme since it was started.
- The aim of the scheme was to support people who were badly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Sarma said that women suffered the most during the pandemic, as many of them struggled to manage their households, which made financial support very important.
- He also talked about the importance of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana bank accounts, saying that the Orunodoi scheme could not have been successfully implemented without these bank accounts.
- While speaking to beneficiaries during one of the 3,800 gatherings organised across the state, where the money transfer was conducted online, he said that the scheme currently covers about 90% of eligible women in Assam.
- He added that if the BJP government is re-elected, it will try to cover the remaining 10% of eligible beneficiaries.
- He also promised that the government would help lift even more people out of poverty.
- The Chief Minister further said that if the BJP returns to power, the government would provide free pulses, sugar, salt, and mustard oil to eligible families, along with half a kilogram of tea.
- At present, the Assam government already provides monthly food supplies of 1 kg each of pulses, salt, and sugar to eligible families at a cost of ₹100.
Important Questions
- How are higher natural gas prices making imports of LNG from distant suppliers like the United States and Norway economically viable for India?
- Why do gas shipments travelling to the United States or Norway and returning to India with LNG cargo take around two months according to shipping industry estimates?
- Why did the Opposition move a resolution in Lok Sabha seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla and questioning the neutrality of the Chair?
- Why did Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju describe the resolution against Speaker Om Birla as an attack on democracy itself during the Lok Sabha debate?
- Why did nearly 40 lakh women receive ₹9,000 each under the Orunodoi Scheme in Assam?
- How did the Direct Benefit Transfer program become the largest single-day DBT in the state?
Important Vocabulary
- Economically viable – financially possible or profitable to do.
- Diversified – spread across different sources to reduce dependence on one.
- Interim – a temporary period before something permanent happens.
- Representations – formal requests or complaints made to authorities.
- Neutrality – being fair and not supporting any side.
- Partisan – strongly supporting one political party or side.
- Expunged – officially removed from records.
- Impartially – acting in a fair way without bias.
- Disburses – pays out or distributes money.
- Beneficiary – a person who receives benefits or financial help.
- Eligibility – the conditions that must be fulfilled to receive something.
- Implemented – put into action or carried out.
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