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Civils Tap Himachal May 2021 Mains Current Affairs Magazine Contents
Reducing Independence Of The Election GEOGRAPHY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT 3 Commission Of India 47 Judicial Activism And Judicial Overreach Assam Earthquake 3 (Article 142) 50 Cyclone 6 Reservation 52 The Issue Of Urban Fire In India 8 The case for House Arrest 57 SOCIAL ISSUES 12 Federalism During Pandemic 58 Community Participation In Times Of Pandemic12 SOCIAL JUSTICE 61 Covid Vaccination 13 Universal Social Welfare 61 COVID and Women Workers 15 One Health Approach 65 In Kerala: A Humane Lockdown 16 Healthcare System In India 67 COVID challenge in Rural Areas 18 PM Cares for Children scheme 73 Issues In Mass Vaccination Against Covid 19 Rebuilding Public Healthcare Infrastructure 74 Long Covid 20 Social Security 76 Medical Education 22 ECONOMY 79 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 24 Natural Gas- For Greening the Energy Basket 79 India –Japan Relations 24 Rice And Wheat Export Hit Record High 81 India – UK Relations 28 Intellectual Property Rights (Ipr) And Universal Israel Palestine Conflict : A Historical Vaccination 83 Background 34 Banking Reforms: The next step 85 India’s stance on Israel-Palestine issue over the The end of the road for India’s GST? 89 years 37 Quadrilateral Security Dialogue OR QUAD 38 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 90 American Exit From Afghanistan 40 India’s Act East Policy 42 Environmental Taxation 90 Solar Energy Industry 92 POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 43 5G TECHNOLOGY 94 Upholding Right to Life 43 Black Fungus (MUCORMYCOSIS) 96 Bureaucratic reforms in times of Crisis 45 New IT Rules For Social Media 97
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GENERAL STUDIES 1.
GEOGRAPHY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Assam Earthquake
● An Earthquake of 6.4 magnitude hit Assam on April 28th, 2021. It caused sufficient damage to buildings and property but fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
● It occurred near Dhekiajuli in the Sonitpur district of Assam, 80 kilometres northeast of Guwahati.
● Following the main tremors, six aftershocks (of magnitude ranging from 3.2 to 4.7) also occurred within two-and-a-half hours.
● The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) recently mentioned that these tremors were attributed to the Kopili Fault Zone.
The northeastern region has a peculiar record of experiencing earthquakes at regular intervals due to its unique geographical location. The state of Assam itself witnessed two great earthquakes (Magnitude >8) in 1897 and 1950. How does an earthquake occur? ● Firstly, an earthquake occurs when there is a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s lithosphere that creates seismic waves.
● Secondly, the release of energy occurs along a fault. A fault is a sharp break in the crustal rocks.
● Thirdly, rocks along a fault tend to move in opposite directions. As the overlying rock strata press them, the friction locks them together. However, their tendency to move apart at some point in time overcomes the friction.
● Fourthly, as a result, the blocks get deformed, and eventually, they slide past one another
abruptly. This causes a release of energy, and the energy waves travel in all directions.
All earthquakes are different in their intensity and magnitude. The instrument for the measurement of the vibrations is known as Seismograph. ● Magnitude scale: Richter scale is used to measure the magnitude of the earthquake. The energy released during a quake is expressed in absolute numbers of 0-10.
● Intensity scale: The Mercalli scale is used to measure the intensity of an earthquake. It measures the visible damage caused due to the quake. It is expressed in the range of 1-12.
Earthquake Zonation in India ● India is one of the highly earthquake affected countries because of the presence of technically active young fold mountains - Himalaya.
● India has been divided into four seismic zones (II, III, IV, and V) based on scientific inputs relating to seismicity, earthquakes occurred in the past and tectonic setup of the region.
Kopili Fault Zone ● It is a 300-km northwest-southeast trending fault. It extends from the western part of Manipur to the tri- junction of Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam.
● The zone has witnessed many seismic activities in the past. This includes the 1869 earthquake (7.8 magnitude) and the 1943 earthquake (7.3 magnitude).
● The zone is located closer to Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT). It is a geological fault along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Vulnerability of Northeast Region to Earthquake ● High Seismicity Level: Northeast is located in the highest seismological zone. The Kopili Fault Zone is a seismically active area, so it falls into the highest Seismic Hazard Zone V. It is associated with collisional tectonics because the Indian Plate is subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate.
● Nature of Soil: Kopili fault zone and its neighbouring areas are characterized by alluvial soils. These alluvial soil have a higher potential of trapping seismic waves. Thus making the region the most earthquake-prone zone in North East India.
● Terrain: The region has a significant amount of mountainous terrain that demands explosions for building a tunnel, road, etc. infrastructure. This enhances the probability of earthquakes.
● Untapped Potential: The region has not seen robust development like the rest of India. Thus, a greater number of development projects like mining, dam construction, etc. in the region are under planning. It may enhance earthquake probability in the future.
● High-technology equipment and tools: There has been an increase in the use of high-technology equipment and tools in the manufacturing and service industries. This has made them susceptible to disruption even by moderate ground shaking.
● Unscientific Buildings: Many buildings in the cities of Shillong, Gangtok etc. are constructed on the sloping ground. That too by excavating some part of the hill. The open ground storey, heavy overhangs, heavy rooftops, and irregular plan shapes are common in buildings that make them seismically more vulnerable.
● Policy gap: There is a considerable knowledge and policy gap regarding earthquakes in the Northeast. Even a good knowledge about the Kopili fault did not result in disaster reduction policies.
Impact of Earthquake 1. Loss of Human Lives: The earthquakes have eaten up thousands of precious human lives across the world. Around 1,542 deaths occurred in Assam during the 1897 Great Earthquake.
2. Infrastructural Damage: Several houses and buildings were damaged after an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 hit Assam. Similarly, the great Assam earthquake (1897) reduced all masonry buildings to debris within a region of northeastern India. This is roughly the size of England.
3. Initiating another disaster: The 1950 Assam earthquake caused huge landslides. These landslides in turn blocked many rivers in the mountainous region and caused floods.
4. Land Degradation: The recent Kolipi Fault zone earthquake caused cracks in a paddy field situated in Tatkal Basti village of Misamari, a town on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh foothills.
5. Economic Losses: A significant amount is spent on reconstructing the lost infrastructure, rehabilitation of masses, and providing relief support to the impacted people.
Countermeasures Required ● The government has to fix the knowledge and policy gap regarding earthquakes in North East India.
● Secondly, the government has to build an effective Earthquake mitigation plan. This would involve constructing resilient infrastructure among other things. For instance, the Delhi Metro pillar can easily withstand an earthquake of magnitude 9.
● An integrated disaster management plan should be developed for the North East. This plan will help in tackling these types of high-intensity earthquakes.
● Also, due adherence to Environmental impact assessment must be observed before initiating mining or dam construction.
● More funding should be given to earthquake planning and mitigating agencies to improve disaster management potential. For instance, the National Centre for Seismology has developed ‘India Quake’. An App for Earthquake Parameter Dissemination
Being in the seismic zone 5, earthquakes are bound to occur in the northeast region. The government is incapable of stopping their occurrence. Although it can definitely curtail their adverse impact by developing robust resilience in consonance with Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
Mains Question: Describing the causes, highlight the earthquake vulnerability of northeastern India. Also suggest required policy measures to minimize the damage caused by disasters.
Cyclone
● The recent Cyclone Tauktae that developed in Arabian Sea has resulted in massive damages to the western coast followed by Cyclone Yass on the eastern coast of India. ● The cyclone was categorised as a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’.
● The Gujarat coast was the worst hit as the cyclone made landfall in eastern Diu with high intensity wind speed ranging from 160-170 km/hr.
● Cyclone Tauktae is the second cyclone after Cyclone Kandla (1998) which affected Gujarat coast so badly.
● Cyclone Tauktae had a great impact on the climate of Delhi and other northern states.
● The cyclonic storm brought massive rain and heavy wind across the western coast of India.
● Tauktae also resulted in flash floods and heavy rains in Kerala and Lakshadweep region.
● The aftermath of Tauktae has raised questions regarding cyclone management in India and also, the rising global warming.
● Usually, the effect of cyclones is seen in one or two states. However, Cyclone Tauktae’s impact was seen on the whole western coast.
● After Cyclone Tauktae , Cyclone Yaas is developing in Bay of Bengal and is expected to intensify around May 25, 2021.
Tropical Cyclones:
● The term ‘cyclone’ has a greek origin from the word ‘cyclos’. Cyclos means coils of snakes. Henry Peddington gave this term as from his view, the cyclonic storms in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea appeared to be coiled serpents of the sea.
● Tropical cyclones are the low pressure circular storm system formed in the warm waters of tropical oceans.
● Tropical cyclones are usually formed between the extent of 5 degree to 30 degree in both hemispheres.
● These tropical cyclones are called with different names in different regions -
1. Typhoons in SouthEast Asia.
2. Willy Willy in Australia.
3. Tropical cyclones in Indian ocean.
4. Hurricanes in Carribean sea.
● The cyclones are typically characterised by inward circulation of air due to presence of low pressure area within the system.
● The cyclonic rotation is observed to be clockwise in the southern hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the northern hemisphere.
● The central calm region of the cyclone is called as the eye of the cyclone.
● Usually, the cyclone eye’s diameter varies from 30-50 km in extent.
● The cyclone eye is characterised by low pressure, warm temperatures, light winds .The region is free of clouds.
● The intensity of the cyclonic storm and the wind intensity depends on the quantity of drop in pressure at the centre and the rate at which the pressure increases outwards.
● A fully developed cyclonic storm system consists of the eye, the inner eye wall and the outer eye wall.
Naming of Cyclones- ● The names of cyclones are done on the basis of World Meteorological Organisation’s guidelines that involve participation of several countries.
● As per the guidelines, the countries are required to give names for the cyclonic storms.
● The Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea region consists of the North Indian Ocean region.
● There are 13 members in the North Indian Ocean Region - India, Myanmar, Oman, Maldives, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and UAE.
● The name ‘Tauktae’ is given by Myanmar and ‘Yass’ by Oman.
Cyclone Management in India- India has a vast coastline of nearly 7500 km. Out of this, nearly 5700 km belongs to areas which are prone to cyclonic storms.Due to frequent cyclones over the years in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea have resulted in losses of lives and damages of infrastructure in the coastal regions. ● The National Disaster Management Authority in India is responsible for development of guidelines related to management cyclones in India.
● Indian Meteorological Department is the main authority in India that is responsible for the provision of warnings related to cyclones to the authorities in potentially affected areas.
For effective cyclone management- Structural measures Non-structural measures ● These are any physical construction to ● These are measures not involving physical reduce or avoid possible impacts of hazards, construction which use knowledge, practice or the application of engineering techniques or agreement to reduce disaster risks and or technology to achieve hazard resistance impacts, in particular through policies and and resilience in structures or systems. laws, public awareness raising, training and ● Constructions of shelter homes and all- education. weather infrastructure like bridges, roads, ● include early warnings systems regarding buildings, canals are included in this cyclones using technology like satellites, category. radar systems, drones; awareness ● Construction of infrastructure for the programmes ; communication and purpose of power supply, communication, dissemination systems saline embankments etc ● Mangrove cultivation in coastal areas.
Way Forward ● Frequent cyclones are a signal towards the harsh results of climate change and global warming. On an average 5 cyclones are formed in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea Region.
● However, a trend has been witnessed where the number of cyclones developing in the Arabian Sea has increased. This has been a result of the rise in temperature of Arabian sea.
● Thus, the global community must come together to work for mitigating the impacts of global warming.
Mains Question: Explain the mechanism of formation of cyclones. Also describe the cyclone management mechanism in India.
The Issue Of Urban Fire In India
● Urban fire has the potential to rapidly spread to adjoining structures. These fires not only take life but also damage and destroy properties such as homes, schools, commercial buildings, etc.
● The issue of urban fires came in the news after a fire caused the death of 15 Covid-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Vijay Vallabh Hospital in Virar, 50 km from Mumbai. This raises a question on the efficacy of fire safety norms that fail to prevent such tragic incidents.
CURRENT SCENARIO: ● It was suspected that the fire at the Virar Hospital Fire began from the compressor unit of the AC. It took the lives of 15 patients.
● The CM has announced a grant of 5 lakh to the family members of the deceased and 1 lakh for injured persons.
● The current tragedy comes within a month of the Bhandup Hospital Fire in Mumbai that led to the death of nine COVID-19 patients.
Data on Urban Fire incidents ● India has witnessed many tragic fire incidents. Eg – Uphar cinema, New Delhi (1997); Kamala Mills, Mumbai (2017) and Taxila Coaching Centre, Surat (2019).
● According to National Crime Records Bureau figures, 17,700 Indians died due to fire accidents in 2015.
● Maharashtra and Gujarat, our two most highly urbanised states, account for about 30% of the country’s fire accident deaths.
● The India Risk Surveys 2018 has placed India at 3rd position in fire incidents. This signifies the grave risks of fire incidents to urban habitats.
Causes for urban fire accidents ● Faulty Electrics: These are the biggest cause of workplace fires. Loose wires, overloaded plugs, old equipment etc. can all result in a fire accident.
● Flammable and Combustible Materials: Urban premises that hold any number of materials that are flammable or combustible represent a dangerous hazard.
● Human Error: When staffs are not trained properly, they are at risk of making catastrophic mistakes. Accidents such as placing liquid near electrical equipment, burning food in the kitchen or spilling flammable liquids have occurred due to human error.
● Lack of awareness among people: In many accidents, it was observed that firefighting equipment was installed. But there is no knowledge training for the personnel to handle the equipment.
Fire Safety Management in India ● Fire service is a state subject and also has been included as a municipal function in the XII schedule of the Constitution.
● Many states have established Fire & Emergency Services through a statutory Act. These acts were based on the Model Fire Service Bill circulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
o Similarly, in some states, municipal corporations and local bodies are responsible for providing fire services.
● Currently, the National Building Code -2016 is the basis for fire safety norms in India.
● Apart from that, India is also taking certain proactive institutional mechanisms to address fire risk. This includes,
o At the Central level, the Director-General of Civil Defence, Home Guards, & Fire Services under the Ministry of Home Affairs is assisted by the Fire Adviser. He will deliberate upon the management of fire services.
o In addition, the Standing Fire Advisory Committee provides inputs for improving fire management in the country.
o The National Fire Service College, Nagpur provides training and education.
ISSUES: ● Lack of robust fire mitigation technologies: Most of the modern Buildings in major cities lack sufficient in-built fire safety services such as smoke alarms and sprinkler systems. These systems operate as early warning systems and fire control measures.
● Poor adoption of Model Fire Safety Bill: The centre has introduced a model bill in 2019 for Maintenance of Fire and Emergency Services of a state. This focused on prevention, mitigation and response of Fire incidents, but many states have failed to adopt its provisions, resulting in greater fire incidents.
● Lack of compliance: Many buildings in heavily congested areas of India do not adhere to the National Building Code and do not have fire clearance certificates.
o For instance, the Surat Coaching centre building didn’t have any emergency exit. This forced the students and the instructors to jump off the building to escape the fire. However, in the process, they lost their limbs and life as well.
● Rapid Urbanisation: This has increased the proliferation of high rise buildings due to scarcity of land. However, ensuring fire safety in them is a complex affair due to lengthy exit routes and more fire- prone areas.
● Development creating greater risks: The sectoral advancement in the country has enhanced urban fire safety concerns –
o In the industrial areas, wear and tear of machinery, storage and new materials etc. add new urban fire risks every day.
● Problems associated with Fire Services: There are certain inherent concerns with the fire services. Such as limited financial resources, working in high-crime areas. Further, they are poor in leveraging relationships with citywide institutions, reaching out to residents to focus on fire safety.
o Further, there is an inadequate number of fire stations and high traffic congestion thereby leading to greater response time.
SUGGESTIONS:
● Enactment of a Fire Act in every state: The states which have not enacted their own Fire Act should immediately enact a suitable Fire Act based on the 2019 model bill.
● Following Fire Safety Standards: The Home Ministry must make sure that National Disaster Management Guidelines on Scaling, Type of Equipment and Training of Fire Services. The States have to duly follow them.
● Regular Auditing: There should be time-bound fire and electric audits of all hospitals within the municipal area. Moreover, the government has to conduct third-party fire safety audits throughout the urban areas.
● Mock Drills: The fire services have to conduct regular fire safety drills so that people are aware of what to do in the event of such a tragedy.
● Awareness Generation: A significant emphasis needs to be placed on creating awareness among different stakeholders like citizens, administrators, politicians, builders, engineers etc.
● Infrastructure and Technology: Simple interventions like constructing water storage tanks at suitable locations can provide water during fire emergencies. In addition, adopting modern technology such as water mist and drones is the need of the hour.
● Financial support to the fire safety department: The government should provide financial support and assistance in augmenting and modernising the fire departments.
o For urban areas, the government can impose a fire tax/levy. The government can earmark the revenue generated for the improvement and upkeep of the fire services.
o Similarly, fire management has to incorporate innovative funding through public-private partnerships.
CONCLUSION: Through conscious planning, the government has to strengthen and upgrade the Fire services in India. To achieve this facet, a robust institutional mechanism and coordinated approach including all concerned stakeholders is desired.
Question: Explain the major causes for regular occurrence of urban fire in India? Give suggestions on how we can overcome this disaster?
Social Issues
Community Participation In Times Of Pandemic ● During the second wave of Covid infections, communities have emerged as resilient entities across the country. ● India’s ethos, value systems and cultural strengths have come to the forefront in these times. Community actions enabled society to overcome the failure of the state and market. Recent Context ● Recently the call given by the Prime Minister for active engagement of civil society in coping with the pandemic assumes great significance. ● The empowered group of secretaries has also identified the role of civil society during this period of crisis.
Background ● NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) work to promote social or political change and play a critical role in developing society, improving communities, and promoting citizen participation. ● At the time of the first Five Year Plan, J D Sethi and other Gandhian economists had called for community participation. At that point community groups collected money and supplemented government efforts for development. ● This role has continued over the years with NGOs helping in various sectors. Examples ▪ Bachapan bachao andolan, Make A Difference- child welfare ▪ Pratham Foundation- Education ▪ Helpage India- old age care ▪ Khalsa Aid, Goonj- disaster management etc. ● However, since the beginning of this epidemic, NGOs and other civil society organizations have given some forward for the needy helping with availability of ration, packed meals, financial help and very recently even in availing oxygen and essential medicines for the desperate patients.
Examples of contribution by different stakeholders ● 1. Religious places- being turned into covid care centres along with delivering essential commodities. ● 2. Student initiatives- Breathe India and HelpNow represent an array of options that have come up from IITians. These apps have facilitated access to oxygen concentrators, hospitals and ambulances. ● 3. Journalism-Newspapers are doing the difficult and painful task of reporting on Covid-related losses and misery. ● 4. Individual acts - In Nandurbar, for instance, a dedicated district collector, Rajendra Bharud, could achieve what now seems a rare coordination between beds, number of critical patients and supply of oxygen. Issues faced by civil society/NGOs ● Information asymmetry on various medical equipment, hospital delivery strategies and
● Lack of clarity over the ever-changing rules and regulations by governments. ● Financial and manpower resources are lacking for NGOs to continue operations.
How can NITI Aayog help? ● Address specific issues involving the pandemic without losing time. ● Engage government institutions that encourage public participation and also support new frameworks for crisis management. ● Should create mechanisms for facilitating the creation of a required space for community initiatives. ● Should leverage advanced technologies (ABCD — artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing and data analytics) for bridging demand-supply gaps. ● It is time for NITI to apply the institutional framework where it has to, to rationalise select activities of communities and overcome the failure of the state where it is imminent. ● Promote cross-learning and experience-sharing to reduce the cost of operations and to avoid reinventing the wheel. ● Scope for the usual bureaucratic hassles should be minimized. ● Participation of communities in decision making and their implementation at local levels need to be explored. ● DARPAN portal for all voluntary organizations/non-governmental organizations engaged in development activities need to be optimized.
Conclusion ● We also have to realize that the state or the market cannot be the only provider for what citizens need. Effective social interactions and community participation can play an important role in scaling up some of the actions that have been found useful. The pandemic has placed before us ways in which community actions have contributed to resilience.
Question: How community participation can be aptly utilized to succeed in the battle against Covid- 19?
Covid Vaccination
● The precarious second wave of COVID-19 infections has hit India with greater ferocity than the first. Second wave of corona virus infections: ● India’s aggressive second wave of corona virus infections marked by over 3,50,000 cases a day and many deaths is clearly the result of lowering of guard against covid early in the new year. ● After prematurely assuming that COVID-19 was virtually over, governments made rash decisions to allow large religious gatherings and political campaigns with little regard for disease control. ● The lapse is now also threatening a nascent economic recovery. Shortcomings in the healthcare system ● Consistent shortage of beds and ventilators has exposed the systemic issues with the healthcare system.
● Temporal and spatial unavailability of oxygen across the country is proving to be fatal for the patients ● Undue pressure on the already limited and exhausted workforce of healthcare professional ● Black marketing of essentials like oxygen cylinder, medicines like remdesivir highlights lack of proper management and monitoring across the system. Vaccination as solution ● Vaccination drives across the country with Covishield and Covaxin jabs have been initiated since January. ● Recent data suggests the efficacy for both vaccines from preventing covid infection is over 70% and over 90% for preventing fatality due to covid. ● Vaccination coverage is set to expand in forth phase from May 1, including everyone aged 18 and older. ● In the first three phases, when healthcare workers, frontline workers, and those above the age of 45 were vaccinated, the Centre procured the entire quantity of vaccines from the manufacturers, Serum Institute of India (Covishield) and Bharat Biotech (Covaxin), and distributed it to states. ● The states distributed the stock to government vaccination centres, which administered the vaccine free of cost, and to private hospitals that charged recipients Rs 250 per dose. ● From May 1, the supply will be divided into two baskets: 50 per cent for the Centre, and 50 per cent for the open market. ● Through the second non-Government of India channel, state governments, private hospitals, and industries that have facilities to administer the vaccine, will be able to procure doses directly from manufacturers. ● The Centre will allocate its 50 per cent share to states based on the extent of infection (active cases) and performance (speed of administration) Challenges of mass vaccination against Covid ● Vaccine Shortage: At the optimistic rate of three million doses a day, it would take at least 260 days from today for every adult to get at least a single shot. Given the shortage of vaccines, India cannot afford to have a single or universal policy and needs to make it more targeted. ● Under Financing: It is unclear if merely the policy move of liberalizing vaccine supply will leave States in India with the finances and negotiating power to procure enough stocks of vaccines. ● Shortage of Raw Material: The inability of getting the much-needed raw materials from the United States – bags, vials, cell culture media, single-use tubing, specialized chemicals, etc. till now has disrupted the vaccine production in India. ● Vaccine Hesitancy- propagated by fake news and unauthorized and unconfirmed sources have made common citizens vary of opting for vaccines. Steps needed to resolve issues with accelerated rollout of the vaccine ● International collaboration- from countries like usa to ensure availability of raw materials for vaccine production as production capacity is sufficient in the country along with accelerated availability of international vaccines by companies like Moderna, Pfizer etc. ● Financing- alternate sources of funding the vaccination need to be sought. For e.g. A legitimate source of funding vaccine purchase is health insurance. All health insurance companies, including
those providing State-sponsored Ayushman Bharat, can legitimately be asked to provide for procuring vaccines for everyone who is insured with them. ● Training more vaccinators for delivery closer to home, stepping up daily administration rates at more centres. ● The benefit of currently available vaccines is to provide protection against severe disease, not infection per se. Mass Awareness campaigns to ensure improvement of vaccination drives across the country by releasing the clinical trial data to boost confidence of citizenry in the vaccines. Other alternatives which will supplement vaccination 1. Preventing super spreader events- a ban on large gatherings, Travel restrictions etc. 2. household surveillance of symptomatic individuals by primary health-care teams supported by citizen volunteers 3. Symptomatic but negative persons and household contacts should be re-tested three to five days later but wear masks and observe isolation 4. Contact tracing needs to be conducted with speed and efficiency. Question- Vaccination against Covid-19 of the whole Indian population will prove to be a herculean task. Discuss the necessity and challenges associated with it.
COVID and Women Workers ● The COVID-19 pandemic has destroyed millions of livelihoods and led to a sudden and large increase in poverty and a massive disruption of the labour market in India. Women workers, in particular, have borne a disproportionate burden. ● According to the recently released State of Working India 2021: One Year of Covid-19 Report shows that the pandemic has worsened the situation. Highlights of the report ● 61% of male workers were unaffected during the lockdown while only 19% of women experienced this kind of security. ● Even by the end of the year, 47% of employed women who had lost jobs during the lockdown, had not returned to work whereas for men this number was only 7%. ● Nearly half of the women workers, irrespective of whether they were salaried, casual, or self- employed, withdrew from the workforce, as compared to only 11% of men.
Furthermore ● Inferior options- Even as new entrants, women were more likely to enter as daily wage workers while men found avenues for self-employment. ● Job loss- Women tended to lose work disproportionately irrespective of the industry in which they were employed. For instance, the share of women in job losses in education was three times their share in that industry. ● With schools closed and almost everyone limited to the confines of their homes, household responsibilities increased for women. Married women and women from larger households were less likely to return to work, suggesting that the burden of care may be a reason for poor employment recovery.
Way Forward ● Expansion of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) ● Introduction of an urban employment guarantee targeted to women. ● co-ordinated efforts by States to facilitate employment of women while also addressing immediate needs through the setting up of community kitchens, prioritizing the opening of schools and anganwadi centres, and ● Engagement with self-help groups for the production of essential supplies like personal protective equipment kits etc. ● A COVID-19 hardship allowance of at least ₹5,000 per month for six months should be announced for 2.5 million accredited social health activists and Anganwadi workers, most of whom are women.
● The time is right to imagine a bold universal basic services programme that not only fills existing vacancies in the social sector but also expands public investments in health, education, child and elderly care, and so on, to be prepared for future shocks. ● This can help bring women into the workforce not only by directly creating employment for them but also by alleviating some of their domestic work burdens, while also overcoming nutritional and educational deficits that we are likely to be confronted with as we emerge from this crisis. Conclusion ● McKinsey Global Institute Report suggests that if women participation rate in the indian economy attains equal level to that of men, annual Indian GDP could increase by 60% above its projected GDP by 2025. ● Thus the government at all levels, along with the help of NGOs and civil society organisations and common citizens should strive towards achieving gender equality in labour force participation. It is not just morally correct but also makes logical economic sense. Question- Women workforce in India has been disproportionately hit by both Covid and resulting job losses due to lockdowns. Analyse.
In Kerala: A Humane Lockdown ● As the second wave of COVID-19 ravages across the country like a wildfire, the necessity of lockdowns cannot be emphasized enough. ● With a national positivity rate of about 20% and over 4,000 daily deaths, restrictions, both strict and effective, on movement and gatherings are the need of the hour to effectively break the chain.
Essentials of a Lockdown- ● The scale of lockdown should be proportional to the severity of the situation i.e. whether to go for national, regional lockdowns or focus on micro containment zones. ● Implementation of such lockdown should be considerate and humane such that it protects the interests of those likely to be worst affected. ● Lockdowns should be imposed only after adequate preparation and planning, involving experts. ● Adequate notice should be given to the affected people so that they have enough time to prepare themselves.
The Kerala Model
● Analyzing that night curfews and weekend lockdowns were insufficient to halt the rapid rise in cases, a complete lockdown from May 8 to 16 was announced on May 6. The 2 day notice gave the state machinery time to take stock of the situation and prepare accordingly.
● The role played by the Chief Minister, being main face of the government’s response including reports on- 1. detailed information on the rate of infections and fatalities. 2. the availability of beds, ICUs, oxygen and vaccines 3. measures taken to deal with the crisis. A direct, open and proactive approach goes a long way in building popular trust and confidence that the crisis can be overcome.
● Engagement with the media of the government fixes both accountability and at the same time prevents rumor-mongering.
● Ensuring that everyone has access to both food and medical attention. 1. Community kitchens and Janakeeya hotels (people’s hotels) have been opened. 2. First-level treatment centres and second-level treatment centres have been set up to ensure that patients are screened and treated appropriate to their symptoms. Only the most serious cases reach the district and specialty COVID-19 hospitals. 3. Domiciliary care centres have also been created to provide shelter, food and treatment to those who do not have the space at home to be quarantined. \ 4. In private hospitals, 50% of the beds have been declared as COVID-19 beds. Focused efforts are underway to assure migrant workers that they need not flee to their hometowns in panic because of the lockdown. 5. Communications in Hindi have been issued, clarifying that they will be provided food as well as vaccination.
● Beds are allotted through centralised control rooms in each district. These rooms also monitor requirements of oxygen and ambulances. Orders have been issued pegging the cost of RT-PCR testing and treatment charges in private hospitals at a reasonable level.
● Empowered local bodies with devolved finances have made the elected officials the first line of defence in the fight against COVID. Panchayat members and municipal councillors, irrespective of their political affiliations, function as foot soldiers. They look out for fresh infections amongst their constituents, motivate people to get vaccinated, supervise the implementation of the lockdown and ensure the supply of medicines and provisions to those in need.
The war against COVID-19 is going to be long-drawn. The second wave will pass but preparations still need to be made for a third and fourth wave. More lockdowns will be inevitable until such time the vaccination programme makes adequate progress and herd immunity is acquired. What is important is to mitigate the impact of these lockdowns on the lives of the poor by guaranteeing food and equitable access to healthcare. The Kerala model can act as a lighthouse in such situations. Question- Implementing lockdowns to break the chain of COVID spread must not come at the cost of welfare of the poorest strata of society. Elucidate with mention of Kerala model of countering the
pandemic.
COVID challenge in Rural Areas
Recent Context ● Close to 90 per cent of India is witnessing a high Covid positivity rate as 640 districts out of the 734 are above the national threshold level of 5 per cent positivity rate, with cases rising sharply in the rural areas. ● Underlining the need to break the chain of transmission, officials have cautioned states about the spread of the virus to tier 3 cities and villages. Reasons of spread to rural areas The surge of cases in rural areas is not unexpected because of following reasons- ● dense networks that exist between cities and villages, ● continuous inter-state movement, ● the return of migrants for Holi and the harvesting season and also in response to curbs in bigger cities, ● the impact of Kumbh, and in the case of UP, untimely panchayat elections, ● The pace of vaccination, the most effective way to fight the disease, is much slower than needed in rural areas.
The spread of the pandemic has been far and wide as newer states like Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland are seeing a high positivity rate and there is a need to take corrective measures to break this chain of transmission.
Effects ● The spread of epidemic in rural areas going unchecked and untraced could prolong the deadly devastation. ● The longer this lasts, the longer it will take a toll on the social-economic fabric of the society.
Economic impact ● Supply chain disruptions at the primary mandi level may dampen the multiplier impact of a good harvest this year following forecast of a normal monsoon, raising the speculation of high food inflation. ● The establishment of MGNREGA sites, a major intervention last year, is unlikely to be effective this year given the spread of the disease. This dims the prospects of firm demand in rural consumption.
● Plus, the ostracisation of families that have the disease could break the community support network in villages, leading to greater distress. Affected families would fall below the poverty line if a disease were to happen in the household.
Issues of Rural healthcare with respect to COVID The first wave of COVID highlighted the Urban-Rural healthcare divide whereas the second wave has exposed the dire state rural healthcare system is presently in. ● Testing is both inadequate and unreliable. ● Hospital admissions of patients with serious symptoms (with or without a test) are hard. ● There is an acute shortage of medical supplies including PPE kits, medicines, personnel etc. ● Contact-tracing is non-existent, ● Bureaucratic red tape has made healthcare even more difficult. ● Vaccine hesitancy among poor, uneducated people. ● Also because of the digital divide, registration for vaccines on government portals is not as smooth.
Solutions ● The Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR) has revised norms for testing with a particular focus on rural India. ● The focus should be on Rapid Antigen Tests which will help in surveillance and aid in breaking the chain of command. ● There is a need for expanding facilities for tele-consultation through more helpline numbers. ● Active participation of volunteers, civil society organizations and NGOs. ● The states should ramp up health infrastructure at the sub centre, primary health centre, and health and wellness centre levels. ● Steps should be taken to improve human resource workforce for Covid management. ● Citizens should be made aware about the need to follow Covid-appropriate behavior. ● States should focus on micro-containment zones with lockdown as an absolute last resort.
The states should prioritize three important areas: testing, containment and infrastructure. All hands need to be on deck as the battle against the coronavirus pandemic will have to be fought in the villages.
Question: COVID pandemic has laid bare the issues plaguing the rural healthcare system. Comment.
Issues In Mass Vaccination Against Covid Context ● The second wave of COVID-19 has hit India hard and predictions of subsequent waves make one thing clear that we are in this for a longer run. ● The high positivity rate because of rapid community spread has put serious strain on the health infrastructure. ● Also, frequent lockdowns are both inadequate to permanently break the chain and not beneficial for Indian economy which is already struggling to get back on its feet. ● The best policy against COVID-19, thus, appears to be to ensure that the infection is mild in most people, and that in those in whom the disease might be more severe, it can be pushed towards a milder form by vaccination. Therefore, it is important to vaccinate as many people as possible.
ISSUES ● Capacity expansion-Indigenous vaccine manufacturing companies will require three to six months from now to increase capacity significantly. ● Technological Lag-The mRNA vaccine technology is new. Though the Moderna vaccine does not have intellectual property constraints and Gennova is making its own mRNA vaccine based on science from HDT in the United States, it will be hard for Indian manufacturers to be able to embrace this new technology without hand holding through the process. ● Vaccine import-Import of vaccines in quantities that can make a difference will be possible perhaps from August, when wealthy nations would have made substantial progress in the immunisation of their populations. ● Vaccine hesitancy Reasons for vaccine hesitancy ● The speed with which the vaccines were developed, ● the introduction of new technology, ● reports of a few serious adverse events, ● The decision of certain wealthy countries to halt using the AstraZeneca shot due to concerns over blood clots and because they had other vaccines, contributed to doubts about the safety of vaccines in India. But it is now clear that vaccines are highly effective and the risks are extremely low. Indeed, vaccines are the only way that we can stay ahead of the virus. It is, hence, important to draw in behavioural scientists to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure that the population is covered. ● India is faced with the unpleasant reality of having to decide the priority in which it is going to vaccinate its population, i.e., the order in which the different groups should be vaccinated. The ethical and humane choice would be to vaccinate the most vulnerable first. If this is impractical, then the choice would be to vaccinate some combination of the elderly vulnerable and the working population in every tranche. ● Leaving the vaccination policy to market forces is neither ethical nor practical. Allowing all adults to access the vaccine at the same time introduces ethical distortions, which no humane society should face. Those with the resources to get vaccinated early are the least vulnerable because they also have the ability to protect themselves.
In a civilized society, when a life-saving resource is in short supply, the government must take it upon itself to both enhance the supply and formulate a policy to allocate the resource. Stepping up to its responsibility with a clear policy roadmap and decision making, it is high time that the government steps in to ensure universal vaccination as it is not just morally and ethically correct, but also corresponding to Right to Life under article 21 of the Indian constitution is a fundamental right of every Indian. Question- Enumerate the challenges faced by the government in ensuring universal vaccination against Covid-19.
Long Covid
● A large number of Covid patients who did not require hospitalisation are complaining about lingering post-recovery health issues including Covid-like symptoms of mild to moderate fever,
bodyache, breathlessness, coughing, heaviness in the chest, chronic fatigue, joint pains, headache, brain fog, insomnia etc.
● Also, people who have not taken either not taken the first dose of vaccination or infected after the first dose, cannot be vaccinated at least for 6-8 weeks post recovery.
What is Long Covid? Long Covid or Post Covid syndrome is a term to describe the effects of Covid-19 that continue for weeks or months beyond the initial illness. Symptoms of Long Covid Although most people who get Covid-19 recover quickly, for some the effects of the virus can last for weeks or months. This is known as “long Covid”. For some, it can seem like a cycle of improving for a time and then getting worse again. These long-term effects aren’t only among those who needed to go to hospital, or even those who felt seriously unwell when they first caught the virus. Lasting symptoms of coronavirus can include: ● fatigue
● breathlessness
● anxiety and depression
● heart palpitations
● chest pain
● joint or muscle pain
● not being able to think straight or focus (‘brain fog’)
● distortion to your sense of smell
What leads to Long Covid? ● According to doctors, in addition to lungs, coronavirus is impacting other organs as well. It can affect the functioning of lungs, liver, heart, nervous system, kidneys etc. ● People with comorbidities are more vulnerable. ● Also effects vary from person to person depending upon- a. lifestyle( sedentary or active). b. immune system. c. functioning of organs. Cure/ Treatment ● Doctors say that vaccination can help minimise these symptoms but the dose can be administered only 6-8 weeks post Covid recovery. ● Therefore, to deal with Long Covid patients, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has suggested that the medical fraternity open multidisciplinary centres where focus is on breathing exercises, short-long walks on intervals which will increase lung capacity and physical strength, respectively.
An inactive or sedentary lifestyle could lead to negative thoughts, which is bad in Long Covid. Eating right (green vegetables, seasonal fruits and basic meals instead of having junk food, fried food etc.), exercising right, sleeping adequately must be followed.
Question-What is Long Covid? Describe the symptoms and referred treatment to cure it.
Medical Education Context
● The recent COVID-19 epidemic has put a lot of strain on the already tottering healthcare system in India. This, along with other challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), need the healthcare systems to be strengthened.
Healthcare workforce
● One of the critical building blocks of the health system is human resources. Health workers are critical not just for the functioning of health systems but also for the preparedness of health systems in preventing, detecting and responding to threats posed by diseases and epidemics such as COVID-19.
● A 2019 report by US based Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) found out that India has a shortage of an estimated 600,000 doctors and 2 million nurses. There is one government doctor for every 10,189 people (the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a ratio of 1:1,000).
The workforce crisis has been aggravated by the imbalances within the country. ● Spatial Imbalances- the doctor-population ratio in northern States is far short of the required norm, while the southern States, barring Telangana, have enough doctors in possession. ● Rural-Urban Divide- across the nation there is a general lack of adequate staffing in rural areas.
To plug in this gap, certain proposals like the recent one such as the NITI Aayog’s proposal of allowing private entities to take over district hospitals for converting them into teaching hospitals with at least 150 MBBS seats might look promising in the short term but there are shortcomings with it as well. Is the Market oriented approach towards medical education suitable to solve the workforce crisis? In order to meet the significant shortfall of qualified doctors in northern States, scaling up of medical education is warranted. However, solely relying on the private sector to fill in the critical workforce gap will not only aid to corporate healthcare but also undermine the established public healthcare system. ● District hospitals are considered as the last resort for the poor. However corporatization will make the health services very costly and exclude them from getting care. ● Even from the perspective of producing more doctors to meet the shortages in under-served areas, this is unlikely to yield the desired result. Private players treat medical education as a business. Thus, it would shut the door on a large number of medical aspirants who would otherwise have a strong motivation to work in rural areas but do not have the means to finance themselves. ● Additionally, the medical graduates trained in such private sector ‘managed’ medical colleges will prefer to find employment in corporate hospitals and not in rural areas to regain their investment.
● Further, this approach is not aligned with India’s national health policy goals like achieving universal health care and health equity. Instead, it will widen health inequalities further.
Therefore, an unfettered market approach or a regulated market with medical colleges that are publicly funded but privately operated, providing competition for traditional government medical colleges, is not the answer to the healthcare workforce crisis. Way Forward ● Medical education is a public good as its purpose is to improve the population's health and decrease disease burden. ● There should be a substantial increase in public investment in medical education. ● By establishing new medical colleges, the government can increase student intake as well as enhance equitable access to medical education. ● Also there must be allocation of adequate financial resources to strengthen the overall capacity of existing medical colleges to enrich student learning and improve output.
Question-Healthcare workforce shortage can be fulfilled by maintaining a fine balance between private and public medical education. Comment.
GENERAL STUDIES 2.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
India –Japan Relations
Context: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has turned out to be a true successor of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, on the foreign policy front.
More on the news:
● His visit to the United States last month has set the agenda for the wider Indo-Pacific engagement of Tokyo and its evolving priorities.
● The Japanese premier plans to visit India as soon as possible.
● His dealings with the U.S. are a preview of what New Delhi can expect from Tokyo.
Introduction:
● In the context of the 21st Century, among all the bilateral relations, Indo-Japan relations have all the potential to transcend this era into an ‘Asian century’.
● This relationship, which incorporates no dispute- ideological, cultural or territorial, was embarked upon in 6th century A.D. when Buddhism was introduced in Japan.
● Direct exchange in modern times commenced only in Maiji era (1868-1912), when Japan set off the process of modernization. Japanese support and assistance to Netaji and INA continue to persist in popular imagination.
● Although diplomatic relations between two countries were established in 1952, it was only in august 2000 when Japanese PM Yoshiro Mori and his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayi set in motion ‘Global partnership in 21st century’.
● Commonalities such as shared democratic values, commitment to human rights, pluralism, open society and rule of law are foundation blocks of this global partnership.
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE :
During World War II
● Since India was under British rule when World War II broke out, it was deemed to have entered the war on the side of the Allies. Over 2 million Indians participated in the war; many served in combat against the Japanese who conquered Burma and reached the Indian border.
● Some 67,000 Indian soldiers were captured by the Japanese when Singapore surrendered in 1942, many of whom later became part of the Indian National Army (INA). In 1944-45, the combined British and Indian forces defeated the Japanese in a series of battles in Burma and the INA disintegrated.
Indian National Army
● Subhas Chandra Bose, who led the Azad Hind, a nationalist movement which aimed to end the British raj through military means, used Japanese sponsorship to form the Azad Hind Fauj or Indian National Army (INA).
● The INA was composed mainly of former prisoners of war from the British Indian Army who had been captured by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore. They joined primarily because of the very harsh, often fatal conditions in POW camps. The INA also recruited volunteers from Indian expatriates in Southeast Asia. Bose was eager for the INA to participate in any invasion of India, and persuaded several Japanese that a victory such as Mutaguchi anticipated would lead to the collapse of British rule in India.
● The idea that their western boundary would be controlled by a more friendly government was attractive. Japan never expected India to be part of its Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
● The Japanese Government built, supported and controlled the Indian National Army and the Indian Independence League.. Japanese forces included INA units in many battles, most notably at the U Go Offensive at Manipur. The offensive culminated in Battles of Imphal and Kohima where the Japanese forces were pushed back and the INA lost cohesion.
MODERN RELATIONS:
● At the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, Indian Justice Radhabinod Pal became famous for his dissenting judgement in favour of Japan. The judgement of Justice Radhabinod Pal is remembered even today in Japan. This became a symbol of the close ties between India and Japan.
● A relatively well-known result of the two nations’ was in 1949, when India sent the Tokyo Zoo two elephants to cheer the spirits of the defeated Japanese empire.
● India refused to attend the San Francisco Peace Conference in 1951 due to its concerns over limitations imposed upon Japanese sovereignty and national independence. After the restoration
of Japan’s sovereignty, Japan and India signed a peace treaty, establishing official diplomatic relations on 28 April 1952, in which India waived all reparation claims against Japan.
● This treaty was one of the first treaties Japan signed after World War II. Diplomatic, trade, economic, and technical relations between India and Japan were well established. India’s iron ore helped Japan’s recovery from World War II devastation, and following Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi’s visit to India in 1957, Japan started providing yen loans to India in 1958, as the first yen loan aid extended by Japanese government. Relations between the two nations were constrained, however, by Cold War politics.
● Japan, as a result of World War II reconstruction, was a U.S. ally, whereas India pursued a non- aligned foreign policy, often leaning towards the Soviet Union. Since the 1980s, however, efforts have been made to strengthen bilateral ties.
● India’s ‘Look East’ policy posited Japan as a key partner. Since 1986, Japan has become India’s largest aid donor, and remains so.
● Relations between the two nations reached a brief low in 1998 as a result of Pokhran-II, an Indian nuclear weapons test that year. Japan imposed sanctions on India following the test, which included the suspension of all political exchanges and the cutting off of economic assistance. These sanctions were lifted three years later. Relations improved exponentially following this period, as bilateral ties between the two nations improved once again, to the point where the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe was to be the chief guest at India’s 2014 Republic Day parade.
Complementarities: Why are both important to each other?
● Various factors have supported the momentum of this partnership viz. India’s economic resurgence, its engagement with USA and its increasing interest and stakes in East Asia in the form of Look East Policy in 1992 and Act East Asia Policy in 2015.
● On similar lines, for Japan, India has emerged as an alternative economic partner and important constituent of Asia’s emerging security order.
● A transition of power is unfolding in Asian continent and the shape and substance of the Indo- Japan relationship is one of its spin-offs. Notwithstanding, strengthening of the Indo-Japan relations is not the only consequence of the rise of China and USA’s shifting of regional policy in the form of “Rebalancing of Asia”.
● Factors like domestic perception of the alliance partner, which is amicable, have stimulated this relationship. Japanese perception of India has also been molded by the dissenting opinion of Radha Binod Pal- the Indian judge at famous Tokyo trials – who declined to convict Japan’s top military brass as war criminal proving that Japan’s imperial history has been discounted by Indian consciousness.
● In addition to this, personal bonding between Japanese PM and his Indian counterpart, who are leading single party majority governments in respective countries, is a class by itself.
AREAS OF COOPERATION:
• Increased Economic Cooperation.
1. Both signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2011 which helped in boosting bilateral trade. 2. Japan has been one of the biggest sources of investment flows into India, accounting for $34 billion in FDI between April 2000 and June 2018.
• Connectivity through Huge Infrastructure projects o Within India- Japan has been a leading financial donor in the form of ODA (Official Development Assistance) to India.
1. It continues to maintain a high degree of interest and support for India’s mega infrastructure projects like the Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor etc. 2. North East integration - India’s Act east policy has North east development at its core. Japan promises to undertake several projects in the region under the North East Forum. It has security (chicken neck corridor) and developmental implications for India. 3. Outside India- Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) announced in 2017 and joint projects in some third countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka and in Africa as well will be taken jointly.
• Defence ties- Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a strategic dialogue between India, United States, Japan and Australia will be carried out.
1. India and Japan signed an “Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement” that would allow the militaries of the two countries to exchange supplies and services on a reciprocal basis during exercises in which both participate, U.N. and humanitarian assistance operations etc. 2. Trilateral naval exercise Malabar involving the United States, Japan and India will be carried on a continuous basis.
• Global and regional partnership- Both have come together, through platforms like QUAD, Asia- Africa Growth Corridor. sLooming presence of China has led to the convergence of economic and strategic imperatives, especially in the India-Pacific region.
• Space cooperation: India and Japan conducted their first Annual Bilateral Space Dialogue, for enhancing bilateral cooperation in outer-space.
CHALLENGES:
• In spite of CEPA India Japan trade it has not produced the anticipated results. In 2011-12, the total volume of bilateral trade was $18.43 billion, but it declined to $13.48 billion during 2016-17.
• Both had diverging interest with respect to economic issues like on E-commerce rules (Osaka track), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership etc.
• Both countries do not have a specific China policy. Despite, converging interests of Japan, India, trade with China represents more than 20% of Japan's total trade.
• No concrete action on projects like Asia Africa Growth Corridor, despite it being signed in 2017.
CONCLUSION:
• Writing in 2006, Shinzo Abe, in his book, Utsukushii Kuni E (To-ward a Beautiful Country), expressed his hope that “it would not be a surprise if in another 10 years, Japan-India relations over-take
Japan-U.S. and Japan-China relations”. Thus, New Delhi and Tokyo which are now “indispensable natural partners' ' and to realise this partnership , both need to expedite work on trade, defence and infrastructural issues. A strong Indo- Japan will arrest the inconsistency being witnessed in the region thus contributing to peace and prosperity in the Indo Pacific region and the world.
Question : Indo-Japan relations have achieved greater strategic heights in recent years. Do you agree? Examine the background.
India – UK Relations
• Recently, the Prime Ministers of India and the United Kingdom (UK) held a bilateral virtual summit. Introduction:
• India- UK being world’s largest and world’s oldest democracies are the best example for multiculturalism and tolerance. As said by the UK PM during his visit to India in 2010 ‘ India is valued by the world not only because it is a rising power but it is a responsible global power’. Though the relationship between both countries started in the 14th century in means of trade, now it extends beyond trade links with deep and close people to people ties and well developed understanding. India being a parliamentary democracy has its close lineage with the UK also has periodical Interparliamentary contacts. Historical Background:
● East India Company (1600–1857): Trade was established between Tudor England and Mughal India in 1600 when Elizabeth I granted the newly formed East India Company a royal charter.
● Following the Indian Mutiny of 1857, where Indian sepoys rebelled against their British officers, the East India Company was dissolved the following year.
● British Raj (1858–1947): In 1858, the British Government assumed direct control of the territories and treaty arrangements of the former East India Company.
● Opposition to British rule increased, both through violent revolutions and through nonviolent resistance which eventually led to Indian independence in 1947.
● In 1950 India became a Republic and the link with the British crown was severed.
● India decided to remain in the Commonwealth of Nations after becoming a Republic. Both Britain and India have since pursued quite divergent diplomatic paths.
PRESENT STATUS:
● India and the United Kingdom share a modern partnership bound by strong historical ties
● India’s multifaceted bilateral relationship with the UK intensified with its up-gradation to a Strategic Partnership in 2004
● A Joint Declaration titled ‘India-UK: towards a new and dynamic partnership’ which envisages annual Summits and regular meetings between Foreign Ministers
● Civil nuclear energy, space, defence, combating terrorism, economic ties, science & technology, education and culture are the areas of cooperative relations between India and UK
● The UK supports India’s proposal for permanent membership of the UNSC and is also an important interlocutor for India in the European Union (EU), Group of Eight (G-8), G20 and global contexts
Political Relations
● India and the UK are bound by strong ties of history and culture.
● India has a high commission in London and two consulates-general in Birmingham and Edinburgh. The United Kingdom has a high commission in New Delhi and five deputy high commissions in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
● The United Kingdom has an Indian population of over 1.5 million.
● Both countries are also members of the World Trade Organization and the Asian Development Bank.
● Three Presidents of India have paid state visits to the United Kingdom: Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan in June 1963, Ramaswamy Venkataraman in October 1990, and Pratibha Patil in 2009.
● Indian Prime Ministers including Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi have also paid a visit to the country during their tenures as the PM of India.
● Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom paid state visits to India in November 1963, April 1990, and in October 1997.
● There have been regular exchanges of visits at the Prime Ministerial level since the Strategic Partnership in 2004.
Economic Relations
● The economic and commerce matters are guided based on the institutionalised dialogues of India- UK Joint Economic & Trade Committee, Economic and Financial Dialogue and India-UK Financial Partnership.
● The growth of India’s multinational companies contributed greatly to the UK's business and economy. As of 2019, Indian companies in the UK generated over 48 billion pounds.
● In September 2017 the High Commission of India in the UK, with the support of the UK India Business Council, announced the Access India Programme, a unique scheme set up to help many more UK SMEs export to India.
● The UK is among India’s major trading partners and during the year 2016-17, the UK ranked 15th in the list of India’s top 25 trading partners.
● As per trade statistics of MoC&I, India’s trade with the UK in 2017-2018 was US $14.497 billion.
● UK is the 4th largest inward investor in India, after Mauritius, Singapore and Japan with a cumulative equity investment of US $26.09 billion (April 2000-June 2018). ● It accounts for about 7% of all foreign direct investment into India. ● As per the data released in 2018, India was the third-largest investor in the UK and emerged as the second-largest international job creator with Indian companies having created over 110,000 jobs in the UK. ● As of December 2018, the total consolidated revenue of Indian companies in the UK is £47.5 billion with the technical and telecom sector accounting for 31% with the pharmaceuticals and chemicals sector mapping 24% of the India-tracker.
Challenges in India UK relations 1. Issues associated with Brexit: There are many challenges associated with the UK’s exit from the EU. Such as,
• Impact on Indian Companies: There are more than 800 Indian companies in the UK. They have commercial contact with India and traded with the EU as the UK was within the EU. But after Brexit, their trade ties with the EU were directly impacted. This in turn affected exports from India to the EU.
• Stagnancy in the relations: For the past five years India-UK relations are stagnant due to Britain’s Brexit and associated trade agreement with the EU.
2. Impact of illegal migrants: There are more than 1 lakh of illegal Indian immigrants in the UK. The UK government so far put pressure on Indians to send them back. But both India and the UK have not yet signed the migration and mobility agreement.
3. Anti-colonial resentment against Britain: India still suffers from the legacy of Partition. Such as the problem with Pakistan and the issue of Kashmir. For example, the Labour Foreign Secretary who travelled with Queen Elizabeth for India’s 50th anniversary of Independence in 1997 mentioned self-determination for Kashmiris. In return, then Indian Prime Minister I K Gujral accused Britain of creating the Kashmir problem in the first place.
4. The closeness of the UK to Pakistan and China: Few Indian observers view the UK as overly sympathetic to Pakistan. Similarly, the Parliamentary Inquiry Report highlighted that India will face stricter and tough visa norms than China. This closeness of the UK to China and Pakistan make India UK relations a distant one.
5. Cairn Energy issue: The ruling of the arbitration court favoured Cairn Energy PLC. This marks an end to the long-running dispute between Cairn Energy PLC and the Indian government. But the future investments from the UK to India demands timely and logical settlement of the Industrial dispute.
6. Influence of the Labour Party on bilateral relations: The Labour Party in Britain still has hard-core policies and ideals of British India. They even protest on many occasions against India’s interest. For example,
o The recent protests at the Indian High Commission in London over the Article 370 move in Jammu and Kashmir, and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
o The UK’s concerns about the farmers’ protests
Suggestions to improve India UK relations 1. India is one of the fastest-growing large economies of the world. But despite that the level of India UK relations in trade is limited. So, both India and UK should negotiate a free trade deal. The trade deal should include,
• Timely and logical settlement of the Industrial dispute between both the nations.
• The agreement should facilitate enhancement of bilateral trade
• A detailed assessment from time to time to improve the trade ties without waiting for another FTA.
2. The UK should live up to its commitment to the extradition of Indian fugitives. For example, recently U.K.’s Home Department approves the extradition of Nirav Modi to India. However, the extradition will happen only when the UK’s cabinet minister approves this order. So the UK minister has to approve the order.
3. The UK should take care to ensure stronger ties with China and Pakistan are not at the expense of a deeper partnership with India. This will improve India UK relations further.
4. Both India and the UK can improve their bilateral relationship by
• Improving security and defence cooperation,
• Conducting joint exercises of Military
• Collaborate with each other in reforming multilateral institutes such as WTO reforms, UN reforms, etc.
5. The Oxford/AstraZeneca’s voluntary licensing arrangement with Serum Institute of India to produce the Covishield vaccine is a significant achievement in bilateral relations. Both countries can use this to improve relations in the future.
Outcome of recent visit ▪ Adopted ‘Roadmap 2030’
▪ It will elevate bilateral ties to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”.
▪ It will provide a framework for UK-India relations across health, climate, trade, education, science and technology, and defence.
▪ This will expand the UK-India health partnership to enhance global health security and pandemic resilience.
▪ This includes firming up international supply chains to ensure critical medicines, vaccines and other medical products reach those who need them most.
▪ Agreed to expand the existing UK-India vaccines partnership. Launched Enhanced Trade Partnership ● It envisages facilitating market access in specific sectors. It will see Britain open up its fisheries sector to more Indian players, facilitate more opportunities for nurses, recognise Indian seafarers’ certificates and enter into a joint dialogue on a social security agreement. ▪ In return, India lifted restrictions to enable British fruit producers to export their produce to the country and improved access for medical devices. ▪ They will also work towards reciprocal opening up of legal services.
▪ Announced their intent to negotiate a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), including consideration of an interim trade agreement to deliver early gains. ▪ Set an ambitious target of more than doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
Announcement of a new India-UK ‘Global Innovation Partnership:
▪ The UK is India's second largest partner in research and innovation collaborations. ▪ The new partnership aims to support the transfer of inclusive Indian innovations to select developing countries, starting with Africa.
Security & Defence
▪ Cooperation on Maritime Domain Awareness This includes new agreements on maritime information sharing, an invitation to the UK to join India’s Information Fusion Centre in Gurgaon and an ambitious exercise programme which includes joint trilateral exercises.
UK’s Carrier Strike Group The UK’s Carrier Strike Group will visit India later this year to boost ties with Indian navies and air forces, undertaking joint training exercises to enable future cooperation on operations in the Western Indian Ocean (UK's Indo-Pacific Tilt).
Light Combat Aircraft Mark 2 To support India’s indigenous development of the Light Combat Aircraft Mark 2.
Potential Collaborations: ● Discussed the potential for further industrial collaboration in areas such as maritime propulsion, space and cyber, marking the start of a promising new era of UK-India research, capability and industrial collaboration on Indian combat air and beyond.
Migration:
▪ Enhance their migration relationship, to make it easier for British and Indian nationals to live and work in each other’s countries.
▪ Welcomed the signing of the India-UK Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) that is aimed at reducing illegal immigration into the UK.
▪ The issue of illegal immigration had been a sticking point between both sides for years. However it is understood that MMP will help genuine immigrants and students and will reduce immigration- related crimes. Climate Change:
▪ Agreed to work together to ensure an ambitious outcome at Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 and expand the UK-India partnership on tackling climate change, including by accelerating the development of clean energy and transport and new technology, protecting nature and biodiversity and helping developing countries adapt to the impact of climate change
Conclusion • A new chapter in the India-UK relationship will necessarily involve two things. One, the UK’s more sensitiveness to India’s concerns. Two, India’s less sensitiveness when the UK expresses its concerns. This will happen when both countries move away from relying on historical connections to the modern dynamic partnership.
Question 1: Discuss the opportunities and the challenges in the India-UK relationships. What is the prospectus of India-UK relations after Brexit and Coronavirus pandemic?
Israel Palestine Conflict : A Historical Background
● Current Scenario: The ongoing violence in Jerusalem is a culmination of the tensions building up since the start of Ramzan in mid-April.
● For weeks now, Palestinian protesters and Israeli police have clashed on a daily basis in and around Jerusalem's Old City, home to major religious sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims and the emotional epicenter of the Middle East conflict. Historical timeline of conflict
● Jews have been persecuted throughout history due to their religious beliefs and foreign culture. ● In 1897, Jews started a movement called a Zionist movement, to
escape persecution and establish their own state in their ancestral homeland, Israel. The World Zionist Organization was created to advocate for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. ● As a result, a large number of Jews started flowing into Palestine and they bought land and started settling down there. ● By 1916, Palestine came under the British control after the Sykes-Picot Agreement (a secret agreement between Great Britain and France). This led to the division of the old Ottoman Turkish Empire. ● Later through Balfour declaration (1917), the British foreign secretary James Balfour agreed to the establishment of a Jewish homeland. ● After Nazis gained power in Germany in 1930s, the Jews influx to Palestine took a major turn with hundreds of thousands of them resettled from Europe to Palestine. Arabs saw this as a threat to their homeland and they fought bitterly with them. As the British Government remained as a mute spectator, violence reached its peak. ● In 1947, the British Government referred the question of the future of Palestine to the United Nations. UN voted to split the land into two countries. Jewish people accepted the agreement and declared independence of Israel.
Arab’s fight against the Israel (1948-49)
● Arabs saw the creation of Israel as a part of a conspiracy to move them out of their land. Consequently, in 1948, the Arab states of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria declared war on Israel. ● At the end of the war between Israel and Arab countries, Israel emerge victoriously. Moreover, it could increase its territory to a larger extent and it marked the beginning of the expansionist policy of Israel. ● As a consequence of the war, a large number of Palestinians either fled or were forced to move out of Israel and settle in refugee camps near Israel’s border. It was the beginning of Palestine refugee crisis which ultimately led to the creation of a terrorist organization PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) in 1964.
Israel’s fight against the Arab countries (1967) In 1967, Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, Syria, and Jordan and at the end of this Six-Day War, Israel captured:
1. Golan Heights from Syria. 2. West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan. 3. Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt. (Refer the map above)
● The 1967 war is particularly important for today’s conflict, as it left Israel in control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, two territories home to a large number of Palestinians. ● Gaza and West bank are together known as ‘Occupied Territories’, after the 1967 war.
UN Charter and return of the Sinai Peninsula
● Under the UN Charter, there can lawfully be no territorial gains from war, even by a state acting in self-defense.
● Therefore, in response to the Six-Day War, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution for ‘Land for peace’ and it mandated that Israel should return the captured areas back to the defeated nations. ● In the light of Israel’s reluctance to return the captured territories, another Arab-Israeli war erupted in 1973 (Yom Kippur war) in which Israel suffered some setbacks. ● In 1979, Israel-Egypt signed a peace treaty, accordingly Israel return Sinai Peninsula to Egypt (1982). Egypt became the first Arab nation to officially recognize Israel as a state.
Hamas and Fatah
● In 1987, Hamas (Islamic Militant group) for the liberation of Palestine through Jihad came into existence. It refused to recognize Israel as a country. It has received support from Iran and Syria. ● On the other hand, Fatah, a faction of PLO under Yasser Arafat received support from Western nations.
Intifada (uprising) against Israel occupancy
● First Intifada: The tension between Israel and Palestine escalated with Israel’s increased settlement in West Bank and Gaza Strip. Palestinians living which in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip fomented the riots began in 1987, known as the first intifada. ● Oslo Peace Accord: With the mediation of US and Russia in 1993, Israel and PLO signed Oslo Peace accord which was based on the concept of two state solution. Palestine and Israel signed the Declaration of Principles – in which both nations seek recognition as autonomous governing bodies. The PLO recognized Israel. Israel agreed to give independence to the ‘occupied territories’. However, territories remained under Israel possession. ● Camp David Summit (2000): It aimed to help the two sides finally agree on a settlement, but the talks eventually failed. The violence led to the Second Intifada. ● Second Intifada (2000-05): In 2000, a more violent Palestine Uprising started and a large number of civilians died on both sides. This is known as the second intifada. As a defensive measure, Israel constructed a West Bank Barrier along West Bank to separate Israel and Palestine settlements. ● Gaza Expulsion plan: This is a unilateral disarmament plan by Israel by which Israel’s defense forces leave the Gaza strip and four settlements in the northern West Bank (2005)
Tensions between Hamas and Fatah
● After Oslo accord, a Palestinian Authority (PA) was created with a limited self-rule power in the occupied territories.
● But this led to disputes between Hamas and Fatah for political power.
● Hamas – do not accept the Oslo peace accord or 2 state peace resolution. They want the whole state. They control Gaza. Hamas is supported by Iran.
● Fatah – accept the Oslo peace accord and negotiates for peace. They control the West Bank.
● In 2006, Hamas won the Palestine election and it intensified the tensions between Fatah and Hamas for power. After a long armed struggle, in 2011 Palestinian Rivals Fatah and Hamas signed a Reconciliation Pact.
● Currently, Gaza is controlled by Hamas and Palestine West bank region by Fatah with known presence of Israeli settlements.
● Operation Protective Edge: By Israel to punish Hamas for abducting and killing Israeli settlers.
What does Palestine want? ● They want Israeli to withdraw to pre-1967 borders and establish an independent Palestine state in the West Bank and Gaza.
● Israel should stop all expansion of settlements before coming to peace talks.
● Palestine wants Palestine refugees who lost their homes in 1948 be able to come back.
● Palestine wants East Jerusalem as the capital of Independent Palestine state.
What does Israel want? ● Sovereignty over Jerusalem.
● Recognition of Israel as a Jewish State. Note: Israel is the only country in the world created for a religious community.
● The right of return of Palestine refugees only to Palestine and not to Israel.
What is so special with Jerusalem? Jerusalem is a city that straddles the border between Israel and the West Bank. It is home to some of the holiest sites in both Judaism and Islam, and so both Israel and Palestine want to make it their cap the solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict ● The best solution is a “two-state solution” that would establish Palestine as an independent state in Gaza and most of the West Bank, leaving the rest of the land to Israel. Though the two-state plan is clear in theory, the two sides are still deeply divided over how to make it work in practice.
● One state solution (only Palestine or only Israel) is not a viable option.
● The need of the hour is to treat this conflict as Israeli-Arab conflict rather Israel-Palestine. As we have seen, conflict is not only between Israel and Palestine but also with other Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Syria etc. All of them should participate in the negotiations and the final agreement should be recognized formally by each one of them along with the UN general assembly and Security Council.
Question- ‘The recurrent violent instances in Israel and Palestine are sowed deep due to the violent history post 1947.’ GIve an account of the historical struggle of Israel-Palestine conflict.
India’s stance on Israel-Palestine issue over the years ● India’s policy on the longest running conflict in the world has gone from being unequivocally pro- Palestine for the first four decades, to a tense balancing act with its three-decade-old friendly ties with Israel. In recent years, India’s position has also been perceived as pro-Israel.
A timeline of India’s approach towards the 2 nations ● 1948 – India voted against the UN partition plan of Palestine in UNGA that led to creation of Israel, being the only non Arab country to do so. (However, India did recognize Israel formally in 1950.) ● Reasons- India’s own partition along religious lines, solidarity with Palestinians, to ward off Pakistan trying to isolate India on Kashmir, later on Energy dependence on Arab nations was a major factor as well. ● 1953 – An Israeli consulate in Mumbai for issuing visas to Indian jewish communities, shut down in 1982 and reopened in 1986. ● 1967, 1973 wars- India held Israel as aggressor ● 1970s- India supported Palestine Liberation Organisation and its leader Yasser Arafat ● 1975-India became the first non-Arab country to recognise the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian people, and invited it to open an office in Delhi, which was accorded diplomatic status five years later. ● 1988 – when the PLO declared an independent state of Palestine with its capital in East Jerusalem, India granted recognition immediately. Arafat was received as head of state whenever he visited India. ● 1992 – Opening of Indian embassy in Tel Aviv (balancing of relations begun) ● Reasons-Break up of USSR, geopolitics in west asia, first gulf war in 1990-PLO lost clout ● 1996- India opened a Representative Office in Gaza, which later moved to Ramallah as the Palestinian movement split between the Hamas (which gained control of Gaza) and the PLO. New Delhi remained firmly on the side of the PLO, which was seen as ready for a political solution, and had accepted the two-state solution. ● 2000- L K Advani became the first Indian minister to visit Israel; the two countries set up a joint anti- terror commission. ● 2003- Ariel Sharon became the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit India. ● 2003-India voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution in October 2003 against Israel’s construction of a separation wall. It voted for Palestine to become a full member of UNESCO in 2011, and a year later, co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution that enabled Palestine to become a “non-member” observer state at the UN without voting rights ● 2015-Pranab Mukherjee, became the first Indian President to visit Israel, with a first stop at Ramallah, had also reiterated India’s position on the city as the capital of an independent Palestine. ● 2018- Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel. India had “de-hyphenated” the Israel- Palestine relationship, and would deal with each separately.
Question- From being pro-Palestine to the recent policy of de-hypenisation, track and evaluate the indian diplomatic approach towards the Israel-Palestine issue.
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue OR QUAD
● Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh warns Dhaka of significant damage to its relationship with Beijing if it joins the Quad, or the quadrilateral framework. WHAT IS QUAD?
● Quad is an informal strategic dialogue between India, the USA, Japan and Australia. It is the collaboration of like-minded democracies across the Indian and the Pacific Ocean. It aims to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region. The idea was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe in 2007. However, the idea couldn’t move ahead after Australia pulled out of it, apparently due to Chinese pressure. ● The grouping regained momentum after 2017. The Quadrilateral coalition was refurbished as ‘QUAD 2.0’ in 2017 on the lines of the ASEAN Summit. Since then the Quad summit meetings are taking place on a biannual basis. SIGNIFICANCE: ● It will provide India with a powerful platform to advance East Asia’s interests and further strengthen its Act East policy. ● The Indo-Pacific will also offer a chance to the US to influence Afghanistan-Pakistan-Taliban policies in a way that is positive and productive for the Indian subcontinent. ● It will promote economic growth with a better market adaptation, thereby increasing India's employment opportunities. ● It can act as a balancing force in the region against Chinese aggression. ● India, as a mistress of the Indian Ocean, holds the responsibility to act as the net security provider in the Indian Ocean region. India along with like-minded countries in Quad can counter China’s String of Pearls strategy and debt-trap diplomacy.
WHY DHAKA IS INTERESTED TO JOIN INDO PACIFIC INITIATIVE: ● Bangladesh’s interests in joining the Indo-Pacific initiative were aimed at strengthening its economic ties with countries in this vast region and also for enhanced connectivity.
● Dhaka views Indo-Pacific purely from an economic perspective and considers Bay of Bengal area as part of the blue economy.
● For Bangladesh, getting part of any security alliance as such is difficult because it believes in non- aligned policies and it will make its bargaining power capacity difficult.
● Bangladesh, which supports China’s Belt and Road Initiative, is open to similar infrastructure cooperation with the US, Japan and India.
WHY CHINA IS SO ANXIOUS ABOUT BANGLADESH JOINING QUAD? ● The recent remark of China against Bangladesh is not just part of its wolf warrior diplomacy but also its suspicion over the Quad (Quadrilateral Framework) grouping of US, India, Japan and Australia.
WOLF WARRIOR DIPLOMACY: This new approach seems popular inside China and reinforces a presumed transition of Chinese diplomacy from conservative, passive, and low-key to assertive, proactive, and high-profile. Wolf Warrior and Wolf Warrior II are Chinese action blockbusters that highlight agents of Chinese special operation forces. They have boosted national pride and patriotism among Chinese viewers. “Wolf -warrior diplomacy,” named after these movies, describes offensives by Chinese diplomat to defend Chin a’s national interests, often in confrontational ways.
● One of the core agendas of QUAD is to ensure that the Indo-Pacific region remains inclusive, free and open.
⮚ This assumes greater significance in light of the expansionist and at times belligerent approach of China in the region. ⮚ Most nations in the region (Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and India) have territorial or maritime security issues with China. ⮚ China has been particularly aggressive in the South China Sea where it has refused to honour internationally accepted maritime laws and agreements.
● So, while the QUAD may discuss economic, development, pandemic and other issues, the core issue will always remain security and defence to counter the growing military might of China that it is not averse to flexing from time to time.
CONCLUSION: China has changed a lot as far as its economic and military power is concerned. It is playing offensive to keep its interests safe and wants no one to raise questions on its activities. It is indicating to the world that it is capable of playing a role of super power. In order to make this possible, China is resorting to wolf warrior diplomacy. However, this policy can harm China’s own interest in the region and can help India to regain trust of its neighbours. The neighbours in the region are discovering that things will not go that easy with China. On other hand, striking a balance between firmly defending national interests and enhancing soft power is a great challenge in Chinese diplomacy today.
Question: Discuss The Significance Of Quad In South Asian Politics And How Can It Help In Balance The Power Trajectory Of South Asia Which Currently In Favour Of China?
American Exit From Afghanistan ● The announcement by President Joe Biden that the US will withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, has sent tremors through the region’s fault-lines.
Why United States is pulling out ● The withdrawal is in consonance with President Trump’s America First rhetoric. According to Trump, United States has been wasting its “blood and treasure” on distant conflicts, instead of rebuilding itself. In the 17th year since its inception in 2001, the Afghanistan conflict is the US's longest running war & has had huge economic as well as human costs. Despite prolonged investment of financial and human resources, the political solution is nowhere in sight and this has resulted in growing scepticism within the United States administration over the futility of military involvement.
Consequences of withdrawal: ● Impact on the peace process: A strong U.S. military presence in Afghanistan is needed to bolster diplomatic peace efforts. U.S. officials are currently engaged in talks with the Taliban. However, the withdrawal at this time will reduce the incentive for the Taliban to strike a deal.
● Fall of the democratic government & Resurgence of Taliban: There are a large number of fence sitters in the factitious polity of Afghanistan that don’t cross over to Taliban’s side because the National Unity Government is seen to have the backing of United States force. Hence, symbolic presence was seen to be necessary, as observed in the US’s Af-Pak policy in 2017. With the U.S. presence gone, the Taliban – with support from Pakistan & limited assistance from Russia and Iran – might seize all the remaining cities in the country that it currently does not control. ● Breeding ground for terrorism: A precipitous U.S. exit would allow Afghanistan to emerge as epicentre of global terror, as during the 1990s & would only embolden other transnational terror organizations like Islamic State Khorasan (the Islamic State’s local province), Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (al- Qaeda’s local affiliate) and Haqqani Network to operate freely inside Afghanistan. ● Poor capacity of Afghan forces: With the withdrawal of forces, the missions now underway, including training Afghan forces, advising them in the field, and waging an air campaign against the Taliban and other militant groups, will face challenges. It will reduce the willingness of chronically under strength Afghan forces to fight. ● Regional instability: The withdrawal might further cement regional instability between nuclear powers India and Pakistan. An Islamist regime in Afghanistan would make Pakistan a central player in the country. ● Refugee crisis: The civil unrest might lead to a mass exodus of Afghans trying to flee the country could trigger another refugee crisis
Consequences for India: ● A destabilized and Talibanized Afghanistan might lead to upsurge of violence in Jammu and Kashmir & can be used as a staging post for launching attacks on the rest of India, as had been the case in late 1990s (IC 814 hijacking). ● There is also an imminent security threat to India’s investments & developed infrastructure in Afghanistan. ● Since India is increasing its physical presence in the region through connectivity projects like Chabahar, INSTC etc., an adverse national government will halt the connectivity efforts, increase the refugee crisis and will have a major impact on India’s energy security and regional ties in the Middle East. ● United States isolationism through non-interventionist foreign policy could open gates to Chinese military intervention in Afghanistan. ● India must start preparing for the inevitable geopolitical turbulence, including the resurgence of the Islamic State and the potential return of the Taliban to power in Kabul.
Way Forward: ● Over 17 years of United States presence in Afghanistan, India was not able to use the opportunity to achieve strategic objectives. India has been hesitant on using the instruments of hard power – weapon systems & platforms – due to fear of being interpreted as adversarial by neighbours. India must step beyond conventional and conservative diplomacy to give monetary and material assistance to the Afghans more proactively. ● India needs to use the goodwill it has earned and the links it has established to cement the anti- Taliban forces, without interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. ● Domestically, India needs to increase its military presence in the border areas, develop cooperation among intelligence and military organization and modernize the armed forces.
● India has to check radicalization in the country through awareness camps through social media and community engagement. ● A more nuanced Pakistan policy has to be adopted in order to fight a better positioned Pakistan in the region.
Question: As the last American troops begin to leave Afghanistan it could have implications for India. Discuss.
India’s Act East Policy
Recently, the relation between Singapore and India got a little bit tense due to New Delhi Chief Minister's recent remarks about a Singapore variant of Covid reaction. Although the External Affairs ministry was quick to disown the critical comments, many Indian policymakers and foreign policy analysts presented a wider and larger challenge to India’s standing in Southeast Asia as a whole. So Indian diplomacy must take a fresh look at its Southeast Asia policy (ACT EAST POLICY) and the constraints being imposed on it by unsatisfactory economic performance and sectarian and communal politics at home. Evolution of India’s act east policy: India’s ‘Act East’ policy is a diplomatic initiative to promote economic, strategic and cultural relations with the vast Asia-Pacific region at different levels. The country’s eastward drive since 1992 has underscored the importance of this region in its contemporary international relations. ‘Act East’ and its early avatar, ‘Look East’ are not different; rather, they are two sides of the same coin, representing two different, but continuing phases in the evolution of India’s policy towards the Asia-Pacific region. When India launched the Look East policy in 1991, its own economic strength, its global status and the external environment were not what they are at present. At the time of its launch, India was struggling to transition from a state-controlled economic regime to a more liberalised one. It took many years for the country to get adjusted to the newly emerging economic environment. When in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Act East policy, India’s economy was relatively robust and its global profile was higher than it was in the decades prior. Modi gave a new thrust to intensify economic, strategic and diplomatic relations with countries that share common concerns with India on China’s growing economic and military strength and its implications for the evolving regional order. Challenges to Act East Policy: 1. India’s Economic Underperformance: China’s accelerated rise since the trans-Atlantic financial crisis 2008-09 and the growing assertiveness initially generated a strong pro-India sentiment in the region with many ASEAN countries wanting India to balance China’s enhanced power. 2. Concerns about Hindu Majoritarianism: In most ASEAN countries, ethnic Chinese practise Islam, Buddhism or Christianity. ⮚ The growing concern about Hindu majoritarianism in India has impacted civil society attitudes in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. 3. Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic: Regarding handling of pandemic, China has handled the challenge efficiently while India is seen to have bungled. 4. Combine Effect: Taken together, all these developments weakened the business-to-business (B2B) and people-to-people (P2P) connection between India and ASEAN despite the best efforts of hard-pressed diplomats to maintain good government-to-government (G2G) relations.
Way Forward: 1. The government should complete the tasks promised in the Delhi Declaration 2018. This includes: a. the digital connectivity projects in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam b. the Trilateral Highway (TH) and c. the Trilateral Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) 2. There must be empowering of states by the government to play a better role under the Act East Policy. For instance, a Northeast branch of NITI Aayog can be set up to bridge the gaps between the Centre and States while implementing the Act East. 3. Reviewing RCEP Decision: Acknowledging India’s economic power and value as a market, the RCEP members have left the door open for India to invite it to be an observer member. 4. Leveraging Soft power: Cultural and civilizational linkages are India’s niche advantage while pursuing Act East Policy. 5. Tackling China: Just like China is showing its assertiveness in the Indian Ocean, India must increase its engagement in the South China Sea. a. In this context, India's engagement with Quad and ASEAN countries is a step in the right direction. b. Recently, the Indian prime minister proposed an “SAGAR (Security & Growth for ALL in the Region) Initiative” for the safe, secure and stable maritime domain. It focuses on creating partnerships among interested states in enhancing maritime security, sustainably using marine resources, disaster prevention & management.
Mains Question: India's act east policy has shown a mixed bag of outcomes. Comment.
Polity and Governance
Upholding Right to Life • Article 21 of the Indian Constitution declares that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to the procedure established by law. About Article 21 ● Article 21 is a fundamental right and is included in Part-III of Indian Constitution.
● It is available to both citizens and non citizens.
● Supreme Court has described this right as the “heart of fundamental rights”
● Article 21 secures two rights: The right to life and the Right to personal liberty.
● Article 21 cannot be suspended during an emergency.
The right to life in Indian constitution does not mean animal existence or the mere act of breathing. It guarantees the right to a dignified life. Some of the rights that are currently included in the ambit of Article 21 include(Maneka Gandhi case): ● Right to live with human dignity. ● Right to appropriate life insurance ● Right to livelihood. policy. ● Right to health. ● Right to social and economic ● Right to emergency medical aid. justice and empowerment ● Right to social security and ● Right of women to be treated protection of the family. with decency and dignity ● Right to shelter. ● Right to hearing. ● Right to privacy. ● Right to information etc. ● Right against inhuman treatment.
● Right to timely medical treatment in a government hospital. ● Right not to be driven out of a state.
Recent context The Supreme Court on May 13 directed the Centre and the State governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to provide free rations without insisting on ID proof to all migrant workers and to run kitchens providing free meals twice a day. However, this would have had more far reaching impact if this verdict had – ● extended the facility to the country as a whole. ● included cash transfers besides meals and rations. ● emphasized on this being a component of Right to Life under Article 21.
These shortcomings are evidence of ignorance towards the right to life seen especially in two cases- 1. Vaccine policy Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is essential for defending one’s right to life; and since the state must respect everyone’s right to life, it must make the vaccine equally available to all irrespective of the recipient’s capacity to pay. This can be accomplished only if vaccination is free as in USA,UK etc It is not so in India. Population in the age group of 18-45 years is expected to be vaccinated at own expense or by respective states. Moreover, the poor vaccination rate of the Indian population is a result of various shortcomings like- inadequate production, lagging in ordering, differential pricing for states, private clinics etc. 2. Loss of livelihood There also has been callousness about the loss of livelihood that has come about during the second wave. The plight of almost 90% of the workforce, involved in the informal sector has been ignored especially by the policymakers and media. There has been no legal or social protection, no compensation for lockdowns restrictions and economic distress for this hardest hit stratum of society.
How can cash transfers be a better alternative to food grains? ● it would have shielded people from slipping deeper into hunger and joblessness.
● And spurred growth, because this money would have been spent for simple, domestically produced goods
Therefore the multiplier effects of this public expenditure would have been much higher. Way Forward The government needs to take up measures that prioritize the right to life which are right now complimentary to ensuring economic recovery as well. ● enabling expanded production and central procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, and distribution to States for free immunization to all; ● universal access to free food grains of 5 kg per month to all those who require it for the next six months; ● cash transfers of ₹7,000 per household for at least three months to those without regular formal employment; ● increased resources to the Integrated Child Development Services to enable revival and expansion of their programs; ● making the MGNREGS purely demand-driven, with no ceilings on the number of days or the number of beneficiaries per household; ● and covering urban India with a parallel scheme that would also cater to the educated unemployed.
Question- Discriminative vaccine policy and haphazardly planned lockdowns impinge directly on the Right to Life, especially of the downtrodden. Comment. Bureaucratic reforms in times of Crisis
● COVID-19 epidemic has revealed the shortcomings in the bureaucratic response to crisis- management.
● System inadequacy is the reflection of the outdated nature of public bureaucracy.
● In the 21st century, democratic countries are still relying on traditional bureaucracies to perform public policy formulation and implementation roles.
Weberian bureaucracy: ● It prefers leadership based on position.
● In today’s system, a generalist is still preferred over a specialist.
● A generalist officer (IAS and State civil service officials) is deemed an expert and as a result, superior, even if the officer works in one department or ministry today and in another tomorrow.
● Specialists in every government department have to remain subordinate to the generalist officers. This has cost us dearly as policy formulations have been left to the generalists when they should be in the hands of the specialists.Dr. Anthony Fauci has been the prominent leader in USA fight against COVID whereas in India it has been the health secretary.
Traditional bureaucracy: ● It is still stuck with the leadership of position over leadership of function.
● The leadership of function is when a person has expert knowledge of a particular responsibility in a particular situation. The role of the leader is to explain the situation instead of issuing orders.
● Every official involved in a particular role responds to the situation rather than relying on some dictation from someone occupying a particular position.
Issues: ● Following up orders and strict adherence to rules has taken prominence over innovative problem- solving.
● The reform movement promotes privatisation and managerial techniques of the private sector as an effective tool to seek improvements in public service delivery and governance.
However, this is not viable in India where there is social inequality and regional variations in development. Way forward: ● It must be remembered that the steel frame of the country should be strengthened by implementing necessary reforms instead of blaming them for problems.
● Collaborative Governance:
● The most appropriate administrative reform of new public governance.
● This model is based on collaborative governance in which the public sector, private players and civil society, especially public service organisations (NGOs), work together for effective public service delivery.
● There is no domination of public bureaucracy as the sole agency in policy formulation and implementation.
● During the pandemic, civil societies are playing a major role in saving lives and this role has to be institutionalized.
● The need of the hour is:
● The flexibility in the hierarchy,
● A relook at the generalist versus specialist debate, and
● Openness to reforms such as lateral entry and collaboration with a network of social actors.
All major revolutions with huge implications on public service delivery have come through the collaboration of public bureaucracy with so-called outsiders. E.g.Green Revolution (M.S. Swaminathan); The White Revolution (Verghese Kurien); The Aadhaar-enabled services (Nandan Nilekani) and the IT revolution (Sam Pitroda).
Question- The pandemic has highlighted that bureaucratic structure in India needs a major overhaul. Comment.
Reducing Independence Of The Election Commission Of India
● The Election Commission (EC’s) independence and credibility has come into question in the recent phase of state elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala. The Madras High Court blamed the EC. It was for proliferating the second wave of Covid-19 during the electoral process by not acting in a credible manner. After this, EC approached the Supreme Court in order to confront such allegations. Although SC has denied any immediate relief to EC, the Matter is still under consideration.
● For democracy to be meaningful and just, it is important that the election system is impartial and transparent. Several efforts have been made in India to ensure the free and fair election system and process. The most important among these is the creation of an independent Election Commission to ‘supervise and conduct’ elections.
ABOUT ELECTION COMMISSION: ● It is a permanent and independent body established by the Constitution of India to ensure free and fair elections in the country.
● Article 324 of the Constitution provides that the power of superintendence, direction, and control of elections shall be vested in the election commission.
● This includes elections to parliament, state legislatures, the office of president of India, and the office of vice-president of India.
● It grants election symbols and also recognizes political parties.
● It issues a model code of conduct and keeps an eye on the election expenditure of candidates.
PRESENT CASE: ● The Madras High court accused EC of spreading the 2nd wave of pandemic and stated that its officers should be booked for murder charges. Similarly, the Media also reported the institution negatively and held it responsible for the second wave.
● The EC then approached the Supreme Court against such allegations claiming it as an act to undermine its credibility.
● The supreme court will deliver the final verdict in due time, although it has issued some advisories – o It is important for constitutional bodies to take criticism from other constitutional bodies in the “right spirit”. o The media has a duty to report “the unfolding of debate in the court of law” and not merely the final verdict. Both aspects are important for people’s right to know.
What are the criticisms facing EC at present? Criticism in Current Elections:
● The Election Commission planned a very long 8 phase election schedule in West Bengal amidst a pandemic. Further, even after the demand of merging the last few rounds of the election, EC showed no interest in the proposal. ● Demarcation of phases and geographies appeared to favour the central Government. ● Half-hearted attempts to ensure that Covid-19 protocols were followed by candidates and parties.
Other Criticisms: ● There have been allegations of EVMs malfunctioning and not registering votes. ● It has also not been able to contain money power and muscle power. Today those who come to parliament and legislatures are mostly moneyed candidates.
REASONS BEHIND REDUCING INDEPENDENCE: ● Selection Procedure: The Chief election commissioner and other ECs are appointed by the President on recommendations of the central government. This raises a question of partisan behaviour of officials towards the ruling party.
● Security of Tenure: EC is a three-member body with a chief election commissioner and two election commissioners. CEC enjoys a secure tenure like an SC judge. However, the other two ECs can be easily removed by the President on the recommendation of CEC.
● Post Retirement Jobs: The Constitution has not debarred the retiring election commissioners from any further appointment by the government. The government uses this loophole for compromising the independence of members.
● Lack of powers hindering independent functioning: It has no power to derecognize a political party or control the extent of party expenditure. Further, the model code of conduct is not legally enforceable.
● Inadequate Political Will: In the last 70 years numerous political leaders and parties became part of the government. However, very few were willing and able to bestow sufficient powers to EC for ensuring independent functioning.
● Misuse of State Machinery: In recent times, there has been a rising trend of targeting family members of election commissioners using state institutions like the Enforcement Directorate, Vigilance commission, etc. This creates additional pressure on them thereby compromising independent behaviour.
IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING INDEPENDENCE: ● Free and Fair Elections: A democracy can survive only when free and fair elections are conducted in it on a regular basis. This requires an independent EC which can curtail the use of money and muscle power and ensure adherence to electoral rules by all the stakeholders.
● Non-Partisan Behaviour: The body can resist political pressures especially from the ruling party only when it enjoys a considerable degree of independence.
● Maintaining people’s Trust: The trust of the masses over the electoral process is contingent upon the degree of independence enjoyed by the EC.
o For instance, people’s trust over EVMs got reduced with increasing instances of partisan behaviour by the EC towards the ruling party.
● Acceptability of Verdict: The losing parties accept the electoral verdict as they believe in the impartial and independent functioning of EC. A failure to ensure the same can create distrust among the parties and in extreme situations can give way to a coup.
o For instance, the alleged election fraud in Myanmar elections gave the military an opportunity for a coup in February 2021.
STEPS TAKEN TO IMPROVE CREDIBILITY AND ITS INDEPENDENCE: ● Election Commissioner R.V.S. Peri Sastri (1986-1990) is credited with reforms like the introduction of EVMs and the reduction in the voting age to 18 years.
● Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan (1990-1996) implemented the model code of conduct, took steps against muscle and monetary power in elections. He also prohibited election propaganda based on religion and caste-based hatred.
● The EC had launched a scheme for use of State-owned Electronic Media by political parties for providing a level playing field to every political party.
● C-Vigil Application had been developed for reporting cases of MCC violation by the masses. It allows the masses to check the authenticity of EC in rectifying their requests.
Other Suggestions: 1. Firstly, the EC must be appointed by a collegium as recommended by the Second Administrative reforms commission. It should comprise the Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Law Minister, and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
2. Secondly, the government should expeditiously accept the 50 reform recommendations sent by the EC.
3. These include:
o Rules on decriminalizing politics, transparent party funding, paid news
o Empowering the EC to countermand an election in cases of bribery.
4. Thirdly, the EC should make judicious use of its plenary powers under Article 324. In the Mohinder Singh Gill case, the SC said that Article 324 gives wide-ranging powers to ECI to ensure free and fair elections.
5. Fourthly, there must be a prudent cooling-off period for election commissioners in order to strengthen independence.
6. Fifthly, the expenditure of EC should be charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India similar to other constitutional bodies such as the UPSC.
CONCLUSION:
There is a need to undertake multiple reforms. This is to reinstall the shaken trust of EC’s independence and credibility amongst the masses. To begin with, the commission can withdraw its overcautious petition from the Supreme Court signalling its ability to accept criticism in the right spirit.
Question: Discuss the powers and limitations of the Election commission of India in conducting free and fair elections.
Judicial Activism And Judicial Overreach (Article 142)
● Judicial intervention in response to the Union government’s failing response to the health crisis has reached its apotheosis with the Supreme Court order forming a 12-member national task force for the effective and transparent allocation of medical oxygen to the States and Union Territories “on a scientific, rational and equitable basis”.
INTRODUCTION: Article 142: Article 142 provides that “the Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it…” Judicial activism: ● It is a “judicial philosophy which motivates judges to depart from the traditional precedents in favour of progressive and new social policies”.
● Judicial activism enjoins judges to use their powers to correct injustices, especially when the other branches of government do not act to do so.
● In short, the courts should play an active role in shaping social policy on such issues as civil rights, protection of individual rights, political unfairness, and public morality.
Judicial overreach: ● When the judiciary assumes the roles and functions of the legislature and executive, thus diluting the concept of separation of powers, it becomes judicial overreach. Unrestrained activism on the part of judiciary often leads to its overreach
Activism can be either conservative or liberal: ● Conservative activism tends to narrow the scope of interpretation to restrict government or individual rights. ● Liberal activism tends to broaden the scope of interpretation to expand individual rights in keeping with progressive social norms.
Judicial Activism to Administrative Judiciary: ● Judiciary’s role got further evolved and it started turning into administrative judiciary while assuming the administrative functions of the executive i.e. ‘constitutional court turning into Supreme ’Administrative’ Court. ● BCCI Case and Lodha report: SC removed office-bearers of BCCI and appointed Committee of Administrators to oversee and implement recommendations given by Lodha panel.
● Liquor shops on highways: SC not only asked removal of all liquor shops along highways but went on to demarcate the precise distance in meters within which the law had to be implemented. The verdict and its details lacked evidence and rendered many jobless.
Administrative Judiciary to Executive Judiciary: ● When judges or their judgments depict an inclination to artisan politics of the executive and they start toeing in the line of executive by compromising their moral and philosophical independence, the institution becomes ‘executive judiciary’. The evolution of ‘executive judiciary’ is reflected in: ● Master of Roster Issue: The Chief Justice of India assigns cases to different benches and judges and has sole discretion in this regard, but his/her decisions have often been charged with bias. Example, 4 senior most judges earlier this year raised concerns that cases of “far reaching consequences for the nation” are “assigned selectively” to “benches of preference.”
Reasons/causes for judicial activism: ● The Constitution is a written document which elaborately mentions the powers of judicial review of courts under Articles 32, 136, 142, 226 etc. Article 50 enjoins upon the state to ensure separation of judiciary from the executive.
● Gradual establishment of supremacy of human rights in India and around the world.
● Tyranny of the central executive and its trampling of the basic structure.
● Rise and growth of corruption followed by resentment of people towards ineffective governments.
● Public confidence in the judiciary.
● Rise of civil society activism by using law to promote social change through legal information, legal education, legal assistance, and law reform. Example: o Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Judicial Reforms (CJAR) initiated a variety of activities to highlight and advocate for judicial accountability like advocating for asset declaration by judges and greater transparency in their appointments and transfers. o Indian Association of People’s Lawyers: Raised the issue of allocation of various important and sensitive cases in a manner that is violative of court traditions, and formulating norms and decorum to junior or handpicked judges to maintain the integrity of the Supreme Court.
Judicial activism is needed as: ● Using judge’s wisdom when law fails: Many sensitive issues need a different perspective and care which laws don’t allow, hence judicial activism allows a judge to use his personal judgement in situations where the law fails. Example, triple talaq case.
● Filling the legal vacuum: It gives judges a personal voice to fight unjust issues which are important but evade the eye of the legislature, for example, countering harassment against women at the workplace through Vishakha guidelines.
● Legislative and executive control: It provides a system of checks and balances to the other government branches, like SC laid conditions for imposition of Governor Rule in states in S.R. Bommai Case, to bring objectivity in the application of the rule.
● Reviewing its own judgements: Courts maintain checks and balances on themselves through judicial review mechanism. Any verdict can be reviewed and made better with an appeal to the court.
● Complete justice: Judicial review allows a court to do complete justice in any case by using its powers under Article 142 and taking suo-motu action based on its own appraisal of the situation.
Issues with judicial overreach: ● Dilutes ‘separation of powers’: It destroys the spirit of ‘separation of powers’ between Parliament, Executive and Judiciary, enshrined in the constitution.
● Limited experience: In many cases, courts are often ill-equipped and lack experience to weigh the economic, environmental and political costs involved like liquor ban case.
● No external regulation: The executive remains “accountable” to the people through 5 year election process but judges exercise self-regulation and are insulated from any external control and thus accountable only to themselves, and their own sense of their limits.
● Conflict of interest: Sometimes when judicial activism is exercised it is done for solely selfish, political or personal reasons.
● Undermines trust in Parliament: It reduces the trust people pose in the Parliament and elected representatives as frequent overreach signals executive inactivity and incompetency.
● Minority rule/ Undemocratic: Judicial overreach appears as an act of ‘tyranny of unelected’ in a democracy.
● Wastage of court’s time: It is wastage of court’s time, which can otherwise be used for adjudicating other important matters relating to public importance pending before the court.
CONCLUSION: ● Although judicial review is a legitimate domain of the judiciary then a limit or boundary has to be drawn. Judiciary, like all institutions in a democracy, should be accountable and know its own limits. It should not become a super parliament that frames laws and a super executive that seeks to implement them. ● The quality and speed of the mainstream judicial system can be improved by a comprehensive and integrative approach, focussed on improving judicial infrastructure and reducing indiscipline.
Question: What is Judicial Activism? Critically Analyse role of judicial activism in Indian polity?
Reservation
● A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court recently held the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act of 2018 as unconstitutional. This Maratha reservation law provides reservation benefits to the Maratha community in admissions and government jobs. However, the implementation of this reservation took the quota limit in the State in excess of 50%. The Supreme Court also held that this law does not qualify for the “exceptional circumstances” mentioned in the Indra Sawhney case.
● Earlier the Supreme court mentioned that it may re-examine the 50% reservation cap set by the Mandal case ruling of 1992(Also known as Indra Sawhney case). But during the recent verdict, the court mentioned that there is no need to revisit the 50% reservation cap. The court mentioned that the arbitrary 50% ceiling set by the Mandal case is now constitutionally recognized.
What is reservation? ● Reservation is the process of facilitating people in education, scholarship and jobs etc. that were faced with historical injustice.
● Reservation is the form of quota-based affirmative action.
● Reservation is governed by constitutional laws, statutory laws, and local rules and regulations.
● Reservation system in India constitutes a number of initiatives like reserving access to seats in the legislatures, to government jobs and to enrolment in higher educational institutions.
Why reservation? ● The reservation is undertaken to resolve the historic oppression, inequality, and discrimination suffered by those communities and to give them a place.
● It is meant to achieve the promise of equality enshrined in the constitution.
● The main objective of the reservation system in India is to improve the social and educational status of underprivileged communities and thus improve their lives.
Constitutional provisions related to the reservation ● Part XVI of the Indian Constitution deals with
▪ Reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in federal and state legislatures.
▪ The constitutional authority of the President to set up commissions to assess and suggest remedies for the welfare of SC and ST sections.
● Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution – extends benefits of reservation to socially and educationally backward classes
Why has reservation demand been growing in recent times? ● Agriculture crisis: Communities like Jats in Haryana, Patels in Gujarat and Kapus in Andhra Pradesh believe that reservations provide a solution to the rural distress faced by them especially the crisis in agriculture.
● Unemployment: is also one of the major factors influencing the demand for reservation.
● Privilege: The agitation for reservation also arises from the fear of losing privilege and the inability to cope with change.
● Salaries and Wages: Wages in the private sector are much lower than in the public sector. Salaries of government jobs are most attractive at the entry-level.
● Demands of Upper castes: Previously advantaged castes like Brahmins, Chettiars, and Rajputs have begun to feel severely disadvantaged as they don’t get any quotas even if they are economically disadvantaged. Thus they want to integrate the economically disadvantaged groups among them in the reserved category.
Arguments in favour of reservation ● Historical injustice: Caste based reservation is a necessity in India because of historical negligence and injustice caused to those backward communities.
● Level Playing field: Reservation provides a level playing field as it is difficult for the backward sections who were historically deprived of education, skills, and economic mobility to suddenly start competing with those who had access to those means for centuries.
● Meritocracy Vs Equality: Meritocracy is important, however, it will have no meaning without equality. The caste-based reservation also minimized the gap between upper and lower castes to a great extent.
● Administration quality: A study revealed that reservations have not affected the efficiency of administration, but enhanced quality. The best example is the Indian Railways in which the SC/ST employees comprise more in number, and the results have been better.
Arguments against reservation ● The majority of lower castes have stepped up the social ladder and are now on an equal status compared to the general population. Hence, there is no need for reservation anymore. ● A reservation only provides a limited and short-term solution to the historical injustice issues. ● Reservation is obviously a tool to address social and educational backwardness, however, it does not have solutions for all social and economic ailments. There are much better and innovative ways to solve those issues. However, reservation prevents the leadership from coming up with viable solutions. ● As the reservation grows larger, it becomes a mechanism of exclusion rather than of inclusion. Because, nowadays, the previously advantaged communities have become disadvantaged to a large extent due to the reservation conundrum. Many upper castes are still plagued by poverty and illiteracy. Why does equality and justice don’t work for them? ● Reservation brings down the economic growth rate of the country as it reduces the efficiency of its labour. ● Reservation agitations may cause social unrest as it was at the time of the Mandal Commission (1990).
Historical background of Judicial interventions on reservation policy
1. The state of Madras vs Smt.Champakam Dorairajan (1951) case: In this case, the court held that the caste-based reservations violate provisions of Article 15(1). Article 15(1) provides for non- discrimination of the State against citizens based only on religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, or any of them. This resulted in the First Constitutional Amendment. The Parliament amended Article 15 to include provisions of reservation under Article 15(4).
2. M R Balaji vs State of Mysore case 1963 and Devadasan v Union of India case 1964: In these cases, the court held that the efficiency of public administration is essential. Further the court asked the government to maintain the reservation to 50%
3. Indra Sawhney vs Union of India Case 1992: In this, the court held that the reservation should not exceed 50 per cent in total, unless in exceptional circumstances. Further, the Court held to remove the creamy layer among OBCs from the reservation. Apart from that, the Court also held that there should not be reservations in promotions. But the government enacted the 77th Constitutional Amendment Act(CAA) to provide reservations for SCs and STs in Promotion(Article 16(4A)).
4. M. Nagaraj vs Union of India case 2006: In this, the court upheld the 77th CAA. But the court also mentioned certain conditions to be maintained in such a reservation. Such as, o The reservation policy shall not affect the overall administrative efficiency o Reservation is applicable only when the SCs and STs are not adequately represented in public employment.
Current Scenario What is the Maratha reservation policy? The Maharashtra government appointed a nine-member Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission headed by Justice M.G. Gaikwad. The commission recommended reservation for the Marathas in 2018. In 2018 itself, the Maharashtra government enacted a law. It provides 16 percent reservation to the Maratha community in jobs and admissions. The law termed the Maratha community as a socially and educationally backward class (SEBC). However, the Maratha reservation violated the 50% ceiling mentioned as in the Indra Sawhney case. The law was challenged in Bombay High Court. The Bombay High Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Act. But the Bombay High Court reduced the Maratha reservation to 12% in education and 13% in employment (Instead of 16%). However, an appeal was filed in the Supreme Court. In that case, the Supreme Court held that the reservation is unconstitutional.
Current Ruling: Violation of Fundamental Rights ● A separate reservation for the Maratha community violates Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (due process of law). ● Reservation breaching the 50% limit will create a society based on “caste rule”. ● The Maratha reservation of 12% and 13% (in education and jobs) had increased the overall reservation ceiling to 64% and 65%, respectively. ● In the Indira Sawhney judgment 1992, SC had categorically said 50% shall be the rule, only in certain exceptional and extraordinary situations for bringing far-flung and remote areas' population into mainstream said 50% rule can be relaxed.
No Further Benefits: ● Appointments made under the Maratha quota following the Bombay High Court judgment endorsing the State law would hold, but they would get no further benefits.
Deprived States of the Power to Identify SEBCs:
● There will only be a single list of SEBC with respect to each State and Union Territory notified by the President of India, and that States can only make recommendations for inclusion or exclusion, with any subsequent change to be made only by Parliament. ● The Bench unanimously upheld the constitutional validity of the 102nd Constitution Amendment but differed on the question whether it affected the power of states to identify SEBCs.
Direction to NCBC: ● Asked the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to expedite the recommendation of SEBCs so that the President can publish the notification containing the list of SEBCs in relation to States and Union Territories expeditiously.
Implication of Maratha Reservation Judgement 1. The implication of the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act: As the judgment upheld the constitutional validity of the 102nd Amendment Act, the President alone has the power to notify backward classes from now on. Apart from that, the Central List will now be the “only list” for the SEBC. This means that the Centre alone is empowered to identify SEBC from now on.
2. The question of constitutional Validity of the 103rd Amendment: This amendment provides for 10% reservation for the EWS in government jobs and educational institutions from the unreserved category. The Maratha reservation judgment mentioned 50% as the cap for reservation. But after the enactment of the 103rd Amendment Act, the total reservation now stands at 59.5 per cent. This is a clear violation of the Indra Sawhney judgement.
3. The constitutional validity of State reservation laws-The judgement mentions that the States can only make suggestions to the President or the statutory commissions. But several states have enacted various local reservation laws. Their constitutional validity was in question after the Maratha reservation judgement. States having such laws include,
o The Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, SCs and STs Act, 1993: By this Act, the Tamil Nadu government provided 69 percent of reservations in educational institutions and jobs in the state government. The State further got the ascent of President and placed this law in Schedule IX of the Constitution.
o As the Law is placed in the Ninth Schedule, the law could not be challenged in court for the violation of fundamental rights. However, the Court in the I R Coelho v State of Tamil Nadu case held that the Laws in Ninth Schedule can be challenged for the violation of the basic structure of the Constitution. The Supreme court is yet to decide the case of Tamil Nadu reservation law.
o Haryana and Chhattisgarh have also passed laws providing reservations in excess of the 50 percent reservation mark. These laws were also challenged in the Supreme Court.
o Apart from these legislations, there are many protests from various parts of India demanding special reservations above the 50 percent limit. Few examples are,
o Patels in Gujarat,
o Jats in Haryana,
o Kapus in Andhra Pradesh
Solutions 1. As mentioned by the judgment itself the National Backward Classes Commission must publish a fresh list of SEBCs, both for states and the central list. Till the publication, the existing lists operating in all states and union territories can continue.
2. The government has to subclassify the Backward Classes like in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal etc. This will provide the benefit to intended beneficiaries. Since the government has already appointed Justice G Rohini Panel on Sub-categorisation of OBCs. The Panel has to fast pace the sub-classification process.
3. The government has to remove the well-off sections from the reservation policy. The government can achieve this by moving away from reservation based on a citizen’s conditions rather than community-based reservations
In conclusion, the government has to understand that the reservation policy is a temporary measure in the direction of social inclusion. The government can achieve social inclusion by better education policies, enhancing the skill development of backward communities, not by providing more reservations. So, providing more and more reservation gradually is itself not a permanent solution. Question 1- Reservation in India, rather than an affirmative action, has become a tool for vote bank politics and an entry into election manifesto. Comment. Question 2- Highlighting the observation of the Supreme Court in the Maratha Reservation verdict, outline how the reservation policy can be better targeted to truly cater to the deserving citizens/sections of society.
The case for House Arrest Current Scenario Under trial is a ● The pandemic has put the spotlight on inhumane conditions in Indian person who is in prisons. judicial custody ● Our criminal justice system hasn’t been able to ensure reasonably speedy or remand trials and along with tardy and often skewed investigations and during prosecutions, these inefficiencies have ensured that under trials languish in investigation and jails for decades. denotes an unconvicted ● Also courts rarely step in to ensure a thorough investigation and robust prisoner. prosecutions, or a time-bound conclusion to trials.
Concern: ● Overcrowded jails, poor hygiene conditions, and little or no statutory monitoring of the state of affairs, which seriously endanger prisoners’ right to health and therefore, a right to a life with dignity, under Article 21.
● The lack of interest of the vast Indian middle class on the issue has amplified colonial and post- colonial constructs of the prisoner, especially the political prisoner.
The option of HOUSE ARREST So far house arrest has been applied in following cases- 1. It has been used as a means of restricting movement and ensuring surveillance when an individual or groups of individuals are subject to preventive detention. 2. In more recent times, house arrest has been used to repress political dissent before trial.
However recently- 1) The May 12, 2021 judgment of the SC urges courts to actively use the option of house arrest in cases where “age, health conditions and antecedents of the accused” are a criterion. The Court’s observation include:
1. The overcrowding of jails (on an average at least 118 per cent higher than the limit) 2. And the expanding costs to the exchequer.
2) The Calcutta High Court on May 21 2021, in the case of three serving elected officials and ministers of the TMC-led Bengal government, ordered house arrest. The court even allowed them to perform some official duties under observation.
Government stand: ● Only a few governments have evolved any legal understanding around the issue of political prisoners.
● West Bengal engaged with this issue and, in 1992, passed the West Bengal Correctional Services Act that provides:
1. Residence in correctional homes. 2. Under Section 19(4) special categorisation of a prisoner as a political prisoner.
Conclusion Given the context of the abysmal conditions of Indian prisons and the absence of political will in proper monitoring, the option of house arrest must be seen as a positive opportunity. The courts should actively use and implement this as an option because of two major reasons- ● The familiarity of the under trial with her or his place of residence. ● The ability to get prompt medical attention.
Question- In the backdrop of pandemic and generally deplorable conditions of prisons, the option of House arrest should be actively pursued. Comment.
Federalism During Pandemic
The second wave of Covid-19 is creating havoc in the country. The country is facing challenges in overcoming the medical Oxygen crisis, lockdown associated losses to the economy, etc. All this
necessitated coordination between the center and the states. While states are struggling with a lack of financial resources, the center is finding itself helpless in tackling the pandemic all over the country on its own. Introduction: India’s success in defeating Covid-19 actively rests upon Centre-State collaboration. As it is the States which act as first responders to the pandemic, supplying them with adequate funds and autonomy becomes a prerequisite in effectively tackling the crisis. This requires the Centre to view the States as equals, and strengthen their capabilities, instead of increasing their dependence upon itself. In this context, Covid-19 poses a litmus test for the federal structure of India, whose nature is already a matter of debate amongst constitutional experts. Federalism in India: Federalism traditionally signifies the independence of the Union and State governments of a country, in their respective spheres. However, due to the centralising tendency of Indian federalism, K C Wheare referred to it as “Quasi federal”. Similarly other constitutional experts describe it as, “federation without federalism” and “a Union of Unequal States”, particularly the way it has evolved over the years. Features of Indian federation:
Federalism during Pandemic: The initial stages of the Covid-19 response highlighted the unitary tilt in the Indian federal structure. For example, ● Implementing a national lockdown using the powers under Disaster Management Act.
● The Ministry of Home Affairs also issued extensive guidelines to states for controlling the pandemic.
● Although the State has independent powers under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, State governments followed the Centre’s orders.
● State governments also requested the central government to continue its administration of the national lockdown.
● In doing so, states ceded considerable decision-making power to the central government
Federalism at present: If the initial phase of Covid-19 management resulted in high centralisation, then the later phase seen high decentralisation. For example,
● The Union government provided adequate autonomy to the states to strengthen their healthcare facilities. For example, the New Vaccination policy vests 50 percent of the purchasing of vaccines to the State governments.
● Imposition of localised lockdowns: The central government permitted the State government to impose local lockdowns to control the spread of the pandemic. For example, Lockdowns by Delhi and Tamil Nadu governments.
● Implement social security measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Many state governments have introduced local health policies, welfare measures for vulnerable sections, etc.
Challenges: 1. More centralisation: At present the Autonomy of the state is limited. The Centre used its power to push much-needed reforms in the State list also. For example, the enactment of farm laws and various policies of the centre in subjects like Health, etc.
2. Loss of Fiscal revenue for States: The national lockdown resulted in shutting down almost all economic activity; the State Governments faced a drastic reduction in revenue. Even before the lockdown, many states in India already breached their mandated fiscal deficit limits. The lockdown has further increased their financial dependence on the centre.
3. The power of the Centre to approve the FDI inflows: Even many states are negotiating with foreign investors; they do not have the power to bring FDI into their state. In India, the approval for FDIs is centralised. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) being the nodal Ministry for FDI approvals. So, the state governments depend on the centre for approval/rejection/modification of their foreign inflows.
4. The power of the Centre to accept Foreign aid: The states have no power to receive foreign aid to tackle the disaster they face. For instance, During the Kerala Floods, the center turned down the foreign aid despite the Kerala government’s request for approval of aid.
Initiatives taken by the government: 1. The concept of Fiscal Federalism: As the national lockdown impacted the State’s revenue the centre implemented many measures to strengthen “Fiscal Federalism.” Such as ● Enhancement of Borrowing Limit of States: Union Government permitted the State Governments to borrow within the Net Borrowing Ceiling of 3% of their GSDP in a financial year. ● Ways and Means Advances: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provides Ways and Means Advances (WMA) to the States. This is to help them tide over temporary mismatches in the cash flow of their receipts and payments. During the pandemic, the RBI increased the WMA limit of States. This gave immediate liquidity to States to borrow short-term funds from RBI at a lower rate of interest. It provided them greater comfort to undertake Covid-19 containment and mitigation efforts. ● Financial Assistance to States: The central government announced the Scheme of Financial Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure in October 2020. The Scheme contains total funding of Rs. 12,000 crore. Of that part of the allocation was set aside for States. ● Maintaining Tax Devolution to States: The 15th Finance Commission recommended 41% tax devolution. The centre accepted the devolution. Despite the pandemic, the Centre empowered the States fiscally well-equipped to fight the pandemic.
2. More active collaboration with states in policy making: While drafting new legislation or trying to amend any existing legislation the Central Government consults all State Governments. Today, the draft legislations are shared online on websites for larger outreach and stakeholder consultations. For example, the drafting of the Model Tenancy Act has involved all State Governments and stakeholders 3. States ability to perform foreign economic policy: The Centre encouraging states to negotiate loans / FDI directly with overseas banks/institutions. Such initiatives have helped some states in their economic development and reduced their financial dependence on the Centre. So at present, the State not only relies on the Centre’s grants in aid. But still, the approval for FDIs is centralised. At present, the States also start overseas facilities to attract FDI directly. For example, the Gujarat Government in 2014 set up international desks independently in the USA, China, Japan for facilitating “INVEST IN VIBRANT GUJARAT”.
Conclusion: India’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the balance of its federal structure. The most important moment for federalism during the pandemic is the role of state governments on the ground level in managing the Covid-19 crisis. The Centre also provided more power and autonomy to states to tackle the pandemic. But the Centre and States have to ensure the right balance between extreme political centralisation or chaotic political decentralisation.
Question: Covid-19 pandemic has created imbalance in the federal structure of India. Discuss
Social Justice
Universal Social Welfare
• India is one of the largest welfare states in the world yet, amidst the pandemic of COVID-19, the state failed to provide welfare for its most vulnerable citizens. • India is one of the largest welfare states in the world and yet, with COVID-19 striking in 2020, the state failed to provide for its most vulnerable citizens.The country witnessed multiple crises: mass inter- and intra-migration, food insecurity, and a crumbling health infrastructure. The extenuating circumstance of the pandemic has pushed an estimated 75 million people into poverty.The second wave has brought even the middle and upper-class citizens to their knees.Economic capital, in the absence of social capital, has proven to be insufficient in accessing healthcare facilities. Illness is universal, but healthcare is not. Social capital: 1. Social capital is a sense of belonging and the concrete experience of social networking that can bring great benefits to people.
2. It consists of trust, mutual understanding, shared values and behaviour that bind together the members of a community and make cooperative action possible.
3. The key institutions that can be said to contribute to the development of social capital range from grass roots level community-based initiatives like Residents Welfare Associations, Self-Help Groups, Cooperatives, Charitable Societies, Trusts as well as Self-Regulating Professional Bodies such as the Medical Council of India, Bar Council etc.
4. Such interaction enables people to build communities, to commit themselves to each other, and to knit the social fabric.
5. The alignment of business operations with social values, which is the essence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is at the heart of its ability to contribute to social development alongside economic development.
Universal Social Welfare/Social Security: ● According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Social Security is a comprehensive approach with an aim:
o To prevent deprivation,
o To give assurance to the individual of a basic minimum income for himself and his dependents,
o Also, to protect the individual from any uncertainty.
● Social welfare systems provide assistance to individuals and families through programs; such as health care, food stamps, unemployment compensation, housing assistance, etc.
● Giving such protection to every individual in the country is called Universal Social Welfare.
Schemes and Initiatives for Social Welfare in India: ● Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): It guarantees 100 days of work a year to every rural household with an aim to enhance the livelihood security of people.
● National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): The program extends social assistance to poor households. It covers the aged, widows, disabled, and families where the breadwinner has passed away.
● Integrated Child Development Services: It is a government program in India that provides food, preschool education, primary healthcare, cash transfers to families, etc. It covers children less than 6 years of age and their mothers.
● Ayushman Bharat – PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojana (PMJAY): It provides insurance up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for in-patient secondary and tertiary treatment. It covers over 100 million vulnerable families, which is about 500 million people.
Need of Universal Social Welfare: ● Vulnerability of masses: The pandemic has enhanced the vulnerability of masses as:
o It has pushed an estimated 75 million people into poverty.
o The second wave has shown even money is not enough to access health care services. It has brought even the middle and upper-class citizens to their knees.
o Thus, focusing just on the lower section of society is not sufficient. Now, even the middle class is in need of government assistance.
● Poor performance of Social Welfare schemes: The country has over 500 direct benefit transfer schemes. However, many schemes weren’t able to get desired benefits during the pandemic.
o The schemes are fractionalised across various departments and sub-schemes. This causes problems in every stage from data collection to last-mile delivery.
o Further, Pandemic necessitates a program that can provide assistance at a very fast pace. It should be provided before people start suffering from starvation and hunger.
● Better results: India’s Pulse Polio Universal Immunisation Program helped it to become polio-free in 2014. This shows the country has the potential to run universal programs and achieve better results.
● Nature of Indian workforce: More than 90% of the workforce is in the unorganized sector thereby depriving them of job security, labour rights, and post-retirement provisions.
o Further, with the advancement of big data, artificial intelligence, and other new technologies; experts fear greater job losses in the country.
● Avoiding Inclusion/Exclusion errors: Universal system will encompass every individual and household in the country thereby tackling the problem of inclusion/exclusion.
o For instance, PDS can be linked to a universal identification card such as the Aadhaar or voter card, in the absence of a ration card.
o This would allow anyone who is in need of food grains to access these schemes especially the migrant populations.
● Improved Living Standard: Access to education, maternity benefits, disability benefits, etc. social benefits would ensure a better standard of living for the people.
Challenges in adopting Universal Social Welfare ● Financial Burden: Overall public expenditure on social protection (excluding public healthcare) is only approx. 1.5% of the GDP, lower than many middle-income countries across the world. However, huge sums of money would be required to universalize social welfare.
● One Size Approach: Universal Social Welfare may be built on a unified approach that may deliver sub-optimum results. This would happen as the political economy, labor markets, demographic attributes, and risk profiles vary by location.
● Unequal Degree of Infrastructure across the country: The idea of USW requires each and every village to have decent electricity and optic fibre network for smooth dissemination of data.
o However, the Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators April – June 2020 show only 750 million people have an internet connection out of 1.3 billion.
● Leakages and Corruption in Governance: India has slipped to 86th position in Transparency International (TI)’s Corruption Perception Index 2020. A high degree of corruption may result in a higher cost for USW and the exclusion of genuine beneficiaries.
Suggestions to implement Universal Social Welfare ● Firstly, the government should map the State and Central schemes in a consolidated manner. This would avoid duplication, inclusion, and exclusion errors in delivering welfare services. o For instance, PradhanMantriGaribKalyanYojana (PMGKY) can become a Universal Social Welfare scheme. o It already consolidates the public distribution system (PDS), the provision of gas cylinders, and wages for the MGNREGA. o Similarly, MGNREGA can be extended to urban areas which would reduce the plight of the urban poor. o PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojana (PMJAY) should be converted into a universal healthcare scheme i.e. available to all and at every level of healthcare.
● Secondly, it must compute the costs of delivering universal social services. Post computation, there is a need for robust steps to arrange the requisite amount.
● Thirdly, the country can learn from successful global models like Ireland’s Poor Law System. o The system was introduced in the 19th century to provide relief to the masses. It was financed by local property taxes. o The system was built keeping in mind the future economic crisis and dignity of the masses. o It has now evolved into a four-fold apparatus. It promises social insurance, social assistance, universal schemes, and extra benefits/supplements.
● Fourthly, there must be a focus on data digitization, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration across government departments. This would improve the implementation potential.
● Fifthly, universal social protection architecture should give respect to decentralization. Under this, the higher-level government should allow local governments to design, plan and deliver a core basket of benefits within a nationally defined policy framework and budget.
Conclusion: India should provide social welfare services to every citizen as a responsible welfare state. This would be in line with the Directive Principles of State Policies and help in the attainment of the UN’s sustainable development goals by 2030.
Question: What are the issues with existing social security schemes in India? List out the benefits of replacing all these social security schemes with a universal social security scheme?
One Health Approach ● The devastation caused by COVID-19 across the world and especially the second wave in india has brought to the fore the significance of ‘One Health Approach’ ● World Veterinary Day, on April 24, 2021, focused on acknowledging the interconnectedness of animals, humans, and the environment, an approach referred to as “One Health” What is One Health Approach? ● The father of modern pathology, Rudolf Virchow, emphasized in 1856 that there are essentially no dividing lines between animal and human medicine. ● One Health concept is a worldwide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for people, animals, and the environment. ● One Health approach identifies that zoonotic diseases, environmental pressures, food security, antimicrobial resistance, and health threats of animals and humans are all inter-related.
Zoonoses- are those diseases and infections which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans. ● Zoonoses may be bacterial, viral or parasitic or may involve unconventional agents. ● Studies indicate that more than two- thirds of existing and emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, or can be transferred between animals and humans, and vice versa.
The trans boundary impact of viral outbreaks in recent years such as the Nipah virus, Ebola, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Avian Influenza has further reinforced the need for us to consistently document the linkages between the environment, animals, and human health. India’s “One Health” vision India’s ‘One Health’ vision derives its blueprint from the agreement between the tripartite-plus alliance comprising the- 1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 2. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), 3. The World Health Organization (WHO) and
4. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) — a global initiative supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank under the overarching goal of contributing to ‘One World, One Health’.
Steps taken by India 1. India established a National Standing Committee on Zoonoses as far back as the 1980s. 2. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has launched several schemes to mitigate the prevalence of animal diseases since 2015.Hence, under the National Animal Disease Control Programme, ₹13,343 crore have been sanctioned for Foot and Mouth disease and Brucellosis control. 3. In addition, DAHD will soon establish a ‘One Health’ unit within the Ministry. 4. In 2021, funds were sanctioned for setting up a ‘Centre for One Health’ at Nagpur. 5. Additionally, the government is working to revamp programmes that focus on capacity building for veterinarians and upgrading the animal health diagnostic system such as Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD). 6. In the revised component of assistance to States/Union Territories, there is increased focus on vaccination against livestock diseases and backyard poultry. To this end, assistance will be extended to State biological production units and disease diagnostic laboratories. 7. DAHD has partnered with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the National Action Plan for Eliminating Dog Mediated Rabies. This initiative is geared towards sustained mass dog vaccinations and public education to render the country free of rabies. (WHO estimates that rabies costs the global economy approximately $6 billion annually. Considering that 97% of human rabies cases in India are attributed to dogs, interventions for disease management in dogs are considered crucial)
Challenges ● Scientists have observed that there are more than 1.7 million viruses circulating in wildlife, and many of them are likely to be zoonotic, which implies that unless there is timely detection, India risks facing many more pandemics in times to come. ● To achieve targets under the ‘One Health’ vision, efforts are ongoing to address challenges pertaining to- 1. veterinary manpower shortages, 2. the lack of information sharing between human and animal health institutions, and 3. in adequate coordination on food safety at slaughter, distribution, and retail facilities.
These issues can be remedied by consolidating existing animal health and disease surveillance systems — e.g., the Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health, and the National Animal Disease Reporting System— developing best-practice guidelines for informal market and slaughterhouse operation (e.g., inspections, disease prevalence assessments), and creating mechanisms to operationalise ‘One Health’ at every stage down to the village level.
Conclusion As we battle yet another wave of a deadly zoonotic disease (COVID- 19), awareness generation, and increased investments toward meeting ‘One Health’ targets is the need of the hour.
Question
Define one health approach. Emphasize upon the need for a more collaborative approach towards disease prevention and mitigation keeping in view the twin challenges of climate change and rising cases of zoonosis caused epidemics.
Healthcare System In India
● Health care delivery is on the State List.
● Most provisions related to health are in Part-IV {Directive Principles}. These are: Article 38, 339(e), 41,42, 47 and 48 A
● Panchayats and Municipalities also have some provisions related to health. These include drinking water, health and sanitation, family welfare, women and child development, social welfare etc.
● The right to life provided under Art. 21 of the Constitution of India have been used time and again to demand access to health care.
PROBLEMS WITH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN INDIA: 1. Health Infrastructure
● Insufficiency of Hospital Beds: Penetration of healthcare infrastructure, much lower than that of developed countries and even lower than the global average, the bed density in the country is 0.7 per 1,000 population, far below the global average of 2.6 and WHO benchmark of 3.5.
● Shortage of staff: India faces a shortage of about 6 lakhs doctors, one million nurses, 2 lakhs dental surgeons and a large number of paramedical staff.
2. Less government spending on Public health: Government spending on public health- just about 1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), compared to 3 per cent in China and 8.3 percent in the United States.
3. Dependency on Private Hospital: Private sector funding in India’s annual health burden is about 75%. It is amongst the highest in the world in percentage terms. Public spending on the other hand, is amongst the lowest and is even lower than the global average.
4. Neglect of Rural Population: According to health information 31.5% of hospitals and 16% hospital beds are situated in rural areas where 75% of total population resides. Moreover the doctors are also unwilling to serve in rural areas. 5. Neglect of traditional health care system: The health system of India depends almost on imported western models. It has no roots in the culture and tradition of the people. 6. Social Inequality: Rural, hilly and remote areas of the country are under served while in urban areas and cities, health facilities are well developed. The SC/ST and the poor people are far away from modern health service. 7. Lack of Regulations: The lack of regulation by the government in private sector allows doctors and hospitals to adopt unethical practices. 8. Inadequate health Insurance: Government contribution to insurance stands at roughly 32%, as opposed to 83.5% in the UK. 75% of the Indian population paying for healthcare services from their own pockets, it puts tremendous financial burden 9. Geography of India: Sub Tropical Climate provides a ground for germination of diseases. Due to a cumulative effect of poverty, population load and climatic factors India’s population is seriously susceptible to diseases. 10. Fragmented Health Information System: Data is incomplete and often it is duplicated. 11. Poor educational status leads to non-utilisation of scanty health services and increase in avoidable risk factors. 12. States under financial constraints cut expenditure on health. COMMITTEES/ RECOMMENDATION: NITI Aayog Action plan
● It aimed at reducing out-of-pocket spending on health to 50% by 2020 from 63.4% at present.
● It Recommend to focus on public health through significantly increasing government expenditure on it and prioritize preventive care rather than provide curative care
● NITI Aayog recently released a comprehensive Health Index report. It aims to establish an annual systematic tool to measure and understand the heterogeneity and complexity of the nation’s performance in Health.
National Health Policy, 2017 ● A health policy is the expression of what the health care system should be so that it can meet the health care needs of the people
● The changes since the last Health Policy in 2002 necessitated the formulation of a New National Health Policy to address the current and emerging challenges.
Key Objectives ● Progressively achieve Universal Health Coverage
● Strengthening the trust of the common man in public health care system by making it predictable, efficient, patient centric, affordable and effective
● Align the growth of private health care sector with public health goals
Recommendations ● The policy proposes a potentially achievable target of raising public health expenditure to 2.5% of the GDP in a time bound manner
● Address the primary health care needs of the urban population with special focus on poor populations living in listed and unlisted slums and other vulnerable populations
● Strengthen existing medical colleges and converting district hospitals to new medical colleges
● Need to improve regulation and quality management of nursing education.
● Certification programme for ASHAs for their preferential selection into ANM, nursing and paramedical courses.
● Creation of Public Health Management Cadre in all States based on public health or related disciplines, as an entry criteria.
● Allocate two-thirds of resources to primary care followed by secondary and tertiary care.
● “Make in India” could be used to provide customized indigenous medical devices to the health sector and in creation of forward and backward linkages for medical device production.
● Effective use of Health Information System
● It advocates strengthening of six professional councils (Medical, Ayurveda Unani Siddha, Homeopathy, Nursing, Dental and Pharmacy) through expanding membership of these councils.
● Setting up of the National Allied Professional Council to regulate and streamline all allied health professionals and ensure quality standards.
● The policy identifies coordinated action on seven priority areas for improving the environment for health:
o The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
o Balanced, healthy diets and regular exercises.
o Addressing tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse
o Yatri Suraksha – preventing deaths due to rail and road traffic accidents
o Nirbhaya Nari –action against gender violence
o Reduced stress and improved safety in the work place
o Reducing indoor and outdoor air pollution
CHALLENGES: ● It reiterates health spend targets set by the High Level Expert Group (HLEG) set up by the erstwhile Planning Commission for the 12th Five Year Plan (which ends on March 31, 2017)
● It also fails to make health a justiciable right through National Health Rights Act like the Right to Education Act 2005 did for school education. It has removed all reference to instituting a National Health Rights Act, which was mentioned in the 2015 draft
● A health cess was a path-breaking idea in the Health Ministry’s draft policy; it has been dropped out of the final policy
● Level of public investment(2.5% of GDP by 2025) is inadequate for achieving the goals, targets and approaches proposed to achieving them mentioned in NHP 2017
STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT: 1. Support is provided to States/UTs under NRHM, to strengthen the health system including establishment/up-gradation/renovation of health infrastructure, engagement of Nurses, doctors and specialist on contractual basis 2. National Health Mission: ● National Health Mission (NHM) encompasses its two sub-missions, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).
● The main programmatic components include:
● Health System Strengthening in rural and urban areas,
● Reproductive-Maternal Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A)
● Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases.
3.Pradhan Mantri Swasthya SurakshaYojana (PMSSY) It has two component a) Setting up new AIIMS b) Up gradation of government medical colleges 4. Ayushman Bharat It has two component Health and Wellness Centre: ● These Centres will provide Comprehensive health care.
● It will be responsible for providing free essential Drug and diagnostics Services.
National Health Protection Mission: ● NHPM will subsume the on-going centrally sponsored schemes –Rashtriya Swasthya BimaYojana (RSBY) and the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme.
5.Jan Aushadhi ● Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana Kendra (PMBJPK) has been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
● This will help to reduce out of pocket expenditure
6. States/UTs are being provided support for focused attention and greater resources per capita to high priority districts with relatively poor composite health index. 7. Financial assistance is provided to the States/UTs for selection and training of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), who act as a link between community and healthcare facilities. 8. States/UTs are assisted to constitute Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committees so as to ensure community participation and village level planning and monitoring of health activities. 9. To increase the availability of doctors, several initiatives have been taken to rationalize the norms in medical education, such as, relaxation in land requirements, bed strength, increase in ceiling for maximum intake for undergraduates, enhancement of teacher-student ratio in Post Graduate Courses, etc. WAY AHEAD: ● The government should appoint a commission which makes recommendations for the healthcare system and monitors its performance.
● Integration of all three stages of health care: prevention, diagnosis and treatment
● Use of innovation to bridge intent and execution
● Access to health care services should be expanded and the quality of care improved
● More and better educated health professionals are required to improve access to health care
● Better use of drugs would improve the quality of health care and reduce out-of-pocket payments
● Devoting more public funds to health care and improving the effectiveness of spending
● Extending the coverage of government-sponsored insurance schemes
● State governments should draw up blueprints for universal health coverage and begin experimenting and innovating with pilot programmes
● There is a need to strengthen the transplantation of Organ regulation, mental health care bill etc.
● Strong political commitment and effective stewardship
Question: Mention the issues with the public healthcare system in India. How can these issues be addressed? Explain.
PM Cares for Children scheme Context In light of increasing deaths due to Covid, the Union government announced a special “PM-CARES for Children” scheme for all those orphaned due to COVID-19. Eligible Beneficiaries ● Children who have lost both parents or the lone surviving parent or their legal guardian or adoptive parent due to COVID-19 will be supported under the scheme.
The Women and Child Development Ministry stated that there are a total of 577 COVID-19 orphans identified across the country.
Key Features of the scheme 1. Fixed Deposit in the name of the child: PM CARES will contribute through a specially designed scheme to create a corpus of Rs 10 lakh for each child when he or she reaches 18 years of age. This corpus: ● Will be used to give a monthly financial support/ stipend from 18 years of age, for the next five years to take care of his or her personal requirements during the period of higher education and
● On reaching the age of 23 years, he or she will get the corpus amount as one lump-sum for personal and professional use.
2. School Education: For children under 10 years ● The child will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.
● If the child is admitted in a private school, the fees as per the RTE norms will be given from the PM CARES.
● PM-CARES will also pay for expenditure on uniforms, textbooks and notebooks.
3. School Education: for children between 11-18 years: ● The child will be given admission in any Central Government residential school such as Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya etc.
● In case the child is to be continued under the care of Guardian/ grandparents/ extended family, then he or she will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.
● If the child is admitted in a private school, the fees as per the RTE norms will be given from the PM CARES.
● PM CARES will also pay for expenditure on uniforms, textbooks and notebooks.
4. Support for Higher Education: ● The child will be assisted in obtaining an education loan for Professional courses / Higher Education in India as per the existing Education Loan norms. The interest on this loan will be paid by the PM CARES.
● As an alternative, scholarships equivalent to the tuition fees / course fees for undergraduate/ vocational courses as per Government norms will be provided to such children under Central or State Government Schemes. For children who are not eligible under the existing scholarship schemes, PM CARES will provide an equivalent scholarship.
5. Health Insurance ● All children will be enrolled as a beneficiary under Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY) with a health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs.
● The premium amount for these children till the age of 18 years will be paid by PM CARES.
Question- Explain the key features of the PM cares for children scheme.
Rebuilding Public Healthcare Infrastructure The ongoing second wave of Covid-19 has left people fending for themselves— something that they never knew how to do, and something that was never their business. The shortage of critical health infrastructure has been exposed openly. The most appropriate action plan right now would be to prepare a roadmap for the third wave.
Probable issues that will arise in case of third wave- ● fast ascending infections in rural areas dominated by poor medical infrastructure, ● the shortage of vaccines and the expected year-long timeframe to vaccinate all eligible individuals, ● vaccine hesitancy, constraints on sourcing of ingredients needed to make vaccines, ● deadlier variants of the virus, ● the ominous possibility of the virus impacting children, ● the inadequate healthcare infrastructure for dealing with such a situation, and so on.
Solutions ● Strengthening, and refurbishing the local public health centres (PHCs), and creating many more temporary Covid/intensive care units. Emphasis should be on- ▪ Ability to cater to the local population within a radius of 15 km in urban areas and 25 km in rural areas. ▪ To equip them with all emergency medical care except for rare occurrences ▪ Enhancing the capacity of these via a public-private partnership model. All this can help in reducing fatalities. ● District headquarters should be the epicenter of such a decentralized program to coordinate, facilitate, and organise all activities.
● A managing group can be created, comprising representatives from various related departments and organisations at the district level. It can involve participation of community members, social activists, and NGOs. The managing group should be headed by the district magistrate or his senior nominee.
District managing groups can be given special administrative and financial powers to deliver prompt and uninterrupted services. These may include- ▪ To notify and commandeer all or listed medical care centres within the district territory, public or private, to provide notified medical services during the public health emergency. ▪ To make all logistics arrangements well in advance by engaging public and private assets. ▪ Develop medical centres with required specialisation services and the capacity in anticipation of the demand. ▪ To maintain and upgrade existing (PHCs), ensuring, particularly in rural areas, replacements for missing medical officers, engaging additional medical and technical staff through innovative sources. Simultaneously, upgrading and using the healthcare apparatus of institutions like municipal bodies, and panchayats, and drawing on the support of anganwadi workers, and specially hired volunteers. ▪ To declare containment zones, and to also ensure that citizens meticulously abide by the precautionary advisories and instructions. ▪ To tackle cases of leakage, black-marketing of essential medical supplies. ▪ To fix priorities and place special focus on rural areas in terms of speedy testing, tracing and vaccinating. ▪ To keep the general populace informed daily of the medical and other facilities available. ▪ And to meet daily to ensure clearing of bottlenecks and to course-correct if needed.
● Every state/ UT at macro level should develop an action plan, in view of its challenges, and in consonance with the public health programme laid down by the Centre. The state/ UT should constitute an exclusive public health emergency cell, comprising senior officials from all related departments, to be the focal point of decision making. State governments should also share information and progress through dashboards and other technology tools, and invite suggestions.
● Perfect administration- Each state should ensure that a capable implementing administration is driven by passionate team leaders. No bureaucratic rules should be allowed to obstruct the missionary spirit required here.
Conclusion A bottom-up approach will not only help blunt any possible surge in the Covid wave but will also build the much-needed health infrastructure. India should not miss this opportunity to strengthen its healthcare system.
Question- Enuerate various administrative measures which can help in ensuring a dedicated and effective fight against the pandemic.
Social Security
The on-going coronavirus pandemic has affected a large section of Indian society especially the poor and marginalised population and it has called for universalization of social security in India.
Why does Social Security need universalization? ● Poor and Marginalized section pushed towards poverty: An unprepared government has rendered low paid, informal workers, who constitute 91% of the workforce, totally hapless, pushing them further into poverty. ● Large number of informal workers is outside the ambit of any social security: The absence of definite and unambiguous provisions in the social security code would complicate the achievement of universal registration of beneficiaries from the informal sector. ● Absence of Cooperative Federalism: Providing holistic social security cover for the unorganised workforce in a simple and effective manner is something lost in the Centre State labyrinth and jurisdictional or institutional overlap. ● Lack of maternity benefit for women in the unorganized sector: the definition of Establishment in the proposed code did not include the unorganised sector. ● The women engaged in the unorganised sector would remain outside the purview of maternity benefit. ● Existing laws have failed: The laws have been a non-starter, with poor registration of workers, practically no funds earmarked, and no schemes formulated under the law. ● It is necessary to acknowledge that the existing laws and schemes have failed to cover most of the workers in the unorganised sector and have failed to provide meaningful benefits.
Significance of Universalization of Social Security:
● Protection of vulnerable sections of the society: The universalization of certain schemes is conceded to be a better alternative because it would ensure security for all the workers and citizens, including elderly in the country. ● Low operational cost of schemes: The universalization has its advantage as it is easy to monitor, and has very low administrative costs in comparison to other schemes. ● Improvement in sex ratio of the country: Another dimension of universal pension scheme can be that preference for a male child as a support in old age could come down though this area needs further research to empirically establish a causal relationship. ● Promotion of economic growth: The adequate social security enhances economic growth and reduces the burden of tax financed schemes through generation of additional revenue. ● Central role in reducing and preventing poverty: The social protection systems play a key role in reducing inequality, social exclusion and social insecurity. ● The combined effect of social security transfers on poverty reduction among the respective groups of the population should be better acknowledged and measured.
Role of Social Security Code in achieving universalization: ● Creation of social security fund: It seeks to establish a social security fund and tap the corporate social responsibility fund to offer unorganized sector workers medical, pension, death and disability benefits via the employee state insurance corporation. ● Increase in role of national government: It will empower the central government to exempt select establishments from all or any of the provisions of the code and makes Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits under various social security schemes. ● It will offer flexibility to the government to lower the EPFO monthly contribution by employees to boost their take home salary. ● Formalization of informal sector: Under the new code, every employer and contractor will be obliged to maintain registers and deliver returns every month to the State Board providing details of the employees in respect of whom contributions become due.
Concerns associated with Social Security Code: ● Ambiguity and overlapping of laws: The legal framework as proposed in the Code and Rules implies that the basic onus lies on informal workers registering as beneficiaries. ● Similar provisions are already there in existing social security schemes run by State governments under the Unorganized Workers Social Security Act, 2008. ● Digital Illiteracy: The online registration places a further challenge as most informal workers lack digital literacy and connectivity. ● The informal workers also find it difficult to furnish all documentary papers required as part of the registration process. ● Absence of tangible employer-employee relation: Most informal workers are footloose casual workers (26% of all workers) and self-employed (46% of all) and they move from one place to another in search of livelihoods. ● Furnishing proof of livelihood and income details in the absence of tangible employer employee relations is very difficult.
● Maternity benefit under SS code is not universal: Under the SS Code, the provision of maternity benefit has not been made universal. ● The maternity benefit is presently applicable for establishments employing 10 workers or more. ● Centralisation of social security: While the SS Code espouses universalization and claims to cover every worker, it keeps the power to fix the threshold for eligibility under the Code with the Central government.
Measures to be adopted to achieve universal social security:
● Inter-State cooperation is a must: It becomes imperative because unorganised workers are spread across the length and breadth of India. ● Increase in the role of central government: It should conceptualize a basic structure, which if successful, should be adopted by States after necessary customization. ● Implementing rights-based social protection and anchoring rights in law: It calls for the establishment of social protection floors and higher levels of protection by law. ● The only way of effectively guaranteeing social security rights is to specify clearly by law the role, responsibilities and rights of all the parties concerned. ● Social solidarity is a prerequisite for universal social protection: It strengthens social cohesion and social peace, and it is a powerful weapon against poverty and inequality, and an effective instrument for making societies more equal and just. ● Inclusive social protection systems: These are important tools to work towards social inclusion and equality, including gender equality, and to address inequalities and discrimination. ● Step up efforts to reach basic income security: In order to close social protection gaps, contributory (social insurance) schemes and non-contributory schemes are essential components of national social protection floors, with a view to securing at least basic income security for all.
Way Forward: ● The provision of social security could be used to formalise the workforce to a certain extent and employers should be made to own up to the responsibility of providing social security to their workers. ● The state has a responsibility but primary responsibility still lies with employers since they are taking advantage of workers’ productivity. ● A well-defined social security programme needs to be welfare oriented, inclusive, wider-based and better implemented. ● It would be advantageous to have universal schemes at least for the next few decades, until India achieves a better per capita income and has achieved total eradication of poverty.
Question: The universalisation of social security remains a distant aspiration in the newly introduced codes on social security . Comment
GENERAL STUDIES 3.
ECONOMY
Natural Gas- For Greening the Energy Basket
Syllabus -Concepts of non conventional, renewable, clean and environment friendly energy sources. Role of energy in sustainable development.
Recent Context Due to the recent positive signs shown by the Biden administration in the USA in mainstreaming climate change into the economics, climate change negotiations have seen a renewed push.
This, along with the scheduled COP26(Conference of Parties) later in 2021, has provided impetus to other nations, including India, to relook at its mitigation approaches and realign its climate change goals and methodologies with the world.
In the effort to secure a global consensus around the target of ‘nets zero carbon emissions’, India must first “green” its fossil fuel energy basket. This can be done by increasing the share of natural gas which according to World Energy Outlook 2019 stands at just 6%, while the world average share of natural gas in the energy basket is 23%.
Natural gas: A Suitable Transition Option
▪ Versatility & Abundance: Natural gas has multiple uses and it is the “greenest” of all fossil fuels. Also, it is abundantly available in and within the Indian subcontinent.
▪ Easy Transition Energy Option: Natural gas is a feasible prospect because it will not generate the headwinds due to shutting down of coal mines.
o Further, it will not require industries to invest heavily in retrofitting their systems.
o Moreover, it will allow the government to meet its objective of providing secure and affordable energy to everyone without degrading the environment.
▪ Excess Usage of Fossil Fuels: The average global share of fossil fuels in the energy basket is 84% which is even more for India.
o According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), India is the world's third largest consumer of oil.
o Dependence on coal and oil needs to be reduced and natural gas has to be replaced as much as possible. Challenges Associated With the Natural Gas Sector
▪ Pricing Distortions: The pricing of natural gas is based on multiple price formulae.
o There is differential pricing for gas produced from domestic fields by the public sector companies and private companies.
o Similarly, differential pricing for production from deep waters offshore under high temperature etc.
o This creates problems in coming up with competitive pricing.
▪ Regressive Taxation System: It is a cascading structure so that the tax rates increase as the gas flows from one zone to another.
o This means that customers located at a distance from the source of gas pay a higher price than those closer to the source.
o The result is the dampening of demand.
o Moreover, natural gas is not under GST.
▪ Conflict-of-interest Situation: The Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) is currently engaged in the production, transportation and marketing of gas.
o This allows GAIL to leverage its ownership of the bulk of the gas pipelines to deny its competitors access to the market.
o Most countries have tackled this conflict-of-interest situation by separating the upstream (production/import) and downstream (marketing) interests from transportation.
▪ Centre-States Issue: Completion of a national pipeline grid gets affected due to clashes between Centre and state over issues like land acquisition, pipeline routing; and royalty payments.
o Centre-state differences have also delayed the construction of import facilities and the creation of gas markets. Way Forward 1. Deregulation of Pricing: A key aspect of ensuring market reforms to boost gas economy, would be deregulation of pricing for domestically produced gas. It will allow freedom to price and market domestic gas and in turn boost domestic production, making it more viable for players to invest.
Moreover, market-determined and affordable pricing would also boost industrial growth and economic competitiveness. 2. Boosting Infrastructure: These markets have greatly benefited from factors such as open access to infrastructure, system operator, unbundled marketing and transport functions and market-friendly transport access and tariff besides strong pipeline infrastructure. Also, the institutional mechanism should be created to enable better coordination between the central and state governments. 3. Freeing Gas Markets: Through ensuring price benchmarks, it will drive competition across the value chain and stimulate investments in exploration and production along with downstream infrastructure. Moreover, factors such as inclusion under GST and an overarching regulatory framework will also play an important role in boosting the overall gas markets
Question-India’s road towards a cleaner energy future can’t be imagined without increasing the share of natural gas in the energy mix. Comment. Also bring out the avenues and challenges in achieving this.
Rice And Wheat Export Hit Record High
● During the pandemic year, a new record of surplus grain Exports crossed 13.09 MT for rice and 2 MT for wheat, highest since 2014- 2015.
BACKGROUND: Last fiscal year which ended on March 31, 2021 recorded 92 million tonnes (MT) of rice and wheat was distributed from the central pool. ● Which included 60.32 MT under the National Food Security Act and other regular welfare schemes. ● Besides 31.52 MT under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Atmanirbhar Bharat Package (for returning migrant labourers) and assorted programmes launched in the wake of the Covid-19-induced lockdown.
ABOUT: ● The total grain channelled through the public distribution system (PDS) in 2020-21 was nearly 50% higher than in normal years. ● In 2020-21 saw exports of 19.81 MT valued at $9.36 billion (Rs 69,331.45 crore). ● In which rice exports were an all-time high – 13.09 MT non-basmati (Rs 35,448.24 crore) and 4.63 MT basmati (Rs 29,849.40 crore) ● For wheat 2.09 MT (Rs 4,033.81 crore) was also the highest since 2014-15.
● These twin records – of the country exporting close to 20 MT of grain and also distributing 92 MT under schemes such as NFSA (entitling 80 crore-plus persons to 5 kg each of wheat or rice per month at Rs 2 and Rs 3/kg, respectively) and PMGKAY (additional 5 kg monthly allocation for April- November 2020, free of cost) – is a remarkable story of surplus production and stocks in public warehouses. ● Further, Exports have been surging mainly on the back of international prices. The UN Food and Agricultural Organization’s global cereal price index is currently ruling at its highest since May 2014, the increase in world prices —wheat futures are trading at $259.87 per tonne at the Chicago Board of Trade exchange, as against $184.54 a year ago.
● Indian wheat is being offered at $280-285 per tonne free-on-board (i.e. after loading at the port of origin). ⮚ That’s fairly competitive vis-à-vis Australia ($290-300), EU and US ($300-320) or even Russia/Ukraine ($270-280) especially for supplying to Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, UAE and other West and Southeast Asian markets. ⮚ The $280/tonne rate works out to over Rs 2,050 per quintal, which is more than the government’s minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1,975. ● In the case of rice, below-MSP sourcing for exports is done.
● The competitiveness of Indian rice and wheat has also been enabled by two other factors: ⮚ Grain being available at below-MSP because of surplus production of wheat this year. ⮚ Recycled/leaked grain from the PDS, massive quantities that were offered free/near-free under various schemes of last year, insignificant part got diverted to the open market or even exports.
WAY FORWARD: To fulfil the dream of achieving 100 billion $ export value in agriculture products (mainly food grains) as described in governments export policy, various steps need to be taken as follows: 1. Involvement of private stakeholder in public policy decision making across agriculture value chain. 2. Stable trade policy regime. 3. Reforms in APMC. 4. Creating robust infrastructure and logistics. 5. Greater involvement of states in agriculture exports.
Intellectual Property Rights (Ipr) And Universal Vaccination
CONTEXT: ● The Biden administration’s announcement that it would support a waiver on intellectual property rights (IPR) for the production of COVID-19 vaccines appeared to catch the world off-guard, on both sides of the argument.
● The original proposal for the relaxation of TRIPS for such vaccines in the context of the on-going pandemic was drafted at the WTO by India and South Africa last year.
INTRODUCTION: The Covid-19 cases in India are increasing at a very high rate in India. According to the government data, the number of positive cases is increasing at a rate of more than 3 lakh every day since April 21. Now, the only solution suggested by experts around the world is universal vaccination. The government with its new vaccination policy aims to vaccinate people above 18. However, vaccines are not available in sufficient quality to match demand. One of the hindrances to the wide-scale production of vaccines is Intellectual property rights and the TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) agreement.
PROTECTION OF IPR UNDER TRIPS: ● TRIPS are a key legal instrument on intellectual Property Rights. The agreement imposes binding obligations on member countries to ensure a minimum level of protection and enforcement of IP rights in their territories.
STATUS OF VACCINE MANUFACTURING: ● The world’s largest vaccine maker, Serum Institute of Technology, initially promised to supply 100 million doses of vaccines a month. But in reality, it only provided between 50 million to 60 million doses.
● On the other hand, Bharat Biotech has a planned production capacity of 12.5 million a month. Its current production is somewhere between 1-5 million.
● So, India’s monthly COVID vaccine manufacturing capacity is about 60-65 million doses only.
● The population of India is 1.3 billion. If the Covaxin and Covishield require two doses then India needs 2.6 billion doses. But the present production cannot meet that amount in a short time.
ARGUMENT FOR IPR LAWS: 1. Intellectual Property Rights incentivises innovation. It will provide income to the company invested in its research and capacity. So, the IPR policies will incentivise the companies to perform more research for their incentives. 2. Higher cross-border IP protection would bring in greater dividends for their pharmaceutical corporations. The company can expand their operations in other countries and provide solutions to the domestic problem also in future. 3. The Exemption clause to provide waiver: The country can get a waiver from the WTO if it wants a waiver for manufacture, sale, and usage. ARGUMENT AGAINST IPR LAWS: 1. Deny Right to health: Intellectual Property Rights especially patents, hinder the introduction of affordable vaccines and drugs in developing countries. Thereby, denying people their right to health.
2. Patents can block the wider accessibility of vaccines and prolong the pandemic.
3. Ambiguous definition: the term “exceptional circumstances” mentioned in the WTO Agreement is not mentioned anywhere in the Agreement.
4. Preconditions to waiver: There are certain preconditions attached to the waiver. Such as, the pharmaceutical company must manufacture only the necessary amount to meet the needs of the eligible importing country
5. Conditions in waivers: The waivers from the Intellectual Property Rights have so far come with stricter terms and conditions. For example, in waiving of export restriction on compulsory licence the conditions are,
● The LDC and other developing countries have to notify the TRIPS Council that they have insufficient or no manufacturing capability to manufacture the drug.
● They need to specify the required quantity
6. Challenge with the compulsory license: The success of compulsory license depends on every country’s manufacturing capability (As other countries cannot export them).
CONCLUSION: The World Health Organization recently mentioned that “no one is safe unless everyone is safe”. So the vaccine manufacturers have to look beyond profit and try to serve Humanity. Further, the governments are ready to pay for vaccines, the only thing the global community expects from vaccine manufacturers is to set aside Intellectual property Rights during the Covid-19 pandemic alone.
Question- The intellectual property rights act as roadblocks to Sustainable Development Goal 3- Good health and well being. Comment.
Banking Reforms: The next step Syllabus – GENERAL STUDIES-III -Regulatory framework for money and banking.
The Indian banking sector has been evolving on a continuous basis, from being exclusivist to becoming a carrier of social reform and financial inclusion. However, in recent times, the banking industry has experienced many issues.
For instance, a decline in asset quality, financial soundness, and efficiency has marred the functioning of the Indian banking industry.
Given the current challenges of a burgeoning population, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and the West’s intention to shift its manufacturing base to India and elsewhere, it is essential to say ‘yes’ to fifth generation banking reforms.
Evolution of Indian Banking Industry
● First Generation Banking: During the pre-Independence period (till 1947), the Swadeshi Movement saw the birth of many small and local banks.
○ Most of them failed mainly due to internal frauds, interconnected lending, and the combining of trading and banking books.
● Second Generation Banking (1947-1967): Indian banks facilitated concentration of resources (mobilised through retail deposits) in a few business families or groups, and thus neglected credit flow to agriculture.
● Third Generation Baking (1967-1991): The government was successful in breaking the nexus between industry and banks through the nationalisation of 20 major private banks in two phases (1969 and 1980) and introduction of priority sector lending (1972).
○ These initiatives resulted in the shift from ‘class banking’ to ‘mass banking’.
○ Further, it had a positive impact on the expansion of branch networks across (rural) India, massive mobilisation of public deposits and incremental credit flow to agriculture and allied sectors.
● Fourth Generation Banking (1991-2014): This period saw landmark reforms such as issue of fresh licences to private and foreign banks to infuse competition, enhanced productivity as well as efficiency.
○ This was done by leveraging technology; introduction of prudential norms; providing operational flexibility coupled with functional autonomy; focus on implementation of best corporate governance practices; and strengthening of capital base as per the Basel norms.
● Current Model: Since 2014, the banking sector has witnessed the adoption of the JAM (Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile) trinity, and issuance of licences to Payments Banks and Small Finance Banks (SFBs) to achieve last-mile connectivity in the financial inclusion drive. Current Problems in Banking Sector 1. With changing global economic situations, demand for speedy, secure and efficient service delivery from customers, Information and Communication revolution, big bang long gestation infrastructure projects, the problems of Banking system undergone drastic changes: (a)Twin balance sheet: 1. The public sector banks are burdened with the high non-performing assets (NPAs) while some of the corporate houses are also under stress due to sluggish global demand. This has been called the “TBS problem” or “Twin Balance Sheet Syndrome“. 2. This leads to incomplete transmission of the monetary policy, unwillingness of banks to lend credit on account of rising NPAs affecting Credit growth in turn economic activity. (b)Non-performing Assets: ● According to an economic survey 2020-21 Gross Non-Performing Assets ratio of Scheduled Commercial Banks stands at 7.49%. (c)Requirements of Reserve ratio: 1. RBI policy mandates reserve ratios CRR 4%, SLR 20%. And compulsory Primary Sector lending for social sector projects affects the credit expansion of banks. (d)Increasing Competition and funding sources 1. Strengthening of Bond Market, External Borrowing sources, 2. Indian PSBs are not competitive.
Measures taken by RBI and Government in brief: ● Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs)- To decrease the time required for settling cases.
● 4R SOLUTION-Economic Survey 2016-17 gave 4R solution to solve TBS problem – Recognize, Recapitalize (Eg Indradhanush), Resolution and Reform. Economic Survey 2016-17 Volume II stress more upon last R i.e. Reform.
● Indradhanush -framework for transforming the PSBs represents the most comprehensive reform effort undertaken since banking nationalization in the year 1970 to revamp the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and improve their overall performance by ABCDEFG.
● Bankruptcy & Insolvency Code 2015
Way Forward: Fifth Generation Banking
▪ Big Banks: The Narasimham Committee Report (1991), emphasised that India should have three or four large commercial banks, with domestic and international presence, along with foreign banks.
o The second tier may comprise several mid-size lenders, including niche banks, with economy- wide presence.
o In accordance with these recommendations, the government has already merged a few PSBs, initiated steps towards setting up of DFI, Bad Bank, etc.
▪ Need for Differentiated Banks: Though the universal banking model has been widely preferred, there is a need for niche banking to cater to the specific and varied requirements of different customers and borrowers.
o Essentially, these specialised banks would ease the access to finance in areas such as RAM (retail, agriculture, MSMEs).
o Further, the proposed DFI/niche banks may be established as specialised banks to have access to low-cost public deposits and for better asset-liability management.
▪ Blockchain Banking: Risk management can be more specific and the neo-banks can leverage the technology to further (digital) financial inclusion and finance higher growth of aspirational/new India.
o In this context, technologies like Blockchain can be implemented in Indian Banking.
o Blockchain technology will allow prudential supervision and control over the banks may be easier.
▪ Mitigating Moral Hazard: Till date, failure of public sector banks has been a rare phenomenon and the hidden sovereign guarantee is the main reason for superior public confidence in the banks.
o However, with the privatization drive of PSBs, this may not always be true.
o Therefore, fifth generation banking reforms should focus on the need for higher individual deposit insurance and effective orderly resolution regimes to mitigate moral hazard and systemic risks with least cost to the public exchequer.
▪ ESG Framework: Differentiated Banks also may be encouraged to get listed on a recognized stock exchange and adhere to ESG (Environment, Social Responsibility, and Governance) framework to create value for their stakeholders in the long run.
▪ Empowering Banks: The government should tighten the loose ends by allowing them to build diversified loan portfolios, establishing sector-wise regulators, bestowing more powers to deal effectively with willful defaulters.
o There is also a need to pave the way for the corporate bond market (shift from bank-led economy) to create a responsive banking system in a dynamic real economy. Conclusion
Present scenario calls for a paradigm shift in the banking sector to improve its resilience and maintain financial stability. In this context, the government has recently announced new banking reforms, involving the establishment of a Development Finance Institution (DFI) for infrastructure, creation of a Bad Bank, and privatization of public sector banks (PSBs) to ease its burden in terms of mobilizing additional capital.
However, governance reforms will always form the underlying layer of every generation of making reforms.
Question-“Next generation of banking reforms in India is as inevitable as it is the need of the hour.” Outlining the history of banking reforms in India and the current challenges that remain ahead for the banking sector, comment on the above statement.
The end of the road for India’s GST? The 43rd meeting of the products and Services Tax (GST) Council was held on May 28. About Cooperative Federalism: ● The catchy phrase ‘cooperative federalism’ was introduced into India’s political lexicon to justify the transition to GST in 2017. Sadly, like other catchy phrases such as ‘Minimum government, maximum governance’ and ‘Make in India’, this too has turned out to be hollow. Cooperative federalism has a larger meaning beyond just fiscal federalism. It also entails cooperative political, administrative and governance federalism between the States and the Centre. The Trust Game and Trustworthiness: 1. The GST Council is not an inanimate economic body. It is a compact of trust between the States and the Centre, Set in the larger context of India’s polity. 2. Behavioural economists, such as the Nobel Laureate, Daniel Kahneman, have articulated the critical role of the twin Attributes of ‘trust’ and ‘trustworthiness’ among heterogeneous Participants in an economy. 3. Using a tool called ‘The Trust Game’, they have demonstrated that the motive of ‘altruism’ leads to the most optimal economic outcome for everyone in the group while a motive of ‘spite’ leads to the worst outcome for all. 4. The tragedy of the GST Council is that it is afflicted with spite and forced to function under the prevailing cloud of vendetta politics. 5. With elections to another seven States due next year, GST revenue numbers could change dramatically again. 6. If the functioning of the GST Council is subject to the vagaries of elections and consequent vendetta politics, GST will continue to be just a caricature of its initial promise. Problems underpinning GST: 1. Economists and commentators point to the multiple rates structure, high tax slabs and the complexity of tax filings as the problems underpinning India’s GST.
2. These were indeed the initial problems in the way GST was implemented, leading to some of its current woes.
3. But now, GST has a more fundamental problem: the erosion of ‘trust’ and ‘trustworthiness’ between the States and the Centre.
4. Technical fixes such as simplification of GST rates and tax filing systems to restore GST to its initial promise is akin to applying a pain balm to an injury that needs surgery.
5. The States paid a huge price for GST in terms of loss of fiscal autonomy.
6. The promised economic gains are invisible, and India’s federalism has been ruptured.
Question- The GST regime needs significant tweaks to ensure it reaches its optimal levels and also stays true to the spirit of cooperative federalism. Comment
Science and Technology and Environmental Issues
Environmental Taxation
Environmental Financing needs reforms to address both the issue of pollution as well as generating resources for the health sector. ● The Indian government announced a pandemic-related stimulus package in FY 2020-21 even when there was a large decline in tax revenue due to lockdown. The fiscal deficit for FY 2020-21 (revised estimates) is projected to be 9.5% of the GDP; for 2021-22, it is pegged at 6.8%. ● The focus is on maintaining fiscal discipline. In such a situation, regular fiscal support for the health- care sector remains a challenge in India.
As per World Health Organization (WHO) data on the percentage of the total population where the household expenditure on health was greater than 10% and 25% (Rural and Urban) of the total household expenditure or income in India in 2011 - ● 17.33% of the population in India made out-of-pocket payments (expense without reimbursement) on health, especially in rural areas.
● Globally, the average was 12.67%, which means that 12.67% of the population spent more than 10% of their income (out of their pocket) on health.
● In India, 3.9% of the population made more than 25% of out-of-pocket payments on health, with 4.34% in the rural areas.
According to the Economic Survey of India: ● An increase in public spending from 1% to 2.5-3% of GDP, as envisaged in the National Health Policy of 2017 can help to decrease out-of-pocket expenditure from 65% to 30% of overall healthcare expenses.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also forced countries all over the world to rethink climate change and the need for the preservation of the environment. Fiscal reforms for managing the environment are important, and India has great potential for revenue generation in this aspect. ● Environment regulation, can be of various types:
● Command and control;
● Economic planning/urban planning;
● Environmental tax (eco-tax)/subsidies); and
● Cap and trade.
● India currently emphasizes the command-and-control approach in tackling pollution.
● The success of an eco-tax in India would depend on its architecture i.e. how well it is planned and designed.
● Ideally, the eco-tax rate ought to be equal to the marginal social Environmental taxes, also cost arising from the negative externalities associated with the known as green taxes, production, consumption or disposal of goods and services. pollution taxes or ecotaxes, are a wide range of This requires scientific assessment of the damage to the legislative charges on environment including: Adverse impacts on the health of people, businesses and private climate change, etc. individuals, aimed at ● The eco-tax rate may, thus, be fixed in a proportion to the reducing practices which marginal social cost so evaluated. cause damage to the environment. ● In India, eco-taxes can target three main areas:
● Differential taxation on vehicles in the transport sector purely oriented towards fuel efficiency and GPS-based congestion charges.
● The energy sector by taxing fuels which feed into energy generation.
● Waste generation and use of natural resources.
● There is also a need to integrate environmental taxes in the Goods and Service Tax framework.
Environmental Tax Reforms: ● It generally involves three complementary activities:
● Eliminating existing subsidies and taxes that have a harmful impact on the environment.
● Restructuring existing taxes in an environmentally supportive manner.
● Initiating new environmental taxes.
● Taxes can be designed either as revenue neutral or revenue augmenting.
● In the case of revenue augmenting, the additional revenue can either be targeted towards the provision of environmental public goods or directed towards the overall revenue pool.
● In India, the revenue can be used to a greater extent for the provision of environmental public goods and addressing environmental health issues.
Benefits of Environmental tax ● The implementation of an environmental tax in India will have three broad benefits:
▪ Fiscal,
▪ Environmental and
▪ Poverty reduction.
● It can mobilize revenues to finance basic public services when raising revenue through other sources proves to be difficult.
● It can be used to reduce other distorting taxes such as a fiscal dividend.
● It can finance research and the development of new technologies.
Disadvantages ● It may have significant costs on the private sector in the form of slow productivity growth and high cost of compliance.
● Increase in the prices of goods and services.
The European experience shows that most of such taxes also generate substantial revenue and there is no evidence on green taxes with sustainable development goals leading to a ‘no growth’ economy. Most countries’ experiences suggest a negligible impact on the GDP and that too as a temporary phenomenon. This is the right time for India to adopt environmental fiscal reforms as it will reduce environmental pollution and also generate resources for financing the health sector. Question-Green taxes or Environmental Taxation in addition to curbing pollution, can also help in generating essential resources for healthcare. Comment. Solar Energy Industry Recent Context ● To bolster Make-in-India for the solar sector, the Centre recently announced a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for solar manufacturing with a budget of Rs 4,500 crore over five years. ● Basic customs duty of 25% on cells and 40% on panels will also be levied on imported panels starting April 2022.
These measures follow a slew of efforts over the past decade to establish domestic solar panel manufacturing. Indian solar industry scenario Solar panels are mass-produced, where low-costs are achieved through ● Economies of scale, ● High capacity utilization factors, and ● Optimization of manufacturing processes.
Indian manufacturers will require time to achieve scale, develop their manufacturing know-how, and become globally competitive. To catch up, they will have to depend on a large and stable domestic market for the next few years. What did China do right? China’s dominance has resulted from several public policy measures. ● First, the Chinese government provided subsidised manufacturing inputs such as electricity and debt, gradually targeting its subsidies towards manufacturers who were able to achieve scale and efficiency. ● Second, the aggressive pricing of solar panels at razor-thin profit margins was enabled by gradual vertical integration of the value chain. ● Third, manufacturers developed their know-how related to manufacturing processes through in- house R&D and learning-by-interacting with production equipment suppliers from Germany, Switzerland and the US.
Indian policymakers can draw three major lessons from the Chinese experience- ● periodic targets should be set for ⮚ plant capacity, ⮚ capacity utilisation factor, ⮚ module efficiency, price, and ⮚ R&D investments.
Subsidy allocation should be made contingent on meeting these targets, creating pressure on firms to continuously innovate. ● Incentives for cell and module manufacturing should be complemented with measures to develop a manufacturing ecosystem for the entire value chain. This should be done in a phased manner, starting with cell and module manufacturing, and gradually incentivizing local manufacturing of wafers, ingots, and polysilicon. ● Manufacturing incentives should be complemented with incentives for both industrial R&D and international collaborative R&D, enabling firms to reach the technology frontier.
Way Forward Manufacturing of solar panels has been a highly competitive industry historically and no single firm or country (though recently China) has been able to dominate it for longer periods. Therefore, developing and maintaining a competitive edge will be a slow process with no certain outcomes and would require enormous long term public subsidies and capability to take risks. ● Goal of clean, abundant and cheap electricity- for this solar panels can be purchased from other countries at cheapest prices
● Goal of job creation- for this the priority should be deployment of decentralised and rooftop solar PV installations in domestic market.
● Goal of strategic localisation of supply chains- for this contingent manufacturing incentives on periodic, time bound, realistic and long term targets with an aim to make the industry globally competitive should be taken.
Question- What are the impediments in the development of the domestic solar energy industry? Also suggest solutions to these problems.
5G TECHNOLOGY CONTEXT: The Department of Telecommunications on Tuesday allowed private telcos Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio Infocomm and VI (formerly Vodafone Idea) and well as state-run telco Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) to start trials for 5G technology as well as its applications in various sectors. What is 5G Technology? 5g is the next generation wireless cellular technology that will provide faster and more reliable communication with ultra-low latency. A government panel report points out that with 5G, the peak network data speeds are expected to be in the range of 2-20 Gigabit per second (Gbps). How does it work? • 5G technology is not a single technology but an amalgamation of various technologies which make the aforesaid performance possible. Following are the major technologies used in 5G: ● mm Wave (millimetre Wave) ● Massive multi-user MIMO (Multiple input multiple output) ● Small Cell stations ● Mobile Edge Computing (MEC)
How is 5G different from 4G?
5G 4G 4G uses lower reading frequencies 5G uses much higher radio frequencies of 28 ghz. of 700 mhz to 2500 mhz. 4G speed is lesser with less data 5G transfers more data over the air at faster speeds. transfer. 5G has lower latency i.e. the delay before a transfer of data begins 4G has higher latency as compared following an instruction. Latency for 5G is predicted to be below 10 to 5G. Latency for 4G is around 20- milliseconds and in best cases around 1 millisecond. 30 milliseconds. 5G uses millimetre wave spectrum which enables more devices to 4G supports a lesser number of be used within the same geographic area supporting around one devices of about 4,000 devices per million per square kilometre. square kilometre. 5G uses a new digital technology that improves coverage, speed and 4G has led to more congestion and capacity. lesser coverage as compared to 5G.
Advantages of 5G:
• High speed use cases: 5G will help speed up a range of applications such as enhanced consumer experience via high quality streaming, faster storage and access of cloud by businesses, better communication between public institutions and citizens. • Ultra-low latency: Latency refers to the time it takes for one device to send a packet of data to another device. In 4G the latency rate is around 50 milliseconds but 5G will reduce that to about 1 millisecond. ● Massive Internet of Things (IoT): 5G is meant to seamlessly connect which is easily showcased in areas like Smart City Infrastructure and Traffic Management, Industrial Automation, Wearables and Mobile devices, Precision agriculture etc. ● Agricultural applications: 5g technology can be used for agriculture and smart farming in future. Using smart RFID sensors and GPS technology, farmers can track the location of livestock and manage them easily. Smart sensors can be used for irrigation control, access control and energy management. ● Healthcare and mission critical applications: 5G technology will support medical practitioners to perform advanced medical procedures with reliable wireless network connected to another side of the globe. Doctors can connect with patients from anywhere anytime and advise them when necessary. Scientists are working on smart medical devices which can perform remote surgery. Smart medical devices like wearable devices will continuously monitor a patient's condition and activate alerts during an emergency.
Challenges: • Expensive spectrum: Indian spectrum prices are some of the highest in the world and the allocated quantity is well below global best practices, while 40% of the spectrum is lying unsold. • Lack of uniform policy framework: Delays due to complex procedures across states, non-uniformity of levies along with administrative approvals have impacted telecom service providers in rolling-out Optical Fibre Cables (OFC) and telecom towers. • Debt scenario in the industry: According to ICRA, the collective debt of telecommunications service providers (TSPs) stands at Rs 4.2 lakh crore. • Low optical fibre penetration: India lacks a strong backhaul to transition to 5G. Backhaul is a network that connects cell sites to central exchange. As of now 80% of cell sites are connected through microwave backhaul, while under 20% sites are connected through fibre. • High Import of Equipment: Imports account for 90 per cent of India’s telecom equipment market. However due to lack of local manufacturing and R&D, Indian telecom providers have no option other than to procure and deploy 5G technologies from foreign suppliers.
Way forward: India should not miss the opportunity and should proactively work to deploy 5g technology. We should focus on strengthening our cyber infrastructure. Funds should be allocated and local technology and telecom firms should be incentivised to develop their internal capacities which would in turn help 5G technology succeed in the country. 5g start-ups that enable this design and manufacturing capabilities should be promoted.
Q) What is the difference between 5G and 4G technology? Discuss Advantages of 5G technology for India?
Black Fungus (MUCORMYCOSIS)
The Union government has asked the States to declare mucormycosis, the fungal infection being reported in COVID-19 patients, an epidemic. In a letter to the States, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry said declaring the black fungus infection seen in COVID-19 patients an epidemic would lead to health facilities screening for it and reporting all such cases to the government. What is Mucormycosis? ● Mucormycosis is an aggressive and invasive fungal infection caused by a group of moulds called micromycetes. ● It can affect various organs but is currently manifesting as invasive rhino-orbito-cerebral disease, crawling through the sinus and working its way to the brain, affecting the ear, nose, throat, and mouth. ● While it is not contagious, it can cause a lot of damage internally and can be fatal if not detected early. ● It is an old disease; perhaps new and concerning is the sudden increase in the invasive form of the sinus variant, which involves the orbit, and at times the brain, leading to blindness, stroke or death.
What causes the disease? ● Diabetes mellitus is the most common underlying cause, followed by haematological malignancies and solid-organ transplants. Diabetes mellitus was reported in 54% to 76% of cases, according to a report. ● What seems to be triggering mucormycosis in patient’s post COVID-19 is indiscriminate use of a high dose of steroids in COVID-19 patients, sometimes even in minimally symptomatic patients. This leads to spikes in the sugar level among diabetics, which, in turn, renders them vulnerable. ● Rational use of steroids is necessary, and constant monitoring of sugar levels and resorting to insulin use to control these levels if required, is essential. ● The use of monoclonal agents like Tocilizumab may be a factor, too. ● Experts also opine that while the fungi are present in the environment, the use of nasal prongs and other devices for oxygen delivery and possible breach of sterile conditions can possibly lead to cross- infection and hospital-acquired infection.
Symptoms ● The symptoms to watch out for are a stuffy nose, bloody, blackish, or brown discharge from the nose etc. ● Other symptoms include blackish discoloration of the skin, swelling or numbness around the cheek, one-sided facial pain, toothache or jaw pain, drooping of the eyelids or eyelid swelling, double vision, redness of eyes, and sudden decrease in vision.
Treatment ● The mainline of treatment is an antifungal drug called amphotericin B, which is given over an extended period of time under the strict observance of a physician. ● Rational use of steroids is necessary and constant monitoring of sugar levels and resorting to insulin use to control these levels if required is essential. ● Surgery to remove the fungus growth might also be warranted.
Preventive measures ● It is important to keep blood sugar levels under control and ensure that appropriate calibration of oral drugs or insulin is done from time to time.
● Further, recognising the symptoms and seeking treatment early if there are two or three symptoms at a time is key. ● Like most illnesses, if detected early, Mucormycosis can be cured.
Question: What is Mucormycosis? Describe the factors that have led to exponential increase in Black fungus cases.
New IT Rules For Social Media ‘The Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021’ would come into effect soon. ● The IT rules, 2021 contain rules for social media intermediaries such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Google, Twitter, and Telegram.
New IT Rules 2021 for Social Media: 1. Social media companies are prohibited from hosting or publishing any unlawful information. 2. If such information is hosted or published the government can take down such information within 24 hours. 3. The IT rules 2021 call for social media companies to publish a monthly compliance report. 4. Traceability mechanism: This provision requires the social media platforms to compulsorily identify the first originator of the information in India. 5. Social media platforms are classified into two categories ● Social media intermediaries – Platforms that have a limited user base. ● Significant social media intermediaries – These are the platforms with a large user base. 6. The significant social media intermediaries have to follow few additional measures like: ● These platforms should have a physical contact address in India. ● Appointing a Chief Compliance Officer, Nodal Contact Person, and a Resident Grievance Officer in India. All of them should be Indian Residents. ● Nodal Contact Person will do 24×7 coordination with law enforcement agencies. ● The Resident Grievance Officer must acknowledge the complaint within 24 hours, and resolve it within 15 days of receipt.
Issues with the new IT rules: 1. New rules may amount to an overreach and lead to suppression of the right to free expression of people on these platforms. 2. New rules can arm the ruling government to take undue advantage of the power to regulate to suppress views against the ruling dispensation. 3. The rules allow the government to enforce a traceability mechanism. This simply means a threat to the user’s privacy. It will hamper the end-to-end encryption of platforms like WhatsApp. 4. Placing barriers on the marketplace: The new rules increase operational costs for social media companies. As they require to have Indian resident nodal officers, compliance officers, and physical offices in India. 5. Under the rules, the regulation will be done by a body composed of bureaucrats who might perform discretionary censorship thereby enhancing political control.
Question: Rule of law should not come at the expense of violation of freedom of speech and expression. Analyse this statement keeping in view New IT rules for social media 2021?
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