December 2020 The Hindu Editorials Compilation Summary for Civil Services

Index

 

GS-1 Mains

QUESTION :  “The need for conducting a caste based census in Indian society is the reality of time” Critically analyse this statement.

QUESTION : Suggest the appropriate measures should the government adopt immediately to address the challenge of increasing unemployment in the urban informal sector .

QUESTION : Climate Change is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change?”

QUESTION :  The needs of development must be balanced with that of climate justice. In this context, explain the relevance of climate justice in the present times by taking key steps by the Indian government.

 

GS-2 Mains

 

QUESTION : “India-Nepal border issues have deteriorated the intimate relationship of both nations”. Justify the above statement and give key measures to tackle such issues.

QUESTION : Challenges faced by disabled prisoners living in overcrowded and underfunded prisons and  examine the various rights of prisoners with disabilities.

QUESTION : India’s Non-Alignment Policy in the times of increasing Polarisation in world. Comment

QUESTION : Is India’s neighbourhood policy in need of reworking if yes then why if no then why ? 

QUESTION : “ US-Iran bilateral relations have put the Middle East on the brink”. Justify with suggestive measures to tackle  the differences between both the nations.

QUESTION : The government’s efforts to provide proxy voting rights to NRIs is seen as a historic decision . Discuss the pros and cons of this decision.

QUESTION : “Recently India has raised a concern on the UN’s selective nature towards religions and this may cause cultural disharmony” Justify this statement

QUESTION :  Brief the challenges associated with skill development among Indian youth and at the same time  suggest effective measures to enhance the skills and employability of Indian youths. 

QUESTION : Suggest the appropriate measures should the government adopt immediately to address the challenge of increasing unemployment in the urban informal sector .

QUESTION : Even after running of so many government schemes and programmes addressing malnutrition in India, it remains a mighty challenge for India. Discuss.

QUESTION: Discuss how  the impact of tussle between  Iran and USA on Indian trade and ties with Iran.

QUESTION : Internet access should be a basic human right. Do you agree with this view?  Discuss in the light of digital inequalities in India and appropriate steps taken by the government to reduce such Digital divide.

QUESTION : Community health workers are a important communication mechanism between the healthcare system and the population inspite of this facing  several challenges. Analyse the statement with suggestive measures.

QUESTION : What are the challenges faced by the judiciary in India in dealing with the pending cases? Also discuss the other issues facing judiciary in recent times

QUESTION : Despite important efforts of the Government of India by implementing the  National Food Security Act (NFSA) many loopholes are found at ground level ensuring food security. Analyse this statement by giving some effective measures.

QUESTION : Discuss important  defence deals between India and Russia and the how can CAATSA play a significant role to make foreign relations contentious ?

QUESTION : Discuss the significance of India-Bangladesh relations and various challenges coming between their  relations. Suggest key measures to overcome these concerns .

 QUESTION : Discuss the vision, scope and challenges of Digital India Project and how can India become a leader in digital literacy?

QUESTION : A ‘constitutional breakdown’ is brewing in Nepal as the Parliament has been dissolved by the PM . Critically evaluate the impacts of such turmoil on India and Nepal bilateral relations.

QUESTION : Give the relevance of  India’s international relations with respect to Europe point to its cessation from the past and demonstrate willingness for a more creative commitment and India’s changing strategic perceptions of Europe . Discuss 

QUESTION : Despite the law banning  manual scavenging in India it still remains a lethal Filth. Critically Analyse the statement with emphasis on initiatives taken by the government in this direction and reason for their failures

QUESTION : Discuss the circumstances under which President’s rule can be imposed in a state and  Has the article-356 been misused ? Critically examine

QUESTION : Discuss the major issues related to urban local bodies in India and suggest measures to strengthen their smooth working .

QUESTION : Discuss how can covid-19 vaccine distribution be a major challenge before India and  suggest some important solutions to address such challenges.

QUESTION : Discuss the China-India relations transcend the bilateral dimension and assume global and strategic significance.” 

QUESTION : Should the right to bail be made a part of an under trial’s right to life  in the times of COVID-19 ? Analyse the given statement in the context of crowded Indian prisons and the challenges.

QUESTION : Discuss the questions of transparency associated with Electoral bonds and what other reforms are needed to make Indian election process more fair. Do you think voter must know the source of political funding ? Analyse

QUESTION : Discuss the questions of transparency associated with Electoral bonds and what other reforms are needed to make Indian election process more fair. Do you think voter must know the source of political funding ? Analyse

QUESTION : Discuss the major challenges facing the police force in the country and suggest the measures to deal with these challenges

GS-3 Mains

QUESTION : Critically evaluate the root causes of the Naxalite movement in India and also  comment on the latest efforts undertaken by the government to address this issue.

QUESTION : India faces a grave threat from growing anti-microbial resistance write the factors responsible for it and suggesting the ways to deal with it.

QUESTION : Evaluate the significance of the  monetary policy committee and the role of RBI in the growth stability of India during global pandemic. Comment

QUESTION : Critically examine the root cause of  the Khalistan movement, its objectives and how it had failed and key challenges India is facing as far as the internal security is concerned.

QUESTION : India can become AI Laboratory of the world as far as India’s Economy is concerned ? Substantiate your answer with examples and major challenges ahead while using AI application.

QUESTION : Discuss the major hurdles that coming in road construction projects before Indian government and suggest some solutions.

QUESTION : In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture nonviable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and land leasing be promoted in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons

 QUESTION: To sustain growth India needs fiscal stimulus do you think India having a strong fiscal stimulus can overcome the fiscal deficit that  poses a major challenge? Evaluate.

QUESTION : Detail the important challenges in the way of digital India to cherish its goal and how can PM WANI scheme  revolutionise India’s tech world and can bridge the digital divide in India 

QUESTION: : India’s concerns in Doha Round Ministerial Conferences need to be examined weighing both its pros and cons. Examine in context of a permanent  Peace clause.

QUESTION: According to the  proposal NITI Aayog that the only viable solution to dealing with the massive waste problem in India is to incinerate the waste of go from waste to energy. Critically evaluate the Waste-to-energy plants in India.

QUESTION : Discuss the economic impact of  the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest a few policy measures to address this problem so that Indian economy can be revived.

QUESTION: Despite several incentives by the government MSME sector fails to play the role expected of it. What are the issues faced by the sector and suggest the measure to deal with the issues.”

QUESTION : The auction of spectrum brings government much needed revenue. Why is spectrum considered a s resource? Give your arguments

QUESTION :  Critically analyse the progress made in resolving stressed assets since the enactment of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

QUESTION :  Discuss various recent issues related to labour laws in India? Suggest some measures to resolve these issues.

QUESTION : Critically evaluate the various Agricultural reforms in India and how they lead to agricultural efficiency and social equity? 

QUESTION :  The agriculture sector is critical for India from a consistent growth and food security perspective despite this, is facing so many challenges . Critically analyse by suggesting key reforms in agriculture.

 

 

 

  

GS-1 Mains

QUESTION :  “The need for conducting a caste based census in Indian society is the reality of time” Critically analyse this statement.

 Topic- CASTES COUNT 

 WHAT ?

• Caste Census in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The idea of a caste census is back in the realm of public debate, following the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to establish a commission to collect caste-wise data.
• It is in response to the restive pre-election agitation organised by the Pattali Makkal Katchi demanding 20% exclusive reservation in education and government jobs for the Vanniyar community, its main electoral base.

 NEED FOR A CASTE CENSUS :

• There is a social and legal necessity for compiling caste-wise data.
• The Supreme Court has been asking States to produce quantifiable data to justify their levels of reservation, and it would help Tamil Nadu to retain its 69% total reservation.
• At the same time, some castes that have either electoral or numerical importance across India have been restive about the manner in which affirmative action programmes based on classes and communities have been implemented so far.
• The Census of India has not collected caste-wise data since 1931, with the exception of details about SCs and STs.
• The Centre conducted a ‘socio-economic caste census’ in 2011, in an attempt to link the collection of caste data along with socio-economic data so that there could be a comprehensive assessment of levels of deprivation and backwardness in society.
• However, presumably because of the lack of reliability of the data collected, or its political and electoral sensitivity, the caste portion of the SECC has not been disclosed so far.
• To make available authentic information regarding the socio economic condition and education status of various castes and sections of the population
• It would help government for identification of beneficiaries for various socio-economic welfare schemes.
• Based on that, Government can evaluate the performance of its past schemes/policies and update them accordingly.
• It would help to streamline caste based reservation system.
• It would help in understanding the change in society and exclude/include well of/deprived caste.
• It would help to identify hundreds of nomadic and excluded castes in India.
• At administrative level, it would help to manage caste conflict

 CASTE CENSUS IN INDIA :

• In India, Caste is a social reality which determines one’s social status and the limits of the social relations and also opportunities for advancement in the life of an individual.

 ITS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND :

• The first census of 1872 collected information about caste. The 1872 and 1881 censuses attempted to classify people fundamentally according to the varna system.
• In 1891 census, subdivision of major caste was introduced.
• In 1901 census, caste of only Hindus and Jains were recorded and in case of other religion name of tribe or race were recorded.
• In 1921 census, the category of depressed classes was used first time.
• In 1931 census, Column eight in the general schedule provided for an entry of ‘ caste tribe or race ‘.
• Mandal commission uses the data to 1931 census to define the criteria for OBC caste in India.
• The commission adopted 11 criteria which could be grouped under three major headings: social, educational and economic in order to identify OBCs.
• In 1941, Second World War starts so census was not fully done and data was not released.
• From the outset of 1872, there was never a formal definition of the census for caste, race or tribe. The recorded details changed in every census from 1872 to 1941.
• In post independence India, caste was considered irrelevant. It was assumed that caste counting would further create divisions so caste census was stopped since 1951.
• But Caste census of SC/STs continues as there were provisions in the constitution to give reservation
• In 2011 census, caste was not included due to logistical reason despite of huge demand
• Although, caste information was collected later through Socio-Economic and Caste Census, 2011

 CENSUS  2021 :

• The Census 2021 will be conducted in 18 languages out of the 22 scheduled languages (under 8th schedule) and English, while Census 2011 was in 16 of the 22 scheduled languages declared at that time.
• It also will introduce a code directory to streamline the process
• The option of “Other” under the gender category will be changed to “Third Gender”.
• There were roughly 5 lakh people under “other” category in 2011.
• For the first time in the 140 year history of the census in India, data is proposed to be collected through a mobile app by enumerators and they will receive an additional payment as an incentive.
• The Census data would be available by the year 2024-25 as the entire process would be conducted digitally and data crunching would be quicker.

 SECC, 2011 :

• The Ministry of Rural Development commenced the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) in June 2011 through a comprehensive door to door enumeration across the country.
• It has generated information on a large number of social and economic indicators relating to households across the country.
• The announcement for Caste count during 2011 Census has given rise to a big row among its supporters and opponents.

 PROBLEM WITH  SECC DATA IN CASTE :

 

• SECC 2011 data was criticized by few experts as it was not reliable. The methodology is not full proof and there are many errors and omissions in the draft data.
• Question about caste was included in BPL census (later SECC) without much preparation. Hasty inclusion of caste question has resulted in largely unusable data.
• The SECC asked interviewer to write down the name of the caste exactly as articulated by the respondent. This led to repetition of various castes as sometimes same caste is spelt in different ways.
• By some reports, SECC has come out with 46 lakh categories of caste, sub-caste, synonyms, different surnames, gotras in the caste and clan names
• As far as reliability is concerned, it is not confidential like the census, so respondents could have skewed their answers to be eligible for schemes or due to a number of social reasons.
• The procedure of claim and objections are not properly followed.

 WAY FORWARD :

• Government should include advice from various corners to collect a flawless data on caste.
• The data and experience of SECC can be used to develop a methodology to collect desirable caste data.
• Government should make a comprehensive list of castes and condense them into meaningful categories via machine learning tools.
• These categories should be validated by domain experts such as Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)
• The accurate caste data is need of time to rationalize reservation policy and targeted distribution of welfare schemes and policies.

 CONCLUSION :

• After all, progress towards a casteless and equal society ought to remain the state’s ultimate goals.

 

QUESTION :  “The need for conducting a caste based census in Indian society is the reality of time” Critically analyse this statement.

Topic- CASTES COUNT 

WHAT ?

• Caste Census in India

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Tamil Nadu government’s decision to establish a commission to collect caste-wise data.

NEED FOR A CASTE CENSUS :

• social + legal necessity for compiling caste-wise data.
• it would help Tamil Nadu to retain its 69% total reservation.
• Census of India has not collected caste-wise data since 1931
• could be a comprehensive assessment of levels of deprivation + backwardness in society.
• would help government for identification of beneficiaries for various socio-economic welfare schemes.
• Government can evaluate performance of its past schemes/policies
• help to streamline caste based reservation system.
• It would help to identify hundreds of nomadic + excluded castes in India.
• would help to manage caste conflict

CASTE CENSUS IN INDIA :

• Caste= social reality determines one’s social status + limits of social relations +also opportunities for advancement in the life

ITS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND :

• first census of 1872 collected information about caste.1881 censuses attempted to classify people fundamentally according to the varna system.
• 1891= subdivision of major caste was introduced.
• 1901= caste of only Hindus+ Jains were recorded and in case of other religion name of tribe or race were recorded.
• 1921=category of depressed classes was used first time.
• 1931=Column eight in the general schedule provided for an entry of ‘ caste tribe or race ‘.
• Mandal commission uses the data to 1931 census to define the criteria for OBC caste in India.
• In post independence India, caste was considered irrelevant.
• 2011=caste was not included due to logistical reason despite of huge demand+caste information= collected later through Socio-Economic and Caste Census, 2011

CENSUS  2021 :

• will be conducted in 18 languages out of the 22 scheduled languages (under 8th schedule) + English
• will introduce a code directory to streamline the process
• There were roughly 5 lakh people under “other” category in 2011.
• first time data is proposed to be collected through a mobile app by enumerators SECC, 2011 :
• through a comprehensive door to door enumeration across country.
• generated information on a large number of social&economic indicators relating to households

PROBLEM WITH  SECC DATA IN CASTE

• few experts as it was not reliable
• Hasty inclusion of caste question has resulted in largely unusable data.
• repetition of various castes as sometimes same caste is spelt in different ways.
• not confidential like the census
• procedure of claim+ objections are not properly followed.

WAY FORWARD

• Government should include advice from various corners to collect a flawless data on caste.
• data +experience of SECC can be used to develop a methodology to collect desirable caste data.
• Government should make a comprehensive list of castes
• accurate caste data is need of time to rationalize reservation policy

CONCLUSION

• progress towards a casteless+ equal society ought to remain the state’s ultimate goals.

 

QUESTION : Suggest the appropriate measures should the government adopt immediately to address the challenge of increasing unemployment in the urban informal sector .

 Topic- A ‘DUET’ FOR INDIA’S URBAN WOMEN

 WHAT ?

• Employment crisis in urban informal sector

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• There is a crisis of employment in the urban informal sector, as millions of workers have lost their job due to periodic .
• Decentralised Urban Employment and Training’ (DUET) could act as a step towards urban employment guarantee.

 DECENTRALISED URBAN EMPLOYMENT TRAINING (DUET) :

• This is a proposal by Jean Dreze, an economist and a social scientist.
• The DUET works on the concept of ‘Job stamps’. This is a unique concept that can help in job creation for the urban poor.
• The working principle behind “Job stamp” is that each stamp represents one day of work at the minimum wages.
• These stamps would be issued by the government, state or union and distributed liberally to certain designated public institutions like schools, colleges, hostels, health centres, railway stations, public sector enterprises, urban local bodies, etc.
• The above-mentioned institutions will have the freedom to use these stamps to hire labour for odd jobs and minuscule projects that do not fit into the regular budgets and systems.
• Wages paid by the government will go directly to the worker’s bank account and avoid any malpractices or collusion.

  WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, A IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF DUET :

• Women are to be given priority. India has been ranked 112th among 153 countries in the annual Global Gender Gap Index for 2020, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
• A National Sample Survey data suggests that only 20% of urban women in the age bracket 15 to 59 years spend time in “employment and related activities”.
• Wage employment to women can be a shot in the arm for women empowerment.
• Economic independence will foster a great degree of dignity and autonomy to women. This has the possibility of lifting the status of women at the societal, household level and also at the individual level.
• Gender inequality, female oppression and domestic violence can be tackled with increased economic independence of women.

 ROLE OF PLACEMENT AGENCY :

• The primary role of the placement agency is to assign registered workers to approved employers as and when required. But it could also serve other purposes, for example, certifying workers’ skills, protecting workers from exploitation and arranging social benefits for them.
• Various options could be considered for the placement agency, such as: (1) a single agency for the municipality, run by the local government; (2) a worker cooperative; (3) multiple placement agencies, run as non-profit organisations or cooperatives.

 DUET AND  MGNREGA :

• It is meant to create a lasting institution as an antidote to urban unemployment and urban decay.
• The motivation for DUET is quite different from that for MNREGA. MNREGA offers insurance to rural workers in a slack season or in a drought year when agricultural jobs disappear. That is not the case of urban production.

 MERITS OF DUET :

• Job Creation: Activating a multiplicity of approved employers will help to generate a lot of employment.
• Activating a multiplicity of potential employers: The approved employers will have a stake in ensuring that the work is productive.
• Efficient: The scheme requires little staff of its own since existing institutions are the employers. The Scheme thus avoids the need for special staff, facilitating productive work.
• Avoids Leakages: Workers are assured of timely payment at the minimum wage as it involves direct payment of wages using JAM trinity.
• Towards employment guarantee: It would be relatively easy to move from DUET towards demand-driven ’employment guarantee’. That would require the municipality to act as a last-resort employer, committed to providing work to all those who are demanding work
• Urban Infrastructure Creation: Urban areas could use some infrastructure and there is under utilised labour but there are no resources to use this labour to build the infrastructure. DUET may be one way to solve this problem

 PRECAUTIONS THAT ONE NEEDS TO MAKE DUET A SUCCESS :

• Permissible List of Works: To avoid abuse, the use of job stamps could be restricted to a list of permissible works. But the list should be fairly comprehensive, and not restricted to maintenance.
• Avoid Displacement of Existing Jobs: The list of works should not be so broad as to displace existing jobs in public institutions.
• Ensure Worker Safety: All DUET employment should be subject to worker safety and welfare norms specified in the scheme and existing labour laws.
• Equity in worker registration: All urban residents above the age of 18 should be eligible to register under DUET, but special registration drives or placement agencies could be located in low-income neighbourhoods.
• Integrate Skilling: The scheme would cover both skilled and unskilled workers. Whenever a skilled worker is employed, an assistant (unskilled) worker could be mandatorily employed as well, to impart an element of training and skill formation to the scheme.
• Giving priority to women would have two further merits. First, it would reinforce the self-targeting feature of DUET, because women in relatively well-off households are unlikely to go (or be allowed to go) for casual labour at the minimum wage. Second, it would promote women’s general participation in the labour force.
• Needs Independent Monitoring: An independent authority could be appointed or designated at the municipal level to monitor, inspect, audit and evaluate the works.

 CONCLUSION :

• The scheme should be given a chance by way of a pilot scheme in select districts or even municipalities.

 

QUESTION : Climate Change is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change?”

Topic- GREEN OVER BROWN

 WHAT  ?

• Paris Agreement and India’s Climate Goals

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• India asserted at the virtual Climate Ambition Summit, co­convened by the UN to mark five years of the Paris Agreement.

 BACKGROUND :

• Five years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the world is still far from meeting the climate goals: Of capping the global average temperature increase at “well below 2 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
• At the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, non-Annex 1 — developing — countries signed pledges; they agreed to shoulder the responsibility of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along with Annex 1 and 2, — developed and industrialised — countries.
• Country-level GHG emissions equates to energy spent by burning fossil fuels. This, in turn, equates to economic growth.
• From the Kyoto Protocol, the predecessor of the Paris Agreement, developing and poor countries followed the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC). It acknowledges the different capabilities and differing responsibilities of individual countries in addressing climate change.
• This is based on the historical context of emission pathways: Rich countries developed by burning fossil fuels, industrialising and therefore becoming economically stable. Following the CBDF-RC, non-Annex 1 countries are allowed their fair share of carbon budget and GHG emission.
• In the Paris Agreement, however, non-Annex 1 countries put aside this principle and pledged to reduce their emissions along with Annex 1 countries. This acknowledged that though we do not have a historical responsibility in reducing emissions, considering the impacts of climate change we will get on board.
• This took the form of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) — climate action plan of countries — and, moving forward, Long-term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies (LTSs) in the form of Net Zero targets.

 INDIA’S CONTEXT :

• India is within the “2°C compatible” rating — the country’s climate commitment (through 2030) is considered a fair share of global effort, but is not consistent with the Paris Agreement of 1.5°C.
• The United States, Russia, China and Japan are on a 4°C (or higher) pathway; Australia, Canada and others are a modicum better, on a 3°C warming pathway.
• However, outside the 2°C compatible pathway it all adds up to these major emitters being well outside the fair share range — not at all consistent to the what was agreed upon in Paris in 2015.
• In terms of the fair share of equity, countries should have similar emissions-reduction costs vis-à-vis their gross domestic product. But economies like the US and those in the European Union have been high emitters, still have high per capita emissions and have high capacities to act — approaches that focus on equality, equal cumulative emissions and historical responsibility.
• Yet, their NDCs are highly inequitable; much more stringent reductions are needed, which partially result in negative emission allowances in all years.
• Ironically, the sense of optimism from countries party to the convention on how they fare with their NDCs indicate the mismatch between expectations and reality. Even if every country fulfils every commitment, global warming would still be more than 3°C.
• By the next cycle to update NDCs in 2025, the scale of the task may be beyond reasonable reach. It would be folly for Parties to wait until then to correct the lack of ambition as NDCs are a stepping stone towards Net Zero emissions by mid-century

 FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTIONS FOR MAJOR WORLD ECONOMIES :

• Prior to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, there were some encouraging signs.
• Indonesia and the US lowered their projections for coal output. But Russia increased its projections; Australia, Canada, the US and Russia also forecast even larger increases in their oil and gas production. Russia, the US and Canada also expected to produce substantially more gas.
• Overall, the net change of developed countries towards 2030 is that there is going to be a substantial increase in gas. This indicates a reluctance to move away from ‘bridging fuel’ natural gas — a major methane (among GHG) emitter. This indicates that developed countries do not intend on a fair and equitable distribution of the carbon pie for developing countries.
• Global fossil fuel production needs to decline 6 per cent every year for the next decade for a 1.5°C rise in temperatures, according to the United Nations Environment Programme Production Gap Report. Even for a 2°C rise, it needs to keep decreasing 2 per cent year-on-year.
• For a 1.5°C pathway, coal output will have to decrease 11 per cent annually through 2030; oil and gas production should fall 4 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively. But countries aim to produce 120 per cent and 50 per cent more fossil fuel by 2030 than would be consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C, respectively.
• This translates to a 2 per cent annual average growth in global production over the next decade even as all signs point to a continued global fossil fuel production gap.

 WAY FORWARD :

• We must recognise climate change as a global collective action problem.
• If one country is honourable in the extreme, and cuts its emissions to the bone, that is going to be of little use if the others do not follow suit. They will suffer the consequences of climate change despite the extent of their sacrifice or effort.
• We need to move climate change, global warming to the top of our foreign policy agenda.
• This is a critical move we need to make and the sooner we do it, the greater is the benefit that we will draw from our own climate actions.
• India should not be thinking about climate change adaptation as a single technology transition. Instead, we should think about jobs, energy and pollution questions together. This is the best way forward.
• New national missions on wind energy, waste-to-energy and coastal areas should be developed.
• The National Water Mission should be re-designed for efficient water resource management.
• Similarly, the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture should be redesigned to increase agricultural productivity and contribute significantly to achieving the vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022-23.
  • Projects under state action plans on climate change that have been endorsed by the National Steering Committee on Climate Change need to be implemented.
  • Use the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change and other global funds for strengthening resilience against climate change in sectors like agriculture, forestry, infrastructure and others.
  • Scientific and analytical capacity for climate change related assessments should be strengthened.

CONCLUSION :

• India, being at the crossroads of development needs to balance the development goals with its commitment towards climate action.

 

QUESTION : Climate Change is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change?”

Topic- GREEN OVER BROWN

WHAT 

• Paris Agreement + India’s Climate Goals

WHY IN NEWS ?

• India asserted at the virtual Climate Ambition Summit, co­convened by UN to mark 5 years of Paris Agreement.

BACKGROUND :

• (COP 21) to (UNFCCC) in Paris, non-Annex 1 — developing — countries signed pledges; they agreed to shoulder the responsibility of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along with Annex 1 and 2, — developed and industrialised — countries. 
• From Kyoto Protocol, predecessor of the Paris Agreement
• Rich countries developed by burning fossil fuels, industrialising+ becoming economically stable
• Paris Agreement=non-Annex 1 countries put aside this principle and pledged to reduce their emissions along with Annex 1 countries.
• This took the form of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

INDIA’S CONTEXT :

• India is within the “2°C compatible” rating — the country’s climate commitment (through 2030)
• US, Russia, China + Japan= on a 4°C (or higher) pathway; Australia, Canada and others are a modicum better, on a 3°C warming pathway.
• not at all consistent to the what was agreed upon in Paris in 2015.
• much more stringent reductions are needed
• Even if every country fulfils every commitment, global warming would still be more than 3°C.
• By next cycle to update NDCs in 2025, scale of the task may be beyond reasonable reach.

FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTIONS FOR MAJOR WORLD ECONOMIES :

• Prior to COVID-19 pandemic= encouraging signs.
• Indonesia + US lowered their projections for coal output. But Russia increased its projections
• net change of developed countries towards 2030 is that there is going to be a substantial increase in gas= indicates that developed countries do not intend on a fair and equitable distribution of the carbon pie for developing countries.
• Global fossil fuel production needs to decline 6 per cent every year
• For a 1.5°C pathway, coal output will have to decrease 11% annually through 2030; oil +gas production should fall 4%+ 3 per cent
• all signs point to a continued global fossil fuel production gap.

WAY FORWARD :

• We must recognise climate change as a global collective action problem.
• We need to move climate change, global warming to top of our foreign policy agenda.
• New national missions on wind energy, waste-to-energy + coastal areas should be developed.
• The National Water Mission should be re-designed
• National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture
• Projects under state action plans on climate change
• Use National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change +other global funds
• Scientific and analytical capacity for climate change

CONCLUSION :

• India, being at the crossroads of development needs to balance development goals with its commitment towards climate action.

 

QUESTION :  The needs of development must be balanced with that of climate justice. In this context, explain the relevance of climate justice in the present times by taking key steps by the Indian government.

Topic- THE CLIMATE POLICY NEEDS NEW IDEAS

 WHAT ?

• India and Carbon Emissions

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The rising prosperity of the world’s poor does not endanger the planet; the challenge is to change wasteful behaviour in the West and these changes occur at decadal scales.

  INDIA’S EMISSIONS :

• Among the ‘major economies’, India will meet its Paris Agreement target for 2030.
• Its per capita emissions are one-third of the global average an it will remain within its share of ecological space.
• India is doing better than the West in each sustainability benchmark like housing size and density, public bicycle transport and eliminating food waste.
• India, with a population close to that of China’s accounts for just 3% of cumulative emissions that lead to global warming.
• India’s per capita electricity use is one-tenth that of the U.S. and is under pressure to stop using coal, even as it aims to shift to electric vehicles and eliminate oil instead even as it aims to shift to electric vehicles and eliminate oil instead.

  EMISSIONS FROM INFRASTRUCTURE :

• The two-third of emissions arise from the demand of the middle class for infrastructure, mobility, buildings and diet.
• Well-being in cities is reflected in saturation levels of infrastructure with consumption, driving growth and high urban per capita emissions.
• Infrastructure worldwide has used half of total materials, mainly construction, cement and steel, which have no substitute.
• Infrastructure will need half of the available carbon space before comparable levels of infrastructure are reached globally around 2050.
• Peaking of emissions comes some 20-30 years after saturation of infrastructure has been achieved before net zero emissions are considered.

  INEQUALITY IN CLIMATE TREATY :

• Inequity is built into the climate treaty, which considers total emissions, size, and population, making India the fourth largest emitter.
• According to the United Nations, the richest 1% of the global population emits more than two times the emissions of the bottom 50%.
• Clearly, net zero or carbon neutrality by and the cap on emissions it implies, applies only to countries with high per capita emissions, GDP and well-being.

  REVERSAL IN THINKING :

• The focus on physical quantities indicates effects on nature whereas solutions require analysis of drivers, trends and patterns of resource use.
• This anomaly explains why the link between well-being, energy use and emissions is not on the global agenda.
• New thinking must enable politics to acknowledge transformational social goals and the material boundaries of economic activity and not the latter without the former.
• Modifying unsustainable patterns of natural resource use and ensuring comparable levels of well-being are societal transformations and two sides of a coin interlinked with international cooperation to serve sustainable development.
• The vaguely worded ‘carbon neutrality’, balancing emitting carbon with absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in forests, for example, is a triple whammy for latecomer economies like India.
• Such countries already have less energy-intensive pathways that will not encroach on others’ ecological space, a young population, and are growing fast to reach comparable levels of well-being with those already urbanised and in the middle class.
• The Industrialisation and urbanisation are designed in the colonial context: keeping commodity prices low, overly resource-intensive, defining progress as material abundance, and assuming that technology would solve the ecological problem.

  EMISSIONS FROM DEVELOPED ECONOMIES :

• By 1950, the contribution of the U.S. to total emissions peaked at 40%. It has declined to approximately 26%.
• North America and Europe (with less than one-quarter of the world population) are responsible for almost half of global material use.
• China, with four times the population of the U.S., accounts for 12% of cumulative emissions.

  REASONS FOR PEAKED EMISSIONS :

• Reconstruction in the West after World War Il led to acceleration of material use, resulting emissions and sharp rise in global temperature around 1970, before growth commenced in Asia.
• Urban transformation requires huge amounts of iron and steel, cement, construction materials and energy for infrastructure.
• Before infrastructure reaches saturation levels and manufacturing stabilises, material use shapes ways in which countries build houses and transport infrastructure, and how they organise mobility and deliver manufactured goods, food and energy.
• With the population moving to cities, growth in per capita incomes drives consumption and vehicle emissions becomes the continuing driver of increasing levels of material use, far more significant than manufacturing.

  SOFT POWER :

• India must highlight its unique national circumstances.
• For example, the meat industry, especially beef, contributes to one-third of global emissions. Indians eat just 4 kg of meat a year compared to those in the European Union who eat about 65 kg and Americans who eat about 100 kg.
• The average American household wastes nearly one-third of its food.
• Transport emissions account for a quarter of global emissions- they are the fastest-growing emissions worldwide and have surpassed emissions from generation of electricity in the U.S. Transport emissions are the symbol of Western civilisation and are not on the global agenda.
• Coal accounts for a quarter of energy use – Rising Asia uses three-quarters as coal drives industry and supports the renewable energy push into cities.

  CONCLUSION :

• Emissions are the symptom, not the cause of the problem. India, in the UN Security Council, must push new ideas based on its civilizational and long-standing alternate values for the transition to sustainability.
• India has the credibility and legitimacy to push an alternate 2050 goal for countries currently with per capita emissions below the global average — for example, the goal of well-being within ecological limits, the frame of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as multilateral technological knowledge cooperation around electric vehicles, energy efficiency, building insulation and a less wasteful diet.

 

QUESTION :  The needs of development must be balanced with that of climate justice. In this context, explain the relevance of climate justice in the present times by taking key steps by the Indian government.

Topic- THE CLIMATE POLICY NEEDS NEW IDEAS

WHAT ?

• India and Carbon Emissions

WHY IN NEWS ?

• The challenge is to change wasteful behaviour in the West+ these changes occur at decadal scales.

 INDIA’S EMISSIONS :

• India will meet its Paris Agreement target for 2030.
• per capita emissions= 1/3rd of global average and it will remain within its share of ecological space.
• India is doing better than the West
• India= 3% of cumulative emissions that lead to global warming.
• India’s per capita electricity use is one-tenth that of the U.S. and is under pressure to stop using coal

EMISSIONS FROM INFRASTRUCTURE :

• 2/3rd= arise from demand of middle class for infrastructure, mobility, buildings + diet.
• Well-being in cities is reflected in saturation levels of infrastructure with consumption, driving growth + high urban per capita emissions.
• Infrastructure worldwide has used half of total materials=construction, cement &steel

INEQUALITY IN CLIMATE TREATY :

• total emissions, size, population= making India fourth largest emitter.

• UN=richest 1% of global population emits more than two times emissions of the bottom 50%.
• net zero or carbon neutrality by+ cap on emissions it implies, applies only to countries with high per capita emissions, GDP + well-being.

 REVERSAL IN THINKING :

• solutions require analysis of drivers, trends and patterns of resource use.
• New thinking must enable politics to acknowledge transformational social goals
• ‘carbon neutrality’, balancing emitting carbon with absorbing carbon from atmosphere in forests
• Industrialisation + urbanisation= designed in the colonial context: keeping commodity prices low, overly resource-intensive, defining progress

  EMISSIONS FROM DEVELOPED ECONOMIES :

• By 1950, U.S.= peaked at 40%.
• North America + Europe= responsible for almost half of global material use.
• China=accounts for 12% of cumulative emissions.

REASONS FOR PEAKED EMISSIONS :

• Reconstruction in West after WW Il led to acceleration of material use
• Urban transformation requires huge amounts of iron & steel, cement, construction materials & energy
• material use shapes ways in which countries build houses and transport infrastructure
• With population moving to cities, growth in per capita incomes drives consumption + vehicle emissions

 SOFT POWER :

• India must highlight its unique national circumstances.
• Indians eat just 4 kg of meat a year compared to those in the EU
• average American household wastes nearly one-third of its food.
• Transport emissions account for a quarter of global emissions
• Coal accounts for a quarter of energy use

 CONCLUSION :

• India has credibility + legitimacy to push an alternate 2050 goal for countries currently with per capita emissions below global average — for example, the goal of well-being within ecological limits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GS-2 Mains

 

QUESTION : “India-Nepal border issues have deteriorated the intimate relationship of both nations”. Justify the above statement and give key measures to tackle such issues.

 Topic- RECALIBRATING INDIA-NEPAL TIES

 WHAT ?

• Indo-Nepal Relations

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• When Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla arrived in Kathmandu on November 26 and spoke in fluent Nepali to the media, there was some hope that the visit would go beyond the traditional exchange of pleasantries.

 HISTORICAL TIES:

• Nepal is an important neighbour of India and occupies special significance in its foreign policy because of the geographic, historical, cultural and economic linkages/ties that span centuries.
• India and Nepal share similar ties in terms of Hinduism and Buddhism with Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini located in present day Nepal.
• The two countries not only share an open border and unhindered movement of people, but they also have close bonds through marriages and familial ties, popularly known as Roti-Beti ka Rishta.
• The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal.

 UNCHANGING PERSPECTIVE :

• Many in Nepal continue to equate being anti-India with being nationalistic.
• Politicians and political parties whip up such sentiment especially before an election.
• Prime Minister K.P. Oli won the 2017 election partly because he projected himself as someone who stood up to India during the blockade.
• He again whipped up nationalistic sentiments when he got the Nepal map amended to add new territory.
• India continues to think that by providing aid and development projects in Nepal, it can win Nepali hearts.
• But despite pouring billions of rupees into Nepal over decades, it has still not been able to do so.
• Therefore, it needs to reflect on what it is not doing right.

 INDIA’S AID VS CHINESE AID TO NEPAL :

• Two issues are important to understand here.
• First, all aid to Nepal from countries other than India and China go through the Plans of the Government of Nepal.
• Indian aid is seen in Nepal as a favour bestowed on a constituency it wants to garner support from rather than a contribution to Nepal’s planned development.
• Second, India competes with China in providing aid outside government budgets.
• And China picks up projects of visibility and strategic location.
• Chinese involvement in Nepal has increased since the April 2015 earthquake and Nepal is surely an area of strategic influence in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

 PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES :

 1)  Indian workers in Nepal constitute a big part of the workforce and send about $3 billion to India every year.

• In terms of remittances to India, Nepal ranks eighth.
• So, the Government of India needs to keep in mind that many households in India are being run with remittances from Nepal.

 2) Nepalis have migrated in the past 20 years to more than a hundred countries; India is not the only country that Nepalis rely on for jobs or education.

• This is a new Nepal comprising young people with global aspirations.
• Meanwhile, Nepal needs to plan how it engages with the youth in mainland India for whom Nepal is just like Bangladesh or Myanmar.

 WAY FORWARD :

• Given the importance of ties with Nepal, often romanticised as one of “roti-beti” (food and marriage), India must not delay dealing with the matter, and at a time when it already has a faceoff with China in Ladakh and Sikkim.
• Since the free movement of people is permitted across the border, Nepal enjoys immense strategic relevance from India’s national security point of view, as terrorists often use Nepal to enter India.
• Therefore, stable and friendly relations with Nepal is one of prerequisites which India can’t afford to overlook.
• India should also try to convey to Nepal’s leadership about the congenial and friendly environment that 6 to 8 million Nepali citizens living in India enjoy.
• Therefore, any thoughtless erosion of this centuries old togetherness may prove difficult for both countries.
• The existing bilateral treaties between India and Nepal have not taken the shifting of Himalayan rivers into consideration. A primary reason for this is the lack of an approach where ecological concerns and needs of rivers are often discussed.
• Therefore, India and Nepal should try to resolve the boundary dispute by taking into account all shared environmental characteristics.

  CONCLUSION :

• There are some fundamentals that we simply cannot forget: geography will not change, the border will remain open as millions of livelihoods on both sides depend on it.

 

QUESTION : “India-Nepal border issues have deteriorated the intimate relationship of both nations”. Justify the above statement and give key measures to tackle such issues.

 Topic- RECALIBRATING INDIA-NEPAL TIES

WHAT ?

• Indo-Nepal Relations

WHY IN NEWS ?

• When Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla arrived in Kathmandu hope that visit would go  traditional exchange of pleasantries.

HISTORICAL TIES:

• geographic, historical, cultural + economic linkages/ties that span centuries.
• share similar ties in terms of Hinduism+ Buddhism
• not only share an open border+ unhindered movement of people= Roti-Beti ka Rishta.
• India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock

UNCHANGING PERSPECTIVE :

• Many in Nepal continue to anti-India with being nationalistic.
• Politicians+ political parties whip up such sentiment especially before an election.
• P. Oli again whipped up nationalistic sentiments when he got the Nepal map amended to add new territory.
• India continues to think that by providing aid +development projects in Nepal, it can win Nepali hearts.
• But despite pouring billions of rupees into Nepal over decades, it has still not been able to do so.

INDIA’S AID VS CHINESE AID TO NEPAL :

• all aid to Nepal from countries other than India + China go through the Plans of the Government of Nepal+Indian aid is seen in Nepal as a favour bestowed on a constituency
• India competes with China in providing aid outside government budgets.
• Chinese involvement in Nepal= increased since the April 2015 earthquake and Nepal is surely an area of strategic influence in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES :

• Indian workers in Nepal constitute a big part of the workforce + send about $3 billion to India every year
• India is not the only country that Nepalis rely on for jobs or education.+Nepals to plan how it engages with the youth in mainland India for whom Nepal is just like Bangladesh or Myanmar.

WAY FORWARD :

• Given the importance of ties with Nepal
• stable + friendly relations with Nepal can’t afford to overlook.
• India should also try to convey to Nepal’s leadership about the congenial + friendly environment
• any thoughtless erosion of this centuries old togetherness may prove difficult for both countries.
• shifting of Himalayan rivers + ecological concerns + needs of rivers to be discussed.
• Both should try to resolve boundary dispute by taking into account all shared environmental characteristics.

CONCLUSION :

• Some fundamentals that we simply cannot forget: geography will not change, the border will remain open as millions of livelihoods on both sides depend on it.

 

QUESTION : Challenges faced by disabled prisoners living in overcrowded and underfunded prisons and  examine the various rights of prisoners with disabilities.

 Topic- THE LAST STRAW IS BEING FURTHER DISABLED

 WHAT ?

• The rights of prisoners with disabilities

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• There has been much outrage expressed over the denial of a sipper and straw to Father Stan Swamy.

 BACKGROUND :

• Father Swamy, the 83-year-old activist who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged involvement in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence.
• He was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
• He reportedly made an application to be provided with a sipper and straw, as he was unable to hold a glass.
• The NIA informed the court that it did not have a straw and sipper to give to him.

 CONCERNS :

• Harsh jail conditions for disabled: Given the nature of overcrowded and underfunded prison environments, the difficulties persons with disabilities face in society are exacerbated in prison.
• Not guilty until proven: The fundamental tenet on which Indian criminal law operates is that an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
  • While his guilt or innocence is ultimately a matter for the court to decide, the denial of his rights by the justice system not only constitutes a legal wrong but also displays an absence of compassion.

 THE RIGHTS OF PRISONERS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES :

• The constitutional guarantees under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution are available to persons with disabilities.

 o Article 14: Equality before the law, the state shall not deny any person equality before the law or equal protection of law within the territorial limits of India or prohibition on the grounds of race, caste, religion, sex or place of birth.

 o Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty, no person shall be deprived of his personal liberty except according to the procedures established by law.

• The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
• It imposes a positive obligation on authorities, including prison staff, to ensure that prisoners with disabilities are on an “equal basis with others, entitled to guarantees in accordance with international human rights law” and
• are “treated in compliance with the objectives and principles of the convention, including by provision of reasonable accommodation”.
• The obligation encompasses the provision of auxiliary aids relevant to the disability to secure the inherent dignity of the prisoner to enable them to live independently and participate in all aspects of their daily lives.
  • In cases where such provision is not made by prison authorities, it may amount to a breach of a state’s obligation to “prevent persons with disabilities from being subjected to torture, cruel or inhuman degrading treatment or punishment”.
  • It applies to all persons with disabilities including detainees and prisoners.
  • India is a signatory to this convention.
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, or ICCPR: It’s Article 10 states that- All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.
• The Nelson Mandela Rules approved by the UN General Assembly, 2015 on the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners, also requires that the prison administration “make all reasonable accommodation and adjustments to ensure that prisoners with physical, mental or other disabilities have full and effective access to prison life on equitable basis”.

 The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

• It was enacted with the object of giving effect to the CRPD.
• It also requires that persons with disabilities enjoy

 o the right to equality,

 o life with dignity and respect for integrity equally with others;

 o they are not to be discriminated against on the ground of disability, unless to achieve a legitimate aim.

• It also enjoins the state to take necessary steps to protect persons with disabilities from being subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; and

 o take necessary steps to ensure reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.

• While the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act does not specifically provide for persons with disabilities who are incarcerated, given the object of the legislation to give effect to the CRPD, it would even encompass prisoners.
• It is important to note that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act explicitly recognises Parkinson’s disease as specified disability in its Schedule.

WHAT IS NIA?

• NIA (National Investigating Agency) is India’s counter-terrorism task force. The agency is empowered to deal with terror-related crimes across states without special permission from the state.
• The agency came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigating Agency act 2008, which was passed after the deadly 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.

  WHAT IS UAPA ACT 1967?

• Unlawful Activities(Prevention)Act is an Indian law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associated with India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.

  UAPA(AMENDMENT)ACT 2019 :

• Now NIA can seize the property it considers to be proceeds of terrorism, with the written consent of the Director-General of Police of the state. However, the NIA officer can obtain the permission of the DGP of NIA thus bypassing the state DGP. Now the investigating time for police is extended to 180 days. The main provision of the amended act is that it allows considering a person a terrorist while before it only organizations can be marked as terrorist organizations.

 ABOUT BHIMA KOREGAON CASE?

• The 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence refers to violence during an annual celebratory gathering on 1 January 2018 at Bhima Koregaon to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon. The violence and stone-pelting by anti-social elements on the gathering resulted in the death of a 28-year old youth and injury to five others. The annual celebration also called Elgar Parishad convention was organised by retired justices B.G Kolte-Patil and P. B. Sawant. Justice P. B. Sawant claimed that the term “Elgar” meant loud invitation or loud declaration.

 CONCLUSION :

• Bryan Stevenson writes that the true measure of a society’s commitment to justice, the rule of law, fairness and equality, cannot be measured by how it treats the rich, but can be measured by how it treats the poor and deprived people.

 

 

QUESTION : Challenges faced by disabled prisoners living in overcrowded and underfunded prisons and  examine the various rights of prisoners with disabilities.

 Topic- THE LAST STRAW IS BEING FURTHER DISABLED

WHAT ?

• The rights of prisoners with disabilities

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Much outrage expressed over the denial of a sipper + straw to Father Stan Swamy.

BACKGROUND :

• Father Swamy, activist who suffers from Parkinson’s disease= arrested by (NIA) for his alleged involvement in 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence.
• He was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
• NIA informed court that it did not have a straw and sipper to give to him.

CONCERN :

• Harsh jail conditions for disabled: overcrowded

o denial of his rights by the justice system not only constitutes a legal wrong but also displays an absence of compassion. 

THE RIGHTS OF PRISONERS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES :

o Article 14: Equality before the law

o Article 21: Protection of life and personal liberty

• The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
• to ensure that prisoners with disabilities are on an “equal basis with others, entitled to guarantees in accordance with international human rights law”

o India =signatory to this convention. 

• The International Covenant on Civil + Political Rights
• The Nelson Mandela Rules approved by UNGA, 2015 on the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 : Ensures

o the right to equality, 

o life with dignity + respect for integrity equally with others; 

o not to be discriminated against on ground of disability.

• It is important to note that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act explicitly recognises Parkinson’s disease as specified disability in its Schedule.

WHAT IS NIA?

• India’s counter-terrorism task force+is empowered to deal with terror-related crimes across states without special permission from the state.
• The agency came into existence with after the deadly 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.

WHAT IS UAPA ACT 1967?

• Indian law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associated with India+ objective= to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against integrity+ sovereignty

UAPA(AMENDMENT)ACT 2019

• Now NIA can seize the property it considers to be proceeds of terrorism, with the written consent of DGP +Now investigating time for police is extended to 180 days.

 ABOUT BHIMA KOREGAON CASE?

• 2018=violence during an annual celebratory gathering on 1 January 2018 at Bhima Koregaon to mark 200th anniversary of Battle of Bhima Koregaon.

CONCLUSION :

• Bryan Stevenson= true measure of a society’s commitment to justice+ rule of law+fairness+equality,cannot be measured by how it treats the rich, but can be measured by how it treats poor+ deprived people.

 

 

QUESTION : India’s Non-Alignment Policy in the times of increasing Polarisation in world. Comment

 REGIONAL PRIORITIES

 WHAT ?

• Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) and India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Three years after joining the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), India hosted the SCO heads of governments (HoG) meeting for the first time.

 ABOUT SCO :

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent international intergovernmental organization.
• After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the then security and economic architecture in the Eurasian region dissolved and new structures had to come up.
• The original Shanghai Five were China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
• The SCO was formed in 2001, with Uzbekistan included. It expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan.
• Since its formation, the SCO has focused on regional non-traditional security, with counter-terrorism as a priority.
• The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism and extremism has become its mantra. Today, areas of cooperation include themes such as economics and culture.

  8 MEMBER STATES :

1. China
2. India
3. Kazakhstan
4. Kyrgyzstan
5. Russia
6. Pakistan
7. Tajikistan
8. Uzbekistan

 

INDIA’S ENTRY INTO THE SCO :

• India and Pakistan both were observer countries.
• While Central Asian countries and China were not in favour of expansion initially, the main supporter — of India’s entry in particular — was Russia.
• A widely held view is that Russia’s growing unease about an increasingly powerful China prompted it to push for its expansion.
• From 2009 onwards, Russia officially supported India’s ambition to join the SCO. China then asked for its all-weather friend Pakistan’s entry.

 IMPORTANT CONCLUSION FROM 2020 MEETING (VIRTUAL) :

• Response to COVID-19: Need for developing a “Plan of Priority Practical Measures for 2021-2022 to overcome the socio-economic, financial and food consequences of COVID-19 in the region”.
• Multilateralism: Members committed to strengthening multilateralism and the UN charter while welcoming the fact that the grouping is now being seen as an “influential and responsible participant in the modern system of international relations”.
• India-Pakistan Differences: PM Modi was represented by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, who made strong observations on cross-border terrorism; he called it the SCO region’s “biggest challenge”, in comments aimed at Pakistan. Pakistan’s representative too spoke of the need to combat what she called “state terrorism” in disputed areas, in a reference to Jammu and Kashmir. Neither statement on terrorism was reflected in the final joint statement, which focused on trade and economic issues.
• India- China Differences: India also marked its differences with China over the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by not joining other SCO members in a paragraph endorsing the BRI

 IMPORTANCE OF SCO GOING FORWARD :

• Regardless of the differences, Indian government has consistently maintained the importance of the SCO grouping, referred to as the “Asian NATO” although it does not mandate security alliances.
• Regional Engagement: The SCO is one of the few regional structures India is a part of now, given a decline in its engagement with SAARC, BBIN and the RCEP.
• Connect with Central Asia: The SCO provides India a convenient channel for its outreach — trade and strategic ties — to Central Asian countries.
• Platform to solve tense bilateral issues: SCO has afforded a platform, when needed, for bilateral discussions with the two countries India has the most tense ties with: China and Pakistan. While the government has eschewed meetings with Pakistan for the last five years, it has used the SCO for talks with China, including this year amidst the LAC stand-off.
• Geopolitical Balance: SCO has been seen as a grouping worth pursuing as it retains India’s geopolitical balance, a useful counterpoint to India’s otherwise much more robust relations with the western world.

 CONTRADICTIONS WITH INDIA JOINING THIS ORGANIZATION :

• Not aligned with QUAD: India joining the SCO has been seen as puzzling foreign policy move, as it has come at a time when New Delhi is looking more keenly at the West, and in particular at the maritime ‘Quadrilateral’ with the U.S., Japan and Australia.
• On the issue of Pakistan: Since 2014, India and Pakistan have cut all ties, talks and trade with each other, and India has refused to attend the SAARC summit due to tensions with Pakistan, but both their leaderships have consistently attended all meetings of the SCO.
• On the issue of Terrorism: Despite the fact that India accuses Pakistan of perpetrating cross-border terrorism at every other multilateral forum, at the SCO, Indian and Pakistani armed forces even take part in military and anti-terrorism exercises together.

 HOW SCO DEALS WITH BILATERAL TENSIONS :

• The SCO Charter doesn’t allow any bilateral dispute to be taken up, but it provides a comfortable platform for finding common ground and eventually, creating conditions for dialogue between countries.
• In 2009, India and Pakistan held the first talks after the Mumbai attacks on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Astana, where then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met and tried to resolve tension through talks
• In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif at the SCO summit in Ufa, for a meeting that even resulted in a joint statement.
• In 2020, SCO host, Russia, encouraged and facilitated meetings between between India and China to discuss the stand-off at the LAC

 WAY FORWARD :

• SCO provides a very good opportunity to India to connect with the leadership of Central Asian countries and that a very big take away.
• India has a good record of economic growth and handling problem which is a problem of other countries which lays foundation to huge foreign investment.
• Increase cooperation between SCO and other multilateral organisations.
• Need to increase economic cooperation among SCO member states.
• Focus on illegal drug trafficking, cooperation in information technology, environment, healthcare and sports.
• Strengthen the fight against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and organised crime among others.
• Increasing awareness of our shared cultures can help boost tourism.

 CONCLUSION :

• It is important to note that the SCO provides an opportunity for the Indian leadership to connect with the leadership of the Central Asian countries.

 

QUESTION : India’s Non-Alignment Policy in the times of increasing Polarisation in world. Comment

 REGIONAL PRIORITIES

WHAT ?

• SCO + India

WHY IN NEWS ?

• India hosted the SCO heads of governments (HoG) meeting for first time.

ABOUT SCO :

• a permanent international intergovernmental organization.
• The SCO was formed in 2001, with Uzbekistan included. It expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan.
• focused on regional non-traditional security, with counter-terrorism as a priority.
• The fight against the “three evils” of terrorism, separatism + extremism

8 MEMBER STATES :

• China+India+Kazakhstan+Kyrgyzstan+Russia+Pakistan+Tajikistan+Uzbekistan

INDIA’S ENTRY INTO THE SCO :

• India+Pakistan both were observer countries.
• While Central Asian countries and China were not in favour of expansion initially, the main supporter — of India’s entry in particular — was Russia.
• From 2009 onwards, Russia officially supported India’s ambition to join the SCO.

IMPORTANT CONCLUSION FROM 2020 MEETING (VIRTUAL) :

• Response to COVID-19
• Multilateralism
• India-Pakistan Differences
• India- China Differences

IMPORTANCE OF SCO GOING FORWARD :

• Regional Engagement
• Connect with Central Asia
• Platform to solve tense bilateral issues
• Geopolitical Balance

 CONTRADICTIONS WITH INDIA JOINING THIS ORGANIZATION :

• Not aligned with QUAD
• On the issue of Pakistan
• On the issue of Terrorism

HOW SCO DEALS WITH BILATERAL TENSIONS :

• creating conditions for dialogue between countries.
• 2009=India + Pakistan held the first talks after the Mumbai attacks on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Astana
• 2015=Narendra Modi met then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif at the SCO summit in Ufa,
• 2020=SCO host, Russia, encouraged and facilitated meetings between India+ China to discuss the stand-off at the LAC

 WAY FORWARD :

• provides a very good opportunity to India to connect with other .
• Increase cooperation between SCO +other multilateral organisations.
• Need to increase economic cooperation among SCO member states.
• Focus on illegal drug trafficking, cooperation in information technology, environment, healthcare+ sports.
• Strengthen the fight against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking+ organised crime among others.
• Increasing awareness of our shared cultures can help boost tourism.

CONCLUSION :

• important to note that the SCO provides an opportunity for Indian leadership to connect with leadership of Central Asian countries.

 

 

QUESTION : Is India’s neighbourhood policy in need of reworking if yes then why if no then why ? 

 DOES INDIA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY NEED REWORKING ?

 WHAT ?

• Significance of Neighbourhood Policy

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Recent visits by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to countries in the region appear to show new energy in India’s neighbourhood policy.
• Recently, there have been many strains in ties with neighbours. For instance, With Nepal over its Constitution in 2015 and now over the map, and With Bangladesh over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

 WHY NEED OF REWORKING INDIA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY ?

• It is extremely important that our engagement with our neighbouring countries should not be event-oriented; it should be process-oriented.
• And we should have a plan for continuous engagement at various levels.
• There should be an awareness that there is a price to be paid if we try to always prioritise domestic factors over foreign policy issues.
• “Generosity and firmness must go hand in hand. If you have determined what your key interests are, then it is better to make it known what the red lines are.
• Need clarity regarding China: It is very easy to accuse any of India’s neighbouring countries of being too close to China. But it’s very difficult to set out the exact terms of what they should or shouldn’t do with China. The only way to really solve all this is to focus on creating interdependence in this region that will give India strategic leverage.

 Countering China’s forays into the region, including on COVID-19 assistance :

 

• Connectivity: Building connections with all our neighbours, whether it is through highways, railways, the revival of riverine transportation or sub-regional energy grids, are things that we can do.
• But this connectivity has to be linked with the ‘software of connectivity’ – The procedures for allowing in cargo or people are still archaic compared to, for example, what we find in Southeast Asia or Europe.

 U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN THE ASIAN REGION COUNTERING TO CHINA :

• India should work closer together with like-minded partners that are fellow democracies, that think alike about developmental priorities and also about economic connectivity with the rest of the world.
• India’s objectives and interests should remain the primary elements in any initiative by other countries in the region.

 IS SAARC RELEVANT ANYMORE ?

• The format of SAARC is outdated and does not serve the complex, fluid regional cooperation agenda any longer.
• Pakistan has taken a very different approach to regional connectivity, where it sees itself mostly as a hub between China and the Gulf or Central Asian regions.
• India therefore had to gravitate more towards the south, to the Indian Ocean region, and the east, across the Bay of Bengal with Southeast Asia.
• India has revived BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and worked in the BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) quadrilateral for a framework on motor vehicle and water governance.

 SAARC :

• Member states – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• A regional organization looking into South Asia
• Established in 1985; a product of the Cold War era
• Member countries suffer for mistrust and suspicion
• Suffers from regional politics
• Asymmetric power balance
• Intra-regional trade only 5 percent

 BIMSTEC :

• Member states—Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan
• Interregional organization connecting South Asia and South East Asia.
• Established in 1997 in the post-Cold War.
• Members maintain reasonably friendly relations
• Core objective is the improvement of economic cooperation among countries
• Balancing of power with the presence of Thailand and India on the bloc
• Intra-regional trade has increased around 6 percent in a decade

 WAY FORWARD :

• Transportation: As the largest country, India should be leading to establish cross-border transport and communication links.

 

• Strengthening Markets: India should work with its neighbour in strengthening their markets and its own infrastructure to its neighbours.
• Dialogue: India must ensure its neighbour of continuous support for their development. Efforts must be made to strengthen Indian exports in the region.
• Soft power: India’s soft power and common culture provide an opportunity for India to strengthen its cultural roots further in the region.

 CONCLUSION :

• India should have a plan for continuous engagement at various levels and focus should be on resolving bilateral issues through mutual agreement.

 

 

QUESTION : “ US-Iran bilateral relations have put the Middle East on the brink”. Justify with suggestive measures to tackle  the differences between both the nations.

 THE IRAN CHALLENGE

 WHAT ?

• The US-Iran Bilateral Relations

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and re-imposed sanctions on Iran. Now, for the new US President, one of his most pressing early diplomatic challenges would be Iran.

 DONALD TRUMP’S IRAN POLICY :

• Donald Trump was very vocal in his criticism of the Iranian regime and singled out Iran for numerous incidents in the Middle-east.
• Donald Trump went as far as pulling out of JCPOA and imposed strict sanctions on Iran.
• He termed his policy as ‘Maximum Pressure’. He was hoping that the US and its allies would pressurize Iran to return to the negotiating table and it would be a perfect opportunity for the US to dictate terms to Iran.
• However, ‘Maximum Pressure’ was met with ‘Maximum Resistance’ from Iran which refused to buckle down under pressure and met force with force.
• This confrontation was seen in incidences such as Iran shooting down a US drone over the Gulf and the US killing Iranian General Qasem Soleimani earlier this year.

 NOW CHANGE OF GUARD IN THE US :

• Joe Biden is the new President-elect, he served successfully under the previous Democrat President Obama and was instrumental in bringing the US-Iran ties on a positive track.
• Currently, he faces a huge task ahead of him to repair the broken ties and at the same time keep the US allies in the region happy.
• He has promised that the US will work towards getting JCPOA back on track, but with minor revision.
• The US’s role as a mediator or for the maintenance of order in the region has diluted in the past 4 years. The challenge for President Biden is to change it.
• The recent assassination of the nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a top Iranian nuclear scientist has made the region simmer with tensions. Iran has officially gone on record saying that it will avenge his death.
• Israel, a major ally of the US in the region, has been accused of conducting this covert operation.

 IMPACT ON INDIA :

• The political aspect of managing relations with the US and Iran can be a formidable challenge.
• India’s relation with US: If India continues to buy Iranian oil, refusing US sanctions, it is likely to impact the strategic relationship with the US and can create strains in Indo-US defence deals.
• India’s relation with Iran: If India stops sourcing oil from Iran, it will affect bilateral relations. This can draw Iran closer to China.
• Moreover, giving in completely to US pressure and cutting off Iranian oil imports affects India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy.

 JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION (JCPOA) :

• Iran has been a non-nuclear weapon state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) since 1970.
• The Iran nuclear deal (formally the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) was signed between Iran and the P5 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) plus Germany and the European Union.
  • Under the deal, Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for relief from the US and other economic sanctions.

 o In 2018, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA objecting to

• Iran’s ballistic missile program or
• its involvement in regional conflicts,
• sunset clauses of the deal which critics say provide Iran with a patient pathway to acquiring nuclear weapons. because it didn’t address

 SALIENT FEATURES :

• Uranium enrichment capacity: Iran’s current capacity of 19,000 gas centrifuges would be reduced by more than two-thirds to 6,104, out of which just over 5,000 would actually be enriching uranium.
• Fordow underground enrichment plant: This cavern under a mountain near the city of Qom would be used only for non-military research.
• The enriched uranium stockpile: Iran’s stockpile of LEU would be reduced from its current level of about 7,500kg to 300kg, a reduction of 96%.

 CONCLUSION :

• Biden will have to reassert himself and rein in America’s allies from launching more provocative attacks on Iranian regime figures , and press Tehran to return to the terms of the agreement and further talks on the country’s regional activities in return for economic and security assurances . Iran , on its part, should observe strategic patience and give diplomacy another chance .

 

 

QUESTION : “ US-Iran bilateral relations have put the Middle East on the brink”. Justify with suggestive measures to tackle  the differences between both the nations.

THE IRAN CHALLENGE

WHAT ?

• The US-Iran Bilateral Relations

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Trump pulled U.S. out of JCPOA+for new US President, one of his most pressing early diplomatic challenges would be Iran.

DONALD TRUMP’S IRAN POLICY :

• Donald Trump went as far as pulling out of JCPOA + imposed strict sanctions on Iran.
• ‘Maximum Pressure’ was met with ‘Maximum Resistance’ from Iran
• Iran shooting down a US drone over Gulf+ US killing Iranian General Qasem Soleimani earlier this year.

NOW CHANGE OF GUARD IN THE US :

• Currently, Biden faces a huge task ahead of him to repair broken ties
• promised that the US will work towards getting JCPOA back on track,
• US’s role as a mediator or for maintenance of order in region has diluted in the past 4 years.
• The recent assassination of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a top Iranian nuclear scientist has made the region simmer with tensions.

IMPACT ON INDIA :

• India’s relation with US: is likely to impact strategic relationship with US & can create strains in Indo-US defence deals.
• India’s relation with Iran: If India stops sourcing oil from Iran+will affect bilateral relations.
• giving in completely to US pressure+ cutting off Iranian oil imports affects India’s pursuit of strategic autonomy.

JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION (JCPOA) :

• Iran=non-nuclear weapon state party to NPT since 1970.
• Iran nuclear deal was signed between Iran+ P5 +Germany +EU 
• Under the deal, Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear program

SALIENT FEATURES :

• Uranium enrichment capacity
• Fordow underground enrichment plant
• The enriched uranium stockpile

CONCLUSION :

• US + Iran , on their part, should observe strategic patience and give diplomacy another chance .

 

QUESTION : The government’s efforts to provide proxy voting rights to NRIs is seen as a historic decision . Discuss the pros and cons of this decision.

 WHAT ?

• NRI Voting

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Election Commission(EC) has approached the Law Ministry to permit NRIs to cast their votes from overseas through postal ballots.

 CURRENT PROCESS OF VOTING  :

• An NRI can vote in the constituency in which her place of residence, as mentioned in the passport, is located.
• She can only vote in person and will have to produce her passport in original at the polling station for establishing identity.
• Voting rights for NRIs were introduced only in 2011, through an amendment to the Representation of the People Act 1950.

 STRENGTH OF NRI VOTERS  :

• According to a UN report of 2015, India’s diaspora population is the largest in the world at 16 million people.
• Registration of NRI voters, in comparison, has been very low: a little over one lakh overseas Indians registered as voters in India, according to the EC.
• In last year’s Lok Sabha elections, roughly 25,000 of them flew to India to vote.

 HOW POSTAL BALLOT WILL WORK ?

• According to the EC proposal, any NRI interested in voting through the postal ballot in an election will have to inform the Returning Officer (RO) not later than five days after the notification of the election.
• On receiving such information, the RO will dispatch the ballot paper electronically.
• The NRI voters will download the ballot paper, mark their preference on the printout and send it back along with a declaration attested by an officer appointed by the diplomatic or consular representative of India in the country where the NRI is resident.
• It’s not clear, at this moment, if the voter will return the ballot paper herself through ordinary post or drop it off at the Indian Embassy, which may then segregate the envelopes constituency-wise and send them to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state concerned for forwarding to the RO

 HOW AND WHEN  ABOUT ORIGINATION OF PROPOSAL ?

• The EC began to look for options to enable NRIs to vote from overseas after it received several requests, including one from former Rajya Sabha MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal and the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, and three writ petitions were filed by NRIs in the Supreme Court in 2013 and 2014.
• A 12-member committee was set up after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections to study mainly three options — voting by post, voting at an Indian mission abroad and online voting.
• The committee ruled out online polling as it felt this could compromise “secrecy of voting”.
• It also shot down the proposal to vote at Indian missions abroad as they do not have adequate resources.
• In 2015, the panel finally recommended that NRIs should be given the “additional alternative options of e-postal ballot and proxy voting”, apart from voting in person.
• Under proxy voting, a registered elector can delegate his voting power to a representative. The Law Ministry accepted the recommendation on proxy voting.

 RESPONSE OF MEA :

• The MEA expressed strong reservations over attesting the declaration that NRI voters will have to send along with their marked ballot papers.
• The MEA had said “diplomatic missions do not have the logistical wherewithal to handle attestation for a large number of overseas electors” and that they would have to seek the permission of the host country for organising such activity, which may be difficult in non-democratic countries.

 WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PROPOSAL TO GRANT PROXY VOTING ?

• The Union Cabinet passed the proposal on proxy voting rights for NRIs in 2017. The government then brought a Bill amending the Representation of the People Act 1950.
• The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha and was awaiting Rajya Sabha’s approval when it lapsed with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha. This proposal hasn’t been revived yet.
• In its latest letter, the EC pushed only for postal voting rights for NRIs, not proxy voting. To extend the postal voting facility to overseas voters, the government only needs to amend the Conduct of Election Rules 1961. It doesn’t require Parliament’s nod.

 PROXY VOTING MEANS ?

• Voting in an Indian election can be done in three ways — in person, by post and through a proxy.
• Under proxy voting, a registered elector can delegate his voting power to a representative.
• This was introduced in 2003 for elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies, but on a limited scale.
• Presently only a “classified service voter” — that includes members of the armed forces, BSF, CRPF, CISF, General Engineering Reserve Force and Border Road Organisation — is allowed to nominate a proxy to cast vote on his behalf.

 INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE :

• Many countries allow expatriates to vote, with different rules.
• British citizen living abroad can nominate a proxy subject to eligibility rules that factor in the expatriate’s period of stay abroad and the period for which the voter was registered in the UK.
• Those who were minors at the time of leaving the country can also vote as long as their parent or guardian was registered to vote in the UK.
• American expatriates can vote for federal office candidates in primary and general elections.

 ARGUMENTS AGAINST PROXY VOTING :

• Political parties stand divided on proxy voting. Only the BJP was in favour of proxy voting.
• Others feared that the proxy voter may not vote as per the wishes of the overseas voter.
• It suffers from an inherent problem of ‘trust deficiency’.
• It violates the principle of ‘secrecy of voting’ and ‘free and fair elections’.
• Former election commissioners too have expressed apprehensions in the past about proxy voting for NRIs.
• There are arguments that, when the Constitution talks of ‘one Indian one vote’, how can a proxy cast multiple votes.
• It is against level-playing field as regional parties will not have the wherewithal to campaign in foreign countries.
• It could favour the ruling party.
• There are arguments that proxy voting threatens the core of democracy as we are giving special privilege to those who have migrated abroad, when there are more domestic migrants who seek to have voting rights.

  WAY FORWARD :

• The move is a step in the right direction.
• The government must ensure that system of proxy voting is not misused by anyone.
• EC must frame rules in such a way that if proxy voting is misused, it will lead to cancellation of the mandate.
• Provisions should be made to allow migrant workers to vote at their place of residence.

 CONCLUSION :

• At present, postal ballots are allowed for certain categories of voters living in India. The new proposal is for overseas voters.

 

QUESTION : The government’s efforts to provide proxy voting rights to NRIs is seen as a historic decision . Discuss the pros and cons of this decision.

 WHAT ?

• NRI Voting

WHY IN NEWS ?

• EC= approached Law Ministry to permit NRIs to cast their votes from overseas through postal ballots.

CURRENT PROCESS OF VOTING  :

• An NRI can vote in his/her place of residence
• will have to produce passport in original at the polling station
• Voting rights for NRIs were introduced only in 2011 through amendment to RPA 1950.

STRENGTH OF NRI VOTERS  :

• UN report of 2015=India’s diaspora population is largest in world at 16 million
• Registration of NRI voters, in comparison, has been very low
• last year’s Lok Sabha elections, 25,000 of them flew to India to vote.

HOW POSTAL BALLOT WILL WORK ?

• EC proposal=any NRI interested in voting through postal ballot=to inform RO not later than 5 days after notification of election. 
• On receiving such information, RO will dispatch ballot paper electronically. 
• NRI will download ballot paper, mark their preference on printout + send it back along with a declaration attested by an officer

HOW AND WHEN  ABOUT ORIGINATION OF PROPOSAL ?

• A 12-member committee =set up after 2014 Lok Sabha elections to study mainly three options — voting by post, voting at an Indian mission abroad + online voting.
• committee ruled out online polling as it felt this could compromise “secrecy of voting”.
• shot down the proposal to vote at Indian missions abroad = not adequate resources.
• 2015, panel finally recommended that NRIs should be given “additional alternative options of e-postal ballot + proxy voting”,

RESPONSE OF MEA :

• expressed strong reservations over attesting declaration that NRI voters will have to send along with their marked ballot papers.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PROPOSAL TO GRANT PROXY VOTING ?

1. proposal passed for NRIs in 2017+ government then brought a Bill amending 1950.
2. The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha + was awaiting Rajya Sabha’s approval when it lapsed
3. In its latest letter, the EC pushed only for postal voting rights for NRIs, not proxy voting.

PROXY VOTING MEANS ?

• can be done in 3 ways — in person by post + through a proxy.
• registered elector can delegate his voting power to a representative.
• introduced in 2003 for elections to Lok Sabha
• only a “classified service voter” — BSF, CRPF, CISF, General Engineering Reserve Force and BRO — allowed

INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE :

• Many countries allow expatriates to vote, with different rules.
• British citizen living abroad can nominate a proxy subject to eligibility
• minors at time of leaving country can also vote as long as their parent or guardian was registered to vote in UK.
• American expatriates can vote for federal office candidates in primary + general elections.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST PROXY VOTING :

• Political parties stand divided on proxy voting
• suffers problem of ‘trust deficiency’.
• violates principle of ‘secrecy of voting’ +‘free & fair elections’.
• Against ‘one Indian one vote’,
• against level-playing field
• It could favour the ruling party.

WAY FORWARD :

• The move=a step in right direction.
• government must ensure that system of proxy voting is not misused by anyone.
• EC must frame rules in such a way that if proxy voting is misused, it will lead to cancellation of the mandate.
• Provisions should be made to allow migrant workers to vote at their place of residence.

CONCLUSION :

• At present, postal ballots=allowed for certain categories of voters living in India. The new proposal is for overseas voters.

 

QUESTION : “Recently India has raised a concern on the UN’s selective nature towards religions and this may cause cultural disharmony” Justify this statement

 CULTURE AND PEACE 

 WHAT ?

• India’s stand against ‘UN’s selectivity on religions’

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• In a strong statement at the UN General Assembly discussing resolutions of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) on the ‘Culture of Peace’, India criticised the world body for what it called “selectivity” in seeking to protect Abrahamic religions — Islam, Christianity and Judaism — over others.

 INDIA’S OBJECTIONS :

• India said the UNGA statement welcomed the Kartarpur Gurdwara corridor agreement between India and Pakistan, but failed to note that Pakistan’s government has taken over the management of the Sikh shrine, which it called a contravention of the agreement and a violation of Sikh beliefs.
• India asked the United Nations to recognise violence being meted out against religious minorities such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, and not just those pertaining to the three large Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
• Indian delegate condemned the UN’s selectivity under the aegis of the UNAOC and said that the world body only serves to further the theory of an inevitable “clash of civilisations” instead.

 UNITED NATIONS ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS (UNAOC) :

• It was established in 2005, as the political initiative of Mr. Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General and co-sponsored by the Governments of Spain and Turkey.
• The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations High Representative and Secretariat are based and operating from New York.
• Objective: The Alliance maintains a global network of partners including states, international and regional organizations, civil society groups, foundations, and the private sector to improve cross-cultural relations between diverse nations and communities.

 CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS:

• The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order is an expansion of the 1993 Foreign Affairs article written by Samuel Huntington that hypothesized a new post-Cold War world order.
• Prior to the end of the Cold War, societies were divided by ideological differences, such as the struggle between democracy and communism.
• Huntington’s main thesis argues, “The most important distinctions among peoples are [no longer] ideological, political, or economic. They are cultural”.
• New patterns of conflict will occur along the boundaries of different cultures and patterns of cohesion will be found within the cultural boundaries.

  KARTARPUT CORRIDOR:

• The Kartarpur Corridor is a visa-free border crossing and secure corridor, connecting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan to the border with India.
• The crossing allows Sikh devotees from India to visit the gurdwara in Kartarpur, 4.7 kilometres (2.9 miles) from the India–Pakistan border on the Pakistani side without a visa.
• However Pakistani Sikhs are unable to use the border crossing, and cannot access Dera Baba Nanak on the Indian side without first obtaining an Indian visa or unless they work there.
• The Kartarpur Corridor was first proposed in early 1999 by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif, the prime ministers of India and Pakistan respectively, as part of the Delhi–Lahore Bus diplomacy.
• The template that Kartarpur has given both sides is also worth considering for the format of other bilateral negotiations given that the talks have been immunised from both terror attacks and election rhetoric.
• The venue of the talks, at the Attari-Wagah zero point, lends itself to more successful outcomes too away from the glare of the media, without focus on arrangements for both parties.
• The two sides can cross over, meet for the duration of talks and return after issuing a pre-arranged joint statement.
• Other faith-based corridors – The obvious extension from this would be for having other faith-based “corridors” for Hindu, Muslim and Sikh pilgrims in both countries; this would be in addition to the list of 20 shrines (15 in Pakistan, five in India) that were negotiated under the 1974 Protocol on visits to Religious Shrines.

  ANALYSIS OF THE RECENT MEETING:

• India’s concerns over the UN resolutions that portray only three religions as victims of religious hatred are completely valid, and it is important that they are broadened to include every community that faces religion-based violence.
• It is also important that the government thwarts Pakistan’s particularly insidious attempts to create a controversy against India at this time, by pushing these resolutions as India steps to take its two-year seat at the UN Security Council.
• New Delhi has been concerned by an increase in intrusive language from the UN bodies concerned as well, given that UNAOC issued a statement of “grave concern” over the Delhi riots in February this year that it said resulted in casualties of “mostly Muslims”.
• India is keen to push back on the UNAOC and other UN arms, like the UN Human Rights Council, that have criticised the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
• As it seeks to do all of this, however, the government must be careful about ensuring that in exposing the UN’s “selectivity” it doesn’t open a flank for a counter-charge against India.
• The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, for example, has been criticised for offering fast-track citizenship to only a select group of religions, leaving out Muslims.
• India cannot call for a culture of peace that stitches together an alliance of faiths, while Indian States bring laws that seek to make difficult inter-faith marriages.

  CONCLUSION:

• In the larger analysis, the force of India’s argument against the UN’s selective resolutions and non-inclusive language as well as the international efforts of adversaries such as Pakistan remains its own secular credentials enshrined in the Constitution and its pluralistic ethos.

 

 

QUESTION : “Recently India has raised a concern on the UN’s selective nature towards religions and this may cause religious and  cultural disharmony.” Justify this statement

 CULTURE AND PEACE 

WHAT ?

• India’s stand against ‘UN’s selectivity on religions’

WHY IN NEWS ?

• India criticised UNAOC for “selectivity” in seeking to protect Abrahamic religions — Islam, Christianity + Judaism — over others.

INDIA’S OBJECTIONS :

• India said UNGA statement welcomed Kartarpur Gurdwara corridor agreement between India +Pak but contravention of agreement + a violation of Sikh beliefs. 
• India asked UN to recognise violence against religious minorities=Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism + Sikhism

UNITED NATIONS ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS (UNAOC) :

• established in 2005, as the political initiative of Mr. Kofi Annan + co-sponsored by Spain + Turkey.
• based and operating from New York.
• Objective: maintains a global network of partners including states, international+ regional organizations, civil society groups, foundations+ pvt. sector to improve cross-cultural relations between diverse nations+ communities.

CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS:

• an expansion of 1993 Foreign Affairs article written by Samuel Huntington that hypothesized a new post-Cold War world order.
• Prior to end of Cold War, societies= divided by ideological differences
• Huntington= ” most important distinctions among peoples not ideological, political, or economic= are cultural”.
• New patterns of conflict will occur along boundaries of different cultures + patterns of cohesion=found within the cultural boundaries.

KARTARPUT CORRIDOR:

• visa-free border crossing+ secure corridor, connecting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan to border with India.
• The crossing allows Sikh devotees from India to visit the gurdwara in Kartarpur, 4.7 kilometres
• Pakistani Sikhs=unable to use border crossing+ cannot access Dera Baba Nanak on the Indian side without first obtaining an Indian visa or unless they work there.
• was first proposed in early 1999 by Atal Bihari Vajpayee + Nawaz Sharif, as part of Delhi–Lahore Bus diplomacy.
• two sides can cross over, meet for the duration of talks + return after issuing a pre-arranged joint statement.
• Other faith-based corridors

ANALYSIS OF THE RECENT MEETING:

• India’s concerns over UN resolutions that portray only 3 religions as victims of religious hatred= completely valid
• by pushing these resolutions as India steps to take its two-year seat at UNSC
• New Delhi= concerned by an increase in intrusive language from UN bodies concerned as well
• India is keen to push back on UNAOC+other UN arms, like UNHRC=criticised CAA
• CAA= criticised for offering fast-track citizenship to only a select group of religions, leaving out Muslims.
• India cannot call for a culture of peace that stitches together an alliance of faiths

CONCLUSION:

• force of India’s argument against UN’s selective resolutions+ non-inclusive language+ international efforts of adversaries such as Pakistan remains its own secular credentials enshrined in Constitution+ its pluralistic ethos.

 

 

QUESTION :  Brief the challenges associated with skill development among Indian youth and at the same time  suggest effective measures to enhance the skills and employability of Indian youths. 

 INVESTING IN INDIA’S YOUTH

 WHAT ?

• Youth and Skill Development in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• With the largest youth population in the world, India faces the difficult task of educating every citizen to become a productive member of society.

 KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNESCO’S STATE OF THE EDUCATION REPORT FOR INDIA :

• Evidence shows that many people develop 21st century skills on the job, or from courses that focus on practical application of skills.
• This indicates that vocational education can be a route for many to gain specific skill sets and knowledge which they can directly apply in their jobs.
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
• ‘Technical and vocational education and training’ (TVET) is understood as comprising education, training and skills development relating to a wide range of occupational fields, production, services and livelihoods.
• TVET, as part of lifelong learning, can take place at secondary,post-secondary and tertiary levels and includes work-based learning and continuing training and professional development which may lead to qualifications.
• TVET also includes a wide range of skills development opportunities attuned to national and local contexts.
• Learning to learn, the development of literacy and numeracy skills, transversal skills and citizenship skills are integral components of TVET.

 INITIATIVES BY THE GOI :

• India’s Right to Education Act guarantees free and compulsory education for the ages of 6 to 14 years, and is based on books and written examinations.
• The National Skill Development Policy was launched in 2009 and revamped in 2015, recognising the challenge of skilling with speed and high standards.
• The Skill India Mission was launched soon after, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his vision for making India the “skill capital” of the world.
• The new National Education Policy (NEP) aims to provide vocational education to 50% of all learners by 2025.
• Schools are encouraged to provide students access to vocational education from Grade 6 onwards and to offer courses that are aligned to the local economies and can benefit local communities.

 CHALLENGES IN SKILL DEVELOPMENT :

• One of the biggest challenges for expanding the reach of TVET-related courses has been the lack of aspiration and stigma attached to jobs such as carpentry and tailoring.
• Insufficient training capacity: The training was not sufficient to ensure a job for those who got the training – and this is why the employability rate remains very low.
• Lack of entrepreneurship skills: While the government expected that some of the PMKVY-trainees would create their own enterprise, only 24% of the trainees started their business. And out of them, only 10,000 applied for MUDRA loans.
• Low industry interface: Most of the training institutes have low industry interface as a result of which the performance of the skill development sector is poor in terms of placement records and salaries offered.
• Low student mobilization: The enrolment in skill institutes like ITIs, and polytechnics, remains low as compared to their enrolment capacity. This is due to low awareness level among youths about the skill development programmes.
• Employers’ unwillingness: India’s joblessness issue is not only a skills problem, it is representative of the lack of appetite of industrialists and SMEs for recruiting.

 WAY FORWARD :

• UNESCO’s State of the Education Report for India 2020 focuses on vocational education and training and showcases the growth of the skills development sector, along with emerging challenges.
• Public information campaigns involving youth role models, would go a long way in improving the image of vocational education. At the same time, some common myths around TVET need to be debunked.
• It emphasizes the need for expanding evidence-based research as one of its key recommendations.
• High-quality research based on careful data-gathering and analytics can add value to all aspects of TVET planning and delivery but is especially useful for creating evidence behind the value of vocational education.
• Considering that many employers are unable to find skilled candidates for jobs, promoting skills development and hiring skilled workers can make the economy stronger.

 CONCLUSION :

• A massive expansion in vocational education will be possible only if the existing skills development systems are leveraged effectively. Hence, for the vision of the National Education Policy to be fulfilled, a robust coordination mechanism for inter-ministerial cooperation will be necessary for bringing the skills development and vocational education systems together.

 

QUESTION :  Brief the challenges associated with skill development among Indian youth and at the same time  suggest effective measures to enhance the skills and employability of Indian youths. 

 INVESTING IN INDIA’S YOUTH

WHAT ?

• Youth + Skill Development in India

WHY IN NEWS ?

• largest youth population in the world, India faces the difficult task of educating every citizen to become a productive member of society.

KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNESCO’S STATE OF THE EDUCATION REPORT FOR INDIA :

• many people develop 21st century skills on job, or from courses that focus on practical application of skills.
• vocational education can be a route for many to gain specific skill sets+ knowledge
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)- understood as comprising education, training & skills development relating to a wide range of occupational fields, production, services+ livelihoods +Learning to learn, development of literacy + numeracy skills

INITIATIVES BY THE GOI :

• India’s Right to Education Act
• The National Skill Development Policy
• The Skill India Mission
• The new National Education Policy (NEP)

CHALLENGES IN SKILL DEVELOPMENT :

• One of the biggest challenges for expanding the reach of TVET-related courses has been the lack of aspiration and stigma attached to jobs such as carpentry and tailoring.
• Insufficient training capacity
• Lack of entrepreneurship skills
• Low industry interface
• Low student mobilization
• Employers’ unwillingness

 WAY FORWARD :

• UNESCO’s State of the Education Report for India 2020 focuses on vocational education+ training and showcases the growth of the skills development
• Public information campaigns involving youth role models education.
• It emphasizes the need for expanding evidence-based research
• High-quality research based on careful data-gathering and analytics

CONCLUSION :

• for the vision of the NEP to be fulfilled, a robust coordination mechanism for inter-ministerial cooperation will be necessary for bringing the skills development +vocational education systems together.

 

 

QUESTION : Suggest the appropriate measures should the government adopt immediately to address the challenge of increasing unemployment in the urban informal sector .

 A ‘DUET’ FOR INDIA’S URBAN WOMEN

 WHAT ?

• Employment crisis in urban informal sector

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• There is a crisis of employment in the urban informal sector, as millions of workers have lost their job due to periodic .
• Decentralised Urban Employment and Training’ (DUET) could act as a step towards urban employment guarantee.

 DECENTRALISED URBAN EMPLOYMENT TRAINING (DUET) :

• This is a proposal by Jean Dreze, an economist and a social scientist.
• The DUET works on the concept of ‘Job stamps’. This is a unique concept that can help in job creation for the urban poor.
• The working principle behind “Job stamp” is that each stamp represents one day of work at the minimum wages.
• These stamps would be issued by the government, state or union and distributed liberally to certain designated public institutions like schools, colleges, hostels, health centres, railway stations, public sector enterprises, urban local bodies, etc.
• The above-mentioned institutions will have the freedom to use these stamps to hire labour for odd jobs and minuscule projects that do not fit into the regular budgets and systems.
• Wages paid by the government will go directly to the worker’s bank account and avoid any malpractices or collusion.

  WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, A IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF DUET :

• Women are to be given priority. India has been ranked 112th among 153 countries in the annual Global Gender Gap Index for 2020, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
• A National Sample Survey data suggests that only 20% of urban women in the age bracket 15 to 59 years spend time in “employment and related activities”.
• Wage employment to women can be a shot in the arm for women empowerment.
• Economic independence will foster a great degree of dignity and autonomy to women. This has the possibility of lifting the status of women at the societal, household level and also at the individual level.
• Gender inequality, female oppression and domestic violence can be tackled with increased economic independence of women.

 ROLE OF PLACEMENT AGENCY :

• The primary role of the placement agency is to assign registered workers to approved employers as and when required. But it could also serve other purposes, for example, certifying workers’ skills, protecting workers from exploitation and arranging social benefits for them.

 

• Various options could be considered for the placement agency, such as: (1) a single agency for the municipality, run by the local government; (2) a worker cooperative; (3) multiple placement agencies, run as non-profit organisations or cooperatives.

 DUET AND  MGNREGA :

• It is meant to create a lasting institution as an antidote to urban unemployment and urban decay.
• The motivation for DUET is quite different from that for MNREGA. MNREGA offers insurance to rural workers in a slack season or in a drought year when agricultural jobs disappear. That is not the case of urban production.

 MERITS OF DUET :

• Job Creation: Activating a multiplicity of approved employers will help to generate a lot of employment.
• Activating a multiplicity of potential employers: The approved employers will have a stake in ensuring that the work is productive.
• Efficient: The scheme requires little staff of its own since existing institutions are the employers. The Scheme thus avoids the need for special staff, facilitating productive work.
• Avoids Leakages: Workers are assured of timely payment at the minimum wage as it involves direct payment of wages using JAM trinity.
• Towards employment guarantee: It would be relatively easy to move from DUET towards demand-driven ’employment guarantee’. That would require the municipality to act as a last-resort employer, committed to providing work to all those who are demanding work
• Urban Infrastructure Creation: Urban areas could use some infrastructure and there is under utilised labour but there are no resources to use this labour to build the infrastructure. DUET may be one way to solve this problem

 PRECAUTIONS THAT ONE NEEDS TO MAKE DUET A SUCCESS :

• Permissible List of Works: To avoid abuse, the use of job stamps could be restricted to a list of permissible works. But the list should be fairly comprehensive, and not restricted to maintenance.
• Avoid Displacement of Existing Jobs: The list of works should not be so broad as to displace existing jobs in public institutions.
• Ensure Worker Safety: All DUET employment should be subject to worker safety and welfare norms specified in the scheme and existing labour laws.
• Equity in worker registration: All urban residents above the age of 18 should be eligible to register under DUET, but special registration drives or placement agencies could be located in low-income neighbourhoods.
• Integrate Skilling: The scheme would cover both skilled and unskilled workers. Whenever a skilled worker is employed, an assistant (unskilled) worker could be mandatorily employed as well, to impart an element of training and skill formation to the scheme.
• Giving priority to women would have two further merits. First, it would reinforce the self-targeting feature of DUET, because women in relatively well-off households are unlikely to go (or be allowed to go) for casual labour at the minimum wage. Second, it would promote women’s general participation in the labour force.

 

• Needs Independent Monitoring: An independent authority could be appointed or designated at the municipal level to monitor, inspect, audit and evaluate the works.

 CONCLUSION :

• The scheme should be given a chance by way of a pilot scheme in select districts or even municipalities.

 

QUESTION : Suggest the appropriate measures should the government adopt immediately to address the challenge of increasing unemployment in the urban informal sector .

 

A ‘DUET’ FOR INDIA’S URBAN WOMEN

WHAT ?

• Employment crisis in urban informal sector

WHY IN NEWS ?

• crisis of employment in urban informal sector, as millions of workers have lost their job

DECENTRALISED URBAN EMPLOYMENT TRAINING (DUET) :

• proposal by Jean Dreze, an economist and a social scientist.
  • works on concept of ‘Job stamps’ +unique concept that can help in job creation for urban poor.+each stamp represents one day of work at minimum wages.
  • These stamps would be issued by schools, colleges, hostels, health centres, railway stations, public sector enterprises, urban local bodies, etc.
  • Wages = go directly to worker’s bank account + avoid any malpractices or collusion.

 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT, A IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF DUET :

• Women are to be given priority. India has been ranked 112th among 153
• NSS= only 20% of urban women in age bracket 15 to 59 years spend time in “employment + related activities”.
• Wage employment to women can be a shot in the arm for women empowerment.
• Economic independence= great degree of dignity +autonomy to women.
• Gender inequality, female oppression +domestic violence can be tackled

ROLE OF PLACEMENT AGENCY :

• certifying workers’ skills, protecting workers from exploitation+ arranging social benefits for them.
• (1) a single agency for municipality (2) a worker cooperative;(3) multiple placement agencies, run as non-profit organisations or cooperatives.

DUET AND  MGNREGA :

• to create a lasting institution as an antidote to urban unemployment+ urban decay.
• MNREGA offers insurance to rural workers in a slack season or in a drought year when agricultural jobs disappear. That is not the case of urban production.

MERITS OF DUET :

• Job Creation
• Activating a multiplicity of potential employers
• Efficient working
• Avoids Leakages:
• Towards employment guarantee
• Urban Infrastructure Creation

PRECAUTIONS THAT ONE NEEDS TO MAKE DUET A SUCCESS :

• Permissible List of Works
• Avoid Displacement of Existing Jobs
• Ensure Worker Safety
• Equity in worker registration Integrate Skilling
• Giving priority to women
• Needs Independent Monitoring

 CONCLUSION :

• The scheme should be given a chance by way of a pilot scheme in select districts or even municipalities.

 

 

QUESTION : Even after running of so many government schemes and programmes addressing malnutrition in India, it remains a mighty challenge for India. Discuss.

 THOUSAND DAYS OF NUTRITION, AND A BILLION DREAMS

 WHAT ?

• Malnutrition in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• As per a Lancet study (2019), 68% of 1.04 million deaths of children under five years in India was due to malnutrition in 2017.
• Thus, India needs to determine how well it nourishes the physical well-being and mental potential of its people, particularly its children.

  MORE ABOUT MALNUTRITION ?

• Malnutrition occurs when a person’s diet does not provide enough nutrients or the right balance of nutrients for optimal health.
• Causes of malnutrition include inappropriate dietary choices, a low income, difficulty obtaining food, and various physical and mental health conditions
• Malnourished children are either too short for their age or too thin.
• Children whose height is below the average for their age are considered to be stunted.
• Children whose weight is below the average for their age are considered thin for their height or wasted.

  CHALLENGES IN INDIA DUE TO MALNUTRITION :

• Malnourished children tend to fall short of their real potential — physically as well as mentally.
• Malnutrition leaves their bodies weaker and more susceptible to illnesses.
• Children who survive malnutrition do not do as well as they could.
• Without necessary nutrients, their brains do not develop to the fullest.
• They end up performing poorly at school than they otherwise would.
• As per the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey, about half of all children under five years in the country were found to be stunted (too short) or wasted (too thin) for their height.

 GOVERNMENT SCHEMES :

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) – A government programme operational in India since 1975, which provides food, preschool education, primary healthcare, immunization, health check-up and referral services to children under 6 years of age and their mothers.
  • National Health Mission (NHM) initially launched in 2013 to address the health needs of 18 states that had been identified as having weak public health indicators, later scaled up to the entire nation.
  • Mid-Day Meal Scheme which has been implemented since 1995, where a nutritious meal is provided by the school to better the nutritional standing of school-age children nationwide
  • Indirect interventions all of which had improvement in nutrition as part of their several objectives, include:
• Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
• National Horticulture Mission
• National Food Security Mission
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
• National Rural Drinking Water Programme
• It is the National Nutrition Mission launched in 2018 to address malnutrition.
• Aim: To ensure holistic development and adequate nutrition for pregnant women, mothers and children.
• Under it, the government strengthened the delivery of essential nutrition interventions so that more children have the right start in life for optimum growth, health, development and a prosperous future.
• It is a multi-ministerial convergence mission with the vision to ensure attainment of malnutrition free India by 2022.
• Majorly it involves gradual scaling-up of interventions supported by on-going World Bank assisted Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) systems Strengthening and Nutrition Improvement Project’ (ISSNIP) to all districts in the country by 2022.

  POST-COVID-19 CHALLENGES :

• COVID-19 can derail the gains India has made in nutrition. It can push millions into poverty, reduce incomes and disproportionately affect the economically disadvantaged.
• Pandemic-prompted lockdowns which disrupted essential services such as supplementary feeding under Anganwadi centres, mid-day meals, immunisation, and micro-nutrient supplementation can exacerbate malnutrition.
• There are concerns over commitments around sustained leadership, dedicated finances, multi-sectoral approach and increased uninterrupted coverage of a vulnerable population under programmes enhancing nutrition.
• India needs to ensure coverage of every single child and mother, along with 12 months of Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month), 52 weeks of breastfeeding weeks and 365 days of take-home ration.
• To sustain financial commitments for the nutrition schemes and additional funds to preserve nutritional security in vulnerable communities (particularly women and children in slum areas, migrants, the population in tribal areas and districts with malnutrition rates).
• Economic insecurities force girls into early marriage, early motherhood, discontinue their schooling, and reduce institutional deliveries, cut access to micronutrient supplements, and nutritious food which largely tend to be perishable, all of which may worsen malnutrition.

  SUGGESTIONS :

• Intensify the convergence component of POSHAN Abhiyaan, using the platform to bring all departments in one place to address nutrition.
• Awareness about Anganwadi scheme should be ensured and enhance the Voluntary payment of Anganwadi workers and helpers.
• Programmes that promote women’s higher education such as liberal scholarships for women need to be accorded a much higher priority.
• Direct the announcement to form farmer producer organizations with some financial allocation to nutrition-based activities.
• Leveraging agricultural policies and programmes to nutrition-sensitive and reinforcing diet diversification towards a nutrient-rich diet.
• Bio-fortification is very cost-effective in improving the diet of households and the nutritional status of children.

  WAY FORWARD :

• Leaders from academia, civil society, development partners, community advocates and the private sector have come together as part of ‘commitment to action’ to seek and support the government in a six-pronged action that can save and build on the advances India has made in nutrition.
• To truly grasp the depth and breadth of the COVID-19-caused nutrition crisis, the country must track nutrition indices through data systems.
• Evidence generated through data will serve well to track the positive impact of POSHAN Abhiyan, and correct course to a well-nourished India.

  CONCLUSION :

• It takes time for nutrition interventions to yield dividends, but once occurred they can bring transformative generational shifts.
• Filling in the nutrition gaps will guarantee a level-playing field for all children and strengthen the foundations for the making of a future super-power.

 

 

QUESTION : Even after running of so many government schemes and programmes addressing malnutrition in India, it remains a mighty challenge for India. Discuss.

 THOUSAND DAYS OF NUTRITION, AND A BILLION DREAMS

 WHAT ?

• Malnutrition in India

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Lancet study (2019), 68% of 1.04 million deaths of children under five years in India was due to malnutrition in 2017.

 MORE ABOUT MALNUTRITION ?

• person’s diet does not provide enough nutrients or the right balance of nutrients
• Causes= inappropriate dietary choices, a low income, difficulty obtaining food+ various physical + mental health conditions
• Malnourished children=either too short for their age or too thin.

 CHALLENGES IN INDIA DUE TO MALNUTRITION :

• physically as well as mentally unfit
• Without necessary nutrients, their brains do not develop to the fullest+ performing poorly at school
• Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey=about half of all children under 5 found to be stunted (too short) or wasted (too thin)

 GOVERNMENT SCHEMES :

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
• National Health Mission (NHM)
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme
• Indirect interventions
• Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
• National Horticulture Mission
• National Food Security Mission
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
• National Rural Drinking Water Programme

 POST-COVID-19 CHALLENGES :

• It can push millions into poverty, reduce incomes+ disproportionately affect economically disadvantaged.
• Pandemic-prompted lockdowns which disrupted essential services can exacerbate malnutrition.
• uninterrupted coverage of a vulnerable population = girls into early marriage, early motherhood, discontinue their schooling

 SUGGESTIONS :

• Intensify the convergence component of POSHAN Abhiyaan,
• Awareness about Anganwadi scheme
• Programmes that promote women’s higher education= much higher priority.
• Direct the announcement to form farmer producer organizations
• Leveraging agricultural policies
• Bio-fortification

 WAY FORWARD :

• Leaders + private sector= together as part of ‘commitment to action’ to seek & support government in a six-pronged action
• country must track nutrition indices through data systems.
• Evidence generated through data will serve well to track the positive impact of POSHAN Abhiyan, and correct course to a well-nourished India.

 CONCLUSION :

• Filling in nutrition gaps will guarantee a level-playing field for all children+ strengthen foundations for making of a future super-power.

 

 

QUESTION: Discuss how  the impact of tussle between  Iran and USA on Indian trade and ties with Iran.

 IRAN’S CALCULATED RISK 

 WHAT ?

• Iran and US tensions

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Instead of responding to the provocation, Iran has decided to wait and watch the new U.S. administrations response

 BACKGROUND OF THIS NUCLEAR DEAL :

• In 2015, the P5+1 nations-China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S., plus Germany- reached an agreement with Iran to curb the country’s nuclear programme.
• It was expected that the agreement would lead to a new beginning in West Asia, however, this did not happen.
• Washington saw Iran’s nuclear programme, which was at an advanced stage in 2015, as a national security problem and tackled it via diplomacy.
  • However, for Israel and Saudi Arabia, Iran’s nuclear programme was not the problem but was part of the larger geopolitical challenges Iran posed.
  • The problem was Iran itself: Tehran’s influence across West Asia, its backing for non-state militias, and its ambition to emerge as a dominant pillar in the region.
  • The Donald Trump administration took an entirely different line towards Iran.
  • It pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear deal, despite United Nations certification that Iran was compliant with its terms, and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran.

 ISRAELS :

• Iran wants to set back Iran’s nuclear programme by taking out a prominent scientist and scuttle the possible revival of the nuclear deal.
• If Iran does not retaliate, it shows that Iran’s deterrence is getting weaker, which could trigger more such attacks from its rivals.
• If it retaliates, it could escalate the conflict, giving the outgoing Trump administration and Israel reasons to launch heavier strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, closing off the diplomatic path.

 IRAN’S RESPONSE AND CHALLENGES IN IT :

• Instead of walking into the trap of provocation, Iran’s Parliament passed a Bill that obliges the government to enrich uranium to a higher level, from less than 5% now to 20%.
• This is a technical step away from the weapons-grade level of 90%.
• And stop access for UN inspectors to the country’s top nuclear facilities in two months if sanctions relief is not given.

 INDIA’S INTEREST :

• India’s economic and security interests will be impacted by the turn of events in the immediate neighbourhood of West Asia.
• The RBI said that 52% of remittances to India come from the Gulf and West Asia and also the safety of a large amount of Indian diaspora is of immense concern to India.
• India’s growth aspirations are intertwined with energy security and the region is the primary crude oil source to India and any disruption due to geopolitical tensions will have a telling effect on India’s economy

 CONCLUSION :

• Iran is taking a calculated risk by enhancing its nuclear programme, which can be reversed if talks are revived. But it is leaving the Israel problem unaddressed, for now. This leaves the region vulnerable to a prolonged crisis.

 

QUESTION: Discuss how  the impact of tussle between  Iran and USA on Indian trade and ties with Iran.

 

IRAN’S CALCULATED RISK 

WHAT ?

• Iran and US tensions

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Instead of responding to provocation, Iran has decided to wait & watch the new U.S. administrations response

BACKGROUND OF THIS NUCLEAR DEAL :

• 2015=P5+1 nations-China, France, Russia, U.K.+ U.S., plus Germany- agreement with Iran to curb country’s nuclear programme.
• Washington saw Iran’s nuclear programme, which was at an advanced stage in 2015, as a national security problem and tackled it via diplomacy.
• for Israel + Saudi Arabia, Iran’s nuclear programme= not the problem but was geopolitical challenges Iran posed.
• Problem°Iran itself: Tehran’s influence across West Asia, its backing for non-state militias
• Trump took an entirely different line towards Iran.
• It pulled U.S. out of the nuclear deal

ISRAELS :

• Iran wants possible revival of nuclear deal.
• If Iran does not retaliate, it shows that Iran’s deterrence is getting weaker=could trigger more such attacks from its rivals.
• If it retaliates, it could escalate the conflict

IRAN’S RESPONSE AND CHALLENGES IN IT :

• Iran’s Parliament passed a Bill that obliges government to enrich uranium to a higher level, from less than 5% now to 20%.
• technical step away from the weapons-grade level of 90%.
• stop access for UN inspectors to country’s top nuclear facilities in two months if sanctions relief is not given.

INDIA’S INTEREST :

• Economic+ security interests will be impacted
• RBI= 52% of remittances to India come from the Gulf + West Asia
• primary crude oil source to India

CONCLUSION :

• Iran is taking a calculated risk by enhancing its nuclear programme, which can be reversed if talks are revived.

 

 

QUESTION : Internet access should be a basic human right. Do you agree with this view?  Discuss in the light of digital inequalities in India and appropriate steps taken by the government to reduce such Digital divide.

 CONNECTING MORE PEOPLE

 WHAT ?

• Providing Public Wi-Fi Service

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval for the proposal of Department of Telecommunication (DoT) for setting up of Public Wi-Fi Networks to be known as PM-WANI.

 ABOUT PUBLIC Wi-Fi ACCESS NETWORK INTERFACE  (PM-WANI):

• Operated by different players:
• Public Data Office (PDO): It will establish, maintain, and operate only WANI compliant Wi-Fi Access Points and deliver broadband services to subscribers.
• Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA): It will be an aggregator of PDOs and perform the functions relating to Authorization and Accounting.
• App Provider: It will develop an App to register users and discover WANI compliant Wi-Fi hotspots in the nearby.
• Central Registry: It will maintain the details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs. To begin with, the Central Registry will be maintained by C-DoT.

 PUBLIC DATA OFFICES (PDO) :

• The idea of a PDO was first floated by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 2017.
• Like a PCO, the PDO allows users to connect to a public WiFi system for a limited session depending on the internet pack chosen by the user.
• These internet packages can either by charged on per minute or per hour basis by the PDOs

 MERITS OF   PM WANI SCHEME :

• Unleashes Wi-Fi revolution in India: According to TRAI, in most major economies, 50%-70 % of the total usage time of mobile users is through WiFi but in India, this figure is less than 10%. PM WANI will help increase Wifi usage through increased presence of Wifi hotspots.
• Enhances Quality of life: Internet access will connect a new wave of users not just to commercial and entertainment options, but also to education, telehealth and agriculture extension.
• Ease of doing business: Registration for PDOs will be granted within seven days of the application, else they will be deemed registered. Also, Communications Ministry has stated that no license fee will be charged for providing broadband internet services
• Creates Employment and enhances Incomes: The scheme would enable small shopkeepers like tea shop owner to register online as a service provider which will boost their incomes as well as ensure our youth gets seamless internet connectivity.
• Strengthens Digital India mission: The vision of Digital India programme is to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The Digital India programme is centred on three key vision areas – Digital Infrastructure as core utility to every citizen, Governance & Services on demand and Digital Empowerment of Citizens.
• Financial Inclusion: Bringing broadband Internet to remote locations at minimum investment, and giving subscribers the option of making small, need-based payments helps increase digital financial transaction across India particularly in rural areas.
• Boosts GDP: Three years ago, when TRAI outlined WANI plan and initiated the first pilot of a public wi-fi system on the WANI architecture, it noted that a 10% rise in net penetration led to a 1.4% increase in GDP.
• Bridges Digital divide: A rapid scale-up of Internet in rural India will be transformative, given the low level of penetration — 27.57 subscribers per 100 population in 2019 – and wi-fi linked to broadband fibre service is the fastest route to achieving that.
• Cost Effective way of Digital Expansion: Upcoming mobile technologies such as 5G may provide good quality data, but they involve high investment in new spectrum, connectivity equipment and regular subscriber fees. The WANI system offers an elegant way forward to connect low revenue consumers.
• Entrepreneurship Opportunities: It opens up opportunities for community organisations, libraries, educational institutions, panchayats and small entrepreneurs to tap into a whole new ecosystem, purchasing bandwidth from a public data office aggregator to serve local consumers.

 CHALLENGES :

• Clash with Mobile Telecom Firms: Public wi-fi suffered neglect in past because it was seen as a competitor to data services sold by mobile telecom firms, rather than as the complementary technology it.
• Safety and Security: There is huge expectation on provision of robust service, protection of data integrity, transparency on commercial use of data, and security against cyberattacks.
• Ensuring Free Market: The government must also ensure true unbundling of hardware, software, apps and payment gateways in the WANI system, as advocated by TRAI, to prevent monopolies. Existing public wi-fi options run on a limited scale by some entities compel consumers to pay through a single gateway app, underscoring the need for reform.

 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT :

• Public Wi-Fi networks will ‘democratize’ content distribution and broadband access to millions at affordable rates. This will be the UPI (unified payments interface) of connectivity services.

  CONCLUSION :

• Executed properly, the public data offices (PDOs) of PM WANI can do what the PCOs did for phone calls, going well beyond ‘ease of doing business’ to genuinely empower citizens.

 

 

 

QUESTION : Internet access should be a basic human right. Do you agree with this view?  Discuss in the light of digital inequalities in India and appropriate steps taken by the government to reduce such Digital divide.

 CONNECTING MORE PEOPLE

WHAT ?

• Providing Public Wi-Fi Service

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Union Cabinet=given its approval for the proposal of DoT for setting up of Public Wi-Fi Networks to be known as PM-WANI.

ABOUT PUBLIC Wi-Fi ACCESS NETWORK INTERFACE  (PM-WANI): 

• Operated by different players:
• Public Data Office (PDO)
• Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA)
• App Provider
• Central Registry

PUBLIC DATA OFFICES (PDO) :

• floated by (TRAI) in 2017.
• PDO allows users to connect to a public WiFi system for a limited session depending on the internet pack chosen by the user.
• internet packages can either by charged on per minute or per hour basis by PDOs

MERITS OF   PM WANI SCHEME :

• Unleashes Wi-Fi revolution in India
• Enhances Quality of life
• Ease of doing business
• Creates Employment and enhances Incomes
• Strengthens Digital India mission
• Financial Inclusion
• Boosts GDP
• Bridges Digital divide
• Cost Effective way of Digital Expansion
• Entrepreneurship Opportunities

CHALLENGES :

• Clash with Mobile Telecom Firms
• Safety and Security
• Ensuring Free Market

 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT :

• Public Wi-Fi networks will ‘democratize’ content distribution + broadband access to millions at affordable rates. This will be the UPI (unified payments interface) of connectivity services.

 CONCLUSION :

• PDOs of PM WANI can do what PCOs did for phone calls, going well beyond ‘ease of doing business’ to genuinely empower citizens.

 

QUESTION : Community health workers are a important communication mechanism between the healthcare system and the population inspite of this facing  several challenges. Analyse the statement with suggestive measures.

 

A SECTOR THAT NEEDS TO BE NURSED BACK TO HEALTH

 WHAT ?

• State of Nurses and Midwives in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The year 2020 has been designated as “International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife”.
• Nurses and midwives will be central to achieving universal health coverage in India. India’s nursing workforce is about two-thirds of its health workforce.
• Its ratio of 1.7 nurses per 1,000 population is 43% less than the World Health Organisation norm; it needs 2.4 million nurses to meet the norm.
• In addition to the low number of nurses, the sector is dogged by structural challenges that lead to poor quality of training, inequitable distribution, and non-standardised practices.

 CHALLENGES :

 Uneven regulation-

• Nursing education in India has a wide array of certificate, diploma, and degree programmes for clinical and non-clinical nursing roles.
• The quality of training of nurses is diminished by the uneven and weak regulation.
• The current nursing education is outdated and fails to cater to the practice needs.
• Multiple entry points to the nursing courses and lack of integration of the diploma and degree courses diminish the quality of training.

 Gaps in education, services-

• Most nurses working in the public and private health sector are diploma holders. There is a lack of job differentiation between diploma, graduate, and postgraduate nurses regarding their pay, parity, and promotion.
• The nursing practice remains largely unregulated in the country. The Indian Nursing Act primarily revolves around nursing education and does not provide any policy guidance about the roles and responsibilities of nurses in various cadres.
• The Consumer Protection Act which protects the rights and safety of patients as consumers, holds only the doctor and the hospital liable for medico-legal issues; nurses are out of the purview of the Act. This is contrary to the practices in developed countries where nurses are legally liable for errors in their work.

 THE NATIONAL NURSINGAND MIDWIFERY COMMISSION BILL,2020 :

• Aims to provide for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals, assessment of institutions, maintenance of a Central Register and State Register and creation of a system to improve access, research and development and adoption of latest scientific advancement and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

 PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION :

• The draft Bill replaces the Indian Nursing Council with a new body called National Nursing and Midwifery Commission.
• This body would have representatives of the Centre and the states.
• It would frame policies and regulate standards for the governance of nursing and midwifery education and institutions.
• It would provide standards for nursing and midwifery faculty and clinical facility in teaching institutions.
• It would provide basic standards of education, physical and instructional facilities, training, research, maximum tuition fee payable in respect of various categories.
• It would frame policies and codes to ensure observance of professional ethics in nursing and midwifery profession.
• Similar to the National Medical Commission, the proposed commission would have different boards to regulate UG and PG education.
• It will asses and rate different institutions offering courses

 FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE :

• Florence Nightingale was a British nurse, statistician, and social reformer who is also considered as a foundational philosopher of modern nursing.
• She was born in Florence, Italy, on May 12, 1820. The year 2020 marks a bicentenary year of her birth.
• During the Crimean War, she and a team of nurses improved the unsanitary conditions at a British base hospital, greatly reducing the death count. Her writings sparked worldwide health care reform.
• She was known for her night rounds to aid the wounded, establishing her image as the ‘Lady with the Lamp

 ROLE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS:

• To create awareness and provide information to the community on determinants of health such as nutrition, basic sanitation & hygienic practices, healthy living and working conditions, information on existing health services and the need for timely utilization of health & family welfare services.
• Would counsel women on birth preparedness, importance of safe delivery, breastfeeding and complementary feeding, immunization, contraception and prevention of common infections including Reproductive Tract Infection/Sexually Transmitted Infection (RTIs/STIs) and care of the young child.
• Mobilize the community and facilitate them in accessing health and health related services available at the village/sub-center/primary health centers
• Work with the Village Health & Sanitation Committee of the Gram Panchayat to develop a comprehensive village health plan.
• She will arrange escort/accompany pregnant women & children requiring treatment/ admission to the nearest pre-identified health facility
• Will provide primary medical care for minor ailments such as diarrhoea, fevers, and first aid for minor injuries.
• Inform about the births and deaths in her village and any unusual health problems/disease outbreaks in the community to the Sub-Centres/Primary Health Centre.

 WAY FORWARD :

• First, the governance of nursing education and practice must be clarified and made current. The Indian Nursing Council Act of 1947 must be amended to explicitly state clear norms for service and patient care, fix the nurse to patient ratio, staffing norms and salaries.
• Incentives to pursue advanced degrees to match their qualification, clear career paths, opportunity for leadership roles, and improvements in the status of nursing as a profession will be key steps to do so.
• Public-private partnership between private nursing schools/colleges and public health facilities: The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has recently formulated a framework for public-private partnership in medical education that could be referred to develop a model agreement for nursing education. The Government has also announced supporting such projects through a Viability Gap Funding mechanism.

 CONCLUSION :

• The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill currently under consideration should hopefully address some of the issues highlighted. These disruptions are more relevant than ever in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

QUESTION : Community health workers are a important communication mechanism between the healthcare system and the population inspite of this facing  several challenges. Analyse the statement with suggestive measures.

 

A SECTOR THAT NEEDS TO BE NURSED BACK TO HEALTH

WHAT ?

• State of Nurses + Midwives in India

WHY IN NEWS ?

• 2020= “International Year of the Nurse& Midwife”.
• Nurses& midwives=central to achieving universal health coverage in India.
• 7 nurses per 1,000 population is 43% less than the World Health Organisation norm; it needs 2.4 million nurses to meet the norm.
• structural challenges= poor quality of training, inequitable distribution+ non-standardised practices.

CHALLENGES :

Uneven regulation-

• Nursing education= wide array of certificate, diploma+ degree programmes for clinical and non-clinical nursing roles.
• uneven and weak regulation.
• current nursing education=outdated+ fails to cater to practice needs.
• lack of integration of diploma+ degree courses diminish quality of training.

Gaps in education, services-

• lack of job differentiation between diploma, graduate+ postgraduate nurses regarding their pay, parity, and promotion.
• nursing practice= largely unregulated

THE NATIONAL NURSINGAND MIDWIFERY COMMISSION BILL,2020 :

• to provide for regulation+ maintenance of standards of education+ services by nursing& midwifery professionals, assessment of institutions, maintenance of a Central Register& State Register + improve access, R&D

PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION :

• frame policies& regulate standards for the governance education+ institutions.
• provide basic standards of education, physical +instructional facilities, training, research, maximum tuition fee payable in respect of various categories.
• frame policies+codes to ensure observance of professional ethics
• Similar to the National Medical Commission, the proposed commission would have different boards to regulate UG and PG education.

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE :

• British nurse, statistician& social reformer= a foundational philosopher of modern nursing.
• During Crimean War=improved unsanitary conditions at a British base hospital
• Popular= ‘Lady with the Lamp

ROLE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS:

• To create awareness + provide information to the community on determinants of health
• Would counsel women on birth preparedness, importance of safe delivery
• Mobilize community+ facilitate them in accessing health
• Work with Village Health & Sanitation Committee of the Gram Panchayat
• will arrange escort/accompany pregnant women & children
• Will provide primary medical care for minor ailments
• Inform about disease outbreaks

WAY FORWARD :

• governance of nursing education + practice must be clarified +Indian Nursing Council Act of 1947 must be amended
• Incentives to pursue advanced degrees to match their qualification, clear career paths
• Public-private partnership between private nursing schools/colleges and public health facilities

CONCLUSION :

• National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill currently under consideration should hopefully address some of the issues highlighted.

 

QUESTION : What are the challenges faced by the judiciary in India in dealing with the pending cases? Also discuss the other issues facing judiciary in recent times

 

LAW AND DISORDER

 WHAT ?

• Inadequacies of Justice Delivery System in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The citizens of the country expect the institution and its constituents to be ideal, and the challenge of the Supreme Court is to come to terms with that reality.

 ISSUES :

 1) Spending on judiciary

• India has one of the most comprehensive legal aid programmes in the world, the Legal Services Authority Act of 1987.
• Under this law, all women, irrespective of their financial status, are entitled to free legal aid. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and children too are entitled to free legal aid.
• However, in reality, this law is a dead letter.
• There has been little effort on the part of successive governments to provide a task force of carefully selected, well-trained and reasonably paid advocates to provide these services.

 2) Poor judge-population ratio

• The U.S. has about 100 judges per million population. Canada has about 75 and the U.K. has about 50.
• India, on the other hand, has only 19 judges per million population. Of these, at any given point, at least one-fourth is always vacant.
• In All India Judges Association v. Union of India (2001), the Supreme Court had directed the Government of India to increase the judge-population ratio to at least 50 per million population within five years from the date of the judgment. This has not been implemented.
• Vacancy: Out of the sanctioned strength of 725 posts of judges in the High Courts 128 posts were vacant and similarly 2710 posts of lower court judges out of the total 14477 were vacant.
• Additional courts: The Centre did not exercise its power under Article 247 to establish additional courts for better administration of laws made by Parliament.

 3) Access to justice

• In Anita Kushwaha v. Pushpa Sadan (2016), the Supreme Court held unambiguously that if “life” implies not only life in the physical sense but a bundle of rights that make life worth living, there is no justice or other basis for holding that denial of “access to justice” will not affect the quality of human life.
• According to the Supreme Court Bench in the case of Anita Kushwaha vs Pushap Sudan the following are the four main facets that constitute the essence of access to justice:
• The State must provide an effective adjudicatory mechanism;
• The mechanism so provided must be reasonably accessible in terms of distance;
• The process of adjudication must be speedy;
• The litigant’s access to the adjudicatory process must be affordable.

 CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS :

• Article 39 A of the Constitution of India provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society, to promote justice on the basis of equal opportunity.

 

• Articles 14 and 22(1) of the Constitution also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law.

 SUPREME COURT : CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS :

• The Indian constitution provides for a provision of Supreme Court under Part V (The Union) and Chapter 6 (The Union Judiciary).
• Articles 124 to 147 in Part V of the Constitution deal with the organisation, independence, jurisdiction, powers and procedures of the Supreme Court.
• The Indian constitution under Article 124(1) states that there shall be a Supreme Court of India constituting of a Chief Justice of India (CJI) and, until Parliament by law prescribes a larger number, of not more than seven other Judges.
• The Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India can broadly be categorised into original jurisdiction, appellate jurisdiction and advisory jurisdiction. However, there are other multiple powers of the Supreme Court.

 WHAT IS COLLEGIUM ?

• Collegium system of the Supreme Court (SC) and the High Courts (HCs) of India is based on the precedence established by the “Three Judges Cases (1982, 1993, 1998) “.
• It is a legally valid system of appointment and transfer of judges in the SC and all HCs.
• It is a system of checks and balance, which ensures the independence of the senior judiciary in India.

 PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS RELATED TO JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE :

• There exists a lack of transparency in the working of the judicial system.
• There exists no sense of accountability as well because the judges are judging themselves.
• The principle of Natural Law states that ‘no man can be a judge in his own cause’ but in the judiciary, we see the judges appointing themselves as well as adjudicating upon themselves.
• Guidelines created by the judiciary apply to the judicial office as well, but in reality, we do not see that happening.
• Judicial independence is taken as a blanket over all the issues and used against being accountable for the problems faced.
• With judicial independence, the winners are everyone.” The Supreme Court, in a ruling of the Constitution Bench in K. Veeraswami V. Union of India, held that: Judges are under the law, not above it. Your public life, and even private life to the extent it influences your judicial role should be accountable and transparent to the public.
• There is direct and drastic accountability in India that is the impractical way of impeachment proceedings.
• A proper check and discussion on the way the judges behaved would help us to have more careful judges and a safety check on them without hampering their independence.
• The process of impeachment has also not been drafted with a sense of pragmatism.
• The impeachment process is a very impractical process to go through.
• For the impeachment process to take place a minimum of 100 Lok Sabha signatures and 50 Rajya Sabha signatures are needed.

 GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES :

1. National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms

• The mission has been set up to ensure better access to justice by:
• Reducing delays and arrears
• enhancing accountability through structural change

2. E-Courts Project:

• Computerization of district and subordinate courts
• ICT infrastructure of the Supreme Court and the High Court
• At present, Case Information System (CIS) 2.0 is being implemented across the country

3. Gram Nyalays:

• The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 was enacted to provide for the establishment of Gram Nyayalayas
• These are mobile village courts; aimed at providing inexpensive justice to people in rural areas

4. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanism:

• Arbitration, Mediation, Conciliation and negotiation and
• Lok Adalats: Community based dispute resolution mechanism

5. National Court Management System:

• To address issues of case management, court management, setting standards for measuring performance of the courts and a national system of judicial statistics

6. National Litigation Policy

• Government regarded to be the biggest contributor (46%) to litigation in India
• NLP introduced to reduce government litigations
• Government also launched Legal Information Management and Briefing System as a database of all the ongoing cases with the government as a party

7. Fast Track Courts: for quick disposal of cases pending in the lower courts
8. Nyaya Mitra Scheme: Aims at reducing pendency of cases with special focus on those pending for more than 10 years.

 WAY FORWARD :

Appointment:

• More transparency in the appointment of judges
• All India Judicial services (AIJS) for uniformity and efficiency in appointment process.

Strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms

• Modernization of court process; use of technology o be expanded. Initiatives like CIS should be supplemented by file tracking and knowledge management system.
• Analyzing appropriate court-related data for better understanding of problems. This would also help in proper case listing
• Application of management principles; full utilization of court managers; include external support agencies to work with judicial officers to cater to the needs of institution better.
• Creation of a transparent mechanism to discipline judges
• Providing good legal services: There should be effort to provide a task force of carefully selected, well-trained and reasonably paid advocates to provide these services.
• Filling vacancies: The 120th Report of the Law Commission said there should be 50 judges per 10 lakh population instead of 10.5 judges as inadequate judge strength was a major cause of delay in disposal of cases.
• Central funding: The Central Government must estimate and pay for the recurring and non-recurring expenditure of the State Courts to the extent the courts spend time to adjudicate disputes arising out of central statutes

 CONCLUSION:

• Let us assume that the apex court achieves the distinction of being “ideal” in the near future, of being all things to all people. Still, a fine mind alone is of little avail if the rest of the body lies disabled, as the justice delivery system is today.

 

QUESTION : What are the challenges faced by the judiciary in India in dealing with the pending cases? Also discuss the other issues facing judiciary in recent times

 

LAW AND DISORDER

WHAT ?

• Inadequacies of Justice Delivery System in India

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Citizens= expect the institution + its constituents to be ideal+ challenge of Supreme Court is to come to terms with that reality.

ISSUES :

1) Spending on judiciary

• India has one of the most comprehensive legal aid programmes in the world, the Legal Services Authority Act of 1987.

2) Poor judge-population ratio

• S.= about 100 judges per million population. Canada= 75 + U.K. has about 50.
• India= only 19 judges per million population. Of these, at any given point, at least one-fourth is always vacant.

3)  Access to justice

• In Anita Kushwaha v. Pushpa Sadan (2016), the Supreme Court held unambiguously that if “life” implies not only life in the physical sense but a bundle of rights that make life worth living, there is no justice or other basis for holding that denial of “access to justice” will not affect the quality of human life.

Constitutional provisions

• Article 39 A= free legal aid to poor+ weaker sections of the society, to promote justice on basis of equal opportunity.
• Articles 14 and 22(1) =also make it obligatory for State to ensure equality before law.

SUPREME COURT : CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

• Part V (The Union) + Chapter 6 (The Union Judiciary).
• Articles 124 to 147 in Part V
• Article 124(1)

WHAT IS COLLEGIUM 

• It is a legally valid system of appointment +transfer of judges in the SC +all HCs.
• system of checks &balance, which ensures the independence of the senior judiciary in India.

PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS RELATED TO JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE :

• Lack of transparency
• no sense of accountability
• judges appointing themselves as well as adjudicating upon themselves.
• Judicial independence is taken as a blanket over all the issues
• impractical way of impeachment proceedings.
• A proper check and discussion on the way the judges behaved would help us to have more careful judges and a safety check on them without hampering their independence.
• The process of impeachment has also not been drafted with a sense of pragmatism.
• The impeachment process is a very impractical process to go through.
• For the impeachment process to take place a minimum of 100 Lok Sabha signatures + 50 Rajya Sabha signatures are needed.

 GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES :

• National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms
• E-Courts Project
• Gram Nyalays
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mechanism
• National Court Management System:
• National Litigation Policy
• Legal Information Management and Briefing System
• Fast Track Courts
• Nyaya Mitra Scheme

WAY FORWARD :

• More transparency in the appointment of judges
• Strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms
• Modernization of court process; use of technology
• Analyzing appropriate court-related data
• include external support agencies to work with judicial officers
• Creation of a transparent mechanism to discipline judges
• Providing good legal services
• Filling vacancies
• Central funding

CONCLUSION:

• Let us assume that the apex court achieves the distinction of being “ideal” in the near future, of being all things to all people.

 

 

QUESTION : Despite important efforts of the Government of India by implementing the  National Food Security Act (NFSA) many loopholes are found at ground level ensuring food security. Analyse this statement by giving some effective measures.

 

DISCOURAGING NUMBERS 

 WHAT ?

• National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5)

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Recently, the first-phase data of the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) 2019-20 has been released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

 WHAT IS NFHS ?

• The NFHS is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India.
• Three rounds of the survey have been conducted since the first survey in 1992-93.
• The survey provides state and national information for India on fertility, infant and child mortality, the practice of family planning, maternal and child health, reproductive health, nutrition, etc.
• NFHSs have been conducted under the stewardship of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) Mumbai, serving as the nodal agency.

 ITS COVERAGE :

• The latest data pertains to 17 states — including Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal — and five UTs (including J&K) and, crucially, captures the state of health in these states before the Covid pandemic.
• Phase 2 of the survey, which will cover other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, was delayed due to the covid and its results are expected to be made available in May 2021.
• The NFHS-5 contains detailed information on population, health, and nutrition for India and its States and Union Territories.
• This is a globally important data source as it is comparable to Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) Programme of 90 other countries on several key indicators.
• It can be used for cross country comparisons and development indices.
• NFHS-5 includes some new topics, such as preschool education, disability, access to a toilet facility, death registration, bathing practices during menstruation, and methods and reasons for abortion.
• In 2019, for the first time, the NFHS-5 sought details on the percentage of women and men who have ever used the Internet.

 UNEARTHING / FINDINGS :

• Several of the 22 states and UTs, for which findings have been released, showed an increase in childhood immunisation.
• There has been a drop in neonatal mortality in 15 states, a decline in infant mortality rates in 18 states and an increase in the female population (per 1,000 males) in 17 states.
• Fertility rate decline and increase in contraceptive use were registered in almost all the states surveyed showing trends of population stabilization
• There has been an increase in stunting and wasting among children in several states, a rise in obesity in women and children, and an increase in spousal violence.
• In several other development indicators, the needle has hardly moved since the last NFHS-4.

 (1) HUNGER RELATED ISSUES –

• The proportion of stunted children has risen in several of the 17 states and five UTs surveyed, putting India at risk of reversing previous gains in child nutrition made over previous decades.
• Worryingly, that includes richer states like Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Himachal Pradesh.
• The share of underweight and wasted children has also gone up in the majority of the states.

 (2) FERTILITY RATE :

• The total fertility rate (TFR) is defined as the average number of children that would be born to a woman by the time she ends childbearing.
• The TFR across most Indian states declined in the past half-a-decade, more so among urban women, according to the latest NFHS-5.
• Sikkim recorded the lowest TFR, with one woman bearing 1.1 children on average; Bihar recorded the highest TFR of three children per woman.
• In 19 of the 22 surveyed states, TFRs were found to be ‘below-replacement’ — a woman bore less than two children on average through her reproductive life.
• India’s population is stabilizing, as the total fertility rate (TFR) has decreased across majority of the states.

 (3) UNDER-5 & IMR :

• The Under 5 and infant mortality rate (IMR) has come down but in parallel recorded an increase in underweight and severely wasted under 5 children among 22 states that were surveyed.
• These states are Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Telangana, Tripura, West Bengal, Lakshadweep and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

 RURBAN DIGITAL DIVIDE :

• In 2019, for the first time, the NFHS-5, which collects data on key indicators on population health, family planning and nutrition, sought details on two specific indicators: Percentage of women and men who have ever used the Internet.
• On average, less than 3 out of 10 women in rural India and 4 out of 10 women in urban India ever used the Internet, according to the survey.
• only an average of 42.6 per cent of women ever used the Internet as against an average of 62.16 per cent among the men.
• in urban India, average 56.81 per cent women ever used the Internet compared to an average of 73.76 per cent among the men.
• dismal 33.94 per cent women in rural India ever used the Internet as against 55.6 per cent among men.
• In urban India, 10 states and three union territories reported more than 50 per cent women who had ever used the Internet: Goa (78.1%), Himachal Pradesh (78.9%), Kerala (64.9%), and Maharashtra (54.3%)
• The five states reporting the lowest percentage of women, whoever used the Internet in urban India were Andhra Pradesh (33.9%), Bihar (38.4%), Tripura (36.6%), Telangana (43.9%) and Gujarat (48.9%).

 NFHS TIMELINE :

• Totally five rounds of survey have been conducted to date. The below information gives details on the round and the year it was conducted.

1. First Round of NFHS conducted in 1992-93
2. Second Round of NFHS conducted in 1998-99
3. Third Round of NFHS conducted in 2005-06
4. Fourth Round of NFHS conducted in 2015-16
5. Fifth Round of NFHS conducted in 2018-19

 ITS CORE OBJECTIVES :

• Fertility
• Maternal and Child Health
• Reproductive Health
• Nutrition
• Anaemia
• Infant and Child Mortality
• Family Planning

 WHO RECOMMENDATIONS FIR NFHS:

• India should have a single major national health survey at five-year intervals. This could provide data on additional major causes of disease burden and their risk factors and include adult mortality rate estimation.
• The sample sizes should aim to provide state-level estimates for all indicators and district-level estimates for crucial indicators to capture the key features of health status heterogeneity across the country.
• Data collection on the key variables should be standardized to meet monitoring standards and to provide comparable data over time.
• Effective partnerships with a larger range of relevant stakeholders, including the academic community, should be established.
• Individual-level data from these surveys should be made publicly available as soon as possible so that it can be used in the urgent tasks of informing policy and developing a more effective health system.
• Linking household survey data with health service use and administrative data, preferably using geospatial coding methods could be considered.

  STEPS TO BE TAKEN :

• Improvements: There are some improvements seen in determinants of malnutrition such as access to sanitation, clean cooking fuels and women’s status, a reduction in spousal violence and greater access of women to bank accounts.
• Interventions: Direct interventions such as supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring, and behaviour change communication through the ICDS and school meals must be strengthened and given more resources.
• Progress on maternity entitlements: Universal maternity entitlements and child care services to enable exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate infant and young child feeding, recognising women’s unpaid work burdens have been on the agenda for long, but not much progress has been made on these.
• Strategy: An employment-centred growth strategy which includes universal provision of basic services for education, health, food and social security is imperative.
• Expansion in social protection schemes: Such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Public Distribution System, the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), and school meals have contributed to reduction in absolute poverty as well as previous improvements in nutrition indicators.

 CONCLUSION :

• It is hoped that the experience of the pandemic as well as the results of NFHS-5 serve as a wake-up call for serious rethinking of issues related to nutrition and accord these issues priority.

 

QUESTION : Despite important efforts of the Government of India by implementing the  National Food Security Act (NFSA) many loopholes are found at ground level ensuring food security. Analyse this statement by giving some effective measures.

 

DISCOURAGING NUMBERS 

WHAT ?

• National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5)

WHY IN NEWS ?

• 1st phase data of NFHS-5 2019-20 has been released by the MoH&FW

WHAT IS NFHS ?

• large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households
• 3 rounds survey= conducted since first survey in 1992-93.
• provides state+ national information for India on fertility, infant + child mortality, practice of family planning, maternal+ child health, reproductive health, nutrition, etc.

ITS COVERAGE :

• 17 states — Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal — 5 UTs (including J&K)
• Phase 2 = cover other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, was delayed due to the covid and its results are expected to be made available in May 2021.
• NFHS-5 contains detailed information on population, health+nutrition its States+ UTs
• can be used for cross country comparisons +development indices.
• some new topics= preschool education, disability, access to a toilet facility, death registration, bathing practices during menstruation
• 2019,first time=NFHS-5 sought details on percentage of women + men who have ever used Internet.

UNEARTHING / FINDINGS :

• an increase in childhood immunisation.
• drop in neonatal mortality in 15 states+ decline in infant mortality rates
• increase in stunting + wasting among children +rise in obesity in women+ children
• HUNGER RELATED ISSUES -share of underweight + wasted children has also gone up in the majority of the states.
• FERTILITY RATE :India’s population is stabilizing, as (TFR) =decreased across majority of the states.
• UNDER-5 & IMR : has come down but in parallel recorded an increase in underweight

RURBAN DIGITAL DIVIDE :

NFHS TIMELINE :

• First Round of NFHS conducted in 1992-93
• Second Round of NFHS conducted in 1998-99
• Third Round of NFHS conducted in 2005-06
• Fourth Round of NFHS conducted in 2015-16
• Fifth Round of NFHS conducted in 2018-19

ITS CORE OBJECTIVES :

1. Fertility
2. Maternal and Child Health
3. Reproductive Health
4. Nutrition
5. Anaemia
6. Infant and Child Mortality
7. Family Planning

WHO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NFHS:

• India should have a single major national health survey at five-year intervals.
• state-level estimates for all indicators and district-level estimates for crucial indicators
• Data collection on the key variables should be standardized
•  Effective partnerships with a larger range of relevant stakeholders
• Individual-level data from these surveys should be made publicly available as soon as possible so that it can be used in the urgent tasks of informing policy and developing a more effective health system.
• Linking household survey data with health service use + administrative data

STEPS TO BE TAKEN :

• Improvements: access to sanitation, clean cooking fuels and women’s status
• Interventions:such as supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring+ behaviour change communication through ICDS
• Progress on maternity entitlements:
• employment-centred growth strategy
• Expansion in social protection schemes

CONCLUSION : 

• It is hoped that the experience of pandemic+ results of NFHS-5 serve as a wake-up call for serious rethinking of issues related to nutrition+ accord these issues priority.

 

QUESTION : Discuss important  defence deals between India and Russia and the how can CAATSA play a significant role to make foreign relations contentious ?

 

SANCTIONS OVERREACH

 WHAT ?

• US Sanctions on Turkey

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The United States has imposed sanctions on Turkey over its acquisition of Russian S-400 air defence systems .Turkey acquired the Russian S-400 ground-to-air defenses in mid-2019 and says they pose no threat to NATO allies. US has long been threatening sanctions on Turkey and had removed the country from an F-35 jet program last year.

  S-400 AIR DEFENCE MISSILE SYSTEM/NEED FOR INDIA :

• The S-400 Triumf, (NATO calls it SA-21 Growler), is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM) designed by Russia. It is the most dangerous operationally deployed modern long-range SAM (MLR SAM) in the world, considered much ahead of the US-developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD).
• The system can engage all types of aerial targets including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV and ballistic and cruise missiles within the range of 400km, at an altitude of up to 30km.
• The system can track 100 airborne targets and engage six of them simultaneously.
• It represents the fourth generation of long-range Russian SAMs, and the successor to the S-200 and S-300. The S-400’s mission set and capabilities are roughly comparable to the famed US Patriot system.
• The S-400 Triumf air defence system integrates a multifunction radar, autonomous detection and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command and control centre. It is capable of firing three types of missiles to create a layered defence.
• The S-400 is two-times more effective than previous Russian air defence systems and can be deployed within five minutes. It can also be integrated into the existing and future air defence units of the Air Force, Army, and the Navy.

 ITS RELEVANCE FOR INDIA :

• China is also buying the system. In 2015, China signed an agreement with Russia to purchase six battalions of the system. Its delivery began in January 2018.
• China’s acquisition of the S-400 system has been viewed as a “game changer” in the region. However, its effectiveness against India is limited. According to experts, even if stationed right on the India-China border and moved into the Himalaya mountains, Delhi would be at the limit of its range.
• India’s acquisition is crucial to counter attacks in a two-front war, including even high-end F-35 US fighter aircraft.
• In October 2015, Defence Acquisition Council considered buying 12 units of S-400 for its defence needs. But, on evaluation, in December 2015, five units were found adequate. The deal is worth about USD 5 billion.
• The deal is near fruition, and negotiations are at an “advanced stage”, and now it is expected to be signed before a summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Concerns for India:

• India, inked a Rs. 39,000 crore deal to buy the S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile systems from Almaz-Antey Corporation of Russia in October 2018 and the delivery is expected to start in 2021.
• Apart from the S-400 air defence system, Project 1135.6 frigates and Ka226T helicopters will also be affected. Also, it will impact joint ventures, like Indo Russian Aviation Ltd, Multi-Role Transport Aircraft Ltd and Brahmos Aerospace. It will also affect India’s purchase of spare parts, components, raw materials and other assistance.
• As per the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Arms Transfer Database, during the period 2010-17, Russia was the top arms supplier to India.
• It will effectively bar India from buying any major defence equipment from the US, putting a stop to any Defence and Strategic Partnership between India and the US. The MDP (Major Defence Partner) designation would lose its relevance in that context.

  CAATSA AND  S-400 DEAL :

• Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) was passed unanimously by the US Congress and signed reluctantly by US President Donald Trump. Enacted on August 2, 2017, its core objective is to counter Iran, Russia and North Korea through punitive measures.
• It primarily deals with sanctions on Russian interests such as its oil and gas industry, defence and security sector, and financial institutions, in the backdrop of its military intervention in Ukraine and its alleged meddling in the 2016 US Presidential elections.
• CAATSA, if implemented in its stringent form, would have affected India’s defence procurement from Russia.

 FOR INDIA’S DEFENCE LANDSCAPE :

• As per the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Arms Transfer Database, during the period 2010-17, Russia was the top arms supplier to India. The Russian share in India’s arms imports during the same period has declined to 68 per cent, from an all-time high of 74 per cent during the 2000s, whereas the combined share of the US and Israel has increased from nine to 19 per cent.
• Between 2013 and 2017, Russia’s share declined further to 62 per cent, whereas the combined share of US and Israel increased to 26 per cent.13 Accounting for about 15 per cent, the United States is the second biggest supplier of arms to India during the five year period ending 2017. Between 2000-2009 and 2010-17, US arms deliveries to India have increased by a whopping 1470 per cent.
• Most of India’s weapons are of Soviet/Russian origin – nuclear submarine INS Chakra, the Kilo-class conventional submarine, the supersonic Brahmos cruise missile, the MiG 21/27/29 and Su-30 MKI fighters, IL-76/78 transport planes, T-72 and T-90 tanks, Mi-series of helicopters, and Vikramaditya aircraft carrier.

 EXEMPTION FOR INDIA, HOW?

• CAATSA impacts Indo-US ties and dents the image of the US as a reliable partner. At a time when the US is projecting India as a key partner in its Indo-Pacific strategy, with the US National Security Strategy 2017 explicitly supporting New Delhi’s vital role in this regard.
• After months of six months of hectic lobbying – CAATSA came into force in January this year —a US Congressional committee has proposed waivers for India from stringent sanctions under Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). This is directed against those doing business with Russia’s defence industry.
• The portion of the bill — National Defense Authorisation Act — that amends CAATSA does not mention any country, but the intended beneficiaries of the amended waiver are India, Vietnam and Indonesia.

 WHAT IS FOR USA ?

• The US sees India as a major market for the US defence industry. In the last one decade, it has grown from near zero to USD 15 billion worth of arms deals.
• “Since 2008, the US has bagged more than $15 billion in arms deals including for the C-17 Globemaster and C-130J transport planes, P-8 (I) maritime reconnaissance aircraft, M777 light-weight howitzer, Harpoon missiles, and Apache and Chinook helicopters.
• This value is all set to increase further with the US likely accepting an Indian request for Sea Guardian drones.
• In addition, US defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Boeing, are also strong contenders for a number of high-profile arms deals, including the recently floated tender notices for 110 fighter planes for the Indian Air Force, 57 Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters for the Indian Navy, and 234 naval utility and multi-role helicopters.

  WHAT WILL INDIA GET AFTER SANCTIONS ON TURKEY BY US ?

 

• India hopes that US understands India’s security imperatives, especially with a hostile China along the border. This is more important since Indian and Chinese soldiers have been in a face-off situation for more than six months now, with no resolution in sight.
• How the new US administration acts will also be reflective of how much it appreciates and understands India’s concerns on China, and whether it is going to support India against a belligerent China .

 CONCLUSION :

• The US has to realize that it is no longer the universal hegemon it was in the 1990s and early 2000s.
• It has to respect the strategic autonomy of other countries in their conduct of foreign policy.

 

QUESTION : Discuss important  defence deals between India and Russia and the how can CAATSA play a significant role to make foreign relations contentious ?

 

SANCTIONS OVERREACH

WHAT ?

• US Sanctions on Turkey

WHY IN NEWS ?

• US= imposed sanctions on Turkey over its acquisition of Russian S-400 air defence systems .

 S-400 AIR DEFENCE MISSILE SYSTEM/NEED FOR INDIA :

• The S-400 Triumf= a mobile, surface-to-air missile system by Russia+most dangerous operationally deployed modern long-range
• engage all types of aerial targets including aircraft, (UAV & ballistic & cruise missiles within the range of 400km, at an altitude of up to 30km.
• The system can track 100 airborne targets and engage six of them simultaneously.
• 4th generation of long-range Russian SAMs, and the successor to the S-200 and S-300. T

ITS RELEVANCE FOR INDIA : 

• C its effectiveness against India is limited+ experts= if stationed right on India-China border + moved into the Himalaya mountains, Delhi= at limit of its range.
• India’s acquisition=crucial to counter attacks in a two-front war
• deal is near fruition+ negotiations= at an “advanced stage”+ now it is expected to be signed before a summit meeting= Modi+Russian President

Concerns for India:

• Apart from the S-400 air defence system, Project 1135.6 frigates and Ka226T helicopters will also be affected. Also, it will impact joint ventures, like Indo Russian Aviation Ltd, Multi-Role Transport Aircraft Ltd and Brahmos Aerospace
• affect India’s purchase of spare parts, components, raw materials +other assistance.
• As per (SIPRI) Arms Transfer Database, during 2010-17, Russia= the top arms supplier to India
• bar India from buying any major defence equipment from US

CAATSA AND  S-400 DEAL :

• (CAATSA) was passed unanimously by the US Congress and signed reluctantly by US President Donald Trump.
• deals with sanctions on Russian interests such as its oil and gas industry, defence+ security sector+financial institutions
• CAATSA, if implemented in its stringent form=affected India’s defence procurement from Russia.

FOR INDIA’S DEFENCE LANDSCAPE :

• Russia= top arms supplier to India. The Russian share in India’s arms imports during the same period has declined to 68 per cent
• Between 2000-2009+ 2010-17, US arms deliveries to India= increased by a whopping 1470 per cent.
• MiG 21/27/29 and Su-30 MKI fighters, IL-76/78 transport planes, T-72 + T-90 tanks, Mi-series of helicopters+Vikramaditya aircraft carrier.

EXEMPTION FOR INDIA, HOW?

• with US National Security Strategy 2017 explicitly supporting New Delhi’s vital role
• US Congressional committee= proposed waivers for India from stringent sanctions under (CAATSA).
• intended beneficiaries of the amended waiver are India, Vietnam + Indonesia.

WHAT IS FOR USA

• US sees India as a major market for the US defence industry.
• “Since 2008, US has bagged more than $15 billion in arms deals including for C-17 Globemaster + C-130J transport planes
• US likely accepting an Indian request for Sea Guardian drones.
• US defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Boeing, are also strong contenders for a number of high-profile arms deals

 WHAT WILL INDIA GET AFTER SANCTIONS ON TURKEY BY US ?

• India hopes that US understands India’s security imperatives, especially with a hostile China along border.
• How new US administration acts will also be reflective of how much it appreciates+ understands India’s concerns on China& whether it is going to support India against a belligerent China .

CONCLUSION :

• US has to realize that it is no longer universal hegemon it was in the 1990s and early 2000s+has to respect strategic autonomy of other countries in their conduct of foreign policy.

 

QUESTION : Discuss the significance of India-Bangladesh relations and various challenges coming between their  relations. Suggest key measures to overcome these concerns .

 FRIEND AND NEIGHBOUR

 

WHAT ?

• India-Bangladesh Bilateral Relations

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Indian Prime Minister and Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh held a Summit in virtual format.
• They paid solemn tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the Muktijoddhas and the Indian soldiers, for their great sacrifices in 1971.

 SIGNING BILATERAL DOCUMENTS AND INAUGURATION OF PROJECTS :

• Framework of Understanding (FOU) on Cooperation in Hydrocarbon Sector;
• Protocol on Trans-boundary Elephant Conservation;
• MOU regarding Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) through Local Bodies and other Public Sector Institutions;
• MOU on Supply of Equipment and Improvement of Garbage / Solid Waste Disposal Ground at Lamchori Area for Barishal City Corporation;
• Terms of Reference of India-Bangladesh CEOs Forum;
• MoU between Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum, Dhaka, Bangladesh and the National Museum, New Delhi, India; and
• MoU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture.

 Cooperation in Health Sector:

• Reiterating the highest priority India attaches to Bangladesh under India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, Prime Minister assured that vaccines would be made available to Bangladesh as and when produced in India.

 BORDER MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY COOPERATION :

• It was agreed to carry out necessary work to convert the International Boundary along Kuhsiyara river into a fixed boundary.
• Both leaders agreed to facilitate completion of border fencing at all pending sectors at the international border between both the countries at the earliest beginning from the Tripura (India)- Bangladesh sector.
• Concern: The loss of civilian lives at the border is a matter of concern.

 TRADE PARTNERSHIP FOR GROWTH :

• The Duty Free and Quota Free access is given to Bangladeshi exports to India under SAFTA since 2011.
• Both Prime Ministers directed the officials to expeditiously conclude the ongoing joint study on the prospects of entering into a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
• The consultations on anti-dumping/anti-circumvention duties imposed on export of jute products from Bangladesh to India were held.

 CONNECTIVITY AND PROSPERITY : RECENT INITIATIVES :

• newly restored railway link between Haldibari (India) and Chilahati (Bangladesh).
• signing of the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT),
• trial run of trans-shipment of Indian goods from Kolkata to Agartala via Chattogram
• operationalization of Sonamura-Daudkandi Protocol route under the PIWTT.
• trans-shipment of Indian goods through Chattogram and Mongla Ports
• Early operationalization of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement.

 IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIP :

• Bangladesh and India are at a historic juncture of diplomacy embedded in a rich matrix of history, religion, culture, language and kinship.

 (1) ‘Blue Economy’ programme’ –

• Both countries are looking at strengthening economic cooperation through joint investments and cooperation under the ‘Blue Economy’ programme.
• The programme entails synergized efforts of littoral states in the exploration of hydrocarbons, marine resources, deep-sea fishing, preservation of marine ecology and disaster management.
• The industry in India needs to look for opportunities for collaboration in defence, such as in military hardware, space technology, technical assistance, exchange of experience, and development of sea infrastructure.

 (2) India’s Act East Policy –

• Connectivity offers a game-changing opportunity for India and Bangladesh. This is pivotal to India’s connectivity with its north-eastern region and with countries of ASEAN.
• This is particularly important in the context of both the Make in India initiative as well as India’s Act East Policy.
• The two countries also see themselves converging around a lot of commonalities, not just as neighbours battling the scourge of terrorism, but as leading economic partners.
• In terms of diplomacy in the South Asian region, both countries have had identical views.
• From how organizations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) should be going forward in promoting cooperation among its member nations to economic growth.

 CHALLENGES IN INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONS :

 (1) Violent border incidents –

• Despite the friendship remaining solid, the border has been sensitive.

 

• At least 25 Bangladeshis were killed in the first six months of this year along the border by Indian forces, according to a rights watchdog.

 (2) Sharing of River Waters –

• The Teesta water dispute between West Bengal and Bangladesh remains unresolved.

 (3) The Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens, which Ms Hasina called “unnecessary”, have created a negative impression about India.

 (4) China’s economic footprint is growing –

• China is making deep inroads into Bangladesh by ramping up infrastructure investments and expanding economic cooperation.
• Bangladesh is overwhelmingly dependent on China for military hardware.
• Since 2010, India approved three Lines of Credit to Bangladesh of $7.362 billion to finance development projects. But, just $442 million have been disbursed until December 2018.

 WAY FORWARD :

• It is imperative for India to bolster ties with this all-weather friend, and there may not be a better time to do so than when Bangladesh is to celebrate the golden jubilee of its independence.
• India should support Bangladesh’s fight against radical elements. India should also not allow the ideological inclinations of the ruling party to spoil the historic relationship between the two countries.
• New Delhi should take a broader view of the changing scenario and growing competition in South Asia, and reach out to Dhaka with an open mind.
• There is much room for course correction in Delhi and to shift the focus from legacy issues to future possibilities.

 CONCLUSION :

• One way of getting the most out of India-China competition is to remain elusive, without showing a preference between the two giants. Maintaining good working relations with both India and China is crucial for an economically and infrastructurally weak Bangladesh.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the significance of India-Bangladesh relations and various challenges coming between their  relations. Suggest key measures to overcome these concerns .

 FRIEND AND NEIGHBOUR

WHAT ?

• India-Bangladesh Bilateral Relations

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Indian PM + PM of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh held a Summit in virtual format.

SIGNING BILATERAL DOCUMENTS AND INAUGURATION OF PROJECTS :

• Cooperation in Hydrocarbon Sector;
• Protocol on Trans-boundary Elephant Conservation;
• MOU regarding Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects
• MOU on Supply of Equipment+ Improvement of Garbage / Solid Waste Disposal
• MoU between Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum, Dhaka, Bangladesh + National Museum, New Delhi, India
• Cooperation in the field of Agriculture.
• Cooperation in Health Sector

BORDER MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY COOPERATION :

• Both leaders agreed to facilitate completion of border fencing from Tripura (India)- Bangladesh sector.

TRADE PARTNERSHIP FOR GROWTH :

• Duty Free + Quota Free access is given to Bangladeshi exports to India under SAFTA
• bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
• export of jute products from Bangladesh to India

CONNECTIVITY AND PROSPERITY : RECENT INITIATIVES

• railway link between Haldibari (India) + Chilahati (Bangladesh).
• Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT),
• Indian goods from Kolkata to Agartala via Chattogram
• BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement.

IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIP :

• rich matrix of history, religion, culture, language and kinship.

(1) ‘Blue Economy’ programme’ synergized efforts of littoral states in exploration of hydrocarbons, marine resources, deep-sea fishing, preservation of marine ecology & disaster management.

(2) India’s Act East Policy –

• India’s connectivity with its north-eastern region + with countries of ASEAN.
• (SAARC)

CHALLENGES IN INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONS :

• Violent border incidents
• Sharing of River Waters
• Citizenship (Amendment) Act & proposed NRC
• China’s economic footprint is growing

WAY FORWARD : 

• to bolster ties with this all-weather friend
• India should support Bangladesh’s fight against radical elements.
• taking a broader view of the changing scenario + growing competition in South Asia, and reach out to Dhaka with an open mind.
• to shift the focus from legacy issues to future possibilities.

 CONCLUSION :

• Maintaining good working relations with both India & China is crucial for an economically and infrastructurally weak Bangladesh.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the vision, scope and challenges of Digital India Project and how can India become a leader in digital literacy?

 HUMANS ARE STILL CORE TO DIGITAL INDIA

 WHAT ?

• Digital India and E-Governance

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• E-Governments Foundation (eGov) and Aapti Institute have conducted a joint study to explore how digitally excluded communities engage with governance.
• The study found that even in ‘Digital India’, human intermediaries are significant in brokering trust between governments and citizens.

 INTERMEDIARIES IN INDIA :

• Outreach workers are e-government intermediaries who assist clients with accessing and using e-government online applications, systems, and services.
• Intermediaries support individuals by placing complaints, directing them to the right authorities, and following up.
• For example, Common Service Centres are physical facilities for delivering Government of India e-Services to rural and remote locations where availability of computers and Internet was negligible or mostly absent.
• Offline intermediaries can be both political and apolitical, individuals or collectives with varying motivations to do this work.
• Apolitical social workers and community leaders do their work as service.
• Partisan political individuals see their work as constituency service to secure vote bases.
• Community-based organisations and NGOs see their work as allied to their core work.

 SIGNIFICANCE OF INTERMEDIARIES :

• Overcoming digital barriers: Intermediaries help citizens overcome barriers to awareness like availability of digital services, their rights, and ability to handle the technology with trust.
• These barriers are most challenging for citizens who are marginalised, with the poor, women, the elderly, and caste and gender minorities being additionally disadvantaged.
• Responsible, responsive and data driven governance:
• Increasing digitisation of governance across domains including healthcare, financial inclusion, justice and social services is inevitable.
• During this transition, the intermediaries will raise citizens’ awareness, build intermediaries’ skills and capabilities, and establish governance frameworks with suitable feedback loops.

 CONCERNS :

• E-government intermediaries are not typical end users; they use e-government systems on behalf of clients, and as such their challenges differ from those of primary users.
  • No formal backing in e-governance setup: These human intermediaries often worked without any formal backing and role in the design of most e-governance programmes.
• Only a few States have built a cadre of individuals for last mile governance.
• Andhra Pradesh, for instance, rolled out a ward secretariat programme with over 16,000 ward secretaries and volunteers for delivering government services at citizens’ doorstep.

 CHALLENGES BEFORE DIGITAL INDIA :

• Slow roll-out of Wi-Fi hotspots and the slow speed, in comparison to other developed nation.
• Most small and medium scale industry is struggling to adapt to modern technology.
• Entry level smartphones have limited capabilities for smooth internet access, and the outreach of the ‘smartphones’ is limited.
• There is an absence of enough skilled manpower in digital technology.
• Lack of user education and there are limited facilities to train personnel. India needs over one million cybersecurity experts to check and monitor the growing menace of digital crime.

 E-GOVERNANCE :

 E governance is the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Government services to improve the efficiency of communication and transaction between

1. Government to Government (G2G)
2. Government to Business (G2B)
3. Government to Citizen (G2C)

• Its purpose is to reduce corruption and increase accountability. It also enables a Citizen Centric Administration where citizens can participate effectively.

 IMPORTANCE OF E-GOVERNANCE IN DIGITISATION ERA :

1. Transforming lives: The government has been trying hard for digitisation to induce economic inclusiveness and social transformation, through initiatives like, ‘Digital India’, ‘Make in India’ and Skill India. India, as a result, is gearing up for an era of increased digitisation. E-governance is important to distribute various benefits of economic growth due to digitisation to all the sects of society. Blending technology and citizen centricity, catalysing, government operations to create a safer, more efficient and sustainable society.
2. Good governance: The complex nature of governance in India demands a holistic approach. Shedding old methods and embracing new technologies in governance, would lead to faster, smarter and more pro-active government needed in the age of digitisation catering its citizens.
3. Modern problems : With world moving towards new era of digitisation, it is necessary for government to adopt modern methods of governance to tackle new threats of modern time like cyber fraud, fake news etc.
4. Ease of Business: It is important for making doing business for economic growth of the country. Timely approval of projects and tracking of the projects and policies is important and can be made easy through E-governance.
5. Ease of services: E-governance include the digitisation of land records, single-window handling of grievances and maintenance of essential services; easing tax payments and government dues; along with internet based delivery of services. It led to faster work culture with reduction in inefficiencies and better services to Indian citizens.
6. Real Time Governance: With the help of E-Governance, the government can swiftly resolve citizen grievances and monitor infrastructure projects, incidents and weather & climatic events across the state in real time, leveraging technology services.
7. Cost Reduction: Most of the Government expenditure is appropriated towards the cost of stationary. Paper-based communication needs lots of stationary, printers, computers, etc. which calls for continuous heavy expenditure. Internet and Phones makes communication cheaper saving valuable money for the Government.
8. Transparency: Use of ICT makes governance transparent. Most of the information of the Government is made available on the internet. The citizens can see the information whenever they want to see. E-governance helped in reducing corruption by online track of various government activities.
9. Accountability: As the governing process is made transparent the Government is automatically made accountable.

• Accountability is answerability of the Government to the people.

 WAY FORWARD :

• Leveraging intermediaries in extension of governance model: A ‘one size fits all’ approach needs to be shunned.
• For instance, a study found that intermediaries struggled with indicating that they were placing a complaint for someone else, and with communicating the impact (for example, the number of houses affected by the problem).
• This design approach arises from the assumption that technology is for the individual.
• Incentivising intermediaries: Leaning on intermediaries can unlock the capacity of the state to serve citizens.
• India has formalised intermediation in traditional markets (such as mutual funds) from which we can learn.
• In these areas, formal governance mechanisms, structured capacity building, widespread awareness campaigns, and process re-engineering enabled growth and usage.

 CONCLUSION :

• With these supports, we will be able to support the process of responsible, responsive and data ¬driven governance across domains . Digitisation and e-governance can bring a revolution in society having fairness and transparency in working culture.

 

QUESTION : Discuss the vision, scope and challenges of Digital India Project and how can India become a leader in digital literacy?

 

HUMANS ARE STILL CORE TO DIGITAL INDIA

WHAT ?

• Digital India and E-Governance

WHY IN NEWS ?

• E-Governments Foundation + Aapti Institute =conducted a joint study to explore how digitally excluded communities engage with governance.
• found that even in ‘Digital India’, human intermediaries= significant in brokering trust between governments+ citizens.

INTERMEDIARIES IN INDIA :

• assist clients with accessing +using e-government online applications, systems, +services.
• Intermediaries support individuals by placing complaints, directing them to the right authorities.
• Offline intermediaries = both political +apolitical
• Apolitical social workers+ community leaders do their work as service.
• Partisan political individuals see their work as constituency service to secure vote bases.
• Community-based organisations + NGOs see their work as allied to their core work.

SIGNIFICANCE OF INTERMEDIARIES :

• Overcoming digital barriers
• Responsible, responsive + data driven governance: healthcare, financial inclusion, justice and social services is inevitable. 
• intermediaries will raise citizens’ awareness, build intermediaries’ skills+ capabilities

CONCERNS : 

• E-government intermediaries= not typical end users
• No formal backing in e-governance setup: often worked without any formal backing + role in the design
• Only a few States have built a cadre of individuals for last mile governance.
• Andhra Pradesh, for instance

CHALLENGES BEFORE DIGITAL INDIA :

• Slow roll-out of Wi-Fi hotspots + slow speed
• small + medium scale industry =struggling to adapt to modern technology.
• Entry level smartphones have limited capabilities for smooth internet access
• absence of enough skilled manpower
• Lack of user education+ there are limited facilities to train personnel.

E-GOVERNANCE :

• application of ICT in Government services to improve efficiency of communication and transaction between

1. Government to Government (G2G)
2. Government to Business (G2B)
3. Government to Citizen (G2C)

• purpose is to reduce corruption+ increase accountability.

IMPORTANCE OF E-GOVERNANCE IN DIGITISATION ERA :

1. Transforming lives
2. Good governance
3. Modern problems
4. Ease of Business
5. Ease of services
6. Real Time Governance
7. Cost Reduction
8. Transparency
9. Accountability

WAY FORWARD : 

• Leveraging intermediaries in extension of governance model: A ‘one size fits all’ approach needs to be shunned.
• Incentivising intermediaries: Leaning on intermediaries can unlock the capacity of the state to serve citizens.

CONCLUSION : 

• Digitisation+ e-governance can bring a revolution in society having fairness+ transparency in work dealings as both are supplementary to each other.

 

QUESTION : A ‘constitutional breakdown’ is brewing in Nepal as the Parliament has been dissolved by the PM . Critically evaluate the impacts of such turmoil on India and Nepal bilateral relations.

 

PLAYING A GAME OF BRINKMANSHIP IN NEPAL

 WHAT ?

• Dissolution of the Parliament of Nepal

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Recently, Nepal Prime Minister recommended dissolution of the House of Representatives, the lower of Parliament.

 MORE ABOUT THIS NEWS :

• This step was taken by the Nepal’s PM when he realised that a factional feud within the party had reached the point of no return and he faced possible expulsion both as party chief and as Prime Minister.
• The move was promptly approved by the President of Nepal.
• This has resulted into turmoil in the national politics of Nepal and brought five-year-old Constitution into uncertainty.
• The dissolution came hours before a Standing Committee meeting that was expected to order a probe into corruption charges levelled against the Nepal’s PM.

 THE CONSTITUTION OF NEPAL :

• Adopted in 2015: With its key features like federalism, secularism and republic. The split in a party with a two-thirds majority has raised concerns that it may lead to a systemic collapse of the Constitution.
• Constitution and dissolution:
• Dissolution of the House is not new in Nepal, but this is the first such instance after the new Constitution that places safeguards against dissolution was adopted.
• The 1991 Constitution (scrapped in 2006), had provisions for dissolution of Parliament at the Prime Minister’s prerogative.
• The new constitution does not envisage such a step without exploring formation of an alternative government.

 DISSOLUTION OF LOK SABHA IN INDIA:

• Term of Lok Sabha: In India, the Lok Sabha has a five-year term, but can be dissolved earlier.
• Article 83(2): Of the Constitution of India states that the completion of five years from the first day of its meeting amounts to dissolution of the Lower House.
• In this case, an election is held to elect the new Members of Parliament.
• Can also be dissolved earlier: By the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.
• It can also be dissolved if the President feels that no viable government can be formed after the resignation or fall of a regime.
• Status of Rajya Sabha: The Rajya Sabha – upper house of the Parliament – is a permanent house, i.e. it can not be dissolved. Its members have a fixed term of 6 years, with a third of its members up for elections every two years.

 HOW DO DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS VIEW THE CRISIS ?

• Nepali Opposition parties: The opposition Nepali Congress and the Madhes-based Janata Samajbadi Party have reasons to hope than an early poll will earn them a bigger space in Parliament.
• The Nepali Army: The Nepal Army has made it clear that it will remain neutral in the ongoing political developments.

 CHINA :

• China has been a big factor in Nepal’s internal politics since 2006 and in the current crisis it is seen as having lobbied, to prevent the split.
• China has also invested in crucial sectors like trade and Investment, energy, tourism and post-earthquake reconstruction, and is Nepal’s biggest FDI contributor.
• It has increased its presence in Nepal because of a perception that India played a crucial role in the 2006 political change.

 WHAT SHOULD BE INDIA’S STANCE IN SUCH SITUATION ?

• Nepal is organically linked to India’s anti-colonial struggle with leaders such as BP Koirala having spent years in prison with Jagjivan Ram and Rajendra Prasad.
• India has rebooted its diplomatic outreach with a series of high-profile visits to Kathmandu. This has resulted in the resumption of air travel and fast-tracking of the railway line between Kathmandu to Raxaul in Bihar.
• A fresh popular cry for democracy presents an opportunity for India to showcase its historical partnership in Nepal’s transition to democracy.
• Ties with Nepal are critical to India for strategic influence in the Himalayas.
• Thus, India should adopt a strategy of detached pragmatism rather than proactive involvement, given the crisis period in Nepal.

 WHY THE PM TOOK SUCH A DECISION ?

• Reluctance to share power: Even after winning the elections of 2015 in coalition, PM Oli was reluctant to share powers with coalition leaders.
• Fundamental differences: It was a historic opportunity for the NCP, especially for the prime minister, to navigate the young democracy out of its many crises. But the merger did not dissolve the fundamental differences between the NCP’s two groups.
• For instance, for several years, Oli had demanded that the Maoists under Pushpa Kamal Dahal be held accountable for war crimes, including the killings of CPN-UML cadres.
• Misplaced objectives: The prime objectives at the formation of the new constitution were to address the concerns of Madhesi groups and strengthen Nepal’s institutions. But the focus was on the consolidation of power, gathering support by adopting anti India postures and cosying up to China.

WAY FORWARD :

• India-Nepal relations have all the potential to move ahead and become mutually reliable commercial and economic ties, and extensive people-to-people ties only when India and Nepal forget the avoid past mistakes and move ahead to become sustainable.

 CONCLUSION : 

• Given the severity of the crisis, a split cannot be ruled out. And if that were to happen, Nepal would be pushed back to political instability, at a time of multiple challenges, from a slowing economy to the coronavirus crisis.
• Mr Oli could have gone down in history as a statesman that steered the country through a pandemic. Instead, his greed for power and lack of statesmanship is steering the nation into a path of chaos and confusion.

 

QUESTION : A ‘constitutional breakdown’ is brewing in Nepal as the Parliament has been dissolved by the PM . Critically evaluate the impacts of such turmoil on India and Nepal bilateral relations.

 

PLAYING A GAME OF BRINKMANSHIP IN NEPAL

WHAT ?

• Dissolution of the Parliament of Nepal

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Nepal PM recommended dissolution of House of Representatives

MORE ABOUT THIS NEWS :

• PM statement=factional feud within party had reached point of no return + he faced possible expulsion both as party chief as PM
  • The move was promptly approved by the President of Nepal.
  • Turmoil in national politics of Nepal& brought 5-year-old Constitution into uncertainty.

THE CONSTITUTION OF NEPAL :

• Adopted in 2015: With its key features like federalism, secularism and republic.
• Constitution and dissolution: first such instance after new Constitution that places safeguards against dissolution was adopted.

DISSOLUTION OF LOK SABHA IN INDIA:

• Term of Lok Saba-5-year, but can be dissolved earlier.
• Article 83(2): Completion of 5 years = dissolution
• Can also be dissolved earlier: By the President on advice of PM.
• Status of Rajya Sabha:- upper house of the Parliament – is a permanent house, i.e. it can not be dissolved. 

HOW DO DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS VIEW THE CRISIS ?

• Nepali Opposition parties: Nepali Congress + Madhes-based Janata Samajbadi Party
• The Nepali Army:will remain neutral in the ongoing political developments.

China: 

• China = a big factor in Nepal’s internal politics since 2006
• China has also invested in crucial sectors like trade and Investment, energy, tourism etc.
• It has increased its presence in Nepal

WHAT SHOULD BE INDIA’S STANCE IN SUCH SITUATION ?

• Nepal is organically linked to India’s anti-colonial struggle
• India= rebooted its diplomatic outreach with a series of high-profile visits to Kathmandu.
• opportunity for India to showcase its historical partnership in Nepal’s transition to democracy.
• Ties with Nepal are critical to India for strategic influence in the Himalayas.
• India should adopt a strategy of detached pragmatism rather than proactive involvement

WHY THE PM TOOK SUCH A DECISION ?

• Reluctance to share power
• Fundamental differences
• Misplaced objectives:gathering support by adopting anti India postures & cosying up to China.

WAY FORWARD :

• India-Nepal relations=all the potential to move ahead & become mutually reliable commercial & economic ties, extensive people-to-people ties only when India and Nepal forget the avoid past mistakes and move ahead to become sustainable.

CONCLUSION : 

• Given the severity of the crisis, a split=Nepal would be pushed back to political instability, at a time of multiple challenges, from a slowing economy to coronavirus crisis.

 

QUESTION : Give the relevance of  India’s international relations with respect to Europe point to its cessation from the past and demonstrate willingness for a more creative commitment and India’s changing strategic perceptions of Europe . Discuss 

 WHAT ?

• INDIA’S NEW EUROPOLITIK

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• It is an important priority for Indian foreign and security policies to strengthen its international coalitions in 2021. The intensification of security cooperation with the United States was an important milestone in India’s foreign policy in 2020, integrating Europe into India’s foreign policies should to be a major objective in 2021.

  INDIA’S NEGLECT TO EUROPE :

• Both the bipolar Cold War dynamics (the East-West dimension) and the North-South framework (developing world versus the developed) caused India to not engage with Europe appropriately post WWII.
• The scale of European interest in China widened and India, in contrast has appeared rather indifferent to Europe.
• There were attempts to impart strategic momentum after the Cold War, which did not really succeed.

  NEED TO BREAK OLD POLITICAL PARADIGM :

• There have been two important conceptual departures from the traditional diplomacy in India.
• India is looking beyond the bipolar geopolitical competition between the US and China.
• India has also begun to shed the postcolonial mental block against regional security cooperation with post-imperial Europe.

 Volatility of US-China dynamics:

• The US is an important security partner for India. But India wants to insure against the inevitable volatility in the complex dynamics between the US and China.
• The US-China relationship which soured in the Trump regime can take any course, which hint at improvement under Biden’s regime.
• India’s should be prepared for a Sino-US relationship marked by intense competition and significant cooperation.

 To counter expansionist China:

• The regional security cooperation with the former imperial powers of Europe has now become a strategic necessity.
• The rise of China and the consequent geopolitical instabilities are inevitably producing new coalitions to break an old political paradigm.
• India’s partnership with France has a strong regional anchor — the Indo-Pacific.
• France, with its territories in the Western Indian Ocean and the South Pacific was quick to see the challenges arising from China’s maritime expansion.
• The rest of Europe and Britain are ready to pay greater attention to Asian geopolitics and the Indo-Pacific.

  INDIA’S CHANGING STRATEGIC PERCEPTIONS OF EUROPE :

• The recent developments underline India’s changing strategic perceptions of Europe.
• India’s support for France’s membership of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
• India’s backing for a larger European role in the Indo-Pacific.
• India has welcomed the interest of Germany and Netherlands in building a new geopolitical architecture in the Indo-Pacific.
• Security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific is emerging as an important to transform a decade-long partnership between India and the UK.

 Potential of Europe:

• Europe can project a limited military power into the Indo-Pacific. But in combination with Asian democracies, Europe can certainly make a difference.
• To shape the Indo-Pacific discourse, Europe can:
• wield political influence
• leverage its significant soft power
• mobilise massive economic resources for sustainable development of regional infrastructure.
• This can significantly boost India’s own comprehensive national power.

 WAY FORWARD :

• Rebuilding ties with Europe needs a significant corrective to Delhi’s traditional strategic neglect of the continent.
• Revitalizing the strategic partnership between India and France, which has significantly grown in the last few years.
• India can contribute to the amicable resolution of France and Britain disputes in parts of the Western Indian Ocean, left from the era of decolonization.
• To cope with the uncertain political trajectory of the US, India can supplement its American partnership with a network of minilateral groups with other middle powers.
• Examples: India-Australia-Japan forum and the trilateral dialogue with France and Australia.

  CONCLUSION :

• Asians have undervalued the potential European role in the eastern waters and Europeans had assumed that managing Asian geopolitics was America’s burden.
• But, the current dynamics indicate that the US alone cannot redress the imbalance. European powers, individually as well as collectively through the European Union can act as natural partners in constructing a durable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
• A strong coalition of Asian and European middle powers must be an indispensable element of the geopolitics of the East.

 

 

QUESTION : Give the relevance of  India’s international relations with respect to Europe point to its cessation from the past and demonstrate willingness for a more creative commitment and India’s changing strategic perceptions of Europe . Discuss 

 

WHAT ?

• INDIA’S NEW EUROPOLITIK

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Intensification of security cooperation with the US =an important milestone in India’s foreign policy in 2020, integrating Europe into India’s foreign policies should to be a major objective in 2021.

  INDIA’S NEGLECT TO EUROPE :

• bipolar Cold War dynamics + North-South framework caused India to not engage with Europe appropriately post WWII.
• The scale of European interest in China widened
• There were attempts to impart strategic momentum after Cold War, which did not really succeed.

NEED TO BREAK OLD POLITICAL PARADIGM :

• India= looking beyond bipolar geopolitical competition between US+China.
• India=begun to shed postcolonial mental block against regional security cooperation with post-imperial Europe.

Volatility of US-China dynamics:

• India wants to insure against inevitable volatility in complex dynamics between US + China.
• US-China relationship= may improvement under Biden’s regime.
• India= be prepared for a Sino-US relationship marked by intense competition+significant cooperation.

To counter expansionist China:

• imperial powers of Europe= become a strategic necessity.
• rise of China + consequent geopolitical instabilities are inevitably producing new coalitions
• India’s partnership with France= strong regional anchor — the Indo-Pacific.
• rest of Europe + Britain=ready to pay greater attention to Asian geopolitics + Indo-Pacific.

INDIA’S CHANGING STRATEGIC PERCEPTIONS OF EUROPE :

• India’s support for France’s membership of IORA
• India’s backing for a larger European role in the Indo-Pacific.
• Security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific=emerging as an important to transform a decade-long partnership between India+UK.

Potential of Europe:

• Europe can project a limited military power into the Indo-Pacific.
• To shape the Indo-Pacific discourse, Europe can:
• wield political influence
• leverage its significant soft power
• mobilise massive economic resources for sustainable development of regional infrastructure.
• This can significantly boost India’s own comprehensive national power.

WAY FORWARD :

• Rebuilding ties with Europe
• Revitalizing the strategic partnership between India + France
• India can contribute to amicable resolution of France+ Britain disputes
• India can supplement its American partnership with a network of minilateral groups with other middle powers.

 CONCLUSION :

• A strong coalition of Asian and European middle powers must be an indispensable element of the geopolitics of the East.

 

 

QUESTION : Despite the law banning  manual scavenging in India it still remains a lethal Filth. Critically Analyse the statement with emphasis on initiatives taken by the government in this direction and reason for their failures

 WHAT ?

 MANUAL SCAVENGING IN INDIA 

  ABOUT MANUAL SCAVENGING :

• Manual scavenging is the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling human and animal excreta from dry latrines, sewers and streets.
• Even though the practice is illegal in India, over 180,000 people are still employed as manual scavengers of which Dalit women are the vast majority.
• According to the Census of India (2011) there are still an estimated 182,505 manual scavengers in rural India. Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have the highest number of manual scavengers.

  WHO IS A MANUAL SCAVENGER ?

• As per the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act 2013:
• Any person who has been employed to handle undecomposed human waste from an insanitary latrine, open drain or pit or railway track is a manual scavenger.
• It does not matter if the person was given regular employment or engaged on contract basis, he is covered under the law.
• Exception: Any person who has been employed to clean human waste and does so with the help of the appropriate protective gear and equipment will not be considered a manual scavenger under this law.

 INITIATIVES TO STOP THIS PRACTICE :

• The Protection of Civil Rights Act (1955) made it an offense to compel any person to practice manual scavenging.

PEMSR ACT, 2013:

• The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act came into force in 2013.
• The law prohibits employing manual scavengers, manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks without protective equipment and construction of insanitary latrines.
• It lays down the rules and procedure for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers through training in alternate employment, financial help and help with purchasing property.
• Every local authority (municipality or panchayat), cantonment board or railway authority is responsible for surveying its area to identify manual scavengers.

 SC JUDGEMENT 2014:

• The Supreme Court in 2014 had stated that making a sanitation worker enter sewer lines without safety gear should be a crime even in emergency situations.
• It directed authorities to give a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family members of sanitation workers who died while cleaning manholes and septic tanks since 1993.

 DIRECTIVES BY NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SCHEDULED CASTES :

• The commission issued various directives for workers to be fully equipped with safety apparatus and oxygen masks in case they have to clean sewers manually.
• A first information report has to be lodged against officials or contractors responsible for sending a worker to clean sewers manually without proper gear.
• It made mandatory for all municipal corporations to get an insurance policy of Rs 10 lakh per worker, as per the Supreme Court’s directions.

 EMERGENCY RESPONSE SANITATION UNIT  (ERSU):

• Some state governments have given the directive on the setting up of ERSUs.
• The municipal commissioner of the civic body concerned will be the Responsible Sanitation Authority (RSA).
• The ERSU should be headed by a senior civic officer and other civic officers should be on the ERSU advisory board to decide the standard operating procedure (SoP) for workers who enter manholes for cleaning purposes.
• Only workers trained and certified by an ERSU will be able to clean sewers, but the priority will be on using machines to get such work done.
• In case a worker dies while cleaning a sewer, the civic body will have to hold an inquiry and register a police complaint.

 WORKSHOP ON CREATING AWARENESS :

• All civic bodies have been asked to hold workshops to raise awareness on this issue in their respective jurisdictions.
• Aim: To focus on latest technology for cleaning sewers and septic tanks, and find a way to clean septic tanks or manholes with machines.
• The workshops will have sessions on laws pertaining to sanitation workers, the establishment of ERSUs and their roles, presentations on the latest equipment, machines and protective gear.

 SAFAIMITRA SURAKSHA CHALLENGE :

• The ‘Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge’ initiative was launched by the Ministry of Urban Affairs on 19 November 2020 across 243 cities of India.
• Aim: To ensure that no life is ever lost while cleaning sewer or septic tanks.
• Vision: To place safety & dignity of sanitation workers at the core of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U).
• The actual on-ground assessment of participating cities will be conducted in May 2021 by an independent agency and results of the same will be declared on 15 August 2021.
• Cities will be awarded in three sub-categories – with population of more than 10 lakhs, 3-10 lakhs and upto 3 lakhs, with a total prize money of ₹52 crores to be given to winning cities across all categories.
• In official usage, the word ‘manhole’ will be replaced with ‘machine-hole’.

 REASONS FOR MANUAL SCAVENGING :

• Caste based division of labour: Manual scavengers are usually from caste groups customarily relegated to the bottom of the caste hierarchy and confined to livelihood tasks viewed as deplorable or deemed too menial by higher caste groups.
• Law implementation: First anti-manual scavenging Act was passed in 1993. No conviction was ever made under the Act. In 2013, Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act was passed which reiterated the provisions of 1993 Act. The offences were made cognizable and non-bailable. These provisions are not implemented effectively. Only when fatal cases come to light, laws are referred to and mostly settled with negotiated compensation with no action on the culprit.
• Unemployment: Unemployment rate is high in India. India’s unemployment rate is7% according to data released by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). Availability of cheap labour promotes manual labour as a job in India. Due to lack of jobs manual scavengers go for such menial work to earn for their existence.
• Lack of waterborne toilets: The major latrine used in urban areas is the dry toilets which are a major cause of manual scavenging. In India, for example, there are approximately 26 million insanitary toilets. Moreover, in rural areas, there are no strategies put forward to convert dry toilets.

 WAY FORWARD :

• Involving all stakeholders: In order to tackle the problem, it would be necessary to involve all the major skate holders involved. The inclusion of the community around the areas that are most affected into the program is very important. Seeking information from officials and the community will help in coming up with an informed decision as the best way to prevent such crime.
• Creating Awareness: It is important to educate the community on the devastating effects caused by dry toilets. Government officials should inform on the legal implications that are related to engaging in scavenging and having dry toilets. The sanitation workers should be informed about their rights and the laws that protect them from abuse by their employers.
• Rehabilitation and Reintegration: Creation of more employment is one of the most important rehabilitation processes. The jobs created would aim to offer equal opportunities to the locals. The jobs created also act as a means to assimilate manual scavengers into the community. Other areas that are associated with social inclusion should also be established for instance the loaning schemes.
• Enforcement of law: The government should enforce the law strictly that prohibits scavenging. Governmental institutions are reluctant to act and go to great lengths in denying the existence of manual scavengers. People subjecting others into such inhuman activities should be arrested.
• Taking responsibility: Every person should realise their role in preventing manual scavenging. For instance, garbage should be thrown in proper bags and not thrown in sewers or septic tanks as they cause the blockage. People with blocked toilets can seek services from the right sanitation institution and desist from using manual scavengers for cheap labour.
• Education: Children whose families are involved in scavenging experience a lot of social discrimination that affect their education. The child ends up dropping out and joining their parents in the same line of work. Implementation of schemes that would help these children finish their studies would be an effective strategy in ending manual scavenging.

 CONCLUSION :

• The inhuman practice of manual scavenging needs to be ended in true form with rehabilitation of manual scavengers.
• The states found in lagging behind in the rehabilitation of manual scavengers should comply by the monitoring committee (chaired by Minster of Social Justice) meant to review the implementation of PEMSR Act 2013.

 

 

QUESTION : Manual scavenging in india still remains a lethal Filth. Critically Analyse the statement with emphasis on initiatives taken by the government in this direction and reason for their failures

 

WHAT ?

MANUAL SCAVENGING IN INDIA 

ABOUT MANUAL SCAVENGING :

• practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling human + animal excreta from dry latrines, sewers and streets+ practice is illegal in India

 WHO IS A MANUAL SCAVENGER ?

• Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers & their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act 2013=Any person who has been employed to handle undecomposed human waste from an insanitary latrine, open drain or pit or railway track is a manual scavenger.

 INITIATIVES TO STOP THIS PRACTICE

• The Protection of Civil Rights Act (1955)
• PEMSR ACT, 2013=law prohibits employing manual scavengers, manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks without protective
• SC JUDGEMENT 2014: making a sanitation worker enter sewer lines without safety gear should be a crime even in emergency situations.

DIRECTIVES BY NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SCHEDULED CASTES :

• made mandatory for all municipal corporations to get an insurance policy of Rs 10 lakh per worker, as per the Supreme Court’s directions.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE SANITATION UNIT  (ERSU):

• Only workers trained + certified by an ERSU will be able to clean sewers, but the priority will be on using machines to get such work done.
• In case a worker dies while cleaning a sewer, civic body will have to hold an inquiry & register a police complaint.

WORKSHOP ON CREATING AWARENESS :

• Aim: To focus on latest technology for cleaning sewers+ septic tanks, and find a way to clean septic tanks or manholes with machines.
• The workshops will have sessions on laws pertaining to sanitation workers, the establishment of ERSUs

SAFAIMITRA SURAKSHA CHALLENGE :

• by the Ministry of Urban Affairs on 19 November 2020 across 243 cities
• Aim: To ensure that no life is ever lost while cleaning sewer or septic tanks.
• Vision: To place safety & dignity of sanitation workers at the core of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U).
• In official usage, the word ‘manhole’ will be replaced with ‘machine-hole’.

Reasons for manual scavenging:

1. Caste based division of labour
2. Law implementation
3. Unemployment
4. Lack of waterborne toilets

WAY FORWARD :

1. Involving all stakeholders
2. Creating Awareness
3. Rehabilitation and Reintegration
4. Enforcement of law
5. Taking responsibility
6. Education

  CONCLUSION :

• The inhuman practice of manual scavenging needs to be ended in true form with rehabilitation of manual scavengers.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the circumstances under which President’s rule can be imposed in a state and  Has the article-356 been misused ? Critically examine

 

ARTICLE 356 AND AN ACTIVIST JUDICIARY

 

WHAT ?

• Use or Misuse of Article-356

 

WHY IN NEWS ?

• The A.P. High Court’s recent order is worrisome — it opens up the possibility of judicial use or misuse of the Article

 CONTROVERSIAL HIGH COURT ORDER :

• Recently the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the Andhra Pradesh government to come prepared to argue on the ‘breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state’.
• The order opens up the possibility of use or even misuse of Article 356 by the judiciary.
• The Supreme Court of India has stayed the order.
• However, we need to go deeper into this observation and look at the controversial provision of Article 356 due to which the High Court could make such an observation.

 PRESIDENT’S RULE – ARTICLE 356 :

• Article 356 of the Constitution empowers President to proclaim President’s rule in the state if he, on receipt of report from the Governor of the State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
• No liberal democratic Constitution in the world has a provision such as Article 356 that gives the central government the power to dismiss a democratically-elected State government except the Constitution of Pakistan.
• Both India and Pakistan borrowed this provision from the Government of India Act, 1935.
• Interestingly, the leaders of our freedom struggle were so very opposed to this provision that they forced the British government to suspend it; thus, Section 93 of the Government of India Act, 1935 was never brought into effect.
• The provision which we had opposed during our freedom struggle was incorporated in the Constitution strangely in the name of democracy, federalism and stability.

 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND :

• Both India and Pakistan borrowed this provision from the Government of India Act, 1935.
• Interestingly, the leaders of our freedom struggle were so very opposed to this provision that they forced the British government to suspend it.
• The provision which we had opposed during our freedom struggle was incorporated in the Constitution strangely in the name of democracy, federalism and stability.
• It was agreed in the Constituent Assembly that the Governor could use this emergency power.
• By this time the Governor was supposed to be elected by the people of the State rather than nominated by the Centre.
• After several revisions, provision became Article 278 (now Article 356).

 WHAT IS JUDICIAL ACTIVISM ?

• The active role of the judiciary in upholding the rights of citizens and preserving the constitutional and legal system of the country is known as judicial activism.
• Article 13 read with Articles 32 and 226 of Indian Constitution provides the power of judicial review to the higher judiciary to declare any executive, legislative or administrative action void if it is in contravention with the Constitution.
• In Judicial activism, a court may depart from its traditional function of being an impartial adjudicator based on the interpretation of the law and allow its personal views and opinions to deliver judgement.
• This can sometimes mean overstepping into the territories of the executive.
• Ex: The Andhra Pradesh High Court asking the State government about the breakdown of constitutional machinery in the State.
• The President is empowered to go into the question of breakdown of constitutional machinery under Article 356 and not the judiciary.

 CONS OF JA :

• If judiciary surpasses its power, it violates the limit of power set to be exercised by the constitution and limits the functioning of the government.
• Judicial activism can harm the public at large as the judgment may be influenced by personal biases, political affiliation or selfish motives.
• Repeated interventions of courts can diminish the faith of the people in the integrity, quality, and efficiency of the government.

 THE ISSUE WITH PARTICULAR WORD “OTHERWISE”  :

• V. Kamath criticised the word ‘otherwise’ and said only god knows what ‘otherwise’ means.
• As the Governor had been made a nominee of the Centre by this time, he asked why the President could not have confidence in his own nominees.
• ‘Otherwise’ can include anything including a presidential dream of breakdown of constitutional machinery in a state.
• The Andhra Pradesh High Court could pass such an order due to this very term ‘otherwise’.
• This word negates the ideals of constitutionalism by giving unlimited powers to the Centre, also allowed the High Court to overstepped the line.
• But this is not the first instance of judicial overreach on this issue.
• On August 13, 1997, a Patna High Court had observed that the High Court could also report to the President about the breakdown of constitutional machinery in the State.

 REPEATED MISUSE OF ARTICLE-356 :

• In the very first invocation of Article 356 in 1951, central government removed the Gopi Chand Bhargava ministry in Punjab though he enjoyed the majority.
• In 1959, it was used against the majority opposition.
• government of the E.M.S. Namboodripad government in Kerala.
• Indira Gandhi used Article 356 as many as 27 times.
• The most notable case of non-use of Article 356 was the refusal of the P.V. Narasimha Rao government prior to the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

  CONCLUSION :

• Ideally, the word ‘otherwise’ should be deleted from Article 356 and the provision be used only sparingly and to never remove a majority government.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the circumstances under which President’s rule can be imposed in a state and  Has the article-356 been misused ? Critically examine

 

ARTICLE 356 AND AN ACTIVIST JUDICIARY

WHAT ?

• Use or Misuse of Article-356

WHY IN NEWS ?

• P. High Court’s recent order is worrisome + opens up possibility of judicial use or misuse of the Article

CONTROVERSIAL HIGH COURT ORDER :

• argue on ‘breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state’
• SC has stayed the order.
• we need to go deeper into this observation +look at controversial provision of Article 356

PRESIDENT’S RULE – ARTICLE 356 :

• empowers President to proclaim President’s rule in state if he, on receipt of report from the Governor of the State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation
• India+ Pakistan borrowed this provision from GoI Act, 1935.

WHAT IS JUDICIAL ACTIVISM ?

• active role of judiciary in upholding the rights of citizens + preserving constitutional & legal system.
• Article 13 read with Articles 32 and 226 of Indian Constitution= power of judicial review to higher judiciary to declare any executive, legislative or administrative action void.

CONS OF JA :

• violates limit of power set to be exercised by the constitution+ limits the functioning of government.
• May be influenced by personal biases, political affiliation or selfish motives.
• Repeated interventions of courts can diminish faith of people in the integrity, quality+ efficiency

THE ISSUE WITH PARTICULAR WORD “OTHERWISE”  :

• ‘Otherwise’ can include anything including a presidential dream of breakdown of constitutional machinery in a state.
• P. High Court could pass such an order due to this very term ‘otherwise’.
• word negates the ideals of constitutionalism by giving unlimited powers to Centre

REPEATED MISUSE OF ARTICLE-356 :

• 1951=central government removed Gopi Chand Bhargava ministry in Punjab though he enjoyed the majority.
• 1959=used against majority opposition government of E.M.S
• Indira Gandhi used Article 356 as many as 27 times.
• most notable case=non-use of Article 356 was refusal of P.V. Narasimha Rao govt.prior to demolition of Babri Masjid.

 CONCLUSION :

• Ideally, the word ‘otherwise’ should be deleted from Article 356 + provision be used only sparingly & to never remove a majority government.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the major issues related to urban local bodies in India and suggest measures to strengthen their smooth working .

 WHAT ?

• Urban Local Bodies and Municipal Bonds

 WHY IN NEWS ? 

• The inability of urban local bodies (ULBs) to raise resources has limited the growth of municipal income and led to a fiscal crisis.

 URBAN LOCAL BODIES (ULBs) :

• Urban Local government implies the governance of an urban area by the people through their elected representatives. 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 provided constitutional status to local urban bodies.

 74TH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT :

• This act added a new part IX-A to the Constitution entitled as ‘The Municipalities’ and a new Twelfth Schedule containing 18 functional items for municipalities. The main provisions of this Act can be grouped under two categories–compulsory and voluntary. Some of the compulsory provisions which are binding on all States are:
• Constitution of Nagar panchayats, municipal councils and municipal corporations in transitional areas (areas in transition from a rural area to urban area), smaller urban areas and larger urban areas respectively;
• Reservation of seats in urban local bodies for Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes roughly in proportion to their population;
• Reservation of seats for women up to one-third seats;
• The State Election Commission, constituted in order to conduct elections in the panchayati raj bodies (see 73rd Amendment) will also conduct elections to the urban local self- governing bodies;
• The State Finance Commission, constituted to deal with financial affairs of the Panchayati Raj bodies will also look into the financial affairs of the local urban self governing bodies;
• Tenure of urban local self-governing bodies is fixed at five years and in case of earlier dissolution fresh elections are to be held within six months;

 KEY FINANCIAL ISSUES PLAGUING ULBs :

• Decline in Municipal Revenue: Although it is envisaged that municipal revenue should be 1% of GDP, between 2010 and 2018 revenues declined from 0.48% to 0.43%. This reduction came on the back of a decline in own-source revenue from 56 to 44%.
• Delay in Salaries: Low municipal incomes affects the low-levels of municipal services and translates into salary delays for employees.
• Low Property Tax Collection: Property taxes only account for 0.15% of GDP, whereas in developing economies they account for 0.6% and the global average is 1.04%.

  WHAT IS MUNICIPAL BOND ?

• A municipal bond is a kind of debt instrument where investors offer loans to local governments. They are issued by civic bodies for specific projects and usually have a 10-year tenure. The ULB pays the annual interest on the bonds to the investor at the decided rate.
• Benefits of Municipal Bonds: The bond helps raise funds from the stock market. The bond also increases the number of investors available to the civic body, as compared to a loan from a single bank. Bonds help ensure improved credit profiles, direct transfer of funds by the Centre, transparency and efficient revenue generation.
• Support from Centre: Under AMRUT (ULBs) are encouraged to tap the bond market. Union government also pays ULBs Rs 13 crore for every Rs 100 crore raised via bonds, subject to a ceiling of Rs 26 crore for each. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in 2018-19, eight ULBs issued bonds and were incentivised with Rs 181.33 crore by the ministry.
• The difference between a bank loan and a municipal bond is that any institution can secure a bond only if it has favourable credit ratings. The interest rates for the bond is usually market determined, where Bank Loans are much more opaque and politicised in nature.
• Fair Process: The bidding for Bonds takes place on an electronic trading platform after the bond is listed on the exchange. The bidding is open to all investors and is facilitated by the transaction agent appointed by the ULB, who usually gets a commission of 0.10% after the money is transferred to the account of the ULB.
• There could be a single investor as in the case of Ahmedabad and Surat, where Gujarat State Financial Services (GSFS) picked the entire bond of Rs 200 crore each, or there could be multiple investors, who can bid for any number of slots having a value of Rs 10 lakhs each.

 MORE INFORMATION :

• Ahmedabad was the first city in south Asia to launch a municipal bond of Rs 100 crore in 1998, which was completely subscribed.
• Surat Municipal Corporation was the second city in Gujarat to announce bonds in 2018, to fund a sewage treatment project worth Rs 450 crore
• Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is expected to launch municipal bonds in January, and will become the third Urban Local Body (ULB) in Gujarat to use this method to raise money to fund development work sanctioned under AMRUT  

 WAY AHEAD :

• Property tax base needs to be expanded using GIS mapping, cross-checking with building licenses, ration cards, mutations, electricity/gas accounts, and review of exemptions. This also needs to cover government properties as per GoI circular 2009 and the SC judgement in Rajkot Corporation vs Railways.
• The value capture taxes need to include upward revision of building license fee and new sources like impact fee, as imposed in Telangana, exactions and betterment levy like the one imposed in Gujarat.
• Local fee/charges – An advertisement fee needs to be levied as there are large number of Unauthorized boards. Recovery on user charges (water, etc) which is only 20%, Right of way from gas/electricity and fibre optic lines, Cell tower, Leasing electricity poles and giving maintenance of parks to RWAs.
• Potential of participatory funding (private sector, CSR and local community) needs to be tapped as has been done by Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mathura (Hybrid Annuity project), Indore and Pune.
• Article 243-X needs suitable revision to allow larger inclusion of fiscal instruments above within the scope of a municipality’s own sources.
• Municipal Bonds can be tapped into by ULBs to raise their revenues and reduce the dependence on Government support.

 CONCLUSION : 

• Urban local government institutions are constituted for the maintenance and planned development of urban areas. The objective is to ensure that suitable levels of infrastructure and services are available to the citizens. In many parts of India, the quality of life in urban areas is miserable and the citizens lead a difficult life. To overcome this problem, a series of reforms need to be initiated by the Indian government to strengthen local-level governance.

 

QUESTION : Discuss the major issues related to urban local bodies in India and suggest measures to strengthen their smooth working .

 WHAT ?

• Urban Local Bodies + Municipal Bonds

WHY IN NEWS ?

• The inability of ULBs to raise resources has limited the growth of municipal income+ led to a fiscal crisis.

 URBAN LOCAL BODIES (ULBs) :

• governance of an urban area by people through their elected representatives. 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992=constitutional status

74TH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT :

• added a new part IX-A as ‘The Municipalities’ +a new 12th Schedule containing 18 functional items for municipalities. 
• main provisions of this Act=compulsory + voluntary.
• Tenure of urban local self-governing bodies is fixed at 5 years and in case of earlier dissolution fresh elections are to be held within six months;

KEY FINANCIAL ISSUES PLAGUING ULBs :

• Decline in Municipal Revenue
• Delay in Salaries
• Low Property Tax Collection

 WHAT IS MUNICIPAL BOND ?

• kind of debt instrument where investors offer loans to local governments+ issued by civic bodies for specific projects+ 10-year tenure.
• Benefits of Municipal Bonds= raise funds from the stock market+ help ensure improved credit profiles, direct transfer of funds by Centre, transparency+ efficient revenue generation
• Support from Centre: Under AMRUT (ULBs)= encouraged to tap bond market. Union government also pays ULBs Rs 13 crore for every Rs 100 crore
• Fair Process: bidding=open to all investors+ is facilitated by transaction agent appointed by ULB

 MORE INFORMATION :

• Ahmedabad=first city in south Asia to launch a municipal bond of Rs 100 crore in 1998
• Surat Municipal Corporation= second city in Gujarat to announce bonds in 2018
• Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is expected to launch municipal bonds in January

WAY AHEAD :

• Property tax base needs to be expanded
• The value capture taxes need to include upward revision of building license fee+ new sources like impact fee,
• Local fee/charges needs to be revised
• Potential of participatory funding needs to be tapped
• Article 243-X needs suitable revision to allow larger inclusion of fiscal instrument
• Municipal Bonds can be tapped into by ULBs to raise their revenues+ reduce the dependence on Government support.

 CONCLUSION : 

• To overcome this problem, a series of reforms need to be initiated by Indian government to strengthen local-level governance.

 

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss how can covid-19 vaccine distribution be a major challenge before India and  suggest some important solutions to address such challenges.

 

TOWARDS AN EFFECTIVE VACCINATION DISTRIBUTION POLICY

 WHAT ?

• Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution and Issues

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The world prepares itself for the launch of vaccines expected to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end. India, as the world’s leading vaccine manufacturer, may have better access to vaccines than many other parts of the developing world and must be prepared for the challenges of vaccine distribution.

   TARGET FOR PHASE – 1st OF COVID-19 VACCINATION :

• India plans to vaccinate 300 million people against COVID-19 over the next 6-7 months.
  • The government plans to give priority to healthcare workers and other front-line workers, followed by everyone who is above 50 years of age.
  • This will mean that roughly 20% of the population will be vaccinated by July or August 2021.
  • Since all the vaccines that are currently in the spotlight require two doses, the government will have to acquire 600 million doses.
• As per reports government has struck a deal with the Serum Institute to acquire 500 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Other vaccine frontrunners include Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Russian Sputnik V whose clinical trials in India are being conducted.

TRIAGE SCHEME OF VACCINE DISTRIBUTION :

• The government’s strategy of giving priority to front-line workers and elderly people is in line with the practice being followed in the U.K. and the U.S.
• The rationale is to protect people most likely to be infected in the future as well as those who are most vulnerable to the health consequences of the infection.
• A vaccination drive ideally should have two distinct objectives:
• To provide protection to those vaccinated.
• To minimise or at least slow down the speed and spread of the viral transmission.

 POTENTIAL ISSUES :

• The priority given to healthcare professionals satisfies both objectives: these are individuals who have high levels of exposure and they also act as active disease vectors since they interact with large numbers of people.
• But, the priority given to older people may not actually minimise the total social and economic cost inflicted by the virus in the long run.
• The elderly are less mobile, have a lower level of social interaction, and less likely to spread the virus as compared to a younger person who is both more likely to be infected and subsequently infect others.
• This suggests that densely populated areas — for instance, the Dharavi slum — should receive far more attention under the current strategy.

  INDIA’S VACCINE DISTRIBUTION CHALLENGE :

• Distributing the vaccines in India’s first mass adult vaccination drive might prove to be a daunting task.

 Lack of cold chain points and logistics:

• India currently has about 27,000 cold chain points, 76,000 cold chain equipment, 700 reefer vans, 55,000 cold chain handlers, and 2.5 million health workers as part of its vaccine logistics network.
• To meet the target for the first phase of the COVID vaccination drive, the public sector distribution capacity will need to be expanded 2-3 times.

 Existing gaps in infrastructure:

• Augmenting this capacity is not the only challenge but gaps in the existing supply chain are an equally big challenge.
• India ranked within the 51-75 percentile range among 89 countries on effective vaccine management as per a global analysis by WHO-UNICEF in 2018.
• Its performance was relatively poor when it came to following the required vaccine arrival procedures and using the MIS system for estimating demand of vaccine, syringe, etc.

 Inter-state disparity:

• There is an inter-state disparity in the distribution of cold chain points across the country.
• There are roughly 4 cold chain points to serve 100,000 populations in Gujarat, whereas there is just one cold chain for the same number of people in Jharkhand.
• Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are among the least served states when it comes to cold chain infrastructure.

 Vaccine administration challenge:

• Identifying beneficiaries, ensuring they show up on the day of vaccination, and administering a second dose after a month would require a lot of micro-level planning.
• The government plans to allocate its existing resources from the universal immunization programme towards COVID vaccination drive, this needs to be done without disrupting the regular immunization drive.
• India’s vaccine management has improved due to a real-time supply chain management system known as the electronic vaccine intelligence network (eVIN).
• As of August 2020, it had been implemented in 32 states and union territories, and it can come in use during the COVID vaccination drive.

 WAY FORWARD :

 Addressing infrastructure issues:

• Expansion of India’s existing cold chain capacity at a break-neck speed, especially in some of the more densely populated parts of the country, where such infrastructure is severely limited.
• Addressing gaps in India’s existing vaccine distribution network.
• Documentation of vaccination and the tracking and investigation of vaccine safety through external monitoring.

Involving private hospitals:

• The government’s procurement strategy seems to depend entirely on domestic sources and plans to rely on public resources for distribution and bear the entire cost of vaccination without involving private hospitals.
• The Government can consider involving multinational pharmaceutical companies for both authorisation of a vaccine as well as for permission to import and sell (for a profit) to those who can afford it.
• Concern: This can attract the charge that the government is catering to the interests of the richer groups in the population.

 Potential benefits:

• Allowing the private sector to provide additional supplies of the vaccine would not really be a bad policy decision after all — if the interests of the poor are taken into account.
• There may actually be an increase in supply and hence less waiting time for the less affluent.
• Some of the richer individuals in the target group will opt out of the government distribution system and prefer to get vaccinated at some private outlet.
• The larger the numbers who get vaccinated, the lower will be the speed of virus transmission amongst the non-vaccinated.

 CONCLUSION :

• Vaccine uptake requires confidence in the vaccines and the delivery system.
• The government should continue to procure all available domestically produced vaccines and supply them through its own distribution channel with some involvement of private organisations.
• This can ensure that the target of COVID vaccination (Phase I) is achieved and there is no reduction in the availability of the vaccine for the poor.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss how can covid-19 vaccine distribution be a major challenge before India and  suggest some important solutions to address such challenges.

 TOWARDS AN EFFECTIVE VACCINATION DISTRIBUTION POLICY

WHAT ?

• Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution & Issues

WHY IN NEWS ?

• The world prepares itself for the launch of vaccines expected to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end.

 TARGET FOR PHASE – 1st OF COVID-19 VACCINATION :

• India plans to vaccinate 300 million people against COVID-19 over the workers + elderly people
• The rationale is to protect people most likely to be infected in the future
• A vaccination drive ideally should have two distinct objectives:
• To provide protection to those vaccinated.
• To minimise or at least slow down the speed and spread of the viral transmission.

POTENTIAL ISSUES :

• Health care professionals=high levels of exposure
• Priority given to older people may not actually minimise the total social + economic cost
• The elderly are less mobile, have a lower level of social interaction, and less likely to spread the virus
• densely populated areas — for instance, Dharavi slum

  INDIA’S VACCINE DISTRIBUTION CHALLENGE :

• Lack of cold chain points and logistics
• Existing gaps in infrastructure
• Inter-state disparity
• Vaccine administration challenge

 WAY FORWARD :

• Addressing infrastructure issues
• Involving private hospital
• Allowing the private sector to provide additional supplies of the vaccine
• There may actually be an increase in supply and hence less waiting time for the less affluent.

 CONCLUSION :

• The government should continue to procure all available domestically produced vaccines + supply them through its own distribution channel with some involvement of private organisations.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the China-India relations transcend the bilateral dimension and assume global and strategic significance.” 

 THE FAÇADE CRACKS FOR CHINA

 WHAT ?

• India-China and India’s Neighbourhood First Policy

 WHY IN NEWS?

• In year 2020, India faced a trifecta of challenges in its neighbourhood from China: the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing competition for influence in South Asia, and aggressive actions at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

  HOW HAS INDIA HELPED TO TACKLE THE COVID-19 CHALLENGE ?

• COVID-19 pandemic has led to one of the biggest health challenges, causing heavy economic damage in South Asia.
• India ranks second after USA in terms of number of COVID-19 cases, and the worst-hit economy among G20 nations.
• But India is also one of the best poised nations to aid recovery efforts in the region, given its status as one of the world’s leading producers of pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines.

 INDIA’S INITIATIVES :

• In march, Prime Minister of India held a special virtual summit of eight SAARC nations and proposed a COVID-19 package, for which India provided about half of the $20 million funding for relief.
• India’s military ran a series of missions to SAARC countries and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with supplies of food and medicines.
• India’s ‘Vande Bharat’ mission flew home nationals from neighbouring countries, along with lakhs of Indians who had been stranded during the lockdown.

 CHINA’S INITIATIVES :

• Chinese held meetings with different groups of SAARC countries to coordinate relief efforts, and promised to provide the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine to them when it is available.
• China also shipped relief to South Asia, sending out PPE suits and other medical equipment.
• Under Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China provide partial debt waivers to the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
• It also extended a $1.4-billion Line of Credit to Pakistan.

 INDO-CHINESE RELATIONS AND OTHER REGIONAL DYNAMICS :

• In year 2020, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese soldiers amassed along various sectors of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), leading to violent clashes.
• The recent deaths of Indian soldiers at the Galwan valley was the first such casualty in 45 years.
• China also laid claim to Bhutan’s Sakteng natural reserves and pushed along the boundary lines with Nepal, all of which changed India’s strategic calculations along its Himalayan frontiers.
• That India and Nepal saw their worst tensions in decades over the construction of a road to Lipulekh, leading to Nepal amending its constitution and map to claim Indian territory, added to the already fraught situation.
• A new defense pact between China and Pakistan led to sharp rise in ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) since 2003.

  HOW HAS INDIA DEALT WITH THIS CHALLENGE?

• The government’s response to the challenges has been to assert its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) strategies as foreign policy priorities.
• Apart from the COVID-19 relief and neighbourhood visits, India’s PM and External Affairs Minister have been in frequent touch with their counterparts in the region.
• India has also boosted its focus on infrastructure delivery, including completing railway lines to Bangladesh and Nepal, riverine projects, ferry service to the Maldives, identifying other services to Sri Lanka and consideration of debt waiver requests from its neighbours.
• Unlike in the past, India has also become more flexible about the entry of other powers to help counter China’s influence in the region.
• India recently welcomed the U.S.’s new military dialogue with the Maldives.
• America’s Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) projects in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh are also finding more space.
  • As part of its Indo-Pacific policy, India is also encouraging its Quad partners to collaborate on security and infrastructure initiatives in the neighbourhood.

  CONCLUSION:

• With neighbours that are small and economically weak, India demonstrated its big heartedness and immediacy of purpose during COVID-19 crisis. On the other hand, the regional security challenges should be resolve by conducting frequent dialogues.
• Thus, for India, post-COVID19 period is an opportunity and a challenge for the nation’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the China-India relations transcend the bilateral dimension and assume global and strategic significance.” 

 THE FAÇADE CRACKS FOR CHINA

WHAT ?

• India-China + India’s Neighbourhood First Policy

WHY IN NEWS?

• 2020=India faced a trifecta of challenges in its neighbourhood from China

  HOW HAS INDIA HELPED TO TACKLE THE COVID-19 CHALLENGE ?

• India= one of the world’s leading producers of pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines.

INDIA’S INITIATIVES :

• PM= special virtual summit of 8 SAARC nations& proposed a COVID-19 package+ $20 million funding for relief.
• supplies of food + medicines.
• India’s ‘Vande Bharat’ mission flew home nationals from neighbouring countries

CHINA’S INITIATIVES :

• relief efforts+ promised to provide Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine to them when it is available.
• sending out PPE suits +other medical equipment.
• Under BRI, China provide partial debt waivers to Maldives & Sri Lanka.
• $1.4-billion Line of Credit to Pakistan.

INDO-CHINESE RELATIONS AND OTHER REGIONAL DYNAMICS :

• Chinese soldiers amassed along various sectors of LAC= violent clashes.
• China= claim to Bhutan’s Sakteng natural reserves+ pushed along boundary lines with Nepal
• India+ Nepal= worst tensions in decades over construction of a road to Lipulekh
• defense pact between China+ Pakistan =sharp rise in ceasefire violations along the LoC since 2003.

HOW HAS INDIA DEALT WITH THIS CHALLENGE?

• assert its Neighbourhood First + SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) strategies as foreign policy priorities.
  • frequent touch with their counterparts in the region.
  • India=focus on infrastructure delivery, including completing railway lines to B’desh+ Nepal, riverine projects, ferry service to Maldives, identifying other services to Sri Lanka
  • India h
  • become more flexible about the entry of other powers to help counter China’s influence in the region.
  • encouraging its Quad partners to collaborate on security& infrastructure initiatives in

 CONCLUSION:

• The regional security challenges should be resolve by conducting frequent dialogues.
• Thus, for India, post-COVID19 period= opportunity & a challenge for the nation’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

 

 

QUESTION : Should the right to bail be made a part of an under trial’s right to life  in the times of COVID-19 ? Analyse the given statement in the context of crowded Indian prisons and the challenges.

 GRANTING BAIL IS THE RULE

 WHAT ?

• Right to Bail of an Ordinary People

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The Supreme Court asked judges to protect personal liberty and the right of ordinary people to bail.

 IMPORTANT CONCLUSION FROM THE SC JUDGEMENT :

• Undertrials: Common citizens without the means or resources to move the High Courts or the Supreme Court were languishing in jails as undertrials.
• Undertrials remained behind bars while their bail applications were lobbed from one rung of courts to another.
• Courts were the “first line of defence” against the deprivation of citizens’ personal liberty.
• Importance of bail: It is through the instrumentality of bail that our criminal justice system’s primordial interest in preserving the presumption of innocence finds its most eloquent expression.
• The primary purpose of bail is to ensure the accused person’s compliance with investigation, and subsequent presence at the trial if they are released after arrest.
• The refusal to grant bail deprives individuals of liberty by confining them in jails without trial and conviction.
• Pending bail pleas: The SC highlighted that 91,568 bail pleas were pending in High Courts, while 1.96 lakh bail applications were pending in the district courts.
• Importance of the district judiciary: The district judiciary was only “subordinate” in hierarchy.
• The district judiciary must be alive to the situation as it prevails on the ground – in the jails and police stations where human dignity has no protector.
• Liberty survives by
• the vigilance of her citizens and the media and
• in courts alive to the rule of [and not by] law.
• Liberty is a casualty when one of these components is working improperly.
• Arnab Goswami case: It declared that the “doors of the Supreme Court cannot be closed to a citizen who is able to establish prima facie that the instrumentality of the State is being weaponised for using the force of criminal law.
• It said the High Court did not take into account the “disconnect between the FIR and the provisions of Section 306 IPC [abetment to suicide]”.
• Duty of High Court: The High Court should not foreclose itself from the exercise of the power when a citizen has been arbitrarily deprived of their personal liberty in an excess of State power.

 UNDERTRIALS IN INDIA – NCRB REPORT :

• While undertrials in Indian prisons increased from 67 per cent in 2015 to 69 per cent in 2019, capacity in jails increased by 1.9 per cent during this period, according to 2017 data on jails released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
• It says there are more than 3 lakh cases pending investigations for more than one year.
• The report says in more than 40% of cases with fast-track courts, these courts have taken more than three years to finish the trial.
• Of the 38,000-odd cases that fast-track courts completed in 2017, over 4,500 cases had been running for 5-10 years.
• In only around 11,500 cases was the trial completed within one year.
• In courts as a whole, 2,71,779 cases were pending trial at the end of 2017.

 CONCERNS :

• The refusal to grant bail deprives individuals of liberty by confining them in jails without trial and conviction
• Judicial discretion
• The power to grant bail is a discretionary power vested in judges and it is meant to be exercised liberally.
• Subordinate courts routinely reject bail for specific offences like minor excise offences.
• Marginalised communities: Two-thirds of India’s prison population comprise undertrials from Dalit, Adivasi and Other Backward Classes communities, often accused of minor offences.
• Pendency of bails: The accused persons are required to approach the High Court or the Supreme Court in case of rejection by the subordinate courts. Consequently, most accused persons remain incarcerated as undertrials for extended periods of time.
• The pendency of bail applications has particularly increased during the pandemic — both due to the shutting down of courts and the exacerbation of arrests for minor offences by the police.
• High bail amounts:
• A bail typically requires sureties to furnish a bond for some property valued at the amount determined by the concerned judge.
• The bail amount in subordinate courts, even for petty offences punishable by less than three years, is a minimum of ₹10,000. In cases of bail before the High Courts and the Supreme Court, this amount usually exceeds ₹30,000.
• This is a form of injustice when a majority of citizens are landless with meagre incomes.
• Official data from the Socio-Economic Caste Census pegs rural landlessness at 57%.
• Therefore, those without assets, even when granted bail, end up languishing in jails or incur debt by paying others to stand as fake sureties to secure their freedom.
• A bogey of middlemen has also emerged due to these high bail amounts.
• Preposterous Bail conditions
• Bail indiscretions by judges of lower courts and High Courts have passed by with little accountability or oversight by the apex court.
• Courts introspect little about standards of liberty, reasonableness and proportionality when deciding bail matters.

 

TYPES OF BAIL IN INDIA :

 There are commonly 3 types of bail in India which a person can apply depending upon the stage of the criminal matter:

1. Regular Bail: A regular bail can be granted to a person who has already been arrested and kept in police custody. A person can file a bail application for regular bail under Section 437 and 439 of the CrPC.
2. Interim Bail: Interim bail is a bail granted for a short period of time. Interim bail is granted to an accused before the hearing for the grant of regular bail or anticipatory bail.
3. Anticipatory Bail: A person who discerns that he may be arrested by the police for a non- bailable offence, can file an application for anticipatory bail. It is like an advance bail obtained under Section 438 of the CrPC. A bail under Section 438 is a bail before arrest and a person cannot be arrested by the police if the anticipatory bail has been granted by the court

 NOTE :

• Section 438 of the CrPC lays down the provisions on anticipatory Bail:
• 438(1): When any person anticipates that he/she may get arrested on an accusation of having committed a non-bailable offence, he/she may apply to the High Court or the Court of Session for a direction under this Section. The Court may direct (if it thinks fit) that in the event of such arrests, he/she shall be released on Bail even before an arrest is made without subjecting him/her to further restraints.
• 438(2): When the High Court or the Session Court makes a direction under Sec. 438(1), it may lay down certain conditions in the light of the facts of the particular case, as it may think fit.

 WAY FORWARD:

• Bail reform must begin by addressing two key facets of the criminal justice system: judicial discretion and monetary surety bonds.
• In the 1978 Supreme Court case of Moti Ram v. State of Madhya Pradesh, the court identified the issue of unreasonably high sureties as a human rights problem.
• The court then suggested that surety amounts be determined by considering relevant variables such as the socio-economic location of the accused person.
• Addressing judicial discretion: A report by the Centre for Law and Policy Research recommends the creation of checklists to address individual discretion while deciding bail applications.
• The grant of bail on a personal bond without sureties i.e., release on one’s own guarantee without any monetary amounts, although permissible in law, is rare. It should be in frequent practice.

 CONCLUSION :

• Over the years, anticipatory Bail has acted as the protection (granted under Sec. 438 of CrPC) to safeguard a person against whom false accusation or charges have been made. It ensures the release of such falsely accused person even before they are arrested.

 

 

QUESTION : Should the right to bail be made a part of an under trial’s right to life  in the times of COVID-19 ? Analyse the given statement in the context of crowded Indian prisons and the challenges.

 Topic-GRANTING BAIL IS THE RULE

WHAT ?

• Right to Bail of an Ordinary People

WHY IN NEWS ?

• SC asked judges to protect personal liberty & right of ordinary people to bail.

IMPORTANT CONCLUSION FROM THE SC JUDGEMENT :

• Undertrials: Common citizens without means or resources= deprivation of citizens’ personal liberty.
• Importance of bail:to ensure accused person’s compliance with investigation+ subsequent presence at  trial if they are released after arrest. 
• Pending bail pleas: 91,568 bail pleas in High Courts+1.96 lakh bail applications in district courts. 
• Importance of the district judiciary: district judiciary was only “subordinate” in hierarchy. 

UNDERTRIALS IN INDIA – NCRB REPORT :

• increased from 67 per cent in 2015 to 69 per cent in 2019, capacity in jails increased by 1.9 per cent during this period
• 40% of cases with fast-track courts
• In only around 11,500 cases was the trial completed within one year.
• In courts as a whole, 2,71,779 cases were pending trial at the end of 2017.

CONCERNS :

• Judicial discretion
• Marginalised communities: Two-thirds of India’s prison population comprise undertrials from Dalit, Adivasi&OBC
• Pendency of bails
• High bail amounts:a majority of citizens are landless with meagre incomes+
• Preposterous Bail conditions

TYPES OF BAIL IN INDIA :

1. Regular Bail: can be granted to a person who has already been arrested + kept in police custody
2. Interim Bail: granted for a short period of time.
3. Anticipatory Bail: It is like an advance bail obtained under Section 438 of the CrPC.

NOTE :Section 438 of the CrPC lays down the provisions on anticipatory Bail.

WAY FORWARD: 

• Bail reform must begin by addressing two key facets of the criminal justice system: judicial discretion and monetary surety bonds.
• Addressing judicial discretion: address individual discretion while deciding bail applications.
• The grant of bail on a personal bond without sureties i.e., release on one’s own guarantee without any monetary amounts

 CONCLUSION : 

• Over the years, anticipatory Bail= acted as protection (granted under Sec. 438 of CrPC) to safeguard a person against whom false accusation or charges have been made. It ensures the release of such falsely accused person even before they are arrested.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the questions of transparency associated with Electoral bonds and what other reforms are needed to make Indian election process more fair. Do you think voter must know the source of political funding ? Analyse

 Topic-THE BROKEN BONDS OF DEMOCRACY

 WHAT ?

• Constitutionality of RTI and Electoral Bonds

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The Central Information Commission (CIC), the lead body for implementing the Right to Information Act 2005 has ruled that disclosing details about donors and donees relating to electoral bonds under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, will not serve any larger public interest and will violate provisions of the Act itself.

 WHAT ARE ELECTORAL BONDS ?

• An electoral bond is like a promissory note that can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India from select branches of State Bank of India.
• The citizen or corporate can then donate the same to any eligible political party of his/her choice.
• The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 100,000 and Rs 1 crore (the range of a bond is between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1 crore).
• These will be available at some branches of SBI.
• A donor with a KYC-compliant account can purchase the bonds and can then donate them to the party or individual of their choice.
• Now, the receiver can encash the bonds through the party’s verified account.
• The electoral bond will be valid only for fifteen days.

 ELECTORAL BONDS : CONDITIONS

• Any party that is registered under section 29A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and has secured at least one per cent of the votes polled in the most recent General elections or Assembly elections is eligible to receive electoral bonds.
• The party will be allotted a verified account by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the electoral bond transactions can be made only through this account.
• The electoral bonds will not bear the name of the donor. Thus, the political party might not be aware of the donor’s identity.

 ABOUT THE  CIC ORDER :

• The CIC order has upheld the contention of the SBI that it is not required to furnish the details of donors, donees and donations, under the RTI Act.
• Section 8 of the RTI Act exempts disclosure of information in case of two conditions:
• that the information sought has been held in fiduciary capacity and
• that there was no public interest involved in the application.

 

CONCERNS :

 Arbitrariness and non-transparency:

• The scheme conceals the identity of the donors and donees as well as the amount of donation.
• The scheme facilitates undisclosed quid pro quo arrangements between donors, who are likely to be corporates, and political parties.
• The Election Commission argued the case for “declaration of donation received by political parties and also about the manner in which those funds are expended by them, for better transparency and accountability in the election process”.

 BLACK MONEY :

• A company is not required to name the political parties to which such contributions are made. The donors’ name is also not revealed to the public.
• It will result in opaqueness, heighten the odds of conflict of interest and also drastically increase black money and corruption.
• It will also lead to the creation of shell companies and rise of benami transactions to channelize the undocumented money into the political and electoral process in India.
• Against right to freedom of speech: In People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India (2003), the Supreme Court held that the freedom of speech and expression also contained the fundamental right of a voter to secure information about the candidates who are contesting the election.
• When the voter is permitted to know if an electoral candidate is facing any cases, she should be equally entitled to know who is financing the expenses of the party and its candidate.

• The public interest: Section 8(2) directs that when public interest outweighs any harm to protected interests, the information sought for may be accessed.
• The CIC, in an earlier order, deemed political parties to be public authorities under the RTI Act.
• The funds received by parties from donors would naturally be of interest to voters in order to understand their financing and functioning.
• Therefore, the present issue is one of high public importance and resorting to technical objections defeats the objects of the RTI Act itself.
• The public scrutiny of parties and political candidates is an essential and inalienable part of a free and fair democratic process. The Court must conclusively settle the questions around the constitutionality of electoral bonds.

 RTI ACT 2005:

• Right to Information Act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information, barring a few exempted categories such as information which might affect the sovereignty of the country or private information which might have a bearing on a person’s right to privacy.

 AUTHORITIES UNDER RTI ACT :

• The Central Information Commission (CIC) is set up under the Right to Information Act.
• The Chief Information Commissioner heads the Central Information Commission.
• This body hears appeals from persons who have not been satisfied by the public authority, and also addresses major issues related to the RTI Act.
• Appointment: The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of—
• The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee;
• The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha; and
• A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Tenure: In the case of the Information Commissioners they are appointed for five years subject to the age limit of 65 years.
• The Information Commissioner and CIC were made on a par with the Election Commissioner and the CEC, respectively

 CONCLUSION:

• The public scrutiny of parties and political candidates is an essential and inalienable part of a free and fair democratic process. The Court must conclusively settle the questions around the constitutionality of electoral bonds.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the questions of transparency associated with Electoral bonds and what other reforms are needed to make Indian election process more fair. Do you think voter must know the source of political funding ? Analyse

 

Topic-THE BROKEN BONDS OF DEMOCRACY

WHAT ?

• Constitutionality of RTI + Electoral Bonds

WHY IN NEWS ?

• CIC = ruled that disclosing details about donors & donees relating to electoral bonds under (RTI) Act

WHAT ARE ELECTORAL BONDS ?

• like a promissory note that can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India from select branches of SBI
• citizen or corporate can then donate to any eligible political party of his/her choice.
• valid only for 15 days.

ELECTORAL BONDS : CONDITIONS 

• Any party that is registered under section 29A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) + has secured at least one per cent of the votes polled
• party will be allotted a verified account by the Election Commission of India (ECI)
• EB will not bear name of donor+political party might not be aware of donor’s identity

ABOUT THE  CIC ORDER :

• CIC order= upheld the contention of SBI that it is not required to furnish details of donors, donees+ donations, under RTI Act.
• Section 8 of RTI Act exempts Information sought= held in fiduciary capacity
• no public interest involved in application.

CONCERNS :

• Arbitrariness and non-transparency
• BLACK MONEY
• Against right to freedom of speech
• The public interest: Section 8(2) directs that when public interest outweighs any harm to protected interests, the information sought for may be accessed.

RTI ACT 2005: 

• mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information, barring a few exempted categories such as information which might affect sovereignty of the country or private information which might have a bearing on a person’s right to privacy.

AUTHORITIES UNDER RTI ACT :

• CIC = set up under Right to Information Act+ heads the Central Information Commission.
• Appointment: by President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of—
• The Prime Minister+ Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha+Union Cabinet Minister
• Tenure: Information Commissioners for five years subject to age limit of 65 years.
• Information Commissioner + CIC were made on a par with CEC,

CONCLUSION :

• The public scrutiny of parties + political candidates= an essential + inalienable part of a free + fair democratic process.
• The Court must settle questions around constitutionality of electoral bonds.

 

QUESTION : Discuss the major challenges facing the police force in the country and suggest the measures to deal with these challenges.

 Topic- GIVE ADEQUATE TIME FOR A PROBE

 

WHY IN NEWS?

• The Maharashtra government recently announced that it would enact a law to deal sternly with the cases of sexual assault on women. The proposed Maharashtra Shakti Act of 2020 will have stern punishment for offences of sexual assault and a provision to complete investigation within 15 days.

 CONCERN : Reducing period of investigation

• Disha Act of Andhra Pradesh mandated completion of investigation within seven working days for “heinous offences” such as harassment of women, sexual assault on children, and rape, where “adequate conclusive evidence” is available.
• The Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) provides that investigation relating to offences punishable with imprisonment up to 10 years must be completed within 60 days.
• For offences with higher punishment (including rape), investigation should be completed within 90 days of detaining the accused, else he or she shall be released on bail.
• To speed up the process, the CrPC was amended in 2018 and the period of investigation was reduced from 90 to 60 days for all cases of rape.
• There is no upper limit to complete investigation when the offenders are at large.

 ADEQUATE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE :

• Victim’s statement and forensic evidence: The Supreme Court has already ruled in favour of the prosecutrix’s statement alone (if credible) being sufficient to convict an accused and forensic evidence being corroborative in nature.
• The interpretation of “adequate conclusive evidence” by the police shall remain a problem.
• Police’s duty of collecting evidence: The police are concerned primarily with collection of all evidence relating to the offence.
• Court’s jurisdiction on conviction: It is only for the court to evaluate whether the available evidence is sufficient to slap conviction on the accused.

 POLICE INVESTIGATION INCLUDES :

• Examination of the scene of crime by the investigating officer (IO) and forensic expert;
• Recording the statement of the victim (by the IO and the judicial magistrate) and witnesses
• Medical examination of the victim (at a place where a female doctor is available) and accused persons;
• Collecting documents relating to age from parents, local bodies and school (in case of child victim and delinquents);
• DNA findings of the forensic science lab (FSL);
• Test identification parade of accused persons (if initially not named);
• Seizing weapons of offence;
• The arrest of accused persons; etc.

 FACTORS BEHIND THE TIME OF INVESTIGATION :

• the severity of the crime,
• the number of accused persons and agencies involved.
• whether a police station has separate units of investigation and law and order, which is also a long-pending police reform.
• number of available IOs and women police officers, and
• the size and growth of the FSL and its DNA unit.

 CONCLUSION :

• Investigation of sensitive offences should be done expeditiously. However, setting narrow timelines for investigation creates scope for procedural loopholes which may be exploited during trial. Therefore, instead of fixing unrealistic timelines, the police should be given additional resources so that they can deliver efficiently.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the major challenges facing the police force in the country and suggest the measures to deal with these challenges.

 Short Notes

Topic- GIVE ADEQUATE TIME FOR A PROBE

 

WHY IN NEWS?

• Maharashtra government announced that it would enact a law to deal sternly with the cases of sexual assault on women+proposed Maharashtra Shakti Act of 2020

CONCERN :

• Reducing period of investigation
• Disha Act of Andhra Pradesh mandated completion of investigation within 7 working days for “heinous offences” where “adequate conclusive evidence”= available. 
• CrPc provides that investigation relating to offences punishable with imprisonment up to 10 years must be completed within 60 days.
• For offences with higher punishment (including rape), investigation should be completed within 90 days
• no upper limit to complete investigation when the offenders are at large.

ADEQUATE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE :

• Victim’s statement and forensic evidence: SC=already ruled in favour of prosecutrix’s statement alone (if credible) being sufficient to convict an accused+ forensic evidence being corroborative in nature.
• Police’s duty of collecting evidence
• Court’s jurisdiction on conviction

POLICE INVESTIGATION INCLUDES :

• Examination of the scene of crime by the investigating officer (IO)
• Recording the statement of the victim
• Medical examination of the victim
• Collecting documents relating to age
• DNA findings of the forensic science lab
• Test identification parade of accused persons
• Seizing weapons of offence;
• The arrest of accused persons; etc.

FACTORS BEHIND THE TIME OF INVESTIGATION :

• the severity of the crime,
• the number of accused persons and agencies involved.
• whether a police station has separate units of investigation and law and order, which is also a long-pending police reform.
• number of available IOs and women police officers, and
• the size and growth of the FSL and its DNA unit.

 CONCLUSION :

• Investigation of sensitive offences should be done expeditiously. Instead of fixing unrealistic timelines, police should be given additional resources so that they can deliver efficiently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GS-3 Mains

QUESTION : Critically evaluate the root causes of the Naxalite movement in India and also  comment on the latest efforts undertaken by the government to address this issue.

  Topic-  MOVING FORWARD IN BASE AREAS

 WHAT ?

• Internal Security – Naxalism in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The Union government is in the process of deploying five more battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to Chhattisgarh to scale up anti-Maoist operations, particularly in the south Bastar region.

 MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS NEWS :

• More than 45 Central Armed Police Force battalions are already deployed in Chhattisgarh, where 14 districts are Maoist affected. Of them, eight are severely affected. Most of the 22 State armed battalions are also deployed in these districts. In addition, the CRPF’s specially trained ‘Cobra’ units and the State’s Special Task Force and District Reserve Guards are also engaged in operations in the forward areas.
• Though the proposed deployment is in line with the ‘National Policy and Action Plan’ of the Central government on Left Wing Extremism, its impact may have wider implications on the ground.

 NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF INCREASING THE PRESENCE OF MORE FORCE :

• Despite the present deployment, Bastar still has a security vacuum in many pockets, particularly in the south Bastar and Abujhmad areas. These pockets, called base areas by the Maoists, not only provide them occasion to wage ‘mobile war’ against the security forces, but also enable their military formations, including the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army battalion, to move about freely.
• Though their movement is regularly checked by the security forces, the Maoists still enjoy sufficient control over the tribal populace and it can exaggerate trust deficit what this tribal have with government in general and security forces in particular.

 NAXALISM IN INDIA :

•  The term Naxalism derives its name from the village Naxalbari of West Bengal.
•  It originated as rebellion against local landlords who bashed a peasant over a land dispute. The rebellion was initiated in 1967, with an objective of rightful redistribution of the land to working peasants under the leadership of Kanu Sanyal and Jagan Santhal.
•  Started in West Bengal, the movement has spread across the Eastern India; in less developed areas of states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
•  It is considered that Naxals support Maoist political sentiments and ideology.

 REASONS BEHIND SUCH NAXALITE MOVEMENT IN INDIA :

• Tribal discontent: The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 deprives tribals, who depend on forest produce for their living, from even cutting a bark. Massive displacement of tribal population in the naxalism-affected states due to development projects, mining operations and other reasons.
• Easy Targets: Such people who do not have any source of living are taken into naxalism by Maoists. Maoists provide arms and ammunitions and money to such people.
• Gaps in the socio-economic system of the country: Government measuring its success on the basis of number of violent attacks rather than the development done in the naxal-affected areas.
• Absence of strong technical intelligence: There is poor technical intelligence when it comes to tackling naxalism. Infrastructural problems, for instance, some villages are not yet connected properly with any communication network are there which hinders action against naxalites.
• No Follow-Up from administration: It is seen that even after police takes hold of a region, administration fails to provide essential services to the people of that region.

 BENEFITS FROM MORE SECURITY FORCES :

• As more area will now be dominated by the security forces, the Maoists’ movement will be restricted to a comparatively smaller area. In case of any attack on the security forces, the Maoists will not be able to retreat unchallenged. Consequently, the intensity of war will be reduced and the ‘mobile war’ will come down to its basics, i.e., the ‘guerrilla war’. Similarly, the Maoists’ battalion, being large in size, will become more vulnerable and in all likelihood, would be cut back over time due to continuous pressure from the security forces. Also, additional deployment and frequent movement of the security forces would improve the intelligence network.
• Establishment of new security camps always brings immediate benefits for the nearby villages. New borewells are dug and health services are also extended by the medical staff of security camps. Once these services are initiated by the forces, the district administration scales them up by providing the required funds. The dislocated fair price shops (PDS) are restored to their original locations and villagers are not required to walk long distances to fetch their rations. All other schemes of the governments are also implemented better through these newly established security camps-cum-development centres.
• Once the security environment improves, more roads can be laid and mobile towers and electricity poles installed for better transportation, communication and electricity supply. Financial inclusion can be improved and the MNREGA works started to give impetus to economic activities. More schools, primary health centres and anganwadis can be opened up to provide basic amenities to the villagers.
• Democratic institutions like panchayats may get revived and political activities could increase with the improved security scenario. This may further lead to better grievance redressal in the existing inaccessible areas.

 IMPORTANT INITIATIVES FOR LWE AFFECTED STATES :

• Road Connectivity Project for LWE affected areas
• LWE Mobile Tower Project
• Aspirational District: The Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with the monitoring of Aspirational districts program in 35 LWE affected districts.
• Special Central Assistance (SCA) for 30 most LWE affected districts.
• Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme.
• Operation Green Hunt: It was started in 2010 and massive deployment of security forces was done in the naxal-affected areas.

 SAMADHAN DOCTRINE :

• A one-stop solution for the LWE problem. It encompasses the entire strategy of government from short-term policy to long-term policy formulated at different levels.
• S-Smart Leadership,
• A-Aggressive Strategy,
• M-Motivation and Training,
• A-Actionable Intelligence,
• D-Dashboard Based KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and KRAs (Key Result Areas),
• H-Harnessing Technology,
• A-Action plan for each Theatre,
• N-No access to Financing.

 WAY FORWARD TO TACKLE THESE ISSUES :

• However, the security forces need to be more alert to thwart any untoward incident while moving in base areas.
• They need to be more watchful of their tactics knowing well that IEDs and iron spikes have been laid all over by the Maoists.
• The collateral damage must be reduced to its minimal. The Maoists usually oppose establishment of new security camps and use villagers as their cover. A lot of violence has been witnessed in the past at the behest of the Maoists.
• The villagers must to be taken into confidence and told that the new security camps will act for their welfare as centres of development.

 WHAT CAN GOVERNMENT DO AT ITS LEVEL :

• Since the rise and spread of Naxalism is attributed to discontent arising out of economic and social discrimination, the government should primarily focus on social and economic development in the backward tribal areas.
• Government service delivery should be improved in tribal areas. Government should ensure statutory minimum wages, access to land and water sources, education and health.
• The government should initiate sincere dialogue with marginalized groups and the Naxalites and encourage surrender. Rehabilitation of the naxals and mainstreaming them into the society should be ensured.
• The government should strike a balance between development and interest of tribals. It’s important to recognize tribal rights on forests and ensure proper rehabilitation in case of any displacement.

 CONCLUSION :

• India has made some success in containing naxalism but the root causes have not been addressed yet. The central and the state governments should continue to follow the two pronged strategy i.e. ensuring safety of the people in the naxal-affected regions as well as taking initiatives for the development of such regions.
• Through a holistic approach focusing on development and security related interventions, the LWE problem can be successfully tackled.

 

QUESTION : Critically evaluate the root causes of the Naxalite movement in India and also  comment on the latest efforts undertaken by the government to address this issue.

   MOVING FORWARD IN BASE AREAS

WHAT ?

• Internal Security – Naxalism in India

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Union government deploying 5 more battalions of CRPF to Chhattisgarh to scale up anti-Maoist operations in the south Bastar region.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS NEWS :

• More than 45 Central Armed Police Force battalions are already deployed in Chhattisgarh, where 14 districts are Maoist affected.
• Though the proposed deployment is in line with ‘National Policy and Action Plan’ of the Central government on Left Wing Extremism

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF INCREASING THE PRESENCE OF MORE FORCE :

• Despite the present deployment, Bastar still has a security vacuum in many pockets
• Maoists still enjoy sufficient control over tribal populace + it can exaggerate trust deficit

NAXALISM IN INDIA :

•  derives its name from village Naxalbari of West Bengal.
•  rebellion against local landlords who bashed a peasant over a land dispute. The rebellion was initiated in 1967, with an objective of rightful redistribution of the land to working peasants under the leadership of Kanu Sanyal and Jagan Santhal.
•  Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. 
•  It is considered that Naxals support Maoist political sentiments and ideology.

REASONS BEHIND SUCH NAXALITE MOVEMENT IN INDIA :

• Tribal discontent
• Easy Targets
• Gaps in the socio-economic system of the country
• Absence of strong technical intelligence:
• No Follow-Up from administration

 BENEFITS FROM MORE SECURITY FORCES :

• Maoists’ movement will be restricted +additional deployment and frequent movement of the security forces would improve the intelligence network.
• Once these services are initiated by forces, the district administration scales them up by providing the required funds.
• Schools+ centres+Anganwadis can be opened up to provide basic amenities to villagers.
• This may further lead to better grievance redressal in the existing inaccessible areas.

IMPORTANT INITIATIVES FOR LWE AFFECTED STATES :

• Road Connectivity Project for LWE affected areas
• LWE Mobile Tower Project
• Aspirational District
• Special Central Assistance (SCA) for 30 most LWE affected districts.
• Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme.
• Operation Green Hunt

SAMADHAN DOCTRINE :

• A one-stop solution for the LWE problem
• S-Smart Leadership,
• A-Aggressive Strategy,
• M-Motivation and Training,
• A-Actionable Intelligence,
• D-Dashboard Based KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and KRAs (Key Result Areas),
• H-Harnessing Technology,
• A-Action plan for each Theatre,
• N-No access to Financing.

WAY FORWARD TO TACKLE THESE ISSUES :

• forces need to be more alert to thwart any untoward incident while moving in base areas.
• need to be more watchful of their tactics knowing well that IEDs + iron spikes
• collateral damage must be reduced to its minimal.
• The villagers must to be taken into confidence and told that the new security camps will act for their welfare as centres of development.

WHAT CAN GOVERNMENT DO AT ITS LEVEL:

• should primarily focus on social +eco development in backward tribal areas
• Government should ensure statutory minimum wages, access to land+ water sources, education +health
• government should initiate sincere dialogue with marginalized groups +Naxalites + encourage surrender.
• Govt should strike a balance between development+ interest of tribals.

CONCLUSION :

• Through a holistic approach focusing on development and security related interventions, the LWE problem can be successfully tackled.

 

QUESTION : India faces a grave threat from growing anti-microbial resistance write the factors responsible for it and suggesting the ways to deal with it.

A LOOMING HEALTH CRISIS

WHAT ?

• The severity of the antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• AMR poses the threat of the next health crisis if not addressed with urgency. The article examines the severity of the issue.

 WHAT IS AMR ?

•  Anti microbial resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used to treat infections.
•  As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others.
•  Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.
•  Antimicrobial resistance is now regarded as a major threat to public health across the globe.

  THE SEVERITY OF THE AMR :

• Globally, about 35% of common human infections have become resistant to available medicines.
• About 700,000 people die every year because available antimicrobial drugs — antibiotics, antivirals, anti-parasitic and antifungals — have become less effective at combating pathogens.
• Resistance to second- and third-line antibiotics — the last lines of defence against some common diseases — are projected to almost double between 2005 and 2030.
• In India, the largest consumer of antibiotics in the world, this is a serious problem.

 RESPONSIBLE FACTORS :

• Microorganisms develop resistance to antimicrobial agents as a natural defence mechanism.
  • Human activity has significantly accelerated the process.
  • The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials for humans.
  • Livestock and agriculture but other factors also contribute.

 FACTORS CAUSING AMR IN INDIA ?

• Antibiotic Consumption: Inappropriate consumption of broad-spectrum (last resort) of antibiotics is high because of changing prescription practice in the healthcare system due to the non-availability of a narrow spectrum of antibiotics.
• Social Factor: inappropriate antibiotic use among the general public like
• Self-medication to avoid the financial burden
• Doctors may perceive that they are compelled to give antibiotics as patients come with a preconceived idea of quick relief.
• Nexus between doctors and pharmaceutical companies put pressure on doctors and pharmacists to prescribe new antibiotics.
• Antibiotics Consumption in Food-Animals: Use of antibiotics as growth promoters in food animals and poultry is a common practice and later it evolves in the food chain.
• Poor Sanitation: The large proportion of sewage is disposed of untreated into receiving water bodies, leading to gross contamination of rivers with antibiotic residues, antibiotic-resistant organisms.

 RESEARCH POINTS  :

• Once consumed, up to 80% of antibiotic drugs are excreted un-metabolised, along with resistant bacteria.
• Their release in effluents from households and health and pharmaceutical facilities, and agricultural run-off, is propagating resistant microorganisms.
• Wastewater treatment facilities are unable to remove all antibiotics and resistant bacteria.
• In India, there is capacity to treat only about 37% of the sewage generated annually.
• Water, then, may be a major mode for the spread of AMR, especially in places with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
• Wildlife that comes into contact with discharge containing antimicrobials can also become colonised with drug-resistant organisms.

 INITIATIVES TO TACKLE AMR :

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) identified antimicrobial resistance as one of six emerging issues of environmental concern in its 2017 Frontiers Report.
• UN agencies are working together to develop the One Health AMR Global Action Plan (GAP) that addresses the issue in human, animal, and plant health and food and environment sectors.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) issued draft standards which set limits for residues of 121 antibiotics in treated effluents from drug production units.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and MoEF&CC constituted the inter-ministerial Steering Committee on Environment and Health, with representation from WHO and UNEP.

 WAY FORWARD :

• The Centre and State governments in India can strengthen the environmental dimensions of their plans to tackle antimicrobial resistance.
• It is important to promote measures that address known hotspots such as hospitals and manufacturing and waste treatment facilities.
• Development of antibiotic resistance breakers (ARBs) to restore effectiveness of older classes of antibiotics

 CONCLUSION :

 Appropriate and safe use of antibiotics- taking antibiotics only when needed, choosing the right antibiotic and completing the full prescription is the need of the hour.

 

QUESTION : India faces a grave threat from growing anti-microbial resistance write the factors responsible for it and suggesting the ways to deal with it.

 A LOOMING HEALTH CRISIS

WHAT ?

• severity of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

WHY IN NEWS ?

• AMR poses the threat of the next health crisis if not addressed with urgency.

WHAT IS AMR ?

•  the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs

THE SEVERITY OF THE AMR :

• Globally, about 35% of common human infections= become resistant to medicines.
• About 700,000 people die every year because available antimicrobial drugs
• Resistance to second- and third-line antibiotics
• India=largest consumer of antibiotics in the world

RESPONSIBLE FACTORS :

• Microorganisms develop resistance to antimicrobial agents as a natural defence mechanism.
• Human activity=accelerated the process.
• misuse + overuse of antimicrobials for humans.
• Livestock+ agriculture but other factors also contribute.

FACTORS CAUSING AMR IN INDIA ?

• Antibiotic Over-Consumption
• Social Factor:Self-medication
• Antibiotics Consumption in Food-Animals
• Poor Sanitation

RESEARCH POINTS  :

• Once consumed, up to 80% of antibiotic drugs are excreted un-metabolised, along with resistant bacteria.
• Their release in effluents from households
• Wastewater treatment facilities are unable to remove all antibiotics+resistant bacteria.
• In India, there is capacity to treat only about 37% of the sewage generated annually.

INITIATIVES TO TACKLE AMR : 

• UN agencies= One Health AMR Global Action Plan (GAP) that addresses the issue in human, animal, and plant health and food and environment sectors.
• MoEF&CC issued draft standards which set limits for residues of 121 antibiotics in treated effluents from drug production units.
• MoEF&CC constituted the inter-ministerial Steering Committee on Environment + Health, with representation from WHO and UNEP.

WAY FORWARD :

• Centre + State governments in India can strengthen environmental dimensions of their plans to tackle antimicrobial resistance.
• promote measures that address known hotspots
• Development of antibiotic resistance breakers (ARBs)

CONCLUSION :

• Appropriate+ safe use of antibiotics- taking antibiotics only when needed, choosing the right antibiotic + completing the full prescription is the need of the hour.

 

QUESTION : Evaluate the significance of the  monetary policy committee and the role of RBI in the growth stability of India during global pandemic. Comment

 

TENUOUS TACK 

 WHAT ?

• Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) Policy of Prioritising Growth

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The MPC’s policy of prioritizing growth over price stability is clearly fraught with risks.

 MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE (MPC) :

• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is a committee of the RBI, which is entrusted with the task of fixing the benchmark policy interest rate (repo rate) to contain inflation within the specified target level.
• The RBI Act, 1934 was amended by Finance Act (India), 2016 to constitute MPC to bring more transparency and accountability in fixing India’s Monetary Policy.
• The policy is published after every meeting with each member explaining his opinions.
• The committee is answerable to the Government of India if the inflation exceeds the range prescribed for three consecutive months.
• Suggestions for setting up a Monetary policy committee is not new and goes back to 2002 when YV Reddy committee proposed to establish an MPC, then Tarapore committee in 2006, Percy Mistry committee in 2007, Raghuram Rajan committee in 2009 and then Urjit Patel Committee in 2013.

  MPC’S DECISION:

• Friday’s decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India to maintain status quo on benchmark interest rates and continue with an accommodative policy stance for “as long as necessary” has been widely welcomed as being ‘pro-growth’.
• With the MPC noting that the signs of economic recovery were still far from broad-based, the panel asserted that it was incumbent on policymakers to support a durable rebound.

  FINDINGS OF MPC :

• The MPC also flagged its expectation that inflation would continue to “remain elevated” through the coming months to average 6.3% — well above the 6% upper bound of its target range — through the second half of the current fiscal.
• The RBI, which in October estimated retail inflation to range between 4.5% and 5.4% in the six-month period, has in just two months raised its projection for price gains by at least close to one percentage point.
• Seen in this light, the MPC’s decision shows that the RBI is clearly prioritising growth over price stability for now.

 WHAT IS CPI?

• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in the prices paid over a time period by urban consumers for an economy based on goods and services.
• Usually, CPI is used as a macroeconomic indicator of inflation – a tool to inspect price stability and deflator in the national accounts.
• CPI also helps understand the real value of wages, salaries, pensions, the purchasing power of the nation’s currency, etc.
• In short, CPI helps to understand the standard of living in a country.

 WHAT IS RETAIL INFLATION OR CPI BASED INFLATION?

• The rate of inflation is based on the consumer price index (CPI). The CPI tracks the change in retail prices of goods and services which are purchased for daily consumption.
• The change in price index for a specific good or service at rural, urban level is called CPI-based or retail inflation.

 WHAT IS THE CONCERN?

• While the compulsion to ensure that monetary policy remains broadly supportive of an economy that is in recession as a fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying lockdowns is understandable, the rate setting panel’s readiness to shrug off both persistently high inflation and its own outlook on prices is cause for concern.
• Recent increases in the prices of iron ore, steel and transportation fuels also add to the worries that cost pressures are continuing to accumulate at a time when the economy is still well under water

 LINK BETWEEN GROWTH, INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES :

•  In a fast-growing economy, incomes go up quickly and more and more people have the money to buy the existing bunch of goods.
•  As more and more money chases the existing set of goods, prices of such goods rise. In other words, inflation (which is nothing but the rate of increase in prices) increases.
•  To contain inflation, a country’s central bank typically increases the interest rates in the economy. By doing so, it incentivises people to spend less and save more because saving becomes more profitable as interest rates go up.
•  However, when growth contracts, people’s incomes hit. As a result, less and less money is chasing the same quantity of goods. This results in either the inflation rate decelerating or it actually contracts (also called deflation).
•  In such situations, a central bank decreases interest rates so as to incentivise spending and by that route boost economic activity in the economy.
•  In the current Monetary Policy, RBI has not raised the interest rates even when retail inflation is high because RBI is facing an odd situation at present: GDP is contracting even as inflation is rising.
•  This is happening because the pandemic has reduced demand, on the one hand, and disrupted supply on the other. As a result falling growth and rising inflation are happening at the same time.

 CONCLUSION :

• It is this ostensibly sanguine outlook on the economy that is hard to square with the RBI’s stand according primacy to growth over price stability.

 

QUESTION : Evaluate the significance of the  monetary policy committee and the role of RBI in the growth stability of India during global pandemic. Comment

TENUOUS TACK 

WHAT ?

• MPC Policy of Prioritising Growth

WHY IN NEWS ?

• MPC’s policy of prioritizing growth over price stability is clearly fraught with risks.

MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE (MPC) :

• committee of RBI+ entrusted with task of fixing benchmark policy interest rate to contain inflation within specified target level.
• RBI Act, 1934=amended by Finance Act (India), 2016 to constitute MPC to bring more transparency + accountability in fixing India’s Monetary Policy
• answerable to GoI if the inflation exceeds range prescribed for 3 consecutive months

MPC’S DECISION:

• to maintain status quo on benchmark interest rates+ continue with an accommodative policy stance for “as long as necessary”
• With MPC noting that the signs of economic recovery= still far from broad-based

FINDINGS OF MPC :

• also flagged its expectation that inflation= continue to “remain elevated” through coming months to average 6.3%
• raised its projection for price gains by at least close to one percentage point.
• shows that RBI is clearly prioritising growth over price stability for now.

WHAT IS CPI?

• a measure of average change in prices paid over a time period by urban consumers for an economy based on goods & services.
• used as a macroeconomic indicator of inflation – a tool to inspect price stability
• helps understand real value of wages, salaries, pensions, the purchasing power of nation’s currency, etc.
• Helps to understand standard of living

WHAT IS RETAIL INFLATION OR CPI BASED INFLATION?

• tracks change in retail prices of g&s which are purchased for daily consumption.
• change in price index for a specific good or service at rural, urban level

WHAT IS THE CONCERN?

• recession as a fallout of COVID-19 pandemic + accompanying lockdowns is understandable, the rate setting panel’s readiness to shrug off persistently high inflation
  • Price increase of iron ore, steel and transportation fuels also add to the worries

LINK BETWEEN GROWTH, INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES :

•  prices of goods rise, inflation increases.
•  To contain inflation, a country’s central bank typically increases interest rates + By doing so, it incentivises people to spend less + save more
•  when growth contracts, people’s incomes hit. either the inflation rate decelerating or it actually contracts
•  In such situations, a central bank decreases interest rates so as to incentivise spending and by that route boost economic activity in the economy.
•  In the current Monetary Policy, RBI has not raised the interest rates even when retail inflation is high because RBI is facing an odd situation at present: GDP is contracting even as inflation is rising.
•  Pandemic= reduced demand+disrupted supply +falling growth+ rising inflation

CONCLUSION :

• It is this ostensibly sanguine outlook on the economy that is hard to square with the RBI’s stand according primacy to growth over price stability.

 

 

 

QUESTION : Critically examine the root cause of  the Khalistan movement, its objectives and how it had failed and key challenges India is facing as far as the internal security is concerned.

 CONSTANT VIGILANCE

 

WHAT ?

• Khalistan Movement

  WHY IN NEWS ?

• The arrest of five terror suspects in Delhi — two of whom were allegedly involved in the murder of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh in Punjab in October — has turned the spotlight on the embers of the long dead and buried Khalistan movement.

 KHALISTAN MOVEMENT ?

• The Khalistan movement is a Sikh separatist movement seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing a sovereign state, called Khalistān in the Punjab Region. Such a state existed in Punjab from 1709 to 1849.

 HISTORICAL TIMELINE :

• 1947 Partition of India –Independence of India was not a joyful event for Sikhs, partition left Sikhs in a lot of discontentment with regard to their traditional lands being lost to Pakistan.
• The fight for a separate Sikh state owes its origins to the Punjabi Suba Movement. The Akali Dal – a Sikh-dominated political party – sought to create a separate Sikh Suba or Province.
• When the States Reorganization Commission, constituted to assess the demand for separate states by linguistic groups, made its recommendations, it rejected the Akali Dal’s demand.
• But after a series of violent protests, the Indira Gandhi government relented in 1966.
• The state was trifurcated into Punjabi-majority Punjab, Hindi-majority Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Some hilly regions of the state were merged into Himachal Pradesh.
• However, the Anadpur Sahib resolution reignited the passion of Sikhs and sowed the seeds of Khalistan movement

 ANANDPUR SAHIB RESOLUTION : 

• The 1972 election, however, proved to be blip in the Akalis’ rising political graph. The Congress swept to power, prompting the Akali Dal to introspect.
• The venue for this introspection was the Anandpur Sahib Gurudwara, where the party adopted a resolution that would serve as a blueprint for the party’s future agenda.
• The resolution demanded autonomy for the state of Punjab, identified regions that would be part of a separate state, and sought the right to frame its own internal constitution. This was the Anandpur Sahib Resolution.

 ABOUT JERNAIL SINGH BHINDRANWALE :

• A religious scholar who’d been travelling across Punjab advocating a return to the Khalsa or a more orthodox form of Sikhism.
• He targeted Hindus and ‘modernised’ Sikhs, who cut their hair and consumed alcohol in equal measure.
• If the Akalis were a moderate faction espousing Sikh pride and politics, Bhindranwale represented the extremist view that among other things called for a separate state.
• Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale inspired by the Khalistan ideology led the Khalistan as an extremist movement and turned against Indian government
• Demands for separate nation-hood for Punjab was carried out through violent protests and killings of high profile persons in Indian government.

 EVENTS WHICH INTENSIFIED THE MOVEMENT :

• Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale took up residence inside the Golden temple, directing demonstrations and police clashes.
• Operation Blue star was conducted to capture Bhindrawale in Golden Temple Complex, but the operation resulted in a strong anti-India sentiment.
• The then PM Indira Gandhi was seen as an enemy of the Sikhs and two Sikh guards of her assassinated her in 1984.
• Her killing was followed by wide-spread riots against the Sikhs in Delhi & other parts, the genocide of Sikhs across India fuelled more anti-India sentiment.
• From early 1980s to early 1990s, Punjab went through a phase of wide-spread terrorism, where Pakistan’s ISI tried to forment the violence by providing support to extremist groups (it was also the same time that Pakistan began to use terrorism as its strategy to defeat India in Kashmir)
• Manifold extremist groups like the Khalistan Liberation Force, Khalistan Commando Force, Babbar Khalsa and umpteen others gained prominence and roamed around freely across Punjab.
• On 31 August 1995, a suicide bomber took out Punjab CM Beant Singh inside the Punjab civil secretariat in Chandigarh. Singh was credited with wiping out terrorism, which had spiked in the aftermath of Operation Bluestar.
• Sikhs being a patriotic group started to act against the protracted terrorist struggle and chose to side with the Indian nation, the then Punjab Police department succeeded in defeating the movement in 1990s.

 PRESENT STATUS OF THE MOVEMENT :

• At the present, Khalistan movement is a dormant movement in India.
• It does not hold much traction in the urban or local populace of Punjab. .
• But the movement gets ideological support from Sikhs living in Canada, UK or USA.
• They pump money, ideological support to the struggle, ISI of Pakistan is still pumping money and effort in reviving the movement.

 CHALLENGES :

• The Delhi police have claimed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is seeking yet again to link up terror outfits in Kashmir with pro-Khalistan activists.
• The irrelevance of the Khalistan movement notwithstanding, agencies such as the Pakistan’s ISI have not stopped trying to foment violence, either directly by funding fringe sections or by linking them with terror groups in Kashmir.
• Even if the Khalistan movement has been interred, the threat of terror in Kashmir remains well and truly active.

 NATIONAL SECURITY GUARD(NSG) :

  The NSG is a counter-terrorism unit that formally came into existence in 1986 by an act of Parliament- ‘National Security Guard Act, 1986’.

  Its headquarters is located in Manesar, Gurugram.

  The idea behind raising such force came in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star, Akshardham Temple attack and the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, for combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances.

 CONCLUSION :

 The Khalistan movement is non-existent, but security agencies must watch fringe sections

 

QUESTION : Critically examine the root cause of  the Khalistan movement, its objectives and how it had failed and key challenges India is facing as far as the internal security is concerned.

 CONSTANT VIGILANCE

WHAT ?

• Khalistan Movement

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• arrest of 5 terror suspects in Delhi — two of whom were allegedly involved in murder of Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh in Punjab in October

KHALISTAN MOVEMENT ?

• a Sikh separatist movement seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing a sovereign state, called Khalistān in the Punjab Region.

HISTORICAL TIMELINE :

• 1947 Partition of India –Independence of

or a separate Sikh state owes its origins to the Punjabi Suba Movement.

• When States Reorganization Commission, constituted to assess demand for separate states by linguistic groups
• But after a series of violent protests, Indira Gandhi government relented in 1966.
• State= trifurcated into Punjabi-majority Punjab, Hindi-majority Haryana+ Chandigarh. Some hilly regions of the state= merged into Himachal Pradesh.
• Anadpur Sahib resolution reignited passion of Sikhs+ sowed seeds of Khalistan movement

ANANDPUR SAHIB RESOLUTION :

• resolution demanded autonomy for state of Punjab, identified regions that would be part of a separate state+ sought the right to frame its own internal constitution.

ABOUT JERNAIL SINGH BHINDRANWALE :

• A religious scholar+targeted Hindus& ‘modernised’ Sikhs, who cut their hair& consumed alcohol in equal measure.
• inspired by Khalistan ideology led the Khalistan as an extremist movement and turned against Indian government

EVENTS WHICH INTENSIFIED THE MOVEMENT :

• Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale took up residence inside Golden temple, directing demonstrations +police clashes.
• Operation Blue star

PM Indira Gandhi=an enemy of the Sikhs+ two Sikh guards of her assassinated her in 1984. 

• Her killing=wide-spread riots against Sikhs in Delhi & other parts, genocide of Sikhs across India fuelled more anti-India sentiment.
• Pakistan’s ISI tried to forment the violence
• Manifold extremist groups= Khalistan Liberation Force, Khalistan Commando Force, Babbar Khalsa+ umpteen

 PRESENT STATUS OF THE MOVEMENT :

• dormant movement in India.
• does not hold much traction in urban or local populace of Punjab. .
• But movement gets ideological support from Sikhs living in Canada, UK or USA.
• ISI of Pakistan is still pumping money+ effort in reviving the movement.

CHALLENGES :

• ISI= again to link up terror outfits in Kashmir with pro-Khalistan activists.
• either directly by funding fringe sections or by linking them with terror groups in Kashmir.
• threat of terror in Kashmir remains well and truly active.

NATIONAL SECURITY GUARD(NSG) :

 counter-terrorism unit that formally came 1986 by an act of Parliament- ‘National Security Guard Act, 1986’.

 located in Manesar, Gurugram.

 idea behind raising such force came in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star, Akshardham Temple attack+ assassination of Indira Gandhi, for combating terrorist activities with a view to protect states against internal disturbances.

CONCLUSION :

Khalistan movement=non-existent, but security agencies must watch fringe sections

 

 

QUESTION : India can become AI Laboratory of the world as far as India’s Economy is concerned ? Substantiate your answer with examples and major challenges ahead while using AI application.

 THE RISE OF THE AI ECONOMY

 WHAT ?

• Artificial Intelligence and Economy

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The pandemic has opened our minds to new ways of doing things, including understanding the potential of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
• The pandemic has provided technology companies in the country a great opportunity to test their own capabilities to create solutions for fast evolving, real-world situations.
• AI/ML models and algorithms have supplemented the work of healthcare professionals, medical researchers, public health authorities and local administrations in monitoring and predicting trends.
• Boom in Internet consumption: According to the Department of Telecommunications, Internet consumption in India rose by 13% after the lockdown was announced.
• Higher consumption has generated goldmines of user data that online businesses can harness.

 ADVANTAGES OF AI :

 

• AI can create niche solutions to specific banking problems like speeding up loan application processing or improving customer service.
• Better governance and social impact: For example, during the lockdown, the Telangana police used AI-enabled automated number plate recognition software to catch violations.

 GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES :

• NITI Aayog’s national strategy for AI envisages ‘AI for all’ for inclusive growth, and identifies healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities and infrastructure, and smart mobility and transportation as focus areas for AI-led solutions for social impact.
• AI adoption at state level: The Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra governments, among others, have announced policies and strategies for AI adoption.
• Technology companies have established AI centres of excellence to create solutions for global clients.
• India has a thriving AI start-up ecosystem with cutting-edge solutions being developed in areas such as cancer screening, smart farming and conversational AI for the use of enterprises.

 AI AND INDIA:

• Amidst the accelerated adoption of AI-based technologies, India seems to stand at the precipice of the fourth industrial revolution. The competitive advantage of low-cost labour may fade away in the near future as economies begin to reap the benefits of AI in the form of increased productivity and cost advantages, and become more profitable than labour. Hence, it would be a timely move for India to build its AI capabilities, lest the global digital divide widens even more and we are left behind.
  • The report titled “Rewire for Growth” by Accenture estimates that AI has the potential to add $957 billion to India’s economy in 2035. As the post-Covid economy begins to rebuild itself, AI will present an opportunity to leapfrog by opening up newer sources of value and growth, beyond the physical limitations of capital and labour.
  • By 2025, data and AI can add over $500 billion and almost 20 million jobs to the Indian economy.

 

CHALLENGES AHEAD :

• Stakeholders buy-in: NITI Ayog has glorified the importance of AI but the real question remains, will the government recognize the urgency.
• Policy Action Gap: The present government has been accused of poor execution and probably one of the reasons, corporates and organizations are also hesitant in taking this technology ahead in India.
• Bureaucratic Delays: India is already delayed in the adoption and thus, execution of AI. But now if it has to catch up, it needs to move fast. So, does India’s bureaucratic loopholes allow the desired pace?
• Falling between stools: The implementation of these policies does not need to change hands from one ministry or one administration to another. It should rather take a more central and directed route so that the execution time is shortened and made more efficient and effective.
• Funding Constraints: There is no surprise that this technology will need funding, proper funding for implementation
• In academia, I still believe it is a high time people started equipping themselves with the knowledge of the various constituents of Artificial Intelligence

 

SIGNIFICANCE OF AI FOR INDIA :

• As per Nasscom data, AI will contribute $450 billion-$500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025, which is around 10% of the government’s aspiration of a $5 trillion economy.
• The thrust will come from three key segments: consumer goods and retail, agriculture, and banking and insurance.
• Net positive effect on employment generation: The growing AI economy is estimated to create over 20 million technical roles alone.
• Our talent pool in AI/ML is fast growing, with over 5,00,000 people working on these technologies at present.

 WAY FORWARD :

• Talent development: In 2019, we nearly doubled our AI workforce to 72,000 from 40,000 the year before. However, the demand continues to outpace the supply. That means our efforts to develop talent must pick up speed.
• Policies around data usage, governance and security: Without data, there cannot be AI. We need a robust legal framework that governs data and serves as the base for the ethical use of AI.
• Digitisation: Low levels of digitization poses a big challenge for organisations in finding the right amount of training data to run AI/ML algorithms, which in turn affects the accuracy of the results.
• Availability of clean datasets: Organisations need to invest in data management frameworks that will clean their data before they are analysed, thus vastly improving the outcomes of AI models.

 CONCLUSION :

• The future for AI looks promising but to convert the potential into reality, India will need better strategies around talent development, stronger policies for data usage and governance, and more investments in creating a technology infrastructure that can truly leverage AI.

 

QUESTION : India can become AI Laboratory of the world as far as India’s Economy is concerned ? Substantiate your answer with examples and major challenges ahead while using AI application.

 THE RISE OF THE AI ECONOMY

WHAT ?

• Artificial Intelligence & Economy

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Pandemic= provided technology companies a great opportunity to test their own capabilities to create solutions for fast evolving, real-world situations. 
• AI/ML models and algorithms= supplemented work of healthcare professionals, medical researchers, public health authorities etc.
• Boom in Internet consumption ADVANTAGES OF AI :
• AI can create niche solutions to specific banking problems
• Better governance and social impact

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES :

• NITI Aayog’s national strategy for AI envisages ‘AI for all’
• AI adoption at state level
• India has a thriving AI start-up ecosystem with cutting-edge solutions

AI AND INDIA:

AI in the form of increased productivity + cost advantages& become more profitable than labour. Hence, it would be a timely move for India to build its AI capabilities

• report titled “Rewire for Growth” by Accenture estimates that AI = potential to add $957 billion to India’s economy in 2035.
• By 2025, data+ AI can add over $500 billion& almost 20 million jobs to the Indian economy.

CHALLENGES AHEAD :

• Stakeholders buy-in
• Policy Action Gap
• Bureaucratic Delays
• Falling between stools
• Funding Constraints
• In academia

SIGNIFICANCE OF AI FOR INDIA :

• AI will contribute $450 billion-$500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025
• The thrust will come from three key segments: consumer goods and retail, agriculture, and banking and insurance.
• Net positive effect on employment generation

WAY FORWARD :

• Talent development
• Policies around data usage, governance and security
• Digitisation
• Availability of clean datasets

CONCLUSION :

India will need better strategies around talent development, stronger policies for data usage+ governance+ more investments in creating a technology infrastructure that can truly leverage AI.

 

QUESTION : Discuss the major hurdles that coming in road construction projects before Indian government and suggest some solutions.

 THE ROAD TAKEN

 WHAT ?

• Development Projects in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Notifications were issued which intended to acquire agricultural land for the proposed Chennai-Salem greenfield highway. The Supreme Court has upholded the notification and has both paved the way for completing the land acquisition process and sought to ensure that environmental clearances are obtained before its construction.

 NATIONAL HIGHWAYS:

• In India, the major roads are the national highways(NH) and state highways(SH). The former (NH) are built, financed and maintained by the Central government. The latter (SH) are developed by the respective States’ public works department.

 IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS :

• National highways are the arteries of India’s economy. By its very nomenclature, a national highway is to link the entire country and provide access to all in every remote corner of the country for interaction and to promote commerce and trade, employment and education, including health related services.
• This approach enhances and furthers the federal structure.
• The availability of a highway in any part of the State paves way for sustainable development and for overall enhancement of human well-being.

ABOUT CHENNAI- SALEM GREENFIELD HIGHWAY :

• It is a part of the first phase of the ‘BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA’
• Bharatmala Pariyojna Project stretches across 24,800 km and has an estimated outlay of Rs. 5.35 lakh crore. It seeks to improve the efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps.
• It is a 277.3-km-long eight-lane greenfield project which aims to cut travel time between the two cities Chennai and Salem by half to about two hours and 15 minutes.
• A greenfield project is one which is not constrained by prior work. It is constructed on unused land where there is no need to remodel or demolish an existing structure.
• The Project has faced opposition from locals, including farmers, over fears of losing their land, besides environmentalists, who are against felling of trees. It runs through reserve forest and water bodies.

 CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS:

• National highways will be the highways declared by or under law made by Parliament – Union List under Seventh Schedule.
• Article 257 (2): The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of directions to a State as to the construction and maintenance of means of communication declared in the direction to be of national or military importance.

 Provided that nothing in this clause shall be taken as restricting the power of Parliament to declare highways or waterways to be national highways or national waterways or the power of the Union with respect to the highways or waterways so declared.

  MADRAS HC OBSERVATION:

• The judgment of the Madras High Court has been set aside in the process by the SC, which had taken a nuanced position in favour of environmental protection, agriculture and preservation of rural livelihoods over the economic benefits of a new highway on virgin land.

• The High Court had shown greater sensitivity to possible livelihood and ecological concern.
  • It had favoured early judicial intervention, relying on judgments from the U.S. that spoke out against letting projects advance to such a stage that there is irreversible commitment of resources.

  SC OBSERVATION:

• SC ruled that it will be premature to expect the authorities to obtain environmental approvals at the stage of identifying the land linked to the proposed alignment of a highway.
• Further, the SC rules that once the land was notified for acquisition and surveyed for feasibility, they would have to apply for all statutory clearances.
• It would be at the stage of entertaining objections that questions such as whether the project was truly a ‘public purpose’ could be dealt with.
• However, the land could be taken over and construction begun only after the competent authorities give their clearances, along with measures for mitigating and remedying possible environmental damage.
• The three-judge Bench has now ruled that the High Court was wrong in holding that clearances under environmental and forest laws were required even before the initial land acquisition notice.
• It goes on to uphold the Centre’s power to notify any stretch of land, including greenfield land, and not merely a pre-existing road, as a national highway.
• SC laid down a general principle in Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (2006) that in future, before acquiring land for development, the possible adverse environmental impact should be “properly comprehended” and the acquisition done in a way that did not impair it.

  CONCLUSION:

 The Court’s line of reasoning based mostly on development-centric statutes is something of a disappointment when it could have taken, even at this stage, a holistic view of the need for sustainable development.

 

QUESTION : Discuss the major hurdles that coming in road construction projects before Indian government and suggest some solutions.

 THE ROAD TAKEN

WHAT ?

• Development Projects in India

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Notifications= issued which intended to acquire agricultural land for proposed Chennai-Salem greenfield highway.

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS:

• built, financed+ maintained by Central government+(SH)=developed by respective States’ public works department.

IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS :

• to link the entire country +provide access to all in every remote corner
• enhances + furthers federal structure.
• paves way for sustainable development + for overall enhancement of human well-being.

ABOUT CHENNAI- SALEM GREENFIELD HIGHWAY :

• part of first phase of ‘BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA’
• 3-km-long eight-lane greenfield project which aims to cut travel time
• It runs through reserve forest+ water bodies.

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS:

• Union List under Seventh Schedule.
• Article 257 (2): The executive power of the Union shall also extend to the giving of directions to a State as to the construction + maintenance of means of communication declared in direction to be of national or military importance.

MADRAS HC OBSERVATION:

• The High Court had shown greater sensitivity to possible livelihood and ecological concern.
• favoured early judicial intervention, relying on judgments from U.S. that spoke out against letting projects

SC OBSERVATION:

• premature to expect the authorities to obtain environmental approvals
• once land=notified for acquisition+ surveyed for feasibility, they would have to apply for all statutory clearances.
• land could be taken over+ construction begun only after competent authorities give their clearances
• It goes on to uphold the Centre’s power to notify any stretch of land, including greenfield land, and not merely a pre-existing road, as a national highway.
• before acquiring land for development, possible adverse environmental impact should be “properly comprehended”

CONCLUSION:

• Court’s line of reasoning based mostly on development-centric statutes is something of a disappointment when it could have taken, even at this stage, a holistic view of the need for sustainable development.

 

QUESTION : In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture nonviable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and land leasing be promoted in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons

 

THE ROOTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL CRISIS RUN DEEP

 WHAT ?

• Protest by Indian Farmers

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Indian farmers are protesting against three Farm Bills introduced by the Indian Government these are-
• The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020
• The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020
• The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020

 PROPOSALS BY THE GOVT. :

• The latest proposal by the government indicates its willingness to amend the three agriculture-related Acts passed in September.
• The government has proposed amendments which will empower the States to frame rules the contentious issues of registration of private traders, levy of taxes on trade outside the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis.
• Similar assurances have been given on access to the judiciary for dispute resolution and continuation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism.

 MANY PROTESTS BUT ONE MOTIVE :

• The last four years have seen a series of large protests in most of the States.
• For example, a group of farmers from Tamil Nadu camped in Delhi for over 100 days, Maharashtra was witness to the ‘Kisan Long March’ of farmers on more than one occasion, protests erupted in Rajasthan, UP, Haryana and MP.
• The latest round of protests may have seen spirited protests from farmers from Punjab and Haryana but has found the support of farmers from the other States as well.
• The common thread in all these protests — of declining agricultural incomes, stagnant wages and withdrawal of state support to agriculture.

 CHANGING FACES OF AGRICULTURE :

• The real issue is the lack of remunerative prices for a majority of agricultural commodities, a sharp increase in price variability in recent years, and an unpredictable and arbitrary government policy regime.
• The other major problem is the changing nature of agriculture which has seen increased dependence on markets, increasing mechanization along with increasing monetization of the agrarian economy.
• The increased dependence on markets has contributed to increasing variability in output prices.
• Limited government intervention in protecting farmers’ income and stabilizing prices through MSP-led procurement operations made the increased variability in frequency as well as its spread.
• Other than rice and wheat — and to some sporadic instances, of pulses — most crops suffer from inadequate intervention from MSP operations.
• Even these procurement operations are unable to stabilize prices with falling demand and a slowing economy. For example, wheat which has seen a steady decline in year-on-year inflation based on Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
• Uneven nature of procurement in some states is also responsible to arrest the decline in prices. Crops like paddy, maize have seen in many States significantly lower market prices than the MSP.

 FACTORS BEHIND THE VULNERABILITY OF FARMERS :

• Increasing mechanization and monetization have led to an increase in the cash requirement.
• Most of these are met by non-institutional sources including middlemen which have contributed to the rising cost of cultivation and an increase in loan defaults.
• The demand for loan waivers is unlikely to subside with the rising cost of inputs.
• These trends have accentuated after 2010-11 when the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) for fertilizers regime led to an increase in fertilizer prices.
• The withdrawal of diesel subsidy and a rise in electricity prices also contributed to making agriculture unviable.
• The government has declined the agricultural investment in the first four years which resulted in rising input costs and falling output prices.
• The shocks of demonetization and the lockdown only increased the uncertainty and vulnerability in the agricultural sector both on input and output prices.

 WHAT NEXT ?

• The demand for making MSP a guarantee for private trade is meaningless if the government is unable to ensure procurement for a majority of the 23 crops for which it announces MSP.
• Thus withdrawal of the three Acts by the government will only seem to offer a temporary truce.

 WAY FORWARD : POLICY NEEDED

• The existing policy framework with an excessive focus on inflation management and obsession with the fiscal deficit will likely lead to lower support from the government either in price stabilization or reduction in the cost of cultivation through fiscal spending.
• The agricultural sector needs a comprehensive policy overhaul to recognize the new challenges of agriculture which are diversifying and getting integrated with the non-agricultural sector.
• This not only entails a better understanding of the structural issues but also innovative thinking to protect farmers’ livelihood from the uncertainty of these changes.
• Above all, it requires financial support and institutional structures to support the agricultural sector and protect it. Only this can lead to the government’s dream of doubling the farmers’ income.

 

 

QUESTION : In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture nonviable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and land leasing be promoted in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons

 THE ROOTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL CRISIS RUN DEEP

WHAT ?

• Protest by Indian Farmers

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Indian farmers are protesting against 3 Farm Bills introduced by GoI

PROPOSALS BY THE GOVT. :

• its willingness to amend three agriculture-related Acts passed in September.
• amendments will empower the States to frame rules the contentious issues of registration of private traders, levy of taxes on trade outside APMC mandis.
• dispute resolution + continuation of MSP mechanism.

MANY PROTESTS BUT ONE MOTIVE :

• farmers from Tamil Nadu camped in Delhi for over 100 days, Maharashtra was witness to ‘Kisan Long March’ of farmers on more than one occasion, protests erupted in Rajasthan, UP, Haryana + MP
• common thread in all these protests — of declining agricultural incomes, stagnant wages + withdrawal of state support to agriculture.

CHANGING FACES OF AGRICULTURE :

• real issue= lack of remunerative prices for a majority of agricultural commodities+ increase in price variability+unpredictable + arbitrary government policy regime.
• changing nature of agriculture=increased dependence on markets, increasing mechanization
• increased dependence on markets
• Limited government intervention.
• inadequate intervention from MSP operations.
• Uneven nature of procurement in some states is also responsible to arrest the decline in prices.

FACTORS BEHIND THE VULNERABILITY OF FARMERS :

• Increasing mechanization + monetization
• non-institutional sources including middlemen+ rising cost of inputs.
• Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) for fertilizers regime= increase in fertilizer prices.
• withdrawal of diesel subsidy + a rise in electricity prices
• declined the agricultural investment
• demonetization+ lockdown only increased the uncertainty and vulnerability

WAY FORWARD : POLICY NEEDED

• price stabilization or reduction in the cost of cultivation through fiscal spending.
• agricultural sector needs a comprehensive policy overhaul to recognize the new challenges of agriculture
• innovative thinking to protect farmers’ livelihood from the uncertainty of these changes.
• financial support + institutional structures= doubling the farmers’ income.

 

 

QUESTION: To sustain growth India needs fiscal stimulus do you think India having a strong fiscal stimulus can overcome the fiscal deficit that  poses a major challenge? Evaluate.

 TAX POLICY IN TRYING TIMES

 WHAT ?

• Rewriting the Tax Laws

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• As a result of the pandemic-induced lockdown, India’s GDP contracted consecutively for two quarters from April to September 2020.

 GAINERS IN LOCKDOWN :

• Between January and June, 85 new Indians were added to the list of High Networth Individuals (with a net worth of more than $50 million).
• Rising stocks: When the GDP is contracting, some stocks are surging to phenomenal heights.
• The third set of gainers comprises corporate houses, Internet service providers, laptop makers and scientists engaged in medical research.
• The fourth set comprises manufacturers of masks and Personal Protective Equipment.

 LACK OF STRONG FISCAL STIMULUS :

• The grim situation needs a big fiscal stimulus at the time of falling GDP and unemployment.
• Monetary policy preferred: But the government chose to rely more on monetary policy like credit easing and liquidity flow.
• There were no cuts in rates despite the fact that the real interest rate was falling.
• The fiscal stimulus was provided in stages and stood at merely 2% of the GDP compared to Japan’s fiscal stimulus (21% of the GDP), Brazil’s (10%) and China’s (7%).

 WHAT IS FISCAL STIMULUS ?

• A ‘stimulus’ is an attempt by policymakers to kick-start a sluggish economy through a package of measures. A monetary stimulus will see the central bank expanding money supply or reducing the cost of money (interest rates), to spur consumer spending. A fiscal stimulus entails the Government spending more from its own coffers or slashing tax rates to put more money in the hands of consumers.

 NEED FOR A FISCAL STIMULUS :

   Powering the Demand-

• When demand in an economy stays weak for long, businesses stop investing in new projects, unemployment rises, income shrinks and consumer confidence wanes. This prompts consumers to retreat further.
• A stimulus could shot to consumer spending; it revives business confidence, restarts projects, creates jobs and sets off a virtuous cycle of feel-good, demand and growth.

 Boosting the Employment-

• Many people have lost their jobs or seen their incomes cut due to the coronavirus crisis.
• Unemployment rates have increased across major economies as a result.

  Risking away the recession-

• The IMF says that the global economy will shrink by 3% this year. It described the decline as the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
• If the economy has to grow, it generally means more wealth and more new jobs and more spending, which is difficult without a stimulus package.

  Business resumption-

• The COVID-19 pandemic came as a major blow to almost every sector of our economy and has created a credit-crunch. With most business permanently shut, others are crippled and reluctant to resume their business.
• Almost all manufacturing industries were affected by the crisis. Pharma was actually identified as one of the very few “winners”, while motor vehicles were (and continues to be) one of the biggest “losers”.

 ISSUES WITH INCOME TAX AMENDMENT ACT,2018 :

• For the law to be applicable, treaties would have to be suitably amended.
• The more fundamental issue of what size of operations would qualify as economic presence needs to be answered.
• Even if a business qualifies as having economic presence in India, how much of its profits should be taxable in India.

 WAY FORWARD :

 *Taxing MNCs

• Digital taxation has to be amended in accordance with the UN Model Convention.

 o Corporate profits have risen sharply at the expense of wages and small and medium enterprise profits.

 o There is a need for India to act in sync with the OECD.

 o OECD’s rules proposed splitting up of global profits of a corporation into routine and non-routine. This would require serious effort and harder consensus on issues such as what constitutes routine profit.

• The Anti-Profiteering Rules have to be implemented vigorously wherever there is reduction in the tax rate on any commodity or service

 *Amending Tax laws

• The Income-Tax Act, 1961, was drafted more than 50 years ago and it needs to be redrafted.
• The International Court of Arbitration ruled that the Indian government’s move to seek taxes from Vodafone using retrospective legislation was against the fairness principle.
• Encouraging mediation: It is necessary that a mechanism is found to negotiate a settlement through mediation and conciliation or, if necessary, arbitration in connection with tax disputes between the tax-paying companies and the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
• Akhilesh Ranjan Task Force report: The government should table the report.

 

QUESTION: To sustain growth India needs fiscal stimulus do you think India having a strong fiscal stimulus can overcome the fiscal deficit that  poses a major challenge? Evaluate.

TAX POLICY IN TRYING TIMES

 WHAT ?

• Rewriting the Tax Laws

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Pandemic-induced lockdown=India’s GDP contracted consecutively for two quarters from April to September 2020.

GAINERS IN LOCKDOWN :

• High Networth Individuals
• Rising stocks
• Corporate houses, Internet service providers, laptop makers +scientists engaged in medical research.
• Manufacturers of masks + Personal Protective Equipment.

LACK OF STRONG FISCAL STIMULUS :

• The grim situation needs a big fiscal stimulus
• Monetary policy preferred
• There were no cuts in rates despite the fact that the real interest rate was falling.

WHAT IS FISCAL STIMULUS ?

• an attempt by policymakers to kick-start a sluggish economy through a package of measures+entails Government spending more from its own coffers

NEED FOR A FISCAL STIMULUS :

• Powering the Demand
• Boosting the Employment
• Risking away the recession
• Business resumption at the time of pandemic

ISSUES WITH INCOME TAX AMENDMENT ACT,2018 :

• treaties would have to be suitably amended.
• size of operations would qualify as economic presence needs to be answered.
• how much of its profits should be taxable in India.

WAY FORWARD :

*Taxing MNCs

• Digital taxation has to be amended in accordance with the UN Model Convention.
• The Anti-Profiteering Rules have to be implemented vigorously

*Amending Tax laws

• The Income-Tax Act, 1961, was drafted more than 50 years ago and it needs to be redrafted.
• The International Court of Arbitration ruled that the Indian government’s move to seek taxes from Vodafone using retrospective legislation was against the fairness principle.
• Encouraging mediation
• Akhilesh Ranjan Task Force report: government should table the report.

 

QUESTION : Detail the important challenges in the way of digital India to cherish its goal and how can PM WANI scheme  revolutionise India’s tech world and can bridge the digital divide in India 

 FROM A DIGITAL INDIA TO A DIGITAL BHARAT

 

WHAT ?

• Challenges before Digital Access in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The PM-WANI project seems to fit within the framework of an evolving decentralized concept to bridge the e-divide.

 PM WANI – IS CALLED AS A GAME-CHANGER :

• The term ‘game-changer’ can be seen as an accurate reflection of the capability of an initiative to change the status quo for Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface, or PM WANI.
• It provides for “Public Wi-Fi Networks by Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) to provide public Wi-Fi service spread across the length and breadth of the country to accelerate the proliferation of Broadband Internet services through Public Wi-Fi network in the country”.

 DATA SHOWS :

• The initiative can help to bridge the increasing digital divide in India. Recently, the NITI Aayog CEO had said that India can create $1 trillion of economic value using digital technology by 2025.
• As per the latest Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data, about 54% of India’s population has access to the Internet.
• The 75th round of the National Statistical Organization survey shows that only 20% of the population has the ability to use the Internet.
• The India Internet 2019 report shows that rural India has half the Internet penetration as urban, and twice as many users who access the Internet less than once a week.

 DIGITAL POVERTY IN INDIA :

• Umang App (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) allows access to 2,084 services, across 194 government departments, across themes such as education, health, finance, social security, etc.
• The ability to access and utilize the app enhances an individual’s capabilities to benefit from services that they are entitled to.
• With each move towards digitization, we are threatening to leave behind a large part of our population to suffer in digital poverty.
• What the government is trying to achieve with PM-WANI is anyone living in their house, a paan shop owner or a tea seller can all provide public Wi-Fi hot posts, and anyone within range can access it.
• This will also help to reduce the pressure on the mobile Internet in India. Going back to the India Internet report, it shows that 99% of all users in India access the Internet on mobile, and about 88% are connected on the 4G network.
• This leads to a situation where everyone is connected to a limited network, which is getting overloaded and resulting in bad speed and quality of Internet access.

 AIDING RURAL CONNECTIVITY :

• The PM-WANI has the potential to change the fortunes of Bharat Net as well. Bharat Net envisions broadband connectivity in all villages in India.
• The project has missed multiple deadlines, and even where the infrastructure has been created, usage data is not enough to incentivize ISPs to use Bharat Net infra to provide services.
• One of the reasons for the lack of demand is the deficit in digital literacy in India and the lack of last-mile availability of the Internet.
• The term digital literacy must be seen as an evolving decentralized concept, which depends on how people interact with technology in other aspects of their life and is influenced by local social and cultural factors.
• The PM-WANI seems to fit within this framework, simply because it seeks to make accessing the Internet as easy as having tea at a chai shop. This is not a substitute for the abysmal digital literacy efforts of the government, but will definitely help.

 CHALLENGES AHEAD : 

• Clash with Mobile Telecom Firms: Public wi-fi suffered neglect in past because it was seen as a competitor to data services sold by mobile telecom firms, rather than as the complementary technology it.
• Safety and Security: There is huge expectation on provision of robust service, protection of data integrity, transparency on commercial use of data, and security against cyberattacks.
• Ensuring Free Market: The government must also ensure true unbundling of hardware, software, apps and payment gateways in the WANI system, as advocated by TRAI, to prevent monopolies. Existing public wi-fi options run on a limited scale by some entities compel consumers to pay through a single gateway app, underscoring the need for reform

 DIGITAL INDIA PROGRAMME :

• Digital India is a programme launched in 2015 to transform India into digital empowered society and knowledge economy.
• It would also bring in public accountability through mandated delivery of government’s services electronically.

 Vision areas:

• Digital infrastructure as Utility to Every Citizen
• Governance and services on demand
• Digital empowerment of citizens

 Objectives :

• To prepare India for a knowledge future.
• On being transformative that is to realize IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow).
• Making technology central to enabling change.

 

• On being an Umbrella Programme – covering many departments.

 9 pillars of Digital India :

1. Broadband Highways
2. Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity
3. Public Internet Access Programme
4. e-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology
5. e-Kranti – Electronic Delivery of Services
6. Information for All
7. Electronics Manufacturing
8. IT for Jobs
9. Early Harvest Programmes

 CONCLUSION :

• The building of Aatma Nirbhar Digital Systems calls for development of in-house capacity and capability to drive economic and social development of the country.

 

QUESTION : Detail the important challenges in the way of digital India to cherish its goal and how can PM WANI scheme  revolutionise India’s tech world and can bridge the digital divide in India 

 FROM A DIGITAL INDIA TO A DIGITAL BHARAT

WHAT ?

• Challenges before Digital Access in India

WHY IN NEWS ?

• PM-WANI project seems to fit within framework of an evolving decentralized concept to bridge the e-divide.

PM WANI – IS CALLED AS A GAME-CHANGER

• capability of an initiative to change the status quo for Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface, or PM WANI.
• provides for “Public Wi-Fi Networks by Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) to provide public Wi-Fi service

DATA SHOWS :

• can help to bridge increasing digital divide in India.
• As per latest (TRAI) data, about 54% of India’s population has access to the Internet.
• NSO survey =only 20% of population has the ability to use the Internet.
• India Internet 2019 report= rural India has half the Internet penetration as urban

AIDING RURAL CONNECTIVITY : 

• PM-WANI= potential to change the fortunes of Bharat Net as well.
• Project=missed multiple deadlines, and even where the infrastructure has been created
• deficit in digital literacy in India and the lack of last-mile availability of the Internet.
• The term digital literacy must be seen as an evolving decentralized concept
• PM-WANI seems to fit within this framework, simply because it seeks to make accessing the Internet as easy as having tea at a chai shop.

CHALLENGES AHEAD : 

• Clash with Mobile Telecom Firms
• Safety and Security
• Ensuring Free Market
• Digital Divide

DIGITAL INDIA PROGRAMME :

• Launched= 2015 to transform India into digital empowered society+ knowledge economy.
• bring in public accountability through mandated delivery of government’s services electronically.

• Vision areas:
  • Digital infrastructure as Utility to Every Citizen
  • Governance + services on demand
  • Digital empowerment of citizens

Objectives :

• To prepare India for a knowledge future.
• On being transformative that is to realize IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow).

9 pillars of Digital India :

1. Broadband Highways
2. Universal Access to Mobile Connectivity
3. Public Internet Access Programme
4. e-Governance: Reforming Government through Technology
5. e-Kranti – Electronic Delivery of Services
6. Information for All
7. Electronics Manufacturing
8. IT for Jobs
9. Early Harvest Programmes

CONCLUSION : 

• building of Aatma Nirbhar Digital Systems =development of in-house capacity+ capability to drive economic +social development

 

 

QUESTION: : India’s concerns in Doha Round Ministerial Conferences need to be examined weighing both its pros and cons. Examine in context of a permanent  Peace clause.

 THE MANY CHALLENGES FOR WTO

 WHAT ?

• WTO and Challenges Ahead

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• For the first time in its 25-year history, the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be led by a woman, as both the contending candidates for the Director-General (D-G) post are women, from Nigeria and South Korea respectively.

 CHALLENGES FOR THE NEXT DG OF WTO :

• Competing Interests of Nations: Her job requires balancing the diverse and varied interests of the 164 member countries.
• Rising Nationalism: She has tough job on reconciling competing multilateral and national visions, for the organisation to work efficiently.
• COVID-19 Impact: The next D-G will have to grapple with the global economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and take needed measures to revive falling global economy
• Reforms: She has to work towards carrying out reforms of the multilateral trading system to maintain the credibility of the institution.
• Divide Between north and south: At the core of the divide within the WTO is the Doha Development Agenda(DDA) that is favourable for developing nations. The developed countries are working to jettison DDA in favour of a new agenda that includes, amongst others, e-commerce, investment facilitation, MSMEs and gender.
• Restoring the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, especially the revival of its Appellate body, is also crucial for the organisation’s efficient functioning.
• Restoring Faith of common man: WTO has to demonstrate that it is on the side of the underdog i.e. it’s mission is to enhance the conditions of poor people and not further the agenda of corporates.
• Need for Collaboration in Post COVID world: The COVID-19 crisis has revealed the urgent and enduring need for international cooperation and collaboration, as no country can fight the pandemic alone.
• Ensuring Supply Chains are robust: The D-G can help mitigate the effects of the pandemic by giving clear directions on ensuring that supply chains remain free and open, recommending a standard harmonised system with classification for vaccines, and by the removal of import/export restrictions.
• Removal for IPR barriers for Vaccine distribution: PM Modi’s reiteration that India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity will help the whole of humanity will require the D-G to play a responsible role in removing barriers to intellectual property and securing a legal framework within the WTO TRIPS Agreement

 INDIA AND WTO :

• India has been a member of the WTO since January 1995 and also had been a member of the WTO’s forerunner General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) since July 1948. As a developing country, India has played a significant role in the proceedings of the WTO, especially in voicing its own concerns and also of the entire developing world.
• In the Doha WTO conference that took place in 2001, India emerged as the most outspoken of advocates for the developing bloc. The meeting was declared a success since the delegates of 142 countries agreed to a new round of trade talks, including topics such as environment, competition and investment.
• There are many implications for the Indian economy as a result of the many agreements signed as part of the WTO. They are discussed below:

  DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA :

• The Doha round of trade talks for the period of 2001-2006 was an attempt at a multilateral trade agreement.
• The talks were finally suspended in June 2006, because the United States and the European Union refused to reduce agricultural subsidies.
• The agreement’s purpose was to boost the economic growth of developing countries.
• It centered on reducing subsidies for the developed nation’s agricultural industries, allowing them to export food to developing countries.
• In return, the developing countries would open up their market to services from developed countries, particularly banking.
• This would have provided new markets for the developed countries’ service industries and modernized existing emerging markets.

  CONCLUSION :

• Most imminently, the next D-G will need to build trust among its members that the WTO needs greater engagement by all countries, to stitch fair rules in the larger interest of all nations and thwart unfair trade practices of a few.

 

QUESTION: : India’s concerns in Doha Round Ministerial Conferences need to be examined weighing both its pros and cons. Examine in context of a permanent  Peace clause.

 THE MANY CHALLENGES FOR WTO

WHAT ?

• WTO and Challenges Ahead

WHY IN NEWS ?

• 1st time in its 25-year history,(WTO) will be led by a woman, as both the contending candidates for (D-G) post are women, from Nigeria + South Korea.

CHALLENGES FOR THE NEXT DG OF WTO :

• Competing Interests of Nations
• Rising Nationalism
• COVID-19 Impact
• Reforms: She has to work towards carrying out reforms
• Divide Between north and south
• Restoring the WTO dispute settlement mechanism
• Restoring Faith of common man
• Need for Collaboration in Post COVID world
• Ensuring Supply Chains are robust
• Removal for IPR barriers for Vaccine distribution

INDIA AND WTO :

• India= member of WTO since January 1995 and also had been a member of (GATT) since July 1948+ India has played a significant role in the proceedings of the WTO
• Doha WTO conference 2001=India emerged as most outspoken of advocates for developing bloc.
• Many implications for Indian economy as a result of many agreements signed as part of WTO

DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA :

• a multilateral trade agreement.
• to boost the economic growth of developing countries.
• reducing subsidies for the developed nation’s agricultural industries, allowing them to export food to developing countries.

 CONCLUSION :

• Most imminently, the next D-G will need to build trust among its members that the WTO needs greater engagement by all countries, to stitch fair rules in the larger interest of all nations and thwart unfair trade practices of a few.

 

QUESTION: According to the  proposal NITI Aayog that the only viable solution to dealing with the massive waste problem in India is to incinerate the waste of go from waste to energy. Critically evaluate the Waste-to-energy plants in India.

 CONVERTING WASTE TO ENERGY

 WHAT ?

• Waste-to-energy plant in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• An 11.5 MW waste-to-energy plant on the outskirts of Bangalore is expected to process 600 tonnes per day of inorganic waste

 ABOUT WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANTS :

•  A waste-to-energy or energy-from-waste plant converts municipal and industrial solid waste into electricity and/or heat for industrial processing.
•  The energy plant works by burning waste at high temperatures and using the heat to make steam. The steam then drives a turbine that creates electricity.
•  Apart from producing electricity, burning waste also reduces the amount of material that would probably be buried in landfills. Burning MSW reduces the volume of waste by about 80%. Thereby offering a number of social and economic benefits that cannot easily be quantified.

  PROSPECTUS OF THIS  PLANT :

• The new 5 MW waste-to-energy plant is going to set up near Bidadi, Karnataka.
• This plant is expected to process 600 tonnes per day of inorganic waste.
• The inorganic waste, which consists of bad quality plastics and used cloth pieces, can be processed as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). This material has a calorific value of more than 2,500 kJ/kg.
• This can be used to generate steam energy, which can be converted into electric energy.

 A WELL-PLANNED PLANT :

• The waste-to-energy plants usually accept the RDF material generated in organic composting plants.
• They also segregate the wet and inorganic material near the plant, convert organic waste to compost, and inorganic waste to energy.
• About 50 tonnes of RDF generate 1 MW of power, which indicates that the plant at Bidadi has been appropriately designed.

 PERMANENT SOLUTION :

• Handling inorganic waste that is not fit for recycling has always been a challenge.
• At present, these high-calorific materials are landfilled or left unhandled in waste plants and cause fire accidents.
• Attempts to send this material to cement kilns have not fructified.
• The proposed plant can source 600 tonnes per day of this RDF and generate 11.5 MW of power equivalent to 2.4 lakh units of power per day.
• This will reduce the dependence on unscientific landfills, reduce fire accidents, and provide a permanent solution to recover value from inorganic waste.

 CHALLENGES AHEAD :

• Needed a good demonstration model – Over the last decade, several Indian cities have been trying to set up such plants but a good demonstration model is yet to be established.
• Nature of waste – Technology suppliers are international organizations who struggle with the change in quality and nature of waste generated in Indian cities. A few plants in India have stopped operations for this reason.
• The plants require fine inorganic material with less than 5% moisture and less than 5% silt and soil contents, whereas the moisture and inert content in the mixed waste generated is more than 15%-20%.
• The sticky silt and soil particles can also reduce the calorific value.
• Economic cost per unit of electricity – The other big challenge for this plant is the power tariff which is around ₹7-8 KwH which is higher than the ₹3-4 per KwH generated through coal and other means.

 REFUSE-DERIVED FUEL (RDF) :

• Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) is a fuel produced from various types of waste such as municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial waste or commercial waste.
• It is selected waste and by-products with recoverable calorific value can be used as fuels in a cement kiln, replacing a portion of conventional fossil fuels, like coal, if they meet strict specifications.
• Sometimes they can only be used after pre-processing to provide ‘tailor-made’ fuels for the cement process.

 

• RDF consists largely of combustible components of such waste, as non-recyclable plastics (not including PVC), paper cardboard, labels, and other corrugated materials.
• These fractions are separated by different processing steps, such as screening, air classification, ballistic separation, separation of ferrous and non-ferrous materials, glass, stones and other foreign materials and shredding into a uniform grain size, or also pelletized.
• This produces a homogeneous material which can be used as a substitute for fossil fuels in e.g. cement plants, lime plants, coal-fired power plants or as a reduction agent in steel furnaces.

 WAY FORWARD :

• For the successful running, the plant needs to ease the challenge of handling inorganic waste, the efficiency of organic waste processing/ composting plants.
• With the increasing waste generation in the coming years, there is a need for more such plants which are environment friendly.
• In the context of climate change, focus on renewable source of energy and burgeoning population, the WTEs approach is needed to address the growing energy need in a sustainable way. However, it is also important to ensure their effectiveness.
• For this, Urban local bodies (ULBs) should invest in preparing an action plan on waste management in accordance with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules, 2016 within a time-bound approach and promote and adopt the key elements of waste hierarchy as refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.
• It is also important to focus on segregation at source, spreading awareness, preparing an action plan for the city for waste management by adopting decentralised technologies. This will not only improve effectiveness of WTEs, but will also ensure protection and improvement of our environment as envisaged in Article 51 A(g) of our Constitution.

 CONCLUSION :

• If implemented to global emission standards, it could be a pathway to scientific and sustainable disposal of municipal solid waste, given the scarcity of urban land in the country, while also generating some much needed electricity.

 

QUESTION: According to the  proposal NITI Aayog that the only viable solution to dealing with the massive waste problem in India is to incinerate the waste of go from waste to energy. Critically evaluate the Waste-to-energy plants in India.

 CONVERTING WASTE TO ENERGY

WHAT ?

• Waste-to-energy plant in India

WHY IN NEWS ?

• 5 MW waste-to-energy plant Bangalore =expected to process 600 tonnes per day of inorganic waste

ABOUT WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANTS :

•  converts municipal + industrial solid waste into electricity and/or heat for industrial processing.
•  Burning MSW reduces volume of waste by about 80%. Thereby offering a number of social +economic benefits that cannot easily be quantified.

A WELL-PLANNED PLANT :

• waste-to-energy plants usually accept RDF material generated in organic composting plants.
• segregate wet+ inorganic material near the plant, convert organic waste to compost+inorganic waste to energy

PERMANENT SOLUTION :

• Handling inorganic waste= always been a challenge.
• generate 11.5 MW of power equivalent to 2.4 lakh units of power per day.
• reduce dependence on unscientific landfills, reduce fire accidents+provide a permanent solution to recover value from inorganic waste.

CHALLENGES AHEAD :

• Needed a good demonstration model
• Nature of waste
• plants require fine inorganic material with less than 5% moisture +less than 5% silt and soil contents
• Economic cost per unit of electricity

REFUSE-DERIVED FUEL (RDF) :

• fuel produced from various types of waste such as municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial waste or commercial waste.
• selected waste +by-products with recoverable calorific value can be used as fuels
• Sometimes they can only be used after pre-processing to provide ‘tailor-made’ fuels for the cement process.
• consists of combustible components of such waste

WAY FORWARD :

• handling inorganic waste, the efficiency of organic waste processing/ composting plants.
• need for more such plants which are environment friendly.
• focus on renewable source of energy & burgeoning population
• Urban local bodies (ULBs) should invest in preparing an action plan on waste management in accordance with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules, 2016=refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.
• segregation at source, spreading awareness, preparing an action plan + improvement of our environment as envisaged in Article 51 A(g) of our Constitution.

 CONCLUSION : 

• If implemented to global emission standards, it could be a pathway to scientific + sustainable disposal of municipal solid waste+ generating some much needed electricity.

 

QUESTION : Discuss the economic impact of  the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest a few policy measures to address this problem so that Indian economy can be revived.

 LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR FASTER GROWTH

 WHAT ?

• Indian Economy During Covid-19 Pandemic

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• To ease the damage inflicted by the pandemic on the economy, India needs to act on multiple fronts. The article suggests the trajectory India should follow to compensate for the economic loss due to pandemic.

 PICKING UP OF ECONOMY :

• As the restrictions were slowly withdrawn, the economy has also started picking up.
• There are many indicators such as collection of Goods and Services Tax (GST), improved output of coal, steel and cement and positive growth in manufacturing in October 2020 which point to better performance of the private sector.
• In Q1, the economy declined by 23.9%; it declined by 7.5% in Q2, when the relaxations were eased.
• Reductions in the first half of GDP in 2020-21 as compared to the first half of 2019-20 is 7.66% of the 2019-20 GDP.
• If the Indian economy at least maintains the second half GDP in 2020-21 at the level of the previous year, the full year contraction can be limited to about 7.7%.

 STEPS TO BE TAKEN :

• If the Indian economy grows at 8% in 2021-22 will we be compensating for the decline in 2020-21.
• Thus, it is imperative that the Indian economy grows at a minimum of 8% in 2021-22.
• This should be possible if by that time restrictions imposed because of COVID-19 are withdrawn and the nation goes back to a normal state.
• Some sectors can act as lead sectors or engines of growth with increased government capital expenditures in them.
• The private sector seems to be revising its future prospects.
• Many new issues in the capital market have met with good response.
• The attitude to trade must also change.
• Closing borders may appear to be a good short-term policy to promote growth.
• A strong surge in our exports will greatly facilitate growth, i.e. 2021-22.
• However, much of Indian’s growth must rest on domestic factors.
• Growth must not only be consumption driven but also investment driven.
• It is the investment-driven growth which in a developing economy can sustain growth over a long period.

 ROLE OF MONETARY POLICY IN AN ECONOMY :

• The stance of monetary policy in 2020-21 has been extremely accommodative.
• Three major elements in the policy are:

1) A reduction in interest rate.

2) Providing liquidity through various measures.

3) Regulatory changes such as moratorium.

• There has been a substantial injection of liquidity into the system.
• With a large injection of liquidity, one should expect inflation to remain high.
• In the final analysis, inflation is determined by overall liquidity or money supply in the system in conjunction with the availability of goods and services.
• While there may be sufficient justification for an accommodative monetary policy in a difficult year such as 2020, there will be need to exercise more caution as we move into the next year.

 ROLE OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE :

• Government expenditures play a key role in a situation such as the one we are facing.
• The stimulus policies involving higher government expenditures were expected to arrest the contractionary momentum.
• The government expenditures should be speeded up from now on so that the contraction in the current fiscal year as a whole can be reduced.
• In 2021-22, government revenues should pick up with the rise in GDP.
• The process of bringing down the fiscal deficit must also start
• What is required is a sharp increase in government capital expenditures which can act as a stimulus for growth.
• A detailed investment plan of the government and public sector enterprises must be drawn up and presented as part of the coming Budget.

 INCREASING INVESTMENT :

• Over the past decade, the investment rate has been falling.
• In 2018-19, the rate fell to 32.2% of GDP from 38.9% in 2011-12.
• Some of the recent measures including corporate tax rate changes may help in augmenting investment.
• A strong effort must be made to improve the investment climate. The National Infrastructure Pipeline is a good initiative.
• But the government must come forward to invest more on its own.

 REFORMS :

• Reforms are important in the context of rapid development.
• However, timing, sequencing and consensus building are equally important while introducing them.
• Labour reforms, for example, are best introduced when the economy is on the upswing.

 CONCLUSION :

 To achieve the level of $5 trillion, we need to grow continuously at 9% for six years from now. That is the challenge before the economy. Jobs and employment will come from growth. They are not independent of growth. For that policymakers should eschew other considerations and focus only on growth.

 

 

QUESTION : Discuss the economic impact of  the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest a few policy measures to address this problem so that Indian economy can be revived.

 LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR FASTER GROWTH

WHAT ?

• Indian Economy During Covid-19 Pandemic

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Article suggests trajectory India should follow to compensate for economic loss due to pandemic.

PICKING UP OF ECONOMY :

• As the restrictions were slowly withdrawn, the economy has also started picking up.
• (GST), improved output of coal, steel& cement & positive growth in manufacturing in October 2020
• economy declined by 23.9%; it declined by 7.5% in Q2, when the relaxations were eased.
• Reductions in the first half of GDP in 2020-21 as compared to the first half of 2019-20

STEPS TO BE TAKEN :

• If the Indian economy grows at 8% in 2021-22 will we be compensating for the decline in 2020-21.
• Imperative= Indian economy grows at a minimum of 8% in 2021-22.
• Some sectors can act as lead sectors or engines of growth with increased government capital expenditures in them.
• sector seems to be revising its future prospects.
• Many new issues in capital market= met with good response.
• attitude to trade must also change.
• Closing borders may appear to be a good short-term policy to promote growth.
• A strong surge in our exports will greatly facilitate growth, i.e. 2021-22.
• much of Indian’s growth must rest on domestic factors.
• Growth must not only be consumption driven but also investment driven.

ROLE OF MONETARY POLICY IN AN ECONOMY :

1) A reduction in interest rate.

2) Providing liquidity through various measures.

3) Regulatory changes such as moratorium.

There has been a substantial injection of liquidity into the system

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE :

• higher government expenditures= expected to arrest the contractionary momentum.
• The process of bringing down the fiscal deficit must also start.
• increase in government capital expenditures= stimulus for growth.

INCREASING INVESTMENT :

• Over the past decade, the investment rate has been falling.
• In 2018-19, the rate fell to 32.2% of GDP from 38.9% in 2011-12.
• corporate tax rate changes may help in augmenting investment.
• National Infrastructure Pipeline is a good initiative.
• government must come forward to invest more on its own.

REFORMS :

• important in the context of rapid development.
• timing, sequencing + consensus building= equally important while introducing them.
• Labour reforms= best introduced when economy is on the upswing.

CONCLUSION :

• To achieve level of $5 trillion, we need to grow continuously at 9% for six years from now. For that policymakers should eschew other considerations and focus only on growth.

 

QUESTION: Despite several incentives by the government MSME sector fails to play the role expected of it. What are the issues faced by the sector and suggest the measure to deal with the issues.”

 SMOULDERING UNREST

 WHAT ?

• Industrial Growth and Development

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Global personal technology major Apple placed all fresh production orders on hold for its Taiwanese supplier Wistron and this embargo may affect all Wistron units, but the trigger was one of the biggest expressions of industrial unrest in India in recent years — at a new facility set up by the firm in Kolar, Karnataka, to manufacture iPhones, among other things after several workers raised slogans protesting against non-payment of their dues, a protest that escalated.

 OBSERVATIONS:

• In Kolar, Wistron claimed ?437 crores of damages from the incident even as the Centre and the State government reacted with alacrity, given the importance of the project for India to establish its credentials as an alternative manufacturing base to China.
• Restarting operations may take a while now given that Apple’s own probe has found glaring lapses in Wistron’s treatment of its staffers.
• Perhaps, if designated officials for hearing labor grievances had reacted adequately when Wistron’s 1,300-odd regular staffers or its 8,000 odd contract workers at Kolar raised a red flag about wages, this may not have come to pass.

  MANUFACTURING FACILITY – A BOON TO INDIA:

• Job creation: The problem of unemployment could have been tackled with news jobs being created as a result of the new facility.
• Foreign Direct Investment: These investments would lead to a boost in the economy and develop further FDI’s by other countries because of the trust and probability of profit margin in India.
• Transformation into a manufacturing hub: There has been a stagnated growth in India’s manufacturing sector. Such investments will push India towards reaching the status of one of the global manufacturing hubs.
• Ease of doing business: More investments in India sends out the message that the restrictions and bureaucratic protocols have been diluted and paves way for inviting future investments.

 RELATIONSHIP OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT :

 When the national income increases (growth), ideally it should result in development (qualitative aspect – like health, education, employment etc). There can also be cases when growth does not percolate to the bottom of the pyramid – non-inclusive growth – that will not result in the development of weaker sections of the society. For sustainable development, inclusive growth is a must.

 ISSUES IN INDIA’S GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT :

• India’s growth is declining due to some internal and external factors.
• India’s growth is largely contributed to by the service sector. There is stagnation in the manufacturing sector.
• Indian agriculture is still heavily dependent on monsoon. Nearly 50 % of the population dependent on agriculture which contributes only 14% of GDP.
• For a country to grow, there should be investment in productive areas. There should also be supporting infrastructure. Currently India has issues in both.
• Due to external and internal factors, there is decline in foreign investment. This is widening our Current Account Deficit.
• For providing welfare schemes, subsidies and defense expenditure, India is borrowing. The Fiscal Deficit of India is enlarging.
• India’s export sector is not growing in accordance with the demands of import goods.
• Growth is not entirely inclusive. There are still a significant portion of people below poverty line.
• There are issues with employment too. Though the unemployment rate is in single digit now, most of the employment in India is disguised unemployment. (In agricultural sector). The average salary and per-capita income of Indians are very low.

 LESSONS TO BE LEARNT FROM IT :

 Without the features below, the IT success story would not have occurred:

1. the government invested in creating high-speed Internet connectivity for IT software parks enabling integration of the Indian IT industry into the U.S. market.
2. the government allowed the IT industry to import duty-free both hardware and software. (In retrospect, this should never have continued after a few years since it undermined the growth of the electronics hardware manufacturing in India.
3. the IT industry was able to function under the Shops and Establishment Act; hence not subject to the 45 laws relating to labour and the onerous regulatory burden these impose.

 4.Finally, the IT sector has the benefit of low-cost, high-value human capital created by public investments earlier in technical education.

 These offer insights to the potential for industrial policy when a new government takes over soon.

 If evidence is still needed that the state’s role will be critical to manufacturing growth in India, the state’s role in the success story of India’s IT industry must be put on record.

 WAY FORWARD:

• Enforcement of labour laws for employees’ benefit will make India an even more attractive and contrasting alternative to China where labour exploitation is rife.
• With global firms under pressure to exhibit higher standards in environmental, social and corporate governance, India also needs to up its game on enforcing compliance with the laws of the land and treating labour-employer disputes in an even-handed manner.
• It may be a good time for the government to rekindle a tripartite dialogue mechanism with trade unions and employers like the erstwhile Indian Labour Conference, not held since 2015.

  CONCLUSION:

 Inequitable labour-capital relations could hit India’s investment destination credo and thus India should move towards a more holistic approach through dialogue and new labour law to protect the rights of workers to avoid any such incidents in the future.

 

 

QUESTION: Despite several incentives by the government MSME sector fails to play the role expected of it. What are the issues faced by the sector and suggest the measure to deal with the issues.”

 SMOULDERING UNREST

WHAT ?

• Industrial Growth and Development

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Apple placed all fresh production orders on hold for its Taiwanese supplier Wistron+ this embargo may affect all Wistron units.

OBSERVATIONS:

• Wistron claimed 437 crores of damages from the incident +given importance of project for India to establish its credentials as an alternative manufacturing base to China.
• Restarting operations may take a while now given that Apple’s own probe
• workers at Kolar raised a red flag about wages, this may not have come to pass.

MANUFACTURING FACILITY – A BOON TO INDIA:

• Job creation
• Foreign Direct Investment
• Transformation into a manufacturing hub
• Ease of doing business

RELATIONSHIP OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT :

• When the national income increases (growth), ideally it should result in development (qualitative aspect – like health, education, employment etc)+For sustainable development, inclusive growth is a must.

ISSUES IN INDIA’S GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT :

• growth is declining due to some internal +external factors.
• Stagnation in manufacturing sector.
• Indian agriculture=still heavily dependent on monsoon.
• Decline in foreign investment
• Fiscal Deficit of India is enlarging.
• India’s export sector= not growing in accordance with demands of import goods.
• Growth= not entirely inclusive.
• There are issues with employment+average salary and per-capita income of Indians=very low.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNT FROM IT :

• government invested in creating high-speed Internet connectivity for IT software parks enabling integration of Indian IT industry into the U.S. market.
• government allowed the IT industry to import duty-free both hardware and software.
• IT industry=able to function under Shops &Establishment Act; hence not subject to 45 laws relating to labour
• IT sector= benefit of low-cost, high-value human capital

WAY FORWARD:

• Enforcement of labour laws for employees’ benefit
• India also needs to up its game on enforcing compliance with the laws of land+treating labour-employer disputes in an even-handed manner.
• good time for government to rekindle a tripartite dialogue mechanism with trade unions and employers like the erstwhile Indian Labour Conference, not held since 2015.

CONCLUSION:

• India should move towards a more holistic approach through dialogue+ new labour law to protect the rights of workers to avoid any such incidents in the future.

 

QUESTION : The auction of spectrum brings government much needed revenue. Why is spectrum considered a s resource? Give your arguments

  KEY STEPS TO GET THIS SPECTRUM AUCTION RIGHT

 WHAT ?

• Tele-communication

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The Union Cabinet has cleared the much-awaited auction of radio spectrum in various bands for commercial mobile service.

 MORE ABOUT THIS AUCTION :

• Based on the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the government is planning to auction spectrum in the sub GHz bands of 700, 800 and 900 MHz along with mid-band frequencies in bands of 1800, 2100, 2300, and 2500 MHz across the 22 Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) of the country.
• The cumulative reserve price — and hence the potential revenue accrual to the government at reserve prices — is about $50 billion.
• Total reserve price of spectrum put on auction in 2016 was about $90 billion while the realised value was just about one-tenth of that.
• Hence, while the 2016 auction could be considered as a failure from the auctioneer’s point of view.

 FACTORS DECIDING THE SUCCESS OF SPECTR AUCTION :

 1) Right reserve price

• Research on a cross-country spectrum database shows that the reserve price significantly and positively correlated to the winning bid price.
• However, a higher reserve price also inhibits bidders from bidding for more spectrum blocks.
• If the quantity effect is more than the price effect, then it results in reduced revenues for the government exchequer, as it happened in 2016.

 2) Role of Over The Top (OTT) provider

• Over The Top (OTT) providers who are providing substitute goods such as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP); and capturing a greater mind share of customers while remaining relatively invisible to government regulators.
• The rise of VoIP subscribers could have a positive effect on winning bid prices.
• However, the erosion of the position of telcos in the overall digital value network of devices, connectivity and apps, could result in a lower willingness to pay.

 3) Allocation of unlicensed spectrum for WiFi

• By off-loading mobile data, Wi-Fi supplements the carrier network and reduces the demand for mobile network capacity.
• A number of countries including the United States have unlicensed the V-band spectrum in 60 GHz — pencil beam band.
• Referred to as “wireless fibre”, the 60 GHz spectrum provides huge capacities in a limited area.
• Wi-Fi 6 (a.k.a. IEEE 802.11 ax) that operates in the 2.4/5 GHz unlicensed band requires additional unlicensed spectrum allocation to provide Gigabit speeds.
• The more the unlicensed spectrum allocation, the lower will be the demand for licensed spectrum.

 4) Clarity on the availability of spectrum for auction

• While there is an indication by the government that the spectrum for 5G auction, namely 3.4-3.6 GHz, will be held in late 2021, the amount of spectrum that will be made available is not clear.
• There is still uncertainty about the release of 26 GHz by the Department of Space for mobile services.
• With this limited visibility, the bidders will be in a quandary whether to acquire the spectrum now, or wait for subsequent auctions.
• Further, some part of the current spectrum holding of all the operators is coming up for renewal in mid-2021, and hence there is additional pressure on them to retain them in the forthcoming auction.

 STEPS TO BE IMPROVED :

• A re-visit of reserve prices and lower it further, especially that of 700 MHz which is the “golden band” for covering the hinterlands of the country.
• Releasing more unlicensed spectrum in 2.4/5/60 GHz for proliferating Wi-Fi as a suitable complement to [the] carrier network.
• This will also augment the deployments of the Public Wi-Fi project which the cabinet approved recently.
• Provide visibility of future auctions, especially the quantum of spectrum that can be put on the block in 3.3/3.6/26/28 GHz.
• The government should release guidelines on how OTT platforms will be regulated and what will be regulated so that the telcos and OTTs can join hands to provide superior services for the benefit of the consumers.

 CONCLUSION :

 The government should follow the steps mentioned here to make the auction of the spectrum a success.

 

QUESTION : The auction of spectrum brings government much needed revenue. Why is spectrum considered a s resource? Give your arguments

 KEY STEPS TO GET THIS SPECTRUM AUCTION RIGHT

WHAT ?

• Tele-communication

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Union Cabinet= cleared much-awaited auction of radio spectrum in various bands for commercial mobile service.

MORE ABOUT THIS AUCTION :

• Based on the recommendation of TRAI government=planning to auction spectrum in sub GHz bands of 700, 800& 900 MHz along with mid-band frequencies in bands

FACTORS DECIDING THE SUCCESS OF SPECTRUM AUCTION :

• Right reserve price
• Role of Over The Top (OTT) provider
• Allocation of unlicensed spectrum for WiFi
• Clarity on the availability of spectrum for auction

 STEPS TO BE IMPROVED :

• A re-visit of reserve prices and lower it further, especially that of 700 MHz
• Releasing more unlicensed spectrum in 2.4/5/60 GHz for proliferating Wi-Fi
• This will also augment deployments of the Public Wi-Fi project which the cabinet approved recently.
• Provide visibility of future auctions, especially quantum of spectrum
• The government should release guidelines on how OTT platforms will be regulated

CONCLUSION :

• The government should follow the steps mentioned here to make the auction of the spectrum a success.

 

QUESTION :  Critically analyse the progress made in resolving stressed assets since the enactment of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

DELAYING THE INEVITABLE

 WHAT ?

• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code(IBC)

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The government has recently has decided to keep in suspension the critical provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) of 2016 till March 31, 2021.

  THE INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE, 2016:

• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) is the bankruptcy law of India which seeks to consolidate the existing framework by creating a single law for insolvency and bankruptcy.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2015 was introduced in Lok Sabha in December 2015. It was passed by Lok Sabha on 5 May 2016 and by Rajya Sabha on 11 May 2016. The Code received the assent of the President of India on 28 May 2016
• Certain provisions of the Act have come into force from 5 August and 19 August 2016.
• The bankruptcy code is a one stop solution for resolving insolvencies which previously was a long process that did not offer an economically viable arrangement.
• The code aims to protect the interests of small investors and make the process of doing business less cumbersome.

  DEFINITIONS TO KNOW :

• Insolvency is a situation where individuals or companies are unable to repay their outstanding debt.
• Bankruptcy is a situation whereby a court of competent jurisdiction has declared a person or other entity insolvent, having passed appropriate orders to resolve it and protect the rights of the creditors. It is a legal declaration of one’s inability to pay off debts

 RECENT CHANGES IN THE IBC:

• The government had raised the threshold of loan defaults that would spark off insolvency proceedings from 1 lakh to 1 crore on the day of the lockdown’s announcement due to disruptions caused by Covid.
• It had indicated that if things did not improve by April-end, the suspensions of certain sections of the IBC for six months could be considered to prevent companies at large from being forced into the insolvency process for a ‘force majeure’ default.
• An ordinance, in June, indefinitely barred the initiation of insolvency proceedings both, voluntarily or by creditors, for defaults arising on or after March 25, 2020, for a period of six months that could be stretched to a year.
• When the initial six months of forbearance under the IBC expired, it was extended till December 25.
• Union Finance Minister’s pronouncement now, of a further suspension, would mean the one-year limit permitted by the law is fully used up.
• The government must make it clear that this is the last such window of respite, even as the necessity for a blanket suspension of IBC at this point in time is not as apparent as it was in the first or second quarter of 2020-21.

 WHO FACILITATES THE INSOLVENCY RESOLUTION UNDER THE CODE?

• Adjudicating authorities: The proceedings of the resolution process will be adjudicated by the National Companies Law Tribunal (NCLT), for companies; and the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), for individuals. The duties of the authorities will include approval to initiate the resolution process, appoint the insolvency professional, and approve the final decision of creditors.
• The Insolvency Professionals: These professionals will administer the resolution process, manage the assets of the debtor, and provide information for creditors to assist them in decision making.
• Information Utilities: Creditors will report financial information of the debt owed to them by the debtor. Such information will include records of debt, liabilities and defaults.
• Insolvency Professional Agencies: insolvency professionals will be registered with insolvency professional agencies. The agencies conduct examinations to certify insolvency professionals and enforce a code of conduct for their performance.
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board: The Board will regulate insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies and information utilities set up under the Code.

  SUGGESTIONS:

• Stretching the IBC’s abeyance, for one, does not settle with the government’s proclamations of a firm, V-shaped economic recovery.
• Finance Ministry mandarins have repeatedly talked up growth prospects by flagging indicators returning to pre-COVID-19 levels, in several sectors.
• Surely, businesses in those sectors need no longer be sheltered from exits if they are not competitive.
• The government, by now, should know which sectors continue to remain in trouble.
• And if it is concerned about small and medium businesses, it could tweak the default threshold limit a tad higher, while letting bankruptcy processes function again for larger loan accounts.
• But a catch-all suspension could burden banks further and does not appear to have enthused industry either.
• One reason could be that the suspension also cuts off businesses’ ability to voluntarily enter insolvency — for many, post-COVID-19 operations may not seem viable.
• Denying them an exit route so as to cut their losses, while their assets shed value is a lose-lose proposition for both borrower and lender.
• A more nuanced approach would have been better for banks, businesses and the economy.

  CONCLUSION:

• Delaying the inevitable would mean greater financial stress ahead, as the restructuring and recovery of bad loans shall get tardier and future growth momentum would be punctured at the cost of understating present systemic stress.

 

QUESTION : Critically analyse the progress made in resolving stressed assets since the enactment of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

 DELAYING THE INEVITABLE

WHAT ?

• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code(IBC)

WHY IN NEWS ?

• =decided to keep in suspension the critical provisions of IBC of 2016 till March 31, 2021.

THE INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE, 2016:

• bankruptcy law=seeks to consolidate existing framework by creating a single law for insolvency& bankruptcy.
• IBC 2015=introduced in Lok Sabha in December 2015+ passed by Lok Sabha
• one stop solution for resolving insolvencies which was a long process that did not offer an economically viable arrangement+aims to protect interests of small investors & make process of doing business less cumbersome.

KEY TERMS:

• Insolvency=where individuals or companies are unable to repay their outstanding debt.
• Bankruptcy=situation whereby a court of competent jurisdiction has declared a person or other entity insolvent

RECENT CHANGES IN THE IBC:

• raised threshold of loan defaults that would spark off insolvency proceedings from 1 lakh to 1 crore
• An ordinance barred the initiation of insolvency proceedings both, voluntarily or by creditors
• one-year limit permitted by the law is fully used up.
• The government must make it clear that this is the last such window of respite

WHO FACILITATES THE INSOLVENCY RESOLUTION UNDER THE CODE?

• Adjudicating authorities
• The Insolvency Professionals
• Information Utilities
• Insolvency Professional Agencies
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board

SUGGESTIONS:

• Stretching the IBC’s abeyance
• growth prospects by flagging indicators returning to pre-COVID-19 levels, in several sectors.
• The government, should know which sectors continue to remain in trouble.
• But a catch-all suspension could burden banks further and does not appear to have enthused industry either.
• One reason could be that the suspension also cuts off businesses’ ability to voluntarily enter insolvency
• lose-lose proposition for both borrower and lender.
• A more nuanced approach would have been better for banks, businesses& economy.

CONCLUSION:

• Delaying inevitable would mean greater financial stress ahead, as the restructuring and recovery of bad loans shall get tardier and future growth momentum would be punctured at the cost of understating present systemic stress.

 

QUESTION :  Discuss various recent issues related to labour laws in India? Suggest some measures to resolve these issues.

 THE TIGHTROPE BETWEEN PRODUCTION, INDUSTRIAL PEACE

 WHAT ?

• Labour Law Issues – Apple – Wistron Case

 WHY IN NEWS?

• Worker unrest following the non-redressal of payment and overtime issues at a new factory of Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing India Pvt Ltd, that manufactures iPhones for Apple and other products, resulted in a riot at the plant on December 12.
• Production at the plant in Kolar district, Karnataka around 60 km from Bengaluru, employing 1,343 regular workers and 8,490 contract workers, was suspended following the violence.

 WISTRON’S INVESTMENT ?

• Wistron, which makes devices and peripheral systems for major global tech companies, has manufacturing facilities and R&D centres at two dozen locations around the world.
• The company started a small pilot plant in Bengaluru in 2017 to make the iPhone and, in 2018, decided to make a large investment (Rs 3,000 crore) in India for a full-fledged plant.
• The company got environmental clearance in mid-2019 and, in 2020, announced investments to the tune of Rs 1,220 crore in equipment and machinery for the Kolar plant, which is designated as a service and manufacturing centre.
• In August 2020, the plant became fully operational, with around 5,000 employees to manufacture the iPhone SE (2020) and iPhone 7 models.

 FACTORS LED TO LABOUR UNREST IN THE FACILITY :

• Rapid Expansion of Contractual Labour: Winston rapidly scaled up its contractual employee strength from around 3,000 to nearly 8,500 between September 2020 and December 2020.
• The contract employees were hired and paid through six manpower supply contractors, but their work was supervised and managed by Wistron officials.
• Overtime Work: The manufacturing facility also moved from eight-hour to 12-hour shifts. workers were working in two compulsory 12-hour shifts. The factory was being operated like a sweatshop.
• Irregular Payment: Initial police investigations have revealed that the contractors were not paying the workers their full wages as per their contracts, or for overtime work. “While wages were slashed from Rs 22,000 to Rs 8,000 in some cases, wages for November were not paid until December 12.
• Labour Rights Compromised: With no employee grievance redressal system in place at the firm or a union, workers were constantly asking company officials for their dues.
• Immediate Trigger for Violence: An official of the labour department said the trigger for the violence during a 6 am shift change on December 12 was an argument over the attendance system not capturing the exact work hours logged by the workers.
• Overblown Damages: Wistron officials initially estimated the damage at Rs 437 crore, but later revised it downward to about Rs 43 crore saying the “violence did not cause any material damage to major manufacturing equipment and warehouses”.

 WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION OF APPLE ?

• Apple has put Wistron on probation, and said the company will get no more orders until it fixes the problems.
• Apple employees, along with independent auditors, will monitor their progress.
• Increasingly, following pressure from the consumers’ side and also being highly conscious of its brand image, Apple has provided a ‘Code of Conduct’ to all its suppliers, seeking to monitor and audit compliance of labour standards and safeguards.
• Pressured by Apple’s response, Wistron has also been forced to apologise to the workers, remove its Vice-President in charge of India operations, and initiate corrective measures to address workers’ grievances.

 KEY TAKEWAYS OF THIS INCIDENT :

• Voices of Labour subdued in Liberal era: That it took violence for the workers to be ‘seen’ and ‘heard’, and for corrections to be undertaken points to the realities of high-tech manufacturing outsourced through supply chains in the global south that is built on precarities of labour involved in them.
• Wilful Violation of Labour rights: In fact, many of the suppliers subcontracting in the high-end electronics sector including those for Apple, have been involved in wilful violations of labour standards and practices.
• Complexities of Contractual Labour: The prevailing norms of work arrangements practised by many industries was through hired labour from multiple subcontractors/third party work supply firms. This process creates ambiguity in identifying the primary employer and thereby, seriously constrains the workers from getting effective redress of their grievances.
• Ensuring Accountability: Until recently, the default response of the brands has been evasion of responsibility by either shifting the onus to the subcontracting firms or keeping things in silent mode. However, Apple’s actions are a step forward in corporate accountability and ethical business operations.
• Traumatic Experience for Workers: Forcing workers to do overtime in harsh conditions without much breaks, and under constant disciplinary monitoring by supervisors are matched by low pay and little or no social security, leading to strain and traumatic experiences, both physical and mental.
• Dangers of Student Internship: Another prevalent phenomenon is that of unpaid, forced student internships to fill shortages in labour supply and offset costs; students from vocational educational institutions are compulsorily employed, and subjected to the same exploitative conditions as the workers. Since they are not legally classified as workers, there are no obligations to offer social protections.

 WAY FORWARD :

• Enforcement of labour laws for employees’ benefit will make India an even more attractive and contrasting alternative to China where labour exploitation is rife.
• Global firms are under pressure to exhibit higher standards in environmental, social and corporate governance.
• Given this, India also needs to strengthen enforcing compliance with the laws of the land and treating labour-employer disputes in an even-handed manner.
• India is moving in to a new labour law regime being marketed as a business-friendly regimen.
• So, misgivings about their provisions or unresponsive systems for employees’ grievances may only increase such industrial unrest.
• It may be a good time for the government to renew a tripartite dialogue mechanism with trade unions and employers like the erstwhile Indian Labour Conference, not held since 2015.

  CONCLUSION :

• In the absence of avenues for workers to channelise their grievances — representative associations and unions — and adequate collective bargaining mechanisms as well as social dialogue, frequent labour unrest including to the extent of violent confrontations, could very well be a daily reality in these high-end manufacturing facilities.

 

QUESTION :  Discuss various recent issues related to labour laws in India? Suggest some measures to resolve these issues.

 THE TIGHTROPE BETWEEN PRODUCTION, INDUSTRIAL PEACE

WHAT ?

• Labour Law Issues – Apple – Wistron Case

 WHY IN NEWS?

• Worker unrest following the non-redressal of payment +overtime issues at a new factory of Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing India Pvt Ltd, manufactures iPhones .

 WISTRON’S INVESTMENT ?

• Wistron=makes devices+ peripheral systems for major global tech companies, has manufacturing facilities + R&D centres
• started a small pilot plant in Bengaluru in 2017 to make iPhone +in 2018, decided to make a large investment

FACTORS LED TO LABOUR UNREST IN THE FACILITY :

• Rapid Expansion of Contractual Labour
• Overtime Work
• Irregular Payment
• Labour Rights Compromised
• Immediate Trigger for Violence Overblown Damages

WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION OF APPLE ?

• Apple has put Wistron on probation
• Apple employees+ independent auditors, will monitor their progress.
• Apple has provided a ‘Code of Conduct’ to all its suppliers, seeking to monitor+ audit compliance of labour standards
• Initiating corrective measures to address workers’ grievances.

 KEY TAKEWAYS OF THIS INCIDENT :

• Voices of Labour subdued in Liberal era
• Wilful Violation of Labour rights
• Complexities of Contractual Labour
• Ensuring Accountability
• Traumatic Experience for Workers
• Dangers of Student Internship

  WAY FORWARD :

• Enforcement of labour laws
• India needs to strengthen enforcing compliance with laws of land & treating labour-employer disputes
• Business-friendly regimen.
• Renewing a tripartite dialogue mechanism with trade unions+ employers like the erstwhile Indian Labour Conference, not held since 2015.

CONCLUSION :

• Need avenues for workers to channelise their grievances — representative associations + unions + adequate collective bargaining mechanisms as well as social dialogue will lead to a holistic solution.

 

QUESTION : Critically evaluate the various Agricultural reforms in India and how they lead to agricultural efficiency and social equity? 

 REFORMS WITH THE FUTURE AND FARMING NEEDS IN MIND

 WHAT ?

• Farm Laws in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Some provisions of the new farm laws are opposed by the farmers. The article explains the utility of these provisions.

 MAJOR OBJECTIONS TO FARM LAWS :

• The Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC) will be eventually closed,
• The Minimum Support Prices (MSP) will be stopped,
• The fear is that corporates will take over agriculture trade, and farmers’ land will be taken over by powerful corporates.

 WHY NEED OF REFORMS IN AGRICULTURE :

• The gap between the agri-income of a farmer and that of a non-agriculture worker increased from ₹25,398 in 1993–94 to ₹1.42 lakh in 2011-12.
• Aggregate food demand has fallen short of domestic production necessitating the export of a large quantity to prevent domestic prices from falling very low.
• India is sitting on excess stock of 60 lakh tons of sugar and nearly 72 million tons of extra buffer stock of wheat and rice which is causing a huge drain on fiscal resources.
• India’s agri-exports are facing difficulty, imports are turning attractive as domestic prices are turning much higher.
• Rural youth are looking for jobs outside agriculture and there is a serious problem of unemployment in the countryside.
• There are numerous instances of market failure to the detriment of producers and consumers.
• This is turning farmers to look at the government for remunerative prices through MSP for most agricultural products.
• The growth rate in agriculture is driven by heavy support through various kinds of subsidies and output price support.
• These costs and losses and subsidies will take away most of the tax revenue of the central government.

 PROVISIONS AND THEIR UTILITY :

 1) Relation between MSP and APMC

• APMC has nothing to do with payment of the MSP.
• The necessary and sufficient conditions for the MSP are procurement by the government, with or without the APMC.
• Experience shows that even after fruits and vegetables were de-notified from the APMC, they continued to arrive at APMC mandis in large quantities while farmers got additional options.
• The protesting farmers have raised concerns to keep the level-playing field for the APMC and private players, and the government has shown agreement to address this fully.

 2) Criteria for traders

• Protesting farmers are also opposing the provision of simple requirement of a PAN card for a trader.
• After having a PAN card, even a farmer can go for trading, his son can do agri-business and other rural youth can undertake purchases of farm commodities for direct sale to a consumer or other agribusiness firms.
• If a stringent criteria such as bank guarantee, etc. are included in the registration, then the spirit of the new law to facilitate farmers and rural youth to become agribusiness entrepreneurs will be lost.

 3) Mistaking contract farming with corporate farming

• Critics and protesting farmers are mixing contract farming with corporate farming.
• The new Act intends to insulate interested farmers (especially small farmers), against market and price risks.
• The Act is voluntary and either party is free to leave it after the expiry of agreement.
• It prohibits the transfer, sale, lease, mortgage of the land or premises of the farmer.
• The Act will promote diversification, quality production for premium price, export and direct sale of produce, with desired attributes to interested consumers.
• It will also bring new capital and knowledge into agriculture and pave the way for farmers’ participation in the value chain.

 WAY FORWARD :

•  Improve Agricultural Infrastructure to Strengthen Competition: Government should massively fund the expansion of the APMC market system, make efforts to remove trade cartels, and provide farmers good roads, logistics of scale and real time information.
•  Empowering State Farmers Commissions: Rather than opting for heavy centralisation, the emphasis should be on empowering farmers through State Farmers Commissions recommend, National Commission for Farmers to bring about a speedy government response to issues

 CONCLUSION :

• The policy reforms undertaken by the central government through these Acts are in keeping with the changing times and requirements of farmers and farming. If they are implemented in the right spirit, they will take Indian agriculture to new heights and usher in the transformation of the rural economy.

 

QUESTION : Critically evaluate the various Agricultural reforms in India and how they lead to agricultural efficiency and social equity? 

 REFORMS WITH THE FUTURE AND FARMING NEEDS IN MIND

WHAT ?

• Farm Laws in India

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• Some provisions of the new farm laws= opposed by the farmers.

MAJOR OBJECTIONS TO FARM LAWS :

• APMC will be eventually closed
• MSP will be stopped,
• The fear= corporates will take over agriculture trade+farmers’ land will be taken over by powerful corporates.

WHY NEED OF REFORMS IN AGRICULTURE :

• gap between agri-income of a farmer+ that of a non-agriculture worker increased
• Aggregate food demand has fallen short of domestic production
• extra buffer stock of wheat+ rice which is causing a huge drain on fiscal resources.
• India’s agri-exports= facing difficulty,as domestic prices are turning much higher.
• Rural youth=looking for jobs outside agriculture
• numerous instances of market failure to detriment of producers + consumers.
• costs + losses & subsidies will take away most of the tax revenue of the central government.

PROVISIONS AND THEIR UTILITY :

• Relation between MSP and APMC
• Criteria for traders
  • Protesting farmers = also opposing provision of simple requirement of a PAN card for a trader.

3) Mistaking contract farming with corporate farming

WAY FORWARD :

•  Improve Agricultural Infrastructure to Strengthen Competition
•  Empowering State Farmers Commissions: Rather than opting for heavy centralisation

 CONCLUSION :

• If policies are implemented in the right spirit, they will take Indian agriculture to new heights & usher in the transformation of the rural economy.

 

 

QUESTION :  The agriculture sector is critical for India from a consistent growth and food security perspective despite this, is facing so many challenges . Critically analyse by suggesting key reforms in agriculture.

 SEPARATING THE WHEAT FROM THE AGRI-POLICY CHAFF

 WHAT ?

• Need for Comprehensive Agri-policy

 WHY IN NEWS ?

• The reasons for declining farm incomes and the contribution of farm subsidies

 THE CONTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIAN ECONOMY :

• India’s agriculture, which also supports the rural workforce, was, forever, living beyond its means.
• In 1950-51, agriculture’s share in the country’s GDP was 45%, the share of the workforce dependent on it was close to 70%.
• Today, agriculture’s share in GDP is below 16%, but almost 50% of the country’s workforce depends on this sector.
• The squeeze on the agricultural sector becomes even more evident from its terms of trade vis-à-vis the non-agricultural sectors.
• Agriculture has been facing adverse terms of trade over extended periods since the 1980s, and even during the phases when the terms of trade have moved in its favour, for instance in the 1990s and again since 2012-13, there was no distinct upward trend.

 WHY FALL IN FARM INCOMES ?

• The decline in farm incomes was triggered by growing inefficiencies.
• This decline, in turn, was caused by a lack of meaningful investment in agriculture.
• The share of this sector in the total investment undertaken in the country consistently fell from about 18% in the 1950s to just above 11% in the 1980s.
• In the most recent quinquennium for which data are available (2014-15 to 2018-19), the average share of agriculture was 7.6%.

 INDIA’S UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE IN THE YIELDS OF MAJOR CROPS :

• If one ranks countries in terms of their yields in wheat and rice — India’s two major crops — the country’s ranks were 45 and 59, respectively, in 2019.
• This ranking would go down sharply if the areas recording high yields, such as Punjab and Haryana, are excluded.
• In other words, for farmers in most regions of the country, it is an uphill battle for survival amid low yields.

 NEED OF THE HOUR IS A COHERENT POLICY :

• The lack of a coherent policy for agriculture must surely be regarded among the most remarkable failures of the governments in post-Independence India.
• Compare this failure with the United States, with less than 2% of its workforce engaged in agriculture, has been enacting farm legislations every four years since the Agricultural Adjustment Act was enacted in 1933.
• These policies comprehensively address the needs of the farm sector through proactive support from the respective governments.

 ISSUE OF FARM SUBSIDIES :

• The subsidies are the price that the country pays for the failure of the policymakers to comprehensively address the problems of the farm sector.
• Wanton distribution of subsidies without a proper policy framework has distorted the structure of production and, consequently, undesirable outcomes in terms of excessive food stockpiling.
• And, yet, the fundamental ills of Indian agriculture are not adequately addressed.
• Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are expected to notify their agricultural subsidies as a part of their commitment under the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).
• India’s latest notification, for 2018-19, shows that the subsidies provided were slightly more than $56 billion.
• In most of the recent years, the largest component of India’s subsidies ($24.2 billion, or 43% of the total) are provided to “low income or resource poor farmers”, a terminology that the AoA uses.
• However, designation of this category of farmers is left to individual members.
• India has notified that 99.43% of its farmers are low income or resource poor.
• According to the agricultural census conducted in 2015-16, these are the farmers whose holdings are 10 hectares or less.
• Thus, almost the entire farm sector comprises economically weak farmers.

 SUBSIDIES BY OTHER COUNTRIES :

• America provided $131 billion in 2017 and the EU, nearly €80 billion (or $93 billion) in 2017-18.
• Instead of absolute numbers; the ratios of subsidies to agricultural value addition for the three countries give a much better picture.
• Thus, for 2017, India’s farm subsidies were 12.4% of agricultural value addition, while for the U.S. and the EU, the figures were 90.8% and 45.3%, respectively.
• This then is the reality of farm subsidies that India provides.

 WAY FORWARD :

• There is a need to step up investment in agriculture, which will not only ensure more efficient use of farm resources but also is a crucial step towards improving farm incomes.
• A comprehensive agricultural policy must also provide for the setting up of farmer-friendly institutions in order to improve the economic viability of the sector.
• India must strive to increase the ratios of subsidies granted to the agricultural value addition.
• Complex problems facing Indian agriculture need an agricultural policy that addresses the challenges facing this sector in a comprehensive manner.

 

QUESTION :  The agriculture sector is critical for India from a consistent growth and food security perspective despite this, is facing so many challenges . Critically analyse by suggesting key reforms in agriculture.

 SEPARATING THE WHEAT FROM THE AGRI-POLICY CHAFF

WHAT ?

• Need for Comprehensive Agri-policy

WHY IN NEWS ?

• Reasons for declining farm incomes + contribution of farm subsidies

THE CONTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIAN ECONOMY :

• supports rural workforce, living beyond its means.
• 1950-51=share in country’s GDP was 45%+ workforce – to 70%.
• almost 50% of country’s workforce depends
• The squeeze on the agricultural sector becomes even more evident
• Agriculture=facing adverse terms of trade over extended periods since the 1980s

WHY FALL IN FARM INCOMES ?

• by growing inefficiencies.
• lack of meaningful investment in agriculture=fell from about 18% in 1950s to just above 11% in 1980s.
• average share of agriculture was 7.6%.

INDIA’S UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE IN THE YIELDS OF MAJOR CROPS :

• In terms of their yields in wheat + rice — India’s two major crops — ranks were 45 and 59, respectively, in 2019.
• This ranking would go down sharply if the areas recording high yields, such as Punjab and Haryana, are excluded.
• For farmers in most regions, it is an uphill battle for survival amid low yields.

NEED OF THE HOUR IS A COHERENT POLICY :

• lack of a coherent policy for agriculture must surely be regarded among most remarkable failures of governments in post-Independence India.
• US=less than 2% of its workforce engaged in agriculture,enacting farm legislations every 4 years
• These policies comprehensively address needs of farm sector through proactive support from respective governments.

ISSUE OF FARM SUBSIDIES :

• To comprehensively address problems of the farm sector.
• Wanton distribution of subsidies without a proper policy framework=distorted structure of production
• fundamental ills of Indian agriculture= not adequately addressed.
• Members of (WTO)= expected to notify their agricultural subsidies as a part of their commitment under the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).
• India’s latest notification, for 2018-19, shows that subsidies provided= more than $56 billion.
• 43% of its farmers= low income or resource poor.
• Agricultural census 2015-16 farmers whose holdings are 10 hectares or less.
• Almost entire farm sector comprises economically weak farmers.

SUBSIDIES BY OTHER COUNTRIES :

• America provided $131 billion in 2017 + EU, nearly €80 billion (or $93 billion) in 2017-18.
• 2017= India’s farm subsidies were 12.4% of agricultural value addition, while for the U.S. + EU, figures were 90.8% + 45.3%

WAY FORWARD :

• Need to step up investment in agriculture, crucial step towards improving farm incomes.
• Comprehensive agricultural policy =setting up farmer-friendly institutions
• increase ratios of subsidies granted to the agricultural value addition.