editorial note
INDEPENDENCE DAY AND THE FREEDOM THAT WE LONG FOR
Anniversaries are occasions for remembrance and renewal. constructive and inclusive idea of nation yet, social On this note, let us understand the true meaning and empowerment still remains a distant dream for millions. substance in the celebration of Independence Day beyond the glib chest-thumping of social media cheer and the glitz For many Indians, talk of freedom rings hollow: large of orchestrated functions. population is still struggling with deprivation, poverty and discrimination; grim oppression is reserved for those whom According to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar- “By independence, we M.K. Gandhi called God's children; hypocrisy of appeasing have lost the excuse of blaming the British for anything the physically disabled by attributing divinity to their going wrong. If hereafter things go wrong, we will have physique; the original settlers of the subcontinent in their nobody to blame except ourselves. There is great danger of sparse habitations in and around forests, suppressed by things going wrong.” their pretended liberators and extractive industries that covet their land; and people in the disturbed regions where In his last speech in the Constituent Assembly, Dr. democratic processes are getting weakened. Yes, there is Ambedkar had also said, “Castes are anti-national. The much that is less than free and fair in Independent India. sooner we realise that we are not yet a nation in the social and psychological sense of the word, the better for us. For But that is not the point. The point is that we have the then only we shall realise the necessity of becoming a freedom and power to remove the ugliness in our lives, to nation and think of ways and means of realising that goal. reimagine and refashion the future. The realisation of this goal is going to be very difficult in India. The castes are anti-national in the first place because Despite the shortcomings, India has made much progress they bring about separation in social life. They are anti- in raising the quality of lives of its people, in conquering the national also because they generate jealousy and antipathy science of the cosmos and of the atom, in acquiring between caste and caste.” strategic autonomy in the comity of nations. The fastest economic growth is ours. The point is to deploy it for Although, the freedom struggle gave us a creative, empowerment of the many. This empowerment will happen by empowering the freedom and empowerment to the people of India. institutions of the country- the Parliament, Judiciary, Media, A truly free and new India requires end of all injustice. True autonomous constitutional bodies, proactive and freedom means liberation of people from all deprivation. empowered local self- governance system and promoting Let us work together to achieve this! non-state actors' participation in improving governance.
The real pledge on the independence day should be based on relentless pursuit of JUSTICE- POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIROMENTAL and all these will bring real CONTENTS
Part One 17
Current Affairs Analysis CONSTITUTION, POLITY AND GOVERNANCE # GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II (Main) 02 RAJASTHAN: POLITICAL TURMOIL AND CASE OF DISQUALIFICATION INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS #Anti-Defection #Judiciary #Equality #Amendments 17
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II (Main) IMPORTANCE OF FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
US AND CHINA #Fundamental Duties 25 #Geopolitics 02 INTERNET ACCESS AND RIGHT TO FREEDOM & LIBERTY
INDIA AND US: CAATSA LAW #Rights 27 #Bilateral Relations 03 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ENTITLED TO SAME RESERVATION AS GIVEN TO SC/ST INDIA – EU: BTIA #Inclusion 30 #Bilateral Relations 04 FCRA & PMLA CHABAHAR PORT: INDIA, IRAN AND CHINA #Acts 32 #India and the World 05 PRIVY PURSE MALABAR NAVAL EXERCISE #Provision 34 #Indo-Pacific Region 07 NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS INDIA- SOUTH KOREA #Rights 35 #Bilateral relations 08 CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT - 2019 AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN TRANSIT TRADE AGREEMENT (APTTA) #Legislation 37 #India-Afghan-Pak 09 ASSYMETRIC FEDERALISM IN INDIA AIIB #Federalism 38 #Multilateral Institutions 10 BRUS REJECT RESETTLEMENT OFFER GROWING NUCLEAR ARSENAL OF CHINA #Refugees 40 #India and its Neighbourhood 11 NEW CAG TWO FRONT WAR #CAG 41 #India & its neighbourhood 12 HARYANA: RESERVATION IN PRIVATE JOBS FOR LOCALS INDIA IN THE CHANGING GEOPOLITICS #Reservation 43 #Foreign Policy 12 POSTAL BALLOTS INDIA AND REFORMED MULTILATERALISM #Election 44 #International institutions 14 BLOCKING OF CHINESE APPS PRACTICE QUESTIONS 15 #Security 45
i SUPREME COURT TO TAKE UP EWS MATTER STAGES OF TRADE INTEGRATION #Reservation 47 # External Sector 73
NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020 PRACTICE QUESTIONS 74
#Education #Empowerment 48 PRACTICE QUESTIONS 50
76
51 SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE # GS Paper I & GS Paper II (Main) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2020 # GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main) # SDG 76
GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS: A TOOL FOR STRUCTURAL 2020 STATE OF WORLD POPULATION REPORT TRANSFORMATION OF ECONOMY # Population # Report 77
#Government Policies 51 2020 GLOBAL MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX DEBATE: PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS # Index 78
#Banking 55 STARS PROGRAM BHARAT BOND ETF # Education 78 #Banking 58 EDUCATION PARAMETERS
HIGHER REAL INTEREST RATES HURTING ECONOMIC RECOVERY # Education 79 #Banking 59 NASHA MUKT BHARAT # Action 79 OFF-SHORE DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS #Banking 60 RURAL HEALTH CARE SURVEY # Health 80 FISCAL COUNCIL- THE NEED OF THE HOUR ANNUAL MGNREGA WORK LIMIT #Taxation 61 # Scheme 80 CODE ON WAGES WB: INDIAN HEALTH CARE UNDERFUNDED,DELIVERY POOR # Labour Reforms 63 # Report 80 NEED FOR INCLUSIVE MIGRATION POLICY INDIA'S SEX RATIO AT BIRTH (SRB) IMPROVES # Inclusive Growth 65 # Empowerment 81 PROMOTING SELF-RELIANCE IN PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR DRAFT TRANSGENDER PERSONS (PROTECTION OF RIGHTS) # Pharma 67 RULES, 2020 INITIATIVES TO BOOST SOLAR POWER # Empowerment 81
# Energy 68 LOSS OF JOBS FOR WOMEN DUE TO COVID-19 INCREASE IN ENROLMENT UNDER NPS # Employment #Inclusion #Empowerment 82
# Social Security 69 PRACTICE QUESTIONS 82
RAISE PROGRAM # Energy 70 83 BOOSTING AGRI-EXPORTS: A TOOL TO DOUBLE FARMERS’ INCOME SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY # Agriculture 70 # GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main) AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND SALINITY GRADIENT ENERGY # Agriculture 72 # Energy #Technology 83
ii INTERNET OF THINGS GLOBBA ANDERSONIIFROM #Technology 83 #Flora 99
PULSE OXIMETER RECONSTITUTION OF THE CENTRAL ZOO AUTHORITY (CZA) #Health #Technology 84 #Ex-Situ Conservation 99
SEROSURVEILLANCE PRACTICE QUESTIONS 100 #Health 85 KAWASAKI DISEASE #Health 86 101
CHOANOFLAGELLATES HISTORY, HERITAGE & CULTURE # Microorganism 86
SOLAR ORBITER MISSION # GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper I (Main)
#Space 87 MADHUBANI PAINTINGS 101 PRESERVE SPECIES DIVERSITY TO PREVENT ZOONOTIC DISEASES BURRA KATHA 101 88 HARIKATHA 102 PRACTICE QUESTIONS 89 CHIRALA TEXTILES 102
BATHUKAMMA 102 90 ARANMULA BOAT RACE 103
GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY & GATKA 103
THANJAVUR PAINTINGS 103 DISASTER MANAGEMENT CHHAU DANCE 103 # GS Paper (Prelims) and GS Paper I & III(Main) DRAFT EIA NOTIFICATION RAIBENSHE DANCE 104 #Conservation 90 NADIA PUPPETRY 104
W.B. FUNDS NAMAMI GANGE PROJECT MANDANA ART 104 #Conservation #Pollution 92 THANJAVUR DOLLS 104 INDIAN SUNDARBANS KULLU NATI DANCE 104 #Conservation 93 BEHDIENKHLAM FESTIVAL 105 DECLARATION OF TIGER RESERVES #Conservation 95 MONGMONG FESTIVAL 105
NAGARHOLE NATIONAL PARK GOTMAR FESTIVAL 105
#Conservation 97 BAGWAL FESTIVAL 105
GOLDEN BIRDWING BUDHAMAL FESTIVAL 105 #Biodiversity 97 VRISCHIKOLSAVAM FESTIVAL 106 RED SANDERS CHETAK FESTIVAL 106 #Conservation 98 MAKARAVILAKKU FESTIVAL 106 MOBILE APP: KURMA #Biodiversity # Technology 98 THAKURANI JATRA FESTIVAL 106
CENTRAL GROUND WATER BOARD (CGWB) DOUL UTSAV 107
#Authority 99 THEYYAM DANCE 107
iii INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE ARTS 108 CASE STUDIES for Practice MAINS GS PAPER IV 123
109 Part Three SECURITY
# GS Paper III (Main) Essays of the month ANDAMAN & NICOBAR: ISLANDS OF NEW POSSIBILITIES # India and the World 109 126 CHINA ON INDIA’S APPS BAN ESSAY 1: JOY IS THE SIMPLEST FORM OF GRATITUDE # Society # Security #India and its Neighbourhood 111 # Ethics RISING CYBER CONCERNS AND DIGITAL HEALTH CARE SUBMITTED BY: MUSKAN ARYA 127 # Cyber Security 113 ESSAY 2: COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM : MYTH OR REALITY # Polity and Governance SUBMITTED BY: TUSHAR SHARMA 128 Part TWO ESSAY 3: CUSTOMARY MORALITY CANNOT BE A GUIDE TO MODERN LIFE Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude # Ethics SUBMITTED BY: AKASH BHAIRAV GUPTA 130
116 ESSAY 4: BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN OTHERS # Ethics 132 CARTOONS SPEAK SHARPER THAN THE WORDS #Ethics #Integrity #Aptitude# 117
iv
Part ONE
Current affairs analysis
logical .simple .targeted analysis & explanation of all relevant news of the month
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS # GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II (Main)
Lead Article
Hong Kong security law and Is reportedly considering a US AND CHINA sweeping travel ban on the millions of members of China’s #Geopolitics ruling Communist Party. • US has accused China of providing refuge to one of the Chinese researchers against whom the U.S. has issued an arrest warrant because she allegedly lied to the authorities IN NEWS about her ties to the Army. United States has closed Chinese Consulate in Houston. China THE LARGER GEO-CONFLICT retaliated by ordering the U.S. consulate in the western • What started as a Trade War between US and China in Chinese city of Chengdu closed. This represents an 2018 has grown into a larger geopolitical contest between unprecedented escalation in the steadily deteriorating ties the two superpowers not seen by the world since the cold between the world’s two largest economies. This decision is by war between US and the erstwhile Soviets. far the most drastic measure taken by US amidst growing • What makes the crisis dangerous in the long term is that rivalry with China after both countries established diplomatic there is a growing consensus in Washington that a hostile relations in 1979. China, resorting to large-scale espionage, poses a serious threat to the U.S.-dominated international order. • The damage done to US-China bilateral relations seems irreversible if continues at this scale and its impact will be resonated among relations between US allies on one hand and Chinese Allies on the other. • U.S.-China crisis is unfolding at a time when Beijing has become more assertive in Asia picking fights with countries in its neighbourhood, from India to Vietnam and Malaysia. • Thus, the message from China seems to be, that it is ready for a long game of escalation, as long as the U.S. keeps playing it. US ACCUSATION AND ACTION TAKEN IN • If this deterioration is not arrested immediately, the U.S. RETALIATION and China risk a total breakdown in their diplomatic relations, and this will impact relations of other significant • United States Administration has accused the consulate countries in their respective region. and other Chinese diplomatic missions in the country of economic espionage, visa fraud and attempted theft of IMPACT ON INDIA scientific research. • India too needs to take strategic measure considering the • Accordingly, US has announced Visa restrictions on growing rift between US & China as China will use this students, imposed sanctions on Chinese officials over a
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International Relations
opportunity to its advantage and against India considering countries buying defence equipment from Russia under growing India-US ties. CAATSA.
• The US Secretary of State in his address to the US India Let us understand the various aspects of CAATSA Law of USA. Business Council underlined the importance of Delhi and CAATSA AND INDIA Washington working together in countering the China • challenge CAATSA - Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. U.S has urged all of its allies and partners • For some in India, the Trump Administration’s muscular to forgo transactions with Russia that risk triggering approach to Beijing generates deep concerns about being sanctions. drawn into the escalating US-China conflict. • • Others have welcomed USA’s uninhibited support against In the aftermath of 2016 presidential elections, U.S. had Beijing in the conflict that China has imposed on India announced sanctions against Russia under the stringent along the LAC. law for its alleged meddling in the American presidential election. • Thus, getting the US-India relationship in the right direction is very critical at this juncture. • CAATSA mandates the US administration to punish entities engaging in significant transaction with the defense or intelligence establishment of Russia. INDIA AND US: CAATSA • The message was reiterated in the context of India’s plan to upgrade 21 MiG-29 fighter jets besides 12 Sukhoi MK1 LAW from Russia. #Bilateral Relations • The U.S. President has the authority to waive CAATSA sanctions on a case by case basis. However, U.S. officials have repeatedly stated that India should not assume it will get a waiver. IN NEWS • In 2018, the Trump administration has publicly expressed At a time when India is aggressively buying defence equipment its desire to protect India from CAATSA in the backdrop of from Russia during the recent visit of India’s defence minister India’s S-400 Missile System deal with Russia. to Russia, US has maintained its position of sanctions to • However, since then the US position has changed. VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE CAATSA LAW
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International Relations
imports. Wines and spirits are considered luxury items in INDIA – EU: BTIA India and therefore there is no reasonable cause for such #Bilateral Relations a tariff reduction. • EU is not granting data secure certification to India, which would facilitate the cross-border transfer of personal data that is required by Indian companies IN NEWS especially in the IT industry. Seven years after talks on a free trade agreement were • Agricultural products have been excluded from the suspended, India and the European Union (EU) are set to agree negotiations. European countries give huge subsidy to on a “High-level dialogue on Trade and Investment” to restart their agro products, due to which Indian agricultural negotiations. The announcement is expected at a virtual “EU- products are not able to compete. India Summit”. So, let us understand the basic issue related to • EU has also asked India for change in government the Broad Based Trade and Investment Agreement(BTIA). procurement policies. India has denied these prospective BROAD-BASED TRADE & INVESTMENT AGREEMENT changes as agricultural procurement is followed on basis (BTIA) of developmental motive rather than profiteering motive.
• The trade with India formed under 3% of the E.U.’s global • EU is vary of the data localisation rules within India trade, which is “far below” what was expected of the especially of recent RBI guideline of compulsory financial relationship. Conversely, the E.U. is India’s largest trading data localisation. This has led to disagreement on the partner and investor, and accounts for 11% of India’s operating guidelines for e-commerce companies. global trade. THE OTHER SIDE • The Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) • European Union’s China dilemma and an opportunity is an intended trade agreement in negotiation between for India: Europe and China have been major partners for India & European Union. It has not progressed due to a generation. There has been a relationship of sharp differences between both negotiating parties. dependence and cooperation. European Union has given DIFFERENCES ON BTIA statements that they will not choose sides between the • There is a disagreement between India and EU on whether United States and China. the protection of foreign investments will be part of the Economics as the main substance of EU-China relation BTIA or will be dealt with in a separate agreement. • Europe championed China’s case for World Trade • The provision under BTIA makes it mandatory for foreign Organization (WTO) membership and China supported the investors to initially pursue Indian judicial and ‘European Project’ - connectivity, regulatory frameworks administrative remedies for at least a period of five years and the building of a single European entity. before pursuing a claim under international law. This • According to the World Bank, China and the European provision is being opposed by the European Union. Union (EU) jointly account for nearly 35% of global GDP in • India wants a greater ease of movement of temporary PPP terms. skilled workers to provide services in the EU. European • China is now the EU’s second-biggest trading partner nations have been pursuing a policy of protectionism after behind the United States and the EU is China’s biggest successive financial crisis caused a rise in unemployment. trading partner. Moreover, liberalization in immigration policies including for migrant workers is subject to decisions of individual CHANGING SUBSTANCE IN THE EU-CHINA RELATION countries, thereby limiting the mandate of EU to negotiate • Economic dimension has been most significant in EU-China with India. relation in last two decades. But now, political and security • The EU wants greater market access for its wines and dimensions began to jostle in. spirits, and that India should lower its tariffs for their
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International Relations
• In March 2019, the EU Commission published “A Strategic total Indian trade, on par with the USA and ahead of China Outlook”, describing China as, simultaneously, a (10.7%)
cooperative partner, an economic competitor and a • Infrastructure projects like International North–South systemic rival. Transport Corridor will help increase India’s export to EU. • European security is a concern in the light of economic • The opportunity for India and the EU to build a partnership power and political influence of China growing with that is both economic and strategic is there for the taking unprecedented scale and speed. in a post-COVID-19 strategic scenario. • The relation between EU and China has come to a tipping point. E.U has accused Russia and China to have engaged in disinformation campaigns around COVID-19 in the EU, its neighborhoods and globally, seeking to undermine CHABAHAR PORT: INDIA, democratic debate and exacerbate social polarization, and improve their own image in the COVID 19 context. IRAN AND CHINA AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIA #India and the World • EU is not expected to follow the U.S. in ‘de-coupling’ or join an ‘against-China’ camp. European companies still hope that China’s President Xi Jinping will use this pandemic to IN NEWS make fundamental reforms in the way that Deng Xiaoping and Zhu Rongji did in 1992 and 1998, respectively. India and Iran had signed an agreement to construct a rail line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, along the border with • Yet many EU companies are looking for alternative Afghanistan. Now Iran has started the development of the rail investment spaces in the wake of deteriorating line on its own. Iran has cited delays from the Indian side in relationship between China and the U.S. funding and starting the project. The railway project was being • This, then, is an opportune time for India-EU relations, but developed as part of trilateral agreement between India, Iran only if we do not waste the crisis. and Afghanistan. IRCON had signed an MoU in this regard. • Political conditions are favorable especially after the Let us understand the Strategic Importance of Chabahar port. withdrawal of the United Kingdom. Also we will focus on deep inroads China is trying to make in • The Europeans recognize India’s role in helping provide Iran and its impact on India. peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF CHABAHAR PORT FOR • They see great potential in working together on INDIA technologies and issues of the future. • It is located in the Gulf of Oman, near Iran’s border with TAPPING ON THE ‘RARE’ OPPORTUNITY Pakistan. It serves as Iran’s only major oceanic port • BTIA can be put back on track or, at the very least, we because it is the only major port of Iran that lies beyond may conclude a separate Investment Protection the Strait of Hormuz and has direct access to the Indian Agreement. Ocean.
• We must join in high-technology collaboration including 5G • Chabahar port in Iran connects to Afghanistan at the and artificial intelligence. Zaranj and Deleram highway. Chabahar port to Deleram is approx. 1800 km. • Europe will also need to change its positions on trade in goods and be ready to accommodate India on services. • This highway then links it to the Afghan `garland road or ‘Ring Road’ that connects the major Afghan cities of Herat, • India accounts for only 2.3 percent of EU trade and only Kandahar, Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif. ranks ninth in EU trading partners.
• The EU is India’s largest trading partner, accounting for €80 billion worth of trade in goods in 2019 or 11.1% of
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International Relations
• Chabahar port is the nearest Iranian port to India, which and would help India in keeping an eye on the Chinese is at approx. 1020km from Kandla port, Gujarat or 1560km activity in the Gwadar port of Pakistan which is close to the from Mumbai. Chabahar port. • The port also serves as the nearest port entry, after AREAS OF CONVERGENCES FOR CHINA-IRAN Pakistani ports, for India into Central Asia. • Economy • Chabahar Port also provides direct access to India’s o One is a huge energy market and is abundant with Farkhor Air Base in Tajikistan. surplus cash and the other is a sanctions-hit, cash- • India and Afghanistan have been able to bypass Pakistan strapped energy exporter. for trade exchange and can trade goods through the o The deal could offer an immediate reprieve to Iran’s Chabahar port. economy that is reeling under the U.S.’s ‘maximum • With the help of the port, India has showcased pressure’ policy. commitment to the reconstruction and re- building of o The International Monetary Fund has forecasted that post-war Afghanistan and augmented its Soft Power Iran's economy will contract by 6% this year. Iran has been status in Afghanistan. isolated. And its infrastructure is in a shamble. Over a period of time, this will receive an upgrade. From the Chinese point of view, Iran would present a very major energy, economic, geopolitical and logistical partner and a very crucial role player in the BRI.
• Geo-strategy
o Both countries are at odds with the U.S.
o Iran has a very crucial place in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
. China always wanted to bring Iran on board.
. As the Americans pursued the policy of ‘maximum Why India Delayed the construction? India remained pressure’ against Iran and left Iran under extraordinary reluctant to start the work because of the fears of attracting privation and deprivation, it is now open to the Chinese US sanctions. U.S. had provided a sanctions waiver for the initiative. Chabahar port and the rail line to Zahedan, but it has been CHINA AND IRAN ARE TAKING THEIR PARTNERSHIP difficult to find equipment suppliers and partners due to TO A NEW LEVEL THROUGH A $400-BILLION LONG- worries they could be targeted by the U.S. TERM AGREEMENT. EMERGENCE OF CHINA • The countries are in an advanced stage of finalizing the • Iran and China are about to finalise a 25year Strategic agreement that would allow China to expand its presence Partnership which will include Chinese involvement in in banking, telecommunications, ports, railways and Chabahar’s duty-free zone, an oil refinery nearby, and also several other sectors in the Islamic Republic in return for possibly a larger role in Chabahar port as well. heavily discounted oil for 25 years.
• This plan has been revealed in a leaked document – • While for Iran, whose oil sales plummeted after President “Comprehensive Plan for Cooperation between Iran and Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of the Iran China” nuclear deal in May 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on the • It is cause of concern because India was developing this country, this agreement could be an economic lifeline. port with the aim of countering Chinese presence in the • Further, China could enhance its strategic influence in a India Ocean region. This port is strategically very important region where the U.S. has built a strong presence since the because it gives India the access to Central Asian countries Second World War.
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International Relations
• According to the NYT, China and Iran would launch joint • The final decision is likely before the exercise, which could training exercises, joint research and weapons take place towards the end of this year.
development and intelligence sharing. • The Malabar exercises were first established in 1992 • China will also offer its GPS to Iran, build infrastructure for between India and the United States, but due to 5G rollout and develop free trade zones. tensions arising from India’s nuclearization in 1998, it
• The partnership agreement has to get the final clearance became an annual feature only in 2002. from the Iranian Parliament. • In 2007, the scope of Malabar was enhanced and a five- nation multilateral naval exercise taking on board three WHAT COULD BE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH A DEAL? other nations Japan, Australia and Singapore was • The agreement, if goes through, could attract punitive organised. measures from the U.S. against China. The U.S. State • However, this display of multilateral naval cooperation Department has already said it would target Chinese heightened China’s anxiety. Both India and the US sought companies if they make investments in Iran defying to allay Chinese concerns and the Malabar exercise was American sanctions. But China, which is already in a trade made bilateral. and technological war with the U.S., seems determined to go ahead with its partnership. • After 2007 Australia ceased to participate. Japan joined the Malabar exercises as a permanent member in 2015. o China continued to buy Iranian oil over the past year even after the U.S. sanctions waivers expired in May 2019, • With China’s growing military strength and its increasing although in smaller volumes. presence in the Indian Ocean, Malabar exercise has assumed greater importance. o In contrast, India stopped buying Iranian oil last year after U.S. waivers ended. In 2019-20, India’s crude oil imports • The Malabar exercise enhances India’s credibility in the from Iran were 1.7 million tonnes, down from 23.9 million maritime domain and prioritizes collective effort to secure tonnes in the previous fiscal. the first of the three global commons (oceans, space, and cyberspace).
CONFLICT
MALABAR NAVAL • China sees this maritime quadrilateral grouping as an Asian-NATO that seeks only to contain China’s rise.
EXERCISE • Following the stand-off in Ladakh, many Indian analysts #Indo-Pacific Region believe the time is right for India to shed its traditional defensiveness in the maritime domain. • However, some of the policy makers have warned that it IN NEWS could open a new front in the India-China conflict.
There is speculation that Australia will join the Malabar NEED TO REFLECT UPON STRATEGIC RATIONALE OF military exercise along with China and USA. All the members of THE QUAD this drill are also the members of the Quadrilateral grouping • India aims at countering the Chinese naval presence in the which aims at countering China in the Indian Ocean region. So Indian Ocean. let us analyse the potential of this expansion of trilateral • To this end, India has acquired airborne surveillance assets (Malabar)naval exercise into a quadrilateral one with Australia from the U.S., however the Indian Navy is yet to develop joining it. Also let us look at its importance for India in the the undersea capability to deter Chinese submarines. backdrop of increasing influence of China. • Another issue is that US companies which are partnering ABOUT THE EXERCISE with India are reluctant in transferring technology. This is • There is increasing consensus at the official level that one of the hurdles in exploiting full potential of the Quad Australia should join the naval war games. group
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OPERATIONAL PREPAREDNESS Rule of law;
• China has been stepping up its naval presence in the South Peaceful, stable, secure, free, open, inclusive and rules- China Sea. based region
• In this background, U.S. would expect its Indo-Pacific • India considers South Korea as a partner in its ‘Act East’ partners, including India, to assist the U.S. Navy in its policy and similarly, South considers India a central pillar South China Sea to counter China. in its ‘New Southern Policy’. • US and Japan do not have spare capacity for sustained THIRD PARTY PARTNERSHIP surveillance and deterrence operations in the IOR. In such a scenario, the onus will be on India and Australia. • India and South Korea would explore tripartite partnership for development in third countries. WAY FORWARD • Both countries would begin with capacity building China has been cautious and has made sure that its operations do not cross the threshold of conflict with India. programmes in Afghanistan. So just building up a Naval coalition will not deter Chinese SHARED HERITAGE naval power in the Indian Ocean. Upgrading the trilateral • India and South Korea have agreed to expedite the work to Malabar exercise to a quadrilateral one, without acquiring the requisite combat and deterrence capability, could yield gains upgrade the monument of Queen Suriratna (Hur Hwang- for India in the short term, but would prove ineffective in the ok) in Ayodhya as a joint project to celebrate their shared long run. heritage. • Princess Suriratna was a legendary Princess of Ayodhya, who went to Korea in AD 48 and married King Kim-Suro of INDIA- SOUTH KOREA Royal Korean family. A large number of Koreans trace their #Bilateral relations ancestry to this legendary princess. ECONOMIC COOPERATION
• South Korea has shown keenness in partnering in India’s IN NEWS flagship initiatives, including Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, Start-up India and Smart Cities. India and South Korea have signed numerous bilateral agreements with the aim of taking their ties to the next level. • Samsung which as a South Korean company formed a new However, the economic partnership is struck at $22 billion manufacturing facility in Noida, Uttar Pradesh which is annually, and their defence partnership appears to have perhaps the largest mobile phone manufacturing plant for receded from great all-round promise to the mere sale and Samsung anywhere in the world, reflecting South Korean purchase of weapon systems. In this background, let us partnership in ‘Make in India’ program. understand the various aspects of India – South Korea • South Korea would continue to support India’s relations infrastructure developmental projects through Korea’s STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP Economic Development Cooperation Fund and Export Credit. • India & South Korea consider their relationship to be a ‘Special Strategic Partnership’ built on the foundations TRADE COOPERATION
of: • India and South Korea seek for early conclusion of ongoing Deep-rooted historical and cultural bonds; negotiations to upgrade the ROK-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Shared universal values of democracy;
Free market economy;
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International Relations
• Both countries have finalized the elements of an Early Harvest Package that would lead towards an upgraded AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN CEPA. TRANSIT TRADE • It would facilitate ongoing negotiations on upgrading the India-RoK CEPA by identifying key areas for trade AGREEMENT (APTTA) liberalization such as marine products. #India-Afghan-Pak KOREAN PENINSULA DENUCLEARISATION • India & South Korea committed their support for complete denuclearization as well as lasting peace and stability in IN NEWS the Korean Peninsula. Traders in Punjab’s Amritsar are upbeat about resuming their • Both countries would work together to prevent business after Pakistan recently allowed Afghanistan to send proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and delivery goods to India using the Attari- Wagah border under the Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement. Both Pakistan systems, particularly to terrorists and non-state actors. and India had suspended trade through the Attari-Wagah • NSG Membership: South Korea has reiterated its support border in March this year to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 to India’s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. pandemic. So let us understand the key aspects of this agreement and its importance for India. TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION ABOUT THE AGREEMENT • India and South Korea signed an MoU on Future Strategy The APTTA is a bilateral trade agreement signed in 2010 by Group which seeks for the development of cutting edge Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a landlocked technologies for commercialization to reap benefits of the country and hence it is critically dependent on Pakistan for 4th Industrial revolution. trade. Hence, this treaty was meant to provide greater trade • India & South Korea would cooperate in research & integration among these two nations. development of: FEATURES OF THE AGREEMENT • Internet of Things 3D Printing It allows for both countries to use each other’s airports, railways, roads, and ports for transit trade along Artificial Intelligence Electric Vehicle designated transit corridors. • The agreement does not cover road transport vehicles Big Data Advance Materials from any third country, be it from India or any Central Smart Factory Computing Asian country. • The signed Agreement permits Afghanistan trucks access Cyber security Precision medicine to the Wagah border with India, where Afghan goods will be offloaded onto Indian trucks. Bio Big-Data in health Brain research • This agreement does not permit Indian goods to be loaded medicine onto trucks for transit back to Afghanistan. Next generation-medical Digital healthcare BENEFITS TO INDIA equipment • Access to Afghan Agricultural products (Dry Fruits and fresh fruits) Next generation wireless Affordable healthcare for communication Networks • Also, a supply chain has developed in Punjab which thrives the elderly and disabled such as 5G & Cloud on trade with Afghanistan, and in times of Covid-19, this resumption of trade is going to provide much needed Computing relief.
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International Relations
• Providing market to afghan products entrenches Afghan members Approved members: 22 economy deeper with India which has resulted in positive Members. public perception of India among Afghan people. All the UN members ISSUES IN THE FUNCTIONING OF THIS AGREEMENT All the members of IBRD Membership (Voting rights of or Asian Development • The success of the treaty depends upon the good relations open to? BRICS Countries Bank between Pakistan- Afghanistan. Any trouble among them, shall not reduce leads to stoppage of trade. below 55%) Total • Also both sides complain of continued barriers to trade. Authorized $ 100 bn $ 100 bn • Banking contacts between the two countries remain Capital underdeveloped which results in transaction issues. Voting depends upon the share capital provided. • The required truck-tracking systems have been Regional members implemented in Pakistan, while the Afghan side has yet to All 5 countries shareholding should Voting install such systems on their own trucks given 20% voting always be above 75% Weightage • Afghanistan also refuses to grant Pakistan the right to weightage each. Countries with highest import and export goods from Central Asia across Afghan voting Rights: China: territory. 26.64%; India: 7.6%; Russia: 6%. • The 2010 APTTA agreement allowed for Afghan goods to be exported to India via Pakistan territory, but did not PROSPECTS OF AIIB permit Indian goods to in turn to be exported to • AIIB is a culmination of China’s incessant articulation of the Afghanistan across Pakistani territory. concerns of the emerging economies, which felt they were not being given an adequate say in institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the AIIB ADB. • Again, the AIIB is the consequence of the inability of #Multilateral Institutions existing financial institutions to undergo change to suit changing times.
• It is also essential to see the AIIB and China’s ambitious IN NEWS plans for the ‘Belt and Road’ project as being Mr. Jin Liqun, who has recently re-elected as President of AIIB, complementary. has highlighted that AIIB would continue to function as an • The AIIB as envisaged by China is clearly meant to use “apolitical” institution and will continue to support projects in its financial resources and surplus to invest in India. Despite the border stand-off with China, India has projects in the Asian neighbourhood, which is suffering continued to remain the largest beneficiaries of development from a massive infrastructure funding loans from the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment gap. Using Infrastructure as regional integration and Bank (AIIB). So far, India has received $ 4.35 bn from AIIB. foreign policy tool.
So let us compare, the New development of BRICS with the • The infrastructure projects in the neighbourhood, AIIB. nevertheless, are a way of allowing Chinese companies ASIAN (among others) to participate and invest in them at a time NEW INFRASTRUCTURE when there is a situation of industrial overcapacity. DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT BANK BANK • The participation of many countries from Europe and (AIIB) elsewhere in the AIIB attests to their understanding of the BRICS Fortaleza China-led Bank set up in Establishment Declaration 2016 potential of the projects for which the investments could Number of BRICS Countries Around 80 members. be used, especially the Belt and Road schemes.
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International Relations
• India’s participation in the AIIB, too, indicates that New • Many recipient countries in Asia have poor credit, which Delhi is keen on a balancing act to suit its interests – to means many projects may be promising at the beginning engage with the West and the dominant international but will be difficult to pursue. Agreement and consensus finance order, at the same time exploring options with new are reached at the top levels of government, but financial institutions. implementation is at the local level. Local governments often do not care about the central government’s policies • In a way, the IMF and the World Bank have only themselves to blame if they find their dominance under and do not always cooperate with foreign investors. threat, because the seeds of the new bank sprouted from • With slowing economy growth and a falling foreign either their inability or unwillingness, or both, to meet the exchange reserve, funding the AIIB and OBOR may present growing funding needs of Asia. China with a real challenge. Recent market fluctuations in
• As per the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) China may also undermine political support for such grand assessment, Asia needs on an average $800 billions of international projects. investment in infrastructure annually between now and 2020. Against this, the ADB, dominated by Japan which is also a founding member, lends no more than $10 GROWING NUCLEAR billion a year for infrastructure.
• With the American-dominated World Bank and the Europe- ARSENAL OF CHINA led IMF also remaining hamstrung, the need for a #India and its Neighbourhood multilateral body to finance the growth region of the world was real.
CHALLENGES IN NEWS • China faces many challenges in implementing the AIIB and China is pursuing a planned modernisation of its nuclear OBOR. arsenal because it fears the multi-layered missile defence • The United States and Japan remain non-committal to the capabilities of the United States. In this background, let us AIIB, although that is an improvement from their previous understand the cause of concern for India. firm opposition. EVIDENCE OF GROWING NUCLEAR ARSENAL • The AIIB will probably function well without the • China, according to the International Panel on Fissile participation of the United States and Japan. But the Materials (IPFM) is estimated to possess 2.9+-0.6 metric participation of these two countries is important for China tonnes of Weapons-grade Plutonium (WGP) compared to since it will help improve the new bank’s credit rating and India’s is 0.6+-0.15 tonnes of WGP. give it added legitimacy. China considers the AIIB a new forum for improving relations with Japan and the United • The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute States. So, China will need to work harder to encourage (SIPRI) observes that China’s nuclear arsenal has risen the United States and Japan to join. from 290 warheads in 2019 to 320 warheads in 2020.
• Security is another major challenge. For example, as part CAUSE OF CONCERN
of OBOR, China will build 81,000 kilometers (about 50,000 • China’s expansion is cause for concern because even as miles) of high-speed railway, more than the current world the U.S. and Russia are attempting to reduce the size of total, involving 65 countries. Who is going to protect so their respective arsenals, the PRC is on an expansionist many projects covering so many countries? mode. • The Kashgar-Gwadar economic corridor links western • This poses a dual challenge for India since it will have two China and Pakistan with roads and pipelines and will send face two nuclear armed countries on its borders. electricity to Pakistan. The route passes through some of the world’s most vulnerable and conflict-ridden territory. PAKISTAN AND CHINA
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International Relations
• The Indian nuclear arsenal, according to the SIPRI, stands INDIA'S PREPAREDNESS at roughly 150 nuclear warheads with the Pakistani slightly • Indian military has maintained that the armed forces are ahead with 160 warheads. prepared for a two-front contingency. • Further given the highly sophisticated nature of Chinese • India has developed the Agni-V and Agni-IV nuclear- nuclear capabilities relative to India, they give Beijing capable ballistic missiles which is transforming the considerable coercive leverage. Beijing could commit "dissuasion" posture against China into "deterrence". further aggression under the cover of its nuclear arsenal. • The Army is also raising the new 17 Mountain Strike • The PRC is believed to base a part of its nuclear arsenal in Corps, which with 90,274 soldiers will have two high- inland territories such as in the Far-Western Xinjiang altitude infantry divisions. Region, which is close to Aksai Chin. • It will ensure "quick-reaction ground offensive capabilities" • China’s land-based missiles are a primarily road mobile on the "northern borders" for the first time. and could play a key role in any larger conventional • offensive the PLA might mount against Indian forces along India has been ramping up infrastructure development along its borders. the LAC. Example - Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road WAY FORWARD • Further India has been ramping up its air force capacity India should start seriously assessing its extant nuclear with the S-400s, the Rafales, the Akash, the LCAs, the doctrine and redouble efforts to get a robust triadic capability Chinooks, the Apaches, the Globemasters. for deterrence. • Indian military has been preparing for a two front war scenario in its exercise Gagan Shakti.
• However, to effectively counter the threat of a two front TWO FRONT WAR war India needs to beef up its offensive capabilities and at #India & its neighbourhood the same time change its war doctrines, including its nuclear doctrine, to deter the enemies.
IN NEWS
In the backdrop of clashes between India and China along the INDIA IN THE CHANGING LAC in the Ladakh region there has been speculation that it might escalate into a full scale war. A bigger concern for India GEOPOLITICS is to fight a war on both the eastern and the western fronts #Foreign Policy with China and Pakistan respectively. Let’s us look at the possibility of such a war and India’s preparedness. POSSIBILITY OF TWO FRONT WAR IN NEWS • - If Strategic collusion between China and Pakistan India’s Foreign Minister has highlighted the role India can play conflict escalates along the LOC, China might direct in the changing geopolitics at a virtual conference on the Pakistan to initiate war on the western front. “Geopolitics of opportunity: as the world rebalances, how • Pakistan Problem - Pakistan is already looking for an should India capitalise?”. At this conference he has talked excuse to get into a conflict due to the Constitutional about various issues related to India’s foreign policy. Let us Changes in the J&K. understand them in detail. • Pakistan's adventurism in the Past - Pakistan has ON CHANGING GEO-POLITICS jumped into conflicts with India in the past even when it • India will not be a part of any alliance and would maintain was economically broke. Thus, it will be wrong to think that neutrality. an economically broke Pakistan will not jump into a war.
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International Relations
• Geopolitics is witnessing shifts with China being more • An important aspect of the trilateral talk was his comment assertive and USA shrinking its global role. These shifts where he said that India should also seek to build are opening spaces for middle powers like India, Japan, coalitions with “middle powers”, such as the European the European Union and others. Union and Japan. • Shrinking role of USA in global politics, has allowed many POLICY TAKE OF RUSSIA ON INDIA-CHINA BORDER other countries to play more autonomous roles. CONFLICT
• It doesn’t affect us as much because we were never part • It is believed in Moscow that regional security and stability of an alliance system and we will never be. in Eurasia, to a wide extent, hinges on the interactions • But countries who depended more on the U.S. are finding inside the New Delhi-Moscow-Beijing triangle. they have to take a call themselves on many issues Accordingly, this trilateral is regarded as a key platform for many Russian foreign policy initiatives, from nuclear • India must now take more “risks”, as the world expected it nonproliferation to international terrorism and drug to take a more proactive stance on the “big issues” of the trafficking. day, including connectivity, maritime security, terrorism, climate change and terrorism. • That is to say nothing of Moscow’s “Greater Eurasian Partnership” – a geopolitical concept unveiled by President ON NON ALIGNMENT AND THE ALLIANCES Vladimir Putin four years ago. Such regional mechanisms • India does not reject non-alignment in its entirety and that as that Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Eurasian while it would no longer remain disentangled from difficult Economic Union (EAEU), and Russia- India-China (RIC) are decisions, it would not compromise on its independence. viewed as an integral part of this construct. • He rejected the idea of an alliance and said that India has • In case of the serious rift in New Delhi-Beijing relations, never been part of an alliance system, nor will it ever be. Russia’s vision for “Greater Eurasia,” having received • He further stated that even the U.S. must look beyond its limited enthusiasm from the partners so far, is likely to present alliances, and engage with more multilateral crumble as well. Beyond that, the healthy functioning of arrangements based on equality. Multilateral Agreements BRICS is also largely dependent on its R-I-C component.
involve three or more parties e.g. WTO. • Russian leading thinkers in their Report on ideas for the • Current discords between United States and China has new Russian Foreign Policy has suggested that in the been referred by many scholars as New Cold War or Cold current scenario Russia should become the leader of a War 2.0. On this note, Minister said that principle of non- new “non- aligned movement” and hence, it is imperative alignment may have worked during the Soviet-US Cold War to cooperate with India in order for this movement to time but now, things have changed. India and China share become united.
land boundaries and this aspect will always be a factor in • The scholars think that Russia’s strategic goal is to upgrade the New Cold War. its relations with India to the level of its relations with • China already sees India as quasi-ally of US whereas US China as this relationship will provide Moscow with a wants India on become its military partner and patrol much-needed geopolitical equilibrium in Eurasia.
South China Sea on its behalf. • These views testify to the growing apprehension in • It is because of this situation, India even though have good Moscow of the need to avoid sliding into a role as Beijing’s relations with US, does not want to become its military “junior partner” and to highlight India’s increasingly partner officially as it fears that there is more strategic loss significant role in Russia’s geopolitical calculations.
than gain from this entire exercise. • It was important for Moscow to organize the trilateral of • Another strategic move by India was its outreach to Russia-India-China against the backdrop of the upcoming Moscow (knowing the closeness of ties between Russia summits of BRICS and SCO, which Russia is to host in St. and China) including a visit by Defence Minister and the Petersburg later in 2020. participation of Foreign Minister in the Russia-India-China trilateral last month.
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International Relations
ON ECONOMY 1. Finding new opportunities for progress;
• The world is heading towards a more protectionist 2. Effective response to international terrorism; economy. 3. Reforming multilateral systems;
• The free trade agreements (FTAs) that India entered into 4. Comprehensive approach to international peace and over the years have not been able to largely serve the security; country’s economy well in terms of building its capacities 5. Technology with a human touch. • There are ways of engaging the world which do not NEED FOR REFORMING THE CURRENT necessarily have to be FTA- centric MULTILATERAL WORLD ORDER • On Neighbourhood: It is a complex neighbourhood and India is often like a “punching bag”, adding creation of Lack of Representation: The permanent membership of UNSC is lopsided with no representation to majority of the structural linkages could address the problem of “volatility” population including those of South America and Africa. resulted by domestic politics of the countries. Besides India and Brazil being highly populous countries do WAY FORWARD – FOR INDIA not find their representation. • Thus, India along with United States must not leave out LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY Russia in its overall foreign policy strategy. • The current multilateralism is skewed towards few global • Russia still hinges on the old friendship with India for the powers who have been able to arm-twist the geopolitics of sake of its Greater Eurasian Partnership construct. Russia various multilateral institutions by virtue of their military can act as the perfect balance in the region and provide and economic might. For instance: - more stability and strength to India’s relationship with US has unilaterally withdrawn from funding of various Russia and China in the backdrop of BRICS, SCO and RIC. o multilateral institutions the most recent being WHO. US has withdrawn its funding from UNESCO for its alleged anti-Israel bias in early 2019.
INDIA AND REFORMED o Similarly, US has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement. o There have been instances of US’s arm-twisting of WTO the MULTILATERALISM most recent being the disputes appellate tribunal which #International institutions has been rendered defunct at the behest of US. o Besides the countries that violate international law have not been held accountable merely because of its economic and military might. For example, in 2016 China did not IN NEWS adhere to the UNCLOS ruling on the rule-based navigation In line with its agenda in its 8th term as the non-permanent in the South China Sea. Lately the credibility of WHO is member of the UNSC, India has reaffirmed its commitment to questioned for its pro-China bias especially in initiating an New Orientation for Reformed Multilateral System or NORMS investigation into handling of the crisis by China in the at the UN Economic and Social Council meeting. So let us initial days understand the need for reforming present paradigm of MULTILATERALISM AT THE WEAKEST Multilateralism. • The current system has failed to fulfil its primary objective NORMS of shared benefits through integration. For instance in In the backdrop of India’s entry into UNSC as the non- times of the crisis countries have selectively pushed for permanent member, the slated objective is to push for a export restrictions in medicines and medical equipmentS. reformed multilateralism under NORMS framework. The 5- • China has been reluctant in cooperating with countries fold objective of NORMS include: - which have raised issues related to its strategy to arrest
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International Relations
the spread of pandemic, manufacture of faulty PPE kits tolerance policy in terrorism. Further, India will push to etc. In turn, it has responded with economic sanctions conclusion of Comprehensive Convention on International against those questioning its role. Terrorism which was spearheaded by India in 1996. NEEDS OF 21ST CENTURY • Rule based multilateral order – Besides, India also wants rule-based order in multilateral financial institutions like • Most challenges are cross-national and cross-domain in WTO, IMF where no country will be able to arm-twist the character requiring multilateral approach. COVID 19 is an functioning of these organisations. example of how health crisis has precipitated into economic crisis primarily because of cross-nation supply • India should take a lead in creating more representative chains and financial systems. multilateral order in which it can engage differentially with different countries based on their 1st order values of • Other pressing problems including poverty and hunger, Pluralism, Democracy and Liberalism. For instance, India climate change, inequality, fake news, terrorism etc. are should join the Alliance for Multilateralism mooted by cross-national in character and thus require a more France and Germany which stands for rule-based world inclusive and democratic multilateral approach. order comprising of like-minded countries. INDIA’S VISION FOR REFORMED MULTILATERALISM APPROACH OF INDIA • Securing Permanent Seat at UNSC - One of the primary India’s strategy for reformed multilateralism rests on 5S objective as reflected under NORMS is the long standing pillars including: - ambition of securing a permanent seat on the Security Council. India along with Japan, Germany and Brazil have 1. Samman (Respect) been pushing for a permanent membership at the UNSC 2. Samvad (Dialogue) under the G4 grouping for the want of true representation 3. Sahyog (Cooperation) at the UNSC. 4. Shanti (Peace) • Counterterrorism – It will remain a key priority for India at the UNSC. India is pushing to depoliticize the process of 5. Samriddhi (Prosperity) imposing sanctions on terrorist groups in line with zero practice questions MCQs
Q1. Chabahar port is located in which of the following? c) 2 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 a) Persian Gulf b) Gulf of Oman c) Red Sea d) Gulf of Aden Q3. CAATSA law restricts defence trade with which of the following countries? Q2. Which of the following countries participate in the 1. Iran Malabar naval Exercise? 2. Russia 1. India 3. North Korea 2. Japan Select the correct answer using the code given below: 3. Australia a) 1 only b) 1 and 2 only Select the correct answer using the code given below: c) 2 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 a) 1 only b) 1 and 2 only
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International Relations
Q4. Which of the following statements is/are correct c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 about the New development bank? 1. It was established by BRICS countries through Fortaleza Q5. Which of the following Iranian port is closest to declaration. India? 2. Its membership is open to only Asian countries. a) Bander e abbas b) Chabahar Select the correct answer using the code given below: c) Bushehr d) Anzali a) 1 only b) 2 only
descriptive Questions
Q1. With speculation about Australia joining the Malabar Exercise, it being seen as an extension of the Quadrilateral grouping. In this background discuss the challenges faced by the Quadrilateral grouping in countering China in the Indo-Pacific region.. (250 Words)
Q2. What are the points of differences between India and EU in finalising the Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)? (250 Words)
Answers to above MCQs: 1 (b), 2 (b), 3 (d), 4(a), 5(b)
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CONSTITUTION, POLITY AND GOVERNANCE # GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II (Main)
Lead Article
5. Getting Ahead of Constitutional and Legal Norms RAJASTHAN: POLITICAL 6. Petition filed against 6 MLAs from BSP who joined Indian TURMOIL AND CASE OF National Congress last year 1. DISQUALIFICATION UNDER TENTH SCHEDULE DISQUALIFICATION THE POLITICS OF DEFECTION
#Anti-Defection #Judiciary #Equality • Defection means floor-crossing or switching sides by a #Amendments member of one political party to another party. Defection can impact stability of any government in power at Union and State level. Any government can be toppled over due to defection from members of the ruling party by supporting the opposition party. IN NEWS • The politics of defection has long undermined electoral Sachin Pilot and 18 Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from democracy as members who are chosen by people Indian National Congress (INC) were served disqualification belonging to a particular party tend to shift allegiance for notice by the Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly for better political prospects. Thus, with help of defectors, any carrying out anti-party activities according to INC. Sachin Pilot majority government can be converted into minority has also been officially removed from the post of Deputy Chief government and this can further increase instances of Minister in Rajasthan by the President of INC. Amid further horse trading among members of minority government political tussle Speaker of Rajasthan Assembly has withdrawn his who somehow have managed to pull the strings together petition from the Supreme Court and the Governor of Rajasthan to save the government. has agreed to call the session from 14th August, 2020 which has • So, it is in this sense that a continued instance of defection been accepted by Chief Minister of Rajasthan. So, in this political does not reflect a vibrant and functioning democracy as backdrop, let understand important constitutional issues which the defectors in a way betray the mandate for which they has been raised in this case with respect to - were elected by the people as per democratic norms. It is 1. Disqualification under Tenth Schedule – Important Aspects because of these practices that we can say that defection 2. Powers of High Court to decide cases of Anti-Defection under is truly undemocratic as it negates electoral verdict. Tenth Schedule • Now, talking on moral grounds, it is very much possible 3. Power of Governor under Article 174 to Summon the House that any member of a political party while in government 4. Governor’s Discretionary Powers & Need for Neutrality may have crisis of faith and then they may choose to
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Constituti0n, Polity and Governance
resign as in their personal opinion, their thought process person who has been elected as the presiding officer of a does not align with the ideology of the political party from House to sever his connections with his political party.
which they have won election. In such a case, the righteous • As per Paragraph 5 of Tenth Schedule - A person who and moral thing to do is to leave the political party from has been elected to the office of the Speaker or the Deputy which a person has been elected, resign from party’s Speaker of the House of the People or the Deputy membership and seek fresh election to the House. Chairman of the Council of States or the Chairman or the • However, these principled defections are rare as most Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council of a State or defections take place to seek selfish motives so as to glue the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative to the corridors of power as long as possible. Assembly of a State, shall not be disqualified under this Schedule – The Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985 nd (a) if he, by reason of his election to such office, voluntarily • The statement of objects and reasons of Constitution 52 Amendment highlights that it is necessary to combat the gives up the membership of the political party to which he evil of political defection as it is likely to undermine the belonged immediately before such election and does not, very foundations of our democracy and the principles so long as he continues to hold such office thereafter, which sustain it. rejoin that political party or become a member of another political party; or • The amendment accordingly provides that (b) if he, having given up by reason of his election to such . an Elected Member of Parliament or a State Legislature, office his membership of the political party to which he who has been elected as a candidate set up by a political belonged immediately before such election, rejoins such party and political party after he ceases to hold such office. . a Nominated Member of Parliament or a State Legislature • Paragraph 6 - The question as to whether a member of a who is a member of a political party at the time he takes House of Parliament or State Legislature has become his seat or who becomes a member of a political party subject to the proposed disqualification will be determined within six months after he takes his seat by the presiding officer of the House. However, where the would be disqualified on the ground of defection if he question is with reference to the presiding officer himself, voluntarily relinquishes his membership of such political party it will be decided by a member of the House elected by the or votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any House in that behalf. direction of such party or is expelled from such party. • Based on the Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) . An Independent Member of Parliament or a State Act, 1985, some provisions of the Constitution were Legislature shall also be disqualified if he joins any political amended and suitable provisions were added to include party after his election. defection as ground of disqualification for members of . A Nominated Member of Parliament or a State Legislature Parliament and State Legislatures along with the entire who is not a member of a political party at the time of his Tenth Schedule. nomination and who has not become a member of any Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985 political party before the expiry of six months from the changed four Articles of the Indian Constitution – Article date on which he takes his seat shall be disqualified if he 101(3)(a), Article 102(2), Article 190(3)(a) and Article 191(2) joins any political party after the expiry of the said period Article 102(2) - A person shall be disqualified for being a of six months. o member of either House of Parliament if he is so disqualified • Para 4 - Splits & Merger - The Amendment also provides under the Tenth Schedule. for provisions with respect to splits in, and mergers of, Article 101(3)(a) - If a member of either House of Parliament political parties. This aspect was further amended by o becomes subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in Constitution Ninety-First Amendment. clause (1) or clause (2) of Article 102 - his seat shall thereupon • Para 5 - Exemption - A special provision has been become vacant. included in the 52nd Constitution Amendment to enable a
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Constituti0n, Polity and Governance o Article 191(2) - A person shall be disqualified for being a • (b) from the time of such split, such faction shall be member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a deemed to be the political party to which he belongs for State if he is so disqualified under the Tenth Schedule. the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 and to be his original political party for the purposes of this o Article 190(3)(a) - If a member of a House of the Legislature of a State becomes subject to any of the disqualifications paragraph. mentioned in clause (1) or clause (2) of article 191 AMENDMENT PROPOSED THROUGH THE TH DECISION OF SPEAKER UNDER 10 SCHEDULE CONSTITUTION (NINETY-FIRST AMENDMENT) ACT, 2003 • Paragraph 6 of Tenth Schedule refers to decision on questions as to disqualification on ground of defection. • The Dinesh Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms, the Law Commission in its 170th Report on "Reform of • If any question arises as to whether a member of a House Electoral Laws" and the National Commission to has become subject to disqualification under this Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC) - all Schedule, the question shall be referred for the decision of recommended the deletion of Paragraph 3 under Tenth the Chairman or the Speaker of such House and his Schedule regarding exemption from disqualification in decision shall be final. case of a split. • The Supreme Court in Kihota Hollohon v Zachilhu and • Finally, Constitution 91st Amendment omitted Paragraph 3 others upheld the constitutional validity of Tenth and also limited the size of council of minister. The 91st Schedule. The Court also held that the decision of the Amendment has added Article 75(1A), 75(1B), 164(1A), Speaker of Lok Sabha or State Assembly on matters of 164(1B) and 361B to the Indian Constitution. disqualification will be open to judicial review. • Article 75(1A) – The total number of Ministers, including PARAGRAPH 3 - THE CONSTITUTION (FIFTY-SECOND the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not AMENDMENT) ACT, 1985 exceed 15 per cent of the total number of members of the • Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act, 1985, House of the People. provided for Paragraph 3 under Tenth Schedule • Article 164(1A) - The total number of Ministers, including • Paragraph 3 - Disqualification on ground of defection not the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers in a State to apply in case of split - Where a member of a House shall not exceed 15 per cent of the total number of makes a claim that he and any other members of his members of the Legislative Assembly of that State: legislature party constitute the group representing as Provided that the number of Ministers, including the Chief faction which has arisen as a result of a split in his original Minister in a State shall not be less than 12. political party and such group consists of not less than Tenth Schedule one-third of the members of such legislature party – Paragraph 2 - Disqualification on ground of defection – (1) • (a) he shall not be disqualified under sub-paragraph (1) - a member of a House belonging to any political party shall of paragraph 2 on the ground – be disqualified for being a member of the House— (a) if he (i) that he has voluntarily given up his membership of his has voluntarily given up his membership of such political original political party; or party.
(ii) that he has voted or abstained from voting in such House So, after going through Anti-Defection law in detail, the contrary to any direction issued by such party or by any question which arises is the case of Sachin Pilot which is person or authority authorised by it in that behalf without to be decided by the Supreme Court are - obtaining the prior permission of such party, person or o what constitutes “voluntarily giving up membership”; and authority and such voting or abstention has not been condoned by such party, person or authority within fifteen o Whether, MLAs have freedom to express their concerns, days from the date of such voting or abstention; and which may be at times contrary to party’s opinion;
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Constituti0n, Polity and Governance o Whether speaking or showing dissent without voluntarily • Sachin Pilot and his team challenged the disqualification giving up membership of the party attracts disqualification notice sent by the Speaker in Rajasthan High Court.
under Paragraph 2(1)(a) of Tenth Schedule. • Rajasthan High Court started the hearing on Note* - These matters are subjudice and will be decided by disqualification under Tenth Schedule and asked the Supreme Court in due course of time. Speaker to wait for its verdict before taking any action
against Team Pilot. • On this, Speaker of Rajasthan Assembly filed a petition in 2. POWERS OF HIGH COURT TO DECIDE CASES OF Supreme Court challenging the “direction” given to it by ANTI-DEFECTION UNDER TENTH SCHEDULE Rajasthan High Court. A constitutional challenge to the Tenth Schedule was settled • The Speaker contended that the court cannot interfere in by the Supreme Court in Kihoto Hollohan. The principal legislative matter, and that the action against the dissident question before the Supreme Court in the case was whether MLAs should be decided by his office. the powerful role given to the Speaker violated the doctrine of Basic Structure namely the judicial principle that certain SUPREME COURT’S ORDER basic features of the Constitution cannot be altered by • Supreme Court refused to stay the proceedings of High amendments by Parliament, laid down in the landmark Court. The Court said that issue raised in the plea filed by JUDGEMENT in Kesavananda Bharati vs State Of Kerala the Speaker required “prolonged hearing” as it involved (1973). “larger question” related to the democracy and how it will survive. IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS OF KIHOTO HOLLOHAN V ZACHILHU AND OTHERS • SC held that since the High court has already heard the matter after prolonged arguments and reserved the order, The majority JUDGEMENT (3:2) held that the we are not staying the passing of the order. However, Speakers/Chairmen hold a pivotal position in the scheme whatever order is passed by Rajasthan High Court, shall be of Parliamentary democracy and are guardians of the ultimately subject to the outcome of this petition filed rights and privileges of the House. They are expected to before Supreme Court. and do take far reaching decisions in the Parliamentary democracy. Clothing of power to adjudicate questions • Amid political slugfest, Speaker of Rajasthan Assembly has under the Tenth Schedule in them should not be withdrawn the petition from Supreme Court on grounds considered exceptionable. that he wants to study the implication of the Rajasthan HC order of July 24. The Court further held that that the Schedule’s provisions were remedial and intended to strengthen the fabric of SUMMARISING THE ABOVE CONTEXT Indian Parliamentary democracy by curbing unprincipled • The Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly has only and unethical political defections. given notice of disqualification and has not actually The Court ruled that Speaker/Chairman while deciding disqualified 19 MLAs of Sachin Pilot camp. cases of anti-defection acts as a Tribunal and accordingly • Hence, any judicial interference by Rajasthan High Court the decision of Speaker/Chairman is subject to judicial prior to the stage of disqualification by Speaker goes review. against the decision of Supreme Court in Kihoto Hollohan However, judicial review would not cover any stage prior v Zachilhu. to the making of decision by Speaker/Chairman. • Admitting the matter by Rajasthan High Court against WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR IN THE RAJASTHAN Supreme Court orders and without giving sufficient CASE? reasons raises grave questions of judicial propriety. • Since the matter is sub-judice, let us wait for the final • Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly has served verdict of Supreme Court to decide important disqualification notice to the 19 MLAs of Sachin Pilot constitutional issues including whether dissident against Camp.
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party lines without voluntarily giving up party membership • In 2016, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in attracts disqualification under Tenth Schedule or not. Nabam Rebia and Bamang Felix vs Deputy Speaker, the
Arunachal Pradesh Assembly case, expressly said that the power to summon the House is not solely vested in the 3. POWER OF GOVERNOR UNDER ARTICLE 174 TO Governor. SUMMON THE HOUSE Supreme Court’s Observation in Bamang Felix Case – For the third time in three weeks Rajasthan Governor Referred Constituent Assembly Debates returned Chief Minister’s proposal to convene an Assembly • Referring to discussions in the Constituent Assembly, the st session from July 31 . The Governor finally agreed to call the court noted that the framers of the Constitution expressly th session of the Rajasthan Assembly from 14 August, 2020. and consciously left out vesting powers to summon or So, the question which arises is that whether Governor has dissolve the House solely with the Governor. discretionary power to summon the house as per Article 174 • SC discussed that draft Article 153 (which later became of the Indian Constitution. Article 174 in the present constitution), which dealt with the Article 174 - Sessions of the State Legislature, prorogation powers of the Governor, was substantially altered to and dissolution indicate that the constitution framers did not want to give • A 174 (1) - The Governor shall from time to time summon Governors the discretion. the House or each House of the Legislature of the State to • Draft Article 153 (3) provided that the functions of the meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six Governor with reference to the power to summon and months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one dissolve the House or Houses of the State Legislature “… session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the shall be exercised by him in his discretion,” next session. • So, as per the original draft Article 153 – it was clear that • A 174 (2) - The Governor may from time to time— (a) Governor did enjoy discretionary power to summon or prorogue the House or either House; (b) dissolve the dissolve the House or Houses of the State Legislature, Legislative Assembly. without any aid or advice of his Council of Minister. The problem with Article 174 arises with the phrase “….as he • However, when Draft Article 153 was renumbered as thinks fit….” Now this phrase can be seen in the context of Article 174, sub-article (3) contained in original draft of Article 163 which provides for discretionary power of the Article 153 was omitted which dealt with discretionary Governor. power of Governor to summon or dissolve the House or Article 163 – Council of Ministers to aid and advise Houses of the State Legislature, without any aid or advice Governor of his Council of Minister.
A 163 (1) - There shall be a Council of Ministers with the Chief • After debating the intention of the framers, the court Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the concluded that “the only legitimate and rightful inference, exercise of his functions, except in so far as he is by or under that can be drawn in the final analysis is, that the framers this Constitution required to exercise his functions or any of of the Constitution altered their original contemplation, them in his discretion and consciously decided not to vest discretion with the
Nabam Rebia and Bamang Felix vs Deputy Speaker, the Governor, in the matter of summoning and dissolving the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly – July 2016 House, or Houses of the State Legislature, by omitting sub-article (3) of draft Article 153, which authorized the • It is settled law that the Governor cannot refuse the Governor to summon or dissolve, the House or Houses of request of the Cabinet to call for a sitting of the House for Legislature at his own discretion. legislative purposes or for the chief minister to prove his majority. In fact, on numerous occasions, including in the • Thus, the Supreme Court in Nabam Felix JUDGEMENT 2016 Uttarakhand case, the court has clarified that when decided that Governor can summon, prorogue and the majority of the ruling party is in question, a floor test dissolve the House, only on the aid and advice of the must be conducted at the earliest available opportunity.
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Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister as the head. case of a hung verdict to prove majority on the floor of the And not at his own. House.
• To dismiss the ministry as the Chief Minister and other Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the 4. GOVERNOR’S DISCRETIONARY POWERS & NEED Governor under Article 164(1) FOR NEUTRALITY • Governor’s report under Article 356 in case of failure of B.P. SINGHAL V. UNION OF INDIA (2010) Constitutional machinery in States.
• Five Judge Bench of Supreme on removal of governors • Governor’s responsibility for certain regions such as the mentioned about the dual role of governor: 1. Agent of the Tribal Areas in Assam and responsibilities placed on the Centre & 2. Head of the state. Governor under Article 371A (Nagaland), 371C (Manipur), • SC also held that there may be instances of conflict 371H (Arunachal Pradesh). between centre and states where the governor has to act S.R. BOMMAI V UNION OF INDIA (1994) neutrally. • SC held explicitly that in situations where there is a hung NEED FOR POLITICALLY NEUTRAL GOVERNOR – assembly (where no political party has obtained a clear SARKARIA COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATION majority of seats), the final decision rests not with the • Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State Relations, the various feuding parties but with the concerned legislature National Commission to Review the Working of the through a “floor” test. Constitution and Punchhi Commission has reiterated • This case allows the Supreme Court to investigate the the need for politically neutral governor. reasons which forms the basis of a Governor’s report. • Neutrality of governor is best displayed when he uses his DISCRETION OF GOVERNOR BASED ON discretionary powers as per the constitution. However, CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS the use of discretionary power by the Governor also leaves Discretion given to governor is based on constitutional certain space for its misutilisation. limitations and the Governor has to follow certain rules as • has recommended the following Sarkaria Commission specified by Sarkaria Commission which suggested that in criteria which must be considered while appointing choosing a Chief Minister, the Governor should be guided by Governors of state: the following principles: He should be eminent in some walk of life. • The party or combination of parties that command the He should be a person from outside the State. widest support in the Legislative Assembly should be
He should be a detached figure and not too intimately called to form the government. connected with the local politics of the State; and • The Governor’s task is to see that a government is formed He should be a person who has not taken too great a part — and not to try to form a government that will pursue in politics generally and particularly in the recent past. policies that he approves. • In selecting a Governor in accordance with the above If no party has a majority, the Governor has to invite: criteria, persons belonging to the minority groups should a) a pre-poll alliance, continue to be given a chance. b) the largest single party that is able to gain majority DISCRETIONARY POWERS OF GOVERNOR ARE: support,
• Reserve any Bill for the consideration of the President c) a post-election coalition that has the required members, under Article 200; d) a post-election coalition in which partners are willing to • To appoint the Chief Minister of State under Article 164(1) extend outside support. including inviting the leader of the single largest party in • The Commission recommended that whoever is appointed as the Chief Minister, must seek a vote of confidence in the
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Assembly on the floor of the House within 30 days of • Such petition to be Zachillhu (1992), the taking over. submitted to the Speaker. Supreme Court held that a
• The Governor should not resort to mechanisms where • Speaker shall see whether challenge under Tenth determining of majority of the government is done outside the petition meets the Schedule is not barred if the assembly. norms under Rule 6. there is an imminent threat of disqualification/ 5. GETTING AHEAD OF CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL • If not, then petition can be suspension before the dismissed. NORMS Speaker takes a final • If Yes, then the petition Politics of recent times is slowly moving away from well- decision. shall be forwarded to the established constitutional and legal principles and practices. In the Tenth Schedule person against whom In this backdrop, the society needs to seriously debate these proceedings, there is no petition has been filed and practices by important constitutional office holders so that it disqualification/ ask him to submit his does not become a precedent to be followed in future. suspension of a member comments within 7 days of Let us understand as to how in this case, there are certain in the interim period as the receipt of the copy of practices which have gone beyond constitutional and legal the Rules provide that any the petition. norms. suspension will take place • This is the so-called show once the person accused Constitutional & Judicial cause notice which has has given his reply. Recent Practices Norms been challenged. Therefore, the exception Kihoto Hollohan v Zachilhu Rajasthan High Court The Speaker cannot go into mentioned in Kihoto and others intervened and started the reasonableness of the Hollohan v. Zachillhu does grounds cited in the petition not become applicable in The Court ruled that hearing the case even at this stage because the the present case. This Speaker/Chairman while before it was decided by comments of the respondent, again is going against the deciding cases of anti- the Speaker of Rajasthan evidence he may submit etc., provisions of Rules and SC defection acts as a Tribunal Legislative Assembly. are not before him. Only JUDGEMENT. and accordingly the decision Even Supreme Court did through a proper hearing will of Speaker/Chairman is not declare this step as the Speaker be able to know subject to judicial review. against the principles whether reasonable grounds decided in Constitution However, judicial review exist for disqualification. would not cover any stage Bench JUDGEMENT of prior to the making of decision Kihoto Hollohan v Zachilhu Governor Summoning the Constitution does not by Speaker/Chairman. and others. Assembly – 21 Days Gap – provide for a 21 day gap Actual Summoning of between summoning by RULES OF PROCEDURE & Speaker’s act of forwarding Assembly – Article 174 Governor and convening CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN the petition cannot be As per the normal procedure, of the assembly. This gap LOK SABHA - legally challenged as he is once the Cabinet decides to has been a mere acting in accordance with APPENDIX IV call the session on a particular precedent to allow smooth the rules. functioning of the The Members of Lok Sabha date, that decision is conveyed Parliament. The (Disqualification on Ground of However, in Rajasthan, a to the Governor who signs the Parliament even changed Defection) Rules, 1985 – (Rules case was filed during the summons order and sends it it to 15 days but many 6 & 7) Anti-defection proceeding back the same day or the next which is not allowed. day. Thereafter, the summons State Legislatures continue • Rules require a petition to is issued to individual with the 21-day period. be made by a member members by the Assembly Thus, 21 day gap is not a against other member. In Kihoto Hollohan v. Secretary. Now this part is law laid down in any
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Constituti0n, Polity and Governance related to Article 174. statute or the constitution. 6. PETITION FILED AGAINST 6 MLAS FROM BSP WHO Article 174 - Sessions of the By not agreeing to the date JOINED INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS LAST YEAR State Legislature, decided by the Cabinet, • Six MLAs from Rajasthan, who were elected to the prorogation and dissolution the Governor has shown assembly on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) tickets that he has the final say. A 174 (1) - The Governor shall subsequently merged with the Congress party in 2019. A This is fraught with many from time to time summon petition was filed in Rajasthan High Court against this disturbing possibilities in the House or each House of merger of 6 BSP MLAs with Congress party. the Legislature of the State to the relationship between • So, the 6 MLAs have filed a petition in the Supreme Court meet at such time and place the Governor and the State seeking transfer of their case their ongoing case from as he thinks fit, but six months government and also Rajasthan High Court to Supreme Court. The 6 MLAs in shall not intervene between violative of Article 174. their petition have contended that they are seeking its last sitting in one session It also goes against the transfer of the case to the Supreme Court because the and the date appointed for its decision of Supreme Court legal issues raised in the petition before the Rajasthan high first sitting in the next session. in Nabam Rebia and court are already under the consideration of the Supreme Bamang Felix vs Deputy A 174 (2) - The Governor may Court in another case from Assam, Mr. Mithou Krose v. Speaker, the Arunachal from time to time— (a) Imtilemba Sangtam. prorogue the House or either Pradesh Assembly (2016) • Therefore, the present transfer petition is being moved so House; (b) dissolve the as Governor has to take that there may be a uniform interpretation of the law by Legislative Assembly. aid and advise of the the Supreme Court. Cabinet under Article 174. Supreme Court in Nabam PARAGRAPH 4 - DISQUALIFICATION ON GROUND OF Felix JUDGEMENT decided that DEFECTION NOT TO APPLY IN CASE OF MERGER Governor can summon, prorogue and dissolve the 1. A member of a House shall not be disqualified under House, only on the aid and paragraph 2(1) where his original political party merges advice of the Council of with another political party and he claims that he and any Ministers with the Chief other members of his original political party – Minister as the head and not (a) have become members of such other political party or of at his own. The Court gave its a new political party formed by such merger or decision based on discussion (b) have not accepted the merger and opted to function as a in Constituent Assembly separate group debates whereby it was finalised not to give and from the time of such merger, such other political discretionary power to party or new political party or group, shall be deemed to Governor under Article 174. be the political party to which he belongs for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 and to be his original In Shamsher Singh v. State of political party for the purposes of this sub-paragraph. Punjab (1974), the Supreme Court said: “The Governor has 2. The merger of the original political party of a member of a no right to refuse to act on the House shall be deemed to have taken place only if, not advice of the Council of less than two-thirds of the members of the legislature Ministries. Such a position is party concerned have agreed to such merger. antithetical to the concept of CLAIM OF BSP ‘responsible government’.” • BSP has claimed that their political party did not merge with Congress either at the national level or at state level
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and BSP never received resignation of its six MLAs in education by state to all children of the age of six to fourteen Rajasthan Assembly. years. So, let us understand about Fundamental Duties and
• Further, BSP had issued whip to its six MLAs in Rajasthan Right to Education. to vote against the Congress party in any proceedings FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES 51A - IT SHALL BE THE DUTY including case of no-confidence motion. According to BSP, OF EVERY CITIZEN OF INDIA their six MLAs have voted against their party whip and in (a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and favour of Indian National Congress. institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem; • So, based on these actions, BSP as a political party has (b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our claimed that these 6 MLAs have violated their party whip national struggle for freedom; and hence are liable to be disqualified under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India as their political party (c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity never merged with the Congress either at the state or of India; national level. (d) to defend the country and render national service when THE SUPREME COURT NEEDS TO DECIDE – called upon to do so; (e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common 1. Whether joining of 6 MLAs of BSP with Congress party brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending amounted to merger as per Paragraph 4 of Tenth religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to Schedule. renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women; 2. If the said merger did not take place, then are these six to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite MLAs from BSP liable for defection under Paragraph (f) 2(1)(a) of voluntarily giving up their membership of their culture; political party i.e. BSP. (g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion Let us wait for the final verdict of Supreme Court to decide for living creatures; important constitutional matters raised in different petitions pertaining to Anti-Defection under Tenth Schedule of the (h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit Indian Constitution. of inquiry and reform; (i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence; (j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual IMPORTANCE OF and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;
FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES (k) to provide opportunities for education by the parent or #Fundamental Duties guardian to his child or a ward between the age of six and fourteen years as the case may be. ABOUT FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES IN NEWS • Fundamental Duties were added in the Constitution on the Former Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra while addressing a recommendation of Sardar Swaran Singh Committee. webinar on “The Spirit and Quintessence of Fundamental This insertion brought Constitution of India in line with Duties” said that development of scientific temper and spirit of article 29(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human enquiry by education is important and right to education is Rights (UDHR). more than a right. • Recommendations of Swaran Singh Committee were Development of Scientific Temper and spirit of enquiry is part added by The Constitution (Forty-Second Amendment) of Fundamental Duties (added by Constitution 42nd Act, 1976. Accordingly, Part IV-A was added into the Amendment) whereas Article 21A (added by Constitution 86th Constitution which inserted Article 51A in the Indian Amendment) mentions about providing free and compulsory Constitution. Initially, Article 51A provided for 10
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fundamental duties of every citizen of India from Article constitute duties. So, we can say that all acts which a 51A (a) to (j). person ought to do are not Duties.
• 11th Fundamental Duty was added by The Constitution • A Duty is owed to others by virtue of one’s position - (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002. It added Article For example, an employee has a duty to work according to 51A (k). their employer. Similarly, every “citizen” has certain duties towards its nation as per of the Constitution. RELATED INFORMATION: ARTICLE 29 – UDHR Article 51A So, we can say that generally duties consist of positive acts Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the (1) and not in mere abstaining from doing some act. free and full development of his personality is possible. • Now duties also create obligations - So, duties (like In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall (2) wrongs) can be classified as – Moral Duty & Legal Duty. be subject only to such limitations as are determined by When a law recognises an act as duty, it commonly law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and enforces the performance of it or punishes its disregard. respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of • Some Fundamental Duties Legally Enforceable - meeting the just requirements of morality, public order Accordingly we find that some of our Fundamental Duties and the general welfare in a democratic society. are legally enforceable and their disregard is punishable. (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised For example, let us see the provision of Article 51A (a). contrary to the purposes and principles of the United 51A. It shall be the duty of every citizen of India – (a) to abide Nations. by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the RELATED INFORMATION: SWARAN SINGH National Flag and the National Anthem. COMMITTEE • Now, this duty is legally enforceable as the Union • Rights and duties are correlative to each other and Government has legislated the Prevention of Insults to fundamental duties are therefore, intended to serve as a National Honour Act, 1971. Its provision highlights that constant reminder to every citizen that while the any insult to National Flag or Constitution of India is Constitution specifically conferred on them certain punishable with imprisonment for a term which may fundamental rights. It also requires citizens to observe extend to three years along with fine or both. certain basic norms of democratic conduct and democratic • Further, whoever intentionally prevents the singing of the behaviour. The Swaran Singh committee was asked to Indian National Anthem or causes disturbances to any formulate a list of fundamental duties so that the citizen assembly engaged in such singing shall be punished with should not think only of his rights. imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three • In Dr. Dasarthi vs. State of Andhra Pradesh, it was held years, or with fine, or with both. that under Article 51 A (j) of the Indian Constitution, all • However, there are other Fundamental Duties which are citizens owe a duty of themselves to strive towards excellence not legally enforceable. Example – Article 51A (b) - to in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that this cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our nation may constantly rise to higher levels of endeavour and national struggle for freedom. achievement when the state undertakes to promote excellence, it can do so only through the methods which HIGHLIGHT ON FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES BY FORMER Constitution permits to adopt. CJI ACTS, DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS – FUNDAMENTAL • Essence of FD is neglected – Former CJI in his address DUTIES (ARTICLE 51A) mentioned that the younger generation neglects in understanding the essence and purpose of the • All Acts performed are not Duties - A “duty” is roughly fundamental duties enshrined in the constitution and it speaking an “act” which ought to be done or should be was necessary to acquaint them to its spirit. done. The term act and duty however, are not identical. To • According to him, we must ascribe a duty to a man is to claim that he should perform Importance of Duties - eradicate the idea that fundamental duties did not exist certain act. Yet, not all the acts which a person should do
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before1976 before being introduced by the Parliament. expenses which may prevent him or her from pursuing The judiciary, long before, in 1969 had already stated that and completing elementary education.
when one is enjoying fundamental rights there are always • ‘Compulsory education’ casts an obligation on the duties related to it, which are not spelt out but cannot be appropriate Government and local authorities to provide ignored. and ensure admission, attendance and completion of • Importance of education for children - He emphasized elementary education by all children in the 6-14 age group.
how important it is for a parent to educate their child and • With this, India has moved forward to a rights based in this aspect right to education is more than right. Right framework that casts a legal obligation on the Central to Education is a reciprocatory agreement among the and State Governments to implement the fundamental participants namely the state and parents and it is the rights of child in the age group of 6-14 years as combined duty to develop scientific temper and spirit of enshrined in the Article 21A of the Constitution, in enquiry among children. Education makes one curious accordance with the provisions of the RTE Act. which eventually leads the mind towards enquiry thereby
allowing a child to become a better-informed citizen and a better-informed citizen is a good citizen. INTERNET ACCESS AND • Importance of valuing and preserving rich composite culture of India – Former CJI then addressed the RIGHT TO FREEDOM & importance of valuing and preserving the rich composite culture of India that he believes many have not LIBERTY understood. Our religions, language and heritage, are all a part of composite culture. They foster a sense of fraternity #Rights and brotherhood. For example, our composite culture tells us to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women, to not indulge in social violence and to always IN NEWS remember the sacrifice, the freedom fighters made in the Despite Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Anuradha struggle for independence. Bhasin v Union of India whereby the Court held that freedom of • He emphasised that fundamental duties should be trade and commerce by using internet as a medium is rendered by everyone with the right attitude and constitutionally protected right, 4G internet services was not gratitude. They should become an insegregable part of restored in Jammu and Kashmir. So, in this backdrop, let us go every Indian and should be practised as a way of life. through the important highlights of Supreme Court JUDGEMENT THE RIGHT OF CHILDREN TO FREE AND in the case of Anuradha Bhasin v Union of India, about COMPULSORY EDUCATION (RTE) ACT, 2009 telecommunication suspension rules and what were the grounds on which Foundation for Media Professionals had filed the • The Act represents the consequential legislation envisaged petition to restore 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir. under Article 21A. It means that every child has a right to full time elementary education of satisfactory and REASON TO BAN INTERNET IN J&K IN AUGUST, 2019 equitable quality in a formal school which satisfies certain • Restricting movement and banning internet access was essential norms and standards. done when government abolished Article 370 of the Indian • Article 21A and the RTE Act came into effect on 1 April Constitution which bestowed special status to the former 2010. The title of the RTE Act incorporates the words ‘free state. and compulsory’. • Mobile phone networks, internet services, landline • ‘Free education’ means that no child, other than a child connectivity were all discontinued in the valley, with who has been admitted by his or her parents to a school restrictions on movement also being imposed in some th which is not supported by the appropriate Government, areas since 4 August, 2019 and this obstructed freedom shall be liable to pay any kind of fee or charges or of citizens in the valley.
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• Thus, decision on limiting communications and movement • In the context of Article 21, an invasion of privacy must be including ban on internet access were made on concerns justified on the basis of a law which stipulates a procedure of national security and increase in terrorism. which is fair, just and reasonable.
• However, this decision was challenged in Supreme Court in • The law must also be valid with reference to the the case of Anuradha Bhasin v Union of India & Others and encroachment on life and personal liberty under Article 21.
Ghulam Nabi Azad v Union of India & Others. • An invasion of life or personal liberty must meet the three- SUPREME COURT’S DECISION - ANURADHA BHASIN V fold requirement of:- UNION OF INDIA 1. Legality - which postulates the existence of law;
• Delay in Justice Delivery - It took 5 months for the 2. Need - defined in terms of a legitimate state aim; and Supreme Court to decide (January, 2020) on the important 3. Proportionality - which ensures a rational nexus between matter during which, the lockdown in J&K continued the objects and the means adopted to achieve them including internet blockade. • Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public • Asked State to Produce Orders of Internet Shutdown - Emergency or Public Service) Rules, 2017 – The Court Court held that Article 19 of the Indian Constitution held that these rules are the only procedure to be followed mandates right to information as an important facet to suspend Internet services in the occurrence of a “public of the right to freedom of speech and expression. emergency” or for it to be “in the interest of public safety”. Accordingly, Court asked the central government to • As per 2017 Rules, the Competent Authority to issue an produce orders of internet shutdown and said that State order under the Suspension Rules, has to give specific ground of privilege which overrides public interest. in ordinary circumstances, would be the Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs or • Freedom of Trade and Commerce through the medium of Internet a constitutionally protected right - The by the Secretary to the State Government in-charge of Court observed that internet has become a very important the Home Department in the case of a State tool for trade and commerce. Globalisation of the Indian Government, Economy and rapid advances in information and and in unavoidable circumstances, where obtaining of technology have opened vast business avenues and prior direction is not feasible, such order may be issued by transformed India as a global IT hub. So, there are certain an officer, not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the trades which are completely dependent on internet. Such Government of India, who has been duly authorised by a right through internet also fosters consumerism and the Union Home Secretary or the State Home Secretary. availability of choice. Therefore, the freedom of trade and • If the order for suspension of telecom services has been commerce through the medium of internet is also issued by the officer authorised by the Union Home constitutionally protected under Article 19(1)(g), subject Secretary or the State Home Secretary, then such order to the restrictions provided under Article 19(6). must be confirmed by the competent authority within 24 • Balancing Freedom & State Actions by applying hours of issuing such order. If the order is not confirmed Principles of Proportionality - Court held that there was within 24 hours by the competent authority, then the need to balance freedom of liberty and state actions on order shall cease to exist. security by applying the Principles of Proportionality as • The orders to suspend internet shall contain reasons for highlighted in K. S. Puttaswamy JUDGEMENT on Right such direction and a copy of such order shall be forwarded . Proportionality Test ensures against arbitrary to Privacy to the concerned Review Committee latest by next state action. working day.
RELATED INFORMATION: K.S. PUTTASWAMY ON • The Central Government or the State Governments shall LEGITIMATE RESTRICTIONS ON PRIVACY constitute a Review Committee. The Review Committee shall meet within five working days of issue of directions
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for suspension of services due to public emergency or Foundation for Media Professionals (FMP). FMP filed a public safety and record its findings whether the directions contempt petition in the Supreme Court by stating that issued were as per rules and laws or whether they were Special Committee by Ministry of Home Affairs was not arbitrary. formed to look into the matter of restoration of 4G
• Rules and orders made for internet suspension are open services as asked by Supreme Court. Along with the for judicial review and an aggrieved person has the contempt plea, FMP has also filed an application for constitutional right to challenge the orders made under immediate restoration of 4G services in the region, stating the Suspension Rules before High Court under Article 226. that the denial of the same amid the pandemic and lockdown has resulted in disruption of medical services, • Review Committee of Central Government - The online education and e-commerce activities. Review Committee to be constituted by the Central Government shall consist of the following, namely: • This petition also pointed out that it had been eight months since the web was restricted in J&K, and now the Cabinet Secretary – Chairman combination COVID pandemic and lockdown had made Secretary to the Government of India In-charge, Legal Internet deprivation even more unconscionable. Affairs – Member • Specific evidence was placed before the Court to show Secretary to the Government, Department of how 4G Internet was indispensable for adequate access Telecommunications – Member to education, medicine, and to the courts, and how • Review Committee of State Government - The Review without internet access, the people of J&K were placed at a Committee to be constituted by the State Government significant disadvantaged position in accessing their rights shall consist of the following, namely: and services.
Chief Secretary – Chairman DECISION OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED BY
Secretary Law or Legal In-Charge, Legal Affairs – Member MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
Secretary to the State Government (other than the Home • The Special Committee constituted by Ministry of Home Secretary) –Member Affairs chaired by Union Home Secretary has recently decided not to restore 4G internet services in Jammu and
Kashmir as of now. ANOTHER PETITION FILED BY FOUNDATION FOR • In response to the contempt petition filed by Foundation MEDIA PROFESSIONALS IN SC for Media Professionals (FM) in Supreme Court, the • SC Order - 11th May - Supreme Court while declining to Ministry of Home Affairs has filed a counter-affidavit order the immediate restoration of 4G services in the stating that the Special Committee to review the internet region amid the pandemic and lockdown, had ordered that restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir has decided against since the issues involved affect the State, and the nation, restoring 4G internet in the region for now. the Review Committee (constituted under Telecom • MHA further informs the Court that the Committee will Suspension Rules) which consists of only State level have its next review meeting after two months. officers, may not be in a position to satisfactorily address CRITICAL ANALYSIS - DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF all the issues raised. Thus, the Court finds it appropriate to INTERNET BAN BY THE EXECUTIVE & JUDICIARY constitute a three-member Special Committee comprising of Secretaries at national as well as State level • In Anuradha Bhasin JUDGEMENT, Court did not hold the to look into the prevailing circumstances and immediately government accountable. Instead, it ordered a weekly determine the necessity of the continuation of the review by a committee set up under the Temporary restrictions of 4G internet services in the Union Territory of Suspension of Telecom Services Rules, 2017. Jammu and Kashmir. • In the second JUDGEMENT, the Supreme Court by • Despite orders of Supreme Court, only 2G services were constituting a committee headed by Union Home allowed. This led to another set of petition filed by the Secretary, allowed executive to stock of its own action. This
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can be said to be violative of rule of law as executive was admission to any courses offered. Relaxation was given to given the task of judging their own action. SC/ST students at 35 per cent aggregate marks.
• On filing of contempt proceedings against government • Aryan Raj, the petitioner who is intellectually challenged to for not setting up committee, Government said that it is the extent of 50%, had applied for a diploma course in Fine ready to give the recommendations in a sealed envelope Art for physically/mentally challenged students. The to the Supreme Court. This again can be said to be against college denied Mr. Raj relaxation in minimum marks in the the principles laid down in Anuradha Bhasin JUDGEMENT Painting and Applied Art course.
which clearly asked government to publish all orders • He filed a writ petition challenging certain provisions of the banning internet or any sort of telecommunication. prospectus issued by a College contending that there must • Treatment of citizens as subjects – It is now claimed by be a bifurcation of the total available seats between experts that government is ruling Jammu and Kashmir with physically challenged students and mentally/ an iron fist and the citizens are treated as subjects of the intellectually challenged students.
state. • He also prayed that an intellectually/mentally challenged WAY FORWARD student should be exempted from taking Aptitude Test.
So, considering lapse of one year of abrogation of Article 370, WHAT DID PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT the government should initiate un-lockdown process and HOLD? start important services including restoring 4G services in • Punjab and Haryana High Court held that the bifurcation order to bring normalcy in both Union Territories. process under Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, would not apply between physically challenged students and mentally/intellectually challenged PERSONS WITH students. • The Court also held that the aptitude test must be DISABILITIES ENTITLED TO passed and cannot be exempted for the appellant. SAME RESERVATION AS • Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 deals with Reservation for persons having GIVEN TO SC/ST disability. #Inclusion SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT • SC held that Punjab and Haryana High Court was correct on the bifurcation aspect. IN NEWS • Regarding exemption from Aptitude Test, SC held that they agree with Punjab and Haryana High Court that no The Supreme Court while considering an appeal against an exemption can be granted to the candidate from aptitude order of Punjab and Haryana High Court held that persons test for admission. with disabilities are also socially backward and are entitled to the same benefits of relaxation as provided to Scheduled Caste • However, decision taken by Delhi High Court in Anamol and Scheduled Tribe candidates in public employment and Bhandari (Minor) through his father/Natural Guardian v. education. Delhi Technological University must be followed in this case. PETITION FILED BY THE DISABLED STUDENT IN Delhi High Court in Anamol Bhatia case held that people PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT suffering from disabilities are also socially backward, and are • The Government College of Art in its advertisement of therefore, at the very least are entitled to the same benefits as 2019 announced that candidates obtaining 40 per cent given to the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe candidates. aggregate marks in the aptitude test will qualify for
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• Regarding qualifying marks for admission, Supreme Court • In Anamol Bhandari, the challenge was against the Delhi held that since Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Technological University prospectus which provided 10% candidates require 35 per cent to clear the aptitude test, of concession marks in the minimum eligibility the same marks would be required by the disabled requirements for candidates belonging to SC/ST, but candidates to clear the aptitude test. relaxation of only 5% was permissible for People with Disabilities. • However, exemption from aptitude test for mentally or intellectually challenged students was not allowed by • Delhi HC considered the issue whether different treatment Supreme Court. to the two categories is permissible under law or it amounts to hostile discrimination insofar as Persons with RELATED INFORMATION: ANAMOL BHANDARI CASE Disabilities (PWD) category is concerned.
Reasons provided by Delhi High Court in Anamol Bhandari JUDGEMENT
• Referring to various reports and Supreme Court process would bring parity among all persons with JUDGEMENTs, the Court observed that reservation for disability irrespective of their vertical categories. is called which cuts disabled horizontal reservation • This itself provides for justification to accord same across all vertical categories such as SC, ST, OBC & concession, i.e. 10% concession to PWDs as well, in all General. categories which is extended to those PWDs who fall in the • According to Delhi High Court, Persons with Disabilities category of SC/ST. (PWD) belonging to SC/ST categories, i.e., vertical • This demonstrates that the people suffering from categories enjoyed the same relaxation which is provided disabilities are equally socially backward, if not more, as to SC/ST categories. those belonging to SC/ST categories and therefore, as per • So, there is no reason not to give the same the Constitutional mandates, they are entitled to at least benefit/concession to those PWDs who are in General the same benefit of relaxation as given to SC/ST Category or Other Backward Class Category as that candidates.
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RELATED INFORMATION: HORIZONTAL untainted property or (f) claiming it as untainted property, RESERVATION shall be guilty of offence of money-laundering.
• The concept of vertical and horizontal reservation was • Any person guilty of money-laundering shall be punishable explained by the Supreme Court in the famous Indra with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not Sawhney JUDGEMENT. be less than 3 years but which may extend to 7 years and shall also be liable to fine. • The Court held that all reservations are not of the same nature. There are two types of reservations which can be • If the proceeds of crime involved in money-laundering referred as 'vertical reservations' and 'horizontal relates to any offence specified under paragraph 2 of reservations'. Part A of the Schedule, then the punishment may extend to 10 years. These offences relate to certain offences • The reservations in favour of Scheduled Castes, the mentioned under The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes under Substances Act, 1985. Article 16(4) may be called vertical reservations. FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION (REGULATION) ACT, 1976 & • Whereas reservations in favour of physically handicapped [under Clause (1) of Article 16] can be SUCCESSIVE AMENDMENTS referred to as horizontal reservations. • Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976 (FCRA) was enacted in the year 1976 to regulate the acceptance, • So, we can say that horizontal reservations cut across the vertical reservations - what is called inter-locking utilization and accounting of foreign contribution and reservations. acceptance of foreign hospitality by a person or association. (includes NGO)
• It prohibited acceptance of any foreign contribution or FCRA & PMLA acquisition of foreign currency from a foreign source by – (a) candidate for election #Acts (b) correspondent, columnist, cartoonist, editor, owner, printer or publisher of a registered newspaper
(c) Judge, government servant or employee of a corporation IN NEWS (d) Member of any Legislature The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted an inter- ministerial committee headed by senior official of the (e) Political party or office bearer thereof Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate into violation of • The act was enacted during emergency and it was mainly various legal provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act done to curb foreign financial interference in domestic (PMLA), Income Tax Act, Foreign Contribution Regulation Act politics. It prohibited political parties from accepting (FCRA), etc. by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), Rajiv Gandhi contributions from “Foreign Source”. Charitable Trust (RGCT) & Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust which AS PER THE FCRA, 1976 ACT, FOREIGN SOURCE are linked to the Indian National Congress. In this regard, let INCLUDED us understand about FCRA and PMLA. • Government of any foreign country or territory and any MONEY LAUNDERING & ITS REGULATION agency of such government. • Indian Parliament has enacted Prevention of Money • Any international agency (excluding UN and its specialized Laundering Act, 2002 to counter money laundering agencies, World Bank, International Monetary Fund or activities. other international agencies) • The Act defies Money laundering as any process or • Foreign company (then within Companies Act, 1956) activity carried out by any person connected with the including a company which is a subsidiary of a foreign proceeds of crime including its (a) concealment, (b) company and a multi-national corporation. possession, (c) acquisition (d) use and (e) projecting as
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• A corporation, not being a foreign company, incorporated • Any contribution from such entity would have in a foreign country or territory. automatically come under “foreign source” and would
• A company within the meaning of the Companies Act, have amounted to foreign contribution which was 1956, if more than 50% of the nominal value of its share prohibited under FCRA, 2010. capital was held, either singly or in the aggregate by • The amendment effectively exempted such foreign government, corporations, citizens, trusts, societies or companies or Indian companies in which more than 50 other organizations. % was held by a foreign company from being
• A trade union in any foreign country or territory. categorised as Foreign Source. • Thus, effectively the 2016 amendment provided a • A foreign trust, a society, club or other association of individuals formed or registers outside India. retrospective cover to all contributions given to various political parties by different companies from 26th • Citizen of a foreign country. September 2010. However, the retrospective amendment AMENDMENT OF FCRA IN 2010 in 2016 did not apply to donations prior to the year 2010. • The government enacted Foreign Contribution (Regulation) CHANGES MADE BY FINANCE ACT, 2018 Bill, 2006 to replace FCRA, 1976. The Bill became an Act • The Finance Act, 2018 amended Finance Act, 2016 and when it received Presidential accent in 2010 and came into extended the retrospective cover provided to Indian effect from May, 2011. The government felt the need to Companies having more than 50 % foreign holding from enact a new legislation on foreign contribution because of- the earlier date of 26th September, 2010 to 5th August, Changed scenario on internal security 1976.
Increased influence of organisations in domestic affairs • Thus, any contribution made by such Indian companies Significant increase in the amount received through having more than 50 per cent foreign holding were th foreign contribution exempted from FCRA scrutiny from 5 August, 1976.
Large scale growth of registered organisations under FCRA RECENT SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT ON
To regulate any foreign contribution or hospitality BRANDING AN ORGANISATION AS “POLITICAL” TO detrimental to national interest PREVENT THEIR FOREIGN FUNDING
• In addition to the prohibitions under FCRA, 1976, it also • Supreme Court has held that Central government cannot included prohibition to any organisation of a political brand an organisation as ‘political’ to deprive it from nature and any association or company engaged in the receiving foreign funds under Foreign Contribution production and broadcast of audio or audio visual (Regulation) Act, 2010 for legitimate forms of dissent to aid news or current affairs programme. a public cause.
• Section 29-B of Representation of People Act, 1951 • Central Government under Foreign Contribution prohibits political parties to accept any contribution from (Regulation) Act and its Rules are empowered to prohibit any foreign source as defined in FCRA, 1976. organisations from receiving foreign funding if such organisations can be categorised as “organisation of a CHANGES MADE BY FINANCE ACT, 2016 political nature”. • Finance Act, 2016 amended the Foreign Contribution • Prohibition to receive foreign funds - Section 3 prohibits Regulation Act (FCRA) 2010 having retrospective effect acceptance of foreign funds by organisation of a political from September 2010. nature as categorised by the government. • Under FCRA 2010, a foreign company or an Indian IMPACT OF THE JUDGEMENT ON RIGHT TO company in which more than 50 per cent was held by foreign entity were prohibited from making any LEGITIMATE PROTEST contribution to political parties. • Impacts Arbitrary Decision Making of Government – Government cannot arbitrarily categorise any organisation
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which are critical of its workings or schemes as recognised by the President. So, in this analysis, let us organisation of political nature just to prevent their foreign understand about Privy Purse and the reasons which led to its funding under FCRA Rules. “Blanket Labelling” of dissent abolition in 1971. as anti-national or anti-democratic strikes at the “heart” of WHY WAS THERE A NEED FOR SUCH A MECHANISM? the country’s commitment to protect Constitutional • values. When the British Crown partitioned India and granted independence to the new Dominions of India and Pakistan, • Legitimate forms of dissent cannot be prevented by more than a third of the subcontinent was still covered by government - Supreme Court has ruled that right to princely states, with rulers whose position and status peaceful protest is a fundamental right guaranteed by the within the Indian Empire had varied. Constitution. A distinguishing feature of any democracy is • In 1947, there were more than 560 such princely states in the space offered for legitimate dissent which cannot be India, over which the British Crown had suzerainty but not trampled by any executive action. sovereignty. • Violation of Rule of Law - Not allowing right to protests • In 1947, princely states numbering 555 covered 48% of by any government violates rule of law as it violates the area of pre-independent India and constituted 28% of its idea of justice, fairness and inclusiveness for all by population. Relations with them were determined by discriminating on specific grounds. subsidiary alliances and other treaties establishing indirect • Prevention of Legitimate Dissent weakens rule. representative democracy - By enabling direct • By the Crown participation in public affairs where individuals and groups The Indian Independence Act 1947, abandoned its suzerainty, leaving the rulers of the states are able to express dissent and grievances, expose the free to choose to accede either to India or to Pakistan, or flaws in governance and demand accountability from state to remain fully independent. authorities as well as powerful entities. Thus, prevention of legitimate dissent does not expose flaws in policy making, • Most of the States had been so dependent on the schemes and deliverables by the government and this help Government of India that they had little choice about the government in misleading its people by giving false accession. By the eve of independence, only a few states information about progress in different sectors. held out for complete independence after the British left India. Due to the diplomacy of Vallabhbhai Patel and VP
Menon, Travancore, Bhopal and Jodhpur signed the PRIVY PURSE instruments of accession before 15 August 1947. Even after independence three states vacillated, namely Jammu- #Provision Kashmir, Junagadh and Hyderabad which were integrated later into Indian Union.
• In consideration of such princely states signing the IN NEWS Instrument of Accession, the Government of India granted to them a ‘privy purse’, which was a specified sum of When India was about to get independent in 1947, there was money that was payable annually to the rulers of such contradictions among the former Rulers of Indian States States. whether to join Indian Union, Pakistan or to remain independent. There lied the hope of independence on the lapse QUESTIONS ON ‘PRIVY PURSE’ of the paramountcy of the British Crown, but independence for • The payments of ‘privy purse’ were made to the former the states was neither pragmatic nor it ever became reality. rulers under constitutional provisions of Art. 291 and Art. The then Home Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel and 362. However, it was often questioned as a relic of his Secretary V.P. Menon played a big role in persuading the the colonial past. princely states to join Indian Union and in the process an • Privy Purse conferred ‘special status’ to ruling class, which agreement was reached with respect to grant of an “annual continued the British practice of ruler and ruled. However, fees” to the Ruler of Indian States or successor of such ruler
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this went against the idea of “equality” and egalitarianism equality and social justice and it was unrelated to any as enshrined in the Constitution of India. current functions and social purposes including an
• Moreover, ‘privy purse’ was an added economic pressure egalitarian social order. on a newly born independent nation, that was ridden • Since, the government came into power on socialist with poverty, hunger and security challenges. promises; hence the priority of the government was to
• Even India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was not spend more on social welfare. Further, influx of refugees very much in favour of giving annual fees to the rulers of from Bangladesh also had added pressure on Indian former Indian States but had to accede considering a long exchequer. So, the government decided to abolish Privy term bargain for their accession to Indian Union. Purse to ease its economic burden. THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH PRIVY PURSE WAS ABOLISHED IN INDIA NATIONAL COMMISSION • Granting of an assured sum of money to the royal family by the government was seen as a move against the FOR PROTECTION OF common public and this plank was utilised by Mrs. Indira Gandhi to consolidate her position in the eyes of Indian CHILD RIGHTS public when the old timers in Congress Party revolted against her. #Rights
• Mrs. Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister, first in 1970 tried to bring a constitution amendment to abolish Privy Purse but the move was shot down in Rajya Sabha. It was then IN NEWS issued as an ordinance which was struck down by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Supreme Court. has pulled up the Rajasthan government for its new guidelines • So, during the election campaign of 1971 after on elementary education that “violate” the Right to Education nationalisation of banks, Mrs. Gandhi made abolition of Act, 2009 and deny children from economically weaker Privy Purse as a major election issue and convinced the sections the right to free education in nursery classes. public that the move was for the public welfare and About Rajasthan Guidelines: The guidelines issued by against the wealthy and rich. This move paid her rich Rajasthan Government state that admissions to private political dividend as she won 1971 election by a thumping schools under the RTE Act, 2009, for the 2020-21 academic majority winning 352 seats in Lok Sabha. year will take place only from class 1 or above. This effectively • Thus, the Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi moved deprives students below class 1 from free and compulsory Constitution (Twenty Sixth Amendment) Act, 1971 which education as per RTE, 2009. eventually abolished Privy Purse in India by omitting ABOUT NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION Article 291 and 362 in the Indian Constitution. OF CHILD RIGHTS (NCPCR) • The Constitution Twenty Sixth Amendment further added • The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Article 363A in the Constitution which not only ceased (NCPCR) was set up in March 2007 under the Commissions recognition granted to Rulers of Indian States but also for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005. abolished Privy Purse in India. • Thus, NCPCR is a statutory body under the Commissions REASONS FOR ABOLITION OF ‘PRIVY PURSE’ for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 under the • The abolition of privy purse was needed because it went administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child against the idea of equal rights for all citizens, as Development.
enshrined under fundamental rights of Indian constitution. • The Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, • The concept of rulership, with ‘privy purse’ and special 2005 provides for a National and State Commission for privileges was incompatible with principles of democracy, protection of Child Rights.
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• The National Commission's Mandate is to ensure that all institution run by a social organisation; where children are Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative detained or lodged for the purpose of treatment, Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights reformation or protection and take up with these perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and authorities for remedial action, if found necessary also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The (j) Inquire into complaints and take suo motu notice of Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group. matters relating to –
FUNCTIONS OF NATIONAL COMMISSION deprivation and violation of child rights;
(a) Examine and review the safeguards provided by or under non-implementation of laws providing for protection and any law for the protection of child rights and recommend development of children; measures for their effective implementation. non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or (b) Present to the Central Government, annually and at such instructions aimed at mitigating hardships to and ensuring other intervals, as the Commission may deem fit, reports welfare of the children and to provide relief to such upon the working of those safeguards; children, or take up the issues arising out of such matters (c) Inquire into violation of child rights and recommend with appropriate authorities; and initiation of proceedings in such cases (k) such other functions as it may consider necessary for the (d) Examine all factors that inhibit the enjoyment of rights of promotion of child rights and any other matter incidental children affected by terrorism, communal violence, riots, to the above functions. natural disaster, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, POWER OF COMMISSION RELATING TO INQUIRIES maltreatment, torture and exploitation, pornography and • The Commission shall, while inquiring into any matter of prostitution and recommend appropriate remedial children shall have all the powers of a Civil Court trying a measures suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 in respect of (e) Look into the matters relating to children in need of the following matters, namely special care and protection including children in distress, (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person marginalized and disadvantaged children, children in and examining him on oath; conflict with law, juveniles, children without family and children of prisoners and recommend appropriate (b) discovery and production of any document; remedial measures; (c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(f) Study treaties and other international instruments and (d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any undertake periodical review of existing policies, court or office; and programmes and other activities on child rights and make (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or recommendations for their effective implementation in documents. the best interest of children. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSION (g) Undertake and promote research in the field of child rights. • The Commission shall submit an annual report to the Central Government and to the State Government (h) Spread child rights literacy among various sections of the concerned and may at any time submit special reports on society and promote awareness of the safeguards any matter which according to the Commission is of urgent available for protection of these rights through necessity. publications, the media, seminars and other available means • The Central Government and the State Government concerned, as the case maybe, shall cause the annual and (i) Inspect any juvenile custodial home, or any other place of special reports of the Commission to be laid before each residence or institution meant for children, under the House of Parliament or the State Legislature respectively control of the Central Government or any State Government or any other authority, including any THE ACT PROVIDES FOR CHILDREN’S COURT
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• For the purpose of providing speedy trial of offences unfair trade practices and to initiate class action including against children or of violation of child rights, the State enforcing recall, refund and return of products, etc.
Government may, with the concurrence of the Chief • The Central Authority shall have an Investigation Wing Justice of the High Court, by notification, specify at least a headed by a Director-General for the purpose of court in the State or specify, for each district, a Court of conducting inquiry or investigation on consumer disputes. Session to be a Children's Court to try offences against • Product Liability Action - A product liability action may children. be brought by a complainant against a product • Special Public Prosecutor - For every Children's Court, manufacturer or a product service provider or a product the State Government shall, by notification, specify a seller, for any harm caused to him on account of a Public Prosecutor or appoint an advocate who has been in defective product. practice as an advocate for not less than seven years, as a • Product Liability of Manufacturer/Service Special Public Prosecutor for the purpose of conducting Provider/Seller – They shall be responsible to cases in that Court. compensate for injury or damage caused by defective product, deficiency in services or design, lack of express warranty, inadequate instructions for correct usage CONSUMER PROTECTION leading to harm of product. • Dispute Resolution - The Act envisages simplified dispute ACT - 2019 resolution process, has provision for Mediation and e- #Legislation filing of cases. • Punishment for Misleading Advertisements - There are provisions for deterrent punishment to check misleading IN NEWS advertisements and adulteration of products.
The Consumer Protection Act 2019 (CPA-2019) which has • Regulation for E-Commerce – The Act regulates buying replaced The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 aims to be more or selling of goods or services including digital products holistic and stringent in protecting interest of consumers, over digital or electronic network. establish authorities for timely and effective administration RELATED INFORMATION: CONSUMER RIGHTS and settlement of consumers' disputes. INCLUDE: -
TO ACHIEVE THE AFORESAID PURPOSE, CPA-2019 Right to be protected against the marketing of goods, ESTABLISHES THE FOLLOWING:- products or services which are hazardous to life and Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) – property. Referred as Central Authority Right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, Central Consumer Protection Council - at National, State purity, standard and price of goods, products or services and District level referred as National, State and District so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade Commission practices.
Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission – at Right to be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety National, State and District level of goods, products or services at competitive prices.
Consumer Mediation Cell - to be attached to each of the Right to be heard and to be assured that consumer’s District Commissions and the State Commissions interests will receive due consideration at appropriate forum. IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF CPA-2019 Right to seek redressal against unfair trade practice or • Central Authority aims to promote, protect and enforce restrictive trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of the rights of consumers; make interventions when consumers; and necessary to prevent consumer detriment arising from
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Right to consumer awareness. • In the case of Jammu and Kashmir, the negotiation of Article 370 was a transitional and contingent constitutional arrangement agreed in the midst of a ASSYMETRIC FEDERALISM continuing conflict while the Indian Constitution was being finalised. IN INDIA • Instrument of Accession not only glued Kashmir to Indian Union but also provided it autonomy in its #Federalism functioning beyond most of the provisions of Indian Constitution.
• Thus, Instrument of Accession led to incorporating IN NEWS Article 370 as a Temporary Provision in the Indian In the backdrop of abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and also allowed President of India to issue Constitution, let us understand about “Asymmetric Federalism” Presidential Orders. Over time, this ‘transitional’ clause which refers to treating different states differently as per the need had become a semi-permanent institutional compromise. and circumstances of time and in the best interest of Union of • Thus, the challenge was twofold - On Indian side (by India. successive PMs) to integrate Jammu and Kashmir HISTORICAL ASYMMETRY OF FEDERAL UNITS politically within the Indian Union and on the Kashmir side, the challenge was to preserve special status under • Abrogation of Article 370 exposes the historical Article 370 because of historical agreements namely asymmetry which the Centre has negotiated in the past Instrument of Accession. with different states through different agreements. • Indian Prime Ministers through Presidential Orders • The problem lies with the provision of contingent issued from time to time under Article 370 had extended autonomy for these federal units which can be revised most of the entries in Union List and Concurrent List or remodeled based on contemporary needs by strong under VIIth Schedule and two thirds of constitutional governments enjoying popular will. articles to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. CENTRALISATION OF REGIONAL POLITICS (1989- OTHER STATES 2014) • Subsequent asymmetric agreements were reached with • Emergence of regional political parties and their the Nagas and the Mizos, which are enshrined in Article continuance in certain states contributed to deepening of 371 in the Constitution. federalism and growing autonomy of federal units vis-à-vis the Centre. This can also be attributed to coalition politics • When the small State of Sikkim joined the Indian Union in at national level till 2014. the early 1970s, Article 371F was added to the Constitution. Article 371F allowed for laws that were in • However, the rise of single party to national political place before Sikkim’s accession to remain in place unless dominance in 2014 started changing the political amended or repealed by the legislature. discourse carried so far by federating units. • Article 371 also contains measures that were intended to • The present government emerged more powerful in the promote intra-State equity in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, election to 17th Lok Sabha. It is in the backdrop of this Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. growing dominance and centralisation of power, the entire abrogation of Article 370 has taken place backed by 371A. Special provision with respect to the State of popular will in Lok Sabha. Nagaland INTEGRATION OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR 371B. Special provision with respect to the State of Assam 371C. Special provision with respect to the State of • Asymmetric federalism involves the granting of Manipur differential rights to certain federal subunits, often in recognition of their distinctive ethnic identity.
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371D. Special provisions with respect to the State of • Political scientist, Alfred Stepan, identified that federal Andhra Pradesh systems can be more or less ‘demos constraining’. It
371E. Establishment of Central University in Andhra means that federal systems constrain and undermines the Pradesh consolidation of power by national governments. • 371F. Special provisions with respect to the State of Sikkim India represents an idea of demos enabling. It means that the design of federalism places fewer checks on the 371G. Special provision with respect to the State of power of national majorities. For eg. Rajya Sabha has Mizoram lesser power with respect to passing Money Bills as 371H. Special provision with respect to the State of compared to Lok Sabha. Arunachal Pradesh • Further, Indian constitution provides autonomy to 371-I. Special provision with respect to the State of Goa states under VIIth schedule but in times of emergency 371-J. Special provisions with respect to State of Karnataka empowers the Union Government. ARGUMENTS ABOUT ASYMMETRIC FEDERALISM • Placing this kind of flexibility in the hands of the Central government was deliberate and designed to enable • Asymmetric constitutional provisions are a common decisive Central action to protect national integrity in the feature of federalism in diverse societies. Many argue that aftermath of Partition. asymmetric agreements with states dampen secessionist conflicts as such agreements recognises multiple modes MAINTAINING INDIA’S FEDERALISM of belonging within the Union. • In the Constituent Assembly, B.R. Ambedkar highlighted • However, with such agreements with Union, there is a the difference between the ‘tight mould’ of other federal denial of autonomy to such states that can provide ground systems and the flexibility hard-wired into India’s federal for growth of secessionist tendency among states. structure as it enabled it to be both ‘unitary as well as federal’ according to the requirements of time and • Such asymmetric agreements are generally criticised by circumstances. majority national communities and by other regions or states who do not have special arrangements. • Thus, constitutional provisions have allowed strengthening federalism in India. Eg: creation of new • The argument proposed by the Central Government is states and altering of boundaries (under Article 3) on that such asymmetric provisions are discriminatory in regional demands based on identity and language. nature and do not ensure equality. Earlier presence of Article 35A which was not added through an amendment • Further, not giving state governments a veto over under Article 368 ensured preferential rights to the bifurcation, the Constitution enabled the Central permanent residents of the erstwhile state. Recently, the government to accommodate linguistic and ethnic Home Ministry has diluted the provisions of domicile in diversities in a way that would have been much harder in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. a more rigid federal system.
• On secessionist claims, the government mentioned that • It also enabled the Central government to adopt Article 370 was the root cause of terrorism in the state. asymmetrical measures without facing a backlash from other regions that might have resented the ‘special’ • Further, provisions for autonomy arrangements were treatment of minority regions. also considered as anti-egalitarian because they discriminated on grounds of residency. On this point, the • Thus, until the 2000s, most of these regional changes were government argued that removing Article 370 will help in done based on a slow process of consensus building extending reservations for Scheduled Castes and within the regions concerned. Scheduled Tribes in the newly created Union Territories. • By abrogating Article 370, bifurcating Jammu and Kashmir FEDERALISM CONSTRAINING UNITARY POWER OF and downgrading the status of the successor units to CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Union Territories, the government has used the flexibility
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of the federal provisions of the Constitution to other • Over two decades ago, they were targeted by the Young ends. Mizo Association (YMA), Mizo Zirwlai Pawl (MZP), and a few
• Thus, abrogation of Article 370 without consensus is a ethnic social organisations of Mizoram who demanded sure departure from previous precedents into concrete that the Bru be excluded from electoral rolls in the state. action of national integration. • In 1997, following ethnic tension, around 5,000 families comprising around 30,000 Bru-Reang tribals were forced to flee Mizoram and seek shelter in Tripura. These people BRUS REJECT were housed in temporary camps at Kanchanpur, in North Tripura. RESETTLEMENT OFFER • Since then, over 5,000 have returned to Mizoram in nine phases of repatriation, while 32,000 people from 5,400 #Refugees families still live in six relief camps in North Tripura. • Since 2010, Government of India has been making IN NEWS sustained efforts to permanently rehabilitate these refugees. The Union government has been assisting the Three organisations representing the Bru community displaced two State governments for taking the care of the refugees. from Mizoram have rejected the sites proposed by the Joint Till 2014, 1622 Bru-Reang families returned to Mizoram in Movement Committee (JMC), an umbrella group of non-Brus in different batches. Tripura, for their resettlement. • On 3rd July, 2018, an agreement was signed between the • The Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples’ Forum, Mizoram Bru Union government, the two State governments and Displaced Peoples’ Coordination Committee and Bru representatives of Bru-Reang refugees, as a result of Displaced Welfare Committee have also trashed the which the aid given to these families was increased demand for inclusion of four JMC members in the substantially. monitoring team for the resettlement of the Brus. • Subsequently, 328 families comprising of 1369 individuals • The JMC comprising the Bengali, Mizo, Buddhist Barua and returned to Mizoram under the agreement. There had other communities had on July 21 submitted a been a sustained demand of most Bru-Reang families that memorandum to the Tripura government specifying six they may be allowed to settle down in Tripura, considering places in Kanchanpur and Panisagar subdivisions of North their apprehensions about their security. Tripura district for the resettlement of the Brus who fled • In Tripura, they are recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable ethnic violence in Mizoram since 1997. The JMC also Tribal Group (PVTG). proposed settling 500 families at most in these places.
SETTLEMENT OF BRU REFUGEES IN TRIPURA LET US UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE OF RESETTLEMENT • Under the new agreement, around 34,000 Bru refugees will be settled in Tripura and would be given aid from the OF BRU REFUGEES IN TRIPURA. Centre to help with their rehabilitation and all round ABOUT BRU REFUGEES development, through a package of around Rs 600 crores.
• The Brus are spread across Tripura, Mizoram and parts of • These refugees will get all the rights that normal residents southern Assam are the most populous tribe in Tripura. of the States get and they would now be able to enjoy the benefits of social welfare schemes of Centre and State • Also known as Reangs in the state, they are ethnically different from the Mizos, with their own distinct language governments. and dialect and form one of the 21 scheduled tribes of • All cash assistance will be through Direct Benefit Transfer Tripura. In Mizoram, they are largely restricted to Mamit (DBT), and the state government will expedite the opening and Kolasib districts. of bank accounts and the issuance of Aadhaar, permanent
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residence certificates, ST certificates, and voter identity • CAG as SAI - Comptroller and Auditor General of India is cards to the beneficiaries. the Supreme Audit Institution of India (SAI). As a constitutional body, CAG has been entrusted with the HOW DID THE AGREEMENT HAPPEN? responsibility to audit the accounts and related activities • In June 2018, Bru leaders signed an agreement in Delhi of the government and its institutions. with the Centre and the two state governments, providing • Appointed by the President - Article 148 of the Indian for repatriation to Mizoram. Most residents of the camps, Constitution mandates the appointment of Comptroller however, rejected the “insufficient” terms of the and Auditor General of India by the President of India by agreement. warrant under his hand and seal. The words, "by warrant • In November, 2019, Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, scion of under his hand and seal" refers that the appointment Tripura’s erstwhile royal family, wrote to the Union Home letter bears the seal and signature of the President of Minister seeking the resettlement of the Bru in the state India. which was also supported by Chief Minister of Tripura. • Oath or Affirmation - CAG shall, before entering upon WHEN WILL THE SETTLEMENT TAKE PLACE? office, make and subscribe before the President, or some • Physical verification to identify beneficiaries will be carried person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or out within 15 days of the signing of the deal. The land for affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose resettlement will be identified within 60 days, and the land in the Third Schedule. for allotment will be identified within 150 days. • Tenure of CAG – The Comptroller and Auditor-General • The beneficiaries will get housing assistance, but the state shall hold office for a term of 6 years from the date on government will build their homes and hand over which he assumes such office. Provided that where he possession. attains the age of 65 years before the expiry of the said term of six years, he shall vacate such office on the date on • They will be moved to resettlement locations in four which he attains 65 years. clusters, paving the way for the closure of the temporary camps within 180 days of the signing of the agreement. • Salary & Conditions of Service - The salary and other conditions of service of the Comptroller and Auditor- • All dwelling houses will be constructed and payments General shall be such as may be determined by Parliament completed within 270 days. by law and, until they are so determined, shall be as specified in the Second Schedule. The salary of a Comptroller and Auditor-General or his NEW CAG rights in respect of leave of absence, pension or age of retirement shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his #CAG appointment.
• Bar on holding office after CAG ceases to hold office -
The Comptroller and Auditor-General shall not be eligible for further office either under the Government of India or under the Government of any State after he has ceased to IN NEWS hold his office. Former Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant-Governor (L-G), • Administrative and other Expenses charged upon CFI - Girish Chandra Murmu has taken charge as the new The administrative expenses of the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Let us learn about Comptroller and Auditor-General, including all salaries, Comptroller and Auditor General of India. allowances and pensions payable to or in respect of the ABOUT COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL OF persons serving in that office, shall be charged upon the INDIA (CAG) Consolidated Fund of India.
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• Form of Accounts to be kept by CAG - The accounts of Article 151. PAC also scrutinises reports of C&AG. While the Union and of the States shall be kept in such form as scrutinizing the Reports of the C&AG on Revenues the President may on the advice of CAG prescribe. Receipts, the Committee examines various aspects of Government’s tax administration such as cases involving • Removal of CAG - CAG shall only be removed from office in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the under-assessments, tax-evasion, non-levy of duties, Supreme Court as prescribed under Article 124(4) of the misclassifications etc. PAC thus, identifies the loopholes in Constitution. the taxation laws and procedures and makes recommendations in order to check leakage of revenue. Article 124(4) - A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President RELATED INFORMATION: THE INTERNATIONAL passed after an address by each House of Parliament ORGANISATION OF SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS - supported by a majority of the total membership of that INTOSAI House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the • The International Organisation of Supreme Audit members of that House present and voting has been Institutions (INTOSAI) operates as an umbrella presented to the President in the same session for such organisation for the external government audit removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity. community. • Duties and Powers of CAG – Article 149 - The • It provides an institutionalised framework for supreme Comptroller and Auditor-General shall perform such audit institutions to promote development and transfer of duties and exercise such powers in relation to the knowledge, improve government auditing worldwide and accounts of the Union and of the States and of any other enhance professional capacities, standing and influence of authority or body as may be prescribed by or under any member SAIs in their respective countries. law made by Parliament. • Comptroller and Auditor General of India is Supreme Accordingly, the Parliament has enacted The CAG’s Audit Institution (SAI) of India. (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971. It • INTOSAI is an autonomous, independent and non-political specifies the CAG’s duties and powers pertaining to organisation. It is a non-governmental organisation with government accounts, audit of receipts and expenditures special consultative status with the Economic and Social of three tiers of the governments at the union, states and Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. urban and rural local bodies. Duties of C&AG includes audit of public companies, autonomous bodies, regulatory • INTOSAI was founded in 1953 at the initiative of Emilio bodies and other public entities, where there is a specific Fernandez Camus, then President of the SAI of Cuba. At legislative provision to make CAG audit mandatory in the that time, 34 SAIs met for the 1st INTOSAI Congress in acts by which these bodies were created. Cuba. At present INTOSAI has 194 Full Members, 5 Associate Members and 1 Affiliate Member. • Audit Reports - As per Article 151, the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India relating to the KINDS OF AUDITING accounts of the Union shall be submitted to the President, • Comptroller and Auditor General of India is Supreme Audit who shall cause them to be laid before each House of Institution (SAI) of India. Audits done by SAI India can be Parliament. The reports of the C&AG of India relating to classified into 1. Compliance Audit 2. Financial Audit 3. the accounts of a State shall be submitted to the Governor Performance Audit. of the State, who shall cause them to be laid before the • Compliance Audit is sometimes called transaction audit Legislature of the State. in which some selected transactions of an entity for a • Scrutiny of functions of CAG by Public Accounts particular financial year are chosen for audit scrutiny. It is Committee - The Committee on Public Accounts seen whether transactions done as per rules and scrutinizes Appropriation Accounts of the Government of regulations, with proper sanctions and whether it adheres India and the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor to principles of financial propriety. General of India presented to President of India under
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• Under Financial Audit, audit reports prepared by various employers of the NCR Region may either relocate to departments, statutory corporations, government nearby state of UP in the National Capital Region of Delhi companies and other autonomous bodies and authorities or shift the residence of their employees at least on paper are checked for their veracity and truthfulness and to either Delhi or UP. whether financial statements are presented with adequate LEGAL CHALLENGE disclosures. • The Ordinance of Haryana can be constitutionally • Performance Audits seek to establish at what cost and to challenged to violate Article 19(1)(g) which states that all what degree the policies, programmes and projects are citizens have right to practise any profession, or to carry working. Performance audit, apart from asking whether on any occupation, trade or business things are being done in the right way, goes a step further • The Ordinance can be challenged to violate of and analyses whether the right things are being done. In Article 14 addition to all the financial audit checks, the Performance the constitution which ensures equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of Audit seeks to assess whether a programme, scheme or activity deploys sound means to achieve its intended India. socio-economic objectives. • Earlier even Andhra Pradesh Government had provided 75 per cent reservation to locals in government and
private jobs. The Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the HARYANA: RESERVATION State government to inform if the law on quota for locals was enacted as per the Constitution. IN PRIVATE JOBS FOR • It was contented that the Reservation provided by Andhra Government is violative of Article 16(2) and Article 16(3) of LOCALS the Constitution. #Reservation • Article 16 - Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment
(1) There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any IN NEWS office under the State. State Government of Haryana has prepared draft of the Haryana (2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, State Employment of Local Candidates Ordinance, 2020. The sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ordinance aims to provide “75% of the new employment to local ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any candidates for jobs having salary of less than Rs 50,000 per employment or office under the State. month in various privately managed companies, societies, trusts, limited liability partnership firms, partnership firms, etc., situated (3) Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from in the state of Haryana. However, the employers will have the making any law prescribing, in regard to a class or classes option to recruit local candidates from one district to only 10 of employment or appointment to an office under the percent. Exemption clause shall also be provided if suitable local Government of, or any local or other authority within, a candidates are not available for a particular category of industry. State or Union territory, any requirement as to residence within that State or Union territory prior to such CHALLENGE FOR EMPLOYERS employment or appointment. • It may not be viable for the private organisations as they PROVIDING RESERVATION TO LOCALS – PUBLIC AND work on profit driven motive and accordingly hire the best talent available in any salary bracket. PRIVATE SECTOR
• Many corporates and MNCs are situated in Gurugram and BENEFITS DISADVANTAGES nearby areas adjacent to Delhi. In order to avoid state Provides enhanced It creates a sense of state wrath and ensure productivity and business, the economic opportunity to pride and sentiments against
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Constituti0n, Polity and Governance the local population migrants from other states. religion, race, caste, sex, from the state and ultimately including the vulnerable Migrants are viewed jealously descent, place of birth, will give rise to politics based section and the reserved and increases risk for the lives residence or any of them, on segregation. categories. and safety of migrants in such be ineligible for, or This is not only against polarized atmosphere of discriminated against in national integration but will regionalism. Overall such a respect of, any employment also impact economic growth policy will increase social or office under the State. of the state. tension. Many outsiders will be forced Prevents unnecessary It can be said to be in violation Article 16(3) - Nothing in to leave state including migration to other states. of larger constitutional goals this article shall prevent unskilled, semi-skilled and as such policies hinders Parliament from making any skilled human resources. national integration. law prescribing, in regard to So, overall bad politics will a class or classes of lead to poor economic growth Reservation in jobs will In particular, can be said to be employment or of the state. overall improve socio- against right to equality, right appointment to an office economic conditions of to reside and settle in any part under the Government of, large section of state’s of the territory of India and or any local or other population. right to practise any authority within, a State or profession, or to carry on any With continuous source of Union territory, any occupation, trade or business. income, such families can requirement as to residence afford healthy and Against - Article 14, 19(1)(e) & within that State or Union nutritious diet. 19(1)(g) territory prior to such This will also help in employment or achieving various appointment. Sustainable Development
Goals related to health, nutrition, well-being, achieving zero hunger etc. POSTAL BALLOTS
Creates stronger bonds Dissuade private sector #Election among citizens of states and investment and harm this can help to reduce economic interest of the state communalism in the in the longer run. society. IN NEWS
Increase spending in the Prevent flow of remittances Due to severe impact of COVID-19 on senior citizens, Election state. into poorer states of India and Commission has decided not to extend the facility of postal hence promote regional ballot to voters above 65 years of age in the coming General inequality. Elections in Bihar and by- elections due in the near future. However, facility of optional postal ballot to electors who are It fulfills the mandate of The idea of sons of the soil will above 80 years of age, People with Disabilities (PwD) Voters, Article 16(2) and 16(3) seep into regional politics and the electors engaged in essential services and voters who are respectively. this will impact the social COVID-19 positive/suspect in quarantine (home/institutional) fabric of our society. will be extended in these elections. - No citizen It will also impact the rights of Article 16(2) Who are allowed Postal Ballot? Postal ballot allows such such persons who are not shall, on grounds only of person to vote who cannot be present at their voting booth
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Constituti0n, Polity and Governance on the day of voting. Voting through postal ballot is allowed determine including any person subjected to preventive to Service Voters, Absentee Voters, Voters on Election detention under any law in India. Duty and Voting by certain classes of persons determined by EC. SERVICE VOTERS BLOCKING OF CHINESE • Service voter is a voter having service qualification. According to the provisions of sub – section (8) of Section APPS 20 of Representation of People Act, 1950, service qualification means #Security
(a) Being a member of the armed Forces of the Union; or
(b) Being a member of a force to which provisions of the IN NEWS Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), have been made applicable whether with or without modification; Central Government has banned Chinese Apps in India under Section 69A of The Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 in the (c) Being a member of an Armed Police Force of a State, and backdrop of India-China stand-off at Galwan valley in Ladakh. serving outside that state; or Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal JUDGEMENT has upheld the (d) Being a person who is employed under the Government constitutional validity of Section 69A of Information of India, in a post outside India. Technology Act while declaring Section 66A to be • Election Commission during the Lok Sabha Elections of unconstitutional. The JUDGEMENT also read down Section 79 2019, allowed to vote through Electronically Transmitted of the IT Act which provides for immunity to intermediaries in Postal Ballot System (ETPBS). The service voters were sent certain cases. postal ballots electronically one way to save processing VIEW OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT time, resources and avoid human errors. • Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology has said ABSENTEE VOTERS that it had received many complaints from various Absentee voter means a person belonging to such class of sources, including several reports about misuse of some persons as may be notified, under clause (c) of section 60 of mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms. The Representation of People Act, 1951 and who is employed in misuse was particularly concerning as it related to stealing essential services and includes an elector belonging to the and surreptitiously transmitting user’s data in an class of senior citizen or persons with disability unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India. • ‘person with disability’ means a person flagged as person with disability in the data base for the electoral • The Ministry highlighted that compilation of these data, its roll; mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India impinges upon the • ‘senior citizen’ for the purpose of this Part means an sovereignty and integrity of India. According to the elector belonging to the class of absentee voters and is government, this was a matter of very deep and above 80 years of age; immediate concern which required emergency measures. • Engagements in various capacities in the discharge of • The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology has Essential Services include railways, state transports, decided to invoke powers under Section 69A of the aviation etc. Information Technology Act, 2000, read with the • Section 60 of RPA, 1951 provides for Special procedure relevant provisions of the Information Technology for voting by certain classes of persons (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Voting by certain classes of persons determined by EC: It Information by Public) Rules 2009 to block these apps, includes such persons as Election Commission may citing threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2000 o Section 69A - Power to issue directions for blocking for public access of any information through any computer resource. • Section 69A – IT Act, 2000 - Power to issue directions for blocking for public access of any information • Section 79 of IT Act, provides for exemption from liability through any computer resource in certain cases. The Supreme Court in this regard held that both Section 79 and Rule 3(4) of the Intermediary 1. Where the Central Government or any of its officers Rules are to be read down and held that intermediaries specially authorised by it in this behalf is satisfied that it is cannot benefit from the immunity granted under Section necessary or expedient so to do, in the interest of 79 of IT Act, 2000 in case they have received Court Orders sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of or Government orders to remove any specific information. the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any • This means that the intermediary must receive a court cognizable offence relating to above, it may subject to the order/notification from a government agency requiring the provisions of sub-section (2), for reasons to be recorded in intermediary to remove specific information. writing, by order, direct any agency of the Government or • Further, the Supreme Court also stated that any such court intermediary to block for access by the public or cause to order or notification must necessarily fall within the ambit be blocked for access by the public any information of the restrictions under Article 19(2). generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any SECTION 79 - EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY OF computer resource. INTERMEDIARY IN CERTAIN CASES & INTERMEDIARY 2. The procedure and safeguards subject to which such RULES blocking for access by the public may be carried out, shall be such as may be prescribed. • Section 79 of the IT Act provides that ‘intermediaries’ such as internet service providers and search engines, are 3. The intermediary who fails to comply with the direction exempted from liability for content posted by third parties issued under sub-section (1) shall be punished with an using the intermediary’s services subject to certain imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years conditions being fulfilled such as compliance by the and also be liable to fine. intermediary with the Intermediary Rules. SHREYA SINGHAL CASE • The Intermediary Rules provide that the intermediary may • Supreme Court in the Shreya Singhal case upheld Section upon receiving knowledge of commission of any unlawful 69A of IT Act, 2000 while striking down Section 66A. acts or publication/communication of certain types of • The Court held that section 66A was in complete violation content --remove access to the information, of Article 19(1)(a) which provides freedom of speech and data/communication link used to commit such unlawful expression and cannot be saved under Article 19(2) which acts / publish restricted content. provides for reasonable restrictions on grounds of • The exemption from liability for intermediaries sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, provided by Section 79 is subject to Section 79(3)(b) - friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency which provides that the exemption from liability shall not or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, apply if upon receiving actual knowledge, or on being defamation or incitement to an offence. notified by the appropriate Government or its agency that any information, data or communication link residing in or o Section 66A - Section 66A of the IT act reads: "Any person who sends by any means of a computer resource any information connected to a computer resource controlled by the that is grossly offensive or has a menacing character; or any intermediary is being used to commit the unlawful act, the information which he knows to be false, but for the purpose of intermediary fails to expeditiously remove or disable causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult access to that material on that resource without vitiating shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may the evidence in any manner. extend to three years and with fine." • Rule 3(4) of the Intermediary Rules - provides that an intermediary, upon obtaining knowledge by itself, or from an affected person, in writing or through email, of
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commission of unlawful acts or publication of restricted IN NEWS content, is required to act within 36 hours and work with The Supreme Court has referred the matter of reservation the user or owner of the information to disable the provided to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) to a five Judge information that is in contravention of the Intermediary Constitution Bench. Constitution (One Hundred and Third Rules. Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for 10 per cent reservation to WHY SECTION 69A WAS DECLARED VALID IN SHREYA economically weaker section of the society over and above the SINGHAL JUDGEMENT? existing reservation in pursuance of the objectives enshrined in Article 46 of the Indian Constitution. • Section 69A grants powers to the Central Government Article 46: The State shall promote with special care the to “issue directions for blocking of public access to any educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of information through any computer resource”. The the people, and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and 2009 rules allow the blocking of websites by a court the Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social order, and sets in place a review committee to review the injustice and all forms of exploitation decision to block websites as also establishes penalties for the intermediary that fails to extend cooperation in this GROUNDS OF CHALLENGE respect. • The primary question for the Constitution Bench to decide is whether “economic backwardness” can be the sole • The petitioners argued that Section 69A of the Act and the criterion for granting quota in government jobs and Intermediary Rules framed under Section 69A and Section educational institutions for those who would otherwise 79 of the IT Act, which provide a detailed procedure for have to compete in the general category. the blocking of websites and content are unconstitutional as they do not provide an opportunity for the ‘originator’ • The other “substantial question of law” is whether grant of the information being blocked to be heard and do not of 10% reservation to economically weaker sections of the society is unconstitutional and violates the 50% ceiling cap provide for procedural safeguards as seen in other laws on quota declared by the Supreme Court itself. such as the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 for similar offences. CENTRE’S VIEW ON GRANTING 10 PER CENT
• However, the Supreme Court observed that that Section RESERVATION 69A unlike Section 66A is a narrowly drawn provision with • The Centre had argued that it was every State’s several safeguards. The Court gave the following reasons prerogative to provide 10 per cent economic reservation for the validity of Section 69A in State government jobs and admissions in State-run education institutions. 1. First, blocking can only be resorted to where the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary so to do. • So, whether or not to provide reservation to the economically weaker section (EWS) of the society for 2. Second, such necessity is relatable only to some of the appointment in State government jobs and for admission subjects set out in Article 19(2). to State government educational institutions, as per 3. Thirdly, reasons have to be recorded in writing in such provisions of the newly inserted Articles 15(6) and 16(6) of blocking order so that they may be assailed in a writ the Constitution, is to be decided by the State government petition under Article 226 of the Constitution. concerned
CONSTITUTION (ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD AMENDMENT) ACT, 2019 SUPREME COURT TO TAKE • The reservation of 10% will be over and above the existing 50 per cent reservation enjoyed by the members of UP EWS MATTER Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes. This will take the total reservation to 60 #Reservation per cent.
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Constituti0n, Polity and Governance
• The reservations intends to include such members who do not avail the benefits of reservation. This includes NATIONAL EDUCATION members in the general category as well as members of the minority communities including Muslims, Sikhs, POLICY 2020 Buddhists, Christian and other communities who do not enjoy any kind of reservation. #Education #Empowerment Note* "Economically Weaker Sections" shall be notified by the State from time to time on the basis of family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage.’ IN NEWS ENSURING FAIR OPPORTUNITY In May, 2019, the Committee led by the Chairman Dr. Kasturirangan submitted the Draft National Educational Policy • The directive principles of State policy contained in Article to the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD). 46 of the Constitution mentions that the State shall Last month, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister promote with special care the educational and economic has approved the National Education Policy 2020. The new interests of the weaker sections of the people, and, in policy aims to pave way for transformational reforms in school particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled and higher education systems in the country. This policy will Tribes. But, economically weaker sections of citizens replace the 34 four old National Policy on Education (NPE), were not eligible for the benefit of reservation. 1986. • Thus, the proposed amendment aims to ensure that NEW EDUCATION POLICY (NEP) FOR 21ST CENTURY economically weaker sections of citizens get a fair chance NEW INDIA of receiving higher education and participation in st employment in the services of the State. This will also • This is the first education policy of the 21 century and fulfill the mandate of Article 46. replaces the thirty-four-year-old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986. AMENDMENT IN ARTICLE 15 • New NEP has been built on the foundational pillars of • The Act inserts a new provision – Article 15(6), whereby Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability and (a) State can make any special provision for the advancement Accountability. of any “economically weaker sections of citizens” • This policy is aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable (b) State can make any special provision for the advancement Development and aims to transform India into a vibrant of any “economically weaker sections of citizens” relate to knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by their admission to educational institutions including making both school and college education more holistic, private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided flexible, multidisciplinary, suited to 21st century needs and by the State. aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities of each (c) However, such reservation will not apply to minority student. educational institutions. • NEP aims to include children during their most (d) Reservation to such educational institutions would be in foundational years from 3-6 years for their care and addition to the existing reservations and subject to a education. It will help to bring back 2 crore out-of-schools maximum of 10 per cent. and drop-out children into the formal educational fold and help India in achieving universalisation of school AMENDMENT IN ARTICLE 16 education. Thus, NEP stays true to its commitment and • The Act Amends Article 16 by inserting a new provision philosophy of 'no one to be left behind' by including Article 16(6) where the state may make any provision for children in the age fold of 3-6 years. the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any • Critical thinking, experiential and application-based economically weaker sections of citizens in addition to the learning, flexibility in learning, focus on life skills, existing reservation and subject to a maximum of ten per multidisciplinary and continuous review are some of the cent. salient features of this policy.
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Constituti0n, Polity and Governance
• Academic Bank of Credits, National Research Foundation, • NEP 2020 advocates increased use of technology with and National Mission on Foundational Literacy and equity; National Educational Technology Forum to be Numeracy are some of the landmark policies, which will created help in transforming our educational ecosystem. • NEP 2020 emphasizes setting up of Gender Inclusion MAJOR INITIATIVES OF NEW NEP Fund, Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions and groups • New Policy aims for Universalization of Education from pre-school to secondary level with 100 % Gross Enrollment • New Policy promotes Multilingualism in both schools Ratio (GER) in school education by 2030. and HEs; National Institute for Pali, Persian and Prakrit , Indian Institute of Translation and • NEP 2020 aims bring 2 crores out of school children back Interpretation to be set up. into the main stream. • A new and comprehensive National Curriculum • New 5+3+3+4 school curriculum with 12 years of Framework for Teacher Education, NCFTE 2021, will be schooling and 3 years of Anganwadi/ Pre-schooling. formulated by the NCTE in consultation with NCERT. By • Emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, no 2030, the minimum degree qualification for teaching will rigid separation between academic streams, be a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree. extracurricular, vocational streams in schools. • Multidisciplinary Education and Research • Vocational Education to start from Class 6 with Universities (MERUs), at par with IITs, IIMs, to be set up Internships. as models of best multidisciplinary education of global • Teaching upto at least Grade 5 to be in mother standards in the country. tongue/regional language. • The National Research Foundation will be created as an • Assessment reforms with 360-degree Holistic Progress apex body for fostering a strong research culture and Card, tracking Student Progress for achieving Learning building research capacity across higher education.
Outcomes. • Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) will be set • Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education to be up as a single overarching umbrella body the for entire raised to 50 % by 2035; 3.5 crore seats to be added in higher education, excluding medical and legal education. higher education. HECI to have four independent verticals - National Higher Education Regulatory Council (NHERC) for regulation, General • Higher Education curriculum to have Flexibility of Subjects. Education Council (GEC ) for standard setting, Higher Education Grants Council (HEGC) for funding, and National • Multiple Entry/Exit to be allowed with appropriate Accreditation Council( NAC) for accreditation. certification. • Public and private higher education institutions to be • Academic Bank of Credits to be established to governed by the same set of norms for regulation, facilitate Transfer of Credits. accreditation and academic standards. • National Research Foundation to be established • An autonomous body, the National Educational to foster a strong research culture. Technology Forum (NETF), will be created to provide a • Light but Tight Regulation of Higher Education, single platform for the free exchange of ideas on the use of regulator with four separate verticals for different technology to enhance learning, assessment, planning, functions administration. • Affiliation System to be phased out in 15 years and a • NEP 2020 emphasizes setting up of Gender Inclusion stage-wise mechanism is to be established for granting Fund, Special Education Zones for disadvantaged regions graded autonomy to colleges. Over a period of time, it is and groups envisaged that every college would develop into either an • The Centre and the States will work together to increase Autonomous degree-granting College, or a constituent the public investment in Education sector to reach 6% of college of a university. GDP at the earliest.
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Constituti0n, Polity and Governance practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Which of the following cannot be said to be part of (a) The Constitution (Twenty-Sixth Amendment) Act, 1971 Fundamental Duties as provided under Article 51A? (b) The Constitution (Forty-Fourth Amendment) Act 1978 (a) To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and (c) The Constitution (Ninety-First Amendment) Act, 2003 institutions, the National Flag and the National (d) The Constitution (Fifty-Second Amendment) Act, 1985 Anthem.
(b) To defend the country and render national service Q4. Consider the following statements about the office when called upon to do so. of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG): (c) Citizens, men and women equally, have the right to an 1. CAG shall be appointed by the President by warrant adequate means of livelihood. under his hand and seal. (d) To value and preserve the rich heritage of our 2. The reports of the CAG relating to the accounts of a composite culture. State shall be submitted to the Governor of the State, who shall cause them to be laid before the Legislature Q2. Consider the following statements: of the State. 1. Fundamental Duties were added by the Constitution 3. The administrative expenses of the office of CAG shall (Forty-Fourth Amendment) Act 1978. be charged upon the Consolidated Fund of India. 2. Adding Fundamental Duties brought the Constitution Which of the statements given above is/are correct? of India in line with Article 29(1) of the Universal (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 2 only Declaration of Human Rights. (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only Q5. Which of the following Schedules was added to the (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Indian Constitution by the Constitution (Fifty- Second Amendment) Act, 1985? Q3. Granting of Privy Purse to royal families and (a) Ninth Schedule (b) Tenth Schedule recognition provided to Rulers of Indian States (c) Eleventh Schedule (d) Eight Schedule ceased through
descriptive Questions
Q1. Highlight the important features of Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Do you agree that power to decide cases of Anti-defection under Tenth Schedule should be transferred to the President or Governor as per the recommendations of Dinesh Goswami Committee? Give Reasons. (250 Words) (15 Marks) Q2. India’s federalism has never been uniform as some asymmetry in terms of special provisions for certain states have always existed. Discuss. (150 Words) (10 Marks) Answers to above MCQs: 1 (c), 2 (b), 3 (a), 4(d), 5(b)
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT # GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)
Lead Article
perspective of UPSC Mains. Hence, we shall focus on the GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS: A following dimensions keeping in mind, the requirements of the Examination.
TOOL FOR STRUCTURAL 1. Understanding Global Value Chains (GVCs) TRANSFORMATION OF 2. Measurement of Country's Integration into GVCs 3. Evolution of GVCs across the World
ECONOMY 4. Why should India get Integrated into GVCs?
#Government Policies 5. Reasons for India's Poor Integration into GVCs
6. Way Forward
IN NEWS: In the Budget 2020-21, the Finance Minister had WHAT ARE GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS? highlighted the need for "Assemble in India" on the lines of GVCs refer to the full range of activities (design, production, "Make in India". In a way, this was a call for greater marketing, distribution and support to the final consumer, Integration of Indian Economy with the Global Value Chains etc) that are divided among multiple firms and workers in (GVCs) to reap multiple benefits. Integration into GVCs has the multiple countries to bring a product from its conception to potential to bring about structural shift in our economy- From its end use and beyond. The Global Value Chains (GVCs) have Agriculture to Manufacturing, From Low-end Manufacturing to been developed for number of products such as high-end Manufacturing, From Self-Employed and Casual Automobiles, Pharmaceuticals, Textiles, Electronics, Workers to Salaried Workers, from lower Productivity to higher Chemicals, Gold and Jewellery etc. productivity and overall a change in our orientation from being inward to outward. The Integration of Indian economy into GVCs is considered as a strategy to not only help us realise the vision of $ 5 trillion economy, but also enable us to Double farmers Income as well.
In recent times, phenomenal rise of China as Manufacturing Hub and its emergence as Economic powerhouse has been linked to its successful Integration into GVCs. Even, a number of smaller economies such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia etc. have reaped huge benefits from integrating with GVCs. However, India's integration into GVCs has remained quite poor. This topic of " Global Value Chains: A Tool for Structural Transformation of Economy" is extremely important from the
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Economic Development
The iPhone is a good example to understand how GVCs work. world. The value addition done in China is hardly around 5%, The US prepares the iPhone design and prototypes, while but still China has immensely benefitted from its Integration Taiwan and South Korea produce critical inputs such as with GVCs leading to increase in FDI, Exports, Employment integrated circuits and processors. Final assembly takes place and consequently higher GDP Growth. in China from where the iPhones are marketed all over the
MEASUREMENT OF COUNTRY'S INTEGRATION INTO Services in the overall exports. From perspective of India, GVCS these Value-Added Goods and services could be of two types:
To understand the extent of Country's Integration into GVCs, we need to look at the share of Value-added Goods and
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Economic Development
Foreign Value Added (FVA): Under this, India imports Goods 4. Free flow of foreign Investment and Technology from other countries and then does value addition before 5. Emergence of European Union and China as major links in exporting them. So, India is basically relying on foreign GVCs imports to export value-added Goods and hence it is referred 6. Relocation of Production centres to countries having cheap to as Backward Linkages in GVCs. labour force etc. 1. Raw Materials imported from USA --> Value Addition in WHY SHOULD INDIA GET INTEGRATED INTO GVCS? India--> Export of Intermediate Goods to China --> Value addition in China --> Export to Japan. Bangladesh presents an excellent example as to how participation in global value chains (GVCs) leads to multi- 2. Raw Materials imported from USA--> Value Addition in faceted benefits. In 1980's Bangladesh’s exports of apparel India--> Export of Final Goods to China. and footwear were negligible. However, since then, the Domestic Value Added (DVA): Under this, India either business of exporting apparel made from imported textiles supplies the Intermediate Goods or Final Goods to other has grown on average by nearly 18 percent a year. countries without relying on foreign Imports. So, here, India is Bangladesh now exports 7 percent of the world’s apparel and doing value-addition to its own domestic Goods and then footwear, third only to China and Vietnam. The apparel sector exporting it to other countries and hence it is referred to as accounts for 90 percent of the country’s exports and 14 Forward Linkages in GVCs. percent of GDP, and it employs 3.6 million workers, 55 1. Exports of Final Goods from India to USA percent of them women. This clearly highlights that GVC 2. Export of Intermediate Goods to USA--> Value addition in participation promotes development beyond what countries USA--> Sold in US Market can achieve through standard trade.
3. Export of Intermediate Goods to USA--> Value Addition in Economic Growth and Development: According to World USA--> Export of Final Goods to Japan. Bank, 1 percent increase in the level of GVC participation increases average productivity by 1.6 percent and per-capita EVOLUTION OF GVCS ACROSS WORLD Income by more than 1% in long-run. This is on account of The overall share of GVC Trade in the total world trade stands following reasons: at around 50%, which clearly highlights the significance of • Provides fast track route to Industrialisation since there is GVCs. In particular, the GVCs have registered phenomenal no need to build entire supply chain right from scratch. growth post 1990s on account of following reasons: Joining the existing Supply chain established by Advanced economies would be sufficient enough to promote Industrialisation. • Better access to a greater variety of higher-quality or less costly intermediate inputs. • No need for firms to focus on entire supply chain and instead focus on specialised tasks leading to Hyper- specialisation. • Transfer of technology and know-how from the foreign partners. • Promotes collaboration rather than competition between Domestic and Foreign Firms wherein each of them focus 1. Declining air and sea freight costs on specialised task in the production cycle. Both Domestic and Foreign firms collaborate with each other in order to 2. Growth in ICT technologies leading to increase in Trade in minimise the costs and maximise the profits. Services • Knowledge Intensive firms in other countries would share 3. Decrease in the trade barriers across the world after product innovations with Indian Firms and thus provide formation of WTO
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Economic Development
scope for the Indian firms to move higher up the value divided by total exports. The foreign value added of India's chain. Gross Exports (Forward Linkages) has reduced from 25% • Increase in Employment creation and Exports. (2012) to 16% (2016). Some of the reasons for India's poor Integration into GVCs are as given below: INCREASED JOB CREATION AND LABOUR WELFARE: • Historical Reasons: Inward-looking Industrial policies with Potential to provide fillip to Manufacturing sector leading • focus on State-led Industrialisation, Import-substitution, to structural change in Indian Economy. Licence-raj System etc. • Shift in the Workers from agriculture to Manufacturing. • Lack of Lead Firms in India: The lead firms are the firms • Higher Paying Jobs accompanied by Social Security that establish supply chains across the world and hence benefits. major drivers of GVCs. For example, in India, Tata Motors • Induce shift in type of employments from Self-employed (Automobile) and Ranbaxy (Pharmaceuticals) have and Casual workers towards Salaried Workers emerged as lead firms by attracting foreign Investment, transferring technology, establishing supply chains etc. Socio-Economic Transformation: GVCs support However, there is a need to have such lead firms in almost employment of not just men, but also women. Notably in the all sectors. apparel and electronics sectors, where assembly of many small parts must be done manually, firms report preferences • Higher Focus on Domestic Market: Indian Firms have for female employees because of the high levels of dexterity traditionally focussed on Indian Domestic Market since it is required. Thus, as seen in Bangladesh, higher employment quite large. However, they have failed to realise that creation for Women would have following benefits: integration into GVCs would give them much wider market. • Higher Expenditure on Girls' Education • Inward Oriented FDI Policy: Countries such as China and Vietnam have been inviting MNCs with GVC linkages to • Decline in IMR and MMR their countries leading to their Integration. However, India • Political, Economic and Social Empowerment of Women has so far not given due-emphasis on this aspect of FDI Doubling of Farmers' Income: Even though, India is one of policy. the largest producers of Agri-commodities, its share in global • Lack of Focus on R&D leading to limited knowledge exports stands at merely 2.2% (9th Rank). This clearly transfer highlights India's poor Integration into Global agricultural • Lack of access to Finance- Higher Dependence of Banks, supply chains. Hence, greater integration would translate into Under-developed Bond Market etc. expanded market access and higher prices for the farmers leading to doubling of their income levels. • Inability of the Government to bring about long-pending Labour Reforms Higher Resilience: According to OECD, Integration of economies into GVCs lead to resilience, stability and flexibility • Lack of availability of skilled manpower in crucial sectors in their production network and hence acquiring capability in such as Electronics. responding to domestic shocks. On the other hand, • Higher Logistics Cost (14%) as compared to USA (9%) and economies which are less integrated into GVCs are more Japan (11%) - leading to Uncompetitive Indian exports. vulnerable to shocks and hence may see decline in economic • Poor Focus on Quality due to higher share of Small-scale activity and fall in National incomes in response to domestic enterprises. shocks. • Inverted Duty structure making import of Finished Goods INDIA'S POOR INTEGRATION INTO GVCS cheaper. According to OECD-WTO’s TiVA (Trade in Value Added) WAY FORWARD database, India’s GVC participation index stands at 43, as The Government should address the various constraints compared to 52 for Vietnam and 60 for Malaysia. The GVC highlighted above in order to successfully integrate Indian participation index displays a country’s integration into the Economy into GVCs. India should target the entire production GVC and is the sum of forward and backward linkages
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Economic Development cycle in the Smile Curve of the Global Value Chains (GVCs). In India must also focus on lower end of the curve (Production some of the selected products such as Automobile, and Assembly) in order to give fillip to "Make in India" and Pharmaceuticals etc. India needs to focus on high-end "Assemble in India". activities such as Conceptualisation and Design in order to reap its expertise in R&D, technology. On the other hand,
BANKING AND FINANCE
as Bank of Calcutta in 1806, later took the name Imperial DEBATE: PRIVATISATION Bank of India in 1921 and became state-owned bank in 1955. The remaining PSBs in India were formed through OF PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS two waves of nationalizations, one in 1969 and the other in #Banking 1980. After the 1980 nationalization, PSBs had a 91 per cent share in the national banking market with the remaining 9 per cent held by “old private banks” (OPBs) that were not nationalized.
• Entry of New Private Banks (NPBs) post 1991 Reforms: IN NEWS In 1993, the RBI issued the policy guidelines to facilitate As part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package, the Finance Minister the entry of new private Banks (NPBs) on a large scale. had recently announced that the Government would soon come Subsequently, it led to the entry of large-sized Private out with new Public Sector Enterprise Policy. Under this policy, Banks such as HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank etc. the Government would notify certain sectors as "Strategic • Consolidation of Public Sector Banks (PSBs): Based Sectors". In the strategic sectors, the number of public sector upon the recommendations of Narasimhan Committee enterprises (PSEs) would be limited to maximum of four, the (1991) and P.J. Nayak Committee (2014), the other PSEs would be privatised/merged/brought under the Government has focussed on the consolidation/merger of holding companies. In the sectors categorised as "Non-Strategic" the PSBs. The Associate Banks of SBI and Bhartiya Mahila sectors, all the existing PSEs would be privatised. Bank got merged into State of Bank of India. It was Presently, based on media reports, there is a speculation that the followed by the merger of Vijaya Bank, Dena Bank and Government is likely to designate banking as a strategic sector. Bank of Baroda in 2018. In the year 2019, 10 Public sector This will allow the government to own a maximum of four public Banks were merged into 4 large banks. After the mergers, sector banks (PSBs), and thus, some PSBs which have not been there are 12 public sector banks, including the SBI. included in the already completed consolidation process would • Present Phase: As per the media reports, the Government either be privatised or merged into larger PSBs. is working on a proposal to privatize some of the existing In this regard, let us understand the pros and cons of the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in accordance with the new Government’s move to privatise the PSBs. Public Sector Enterprise Policy. SUMMARY OF THE EVOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT'S PRESENT STATUS OF PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS (PSBS) BANKING POLICY IN INDIA • Phase of Nationalisation (1969-1991): India's public sector banks (PSBs) are essentially legacy banks from the colonial period that were later nationalized. For example, India's largest PSB, State Bank of India (SBI), was founded
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Economic Development
5. Loss of Taxpayers' money: According to the Economic Survey 2019-20, every rupee of the taxpayers' money which is invested in PSBs fetches a market value of 71 paise. On the other hand, every rupee invested in NPBs fetches a market value of Rs 3.70 i.e., more than five times as much value as that of a rupee invested in PSBs. This shows that the taxpayers' money is inefficiently deployed in the Public sector Banks which in turn is leading to loss of both the Government as well as the taxpayers. 6. Lower Efficiency: The lower efficiency of the PSBs as compared to NPBs is also manifested in the form of lower Return on Assets, Return on equity and indicators like capital adequacy ratio. CASE FOR PRIVATISATION OF EXISTING PUBLIC
SECTOR BANKS (PSBS) As of March 2019, PSBs had Rs 80 lakh crore in deposits and The Government policy of Privatisation of the existing PSBs is gave loans of Rs 58 lakh crore, accounting for almost 70% of based on the philosophy that the Government should the market share in the Banking sector. However, the discontinue its engagement in producing goods and services performance of the Public Sector Banks has been quite poor in sectors where competitive markets have emerged. The as compared to new private Banks (NPBs). This can be seen in enterprises in these sectors are most likely perform better in the following dimensions as given below: the hands of the private sector due to various factors such as technology up-gradation and efficient management practices; 1. Higher NPAs: The PSBs account for 80% of the overall NPAs of the Banking sector. The NPAs of the PSBs is and would thus create wealth and add to the economic around 12% and is much higher as compared to NPBs. growth of the country. The total Gross NPAs of the PSBs which stand at around Rs • Improve the overall efficiency of banking Sector: As 7.5 lakh crores is more than 1.5 times the total money highlighted before, even though, the PSBs and NPBs are spent by India on creation of infrastructure in 2019. operating in the same domestic market, the PSBs are considered to be less efficient and thus leading to loss of 2. Slower Credit Growth: Between the years 2010-19, the annual Credit growth of PSBs stand at hardly around 4%. taxpayers' money. It is expected that the privatization of This is quite lower as compared to the annual credit PSBs would lead to improvement in the efficiency of the growth of 15% -29% registered by the new private Banks Banking sector as a whole. (NPBs) • Increased Competition leading to development of large-sized banks: History has been testimony to the fact 3. Higher Losses: In 2019, the cumulative loss of the PSBs due to bad loans accounted for around Rs 66,000 crores. that the development of large economies such as US, This is almost equal to the budgetary allocation for the Japan, China etc. has always been supported by large sized banks. For example, during 1980s, Japan had 15 of Primary Education in India. the top 25 global banks. In recent times, economic growth 4. Higher Banking Frauds: The PSBs account for 93% per of China has been supported by its 4 Banks which are cent of the 5,800 cases of fraud and 85 % of the fraud considered to be among the world largest banks. amounts of about Rs 41,000 crore reported in 2017-2018. This highlights the poor quality of monitoring and Since 1969, India has grown significantly to become the 5th largest economy in the world. Yet, India’s banking screening in the PSBs.
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sector is disproportionately under-developed given the have pointed that it is a myth to consider that the socio- size of its economy. For instance, India has only one bank economic goals can be met only through the PSBs. in the global top 100. India's top ranked Bank, SBI has • Reduce the Burden on the Government: The been placed at 55th Position at the global level. This privatisation of PSBs would also reduce the financial highlights the dwarfism of our banking sector when burden on the Government by doing away with the need compared to our characteristics: size of the economy for undertaking their recapitalisation to comply with the (GDP), development of the economy (GDP per capita) and higher BASEL III requirements. population. • No benefit due to Nationalisation of Banks: According The Government ownership in the PSBs, which account to the number of experts, the Policy of Bank for almost 70% of the Banking assets has led to a kind of Nationalisation has not actually benefitted the Indian virtual monopoly which is reducing the competition, Economy. breeds inefficiency and thus hurts the overall growth of the Banking Sector. Arguments in Favour Arguments against • Previous Experience: The Strategic disinvestment has led Allocations of banking Poverty alleviation not entirely to increase in overall efficiency gains which later translated resources to rural areas, due to Nationalisation of Banks; into higher returns for the shareholders. For example, the agriculture, and priority other factors such as Green recent approval of strategic disinvestment in Bharat sectors and hence Revolution, launch of poverty Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) led to an increase in responsible for poverty alleviation programmes such as value of shareholders’ equity of BPCL by Rs 33,000 crore alleviation between 1969- IRDP contributed to Poverty when compared to its peer Hindustan Petroleum 1991. alleviation. Corporation Limited (HPCL).
• Leveraging MFIs and NPBs for Social causes: One of the Ten-fold Increase in the Proactive policies by the RBI to arguments which has been put forward for the continued number of Rural Banks improve Financial Inclusion: ownership of the Government over the Public Sector between 1969-1980. Priority Lending, RBI’s 4:1 Banks is that the Government can leverage the PSBs for formula where a bank was the socio-economic development. For example, the required to open 4 rural Government has been using the JAM trinity platform for branches to obtain a license to the target direct transfer of subsidies. Similarly, a large open an urban branch between number of Government schemes such as disbursement of years 1977 and 1991 etc. MGNREGA wages rely on the network of PSBs. However, it has to be highlighted that the Government and RBI can Four-fold increase in Despite nationalization a pursue the same goal even through the Private banks. One Agricultural credit post significant portion of the poor of the best examples in the recent times has been the Nationalisation remained unbanked till 2014. Financial inclusion through the Jan Dhan Yojana, which Financial inclusion received the involved not only the PSBs, but even the Private Sector necessary impetus in 2014 Banks as well. Similarly, in the recent times, most of the through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Private Banks have leveraged the support of Microfinance Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). This Institutions (MFIs) to fulfil their Priority Sector Lending (PSL improvement was on account requirements). These MFIs have been able to improve the of active involvement of both credit access in the rural areas and thus bring about PSBs and NPBs. poverty alleviation. Thus, some of the Banking experts
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Economic Development
ARGUMENTS AGAINST PRIVATISATION OF PSBs Governance framework and effective regulation which is a Improve the Governance framework of PSBs: There is a key to promote efficiency of the PSBs. need for undertaking a detailed, comprehensive and Accordingly, the Government has to implement the analytical study to understand the reasons for the poor recommendations of the P.J. Nayak Committee to improve performance of PSBs as compared to NPBs. This would tell us the Governance of the PSBs. One of the most important whether the Government should go for the privatisation or recommendations given by this committee was related to the not. The main reason for the lower efficiency of the PSBs is setting up of Banking Investment Company (BIC). The actually the Government's political intervention in the committee had recommended the Government to set up BIC functioning of the PSBs, which is in turn leading to lack of as a holding company and transfer all its shares in the PSBs autonomy and freedom to the PSBs and thus hurting their to BIC. The BIC would then exercise its control over the PSBs revenues. So, according to the experts, the solution to and also make appointments of the Board of Directors improve the efficiency of the PSBs is not privatisation, leading to lack of political interference in the working of PSBs. rather a complete overhaul of the Governance framework. WAY FORWARD Some of the external constraints faced by the PSBs which is Taking into account both pros and cons related to leading to their poor efficiency include: Privatisation of PSBs, there is need for following an evidence- 1. Dual regulation by the Finance Ministry and RBI: The based approach. The Government can privatise some of the Finance Ministry's directives could be both explicit medium-sized PSBs and reduce its ownership to below 51%. (through the issue of guidelines) and through Hence, we would have 3 types of Banks- Completely undocumented suasion. However, the Private sector Government-owned, Banks in which Government enjoys banks are free from dual regulation. majority, Banks in which Government enjoys minority stakes. 2. Board constitution: The appointment to the Boards of The Government should then focus bringing about the Banks are mainly based on Political considerations comprehensive and holistic reforms on the lines of without giving due emphasis on merit. Average tenures of recommendations of Narasimhan Committee (1991), Rajan Chairmen and Executive Directors are short, all of which Committee (2007) and P.J Nayak Committee (2014). Once the lead to the weak empowerment of boards. reforms are carried out, the Government should undertake a 3. External vigilance enforcement through the CVC and study as to what Kind of ownership structure works best for CBI inhibits the PSBs from taking commercial risks which the Indian economy. Based upon such an evidence, the are otherwise deemed acceptable. Further, there is higher Government should then decide as to whether the focus on adherence to procedures and rules rather than Privatization of PSBs can emerge as a panacea to the present outcomes leading to red-tapeism and slow decision ills afflicting the Banking sector.
making. Privatisation may not solve the Problems: We have to realise that even all the new private banks (NPBs) are not BHARAT BOND ETF efficient. The balance sheets of the existing NPBs is as poor as the PSBs. Just like how the Government tries to micro- #Banking manage the PSBs, even the promoters of the NPBs have been guilty of doing the same. The case in the point is the recent Yes Bank Crisis. Similarly, number of Banking frauds of much IN NEWS higher value have come to light even in the NPBs as well. So, it is not the ownership structure that determines the The Department of Investment and Public Asset management efficiency levels of the Banks. Rather, it is the quality of (DIPAM) has recently decided to release the Second tranche of Bharat Bond ETF.
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WHAT IS EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF)?
• ETF is a fund that is created by pooling together assets and Included Ltd. then dividing this accumulated asset into individual units Diversification Lower Higher that are traded on the stock exchange. The value of the Fund Manager Nippon India ICICI Prudential ETF comes from the value of the underlying assets (shares
of stock, bonds, foreign currency, etc.). These ETFs are listed in the stock exchanges are similar to like shares and can be traded like ordinary shares. In nature, the ETFs are HIGHER REAL INTEREST index funds because they comprise of shares of different companies. RATES HURTING • A bond ETF invests in a basket of bonds in the underlying ECONOMIC RECOVERY index. It can invest in the government, corporate, or public sector unit bonds. #Banking FEATURES OF BHARAT BOND ETF • The Bharat Bond ETF is basket of bonds issued by CPSE/CPSU or any other Government organization. These IN NEWS Bonds are tradable on secondary market. The Interest Rates in an economy is considered to be a key • The unit size of Bharat bond ETF has been kept at smaller enabler to promote growth and development, particularly value of Rs 1000 to attract retail investors. when the economy is facing slowdown/recession. The lower Share Based ETFs in India Interest rates incentivizes higher borrowings leading to CPSE ETF Vs Bharat-22 ETF increase in Investment and Consumption Expenditure and CPSE ETF BHARAT-22 ETF Year of Issuance 2014 2017 hence promote growth. Number of Shares 12 22 In India, the RBI has consistently reduced the Repo Rate by Highest Weightage Power Sector Power Sector almost around 150 basis points in the last 12 months leading Government's No Yes. Included. to decrease in the average lending rates of the Banks by 104 shares in Private Example: Axis Sector companies Bank, L&T, ITC basis points. However, this reduction in nominal rates of
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UNDERSTANDING NOMINAL AND REAL RATE OF INTEREST
Nominal Rate of Interest is the rate of Interest which you are expected to get as a saver or pay as a borrower from the Bank. However, if this rate of interest is adjusted for Inflation, then it is known as Real Rate of Interest i.e. Real Rate of Interest= Nominal rate of Interest - Inflation.
For example, let's say you deposit Rs 100 in the Bank for a period of 1 year for which the Bank is expected to pay you 5% Nominal rate of Interest. However, let's say, after 1 year, the rate of Inflation is expected to be around 6%. In this case, the
Real Rate of Interest would be negative (Nominal rate of REASONS FOR HIGHER REAL RATE OF INTEREST Interest of 5% - Inflation rate of 6%). Hence, you would be • Normally, to calculate the Real rate of Interest, we as discouraged from depositing your money in the Bank due to consumers take into account the CPI rate of Inflation. negative returns. On the other hand, if the rate of Inflation is However, the Business establishments take into account expected to be around 1%, then Real rate of Interest would core WPI rate of Inflation. be 4% and hence you would go ahead and deposit your • The core WPI Inflation has reduced from 2.3% in March 2019 to 0.8% in June 2020. As you can see the formula, money in the Bank. there is inverse relationship between Real rate of Interest If we consider this aspect from the perspective of borrower, and Inflation. Hence, the decrease in the Core WPI Inflation has in turn led to higher Real rate of Interest for the firms. you would be encouraged to borrow money from the Bank According to a recent report, in spite of the nominal only when Real rate of Interest is lower. Higher real rate of • lending rates falling by 105 bps, the real Interest rates Interest would discourage you from borrowing money from have increased up by 44 bps in the last 12 months. the Bank.
TRENDS IN NOMINAL AND REAL RATE OF INTEREST IN INDIA OFF-SHORE DERIVATIVE
As can be seen in the below figure, the rate cuts announced INSTRUMENTS by the RBI has in a way has led to reduction in the rate of #Banking interest on the loans i.e. Marginal Cost of Lending Rates
(MCLR) of the Banks. However, inspite of reduction in MCLR, IN NEWS the Real rate of Interest (Real MCLR) has increased The Investments through participatory notes (P-notes) in the particularly after February 2019. capital market has increased to Rs 62,000 crores till June-end, making it the third consecutive monthly rise.
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P-Notes/Offshore Derivative Instruments: Offshore • It gives the Investors the necessary level of anonymity. Derivative Instruments (ODIs), also known as Participatory • Used by some of the Investors as a strategy of Tax notes (p-notes) are instruments used by the foreign investors Avoidance. to invest in India’s securities markets without getting • Preferred route for hawala operators wherein money registered with the SEBI. Participatory notes are issued by initially goes out of the country through Hawala route and FPIs registered with SEBI to overseas/ foreign investors. then enters back through P-Notes. These FPIs make investments on behalf of the overseas investors. What are the concerns? Increase in P-Notes may possibly lead to increase in the inflow of unaccounted money wherein WHY DO INVESTORS PREFER TO INVEST THROUGH P- Capital Market Regulator, SEBI may not be aware of the NOTES? ownership of these Funds. • Ease of Trading since they are not required to be
registered with SEBI.
TAXATION/ GOVT. BUDGETING
it would send a strong signal to the market that the FISCAL COUNCIL- THE Government is committed to the path of Fiscal Discipline. One of the best ways to ensure such a fiscal consolidation post NEED OF THE HOUR economic recovery is through the setting up of Fiscal Council. #Taxation In this regard, this article focusses on the following dimensions:
1. What is Fiscal Council? 2. International Experience with Fiscal Council IN NEWS 3. Idea of Fiscal Council in India
The Government needs to borrow more amount of money in 4. What should be the role of Fiscal council in India? order to provide fiscal stimulus and revive the Indian Economy. 5. Do we really need a Fiscal Council? However, this would lead to increase in the Fiscal Deficit and 6. Way Forward Public Debt, which can have an adverse impact on the medium-term GDP growth rates of Indian Economy. Apart from BACKGROUND that, this can also lead to downgrade in India's Sovereign • The General Budget of the Government is based upon the Credit Ratings. Due to such fears, the Government has forecasts related to Revenue Collection and Expenditure of restrained from announcing higher Fiscal Stimulus measures. the Government for the upcoming financial year. Normally, In order to avoid this problem, some of the economists have it is found that the Government usually comes out with pointed out that the Government need not worry about Fiscal ambitious targets related to fiscal parameters such as Tax Stimulus measures to revive Indian Economy. However, such collection, reduction in Fiscal Deficit etc. fiscal stimulus measures should be accompanied by strong • However, the government fails to meet these ambitious Fiscal Consolidation roadmap after the economic recovery. targets wherein there is wide margin between the budget This would ensure that the higher Fiscal Deficit and Public Debt forecasts and actual targets met by the Government. do not have an adverse impact on Economy. At the same time, Hence, it is required to ensure that the Government sets realistic fiscal targets.
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• Further, in recent years, the Government has resorted to • According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), about Off-Budget financing in order to reduce its expenditure 50 countries around the world have established fiscal and to contain Fiscal Deficit. The CAG has raised concerns councils. with respect to off-budget financing since it understates IDEA OF FISCAL COUNCIL IN INDIA the Government's Fiscal deficit and reduces the accountability of the Government to the Parliament. • Keeping in view best international practices, the FRBM Review committee headed by N.K Singh and D.K. • Hence, there is a need to have Independent body to Srivastava Committee on Fiscal Statistics have ensure that the Government comes up with realistic proposed to set up independent Fiscal Council in India. targets related to Budget. At the same time, creation of such an Independent body would enhance Government's • The N.K Singh Review committee recommended that Fiscal Council should be an autonomous body, under the aegis accountability to the Parliament. of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic WHAT IS FISCAL COUNCIL? Affairs). A fiscal council is an independent and non-partisan agency • It is proposed that it should comprise of a Chairperson and which is set up to publicly assess the government’s fiscal two Members to be appointed by the Central Government. performances against its stated objectives. Fiscal Council can The persons to be appointed ought to have significant serve both ex ante and ex post functions. Some of the experience in public finance, economics or public affairs. functions that can be performed by Fiscal Council include: WHAT SHOULD BE THE ROLE OF FISCAL COUNCIL IN • Producing independent forecasts related to GDP growth, INDIA? tax buoyancy, inflation rate. • Fiscal Data Coordinator: As a fiscal data coordinator, the • Review the government’s forecasts and assumptions Fiscal Council will have the responsibility of compiling and related to tax collections, Fiscal Deficit, GDP Growth etc. collating centre, state, and local government fiscal data (an ex ante function). and provide individual and consolidated fiscal accounts of • Monitoring governments’ fiscal performance including the governments in India on a timely basis and make such adherence to fiscal rules (an ex post function). data accessible to governments and public. • Analysing the long-term sustainability of public finances • Fiscal Data Analyst: It should utilize the compiled fiscal INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH FISCAL COUNCIL data to provide valuable insights into the underlying fiscal trends and highlight their policy significance. • In recent years, an increasing number of advanced and some emerging economies are using independent fiscal • Fiscal Consolidation Path Monitor: The central as well as council in order to enhance the credibility of their fiscal state governments follow their respective fiscal rules. consolidation paths according to targets set under their FRBM Acts. The Fiscal Council should monitor the • International experience suggests that fiscal councils can compliance of these targets by the Central and State improve fiscal outcomes and accuracy related to Governments. It should highlight deviations in the targets government's forecasts related to fiscal parameters. For by publishing quarterly and annual reports. example, the United Kingdom created an Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) in 2010 and granted it statutory status • Fiscal Policy Advisor: Fiscal Council should provide in 2011 to provide independent analysis of the country’s guidance to the central and state governments on public finances. appropriate fiscal policy interventions aimed at improving growth and macro-stabilization outcomes. • On similar lines, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in USA supports the budget making process by providing Do we really need Fiscal Council? independent analyses of budgetary and economic issues. Arguments in Favour Arguments against Provide reliable and Realistic Formulation of FRBM act has Budgetary estimates leading not led to Fiscal Discipline or to strengthening of Fiscal enhanced accountability of
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Policy the Government to the institutional structure Parliament; Difficult to Experience of Developed assume that the Fiscal Council economies suggests that the would lead to strengthening setting of Fiscal Councils has of Fiscal Policy brought transformational Independent and expert Number of agencies such as changes assessment of the NSO, RBI etc. etc. are already WAY FORWARD government's fiscal stance, involved in forecasts of and thereby aid an informed Economic Indicators; setting Looking at the arguments and counterarguments, the debate in Parliament up of Fiscal Council would creation of Fiscal Council would indeed transform the budget lead to duplication of efforts making exercise. However, rather than setting up Fiscal and lead to unnecessary Council at one-go, we could start with small positive steps statistical noise when then can be scaled up based upon the positive Conduct an annual The Finance Ministry would experiences. Morever, starting with small steps rather than big-bang reforms would be part of our learning curve and independent and public be required to use the review of FRBM compliance; forecasts put forth by Fiscal enable us to do mid-course correction. Promote Fiscal Discipline Council; Using the Estimates As part of such a small step, the CAG should appoint a 3- of Fiscal Council would lead to member temporary committee a week before the Budget dilution of Finance Ministry's Presentation. The committee should have five-week duration accountability with a limited mandate of scrutinising the budget after it is While the Office of CAG would Creative Government presented to Parliament, look at the integrity of the numbers carry out Ex-post Budget accounting practices such as and place a report in the public domain. The CAG’s office Assessment; Fiscal Council Off Budget Financing can be should provide the secretarial and logistic support to the would carry out Ex-Ante countered through committee from within its resources. The Finance Ministry, Budget Assessment by strengthening office of CAG the RBI, the CSO and the Niti Aayog should each depute an providing realistic estimates rather than creating a new officer to serve in the secretariat.
GOVERNMENT
POLICIES/INTERVENTIONS
simplify, rationalize and amalgamate various labour laws into CODE ON WAGES four Labour Codes- Code on Wages; Industrial Relations; Social # Labour Reforms Security and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions.
After both the houses of Parliament, the President assented
the code in August 2019. IN NEWS Now, the Union Labour and Employment Ministry published Presently, there are around 44 central laws regulating different the draft rules framed for the implementation of the Code on aspects of labour such as resolution of industrial disputes, Wages Act, 2019. The Ministry has sought suggestions from the working conditions in factories, and wage and bonus public for a period of 45 days, based upon which the rules payments. In line with the recommendations of Second would be finalised. National Commission on Labour, the government aims to
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• Floor wage: According to the Code, the central NEED FOR THE CODE ON WAGES government will fix a floor wage, taking into account living standards of workers. Further, it may set different floor Minimum Wages Act, 1948 wages for different geographical areas. Provisions Problems The minimum wages decided by the central or state Centre and State required Did not automatically extend to bring different forms of to new forms of governments must be higher than the floor wage. In case employment under the act Employment. Did not cover the existing minimum wages fixed by the central or state Covered around 1900 l/3rd of India's workforce. governments are higher than the floor wage, they cannot Scheduled Employment reduce the minimum wages. Included workers in both Did not explicitly include vast • Fixing the minimum wage: The Code prohibits employers Organized sector and majority of workers in the from paying wages less than the minimum wages. certain categories of Unorganized Sector Minimum wages will be notified by the central or state workers in Unorganized governments. Sector While fixing minimum wages, the central or state Wages fixed based upon Low Level of Minimum wages governments may take into account factors such as: (i) skill the Subsistence of workers, and (ii) difficulty of work. Level/Poverty Lines • Overtime: The central or state government may fix the Minimum Wages varied Variation across across Employments, Employments Gender Bias number of hours that constitute a normal working day. In Within States and across Minimum wage for case employees work in excess of a normal working day, States. Security Guards (men) higher they will be entitled to overtime wage, which must be at than that of Domestic least twice the normal rate of wages. workers (Women) • Payment of wages: Wages will be paid in (i) coins, (ii) Variation within States currency notes, (iii) by cheque, (iv) by crediting to the bank Wage Disparities between account, or (v) through electronic mode. The wage period different forms of will be fixed by the employer as either: (i) daily, (ii) weekly, Employment. (iii) fortnightly, or (iv) monthly. Variation across States • Deductions: Under the Code, an employee’s wages may Region-wise Discrimination be deducted on certain grounds including: (i) fines, (ii) IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF THE CODE ON WAGES absence from duty, (iii) accommodation given by the • Objective: It seeks to regulate wage and bonus payments employer, or (iv) recovery of advances given to the in all employments where any industry, trade, business, or employee, among others. These deductions should not manufacture is carried out. The Code replaces the exceed 50% of the employee’s total wage.
following four laws: (i) the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, (ii) • Determination of bonus: All employees whose wages do the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, (iii) the Payment of Bonus not exceed a specific monthly amount, notified by the Act, 1965, and (iv) the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976. central or state government, will be entitled to an annual • Coverage: The Code will apply to all employees. The bonus. The bonus will be at least: (i) 8.33% of his wages, or central government will make wage-related decisions for (ii) Rs 100, whichever is higher. In addition, the employer employments such as railways, mines, and oil fields, will distribute a part of the gross profits amongst the among others. State governments will make decisions for employees. This will be distributed in proportion to the all other employments. annual wages of an employee. An employee can receive a maximum bonus of 20% of his annual wages.
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• Gender discrimination: The Code prohibits gender expected to reduce litigation and will entail at lesser cost of discrimination in matters related to wages and recruitment compliance for an employer. of employees for the same work or work of similar nature.
• Advisory boards: The central and state governments will NEED FOR INCLUSIVE constitute advisory boards. The Central Advisory Board will consist of: (i) employers, (ii) employees (in equal MIGRATION POLICY number as employers), (iii) independent persons, and (iv) # Inclusive Growth five representatives of state governments. State Advisory Boards will consist of employers, employees, and independent persons. Further, one-third of the total IN NEWS members on both the central and state Boards will be Historically, migration of people for work and education has women. The Boards will advise the respective been a phenomenon that has accompanied the structural governments on various issues including: (i) fixation of transformation of economies. It has paved the way for the minimum wages, and (ii) increasing employment release of “surplus labour” from relatively low-productive opportunities for women. agricultural activities to sectors enjoying higher productivity.
• Offences: The Code specifies penalties for offences In case of India, as highlighted by Economic Survey 2016-17, the committed by an employer, such as (i) paying less than the Internal Migration has acted as key enabler for promoting due wages, or (ii) for contravening any provision of the growth and development in India as well. However, the recent Code. Penalties vary depending on the nature of offence, economic distress caused due to COVID-19 has underscored the with the maximum penalty being imprisonment for three need for comprehensive and holistic policy to cater to the months along with a fine of up to one lakh rupees. migrant population.
HOW THE CODE ON WAGES WOULD BENEFIT? In this regard, FICCI has published a report titled as "
• Expansion in coverage of Employees: The Code Rehabilitation of Migrant Workers in India", wherein it has given proposes to do away with the concept of bringing specific number of suggestions and recommendations to the Government jobs under the Act by the Centre and states and mandates to alleviate the distress caused to the migrant workers. These that minimum wages be paid for all types of employment – suggestions/recommendations can be used in UPSC Mains in irrespective of whether they are in the organized or the Essay as well as GS Paper II and III) unorganized sector. INTERNAL MIGRATION IN INDIA • Introduction of National Minimum Wage: The Code The number of internal migrants in India was 450 million as introduces a national minimum wage which will be set by per the most recent 2011 census. This is an increase of 45% the central government. This will act as a floor for state over the 309 million recorded in 2001. This far exceeds the governments to set their respective minimum wages. population growth rate of 18% across 2001-2011. Further, the • Easier compliance of law: The Code introduces the Economic Survey 2016-17 has highlighted that the annual concept of a ‘facilitator’ who will carry out inspections and inter-state labour mobility averaged 5-6 million people also provide employers and workers with information on between 2001 and 2011. The benefits of this internal how to improve their compliance with the law. migration has enabled India to reap demographic dividend
• Further, there are 12 definitions of wages in the different optimally and at the same time promote Balanced regional Labour Laws leading to litigation besides difficulty in its growth and development. implementation. The definition has been simplified and is
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This acceleration in Internal migration has taken place in the and up-skill them on emerging job roles in respective backdrop of discouraging incentives such as domicile sectors provisions for working in different states, lack of portability of • Housing facility: The Government should provide benefits, legal and other entitlements upon relocation. To adequate incentive to the private sector for providing sustain this Internal migration post COVID-19, these policy Housing facility to the migrant workers. The proposal for hurdles have to be overcome. Portability of food security Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) for benefits, healthcare, and a basic social security framework for Migrant Workers under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana the migrant are quite crucial. (PMAY) as part of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package is a POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS step in the right direction. ►Immediate Measures • Review of provisions of Inter State Migrant Workmen act 1979: The Act was enacted to prevent the exploitation • Mandatory Registration for all workers: The Interstate of inter-state migrants by contractors and to ensure fair Migrant Workers Act stipulates registration of Migrant and decent conditions of employment. However, the workers. This needs to be enforced. Once a worker is current situation during COVID-19 has highlighted a registered in one State, it could be sufficient for movement significant gap between intentions of the act and its to any State in the Country. implementation and hence there is an immediate need of • Creation of Migration Support Centres (State/ District review of the Act. wise): Facilitate services like the creation of Ration Card, ►Long term Measures Banking, Gas Connections, Medical support any other welfare related information. Can also act as an Promotion of Sustainable Migration: There is a need to Employment Consultant. provide for livelihood opportunities in the residence states to check distress induced migration. This can be done through • Implementation of Apprenticeship: Expanding the following steps: Apprenticeships in the local industries can help migrants develop more skills. • Organising traditional rural Industries into clusters to enable them to reap economies of scale. • Social Security Policy Review: Urgent need for a robust Social Security Scheme for all the workers including daily • Enhancing marketability of the products of these wage labourers. Basic necessities such as health care & Industries by providing them with necessary support such insurance, old-age security, unemployment insurance, the as design for new products, improved packaging and minimum wage could be part of the scheme. improvement of marketing Infrastructure. • Skill Development Fund for Migrant Workers: A • Re-skill and Upskill the workers based upon the existing dedicated fund for skilling of migrant workers should be demands established in PPP Model. The fund can be used to re-skill • Encourage Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the rural areas.
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Focus on Development of Tier II and Tier III Cities: excipients would be the liquids that are used to formulate Presently, the Internal Migration within India is said to be the syrup. distorted since most of the migrants migrate to metropolitan • Currently, the APIs in the Indian market are mainly used cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru etc. On one hand, for the development of generic drugs. Some of the this puts huge pressure on these Cities to cater to the needs common APIs in the Indian API market are Clopidogrel of the migrants. While, on other hand, it leads to Bisulphate (treatment of blood clots), Atorvastatin (Reduce underdevelopment of Tier II and Tier III Cities. Hence, there is high cholesterol), Amoxycillin and Albendazole (treat a need to promote balanced Urbanisation by focussing on infections) etc. development of Tier II and Tier III Cities which can act as countermagnets to metropolitan cities. HIGHER IMPORT DEPENDENCE ON CHINA FOR APIs Before 1991, Indian Pharma Industry imported only 0.3% of its API requirements from China. However, presently, almost two-thirds of APIs are imported. In some of the specific APIs, PROMOTING SELF- the import dependence is as high as 80-100%. Main reasons RELIANCE IN for the increase in Imports include: • Imports from China work out to be cheaper and cost- effective. ( China is largest producer of APIs accounting for PHARMACEUTICAL 20% of world's production) • Uncertainty of price fluctuations from other producers SECTOR such as US, Italy etc. # Pharma • Lack of suitable policies and incentives to boost indigenous development and production of essential APIs within India. • Time consuming environmental clearances and Red- tapeism.
MAJOR CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES IN IN NEWS PRODUCTION OF APIS IN INDIA The Indian Pharmaceutical Industry is the third largest in the world in terms of volume and 14th largest in terms of Value. • Non-availability of raw materials, Chemicals and solvents The total revenue from Pharmaceutical products in 2018-19 needed for the manufacture of APIs. was $ 41 bn, including $ 20 bn worth exports. However, in • Currently, if APIs are manufactured in India, the cost would order to make our Pharmaceutical Industry self-reliant, there be 20% higher as compared to China is a need to reduce our dependence on the import of Active • Lower Profit margin in the manufacture of APIs. This is the Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) from China. In this regard, main reason as to why Indian Pharma companies are recently TIFAC has published a report which highlights various concentrating more on production of Finished constraints in manufacturing APIs in India and what needs to formulations rather than APIs. be done to make our Pharma Industry self-Reliant. • Inadequate Financial support to Indian companies for ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS (APIs) manufacture of APIs. • All drugs are made up of two core components – API INITIATIVES TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE (Central ingredient) and Excipient(Helps deliver the MANUFACTURE OF APIs medication). • Scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drugs: This scheme seeks • The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) is the part of to finance common infrastructure facilities in 3 mega Bulk any drug that produces the intended effects. Some drugs, Drug parks in partnership with States. Government of such as combination therapies, have multiple active India will give Grants-in-Aid to States with a maximum limit ingredients. The Excipients are chemically inactive of Rs. 1000 Crore per Bulk Drug Park. substances, such as lactose or mineral oil in the pill. For example, if the API is a solid and the drug is required to • Production Linked Incentive Scheme: Financial incentive have a liquid dosage form, such as a cough syrup, then the to eligible manufacturers of identified 53 critical bulk drugs
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on their incremental sales over the base year (2019-20) for • Early Stage Government R&D Support in form of fiscal a period of 6 years. incentives. • Champion Sectors: As part of Make in India, Government • Adoption of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and has identified 27 Champion sectors- 15 in Manufacturing Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) by the MSMEs. and 12 in Services. Apart from Pharmaceuticals, the 27 • Revitalise Public Sector Enterprises such as Hindustan champion sectors also include bio-technology, capital Antibiotics Ltd. goods, chemicals and petro-chemicals, electronics, leather
& footwear, food processing, gems and jewellery, railways, tourism, transport and logistics, accounting and financial services, education and legal services etc. INITIATIVES TO BOOST STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO BOOST MANUFACTURING OF APIs SOLAR POWER • Build a National Stockpile of APIs to ensure uninterrupted # Energy supply. • Creation of mega drug manufacturing clusters with common infrastructure facilities. IN NEWS • Drugs manufactured from indigenously manufactured The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the Rewa Ultra Mega APIs should be given preference in Government Solar Power project via video conference. In this regard, from procurements. the perspective of UPSC Prelims, let us look at some of the major • Increase the customs duty on the imported APIs in a initiatives taken by the Government to boost the Solar Power phased manner. generation. • Alternate markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia etc. needs The total Installed power capacity in India is around 3.7 lakh to be explored till the time India develops Indigenous MW. Out of this, Renewable energy (excluding large capability. Hydropower projects) account for almost 24%. Among various sources of Renewable energy, Wind Power accounts • Academia-Industry collaboration to boost the production for the highest share followed by Solar Power. of chemicals for manufacture of APIs.
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Top 3 States in Installed Wind Power (as on 31st Dec 2019) : Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra INCREASE IN ENROLMENT Top 3 States in Installed Solar Power (as on 31st Dec 2019) UNDER NPS : Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu # Social Security INITIATIVES TO BOOST SOLAR ENERGY
National Solar Mission IN NEWS Target: 100 GW of Solar Power by the end of 2022 The National Pension System (NPS) has recently released its Strategy: subscription numbers for the first quarter of 2020-21. The • Solar Park and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects: 40,000 scheme has seen 30% increase in the subscriber base during this period. The total number of subscribers presently stand at MW of Solar power through 50 Solar Parks (Capacity of 500 around 10.13 lakh in the age group of 18 to 65 years. MW and Above). Prelims 2017 Question: Who among the following can join • Grid-connected Roof Up Solar Programme: Target of the National Pension System (NPS)? 40,000 MW. Implemented through DISCOMs. (a) Resident Indian citizens only PM-KUSUM SCHEME (b) Persons of age from 21 to 55 only
• Setting up of 10,000 MW of Grid-Connected Solar and (c) All State Government employees joining the services Other Renewable energy plants on Barren/Uncultivable after the date of notification by the respective State Governments land--> Sell Power to DISCOMs and earn Income. (d) All Central Government employees including those of • Off-Grid Areas: Replacement of diesel agriculture pump Armed Forces joining the services on or after 1st April, sets with 20 lakh Solar Agriculture Pumps--> Reduce the 2004 dependence of farmers on diesel and meet their irrigation ABOUT NATIONAL PENSION SYSTEM needs. What is it? Pension cum investment scheme to provide old • Grid-connected Areas: Replacement of diesel agriculture age security to Citizens of India. Regulated by Pension Fund pump sets with 15 lakh Solar Agriculture Pumps--> Use the Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). generated solar power to meet the irrigation needs and Who can Join? Any individual citizen of India (both resident the excess solar power will be sold to DISCOMs. and Non-resident) in the age group of 18-65 years. DIFFERENT SECTORS: NATIONAL WIND-SOLAR HYBRID POLICY A. Government Sector Rationale: Superimposition of wind and solar resource maps 1) Central Government: The Central Government had shows that there are large areas where both wind and solar introduced the National Pension System (NPS) with effect have high to moderate potential. The existing wind farms from January 1, 2004 (except for armed forces). All the have scope of adding solar PV capacity and similarly there employees of Central Autonomous Bodies (CABs) who may be wind potential in the vicinity of existing solar PV plant. have joined on or after the above-mentioned date are also mandatorily covered. Central Government/CABs Strategy: Hybrid System--> Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) employee contributes towards pension from monthly and Solar PV systems can operate on same land. However, salary along with matching contribution from the for being considered as Hybrid system, the Installed capacity employer. of at least one of them should be minimum 25%. 2) State Government: Even State Governments have adopted this architecture.
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B. Private Sector (Non-Government Sector): Conditions: 1) Corporates 1. Available only for a period of 5 years. 2) All Citizens of India: Any individual not being covered by 2. Subscribers should not be Income tax payers any of the above sectors has been allowed to join NPS Ministry: Ministry of Finance from 2009 onwards.
PENSION SCHEMES FOR THE UNORGANISED SECTOR Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan RAISE PROGRAM What is it? : Voluntary and contributory pension scheme--> 50:50 contribution by subscriber and central Government. # Energy Eligibility: Unorganised Workers--> Less than Rs 15,000 monthly salary and in age group 18-40 years. Minimum Assured Pension: Rs 3000/- per month after IN NEWS attaining the age of 60 years. The Ministry of Power has recently launched Retrofit of Air- Family Pension: Death of Subscriber --> 50% of the pension conditioning to improve Indoor Air Quality for Safety and to the spouse Efficiency” (RAISE) national programme with the twin objective Contribution by Subscriber: Depends upon age of entry. of enhancing Energy Efficiency and Improving Indoor quality. Ministry: Labour and Employment ABOUT RAISE PROGRAM ATAL PENSION YOJANA • Air conditioners are anticipated to consume 45 percent of What is it?: Guaranteed pension of Rs.1000 to Rs.5000 Indian households’ power demand by 2050, increasing (depending upon contribution) receivable at the age of 60 expenditure for consumers and contributing to global years. warming. At the same, Poor air quality has been a concern in India for quite some time. Eligibility: Primarily focussed on Unorganised workers ( But any Indian Citizen in the age-group 18 to 40 years can join • Hence, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has through their savings bank account or post office savings launched “Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor air bank account) quality for Safety and Efficiency”.
Government Contribution: 50% of total prescribed • It is launched in partnership with USAID's MAITREE contribution up to Rs 1000 per annum. Program.
AGRICULTURE
BOOSTING AGRI- IN NEWS One of the Terms of Reference of the 15th Finance Commission EXPORTS: A TOOL TO is to recommend performance incentives for the States to encourage agri-exports and to promote crops to enable high DOUBLE FARMERS’ import substitution. In this regard, the 15th Finance Commission had earlier INCOME appointed a High-level Expert Group (HLEG). After intensive # Agriculture research and consultations, the HLEG has recently made its recommendations.
In this regard, we will focus on the following dimensions:
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1. Need for Boosting Agri-exports • Double agricultural exports from present ~US$ 30+ Billion 2. Present Status of Agri-Exports to ~US$ 60+ Billion by 2022 and reach US$ 100 Billion in the next few years. 3. Agricultural Exports Policy 2018 • Diversify our export basket, destinations and boost high 4. Constraints in boosting Agri-exports value- and value-added agricultural exports including focus 5. Suggestions/ Recommendations to boost exports on perishables.
NEED FOR BOOSTING AGRI-EXPORTS • Promote novel, indigenous, organic, ethnic, traditional and The Government has come up with the vision of Doubling non-traditional Agri products exports. Farmers' income by the end of 2022. To help realise this • Provide an institutional mechanism for pursuing market vision, we need to provide expanded Market access to our access, tackling barriers and deal with sanitary and farmers. In this regard, the agriculture exports policy, 2018 phytosanitary issues. had emphasized on "Bake in India" i.e. a renewed focus on • Strive to double India’s share in world Agri-exports by value addition and on processed agricultural products. integrating with global value chain at the earliest. CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES The reasons for poor export performance can be understood in terms of Supply and Demand side challenges:
PRESENT STATUS OF AGRI-EXPORTS
Since LPG reforms in 1991, India has remained consistently a net exporter of Agri-products, touching almost Rs 2.7 lakh crore exports in 2018-19. However, there are number of problems:
1. Lower share of Global Exports: In spite of being one of the largest producers of Food grains, Fruits and vegetables, India's share in global export of Agri- commodities stand at merely 2% (9th Rank). The exports are much lower than countries such as Thailand and Indonesia which have much smaller agricultural land.
2. Lack of Diversified Export basket: India's export basket is basically dominated by Basmati Rice and Marine Products. • Supply-side:
3. Low Value addition: Majority of its exports are low value, o Lack of stable and reliable export policy. More focus on raw or semi-processed. price stabilization and food security and not on exports. These problems with our Agri-exports have not only affected For example, in order to control Inflation, Government export earnings, but also affected farmers due to lower prices imposes measures such as ad-hoc ban or imposition of in the domestic market. Minimum Export Price (MEP) on agricultural commodities. This breaks export supply chains and affects India’s image AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS POLICY 2018 as a reliable supplier of agricultural commodities. Hence, Broad Objectives and Targets of this Policy Include: export restrictions/bans should be resorted to only in the rarest circumstances
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Economic Development o Lack of Market Intelligence related to consumer • Funding through convergence of existing schemes, Finance preference in export markets. For example, higher Commission allocation and private sector investment.
sweetness in Indian mangoes is not necessarily in demand in many countries. o Identification Challenges: Absence of state level export AGRICULTURE data precludes us from identifying potential export clusters within a state to provide suitable incentives. INFRASTRUCTURE FUND o Lack of aggregation of low marketable surplus due to # Agriculture significant variation in terms of varieties cultivated. o Training and Skill Development: Unregulated chemicals usage; Inadequate post-harvest management; Lack of IN NEWS awareness leading to rejection of Indian Products in overseas market. As part of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package, the Finance Minister had announced 11 measures specific to Indian Agriculture. Fragmented and restrictive APMC regime o One of the most important measure was related to setting up o Poor Infrastructure and Logistics makes Indian products of Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure Fund to improve the uncompetitive. overall marketing Infrastructure. In this regard, the Union o Lack of coordination among multiple agencies involved in Cabinet has recently given its approval for new Central Sector export of Agri-commodities such as Ministry of Agriculture, Scheme-Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to provide a medium - Commerce Ministry, FSSAI etc. long term debt financing facility.
• Demand-side: DETAILS o High import duties and Quota limits in export markets. • The Government has unveiled Rs 1 lakh crore worth Agri Infrastructure Fund to improve the farm-gate o Indiscriminate application of sanitary and phytosanitary infrastructure such as collection centres, storage, cold measures by other countries against Indian products. For chain infrastructure etc. This fund would provide example, basmati and non-basmati rice exports to the US necessary funding support to Primary Agricultural have been rejected multiple times on the grounds of low Cooperative Societies, Farmers Producer Organizations, hygiene standards. Similarly, the issue of pesticides Agriculture entrepreneurs, Start-ups, etc. to invest in post- residues is frequently raised by the EU and Japan. harvest management infrastructure. o Surge in agricultural imports after signing of FTAs. • All loans under this financing facility will have interest RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HIGH-LEVEL EXPERT subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. 2 GROUP (HLEG) TO BOOST EXPORTS crores. Further, credit guarantee coverage will be available • State-led Export Plan - a business plan for a crop value for eligible borrowers from this financing facility under chain cluster. Plans should be collaboratively prepared Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small with private sector players and Commodity Boards. Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for a loan up to Rs. 2 crores. • Focus on 22 crop value chains through a demand driven The fee for this coverage will be paid by the Government. approach. In case of FPOs the credit guarantee may be availed from the facility created under FPO promotion scheme of • Private sector should play an anchor role in driving Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers outcomes and execution. Welfare (DACFW). • Centre should be an enabler. Centre should enable state- • The duration of the Scheme shall be from FY2020 to led plans FY2029 (10 years). • Robust institutional mechanism to fund and support implementation.
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Economic Development External Sector
the customs duty is eliminated. Normally, the FTAs cover STAGES OF TRADE trade in goods or trade in services. FTAs can also cover INTEGRATION other areas such as intellectual property rights (IPRs), investment, government procurement and competition # External Sector policy, etc. Further, under FTA, Early Harvest Phase is considered as a precursor to the implementation of full-
fledged FTA. During this phase, the countries may decide IN NEWS to reduce the customs duties in a phased manner. India and UK have recently held the virtual meeting of the 14th Example: India-ASEAN FTA in Goods Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting. During this 3. Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement interaction, both the countries have affirmed their (CECA)/Comprehensive Economic Partnership commitment to signing of Free Trade Agreement. This article is Agreement (CEPA): These terms describe agreements a news in transition since the negotiations have not been which consist of an integrated package on goods, services launched officially. Let us understand some important aspects and investment along with other areas including IPR, of FTA, which would be important from the Prelims competition etc. The India-Japan CEPA is one such example perspective. and it covers a broad range of other areas like trade UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF TRADE facilitation and customs cooperation, investment, INTEGRATION competition, IPR etc.
Trade integration refers to the mechanism in which there is 4. Custom Union: In a Customs union, member countries free movement of goods, services, investment and people may decide to trade at zero duty among themselves, across the countries. Such trade integration may take place however they maintain common customs duty against rest through multiple phases whereby the economies of the of the world. An example is Southern African Customs countries get integrated. Union (SACU) amongst South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland. 1. Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA): It is agreement whereby the countries may decide to reduce the customs 5. Common Market: Integration provided by a Common duty on commonly agreed goods. Usually, the list of goods market is one step deeper than that by a Customs Union. on which the customs duty is to be reduced is part of A common market is a Customs Union with provisions to Positive List. In general PTAs do not cover substantially all facilitate free movements of labour and capital.
trade. Example: India- Afghanistan PTA (2003) 6. Economic Union: Economic Union is a Common Market 2. Free Trade Agreement (FTA): It is a bilateral agreement extended through further harmonization of whereby the countries may decide to reduce or eliminate fiscal/monetary policies and shared executive, judicial and the customs duty on commonly agreed goods. Usually, legislative institutions among the member countries. the list of goods on which the customs duty would not be European Union (EU) is an example. reduced is part of Negative list and on all other goods
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Economic Development
INDIA AND FREE-TRADE AGREEMENTS
practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Two Countries have signed a Free Trade Agreement 2. Karnataka is top ranked state in terms of Installed (FTA). Later, they decided to adopt common capacity of both Solar and Wind Power. customs duty and facilitate free movement of Which of the statements given above is/are correct? labour and Capital. What would you call the next (a) 1 only (b) 2 only stage of Trade Integration? (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
(CECA) Q3. Consider the following statements related to Real (b) Customs Union rate of Interest in an Economy: (c) Common Market 1. The Increase in Rate of Inflation would lead to decrease (d) Economic Union in Real Rate of Interest. 2. Negative Real Interest Rates discourages savings with Q2. Consider the following statements related to the Banks. current scenario about Renewable Energy in India: Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1. The total share of Renewable Energy (excluding Large (a) 1 only (b) 2 only Hydro power) in the total Installed Capacity is less than (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 20%.
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Economic Development
Q4. With reference to PM Shram Yogi Mandhan Scheme, consider the following statements: Q5. With which among the following countries has 1. It provides for monthly pension of Rs 3,000 per month India signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA)? to the unorganized workers after attaining age of 60 1. Malaysia 2. Singapore years. 3. Japan 4. South Korea 2. It is implemented by Ministry of Finance. Select the correct answer using the code given below: Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
descriptive Questions
Q1. The push for India's integration into Global Value Chains (GVCs) has potential to bring about structural transformation of Indian Economy and reap multiple benefits. Discuss (250 Words)
Q2. The solution to improve the efficiency of the PSBs is not privatisation, rather a complete overhaul of the Governance framework. Discuss (250 Words)
Answers to above MCQs: 1 (c), 2 (d), 3 (c), 4(a), 5(d)
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SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE # GS Paper I & GS Paper II (Main)
SUSTAINABLE N NEWS Annual report tracks the performance of all UN Member States DEVELOPMENT REPORT on the 17 SDGs, measuring the distance remaining to achieve each target. 2020 report is focusing on SDG & Covid-19 and 2020 includes SDG Index that presents progress towards each SDG since 2015. # SDG
KEY HIGHLIGHTS • Immediate relief to goals due to COVID 19: SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production); SDG 13 • World had seen most rapid progress towards: SDG 1 (No (climate action); SDG 14 (life below water); SDG 15 (life on Poverty), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), land). However, these gains will be short-term. and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) • COVID-19 had negatively affected several goals: SDG 1; SDG INDEX SDG 2 (zero hunger); SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing); o India ranked at 117 (of 166) ranking below Pakistan and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth); SDG 1O Afghanistan. Sweden topped the ranking. (reduced inequalities). o India faces major challenges in 10 of the 17 SDGs which include - SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 5 (gender inequality) etc.
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Society and Social Justice
• Suggestion: Increased international collaboration on o The economic disruptions and income-loss because of the dissemination of the best practices rapidly, addressing Covid-19 pandemic are likely to increase violence against hunger hotspots, ensuring social protection etc. girls and women due to intensified unwantedness of daughters and gender discrimination.
o The Covid-19 pandemic threatens to reverse the progress made in ending some harmful practices 2020 STATE OF WORLD worldwide. o In India, Covid-19 has reduced access to contraception and POPULATION REPORT abortion services, which is likely to lead to an increase in # Population # Report unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions. INDIA SPECIFIC DATA • One in three girls missing globally due to sex selection, IN NEWS both pre- and post-natal, is from India, i.e. 46 million out of the total 142 million. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has released the State of the World Population 2020 report, titled ‘Against my • India has the highest rate of excess female deaths at 13.5 will: defying the practices that harm women and girls and per 1,000 female births or one in nine deaths of females undermine equality’. below the age of 5 due to postnatal sex selection. KEY HIGHLIGHTS • In India, around 460,000 girls went missing at birth, which means they were not born due to sex-selection biases, • Harmful practices: Report identifies 19 harmful practices each year between 2013 and 2017. against women, out of which 3 are most widespread and persistent: female genital mutilation (FGM), child • India (40%) along with China (50%) account for around 90% marriage and son preference. of the estimated 1.2 million girls lost annually to female foeticide. • Globally, one in five girls is married by age 18. SUGGESTIONS • In India, child marriage is directly linked to poverty, poor education and geographic location rural versus urban and • Tackle the root causes, especially gender-biased norms. gender-based sex selection as emerged as a problem • People must foster respect for women and girls, by among affluent families. changing attitudes and practices that commoditize them. • Missing girls: Preference for sons and gender-biased sex • Estimating funding needs and tracking financial flows for selection have led to over 142 million girls missing globally. sexual and reproductive health services. o In India, 46 million girls are missing i.e. they were not born • People must protect women and girls by enforcing laws due to imbalances at birth as a result of gender-biased against practices like child marriage and female mutilation (prenatal) sex selection biases. and also by changing attitudes and norms. o 1.2 million girls lost annually to female foeticide. • Countries that have ratified international treaties such as • Marriage squeeze: It happens when prospective grooms the Convention on the Rights of the Child, have a duty to far outnumber prospective brides, which further results end the harm, whether it’s inflicted on girls by family in human trafficking for marriage as well as child members, religious communities, health-care providers, marriages. commercial enterprises or State institutions themselves. o These skewed numbers change the population UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND proportions and result in ‘marriage squeeze’. Sex selection • It is a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly and biases result in fewer choices for females and putting works as a sexual and reproductive health agency. them under the sexual, economic and legal control of • It was established as a trust fund in 1967 and began men, curbing their human rights. operations in 1969. IMPACT OF COVID
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Society and Social Justice
• In 1987, it was officially renamed the United Nations KEY HIGHLIGHTS Population Fund but the original abbreviation, ‘UNFPA’ for • Across 107 developing countries, 1.3 billion people live in the United Nations Fund for Population Activities was multidimensional poverty. Of these, half are under age of retained. 18. • The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) establishes • About 84.3% of multidimensionally poor people live in its mandate. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. • UNFPA is not supported by the UN budget, instead, it is • Largest reduction in multidimensional poverty was in entirely supported by voluntary contributions of donor India, where approximately 273 million people moved out governments, intergovernmental organizations, the private of multidimensional poverty between 2005/2006- sector, foundations and individuals. 2015/2016. India also halved it MPI value in this period. • UNFPA works directly to tackle Sustainable Development • However, 37.7 crore people lived under multidimensional Goals on health (SDG3), education (SDG4) and gender poverty as of 2018. equality (SDG5). • Proportion of people who are multidimensionally poor is
higher in rural areas than in urban areas. • There is a strong positive association between 2020 GLOBAL employment in agriculture and multidimensional poverty. MULTIDIMENSIONAL • COVID-19 affected two indicators of MPI severely: nutrition and children's school attendance. Progress in POVERTY INDEX tackling multidimensional poverty is at risk. # Index
STARS PROGRAM IN NEWS # Education It is released by United Nations Development Programme and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. MPI examines each person's deprivations across 10 indicators IN NEWS in three equally weighted dimensions- health, education and The World Bank recently approved a $500 million Strengthening standard of living Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS) to MPI - with its information on both the level and composition of improve the quality and governance of school education in six poverty - provides the data needed to pinpoint where and how Indian states. poverty manifests itself. • It is said that some 250 million students (between the age of 6 and 17) in 1.5 million schools, and over 10 million teachers will benefit from the program.
• The states include Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• The STARS program builds on the long partnership between India and the World Bank (since 1994), for strengthening public school education.
• At the national level, through the Samagra Shiksha, and in partnership with the states of Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and
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Society and Social Justice
Rajasthan, STARS will also help improve learning • Research and innovation funding: China (2.10%) and India assessment systems; strengthen classroom instruction (0.69%). and remediation; facilitate school-to-work transition; and strengthen governance and decentralized management. • In line with the Sustainable Development Goal for NASHA MUKT BHARAT education (SDG 4), the program will help produce better data on learning levels by improving the National # Action Achievement Survey (NAS). India’s participation in PISA is a
historic strategic decision by the Government of India to obtain data on how India’s learning levels compare IN NEWS globally. STARS will assist India in this major step forward. An Annual Action Plan (2020-21) for Nasha Mukt Bharat was launched by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment • India has successfully achieved gender parity in enrolment (MoSJE) on World Drug Day. MoSJE is nodal agency for Drug in primary education. However, for many children, Demand Reduction In India. secondary education is the stage when they leave school ANNUAL ACTION PLAN and enter the workforce. Under STARS, each state is • expected to not only stabilize this downward trend but It focuses on 272 most affected districts. also improve the completion rate for secondary • Three pronged attack will be launched combining efforts education. of Narcotics Bureau, Outreach/Awareness by Social Justice and Treatment through Health Department. • STARS will support the Government of India’s vision to • Components of Action Plan: provide greater flexibility to states for school education Awareness generation; planning and budgeting. This will help states’ implement o evidence-based planning to factor in the needs of the most o Focus on Higher Educational institutions; deprived, strengthen accountability at all levels, and o Community outreach and identification of dependent thereby adopt a holistic approach to improve education population;
outcomes. o Focus on Treatment facilities in Hospital; Capacity Building for Service Provider.
RELATED INFORMATION EDUCATION PARAMETERS United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime also released World Drug Report 2020. Report provides # Education Information and analysis to support the international community on drug policies Issues.
KEY HIGHLIGHT OF REPORT IN NEWS • Effects of COVID-19: COVID-19 could result In reductions The Ministry of Human Resource Development has highlighted in drug-related budgets of the governments; overall the gap between India and China across several education- increase in drug use, with a shift towards cheaper and related parameters: more harmful drugs • Gross enrolment ratio in higher education in 2018: China • In 2018, estimated 269 million drug users (50.6) and India (28.06). represented 5.3% of global population aged 15-64. • Researchers per lakh population: China (111) and India • Drug use is higher in urban areas than in rural areas and (15) is more widespread in developed countries than in • Patents filed: China (13,81,583) and India (46,582). developing countries.
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Society and Social Justice
• MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of paid employment to RURAL HEALTH CARE every rural household in India regardless of eligibility criteria. SURVEY • Employment must be provided within 15 days of being # Health demanded failing which an 'unemployment allowance' must be given. • However, those exceeding this quota are not eligible for KEY FINDINGS further benefits under MGNREGA for the rest of the year. • Delivery of primary health care in rural India SUGGESTIONS includes few qualified providers with an MBBS degree (8%), non-MBBS providers Including AYUSH providers • Include COVID-19 in disaster list of MGNREGA: (24%) and with other or no medical qualifications (68%). MGNREGA already contains a provision for districts Private sector accounts for 86% of health care providers. affected by drought or other natural disaster to request an • For majority of rural households ,informal providers are expansion of the scheme to allow for 150 days of work per the only option that is locally available. household. • There is variation In quality across states and • Limit should be on individual rather than household. within states. With better socio economic status, quality • Expand the work area: Include MGNREGA workers for of informal providers increases. E.g. medical knowledge of other schemes. Recently, government notified that informal providers In Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Is higher than that of fully trained doctors in Bihar and Uttar unskilled workers can now participate in the construction Pradesh. of community sanitary complexes under Swachh Bharat scheme. • There is no correlation between average local availability of healthcare providers and state health indicator such as • Merging MGNREGA with skill development programmes child mortality. and using its funds to provide a wage subsidy for small Findings are in line with World Health Organization's 2016 and medium-size enterprises in urban areas. report on 'The Health Workforce in India, which had also found that 57.3% of people practicing allopathic medicine in India did not have a medical qualification. Also according to Indian Medical Association that there are more than 10 lakh WB: INDIAN HEALTH CARE such quacks operating In India. UNDERFUNDED,DELIVERY
POOR ANNUAL MGNREGA # Report WORK LIMIT # Scheme IN NEWS World Bank Report was submitted to Fifteenth Finance IN NEWS Commission which has planned to devote a chapter on Health Financing for the first time. Due to COVID-19 crisis and return of migrants in rural areas, demand of work under MGNREGA has shot up. As a result, HEALTHCARE FINANCING many households have already completed their quota of 100 • Low Public Health expenditure: It has remained constant days of work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural at approximately 1.3% of the GDP. This is less than the Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in first three months world average of 6%. National Health Policy, 2017 of the year. proposes to increase this to 2.5% of GDP by 2025.
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Society and Social Justice
• Of the total public expenditure, Centre's share is 25%. The STEPS TAKEN Centre spends less as public health and sanitation are • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, including nation-wide awareness State subjects. and advocacy campaign. • In FY20, the per capita capital expenditure on health was • Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques less than Rs.200 per person, with 12 states spending (PCPNDT) Act 1994. under 1% of GSDP on healthcare. • Sukanya Samriddhi Account: small deposit scheme for the ISSUES DUE TO LOW HEALTH SPENDING girl child with a higher interest.
• High out of pocket expenditure (OoPE): OoPE are the payments made directly by individuals which are not covered under any financial protection scheme. DRAFT TRANSGENDER Approximately 70% of total health expenditure is borne by consumers. PERSONS (PROTECTION • World Bank identified weakness in service delivery, high variation in quality of care and inadequate attention to OF RIGHTS) RULES, 2020 urban health systems as prominent issues. # Empowerment
INDIA'S SEX RATIO AT IN NEWS BIRTH (SRB) IMPROVES Recently, Draft Rules were published under Transgender # Empowerment Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. • Overall, the Act aims to end discrimination against transgender persons in accessing education, employment and healthcare. • As per Sample Registration System (SRS), in 2016-2018 period, 1,112 male kids were born per 1,000 female births • According to 2011 Census, Transgender population was in India. This was 1,116 during 2015-2011. around 4.88 lakh. o SRS is demographic survey for providing annual estimates KEY POINTS IN DRAFT RULES of various indicator (birth rate etc.) conducted by • District Magistrate would issue a transgender identity Office of the Registrar General and Census certificate and card based on an affidavit by the applicant, Commissioner. but without any medical examination. o While Kerala and West Bengal have shown improvement, • Removed previous draft's provision to penalize false Bihar (mostly rural) and Delhi (almost fully urban) have declaration to obtain certificate of identity. shown deterioration in SRB. • Government is required to take adequate steps to • This is better than China (1,126) and Vietnam (1,118). "prohibit discrimination in any government or private However, this is worse than naturally occurring ratio organisation or establishment, including in the areas of between 1,030 and 1,050, and global average of 1,068. education, employment, etc. • Human births are naturally male biased at 51.30% of total • Educational institutions to have a committee which births during any period due to more gestational risk of transgender persons can approach. female foetuses. • Makes states responsible for "timely prosecution of REASONS FOR POOR SRB individuals" charged under Section 18 of the Act (dealing Meta-preference for sons, Declining fertility rates linked to with offences against the transgender community). driving up the rate of sex-selective abortions.
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Society and Social Justice
• State governments have to set up Transgender Protection made up 20% of the workforce before COVID-19; but Cell to monitor cases of offences against transgender unemployment surveys suggest that they actually account for persons. 23% of the overall job losses. • Provides for review of all existing educational, social REASONS security, health schemes, welfare measures etc. to • Gendered nature of work across industries explains one- include transgender persons. fourth of the difference between job-loss rates for men • Mandatory for all establishments, public and private, to and women. Women have 54% of global jobs in among have equal opportunity policies to include transgender worst affected accommodations and food service. persons. • Lack of systemic progress to resolve other societal barriers for women explains the rest. It includes burden of unpaid care, impact on female entrepreneurship, including LOSS OF JOBS FOR women-owned microenterprises etc. • Attitudes also shape how women experience economic WOMEN DUE TO COVID-19 consequences of a crisis relative to men. According to # Employment #Inclusion #EmpowermenT global World Values Survey more than half the respondents in South Asian countries agreed that men have more right to a job than women when jobs are scarce. IN NEWS Measures suggested: Interventions to address unpaid child A report by McKinsey & Co finds that female job-loss rates care, Interventions to address digital and financial inclusion, resulting from COVID-19 are about 1.8 times higher than male Interventions to address attitudinal biases. job-loss rates in India and United States. In India, women
practice questions
descriptive Questions
Q1. Women always face unequal burden in society. Discuss this in the context of severe burden women are facing in the wake of COVID-19.
Q2. Poverty is not only about lack of money but also a lack of most basic amenities to lead a life with dignity. Comment.
Q3. What is the extent of prevalence of drug addiction in India? What are its harmful impact? Discuss the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction.
Q4. "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being". What are the emerging trends in mental health issues in India. What is India's policy and administrative preparedness in this regard?
Q5. Discuss the recent measures taken by the government to address the vulnerabilities of the transgenders community.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY # GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)
SALINITY GRADIENT ENERGY # Energy #TechnologY
SALINITY GRADIENT ENERGY
• Salinity gradient power is the energy created from the difference in salt concentration between two fluids, commonly fresh and salt water, e.g., when a river flows into the sea. There are two technologies for which demonstration projects are running and both use membranes.
1. Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) uses a membrane to separate a concentrated salt solution (like sea water) from freshwater. The freshwater flows through a semipermeable membrane towards the sea water, which increases the pressure within the seawater chamber. A turbine is spun as the pressure is compensated and electricity is generated. 2. Reversed Electro Dialysis (RED) uses the transport of (salt) ions through membranes. RED consists of a stack of alternating cathode and anode exchanging perm selective membranes. The compartments between the membranes are alternately filled with sea water and freshwater. The INTERNET OF THINGS salinity gradient difference is the driving force in #Technology transporting ions that results in an electric potential, which is then converted to electricity. • Two main applications exist: as standalone plants in IN NEWS estuaries where freshwater rivers run into the sea; and as The proposed new Secretariat complex in Telangana will see hybrid energy generation processes recovering energy the full play of Internet of Things (IoT) going by the assertion of from high salinity waste streams. his could be for example, architects roped in for the prestigious project. The interiors as brine from desalination or salt mining, as well as waste well as the exteriors of the new complex are being designed in water treatment plants. A possible third application is a futuristic way with thermal sensitive and voice-controlled salinity gradient technologies applied to land based lighting. The lights would switch on automatically as one walks saltwater lakes or other types of salt water reserves. in and would be switched off as one walks out because of the thermal sensors.
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Science & Technology
INTERNET OF THINGS • Supply chain: By placing RFID tags on individual products, the exact location of single items in a large warehouse can • The Internet of things (IoT) is the extension of Internet be shared, thus saving search time, streamlining connectivity into physical devices and everyday objects. infrastructure, and lowering labour costs. • Embedded with electronics, Internet connectivity, and other hardware like sensors, these devices can communicate and interact with others over the Internet, and they can be remotely monitored and controlled by PULSE OXIMETER computers and smart phone. #Health #Technology APPLICATIONS OF INTERNET OF THINGS:
IN NEWS
People with COVID-19 often need oxygenation support, so this tool which was a staple for many doctors, has become something of a necessity for the layperson as people are buying it in large numbers. PULSE OXIMETER
• A pulse oximeter is a small, lightweight device used to monitor the amount of oxygen carried in the body.
• This non-invasive tool attaches painlessly to your fingertip
• Smart cities: Cellular communication enabled Smart • Once the oximeter finishes its assessment, its screen will municipal bins will send alerts to municipal services when display the percent of oxygen in your blood coming from a bin needs to be emptied your heart—as well as your current pulse rate.
• Agriculture: Sensing for soil moisture and nutrients, controlling water usage for plant growth and determining custom fertilizer are some simple uses of IoT
• Energy utilization: Smart Grids will be able to detect sources of power outages, can automatically take inputs of solar panel, making possible distributed energy system
• Healthcare: Personalized analysis of an individual’s health and tailor-made strategies to combat illness will be possible. BLOOD OXYGEN SATURATION (SpO2) • Manufacturing: The IoT intelligent systems enable rapid manufacturing of new products, dynamic response to • Your SpO2 reading is an estimation of the amount of product demands, and real-time optimization of oxygen in your blood.
manufacturing production and supply chain networks, by • An SpO2 reading of 95% or greater is generally considered networking machinery, sensors and control systems to be a normal oxygen level. together. • However, an SpO2 reading of 92% or less (at sea level) • Environmental monitoring: to assist in environmental suggests that your blood is poorly saturated. protection by monitoring air or water quality, • Insufficient saturation can cause a range of adverse health atmospheric or soil conditions. It can even include areas conditions—including chest pain, shortness of breath and like monitoring the movements of wildlife and increased heart rate. their habitats
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Science & Technology
ACCEPTABLE RANGE OF OXYGEN IN THE BLOOD 19, experts agreed that the percentage was “high”, but differed on its interpretation. • Acceptable normal ranges for patients without pulmonary pathology are from 95 to 99 percent. WHAT IS SEROSURVEILLANCE?
• For a patient breathing room air at or near sea level, an • Serosurveillance provides estimates of antibody levels estimate of arterial pO2 can be made from the blood- against infectious diseases and is considered the gold oxygen monitor "saturation of peripheral oxygen" (SpO2) standard for measuring population immunity due to past reading. infection or vaccination. HOW PULSE OXIMETER WORKS? • Serosurveillance is in addition to the routine testing as per current testing guidelines - • A blood-oxygen monitor displays the percentage of blood that is loaded with oxygen. o To help determine the burden of infection at the community level • More specifically, it measures what percentage of haemoglobin, the protein in blood that carries oxygen, is o To monitor the trends in its transmission and help loaded. generate evidence on role of asymptomatic and mild infections in transmission. • Actual Mechanism o Check for community transmission in any part of the o A typical pulse oximeter uses an electronic processor and country. a pair of small light-emitting diodes (LEDs) facing a photodiode through a translucent part of the patient's • It is primarily used for evidence-based public health body, usually a fingertip or an earlobe. response. • It is an important component of disease surveillance and o One LED is red, with wavelength of 660 nm, and the other is infrared with a wavelength of 940 nm. complements notification, hospitalisation, mortality and immunisation coverage data. o Small beams of light pass through the blood in the finger, measuring the amount of oxygen. It does this by • This test is designed to look for the presence of measuring changes of light absorption in oxygenated or antibodies in a population deoxygenated blood. This is a painless process. The pulse o Unlike the real time RT-PCR (reverse transcription- oximeter will thus be able to tell you your oxygen polymerase chain reaction) tests or antigen tests that scan saturation levels along with your heart rate. for the presence of the coronavirus in the body, the sero- In general, a lower heart rate at rest implies more efficient prevalence survey was designed to look for the presence heart function and better cardiovascular fitness. For some of antibodies, produced in response to the coronavirus, in people, a pulse rate below 60 bpm indicates abnormally slow the blood. heart action, also known as bradycardia. Bradycardia can • According to health experts, because the actual virus goes cause a number of problematic symptoms—including away quickly, many of those infected show mild fainting, fatigue, chest pains and memory problems. symptoms.
• Antigen and PCR tests are often cumbersome to be widely deployed in the field and are not always the best way to SEROSURVEILLANCE estimate the spread of the virus. #Health SO, WHEN DO ANTIBODIES START TO APPEAR? On an average, antibodies can be detected five days after an infection sets in. The coronavirus, in general, diminishes after IN NEWS 21 days. Antibodies, for a host of other viral infections, are normally expected to linger for many months and confer With the results of the Delhi serological survey showing that protection against fresh infections by the same virus. 22.86% of residents have developed antibodies against COVID-
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Science & Technology
However, it is still too early in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to WHAT IS THE LINK WITH COVID-19? know how long the antibodies will last. • Children with Covid-19 are mostly asymptomatic or WHAT ARE THE MAIN FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY? develop mild symptoms.
• Nearly 22,000 samples were collected from 11 districts. It • It has been in rare cases that children with Covid-19 have emerged that on average, 23.48% of Delhi had been shown symptoms similar to those of Kawasaki disease, 2-3 exposed to the virus. weeks after getting infected with coronavirus.
• A large number of those infected were asymptomatic. • In India, too, the cases (including some children who tested negative for Covid-19) that have been coming up have HOW RELIABLE ARE SEROLOGY SURVEYS? shown some of the symptoms associated with Kawasaki • While it is routine in epidemiology to deploy antibody tests disease, but with some differences. to estimate the prevalence of a disease, the sheer speed of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the global nature of the WHAT HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS BEEN? disease have complicated the matter. Generally, they take Kawasaki typically affects children aged under five. In Covid- a while to develop and are tested in the field before being 19 cases, even adolescents are presenting these symptoms. deployed in large numbers. This is done to rule out errors While Kawasaki involves coronary changes, this has not been such as the test marking the wrong antibodies, or an the case with all Covid-19-positive children with Kawasaki-like inappropriate sample that does not represent a symptoms. The strawberry tongue may or may not be population being chosen. present in those with Covid-19. • However, in case of this particular pandemic, hinderances WHAT IS THE TREATMENT? came in early plan by the ICMR to use China-manufactured Steroids remain a key treatment to reduce inflammation. antibody kits in April and May to gauge infection spread. India is not yet maintaining any registry on Kawasaki-like disease or multisystem inflammatory syndrome to know how many children have it along with Covid-19. KAWASAKI DISEASE #Health CHOANOFLAGELLATES # Microorganism IN NEWS In India and elsewhere, a new illness, with some symptoms common with the rare Kawasaki disease, has been affecting CHOANOFLAGELLATES children with Covid-19. A look at the disorder, where it is like • The choanoflagellates are a group of free-living unicellular Kawasaki, and where it is not. and colonial flagellate eukaryotes considered to be the WHAT IS KAWASAKI DISEASE? closest living relatives of the animals.
• It affects children. Its symptoms include red eyes, rashes, • They help to reconstruct animal origins and elucidate core and a swollen tongue with reddened lips — often termed mechanisms underlying animal cell and developmental strawberry tongue — and an inflamed blood vessel biology.
system all over the body. • In the beginning, the environment of Earth was devoid of • There is constant high fever for at least five days. The oxygen. It was high in methane, was not fit for animal life.
disease also affects coronary functions in the heart. • At the same time, it could ‘host’ microorganisms which • The disease derives its name from a Japanese could cope with the incoming sunlight and use it to paediatrician, Tomisaku Kawasaki, who reported the first generate energy for living. This was around 3.4 billion case in 1961. What causes Kawasaki disease is not yet years ago. known.
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Science & Technology
• In the process, these microorganisms generated the IN NEWS gaseous waste product called oxygen. Solar Orbiter, a Sun-observing mission jointly organised by the • About 2 Byr, later the amount of oxygen on Earth became NASA and ESA, has sent down the first images of the Sun from an important component of the Earths’ surface, and a distance of about half the Earth-Sun distance. amenable for animal life. • This is the closest observation of the Sun so far, and it • Choanoflagellates are the closest living relatives of animals shows ‘campfire’ like structures that could be miniature that appeared nearly a billion years ago. solar flares.
• Over time, animal cells also evolved to produce increased • These formations could perhaps explain the Sun’s coronal amounts of molecules called reactive oxygen species heating. (ROS), which are involved in many essential cell activities • The spacecraft also will be the first to provide images of but toxic at high levels. the Sun’s poles. • In addition, more complexity necessitates a substantial • The mission will also study the magnetic increase in the genome size of the animal with environment around the Sun, which in turn will provide concomitant increase in all transactions in the cell: DNA, information about the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle and the genetic material in the cells of the various organs, their its periodic outpouring of solar storms. transcription of the information to messenger RNA • The mission will work in tandem with NASA’s Parker Solar (mRNAs), then translation of these into the amino acid Probe, which is currently orbiting the sun on a seven-year sequences that make individual proteins in the cells mission and just completed its fourth close approach of through what are called tRNAs — at least one per amino the star. acid.
• If a wrong interpretation of the genetic code at the protein OTHER IMPORTANT SOLAR MISSIONS level occurs, it will lead to functional disorders and even • NASA’s Parker Solar Probe diseases. o It is part of NASA’s “Living with a Star” programme that RELATED INFORMATION: GREAT OXIDATION EVENT explores different aspects of the Sun-Earth system.
• Refers to a series of chemical changes that geologists and o The probe seeks to gather information about the Sun’s geochemists have observed in rocks that are between 2.5 atmosphere and 2.3 billion years old. o The mission’s central aim is to trace how energy and heat • These changes were the result of oxygen given off by move through the Sun’s corona and to study the source of ancient cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Communities of the solar wind’s acceleration. this bacteria lived in shallow seawater and were preserved ADITYA-L1 in rocks as structures called stromatolites. o India’s first mission to study the Sun to be launched in • Stromatolite means ‘layered rock’. It is a rocky structure 2020. created by the activity of colonies of single-celled bacteria, Its main objective is to study the solar corona. mostly cyanobacteria. o Corona is the outermost region of the Sun’s atmosphere. • Oxygen first accumulated in Earth’s atmosphere at this o time and has been present ever since. o Interesting thing about Corona is it has high temperatures of more than 1-million-degree Kelvin far higher than the
surface of the Sun (6000 degrees Kelvin).
SOLAR ORBITER MISSION o The reason for this is still unknown and this is what Aditya L-1 will aim to understand. (NASA’s Parker probe is #Space currently exploring this aspect).
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Science & Technology
Illegal wildlife smuggling is an emerging threat to India’s PRESERVE SPECIES unique wildlife heritage. According to an NGO based in Guwahati, which works for the protection of Eastern DIVERSITY TO PREVENT Himalayan biodiversity, India shelters a number of vulnerable and threatened species. Body parts of animals including ZOONOTIC DISEASES pangolins, Asiatic black bears and rhinos are being traded illegally to countries such as China, Vietnam, and Laos. Another study has found that there was a significant increase Preserving Ecosystem integrity will restrict the transmission of in the poaching of wild animals in India even during the pathogens from one species to another lockdown. Species are being wiped out by organised trade INTRODUCTION networks, with new poaching techniques, for manufacturing traditional Chinese medicines. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted human life and the economy in an unprecedented way. Across countries, The IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and lockdowns have kept people indoors and provided Ecosystem Services shows that people extensively encroach opportunities for wild animals to roam around spaces they natural habitats; hence biodiversity is declining significantly. otherwise don’t venture into. Scientists believe that the loss By disturbing the delicate balance of nature, we have created of biodiversity, and wildlife trade, have strong linkages with ideal conditions for the spread of viruses from animals to the emergence of epidemics. The pandemic is an opportunity humans. We should realise that we live in a world where for the global community to explore the consequences of its biodiversity is our common heritage and natural capital. unscientific actions on nature and prepare for behavioural Way forward: We need to revisit our relationship with nature change. and rebuild an environmentally responsible world. Nations Loss of biodiversity: Dangerous infectious diseases (Ebola, should work towards realising the 2050 vision for Bird flu, MERS, SARS, Nipah, etc.) have been transferred biodiversity, ‘Living in Harmony with Nature’. We must follow from wild animals to humans. In order to clear land for a ‘one health’ approach which considers the health of people, agriculture and development, forests and habitats have been wild and domesticated animals, and the environment. We destroyed. In the process, we have lost several species. need to strictly regulate high-risk wildlife markets, promote Human-induced environmental changes reduce biodiversity green jobs and work towards achieving carbon-neutral resulting in new conditions that host vectors and/or economies. pathogens. In order to ensure that another crisis such as this does not It is not yet fully understood which species have contributed occur again, India should strictly enforce the Wildlife to the transmission of COVID-19 and how. However, (Protection) Act of 1972, which prohibits the trade of 1,800 according to experts, there is strong evidence that it spread species of wild animals/plants and their derivatives; the from a wildlife market in Wuhan, China. Two hypothesis Biological Diversity Act of 2002; strategies and action plans have been discussed: (a) the virus jumped from bats including the National Biodiversity Targets; and the National directly to humans; and (b) from bats to pangolins and Biodiversity Mission. The mainstreaming of biodiversity is then to humans. needed in our post-COVID-19 development programme. The over 2 lakh biodiversity management committees (local-level Apart from wildlife markets, illegal trade of wildlife is part statutory bodies formed under the Act) can play a significant of the growing problem. Trafficking in wild plants and animals role in this regard. Mass biodiversity literacy should be our and wildlife products has become one of the largest and mission. Ecosystem integrity will regulate diseases and most lucrative forms of organised crime. By deliberately restrict the transmission of pathogens from one species to pursuing and hunting certain species or by establishing another. monocultures, habitats and ecosystems are being damaged, fragmented or destroyed.
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Science & Technology
practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) technology is 3. It is an important component of disease surveillance associated with:- and complements notification, hospitalisation, (a) Wave Energy mortality and immunisation coverage data. (b) Tidal Energy Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct? (c) Thermal Gradient Energy (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (d) Salinity Gradient Energy (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All of the above
Q2. Consider the following statements: Q4. Consider the following statements: 1. The choanoflagellates are a group of free-living 1. Blood Oxygen Saturation reading of 92% or greater is unicellular. generally considered to be a normal oxygen level. 2. Choanoflagellates are the closest living relatives of 2. Blood Oxygen Saturation reading of 92% or less (at sea animals level) suggests that your blood is poorly saturated. Which of the above given statements is/are correct? Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to Q5. Consider the following statements:- Serosurveillance: 1. Kawasaki disease affects elderly population. 1. It provides estimates of antibody levels against 2. Its symptoms include red eyes, rashes, and a swollen infectious diseases. tongue with reddened lips. 2. It is primarily used for evidence-based public health Choose the correct statement/s from the code given below: response. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answers: 1-(d), 2-(c), 3-(d), 4-(b), 5-(b)
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Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management # GS Paper (Prelims) and GS Paper I & III (Main)
Lead Article
• Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is a planning tool to DRAFT EIA NOTIFICATION integrate the environmental concerns into developmental #Conservation processes right at the initial stage of planning and suggest necessary mitigation measures. • EIA essentially refers to the assessment of environmental
impacts likely to arise from a project. IN NEWS Who is the competent authority for notifying the EIA The government has come up with draft notification for a new notification and under which act the EIA notification is framework which will guide the future EIA’s. So before issued along with the provisions of the act? understanding the details about the notification, let us first • understand EIA and its legislative source. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is the nodal Ministry for notifying the EIA Notification WHAT IS ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT? under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (EPA) gives power to the Central Government to take all measures that it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing and controlling abating environmental pollution.
• To meet this objective, the Central Government can restrict areas in which any industry, operations or processes or class of industries, operations or processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried out subject to certain safeguards [Section 3 (2)(v)].
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Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
When was the first EIA notification issued? EIA CONCERNS HIGHLIGHTED ABOUT DRAFT EIA, 2020 Notification first time came into existence on 27th • It seeks to reduce or even remove public participation, and January, 1994 requiring prior environmental clearance for 29 by extension independent expert opinion, from the categories of projects/processes listed there under. It was process of granting environmental clearances to various subsequently made applicable to 32 categories. projects. When was the present EIA notification issued? The • Public reporting of environmental violations may also not present EIA Notification was issued on 14th September, 2006. be taken cognisance of by the authorities. What are the developmental activities requiring • Projects not needing Environment Clearance or environmental clearance under the EIA notification, Permission - Section 26 of the draft provides for 40 2006? All new projects or activities listed in the Schedule to projects which will not require Environment Clearance or this notification; expansion and modernization of existing Permission from authorities. Some of the exempted projects or activities listed in the Schedule to this notification activities include with addition of capacity beyond the limits specified for the Dredging and de-silting of dams, reservoirs, weirs, concerned sector, that is, projects or activities which cross the o barrages, river, and canals for the purpose of their threshold limits given in the Schedule, after expansion or maintenance. modernization; any change in product – mix in an existing manufacturing unit included in Schedule beyond the o Coal and non-coal mineral prospecting specified range. o Seismic surveys which are part of exploration surveys for So what are the changes which have been proposed offshore and onshore oil and gas including coal bed under the draft? methane and shale gas. Thermal Power plants using Waste Heat Recovery Boilers Area Current Changes o (WHRB) without any auxiliary fuel. EIA Response Minimum of 30 Minimum of 20 • Exemption from Public Consultation in certain Projects time days days - Section 14 of the draft provides for exemption from Public Hearing Within 45 days Within 40 days public consultation thereby limiting the scope of public involvement in districts Monitoring for Every six months. Once a year. o in the case of national parks and sanctuaries where compliance pipeline infrastructure will pass.
DIVISION OF PROJECTS INTO CATEGORIES – A & B AS o in certain Roads and highways construction passing PER DRAFT EIA, 2020 through national parks and sanctuaries and certain Building Construction and Area Development Projects • Projects in Schedule-1 have been divided into two categories, Category A and B. o all Category ‘B2’ projects and activities.
• Category A project will require clearance from Central o all projects concerning national defence and security or Government (MEF). involving other strategic considerations as determined by the Central Government. • Category B will require clearance from State Government. However, the state government will first classify if the B project o All the off-shore projects located beyond the 12 Nautical falls under B1 or B2 category. Miles.
• B1 projects will require preparation of EIA reports while • Public Hearing - EIA Draft also retains the clause that if a remaining projects will be termed as B2 projects and will not public agency or authority considers the local situation not require EIA report conducive to participation by citizens, the public consultation need not include a public hearing.
• Not providing enough opportunity to the public to give
their suggestion - The government tried to shield the
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Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
draft from public opinion by closing the window early. This • Namami Gange is being implemented by the National move was distorted by Delhi High Court JUDGEMENT Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state which has given an extension till 11th August for the public counterparts—State Programme Management Groups. to air and express their opinion and concern on the draft. • The National Ganga Council (NGC) was created and to WAY FORWARD give it utmost importance, the Prime Minister was made the head of it. This council replaced the National Ganga COVID-19 which extended lockdown only allowed nature to River Basin Authority (NGRBA). NGC would have on board spring back due to less pollution. Most of the changes pushed the chief ministers of five Ganga basin states— through the draft allows for denigration of environment Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Jharkhand and including forest land as it allows unregulated construction West Bengal—besides several Union ministers and it was activities. Thus, the government must balance development supposed to meet once every year. along with our fast depleting natural resources and environment. • An Empowered Task Force, headed by the then Union Water Resources Minister, was created and it has on board
the chief secretaries of the five Ganga Basin states. It was supposed to meet once in every three months. State W.B. FUNDS NAMAMI Ganga Committees have been formed, which would be the nodal agency to implement the programmes in a state. GANGE PROJECT • Besides, these committees would conduct safety audits of #Conservation #Pollution the river and take remedial measures. The Centre is also planning to establish a 4-battalion Ganga Eco Task Force to spread awareness about pollution and protecting the river. IN NEWS Main pillars of Namami Gange World Bank has approved a five-year loan to the Namami Gange project worth ₹3,000 crores to develop and improve •Sewage treatment infrastructure projects to abate pollution in the river basin. •River surface cleaning • The Namami Ganga or the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has already received ₹4,535 crore ($600 •Afforestation million) from the World Bank until December 2021 as part •Industrial affluent monitoring of the first phase of the National Ganga River Basin project. So far, 313 projects worth ₹25,000 crores have •River front development been sanctioned under the mission. •Biodiversity • Some of the projects to be undertaken under the second phase of the mission include spillover projects from the •Public awareness first phase of the mission as well cleaning projects in tributaries such as the Yamuna and Kali. CHALLENGES BEING FACED BY THE NAMAMI • In the second phase, the loan would fund ₹1,134 crore for GANGE three new ‘Hybrid Annuity Projects’ in Agra, Meerut and Saharanpur for the tributaries of the Ganga. CHALLENGE I: SEWAGE TREATMENT
ABOUT NAMAMI GANGE • Sewage treatment plants (STPs) have been at the centre of • It is under the ambit of the newly constituted Jal Shakti Ganga pollution abatement. As per Namami Gange Ministry. targets, STPs with over 2,000 million litres a day (MLD) capacity had to be rehabilitated of which only 328 MLD • Overall, initiatives to clean the Ganga began with the have been done. A look at the status of all the projects Ganga Action Plan I in 1986.
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undertaken makes one doubt whether the government • Experts say that while toilets were constructed, hardly a would even achieve its revised deadline. thought was given to management of sludge. According to
• New projects are delayed because land acquisition and a study conducted by CSE, most of the cities surveyed had other related activities were taking a lot of time. However, twin-pit technology which is not recommended in low-lying poor performance in rehabilitating old STPs does not areas. stand the test of time scarcity. • The National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage
• The issue is just not with the construction or rehabilitation Management (FSSM) 2017 also anticipated the challenge as of STPs but also their performance. Every STP installed has more and more toilets are constructed. As urban design parameters for Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) households without toilets obtain facilities under SBM, it is and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). The report says that likely that many will acquire on-site arrangements like pit BOD and TSS levels of the effluent is higher than the latrines and septic tanks in cities at locations where norms because industrial waste and chemicals are illegally sewerage systems are not available. Thus, while the mixed with the influents in a plant not meant to treat containment of human waste will be largely achieved, its industrial pollutants. safe disposal still poses a huge challenge. CHALLENGE II: RESTORING THE FLOW CHALLENGE IV: COST OVERRUNS • • This is another fundamental problem. A river is a self- Cleaning up the massive stretch of 2,525 km that the purifying system only when water flows through it. The Ganga traverses is a programme where regulating the Ganga fails this basic test except during monsoons. So it’s finances becomes as big an issue as any other. not just about unclean Ganga. It is about the existence of • Another catch is with the finances of STPs. As per a model Ganga. proposed, 40 per cent of the capital cost quoted would be
• The water level in the river is going down at an paid on completion of construction while the remaining 60 unprecedented rate. Also if the flow in the river is per cent will be paid over the life of the project as maintained it can solve the problem of 60-80 per cent of annuities along with operation and maintenance organic pollutants and we may not require such an expenses. This payment is linked to the performance of elaborate programme the STPs—the quality of the water treated by it.
• Unlike other rivers, the Ganga has three special properties CHALLENGE V: GOVERNANCE GLITCHES because of the path it treads naturally. The Ganga has • The cleaning of the Ganga requires seamless coordination medicinal properties that can treat skin infections. between the agencies responsible for carrying out • These properties come due to medicinal plants on the different tasks. This calls for vision and a clear-cut path of Ganga. Also the Ganga is very rich in minerals and governance strategy. has bacteriophages which kill the bacteria. If you chain the Ganga with barrages and canal diversions and therefore alter its natural path, it will lose these properties. due to INDIAN SUNDARBANS restrictions and decrease in flow, the velocity of water decreases and siltation increases and therefore minerals #Conservation of the water settle down at the riverbed. CHALLENGE III: SLUDGE CONTROL IN NEWS • Open defecation leads to high faecal coliform in the Ganga Indian part of Sundarbans has been accorded the status of basin. ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Ramsar • And if proper faecal sludge management is not in place, it Convention. would invariably pollute the Ganga. Faecal sludge is a bigger pollutant than sewerage.
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Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE
• Will help highlight conservation issues of the Sunderbans at the international level.
• International cooperation between India and Bangladesh for the protection of this unique ecosystem will also improve significantly.
• Could lead to better conservation strategy for various flagship species such as tiger, northern river terrapin etc.
1. Why Ramsar Convention?
• Wetlands are important as they provide freshwater and food and serve as nature’s shock absorber. GEOGRAPHY OF INDIAN SUNDARBANS • Because of their critical importance for biodiversity and • It is located in southwestern part the delta of the Ganga threat due to factors such as major changes in land use for and the Brahmaputra at the mouth of the Bay of Bengal in agriculture and grazing; water diversion for dams and India and Bangladesh. canals; and infrastructure development, more than 64% of • Sundarbans comprises hundreds of island and a network the wetlands have disappeared since 1900 of rivers, tributaries and creeks and over 60% of the • This necessitated the need for international treaty to country’s total mangrove forest area. conserve wetlands, which finally culminated as Ramsar th • It is 27 Ramsar Site in India and is now the largest Convention. protected wetland in the country. CRITERIA FOR STATUS OF WETLAND OF 1. Important Facts about Indian Sundarbans: INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE: • It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site Group A. Sites containing representative, rare or unique • Home to Royal Bengal Tiger: The mangroves of the wetland types Sundarbans—shared between Bangladesh and India—are Criterion 1: A wetland should be considered internationally the only mangrove forests where tigers are found important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique • Home to rare and globally threatened species, such as: example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region. o Northern River Terrapin (Critically Endangered) Group B. Sites of international importance for conserving Irrawaddy Dolphin (Endangered) o biological diversity o Fishing Cat (Vulnerable) Criteria based on species and ecological communities Criterion 2: A wetland should be considered internationally o Apart from that it is also home to numerous faunal species and 90% of the country’s mangrove varieties. important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities. THREATS TO SUNDARBANS: Criterion 3: A wetland should be considered internationally • Anthropogenic pressures: Huge population putting important if it supports populations of plant and/or animal pressure on this ecosystem. species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a • ‘High impact’ actual threat: Fishing and harvesting of particular biogeographic region. aquatic resources, and ‘low impact’ threats such as Criterion 4: A wetland should be considered internationally tourism. important if it supports plant and/or animal species at a critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during • Other threats: Dredging, oil and gas drilling, logging and adverse conditions. wood harvesting hunting and collecting terrestrial animals. Specific criteria based on waterbirds
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Criterion 5: A wetland should be considered internationally 3. significant and representative fish, and important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds. 4. fish spawning ground and migration path Criterion 6: A wetland should be considered internationally • The part of the Sunderbans Delta which lies in Bangladesh important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a (60% of the total area) was accorded status of International population of one species or subspecies of waterbird. Importance in 1992. With Indian Sunderbans (40% of the Specific criteria based on fish total area) also getting the same status, the whole of the Criterion 7: A wetland should be considered internationally Sunderbans now is Wetland of international Importance. important if it supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies, species or families, life-history stages, species interactions and/or populations that are representative of wetland benefits and/or values and thereby contributes to DECLARATION OF TIGER global biological diversity. Criterion 8: A wetland should be considered internationally RESERVES important if it is an important source of food for fishes, #Conservation spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend.
Specific criteria based on other taxa Criterion 9: A wetland should be considered internationally IN NEWS important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a The Saharanpur Divisional Commissioner has sent a proposal to population of one species or subspecies of wetland- the UP government to declare the Shivalik forest in the dependent non-avian animal species. Saharanpur circle as a Tiger Reserve.
• Note: Indian Sundarbans met four of the nine criteria’s, The State government is actively considering the proposal and i.e., would forward the matter to the Central Government to take a call. If plea of state government of UP is accepted, then the 1. presence of rare species and threatened ecological Shivalik forest in the Saharanpur circle would be the fourth tiger communities, reserve in Uttar Pradesh after Amangarh in Bijnor, Pilibhit and 2. biological diversity, Dudhwa in Lakhimpur-Kheri.
1. Various kinds of Protected areas and procedure of declaration.
Type of Protected Authority who regulates the Declaration of Protected Areas Permission of Centre Areas Protected Area
State Government to constitute If any part of the territorial The Chief Wild Life Warden shall be an area as sanctuary by waters is to be so included the authority who shall control, notification within the sanctuary, prior manage and maintain all sanctuaries Sanctuaries concurrence of the Central (such area should not be comprised Government shall be State Government shall appoint a within any reserve forest or obtained by the respective Collector to determine rights of territorial waters) State Government persons within the sanctuary
State Government can declare an If any part of the territorial State Government shall appoint a area as National Park which is waters is to be so included Collector to determine rights of either within a sanctuary or within the National Park, persons within the National Park National Parks outside it. prior concurrence of the The Chief Wild Life Warden shall be Central Government shall be the authority to ensure destruction, obtained by the respective Reasons – If the area has damage or diversion of wildlife does State Government ecological, faunal, floral, not take place
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Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
geomorphological or zoological Permission of National Board for association or importance for the Wildlife when required? purpose of protecting, (i) Alteration of Boundaries of propagating or developing wild National Park; or life therein or its environment (ii) removal of wild life from the National Park; or (iii) the change the flow of water into or outside the National Park which is necessary for the improvement and better management of wild life National Board for Wildlife is constituted by Central Government and is chaired by the Prime Minister of India
The State Government declares any area owned by the Government after consulting with Where the conservation The State Government shall local communities particularly the reserve includes any land constitute a conservation reserve areas adjacent to National Parks Conservation owned by the Central management committee to advise and sanctuaries and those areas Reserve Government, its prior the Chief Wild Life Warden to which link one protected area concurrence shall be conserve, manage and maintain the with another, as a conservation obtained. conservation reserve. reserve for protecting landscapes, seascapes, flora and fauna and their habitat.
The State Government shall constitute a Community Reserve The State Government may management committee, which shall declare any private or community be the authority responsible for land not comprised within a conserving, maintaining and National Park, sanctuary or a managing the community reserve. Community conservation reserve, as a
Reserve community reserve, for The committee shall consist of five protecting fauna, flora and representatives nominated by the traditional or cultural Village Panchayat/Gram Sabha and conservation values and one representative of the State practices. Forests or Wild Life Department under whose jurisdiction the community reserve is located.
When can Central Government notify any areas as Sanctuary or National Park? • When an area which is not already within a sanctuary or national park is transferred or leased by the state to the centre, then the Centre can notify such area as Sanctuary or National Park. • In relation to a sanctuary or National Park declared by the Central Government, the powers and duties of the Chief Wild Life Warden shall be exercised and discharged by the Director or by such other officer as may be authorised by the Director in this behalf
Tiger Reserve The State Government shall, on The National Tiger Conservation the recommendation of the Tiger Authority (NTCA) has been
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Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
Conservation Authority, notify an constituted by the Central area as a tiger reserve. Government chaired by Minister in No State Government shall de- charge of the Ministry of notify a tiger reserve, except in Environment and Forests. public interest with the approval NTCA shall approve the Tiger of the Tiger Conservation Conservation Plan prepared by the Authority and the National Board State Government. for Wild Life.
species such as Chital, Sambar, Chow Singha, Gaur, NAGARHOLE NATIONAL Muntjac, Wild Pig and Elephants. PARK o It supports very high density of Asian Elephants. o Important tribes - Jenu Kurubas, Betta Kurubas, Yeravas, #Conservation Soligas among others.
IN NEWS The Forest Department will soon put in place traffic monitoring GOLDEN BIRDWING mechanism along the roads adjacent to Nagarahole National #Biodiversity Park and crisscrossing Mysuru and Kodagu districts to ensure better compliance of forest laws by motorists and to minimize road kills. IN NEWS
1. About Nagarhole NP A Himalayan butterfly named golden birdwing is now India’s • Also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, located in largest butterfly, overthrowing the southern birdwing which held Kodagu and Mysore district in Karnataka. the claim for being largest for 88 years.
• Declared as a Project Tiger reserve in 1999 and is also a notified Core/Critical Tiger habitat under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Forms an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in addition to Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley National Park and Sathya Mangalam National Park (Wildlife corridor between western and Eastern Ghats). FIRST OF ALL, MALE AND FEMALES ARE NOT OF • It is located to the north-west of Bandipur National Park and the Kabani reservoir separates the two park. EQUAL SIZES.
• Forest: o So female Himalayan butterfly stretches to about 194 cm. But the male golden birdwing (Troides aeacus) is much o The major forests can broadly be classified into Southern o Tropical Semi-evergreen forests. smaller at 106 mm. HOW IS THIS LENGTH CALCULATED? o It is one of the high-density tiger landscapes recognized by the Global Tiger Initiative for conservation of Tiger and is o Length is Wingspan as indicated in the image one of the richest Wildlife areas noted for seven large
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Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
MOBILE APP: KURMA #Biodiversity # Technology
IN NEWS
On May 23, World Turtle Day, a mobile-based application called KURMA, aimed at turtle conservation was launched.
• The application has been developed by the Indian Turtle Conservation Action Network (ITCAN) in collaboration with the Turtle Survival Alliance-India and Wildlife Conservation Society-India.
• It not only provides users a database to identify a species but also provides the location of the nearest rescue centre RED SANDERS for turtles across the country. #Conservation • As per a report released in 2019 by TRAFFIC, at least 200 tortoises and freshwater turtles fall prey to illicit poaching RED SANDERS and smuggling every week, making them the most • Red sander is endemic to several districts in Andhra trafficked in the country. Pradesh and some parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. • One of the major challenges for freshwater turtle It occurs in the Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests. conservation in the country is that wildlife crime • It is known for its rich hue and therapeutic properties. prevention agencies are not sufficiently equipped to know • It is high in demand across Asia, particularly in China and how to distinguish one species from the other, or their Japan, for use in cosmetics and medicinal products as well protection status in accordance with CITES (Convention on as for making furniture, woodcraft and musical International Trade in Endangered Species) and the instruments. Wildlife Protection Act.
• The species was listed in Appendix II of CITES in 1995, • There are five species in Indian waters i.e. Olive which says “trade must be controlled in order to avoid Ridley, Green turtle, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Leatherback. utilisation incompatible with their survival”. • The Olive Ridley, Leatherback and Loggerhead are • Its export was prohibited in 2004. listed as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. • In 2010, the government submitted a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) report saying it must be allowed to export • The Hawksbill turtle is listed as 'Critically from cultivated sources. Endangered' and Green Turtle is listed as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened • In 2012, India got an export quota on red sanders from Species. CITES. • They are protected in Indian Wildlife Protection Act of • In 2019, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), 1972, under Schedule I. an agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has revised its export policy to permit the export of all red • Turtles have been protected in India under sanders if it is obtained from cultivated land. the Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation programme.
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Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
CENTRAL GROUND IN NEWS The plant species called Globba andersoniifrom has been re discovered from the Sikkim Himalayas near the Teesta river WATER BOARD (CGWB) valley region after a gap of nearly 136 years. #Authority
IN NEWS
The National Green Tribunal has pulled up the Centre over its submissions that restriction on groundwater extraction would have an adverse impact on industrial production and employment opportunities and the GDP of some States.
The green panel directed the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA) to ensure that no general permission is given without an environmental assessment of • each activity. It is commonly known as ‘dancing ladies’ or ‘swan flowers. CENTRAL GROUND WATER AUTHORITY • The earliest records of the collection of this plant were • It has been constituted under Section 3 (3) of the dated between the period 1862-70 when it was collected Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and by Scottish botanist Thomas Anderson from Sikkim and control development and management of ground water Darjeeling. resources in the country. • It is Classified as “critically endangered” and “narrowly • The Authority has been conferred with the following endemic” powers: • The species is restricted mainly to Teesta River Valley Exercise of powers under section 5 of the Environment region which includes the Sikkim Himalayas and Darjeeling (Protection) Act, 1986 for issuing directions and taking hill ranges. such measures in respect of all the matters.
To resort to penal provisions. To regulate and control, management and development of RECONSTITUTION OF THE ground water in the country and to issue necessary regulatory directions for the purpose. CENTRAL ZOO Exercise of powers under section 4 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for the appointment of officers. AUTHORITY (CZA) #Ex-Situ Conservation GLOBBA ANDERSONIIFROM IN NEWS MoEFCC has reconstituted the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to #Flora include an expert from the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, and a molecular biologist.
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Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
ABOUT CENTRAL ZOO AUTHORITY • Every Zoo in the country is required to obtain recognition from the Central Zoo Authority for its operation. • It has been constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Thus, it is a statutory body established in 1992 under • Exchange of animals between Indian and foreign zoos is the Ministry of environment & forest. also approved by the authority before the requisite clearances under EXIM Policy and the CITES permits are • Chairperson - Minister of Environment, Forest and issued by the competent authority. Climate Change.
• Apart from the chairperson, it consists of 10 members and a member¬ secretary.
practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding 2. Its chairman is secretary of Environment, Forest and Sundarbans: Climate Change. 1. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Which of the above statements is/are correct? 2. It is home to Northern River Terrapin (which is Critically (a) 1 only (b) 2 only Endangered). (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None of the Above 3. It is home to Fishing Cat (which is Vulnerable). Which of the above statements is/are correct? Q4. Consider the following statements regarding (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only Nagarhole National Park: (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 1. It is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. 2. It was declared a Tiger reserve in 1999 and is also a Q2. Consider the following statements: notified Core/Critical Tiger habitat under the Wildlife 1. Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (Protection) Act, 1972. (EPA) gives power to the Central Government to take all Which of the above statements is/are correct? measures that it deems necessary. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 2. EIA essentially refers to the assessment of (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None of the Above environmental impacts likely to arise from a project. Which of the above statements is/are correct? Q5. Consider the following statements: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 1. Red sander is endemic to several districts in Andhra (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None of the Above Pradesh and some parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. 2. It occurs in the Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests. Q3. Consider the following statements regarding Which of the above statements is/are correct? Central Zoo Authority: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only 1. It has been constituted under the Wildlife Protection (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None of the Above Act, 1972 Answers: 1-d, 2-c, 3-a, 4-c, 5-a
FOCUS| AUGUST 2020 | RAU’S IAS 100
History, HERITAGE & Culture # GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper I (Main)
Note: This section covers recap of our coverage for revision pertaining to the forthcoming Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination. This month, there is collation of ART AND CULTURE- PART 1 for faster revision.
Art & Culture – Part-I
• Intricate flora, animal and birds’ motifs can also be found MADHUBANI PAINTINGS along with geometrical designs to fill up the gap. • The paintings are largely made using powdered rice, colours derived from turmeric, pollen, pigments, indigo, various flowers, sandalwood, and leaves of various plants and trees, etc.
• If the artists come across empty spaces even after completing the painting, they usually fill up those empty spaces with the motifs of flowers, animals, birds and geometrical patterns.
• A double line is usually drawn as the border.
• Madhubani painting has a geographical indication(G.I.) status because it has remained confined to a compact • They are produced by village women who make three geographical area where the skills have been passed on dimensional images. These pictures tell stories especially through centuries and the content and style have largely about Sita’s exile, Ram-Laxman’s forest life, or depict the remained the same. images of Lakshmi, Ganesha, Hanuman and others from
Hindu mythology. • Apart from these, women also paint celestial subjects like BURRA KATHA sun and moon. Tulsi, the holy plant also is to be found in • "Burra" is referred to Tambura, a musical instrument. these paintings. "Katha" means story. • They also show court scenes, wedding and social • It started as devotional songs of nomadic people and happenings. became a popular art form. • Drawings in Madhubani paintings are very conceptual. • It is a narrative entertainment that consists of prayers, solo First, the painter thinks and then “draws their thought”. drama, dance, songs, poems and jokes. There is no pretence to describe the figures accurately. • It preaches, entertains and provides relaxation to the rural • Visually, they are images that speak in lines and colours folk. and are drawn for some rituals or festivals on household and village walls to mark the seasonal festivals or special • It is performed in villages of Andhra Pradesh and events of the life cycle. Telangana.
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History, Heritage & Culture
• The topic will be either a Hindu mythological story or a contemporary social issue. CHIRALA TEXTILES
• It played an effective role in conveying message to people • The Chirala textile is made by using a large quantity of oil, and awakening them during Indian Independence which is used in preparing yarn for weaving. After the Movement. fabric is ready, it is wrapped with wax & clay before being • Most of the stories are in the form of a tribute to freedom dyed in selected colours. fighters from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. • It is a coastal town, situated in Prakasam District in the • A Burra Katha group consists of three artistes one being at state of Andhra Pradesh. It was also known as 'Kshirapuri'. the center and the other two acts as assistants under him Chirala town is renowned for handlooms. known as ‘Vantalu’. • Years passed by, the town gained popularity for its • The main storyteller (Kathakudu) narrates the story. He excellent handloom sarees known for the softness and plays Tambura and dances to music. He also wears a metal durability. ring called an ‘Andelu’ on his right thumb, holds another • The name Chirala means saree in Telugu and so eventually ring in his other hand and adds more music by colliding the name of the town got transformed to Chirala. them frequently. • The weavers of Chirala produce, cotton sarees, seico • The co-performers play ‘Gummeta’, earthen drums with sarees which are a fine blend of cotton and silk fibres and two heads. All three or only the Kathakudu wear anklets kuppadam (Gadwal type). which add even more music when they dance. • Handloom fabrics of Chirala are soft and most comfortable to wear which suites all the climate.
• ‘Puttapaka Telia Rumal’ has been given the Geographical HARIKATHA Indication (GI) tag. It originally belongs to Chirala. • Harikatha is a form of Hindu religious discourse in which
the storyteller explores a religious theme. • It may be the life of a saint or a story from an Indian epic. BATHUKAMMA • It is a composite art form composed of storytelling, poetry, • Bathukamma is floral festival celebrated predominantly by music, drama, dance and philosophy most prevalent in the Hindu women of Telangana. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. • It is the festival for feminine felicitation. On this special • At its peak Harikatha was a popular medium of occasion women dress up in the traditional sari combining entertainment, which helped transmit cultural, educational it with jewels and other accessories. and religious values to the masses. • In Telugu, ‘Bathukamma' means ‘Mother Goddess come • Harikatha commences with an invocation and the singing Alive’ and in this respect Goddess Maha Gauri (Life Giver) of God's name. This introductory part of a katha also is worshipped in the form of Bathukamma, the patron contains a brief statement of the underlying philosophy of goddess of womanhood. the main story or of some general philosophical truth or truths. • Bathukamma refers to a beautiful flower stack, arranged with different unique seasonal flowers most of them with • The second part, which is the main body, is the story itself. medicinal values, in seven concentric layers in the shape of • The main aim of Hari Katha is to imbue truth and temple gopuram. righteousness in the minds of people and sow the seeds of • Every year this festival is celebrated as per the Saka devotion in them. calendar for nine days starting usually in September– • Another of the aims is to educate them about knowledge October of Gregorian calendar. of self (atman) through stories and show them the path of • Bathukamma is followed by Boddemma, which is a 7-day liberation. festival. Boddemma festival marks the ending of Varsha
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History, Heritage & Culture
Ruthu whereas Bathukamma festival indicates the • The time period ascribed for the development of this beginning of Sarad or Sharath Ruthu tradition is from 1676-1855 AD.
• This genre of art is essentially religious and broadly comprises two essential themes.
ARANMULA BOAT RACE • The first being scenes from the epics and the puranas as • The Aranmula Boat Race is the oldest river boat fiesta in depicted on the walls and pillars of temples. Kerala. • Secondly, the images of deities consecrated inside • It is held during Onam (August–September) at Aranmula, temples, particularly popular among them are Srirangam near a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Arjuna. and Tirumala. • The snake boats move in pairs to the rhythm of full- • Portraits of kings, who were the patrons of these artists, as throated singing and shouting watched by an exciting well as priests and ordinary individuals also find a place in crowd. these paintings. • Thousands of people gather on the banks of the River • The most eye-catching and prominent feature of these Pampa to watch the snake boat races. paintings includes the relief decoration covered with gold- • The Aranmula Boat Race begins each year on the last day leaf or gilded paper. of the Onam festival. It lasts for two days.
GATKA CHHAU DANCE
• Gatka is a weapon-based Indian martial art basically • The graphic story on the Purulia’s famous Chhau dance is created by the Sikhs of Punjab. called Experiencing Chhau (Dekhe Elam Chhau).
• It is displayed during the different celebrations or at fairs • Chhau dance is a tradition from eastern India, popular in Punjab. dance in Odisha, Bihar and Bengal. • There are many weapons used in Gatka like, Stick, Talwar, • It enacts episodes from epics including the Mahabharata kirpan and kataar. and Ramayana, local folklore and abstract themes. • The sport form is played by two opponents wielding • Its three distinct styles from the regions of Seraikella, wooden staves called gatka and these sticks may be paired Purulia and Mayurbhanj, the first two using masks. with a shield. • Chhau dance is intimately connected to regional festivals, • Points are scored when contact is made with the stick. notably the spring festival Chaitra Parva.
• Its origin is traceable to indigenous forms of dance and THANJAVUR PAINTINGS martial practices. • Chhau is taught to male dancers from families of • It is a classical style of South Indian paintings that developed in the region of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. traditional artists or from local communities.
• Its origin is considered to be in the reign of Marathas. • Music is played on the reed pipes mohuri and shehnai accompanied by drums. • Owing to certain influences, it is also considered to be an offshoot of Nayaka paintings which were prevalent in the • The dancers hold swords and shields and performing Vijayanagar empire. vigorous movements and leaps.
• Thanjavur paintings also bore influences from the Deccani and European styles.
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History, Heritage & Culture
• We find a wide use of geometric design; floral and faunal RAIBENSHE DANCE pattern is some of the speciality of their painting tradition.
• The book on Raibenshe, folk martial dance form south • Anthromorphic forms such as some human figures, plants, Bengal is called Raibenshe Rocks ( Ajo Aache Raibenshe). natural scene, different birds, peacock, adobe of deities, abstract designs etc. can also found in their painting. • It is a genre of Indian folk martial dance performed by males only. • Their wall painting depicts the scenario of Swang dance which is a typical dance of the Saharias. • This genre of dance was once very popular in West Bengal. Presently, it is performed mostly in Birbhum Bardhaman Related Information: Saharia Community and Murshidabad districts. • The Saharia also spelt as Sahariya and Seharia is the only • Traditionally, this dance involves vigorous and manly Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) or Primitive movements of the body along with the acrobatics of a Tribal Group (PTG) of Rajasthan. raibansh (a long bamboo stick), from which its name • The term ‘Saharia’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘Sehara’ originated. means wildness.
• This dance is accompanied by dhols (drums) and Kanshis • They are mainly distributed in Sahabad and Kishanganj (cymbals). Tehsil of Baran district of Rajasthan as well as Guna and • This dance was traditionally performed by Bagdi Shivpuri districts of Madhya Pradesh. community, who worked as the bodyguards of the • The Saharias speak Hadauti, an Indo- Aryan family of landlords in medieval Bengal. languages. Their dialect is also influenced by Braj and Hindi to a large extent.
NADIA PUPPETRY
• The publication on the little-known puppetry from Nadia is THANJAVUR DOLLS titled ‘The tale of a lost leg (Harano Payer Kissa)’. • The Thanjavur doll is a type of Indian bobblehead or roly- • The traditional rod puppet form of West Bengal is known poly toy made of terracotta material. as Putul Nautch. They are carved from wood and follow • The doll is known as Chettiar bommai which is used the various artistic styles of a particular region. for golu during Navratri.
• In Nadia district of West Bengal particularly, rod-puppets • They have been recognized as a Geographical used to be of human size like the Bunraku puppets of Indication by the Government of India as of 2008-09. Japan. However, this form is now almost extinct. • The centre of gravity and total weight of the doll is • The music and verbal text have close similarity with the concentrated at its bottom-most point, generating a Jatra theatre. dance-like continuous movement with slow oscillations.
• These toys are traditionally handmade, finished with detailed, painted exteriors.
MANDANA ART • The Saharias are highly acclaimed for their art work mainly represented by the painting of Mandana. KULLU NATI DANCE • Mandana is drawn on wall, floor and sides as well as upper • Nati dance is a local folk dance of Kullu district of portion of the doors in houses. Himachal Pradesh. • The occasions include marriage, Holi, Diwali, Govardhan • The folk dance entered the Limca Book of Records in Puja that is cattle caring ceremony and so on. 2014 and made it to the Guinness World Records Book as the largest folk dance in the world in 2016.
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History, Heritage & Culture
• This dance is performed during the Kullu Dussehra which • It is a festival of togetherness, forgiveness and prayer for a is a centuries-old festival i.e. dedicated to the girl child. bountiful harvest.
• It begins on Vijaya Dashami, the day when the festivities • Sangtam is the largest of the three principal tribes in end in rest of the country. Kiphire district bordering Myanmar. • The dance depicts ras lila or dances concerning Hindu
God Krishna and Gopis and the entertaining plays of Chandravali. GOTMAR FESTIVAL • This dance was traditionally performed by men but now it has been performed by women mostly. • The annual “Gotmar” festival is a stone-pelting festival and • This dance belongs from Lasya variety and considered as is considered as a 300-year-old festival. a dance of slow-movement. • It is celebrated at Pandhurna in Madhya Pradesh’s • Earlier there were separate groups for men and women Chhindwara district. but now they are allowed to dance together. • During this festival, people of Sawargaon and Pandhurna • Dancers clad in traditional dresses dance along with the gather on either side of Jaam River and, while throwing procession, on the tunes of musical instruments such as stones, race to snatch a flag hoisted on top of a dead tree Narsingha, Karnal, Shehnai, Dhol and Nagara. situated in the middle of the river.
BEHDIENKHLAM FESTIVAL BAGWAL FESTIVAL • It is a major festival of the people in the Jaintia Hills, • The Bagwal festival, is a popular attraction of Raksha Meghalaya. Bandhan day in Uttarakhand. • During the festival, decorated and colourful raths are • The festival is famous for its annual ritual of ‘stone pelting.’ immersed in ‘Wah Ainar,’ a muddy pool. • However, after the intervention of the Uttarakhand high • It is popular at Jowai, the District headquarters of Jaintia court in 2013, stones were replaced with flowers. Hills District, Meghalaya. • It is celebrated by the members of the four clans of • The Behdienkhlam literally means driving away the plague Devidhura namely Gaharwals, Chamyals, Lamgharias and as “Khlam” means ‘Plague’ and “Beh Dein” means to drive Waliks. away the plague.
• It is the ritualistic expression of the relentless struggle of mankind to overcome the destructive forces of nature, including diseases, since the dawn of civilization. BUDHAMAL FESTIVAL
• In this festival, women offer sacrificial food to the spirits of • The Budhamal festival is celebrated in Dhupguri village on the ancestors. the outskirts of Guwahati.
• This festival is held once in five years.
• During this festival people pray for well-being and a good MONGMONG FESTIVAL harvest.
• Mongmomg is a major festival of the Sangtams tribe.
• This festival is celebrated every year from 1st to 6th September.
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History, Heritage & Culture
VRISCHIKOLSAVAM MAKARAVILAKKU FESTIVAL FESTIVAL • This festival lasts for 8 days with features of traditional • Makaravilakku is a 21-day annual festival celebrated in folk-art forms such as Ottanthullal, Kathakali, Kerala. Thayambaka, Chenda melam, Kacheri. • It is held on Makar Sankranti at the shrine of Sabarimala. • It is the colourful procession of Lord Sree Poornathrayeesa, accompanied by caparisoned • The festival includes the Thiruvabharanam (sacred elephants and ‘panchari melam. ornaments of Ayyappan) procession and a congregation at
• Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple is the only temple in South the hill shrine of Sabarimala. India where an odd pose of Lord Vishnu can be seen, • Historically, Makaravilakku is the religious practice which sitting under the shade of five royal hoods of the divine was performed by the tribes in the forest of serpant, Ananthan, whose folded body itself acts as the Ponnambalamedu. throne for the God. • Once the Cyrus star (Makara Jyothi) appears in the sky • Besides ‘panchari melam’ other traditional orchestrations during the day of the Makara Sankranti festival, the tribes like ‘maddala pattu’, ‘kombu pattu’, ‘kurumkuzhal perform their rituals in a temple at Ponnambalamedu pattu’, ‘parisha vadham’ and ‘edakka pradakshinam’ are also be held during festival days. forest.
• The festival also showcases carnatic music concerts, • As part of the ritual, the tribes perform aarati by lighting thayamb, kathakali, ottanthullal, kurathiyaattom, kolkali camphor and ghee in a vessel and circling around the idol and aksharashlokam. at the temple in the Ponnambalamedu forest 3 times.
• This Aarathi performed by the tribes is referred to as Makaravilakku.
CHETAK FESTIVAL • Sarangkheda Chetak festival is the oldest horse fairs in the country. THAKURANI JATRA • It’s an annual fair and this tradition can be traced from about 350 years ago. FESTIVAL • This festival is named after the favourite horse of • Maharana Pratap i.e. Chetak. The Thakurani Jatra festival is celebrated biennially in Berhampur Ganjam district, Odisha. • This fair is organized in the Sarangakheda village in the Nandurbar district of the state of Maharashtra. • The festival is celebrated in honour of Goddess Budhi Thakurani who is considered as the istadevi of Silk city • Sarangkheda is located on the banks of river Tapi. Berhampur. • This fair attracts horse traders and buyers from as far as Arabia and Baluchistan. • During the festival, Goddess Budhi Thakurani is taken from the main temple at Thakurani Temple Street to her • The horse breeds found in the fair are Marwari, Kathiawadi, Punjabi and Sindhi. temporary abode at Desibehera Street, where she stays till the festival ends.
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• Originally the goddess was worshipped by the Dera • However, the folk songs have no place in the Barpeta Satra people, a weaver community of Rajmuhendry on their where the monastic songs accompany rituals.
set up at Brahmapur in its early days. • Doul generally lasts for three or five days, depending on • The hereditary head of the festival, who is also regarded as the Hindu month — Chaitra or Faagun — and planetary the head of the weaver Dera community of the city, positions.
Desibehera, dressed in his traditional attire, visits the Budhi Maa Thakurani temple. • He then invites the goddess to her parental abode at his THEYYAM DANCE home. • A Theyyam is a ritualistic dance performance belonging • Berhampur is famous for its silk sarees and handloom to the state of Kerala. cloth. • In this art form, pantheistic deities are summoned to the • The Berhampur patta sari and joda (dhoti) has been body of the performing man, one who is almost always accorded with GI tag. from a subaltern community.
• This performing man himself is known as Theyyyam and it DOUL UTSAV is believed that while performing deities possess his body. • These performances are carried in the ancient sacred • Holi which is ‘played’ in most parts of India but this festival groves of Kerala called kaavu, which is a small rainforest.
is ‘sung’ in a part of Assam, where it goes by another • The ritualistic art form is ancient, predating organised name known as Doul Utsav. Hinduism and going back to a time of tribal animism. • Doul Utsav is celebrated at Barpeta in western Assam • Spirit-worship, ancestor-worship, tree-worship, animal particularly in Barpeta Satra. worship, serpent-worship, the worship of the goddesses of • Barpeta Satra is a Vaishnav monastery which was disease and the worship of the Graamadevata or village established by Madhabdev in 1583. god, all are part of the Theyyam cult.
• Madhabdev was the prime disciple of Srimanta • This cult has been a folk religion for millions and the Sankardeva, the saint-reformer who inspired the Bhakti number of major deities surviving now is about 100, while movement in Assam around the time Guru Nanak, Kabir the number of Theyyams is more than 400.
and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. • Theyyams are performed in sacred groves and other • Madhabdev wrote a few Doul songs for ritualistic places usually once in a year and is known as Kaliyattam. celebration of this festival. That which is performed after many years is known
• The traders of Barpeta (a major commercial centre for as Perumkaliyattam. centuries) have made the common man’s Doul songs • There has always been an unmistakable umbilical link popular. between Theyyam and nature.
• These traders introduced Holi songs which were borrowed • A Theyyam as discussed performs within the heart of the heavily from Bengali folk music. groves which in turn are protected as the residence of the
• More than a century ago, a group of nationalist poets, deities. writers and musicians began writing Assamese Holi songs • This dance form thus has proved to be instrumental in that are divided into two categories of Holi songs — folk arresting the destruction of the groves even in modern and monastic — that people sing while playing with times. colours.
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History, Heritage & Culture
between and amongst the diverse arts, traditional and INDIRA GANDHI contemporary.
o To foster dialogue between arts and current ideas in NATIONAL CENTRE FOR philosophy, science and technology, with a view toward bridging the gap in intellectual understanding between THE ARTS modern sciences and arts and culture. To evolve models of research programmes and arts • It was established in 1985. It is visualised as a centre o administration more pertinent to the Indian ethos. encompassing the study and experience of all the arts. It aims and objectives are:- o To elucidate the formative and dynamic factors in the complex web of interactions between diverse social strata, o To serve as a major resource centre for the arts, especially communities and regions. written, oral and visual source materials. o To promote a network with national and international o To undertake research and publication programmes of institutions. reference works, glossaries, dictionaries and encyclopaedia concerning the arts and the humanities. o To conduct related research in the arts, humanities and culture. o To establish a tribal and folk arts division with a core collection for conducting systematic scientific studies and • One of the programmes of this centre (in collaboration for live presentations. with UNDP) is to utilize multimedia computer technology to create a wide variety of software packages that o To provide a forum for a creative and critical dialogue communicate cultural information. through performances, exhibitions, multi-media projections, conferences, seminars and workshops
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SECURITY # GS Paper III (Main)
• The A&N Islands are at the intersection of the Indian ANDAMAN & NICOBAR: Ocean and the South China Sea, and further to the Pacific Ocean, an important fulcrum of the strategic ISLANDS OF NEW concept of the Indo-Pacific. POSSIBILITIES # India and the World
IN NEWS
In recent years, India has adopted a proactive policy aimed at transforming the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a tri-services command, as an economic hub and one of the key centres of its defence and security strategy. A focused development plan for the Islands is expected to greatly enhance the country’s geopolitical leverage in the Indian Ocean Region. STRATEGIC CONTEXT • A combination of economic and strategic factors has significantly enhanced the strategic salience of the Bay of Bengal and its littorals. Strategically located, the A&N Islands, larger than several island countries in themselves, are an asset in India's defence and strategic calculus.
• The Islands straddle Duncan’s Passage and the Ten Degree Channel. The Preparis Channel and Six Degree Channel are located to the north and south of the Island chain, respectively. All these passages are important trade routes for any shipping destined for Southeast and East
Asia. • The 572 islands, out of which only 38 are inhabited, CHINA’S FORAYS IN INDIAN OCEAN comprise 30 per cent of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone • As China’s economic and strategic interests have grown in (EEZ). the Indian Ocean, so has its natural imperative to secure • The Six Degree and Ten Degree Channels in the Andaman those interests. The fact is that the Chinese presence in the Sea which lead to the Malacca Strait are vital to the sea Indian Ocean is rather new and therefore quite logically lanes of communication (SLOCs) along which flows global seen as disruptive. China has steadily expanded its commerce, including energy trade, between Asia, Africa maritime presence in the Indian Ocean littoral through a and the Pacific. continuous deployment of its naval forces, arms sales,
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creating bases and access facilities, ramping up military (US), Japan, Australia, and France, among others, in order diplomacy, cultivating special political relations with to promote greater naval cooperation. littorals, and lavishly disbursing developmental finance for GROWING IMPORTANCE OF ANDAMAN AND strategic ends. NICOBAR COMMAND • It has used the alibi of anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of • The Tri-Services Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) Aden to ramp up the scale and frequency of its presence, has progressively emerged as a lynchpin of India’s regional without consideration for the threat perceptions of India. maritime engagement in the Bay of Bengal and the An egregious example is the deployment of a submarine Andaman Sea. which berthed in Colombo in Sri Lanka in 2014, ostensibly • on its way for so-called anti-piracy operations. Various multilateral and bilateral maritime engagements viz. the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical • China has also steadily enhanced its Operational and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), the MILAN series of Turnaround (OTR) in the Indian Ocean and developed new exercises, coordinated patrols, and bilateral exercises with bases, including at Gwadar and Djibouti. littoral states in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea • This broad-based trend in the evolution of China’s have contributed to this purpose. presence is also reflected in the Andaman Sea and the Bay • As regional maritime forces have expanded their of Bengal, where Chinese naval and survey vessels have cooperation with the Indian Navy in recent years, there is a been on the move and have occasionally entered India’s new appreciation in Southeast Asia about India’s potential EEZ without prior intimation. in offsetting China’s dominance of littoral-Asia. • China’s economic and strategic engagement with • While regional navies of Southeast Asian countries have Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia in the Bay of been making regular port calls to Port Blair, other major Bengal/Eastern Indian Ocean has been noticeable in recent navies viz. the US, Australian, Japanese and French have years. shown interest in visiting the Andaman Islands for port CHANGING OF APPROACH BY INDIA calls and exercises. There have been some suggestions for • Until now, the balance between environmental coordinated surveillance of Malacca, Sunda, Lombok, and preservation, tribal welfare, national security and Ombai Wetar Straits through the collaborative use of the economic development was skewed in favour of isolating A&N Islands and Australia’s Keeling (Cocos) Islands. the Islands due to strategic considerations. • Similarly, there have also been some recommendations • The economic potential of the A&N Islands had largely about collaborative anti-submarine warfare (ASW) efforts remained untapped. in the Indian Ocean in which the A&N Islands could play a critical role. • As the Islands provide India a commanding geostrategic presence in the Bay of Bengal and access to South and CONCERNS Southeast Asia, a focused development plan for the The broader arguments against opening the A&N Islands to Islands is expected to greatly enhance the country’s other major navies could have been based on considerations geopolitical leverage in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). such as:
• In this regard, the GOI constituted the Island 1. If naval vessels and military aircraft of other major navies Development Agency (IDA) on June 1, 2017 for the become regular visitors to the A&N Islands it could development of islands. For the first time, under the accentuate China’s ‘Malacca Dilemma’. Given the guidance of the IDA, an initiative has been taken for complexity of India-China bilateral relations, these sustainable development in the identified Islands. strategic interactions at the A&N Islands may annoy China • The A&N Islands have played a key role in enhancing and lead to further antagonism between the two India’s regional engagement with the Bay of Bengal countries. littorals. This policy brief recommends the opening up of 2. Enhancing interaction through visits by warships and the A&N Islands to other navies such as the United States military aircraft could be a ‘slippery slope’ which could
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progressively lead to more complex demands for strategic 7. Ship visits are a normal and natural part of naval collaboration through the joint deployment of naval and cooperation between friendly nations. military assets for other contingencies beyond the scope 8. If India allows the US Navy or any other navy to visit the of India’s direct strategic interests. A&N Islands, indeed, there should be a well-considered 3. India may be seen as part of a collaborative framework quid pro quo. against China in which other countries are already in a WAY FORWARD declared military alliance, for example, US-Australia, US- The A&N Islands are a strategic asset for India to assert its Japan, etc. dominance on the major East-West maritime trade route that 4. In case, India takes a liberal approach towards visits by passes through the Malacca Strait. It has often been referred other major powers, there should be a substantive quid to as India’s ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’ to the East. As close pro quo particularly in relation to the US and Australia. to 80 per cent of China’s seaborne trade passes through this ANALYSIS OF ABOVE CONCERNS region, the possibility of it being throttled raises the spectre
The China-centric approach to India’s decision-making of the ‘Malacca Dilemma’ for China. Yet, there is no reason to appears flawed for the following reasons: deny the US, Japan, Australia, France or the UK access to the A&N Islands. Port visits can lead to further graded 1. India has complete sovereignty, territorial control and cooperation in all its dimensions in the A&N Islands between rights over its own territory. It is entirely for India to decide India and its key strategic partners. whether and which foreign navies can pay a visit to the A&N Islands. 2. The Malacca Strait is an international waterway. Hundreds of nations ply their naval and merchant ships through CHINA ON INDIA’S APPS those waters, including Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and others. It is not used exclusively by China, nor does BAN China have a lien on defining its strategic importance. # Security #India and its Neighbourhood 3. Simply because it is a potential choke-point does not mean that there is any intention on the part of India or any foreign naval vessel that India permits to visit the A&N Islands, to threaten China’s trade and energy flows IN NEWS through that waterway. Recently, the Government of India (GOI) decided to ban the 4. In any case, foreign navies are regularly traversing the usage of Chinese apps in India. Though the decision came amid Malacca Strait and the international waters off the A&N heightened tensions between India and China in Ladakh, the Islands. GOI had invoked security reasons to block the apps. The
5. On its part, China does not show any concern for India’s interim order issued in this regard by the Ministry of sensitivities in its deployments in the Indian Ocean, not Electronics and Information Technology cited section 69A of even when visiting its immediate vicinity. the Information Technology Act, which gives the central government the power to block public access to any 6. Allowing foreign naval vessels to visit the A&N Islands on a information online. The order stated that certain apps are case-by-case basis does not tantamount to a “slippery “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of slope”. It is entirely up to India to assess any future India, security of state and public order.” It also stated that the requests by foreign navies and decide whether to accede ban will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and to requests for a strategic collaboration – including internet users, and added that the decision “is a targeted move proposals for joint exercises – on a case-by-case basis. to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace. India retains the right to decline any activity that goes beyond its strategic interests or areas of operation.
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EMERGING SCENARIOS framework for all of its activities related to the internet. This digital protectionism as per the WTO rules is • On this, China has pointed to WTO rules violation in India’s discriminatory since it helps Chinese companies in apps ban. However, with its muscular digital protectionist domestic markets against international companies. policies, the possibility of Beijing taking the issue to WTO is limited. But, what if China approaches WTO? • China argues that its data security law is fully compliant with the WTO rules. It cites general and security exceptions • How should India respond to it? To answer these under GATT and GATS to substantiate its claim. questions, one needs to understand the basis for a WTO case and to what extent international trade rules apply in • Nonetheless, China’s extensive blocking of internet access the case. is arbitrary and disproportionate. China knows that its policies represent a form of digital protectionism and • The line between legitimate domestic regulation and breach of current WTO rules. It is in this context that the violation of international trade rules is often delicate. possibility of China approaching WTO against the Indian • While India’s decision is defensible under both domestic IT decision to ban certain apps appears limited. laws and international trade rules, it is important that any • On the other hand, even if China approaches WTO, India ambiguity in the ban order that can be challenged at WTO has multiple options including security exceptions to is effectively addressed. counter China. However, the complexity of international WILL CHINA APPROACH WTO? trade rules would bring its own set of challenges for India. • WTO has one of the most active international dispute WTO AND INDIA’S APPS BAN settlement mechanisms that operates through panels and • The potential basis for a WTO complaint against Indian appellate bodies. If a member believes that another apps ban could be that it discriminates against foreign member is violating an agreement or a commitment made firms and hence hinders the legitimate flow of goods and at WTO, then that member has the right to approach the services. dispute settlement body. • Non-discrimination is key to WTO law and policy. The • As stated, the prospect of China approaching WTO against two principal anti-discrimination obligations in both GATT India’s apps ban appears minimal. Such a move could and GATS are the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) prove to be counterproductive for China, given the treatment and the National Treatment (NT). While MFN country’s stringent censorship laws. In fact, China is known treatment obligation prohibits a member from to be one of the most repressive countries when it comes discriminating between and among other members, a to regulating the internet and other digital services. national treatment obligation prohibits a member from According to international trade law experts, Beijing's discriminating against other members. internet censorship system, popularly known as the ‘Great Firewall’, is a barrier to free and fair trade. • In addition to this general anti-discrimination principles, GATS, which is more relevant in the context of India’s apps • The 2019 USTR report on China’s WTO compliance notes ban, has some sector and mode-specific obligations that Beijing often invokes ‘national security’ to justify its including obligations of market access. Since the apps that secure and controllable ICT policies. India banned are via internet media, the case would likely • China’s real intention of imposing severe restrictions on a fall under violation of trade in services. Therefore, if it wide range of ICT products and services is to support comes to it, India may invoke some provisions of both China’s technology localisation policies and replacement of general and security exceptions of GATS to defend the foreign products and services with domestic ones. ban. • China’s data security law gives ample discretion to the • Article XIV of GATS is the most relevant article when government over allowing and blocking internet services. looking at restrictions on data flows and their impact on Beijing uses the phrase ‘internet sovereignty’ as a broad trade. For instance, Article XIV (ii) grants members the
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power to enforce decisions that are contrary to general rules of WTO in certain circumstances – to protect public RISING CYBER CONCERNS morals, maintain public order and to protect the privacy of individuals. AND DIGITAL HEALTH
• Moreover, Article XIV (security exceptions) states that nothing in the agreement shall be construed “to prevent CARE any Member from taking any action which it considers # Cyber Security necessary for the protection of its essential security interests taken in time of war or other emergency in
international relations. IN NEWS • India has taken specific market access and national The outbreak of COVID-19 has not only pushed economies into commitments for telecommunication services like voice recession but also brought forth the fragility of healthcare mail, data and message transmission services, online systems in general. Migrating to digital mode has since been a information and data processing, audio-visual, etc. major move across the healthcare sector. Increased However, India has no specific commitment to market digitalisation is expected to help service providers create a access in digital services and apps. robust and critical infrastructure focused on patient’s safety • Similarly, there is no bilateral agreement between India and quality care. The future of digital healthcare appears and China concerning mobile applications. The issue of promising as patients would be more comfortable using digital intellectual property rights violation is also not applicable services for complex and sensitive medical conditions. in this geo-blocking. Therefore, the ban decision will be However, a major downside of going digital is the imminent free from scrutiny under these provisions. threat of attacks lingering in the cyberspace. Considering that the healthcare sector is critical infrastructure, patient • However, due to the complexity of rules and information and medical reports available online would be a commitments, citing the general exceptions in GATT and gold trove that could be exploited for various malicious GATS will not be sufficient to explain whether India’s purposes. decision violates the WTO rules. It instead demands a more specific but comprehensive analysis of India’s EMERGENCE OF DIGITAL HEALTHCARE sectoral commitments and WTO exceptions. For instance, • Digital healthcare refers to the integration of medical it may seem that since India has invoked security knowledge with information technology (IT) applications exceptions and the country has not taken any separate (apps) to help improve medical care and supervision of commitment on digital services and apps, the likelihood of patients.
challenging the ban in WTO is limited. • This means that a smartphone can be used to determine WAY FORWARD patient’s medical condition by monitoring patient’s vital data (pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation) While India’s decision to ban Chinese apps is legally tenable in including body temperature and movement patterns. the framework of both domestic IT laws and international • It can also be used to determine if the patient has taken trade rules, it is important that any ambiguity in the ban the prescribed medication. order that can be challenged at WTO is effectively addressed. The line between legitimate domestic regulation and violation • Digital technologies enable need-oriented solutions and of international trade rules is often very thin. For that reason, the provision of preventative, clinical and rehabilitative India should be prepared to counter the Chinese arguments services. Deploying advanced technologies like digital pertaining to discrimination and online protectionism. health, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), wearables and internet
of things (IoT), 3D printing technology and so on would
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impact different forms of treatment, care concepts, and their symptoms, treatment options, and first aid and public image of the medical profession and role of patients. health alerts.
• New diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are developed 4. Through the Kilkari mobile app initiative, audio with the support of IT management in the context of messages about pregnancy as well as childbirth and child “precision medicine” approach and digital therapeutics care are directly sent to the families and parents. A mobile- that powers personalised predictive care. based audio training course has been developed for
• Telemedicine allows access to quality healthcare at any expanding the knowledge base of the rural voluntary time thereby levelling the playing field – geographically health workforce. and financially. 5. Other m-Health applications include National Health • There has been a slew of technologies deployed to check Portal, Online Registration System, E-Rakt Kosh, ANM the spread of COVID-19 like contact tracing apps, Online (ANMOL), telemedicine projects (in remote and electronic fences, robots, and infrared (IR) thermal inaccessible areas), Tobacco Cessation Programme and screening. These technologies that aid round-the-clock leveraging mobile phones for reaching out to the remote monitoring and analytics are providing clinicians tuberculosis patients. with decision support for early identification of any 6. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduced a physiological alterations that could indicate deterioration, draft bill on Digital Information Security in Healthcare and facilitating early interventions for better outcomes. Act (DISHA). One key purpose of the proposed bill is to
• It has been predicted that by 2025 most of the hospitals secure and create reliable storage of healthcare data. It worldwide would move to the digital platform, thereby will help constitute a health information exchange, as increasing the market size of the healthcare sector from deemed eligible by the Act, and maintain the digital US$ 16.92 billion in 2017 to about US$ 58.78 billion by healthcare data of individual patients. The central 2025. government plans to incorporate a database to store information of patients and other health system • However, there is an evident downside to these healthcare components at the district and national-levels (National innovations. These new devices open-up more entry points Health Information Network) which is expected to be of cyberattacks and challenges for those in charge of implemented by 2020 and 2025, respectively. online security and patient data protection. 7. A key suggestion is to link Aadhaar to the health INDIA AND DIGITAL HEALTHCARE information network so that the patient identification 1. India is committed to financially support all the digital works seamlessly. It also includes the participation of the initiatives and looks for multi-stakeholder engagement and private sector in developing a common network to help in private-public partnerships to scale up these initiatives. In accessing information by both public and private 2017, the union cabinet approved the formulation of healthcare providers. National Health Policy, under which a National e-Health 8. With the allocation of funds for the Ayushman Bharat is to be setup. Such a policy would Authority (NeHA) Yojana developing the healthcare sector is a top priority. evolve and expand health information networks across the 9. Meanwhile, to ensure better coverage for the healthcare continuum of care, such as e-Health, m-Health, and cloud initiative, the Ministry of Health has issued a critical technology and IoT in healthcare delivery. document for public consultation to completely digitalise Major IT initiatives include 2. ‘India Fights Dengue’ mobile the healthcare data, and create a national digital health app which provides interactive information on the network called National Digital Health Blueprint. This identification of symptoms and links users to the nearest would help deliver value-added services to the concerned hospitals and blood banks. users with a consent-based flow of citizen’s health record. 3. The Swasth Bharat (Healthy India) app provides 10. Even under the current crisis, the government has rolled information on healthy lifestyle, disease conditions and out apps such as Aarogya Setu to help citizens identify
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the risk of contracting COVID-19 and AYUSH Sanjivani to unauthorised disclosures. Experts note that hospitals often spread awareness about traditional Ayurvedic medicines. do not know what systems run on the devices they use. Many of these devices are black boxes to hospitals as there is a WAY FORWARD general lack of awareness, besides the usual lack of Going digital is the most effective way to protect the first line resources. Without a multi-layered protective cyber of healthcare workers especially in the case of highly ecosystem, the medical staff may not even know when they communicable viruses like COVID-19 while increasing the are under attack. efficiency of health services. However, cybersecurity cannot India is at the cusp of digital transformation. However, with be an afterthought in the healthcare sector. Medical digital threats becoming trickier, a more holistic approach specialists often use old and outdated software/hardware towards cybersecurity would be needed to facilitate the with minimum security features, staff lacks the necessary creation of a vibrant digital healthcare environment. If going security know-how to implement updates and patches digital is necessary for the country to be on par with the promptly, and many medical devices lack security software digital world, then building a resilient and trusted cyber altogether. Human error opens a hole in systems as most ecosystem is also a necessity. breaches are triggered by employee mistakes or
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Part TWO
Ethics, Integrity
& Aptitude
Coverage from varied sources
Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
CARTOONS SPEAK SHARPER THAN THE WORDS #Ethics #Integrity #Aptitude
►Note: This section contains though provoking cartoons which depict ‘questionable unethical actions’ of various segments in our society. By understanding these cartoons, students are given an assignment to put their thoughts by suggesting ‘corrective actions’ so as to convert unethical actions to ethical actions. With respect to the cartoons, past UPSC questions are also connected. Let’s follow the cartoons and answer on the basis of your analytical thinking.
POLITICS Did you find ethical flaws in the cartoons?
PAST UPSC QUESTIONS:
Q. It is often said that ‘politics’ and ‘ethics’ do not go together. What is your opinion in this regard? Justify your answer with illustrations.
Q. Young people with ethical conduct are not willing to come forward to join active politics. Suggest steps to motivate them to come forward.
TASK: Pen down your thoughts on making politics ethical
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BUREAUCRACY
Did you find ethical flaws in the cartoons?
PAST UPSC QUESTIONS: Q. “Traditional bureaucratic structure and culture have hampered the process of socio-economic development in India.” Comment.
Q. ‘Despite the implementation of various programmes for the eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing’. Explain by giving reasons.
TASK: Pen down your thoughts on making bureaucracy accountable, transparent and citizen friendly.
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POLICE
Did you find ethical flaw in the cartoon? Task: Pen down your thoughts on making police citizen friendly
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JUDICIARY
Did you find ethical flaw in the cartoon? Task: Pen down your thoughts on required judicial reforms
MEDIA
Did you find ethical flaw in the cartoon? Task: Pen down your thoughts on making media ethical
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PAST UPSC QUESTIONs: Essay: Biased media is a real threat to Indian democracy. Essay: Social media is inherently a selfish medium.
CORPORATE
Did you find ethical flaw in the cartoon? Task: Pen down your thoughts on making corporate ethical
PAST UPSC QUESTIONS Q. “Corporate Social Responsibility makes a company more sustainable and profitable.” Analyse. Q. Can capitalism bring inclusive growth?
ENVIRONMENT
Did you find ethical flaw in the cartoon? Task: Pen down your thoughts on environmental ethics
PAST UPSC QUESTION: Q. What is meant by 'environmental ethics' ? Why is it important to study ? Discuss any one environmental issue from the viewpoint of environmental ethics.
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INDIVIDUAL
Did you find ethical flaw in the cartoon? Task: Pen down your thoughts on individual ethics
PAST UPSC QUESTION: Q. One of the tests of integrity is complete refusal to be compromised. Explain with reference to a real life example.
►Finally on the basis of above, now comes UPSC question which questioned everyone.
Attempt this question
Q. In the integrity index of Transparency International, India stands very low. Discuss briefly the legal, political, economic, social and cultural factors that have caused the decline of public morality in India.
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Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude CASE STUDIES for Practice MAINS GS PAPER IV
a) I will put forward following arguments to convince her Case 1: A fresh engineering graduate gets a job in a that keeping quiet is not morally right: prestigious chemical industry. She likes the work. The salary is also good. However, after a few months she accidentally • Under such situations, a person can either adapt to the discovers that a highly toxic waste is being secretly work culture or take the responsibility to change it. Acting discharged into a river nearby. This is causing health against wrong is in itself morally uplifting. problems to the villagers downstream who depend on the • By keeping quiet, she is failing to deliver justice to villagers river for their water needs. She is perturbed and mentions which she can. Benefits are taken by the industry whereas her concern to her colleagues who have been with the burden will fall upon the villagers. company for longer periods. They advise her to keep quite as anyone who mentions the topic is summarily dismissed. She • She is also putting the future of her company in jeopardy. cannot risk losing her job as she is the sole bread-winner for In short term, profits will be gained by the company. But in her family and has to support her ailing parents and siblings. long term the news may get leaked to the concerned At first, she thinks that if her seniors are keeping quiet, why government authorities, leading to huge negative she should stick out her neck. But her conscience pricks her repercussions for all stakeholders. to do something to save the river and the people who • By keeping quiet, she is also not setting right example depend upon it. At heart she feels that the advice of silence other colleagues at work place. Doing wrong and accepting given by her friends is not correct though she cannot give the wrong without raising voice are equally punishable reasons for it. She thinks you are a wise person and seeks • She can show some courage and make family proud. It will your advice. also increase her respect at work place. a) What arguments can you advance to show her that • She will be guilty in her own court of conscience and this keeping quiet is not morally right? will create inner dissonance and guilt. For her own b) What course of action would you advise her to adopt and emotional and mental well-being, she should not remain why? (250 words, 20 marks) silent.
Issues and values involved in the case: • Being a fresh graduate there is no dearth of opportunity 1. River water as the common good of society. for her. Also integrity is non-negotiable and non- selective. Jobs will come and go but integrity once lost is difficult to 2. Right to health of Villagers. regain. 3. Work culture and Organizational value of chemical b) I will advise her following course of action: industry. • Do some ground research and come up with concrete 4. Value of courage of Engineering graduate. report about number of people getting affected and the 5. Ethical dilemma of choosing between justice to villagers potential harm caused to health. This will increase her and security of her family. persuasion power and she will be taken seriously.
6. Ethical dilemma of choosing between integrity and social • Take the report to her immediate boss and invoke his/her well-being. conscience. If he doesn’t listen then take it to senior management. 7. Environmental ethics • Remind the company of corporate social responsibility and 8. Professionalism and responsibility of chemical industry responsibility towards society. towards society at large.
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• Trust and faith of people is required for the long term • All listed and public sector firms need to have a interest of the company. Once it is lost then sale of whistleblower policy that outlines procedures and company will be plummeted. recourses available to complainants.
• Present a case study where companies lost business due to loss of confidence of people. Case 2: Land needed for mining, dams and other large-scale • Present the pertinent environmental laws and punishment projects is acquired mostly from Adivasis, hill dwellers and for violation to instill fear as deterrent. rural communities. The displaced persons are paid monetary • If still the company doesn’t agree to treat the waste then compensation as per the legal provisions. However, the she must leave the job, complaint to the concerned payment is often tardy. In any case, it cannot sustain the authority and create awareness among people. displaced families for long. These people do not possess marketable skills to engage in some other occupation. They • She must not be worried about her job as even if end up as low paid migrant labourers. Moreover, the continues with it, she will never achieve happiness and development goes to industries, industrialists and urban satisfaction. communities whereas the costs are passed on to these poor • Take action through Whistle Blowing Provisions under helpless people. This unjust distribution of costs and benefits Companies Act, 2013. is unethical.
NOTE: Suppose you have been entrusted with the task of drafting a better compensation-cum-rehabilitation policy for such How’s whistleblowing defined in India? displaced persons, how would you approach the problem • According to the Companies Act, 2013, whistleblowing is and what would be the main elements of your suggested an action aimed at drawing the attention of stakeholders policy? (20 marks, 250 words) to instances of unethical practices in an organization. The case presents the difficulty and necessity of balancing • Under Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014, concerning economic and social development. Following are major issues allegations against public servants, it is a mechanism to and values which must be taken into account while reaching receive complaints relating to alleged corruption or wilful a plausible solution: misuse of power or discretion. A whistleblower can be 1. Virtues of empathy and compassion for the marginalized anyone who chooses to expose wrong practices and has and those who suffer displacement. evidence to support the allegations. 2. Proper rehabilitation and resettlement. • They can be either from within or outside the organization—such as current and former employees, 3. Social justice – the benefit and burden must be shared shareholders, external auditors, and lawyers. equally in society.
How does the law protect them? 4. Inclusive development.
• In India, whistleblowers are protected by the Whistle 5. Social capital as a common good. Blowers Protection Act, 2014. 6. Right to dignified life for those who suffer for national • The law provides for the protection of their identity and development. also has strict norms to prevent their victimization. For My approach towards drafting a better compensation- instance, an organization cannot initiate proceedings cum-rehabilitation policy: against a whistleblower pending a probe into allegations. To make social justice embedded in economic activity and • The same sections have been adopted in the Companies development project. Act, which applies to listed companies, and are a part of the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s governance There should be holistic rehabilitation and resettlement norms. program rather than just monetary compensation.
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To ensure that living standard of displaced people do not deteriorate.
Local tradition and culture must be given due respect and effort must be made to preserve them.
Main elements of the policy
Mandatory social impact assessment along with environment impact assessment. Local people must be integrated with the development which will happen through proposed project.
Rehabilitation and resettlement process must begin before the permission for the project is granted.
Company must use corporate social responsibility fund for rehabilitation and resettlement process.
Skill development programs like “Hunar Se Rojgar”, “Seekho Aur Kamao”, Skill India etc. has to be run for capacity building and increasing coping capability.
People who face displacement must be provided all government facilities like PDS ration, Bank accounts, Aadhaar number etc.
They must be protected from any kind of discrimination in their new home.
They must be shown ways and means for employment opportunity.
Social integration at new place must be ensured.
Government and company must keep close contact with the migrants to help them with their further problems and to give them a “sense of belongingness”.
Displacement may become inevitable sometime for economic development but we need to ensure than the process remains fair, just and inclusive.
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Part Three
Essays of
the month
Selected essays from Rau’s GSI students
ESSAY 1: JOY IS THE SIMPLEST FORM OF GRATITUDE # Society # Ethics SUBMITTED BY: MUSKAN ARYA
Disclaimer: The viewpoints in the topic are strictly personal evident back then as a form of gratitude. The civilization was of the writer above. The role of Rau’s IAS Study Circle is to peaceful and joyful thereby setting example ever after present the write-up in its original form, hence the study centuries of their existence about how egalitarian society circle neither endorses nor rejects any viewpoint in the leads to prosperity and longevity for all. Similarly, Aryans submission. The purpose is only to showcase the manner of were grateful for having discovered fertile pastures after writing. coming from Central Asia, so were Babur and Akbar in India – a land of diversity, love and kindness. Even Buddhism has its Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to use teaching reflecting the joy in acceptance when it says a his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints. person should practice ‘Mudita’ (joy over others success); ‘Upeksha’ (mind at peace); Karuna (Compassion). Gautam A child readily accepts a new toy and expresses Buddha always taught his disciples to happily accept what is her happiness by clapping and laughing. A being given to them. farmer desperately waiting for rainfall on his But as our society progressed, simple things were replaced by parched land, after a few good showers looks complex things, man grew to be more greedy than his need. up in the sky with tears in his eyes to thank the almighty. A The definition of joy changed drastically and humans became homeless person, accepts a blanket on a chilly winter night ungrateful for most of the things. Today, everyone is and expresses his gratitude by folding hands and a thankful competing for power be it inside a country or around the smile. Similarly, a dog drinks milk served to him and returns world. Politicians inside the country are often happy only the act of kindness by being loyal and protective for the after amassing wealth and having great power at their owner. He is happy to feel belonged and being cared for. dispersal; paying least regard to the toppling social order Gratitude is a state of being thankful for what has been inside the country. The great geo-political game running in bestowed upon us while at the same time being willing to the world and the race to become a super-power by return the act of kindness having given an opportunity to do eliminating and threatening others is now giving joy to the so. Like in above examples, an individual can be grateful in a world leaders. Unmindful exploitation of resources specially hundred ways but the simplest form will be being joyful natural resources for economic gains without being grateful (happy) about being blessed. It is said that happiness is in the first place for having them is pushing the entire contagious. A person being in a blissful state of mind is universe to extinction. bound to give happiness to others and thereby, the vicious The society that we live in today has more jealousy than joy. cycle of being grateful can be churned. Mother Teresa, The millennium generation getting the advantage of internet Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Gautam Buddha to name are now searching their happiness by measuring the number a few were the ones who harness this power of gratitude. of likes on a particular post on major social media platforms. Being grateful for what has been bestowed upon us were Similarly, an entrepreneur today is not happy by influencing a reflected very evidently by early human civilizations. People number of lives or by giving hope to the budding talents that of Indus Valley Civilization, were thankful for the abundance dreams can be achieved instead she runs behind the profits of resources at their disposal and therefore the trend is so and materialistic gains on the balance sheet. This negative
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Essays OF THE MONTH competition and the feeling of finding joy only after pushing here. Goal 4 – Quality education by teaching students about the other down is being ingrained in the society for too long. how small things are those that really matter. Japanese No wonder, our colleges produce mere machines than school inculcate value of cleanliness right from the beginning thinking individuals because they have been never in students. Japanese citizens who went to watch football appreciated for their uniqueness but instead have been match stunned the entire world when they cleaned the exposed to comparisons. Nobody is given a moment to pause stands after match. The players did the same when they left and introspect how far they have come and to express their dressing room and accommodation while at the same gratitude for the journey that made them today. time leaving a note that they were grateful for the hospitality. In India, Delhi schools are running happiness curriculum to Such toxic environment where individuals are perpetually help children find peace and joy and realize that they have unsatisfied breads unhappiness and leads to mental health been blessed. Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions problems. Leaders of such country which are themselves can have a far reaching effects on humanity. As they would product of this environment, turn to extremist methods and provide the basic framework for functioning. Goal 12 – often their nationalism does more harm than good. In such a Responsible production and consumption would help us limit society inequality leads to deterioration of status of women our greed. increasing crimes and domestic abuse. Such a country can never progress in this world for they have forgotten to Lastly, we the people of India, should be grateful for the distinguish between how much is too much. preamble that is as given to us by our forefathers. The least we can do is to understand the intricate balance between However, it is not at all difficult to inculcate these Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity to bring about unity fundamental emotions to help citizens of a country to be and live peacefully in this nation. Lastly, we should not forget grateful for what they have. The leaders of the country being happy to be part of World’s largest democracy and the should take the first step in this direction by indulging in less most vibrant too. power games and working towards making society more just. Sustainable development goals can be made more applicable
ESSAY 2: COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM : MYTH OR REALITY # Policy and Governance SUBMITTED BY: TUSHAR SHARMA
Disclaimer:The viewpoints in the topic are strictly personal Conditions of India at the time of independence of the writer above. The role of Rau’s IAS Study Circle is to in 1947 were the guiding factor behind the present the write-up in its original form, hence the study shape and design of Indian constitution. One of circle neither endorses nor rejects any viewpoint in the the biggest element of Indian constitution was submission. The purpose is only to showcase the manner of to make India a cooperative federal state. In contrast to writing. unitary state, India, being extremely diverse country not just geographically but also culturally, chose federal model. But, Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to use India was not exactly one identity at the time of his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints.
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Essays OF THE MONTH independence. It suffered from separatism, regional Further, the distortion has made mockry of Article 356. As per inequalities and most importantly inadequate nation Architect of Constitution, B. R. Ambedkar Article 356 was to building. Thus, rather than adopting US–type dual federalism, be a dead letter. Yet, political history of India speaks loudly India adopter centrally tilting cooperative federalism. that Article 356 only barks at opposition ruled states.
However, we should realize that our forefathers, being Moving on, in economic sphere, central government through humans, took their decision with colonial experience in their Finance Commission and Planning Commission (now not mind. Therefore, rather than stability, India preferred existant) was expected to reduce developmental imbalance in representiveness and accountability. Thus, despite being India. Instead of this, economic policies of center has always federal state, India adopted Parliament system. benifited states where their party rules. This becomes evident by looking at North-South imbalance in distribution of tax Thus, Party Politics of India is able to distort Indian revenue. Also, the neglect of North East States has to, a lot of federalism. For example, Article 356 misuse and activism by extent, do with low seat share of North East in Parliament. Governor only happens in states where opposition party is ruling. Moreover, inter state issues like inter state water Thus, Cooperative Federalism in India is definitely a myth. issues gets political hype only when different political parties However, it can become a reality if India is willing to take are ruling in different states. difficult but doable reforms.
Therefore, a rational conclusion is that cooperative Making Cooperative Federalism a Reality: federalism in India as envisioned by constitution remains a To highlight the crux of the matter, we should remember M. myth. However, this essay will focus on how to make N. Venkat Challiyah Commissions observation that no political cooperative federalism a reality in India. But, first let us look reforms will be successful if political party are not reformed. at the depth of distortion that party politics bring in federalism of India. Therefore, the first step to make cooperative federalism a reality is to make Indian Political Parties democratic. Only Tribhang of Indian Federalism: when party leaders are elected by party members, then the As explained before, Indian federalism gets distorted by state leaders will actually become free from remote control of political party system of India. This distortion is most national leaders. This freedom will provide foundation to noticeable in political sphere but as politics is Athashastra, cooperative federalism where states will gaim significant the distorting effect is also felt in economic sphere. autonomy from center.
Starting with political sphere, the distorting causes crisis of However, still center retains governor-route to mingle with nation building. Regional political parties make sure that state’s decision making. Therefore, logical next step should be regional identity remains strong. However, national political to reform post of governor. On this Sarkaria Commission parties try to focus on unity in uniformity. This tension leads has suggested to retain all provisions of governor in the to nation building crisis. constitution as they currently are. However, Sarkaria Commission has suggested methods to realize constitutional Moreover, the distortion distorts the constitutional post of morality of Governor. The Commission suggests to codify governor. He was made head of the state to emphasise on conventions regarding governor’s appointment, removal and unity of India and he was made only a nominal head to make functioning. Indian unity compatible with diversity. For example, the code should provide for consultation with However, in practice Governor is agent of political ruling at Chief Minister while appointing Governor. Further, the code center. Thus, in states where opposition party is ruling, should direct that Governor should be non-political person becomes very activist. For example, IT Governor and and outsider of the state he is going to be nominated. Administrator of Delhi and Pondicherry are very active. Plus, during the time of political instability in states like Rajasthan, Moving on to the Third step, we need to ensure that dispute Maharashtra and Karnataka, Governor’s activism is tilted resolution between federal units happen with the spirit of towards center. cooperative federalism. This requires consultation on regular
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Essays OF THE MONTH basis for resolving day to day federal issues. For this, benefiting from the status quo agree to change it? The institution of Zonal Councils should be revived. answer to this is simple “No! they will not agree to change.” Thus, we the people of India needs to force change. However, the real disputes between federal units are on Therefore, the civil society needs to come out and go to major policy issue. Honoring the foresight of constitutional people’s room and educate them on the benefits of makers, we can use Article 263 inter-state councils to get cooperative federalism. Citizens need to be educated that consensus among federal units so that policy reflects their problems are divided between different federal units cooperative federalism. The example of GST council and and therefore, only cooperative federalism could provide 101st Constitutional Amendment Act is a case in point. them meaningful resolution. Further, for dealing with inter-state river water disputes, we Thus, the making of cooperative federalism as real fact in need to promote bottom-up political negotiations rather than Indian political system is going to be protracted conflict. But, top-down tribunal arbitration. The recent amendment to the democracy of India can ensure everyone that if the inter-state water disputes Act is welcomed on this ground. people of India have made up their mind to live in Therefore, the political will for implementing it is need of harmonious political system, then no one can stop the hour. change. Lastly, as politics is arthashastra, institution of Finance Therefore, remember Gandhi “Be the change you want to Commission needs reforms similar to the reforms that made see” and go out, join civil society, contribute and make Planning Commission into Niti Aayog. Therefore, Team India history. is also needed to decide on the members and terms of reference of Finance Commission.
Thus, we can ensure that polity of India reflects cooperative federalism. But, how will the status-quo change? Why people
ESSAY 3: CUSTOMARY MORALITY CANNOT BE A GUIDE TO MODERN LIFE
# Ethics SUBMITTED BY: AKASH BHAIRAV GUPTA
The concept of life has always intrigued humans. Even the Rig Initially, before the advent of civilization, human lived in small Veda, considered to be one of the first books written in the groups called tribal societies. Gradually with newer Nasadiya Sukta. The Nasadiya Sukta is the first section of discoveries and intentions, humans began setting down in Rigveda, and contains nothing but questions – questions larger societies. There were always a quest for a stable life for about the origin of life. The meaning of life, the creator, the humans. This quest, in past, gave birth to religion and purpose of life etc. In the ancient Greek City States, great customs. They consisted of rules, doctrines and regulations to thinkers like Socrates. Plato and Aristotle also tried to delve organize the social order in a particular manner. So as to upon what constitutes a good life, and how life should be make life more predictable, orderly and productive. Religion conducted. Subsequently many philosophers also tried to and customs had the concept of morality in them. Morality of answer these existential questions about life. a society distinguishes the good from the bad, the right from
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Essays OF THE MONTH the wrong and the divine from the evil. Each society It is the social sphere where the clash between customary developed its own set of customary morals and organised morality and modern rationality is most evident. For example, their society accordingly. For example, it was the in India, conservatives, consider practices of untouchability, Dharamshastra and Manusmriti for India in the 5th-6th caste disability, female infanticide, Sati, Patriarchy, and many century A.D. the Sharia law in the Islamic World (8th century more regressive practices to be morally justified, as it is AD onwards) and the law of the Bible for the Christian World sanctioned by customary law. However, there is no doubt in the middle ages. today that these practises are irrational, regressive, inhuman, degenerate and against individual liberty. This is also However, with the passage of time, these customary laws got vindicated by the Indian Constitution through Right to entrenched and petrified, and failed to evolve with changing equality, Article 21 (Right to life), Article 17 (Against circumstances. Many regressive practices took root in these untouchability), etc. The Indian constitution even advocates customs, and got the sanctity of religion. For example, it was discrimination and use of affirmative action, to undo the considered morally right, to practise untouchability, Sati, historical injustice inflicted upon certain sections of the female infanticide, etc. in Hindu law; to practise stone pelting society due to the so called “customary morality”, and also to and chopping off heads of thieves in Sharia law, and putting enforce the modern ideal of substantive equality. to death anyone who questioned the authority of the Church in Christian Law. There was no scope for humanism and In the political sphere, use of customary morality is the reasoning. Those in positions of power dictated morality as agenda of the ultra-conservatives and the ultra-right wing. per their convenience to maintain the status quo. The result Nazism and Fascism are examples of political ideologies that was immense social inequalities, political instability and a were based on customary morality and false cultural regressive decaying society, especially during the Dark Age in Chauvinism. These ideas took such a toxic form and Europe (500-1200 A.D.) culminated in heinous, cruel, inhuman and unthinkable acts which led to the holocaust. Even today, these ideas present A break in this time with the advent of a phenomenon, known themselves in some form or the others, and are a great as renaissance. It was sort of a rebirth of rationality and threat to the modern ideas of equality, liberty and fraternity reasoning, which was the feature of the Roman & Greek which have been achieved after a long period of struggle. In society in the pre-christian era. Renaissance was speech the Indian context, our constitution and polity provide for headed by scientists and thinkers like Machiavelli, Galileo, various safeguards against the subversion of democracy, and Newton etc. This was the advent of Modernity. Modernity is also gives many rights and protections to minorities to characterised by the spirit of humanism and individual safeguard their interests. liberty. Individual is considered to be an end in itself. Modernity favours rational thinking, and a scientific approach If we were to follow customary morality, in the economic towards solving problem. It advocated separation of the sphere, then Vasco de Gama, couldn’t have crossed to oceans Church from the state, thus confining religion to the private to come to India, or Indians like M.K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, sphere of an individual. With the growth of intentional trade, etc. couldn’t have gone to England to acquire Western colonialism and imperialism, these modern ideas gradually Education. This is because both in Christian and Hindu law, it proliferated to different parts of the world, including India. In was forbidden to cross the sea. Such as irrational notion goes India, great thinkers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy. Rabindranath against individual freedom and does not foster the spirit of Tagore, B. R. Ambedkar, Jawahar Lal Nehru etc. were flag adventure, enterprise and curiosity. Another example could bearers of modern thought. be the clash between the catholics and the protestants, where the latter considered work to be worship, and were However, the spread of modern thought and ideas was not instrumental in the growth of capitalism. Hence, if it were not without backlash from conservations, who favoured for the modern thoughts of innovation and spirit of traditions and customary morality to modern, rational adventure. The human race could not have progressed thinking. This clash is evident and very much visible in our economically and there would have been no industrial societies even today in multiple spheres, be it social, political, revolution. economic or even intentional.
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Customary morality cannot be a guide to international A well-known phrase goes – “The only thing permanent in relations and foreign policy either. The international order, this world is change.” It is very opt saying, when seen in light post WWII, was guided by the spirit of humanism and of the clash between customary ideas and modern ones. All rationality, with emphasis on the need to report human customary and traditional ideas are not bad or regressive. rights, the will of the people and progressive notions of Rather it is on the foundation of them that we build on new liberty, equality and fraternity. The birth of the United ideas. However, what becomes important is to examine if the Nations Organisation is testimony to this. Whenever morality of the post hold any significances in the modern regressive customary morality has taken primacy, it has only period, or serve any purpose at all. If not, it is very imperative led to chaos and death intentionally. The best example of this that they are reformed to suit the times. Evolution is the is the growth of Fundamentalism internationally. The only fundamental law of nature, and it holds good in the spheres thing that this ideology has achieved is the loss of millions of of morality as well. Therefore, if we are to take the human innocent lives in different parts of the world. On the other race forward, then customary morality cannot be our guide in hand, it is the modern democratic countries based on ideas that journey towards on evolving social consciousness. of humanism and empathy who come forward to offer humanitarian assistance in face of disasters, both natural and man-made.
ESSAY 4: BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN OTHERS #Ethics
There are a very few people in the world who that they considered sharing the compartment with coloured dared to do what they preached. Gandhi ji was persons as losing their purity. an epitome of change. He wanted to change Gandhi ji was a man of principles. He had the guts to object the world but before that he changed himself. against the treatment being given to the coloureds. If it had He changed his attitude towards the world and the world's been any ordinary person, he would have easily surrendered attitude towards him changed automatically. It was his to the situation. But he was not ordinary. He demanded from attitude that transformed him from a young promising the government to end the policy of discrimination. His aim lawyer, born in enslaved India to the father of a free nation. was not to force something from outside. He wanted that the He started the journey of his transformation from the dark 'whites' realise that they were wrong. They must change their continent of Africa where he confronted the social evil of the attitude towards the coloured. His crusade against the apartheid. The plight of the black and coloured people of system kept him in South Africa until he unshackled the South Africa filled his heart with a feeling of sympathy for coloured people from the chains of apartheid system which them. His resolution became more solid when he himself had had bound them for centuries. His ways and attitude inspired to suffer at the hands of so called whites, for being 'coloured'. the coloured. They woke up from a slumber which had made He was thrown out of the first class compartment of a train them drowsy for so long to realize that they were also human despite having a valid ticket. At that moment he realized how beings and it was not their fault that they were coloured. The egoistic and hypocrites white people were. He came to know inspiration helped them to get justice finally. Gandhi ji taught us that we must not be hypocrites.
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Similarly, we must present ourselves as we are. There is from his life history prove how he put his principles into always a scope of improvement in everyone. We must seek to reality. He did not compromise even when the movements improve upon ourselves. We must present our real self to the started by him were at peak. He withdrew his non-co- world. If we are conscious that we do not possess qualities operation movement when the news broke that at some that we should have then we must first acquire those places had become violent. By doing this he gave an qualities. Until and unless we don't have them, we would not indication how much he believed in his philosophy. It was a be able to assess their true worth. We cannot tell the taste of step to show his resentment for the violence. It also served as a mango until we have tasted it ourselves. Telling without a warning against any such action in future. His principles doing so will be hypocrisy and a lie. would have been futile had he not shown his determination and capability of inspiring the masses. Gandhi ji did not only preach the principles of truth and non- violence but also presented before us how to make these a Our history is full of personalities who inspired Gandhi ji to part of our lives. He showed the world how we can practice make this statement. Like Gandhi ji, those were the persons these principles in real sense. If we go through the life history who changed themselves. They transferred their entire of Mahatma Gandhi we come across many such incidents, lifestyle and philosophy to be able to preach what they which prove that whatever he preached were not only sets of wanted to. The great Mauryan king Ashoka, who preached words but he also showed them through actions. Before peace and non-violence, was himself a violent emperor. He giving someone some advice he always tested that on his got the throne of Magadha after killing his own siblings. Later own self. He wanted to see if his advice really worked. he attacked kalinga killing thousand's, but he changed Moreover he wanted to make sure that he himself was himself. He gave up the policy of violent aggression. He was perfect in that sense. If he wanted some- one to give up able to convince others only after he personified non- eating too much of sweets, he first experimented on himself violence. Today he is not known for his large kingdom or for if he can also quite eating sweets or not. He taught the world his conquests, but for his love for peace and non-violence. that an alcoholic has no moral right of telling anyone to give Another example is of Gautama Buddha. He was the founder up drinking. Before changing others one has to change of a great religion. He quit the luxuries of his palace to himself. One must rectify his habits before one preaches become a wanderer. He transformed his life from a prince to other. In this sense he meant that teachers must first give up a monk. He preached only after he was himself aware of the the habit of telling lies before students. The students will ultimate truth. His personal example inspired many never accept his advice of always speaking truth if he himself thousands become his fol lowers. He had to first adopt the is a habitual. The same principle works at homes. If we want values which inspired others to adopt them. Gandhi ji was to teach our children values and morals, we must first live also inspired by these historical personalities. morality. He came to know that changes brought by blood and Gandhi ji was a great believer of truth and non-violence. He violence are temporary. People accept these changes under did not believe in the violent ways adopted by some the influence of fear. But changes brought through peaceful youngsters. He termed them 'some misled youths. He ways are permanent. We still remember Ashoka and the returned from South Africa aimed an atmosphere of Buddha. We still feel the influence of their principles. Their suppression and tyranny by the Britishers. It is not that his principles are still relevant. blood remained cool and It did not boil like other youngsters Gandhi ji preached 'Work is worship'. Today we see the of his time. But he did not compromise with his principles. He phrase written on the wall of schools and offices. Gandhi ji did not give up his ways of peace and non-violence. He showed to the world what the phrase actually meant. He is straight away disapproved of the violent ways adopted by often seen in pictures sitting behind a spinning wheel. It was revolutionaries who wanted to drive out the Britishers. not just to impress onlookers, but he, in fact, did his petty Gandhi ji believed that their cause was noble but their means works him- self. The inhabitants at his ashram were in the was wrong. He believed that to reach at the destination of habit of doing their works themselves. They did not hesitate freedom, the path of non-violence and truth must be from doing works with their own hands because they were adopted. being given live demonstration by the very person that they These principles became an integral part of his life. Never in followed. This not only changed their habits but also they his life did he run away from his principles. The instances understood the worth of work. This also raised the status of
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Mahatma Gandhi in their eyes. One of the epitomes of human service was mother Teresa. She led a simple and selfless life which has inspired thousands of philanthropists around the world.
Gandhi ji statement becomes all the more relevant in today's world. We all have our own ideal world inscribed in our minds. We see many things which are of our liking but many are those which we do not like and always wish to change. Not only we but many more like minded people having common ideas wish to see changes in society. But this idealism is mostly restricted to merely 'wishes'. We all remain passive and cynical about changes. We do not want to take initiative. We always hope that someone else would take the first step. It is because for a change to be effective the person who initiates the process has to bring changes in himself. We are reluctant of bringing changes in ourselves. This is what differentiates an ordinary person from a great soul. Mahatma Gandhi wished that everyone modifies himself to change other. The statement of Gandhi ji is a source of inspiration for many who want to give a meaning and a right direction to their lives. It encourages us to make our own path. The initiative taken by us distinguishes us from the commoners and helps us make a unique space for ourselves. It can make a leader out of a common man. A leader has the quality of motivating others and an ability to implement the initiatives taken by him appropriately. But nothing comes without a price. Hence changes require determination to change oneself first.
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