NOVEMBER 2019 a Magazine for APSC CCE and UPSC CSE

Lucent IAS

CURRENT AFFAIRS NOVEMBER 2019 A magazine for APSC CCE and UPSC CSE

Includes Assam related topics for APSC Specific topics for UPSC CSE-2019 Personality Tests Includes interview transcript of Mr. Tapan Deka, IRS , UPSC CSE-2016

Copyright © by Lucent IAS All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Lucent IAS

History and Culture Page 4 5.11 Ayodhya verdict 1.1 Excavation in Gottiprolu 5.12_ Sabarimala Case 1.2 Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 5.13 Contempt of court 1.3 UNESCO Creative cite network 5.14 Essar steel verdict 5.15 Citizenship amendment bill 1.4 Chavang Kut 5.16.Equal representation for all states in Rajya sabha 1.5 Thiruvalluvar 5.17 Opacity around electoral bonds 1.6 Travellers quoted in Ayodhya judgement 5.18.Evolution of anti-defection law 1.7_Suranga Bawadi 5.19 NATGRID 1.8_World Monuments Fund 5.20 Right to Carry Business 1.9 Udham Singh International Relation Page 46 1.10 GI Textiles 6.1 India China and Nepal relation 1.11 Lala Lajpat Rai 6.2 EAST ASIA SUMMIT Geography Page 12 6.3 QUAD initiatives 2.1 Dwarf Planet 6.4 Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS) 6.5 BIMSTEC Port conclave 2.2 SCOJTEX 6.6 No Money For Terror Conference 2.3 RED ATLAS ACTION PLAN MAP 6.7 Kalapani dispute 2.4.Danakil depression 6.8 International Seeds treaty 2.5 Tiger TRIUMP 2.6 Samudra Shakti: Economy Page 52 2.7 Cyclone bulbul: 7.1 Global Microscope Report 2.8 Geochemical baseline Atlas 7.2 WTO ruled against India’s export Subsidies 2.9.Pliosaurs 7.3 Electoral bonds: 7.4 CMIE report on Joblessness 2.10_Chagos Archipilego 7.5 Adjusted Gross Revenue in telecom sector 2.11 Lightening 7.6 Balance of Trade and RCEP 2.12 Cyclones so far in the Indian Ocean: 7.8 ICEDASH and ATITHI initiative 2.13 Coalbed methane 7.9 SkillBuild platform Society and welfare Page 16 7.10 Steel scrap recycling policy 3.1 PISA 7.11 Core Investment company 3.2 Free internet access for poor: Kerela government 7.12 Alternative Investment Funds 3.3 Draft Social Security code 7.13 Harmonized system code 7.14 Diamond Quadrilateral Bullet Train project 3.4 Global Migration Report 7.15 Base Year in GDP calculation Health and Education Page 22 7.16 Project Zero 4.1 Highlights of the 14th edition of the NHP 7.17 International Symposium on Lighting (iSoL) 4.2_RAAH App 7.18 BHIM UPI 4.3_Lancet report on premature death 7.19 Financial firms under IBC 4.4.The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) 7.20 India Asean FTA 4.5 Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh 7.21 PM Kisan man dhan yojana 4.6 Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Science and Technology Page 65 Pneumonia 8.1 Pegasus Spyware 4.7_Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 8.2 Indigen Genome 4.8 Smart Safety Surveillance 8.3 Glyphophate herbicide 8.4 Voyager 2 Polity Page 27 8.5 Cloud Seeding 5.1 Jammu and Kashmir bifurcation 8.6 Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme 5.2 Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA 8.7_X-57 Maxwell 5.3 Second Judges case 1993 8.8_Arrokoth 5.4 India Justice Report 2019 8.9_International treaty on plant genetic resources 5.5 5.5 Office of Profit 8.10 Starlink project 5.6 T N Shehshan 8.11_Spicules in Sun 8.12_Gravastars 5.7 National Water Policy 8.13_Budapest convention on cyber security 5.8 CJI Office under comes under RTI 8.14_Cartosat and its applications 5.9 President’s rule in Maharashtra 8.15_Fastags 5.10 Doctrine of Essentiality Environment Page 76 9.1 UNFCCC COP 25

9.2_Public health Emergency Assam and North East (General Studies 9.3_Red Atlas Action Plan 9.4_IND-AIR Paper 5) Page 86 10.1_Naga Peace accord and Naga flag 9.5_Climate Finance 10.2_First ever movement of container cargo in 9.6_Nirmal Tat Abhiyan Brahmaputra 9.7_Acqua alta 10.3_“Shishu Suraksha” app launched in Assam: 9.8_Brown to Green report 10.4_Assam roofed turtle: 9.9_Green Climate Fund 10.5_Arundhati scheme 9.10_Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 10.6 New Land Policy 2019 Assam 9.11_Avian Botulism 10.7 Turtle survival and Gamosa 9.12_Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) 10.8_Chokuwa Rice and Gamosa GI tag 9.13_Recycling of Ships 10.9_Dehumidifier based dehydration for turmeric 10.10_Mithun meat may soon get approval from FSSAI 10.11_Assam in NITI Ayog’s top sic best education states 10.12_Issue of Mid-day meal issue in Assam Topics for UPSC CSE 2019 10.13_Shishu Shuraksha App 10.14 Elephant death and the need t revive the habitats Personality Tests Page 91 10.15_Plan Bee

11.1 Interview transcript of Tapan Deka (UPSC 2016 AIR 859)

11.2 Modern Assam-Foundation of Company rule

11.3 Peasant Movements of Assam

HISTORY AND CULTURE

1.1 Excavation by Archaeological Survey of India in Gottiprolu, Andhra Pradesh

It is indicated as a Trade Centre of Early Historic Period of Andhra Pradesh. The proximity of the site (at southern coastal location) to the seacoast suggests that the site could have served as a strategic settlement involved in maritime trade.

Where is it? Gottiprolu lies on the right bank of a distributary of river Swarnamukhi about eighty kilometers from Tirupati and Nellore(Now renamed as Potti Sriramulu district).

Key Points

1. Among many other antiquities unearthed are one life size Vishnu sculpture(Four armed , standing on pedestral) and a wide variety of pottery of the early centuries of current era. 2. The excavation revealed the presence of brick-built structures in different sizes and forms. 3. The available brick sizes are comparable with the Satavahana / Ikshvaku period structures in Krishna valley. 4. On the basis of the brick size and associated findings they can be placed anywhere between 2nd – 1st century BCE or little later (nearly 2000 years old). 5. Other interesting antiquity retrieved is the molded female terracotta figurine with two hands lifted upwards. 6. Other major retrieved antiquities unearthed are copper and lead coins, iron spear head, stone celts, terracotta beads, ear stud in semi precious stone and hopscotches.

Important summary

1. The proximity of the site to the seacoast suggests that the site could have served as a strategic settlement involved in maritime trade. 2. These settlements could have been an important trade centre as indicated by the presence of imitated amphorae wares that were mostly used to transport liquid commodities. 3. The findings of assorted stone tools of Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods from secondary contexts suggest that prehistoric people also occupied this area. 4. A series of broken terracotta pipes fitted into one another revealed about the civic amenities maintained by the occupants of this site. The drainage system pattern is understood by the exposed remains of the drainage at the site.

Probable Mains Question – In the post-Mauryan era the Satavahana’s not only filled the political vacuum in the Deccan but also contribute immensely to enrich the cultural heritage. Examine the statement with suitable example of recent archaeological findings.

1.2 Rashtriya Ekta Diwas It was observed on 31st October across the nation. It marks the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Background: The government, in 2014, decided to observe Sardar Patel Jayanti Day as Ekta Diwas. This occasion provides an opportunity to re-affirm the inherent strength and resilience of the nation to withstand the threats to its unity, integrity and security. About Sardar Vallabhai Patel: Sardar Patel is credited with uniting all 562 princely states in pre-independent India to build the Republic of India. Role in the Indian National Movement:

1. 1917– Elected as the Secretary of the Gujarat Sabha, the Gujarat wing of the Indian National Congress. 2. 1918– Led a massive “No Tax Campaign” that urged the farmers not to pay taxes after the British insisted on tax after the floods in Kaira. His effort to bring together the farmers of his area brought him the title of ‘Sardar’. 3. Supported the non-cooperation Movementlaunched by Gandhi and Patel toured the nation with him. 4. 1928– When the lands of farmers were seized after they refused to pay the extra tax to the government, Patel helped the farmers by striking a deal between the government and farmers’ representatives. 5. 1930– Imprisoned for participating in the famous Salt Satyagraha movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. 6. 1931- Elected as the President of Indian National Congress in its Karachi session where the party deliberated its future path. 7. Patel was also compelled to use coercion by launching ‘Operation Polo’to liberate and integrate Hyderabad after the Nizam of Hyderabad entertained false hopes of either joining Pakistan or remaining independent.

Probable mains question – Discuss the contribution of Sardar Patel in the formation of the Union of India with special highlights on his activities post-1947

1.3 UNESCO Creative cites network UNESCO has designated Mumbai as a member of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of FILM and Hyderabad in the field of GASTRONOMY. About UCCN UCCN created in 2004, is a network of cities which are thriving, active centres of cultural activities in their respective countries. UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was established in the year 2004. It creates a network of those cities that are active centres of various cultural practices in their respective countries. At present UCCN has 246 member cities including Mumbai and Hyderabad. These cities can be from all continents with different income levels or with different level of populations. UCCN believes that these cities are working towards a common mission and that is to placing creativity at the core of their urban development plans to make region resilient, safe, inclusive and sustainable. Ministry of Culture is the nodal Ministry of Government of India for all matters in UNESCO relating to culture. Objective of UCCN They work together towards a common mission: placing creativity and the creative economy at the core of their urban development plans to make cities safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable, in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 5

The 7 categories for recognition under UCCN are as follows- Crafts and Folk Arts, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Music, Media Arts, Literature Previously, 3 Indian cities were recognized as members of UCCN namely- Jaipur-Crafts and Folk Arts (2015) Varanasi-Creative city of Music (2015) Chennai-Creative city of Music(2017)

1.4 Chavang Kut

Chavang Kut the post-harvest festival of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo communities is being celebrated across North-Eastern states with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm.

The festival marks the Anglo-Kuki war centenary year.

In Manipur, Mizoram and Assam and other parts of the country, the festival is organized every year as thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.

It is one of the most important festivals of Kuki-Chin-Mizo communities. It is a state holiday in Manipur. Note: Not to be confused with Chapchar Kut Chapchar Kut

The Chapchar Kut is a festival of Mizoram, India. It is a spring festival celebrated with great favour and gaiety.It is celebrated during March after completion of their most arduous task of jhum operation i.e., jungle-clearing.

1.5 Thiruvalluvar

Thiruvalluvar is fondly referred to as Valluvar by Tamils. His ‘Tirukkural’, a collection of 1,330 couplets (‘kurals’ in Tamil), are an essential part of every Tamil household. It holds importance in the same way the Bhagavad Gita or the Ramayana are in traditional North Indian Hindu households.

Thiruvalluvar is revered as an ancient saint, poet, and a philosopher by Tamils, irrespective of their religion. He is an essential anchor for Tamils in tracing their cultural roots; Tamils are taught to learn his couplets word-for-word, and to follow his teachings in their day-to-day living.

1.6 Travellers quoted in Ayodhya judgement

In the Ayodhya judgment delivered the Supreme Court relied in part on centuries-old travelogues, gazetteers and books to provide an account of the faith and belief of various parties involved in the case.

The travelogues that the court took note of included, among others, those by the European travellers Joseph Tieffenthaler, William Finch, and Montgomery Martin.

Joseph Tieffenthaler (1710-1785) Tieffenthaler was an 18th-century missionary who travelled in India for 27 years, and wrote his travelogue titled “Description Historique et Geographique De l’Inde”. Hailing from Bozano in present-day Italy, Tieffenthaler underwent religious training in the Jesuit order before setting sail for Goa from Portugal in 1743. He said to have been proficient in mathematics, astronomy, geography and natural sciences, and in the German, Italian, Spanish, French, Hindustani, Persian, Arabic, and Sanskrit languages. In India, he was commissioned at the famous observatory of Sawai Jai Singh, the Raja of Jaipur, and was later attached at the Jesuit College in Agra which was built with the patronage of Akbar. Tieffenthaler is said to have lived in Awadh, where Ayodhya is located, for over five years.

William Finch (died 1613) William Finch’s account has been recorded in the 1921 book ‘Early Travels in India (1583-1619)’ by the historiographer Sir William Foster. The book contains the narratives of seven travellers from England, including Finch.Finch is known to have arrived in India in 1608 at Surat with Sir William Hawkins, a representative of the East India Company. His is said to be the earliest English language account of Kashmir, as well as trade routes connecting Punjab and eastern Turkistan and western China.Finch visited Ayodhya between 1608 and 1611, and did not find any building of importance of Islamic origin. 6

Robert Montgomery Martin (1801-1868) Originally from Dublin in Ireland, Martin was an Anglo-Irish author and civil servant. He practised medicine in Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka), East Africa and Australia. Martin then went on to work in Kolkata where helped found the paper ‘Bengal Herald’. He later returned to England where he wrote about the British Empire. Martin wrote the three-volume work ‘History, Antiquities, Topography and Statistics of Eastern India’.

1.7_Suranga Bawadi

Suranga Bawadi, an integral part of the ancient Karez system of supplying water through subterranean tunnels built during Adil Shahi era in Vijayapura, is now set to get funding for restoration. A New York-based non-governmental organisation has included it in the World Monument Watch list for 2020 along with 24 other monuments from across the world. With this, the Suranga Bawadi is expected to get funds for restoration within the next two years. The NGO would also coordinate with the authorities concerned for restoration and create public awareness on its importance.

What is Karez System? Karez is a method of irrigation in which groundwater is tapped by a tunnel. After running for some distance the tunnel comes out in the open and the water is conducted to the command area. According to historians, the Adil Shahis built the magnificent underground system to supply water to the city, which had a population of nearly 12 lakh then. Though the Karez system was built in the 17th century by Ali Adil Shah–I, his successor, Ibrahim Adil Shah–II, brought in several changes by adding more structures to strengthen it.

1.8_World Monuments Fund The monument has been selected under the ‘Ancient Water System of the Deccan Plateau’ by World Monuments Fund [the NGO], which monitors restoration of ancient monuments across the globe. It works in collaboration with the local stakeholders, including the district administration, the ASI, and local explorers of ancient monuments, in highlighting the need for the restoration of ancient monuments.

World Monuments Watch Every two years WMF publishes the World Monuments Watch (formerly the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites). Since the first list was compiled in 1996, this program has drawn international attention to cultural heritage sites around the world threatened by neglect, vandalism, armed conflict, commercial development, natural disasters, and climate change. Through the World Monuments Watch, WMF fosters community support for the protection of endangered sites, and attracts technical and financial support for the sites

1.9 Udham Singh An extremely chauvinist MP raked up a storm in the Lok Sabha after she praised Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse and she later claimed that remark was meant for Udham Singh and not Godse. This is not the first time that Udham Singh has been mentioned in Parliament. Who was Udham Singh? Singh, born in Sunam in Punjab’s Sangrur district in 1899, was a political activist who got associated with the Ghadar Party while in the US. The multi-ethnic party was believed to have communist tendencies and was founded by Sohan Singh Bhakna in 1913. In 1934, Singh made his way to London with the purpose of assassinating O’Dwyer who in 1919 had been the Lt. Governor of Punjab and unsurprisingly Singh considered O’Dwyer to be responsible for the massacre. As per a book, “A Patient Assassin” written by Anita Anand, when O’Dwyer ordered Brigadier Reginald Dyer to Amritsar before the massacre, he was worried that there might be a second Indian mutiny, given the Hindu-Muslim unity and the demonstrations and strikes. Instead of Dyer, who instructed his men to open fire at the crowd gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, O’Dwyer is considered to be the actual perpetrator, since Dyer could not have executed it without his permission. The assassination of O’Dwyer On March 13, 1940 Singh shot O’Dwyer at a meeting of the East India Association and the Royal Central Asian Society at Caxton Hill. Singh was immediately arrested and held in Brixton prison following this. At the prison, Singh staged a 36-day hunger strike and in police statements and at the court referred to himself as Mohamed Singh Azad, to symbolize Hindu-Sikh-Muslim unity in the fight for India’s freedom. He was sentenced to death and was hanged on July 31, 1940 at Pentonville Prison. In 1974, his remains were sent back to India and he was cremated in his village in Sunam.

In popularity

For avenging the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Singh is seen by some as a hero. Gandhi had famously decried Singh’s revenge as an “act of insanity”. Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand is named after the freedom fighter.

1.10 GI Textiles The Ministry of Textiles provides financial assistance for 2019 GI list registration of handloom products under the Geographical Indications (GI) of Goods Act, 1999. So far, 65 handloom Products Categories States products and 6 product logos are registered under GI Act. State- wise list of handloom products is as under: Kandhamal Agricultural Odisha Haladi

Rasagola Food Stuff Odisha

Kodaikanal Agricultural Tamil Malai Poondu Nadu

Pawndum Handicraft Mizoram

Ngotekherh Handicraft Mizoram

Hmaram Handicraft Mizoram

Palani Food Stuff Tamil Panchamirtham Nadu

Tawlhlohpuan Handicraft Mizoram

Mizo Puanchei Handicraft Mizoram

Gulbarga Tur Agricultural Karnataka Dal Details of GI Registered Handloom Products Logos (logos only) Tirur Betel Leaf Agricultural Kerala (Tirur Vettila) 1 Mysore Silk Handloom Karnataka Khola Chilli Agricultural Goa 2 Muga Silk of Assam Handloom Assam

Himachal Idu Mishmi Handicraft Arunachal 3 Kullu Shawl Handloom Pradesh Textiles Pradesh

4 Navalgund Durries Handloom Karnataka Dindigul Locks Manufactured Tamil Nadu 5 Kota Doria Handloom Rajasthan

Banaras Brocades Uttar Kandangi Handicraft Tamil 6 Handloom and Sarees Pradesh Saree Nadu

Srivilliputtur Food Stuff Tamil Palkova Nadu

Kaji Nemu Agricultural Assam

S.No. Geographical Indications Goods State

1 Uppada Jamdani Sarees Handloom Andhra Pradesh

2 Venkatagiri Sarees Handloom Andhra Pradesh

3 Mangalagiri Sarees And Fabrics Handloom Andhra Pradesh

4 Dharmavaram Handloom Pattu Sarres And Paavadas Handloom Andhra Pradesh

5 Muga Silk of Assam Handloom Assam

6 Bhagalpur Silk Handloom Bihar

7 Champa Silk Saree And Fabrics Handloom Chhattisgarh

8 Tangaliya Shawl Handloom Gujarat

9 Kachchh Shawls Handloom Gujarat

10 Patan Patola Handloom Gujarat

11 Kullu Shawl Handloom Himachal Pradesh

12 Kinnauri Shawl Handloom Himachal Pradesh

13 Kashmir Pashmina Handloom Jammu & Kashmir

14 Kani Shawl Handloom Jammu & Kashmir

15 Navalgund Durries Handloom Karnataka

16 Ilkal Sarees Handloom Karnataka

17 Molakalmuru Sarees Handloom Karnataka

18 Udupi Sarees Handloom Karnataka

19 Cannanore Home Furnishings Handloom Kerala

20 Balaramapuram Sarees And Fine Cotton Fabrics Handloom Kerala

21 Kasaragod Sarees Handloom Kerala

22 Kuthampully Sarees Handloom Kerala

23 Chendamangalam Dhoties & Set Mundu Handloom Kerala

24 Kuthampully Dhoties & Set Mundu Handloom Kerala

25 Chanderi Sarees Handloom Madhya Pradesh

26 Maheshwar Sarees & Fabrics Handloom Madhya Pradesh

27 Solapur Chaddar Handloom Maharashtra

28 Paithani Sarees And Fabrics Handloom Maharashtra

29 Shaphee Lanphee Handloom Manipur

30 Wangkhei Phee Handloom Manipur

31 Moirang Phee Handloom Manipur

32 Kotpad Handloom Fabric Handloom Odisha

S.No. Geographical Indications Goods State

33 Orissa Ikat Handloom Odisha

34 Khandua Saree And Fabrics Handloom Odisha

35 Gopalpur Tussar Fabrics Handloom Odisha

36 Dhalapathar Parda & Fabrics Handloom Odisha

37 Sambalpuri Bandha Saree & Fabrics Handloom Odisha

38 Bomkai Saree & Fabrics Handloom Odisha

39 Habaspuri Saree & Fabrics Handloom Odisha

40 Berhampur Patta (Phoda Kumbha) Saree & Joda Handloom Odisha

41 Kota Doria Handloom Rajasthan

42 Kancheepuram Silk Handloom Tamil Nadu

43 Bhavani Jamakkalam Handloom Tamil Nadu

44 Madurai Sungudi Handloom Tamil Nadu

45 Arani Silk Handloom Tamil Nadu

46 Kovai Kora Cotton Sarees Handloom Tamil Nadu

47 Salem Silk know as Salem Venpattu Handloom Tamil Nadu

48 Pochampally Ikat Handloom Telangana

49 Gadwal Sarees Handloom Telangana

50 Siddipet Gollabama Handloom Telangana

51 Narayanpet Handloom Sarees Handloom Telangana

52 Agra Durrie Handloom Uttar Pradesh

53 Banaras Brocades And Sarees Handloom Uttar Pradesh

54 Mirzapur Handmade Dari Handloom Uttar Pradesh

55 Santipore Saree Handloom West Bengal

56 Baluchari Saree Handloom West Bengal

57 Dhaniakhali Saree Handloom West Bengal

58 RajKot Patola Handloom Gujarat

59 Mysore Silk Handloom Karnataka

60 Guledgudd Khana Handloom Karnataka

61 Solapur Terry Towel Handloom Maharashtra

62 Karvath Kati Tussar Sarees And Fabrics Handloom Maharashtra

63 Chakhesang Shawls Handloom Nagaland

64 Salem Fabric Handloom Tamil Nadu

S.No. Geographical Indications Goods State

65 Warangal Durries Handloom Telangana

1.11 Lala Lajpat Rai November 17 is the death anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai, nationalist leader affectionately called ‘Punjab Kesari’ Rai is remembered for his role during the Swadeshi movement and for his advocacy of education. Born in 1865, he became a follower of Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of the Arya Samaj, and went on to become one of the society’s leaders. In 1881, he joined the Indian National Congress at the age of 16. He also helped found the Punjab National Bank. In 1885, Rai established the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School in Lahore and remained a committed educationist throughout his life. Rai, Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal (called Lal-Bal-Pal) fervently advocated the use of Swadeshi goods and mass agitation in the aftermath of the controversial Partition of Bengal in 1905 by Lord Curzon. He founded the Indian Home Rule League of America in New York City in 1917. He was elected President of the Indian National Congress during its Special Session in Kolkata in 1920, which saw the launch of Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-cooperation Movement. The patriot died at Lahore in 1928 after he was attacked by police during a protest rally against the Simon Commission. His important works include: ‘The Arya Samaj’, ‘Young India’, ‘England’s Debt to India’, ‘Evolution of Japan’, ‘India’s Will to Freedom’, ‘Message of the Bhagwad Gita’, ‘Political Future of India’, ‘Problem of National Education in India’, ‘The Depressed Glasses’, and the travelogue ‘United States of America’. The significance of his views for the freedom struggle are as follows:

1. His views helped recognize the importance of a united front against British. 2. The British efforts to divide India on communal lines as seen in the Acts of 1909 and 1919 was made clear to Indian leadership. 3. His thoughts of cultural diversity were given post independence by Nehru as ‘Unity in Diversity’. 4. His idea of people of all religions as true citizens of India, combined with Gandhiji’s ideas of inclusive fight against British led to Non- Cooperative movement linked with the Khilafat movement. 5. Rai’s understanding of the societal issues led him to form various social organizations like All India Trade Union Congress, Punjab National Bank which are still flourishing in India.

GEOGRAPHY 2.1 Dwarf Planet

As of today, there are officially five dwarf planets in our Solar System. Now, there is a claimant for a sixth dwarf planet. Hygiea: New dwarf in the race

Using observations made through the European Space Organization’s SPHERE instrument at the Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have now found Hygiea may possibly be a dwarf planet.

The most famous is Pluto, downgraded from the status of a planet in 2006. The other four, in order of size, are Eris, Makemake, Haumea and Ceres. Hygiea has so far been taken to be an asteroid. It lies in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. If it qualifies, Hygiea will be the smallest dwarf planet in the Solar System.

What makes a Hygiea dwarf?

The International Astronomical Union sets four criteria for a dwarf planet, and Hygiea already satisfies three — it orbits around the Sun, it is not a moon, and it has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit. The fourth requirement is that it have enough mass that its own gravity pulls it into a roughly spherical shape. According to the new study, VLT observations now show Hygiea satisfied that condition, too. This is the first time astronomers have observed Hygiea in high resolution to study its surface and determine its shape and size

2.2 SCOJTEX Shanghai Cooperation Organization Joint Exercise on Urban Earthquake Search & Rescue. The latest edition is being held in India.

Key facts:

• Hosted by NDRF. • Aim to rehearse the disaster response mechanism, share knowledge, experience, technology & also for mutual coordination, etc. • The participants of all 08 member countries namely China, India, Kazakhastan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan shall be participating in this exercise. • Main focus shall be to test the region’s preparedness and resilience towards effective activation of Inter- governmental interaction for immediate response. About SCO: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, also known as the Shanghai Pact, is a Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai. Founding members are - China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The cooperation was renamed to Shanghai Cooperation Organisation after Uzbekistan joined the organisation in 2001. Goal of SCO: strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order. Presently, the SCO comprises eight member states, namely the Republic of India, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan;. The SCO counts four observer states, namely the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Belarus, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Mongolia. The SCO has six dialogue partners, namely the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the Republic of Turkey, and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

2.3 RED ATLAS ACTION PLAN MAP Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu recently unveiled the ‘Red Atlas Action Plan Map’ atlas and the ‘Coastal Flood Warning System App (CFLOWS-Chennai)’ for flood mitigation in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

What is Red Atlas Action Plan Map?

• It is a first of its kind ready reckoner map, prepared by Union Ministry of Earth Sciences to aid state government of Tamil Nadu in effective flood mitigation in Chennai which witnessed the worst deluge in 2015. • The atlas is aimed at flood mitigation, preparedness, operations and management aspects. • The manual besides showcasing the probable scenarios for different rainfall periods also provides information on corporation wards that are likely to be affected due to flooding, and the areas that may need evacuation in Chennai by taking into account all historical datasets.

Coastal Flood Warning System app for Chennai (CFLOWS- CHENNAI):

• Launched by NIOT. • It is India’s first integrated coastal flood warning system. • It is an integrated GIS-based decision support system to provide forecast on potential inundation 10 days in advance. • It will be hosted and made operational at National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) with meteorological data inputs from India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS). • The system can simulate the scenario and predict what will happen in a particular area.

2.4.Danakil depression Danakil Depression in northeastern Ethiopia is one of the world’s hottest places, as well as one of its lowest, at 100 metres below sea level. At the northern end of the Great Rift Valley, and separated by live volcanoes from the Red Sea, the plain was formed by the evaporation of an inland water body. All the water entering Danakil evaporates, and no streams flow out from its extreme environment. It is covered with more than 10 lakh tonnes of salt. Now, a new study says that active and naturally occurring life cannot be sustained at Danakil. It identifies two barriers: magnesium- dominated brines that cause cells to break down; and an environment having simultaneously very low pH and high salt, a combination that makes adaptation highly difficult.

2.5 Tiger TRIUMP:

• It is a first tri- services amphibious exercise between India and the US. • Conducted in Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. • The exercise will help both the countries to exchange knowledge and to establish professional and personal relationship.

2.6 Samudra Shakti: It is a bilateral maritime exercise between India and Indonesia. The latest edition is being held in Bay of Bengal. The joint exercises include, manoeuvres, surface warfare exercises, air defense exercises, weapon firing drills, helicopter operations and boarding operations.

2.7 Cyclone bulbul:

• It is the seventh named storm of the unusually active 2019 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. • The season has seen Cyclone Pabuk (South China Sea-Andaman Sea), Cyclone Fani (Bay of Bengal), Cyclone Vayu (Arabian Sea), Cyclone Hikka (Arabian Sea), Cyclone Kyarr (Arabian Sea) and Cyclone Maha (Arabian Sea).

• Bulbul name was contributed by Pakistan. • If IMD’s predictions hold true, Bulbul will also be the sixth storm to reach an intensity of very severe cyclonic storm.

2.8 Geochemical baseline Atlas For the first time, ‘Geochemical Baseline Atlas of India’ developed by CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) for use by policymakers to assess environmental damage was released.

Geochemical Baseline Atlas of India The atlas consisting 45 maps of metals, oxides and elements present in top and bottom soils across India. It will serve as a reference against which future generations of the country would be able to assess the chemical compositional changes on Earth’s surface. These maps help in finding out future contamination caused by industries or other bodies which cause pollution.

Part of a Global Map It will be given to International Union of Global Sciences (IUGS), which is preparing global maps. To develop the maps, the globe was divided into 5,000 cells of 160 km by 160 km each. Of it, India has 122 cells. CSIR started this work in 2007 from cell number 1 which is in Kanyakumari. The last cell is in Arunachal Pradesh.

What are it’s Uses Earlier, there was no way to prove if polluters denied causing damage to the environment. Now, the baseline maps atlas helps show evidence of it. With a glance at it, policymakers will get to know regions with high and low concentrations of metal. For instance, tanneries release chromium. By going through the map of chromium, policymakers will get to know regions with a high concentration of it.

2.9.Pliosaurs Over 150 million years ago, enormous reptiles swam the Jurassic oceans. The largest aquatic carnivorous reptiles that have ever lived, they are often dubbed “sea monsters”. Scientifically, they are placed in the suborder Pliosauroidea, whose members are called pliosaurs. Interest in these giants has been revived with the recent discovery of their bones in a cornfield in the Polish village of Krzyzanowice. Remains of pliosaurs are rare in Europe. They measured over 10 metres in length and could weigh up to several dozen tons. They had powerful, large skulls and massive jaws with large, sharp teeth. Their limbs were in the form of fins.

Swietokrzyskie Mountains The Swietokrzyskie Mountains are a mountain range in central Poland. In the Jurassic era, the Swietokrzyskie Mountains area is believed to have been an archipelago of islands, where there were warm lagoons and shallow sea reservoirs, home to the marine reptiles discovered by the palaeontologists. The locality where the remains were discovered is considered to be rich in the fossils of coastal reptiles. Researchers now hope to find more remains in the coming months.

2.10 Chagos Archipilego

In a heated statement, Mauritius has called the UK an “illegal colonial occupier” of Chagos Island after it ignored a UN mandated deadline to return Islands. The UN had given UK six months to process the transfer, a move the UK and the US have bitterly resisted.

Mauritius has argued that the Chagos Islands has been a part of its territory since at least the 18th century. The UK broke the archipelago away from Mauritius in 1965 and the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches from the Seychelles in the region to form the British Indian Ocean Territory. In June 1976, after the Seychelles gained independence from the United Kingdom, the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches were returned by the UK. Colonization of Chagos The UK retained sovereignty over the islands after Mauritius gained its independence from Britain in 1968. 14

It has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814. The islands have since been used for defence purposes by the UK and the US, which established a military base on the island of Diego Garcia. The entire Chagossian population was forcibly removed from the territory between 1967 and 1973, and prevented from returning.

An ICJ obligation for UK The ICJ had said in its opinion that the UK Government is “under an obligation” to end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible. It demanded that the UK withdraw its colonial administration from the Chagos Archipelago unconditionally within six months, enabling Mauritius to complete the decolonization of its territory as rapidly as possible.

2.11 Lightning

As per IMD, With 9 lakh lightning strikes between April 1 and July 31 this year, Odisha recorded the highest number of lightning strikes in the country, while Jammu and Kashmir recorded the least with about 20,000 strikes.

Significance: This is the first time the weather monitoring body has released the data on total lightening strikes across the country. The date for the months of April till July was compiled by IMD’s Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROSPC). The report was prepared as part of a three-year study period under Lightning Resilient India campaign.

Key findings:

1. Most number of deaths due to lightning strikes were reported from Uttar Pradesh. 2. The highest intensity lightning strikes were observed in Chhotanagpur plateau in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. The area also received the maximum number of strikes for a district. 3. The number of lightning days (number of days when lightning strikes happened) across India has been increasing every month. July witnessed the highest number of lightning days, especially in the latter half due to the onset of monsoon. What is lightning? It is a very rapid — and massive — discharge of electricity in the atmosphere, some of which is directed towards the Earth’s surface. These discharges are generated in giant moisture-bearing clouds that are 10-12 km tall. How does it strike?

1. The base of these clouds typically lies within 1-2 km of the Earth’s surface, while their top is 12-13 km away. Temperatures towards the top of these clouds are in the range of minus 35 to minus 45 degrees Celsius. 2. As water vapour moves upward in the cloud, the falling temperature causes it to condense. Heat is generated in the process, which pushes the molecules of water further up. 3. As they move to temperatures below zero degrees celsius, the water droplets change into small ice crystals. They continue to move up, gathering mass — until they are so heavy that they start to fall to Earth. 4. This leads to a system in which, simultaneously, smaller ice crystals are moving up and bigger crystals are coming down. 5. Collisions follow, and trigger the release of electrons — a process that is very similar to the generation of sparks of electricity. As the moving free electrons cause more collisions and more electrons, a chain reaction ensues. 6. This process results in a situation in which the top layer of the cloud gets positively charged, while the middle layer is negatively charged. The electrical potential difference between the two layers is huge — of the order of a billion to 10 billion volts. In very little time, a massive current, of the order of 100,000 to a million amperes, starts to flow between the layers. 7. An enormous amount of heat is produced, and this leads to the heating of the air column between the two layers of the cloud. This heat gives the air column a reddish appearance during lightning. As the heated air column expands, it produces shock waves that result in thunder.

How does this current reach the Earth from the cloud? While the Earth is a good conductor of electricity, it is electrically neutral. However, in comparison to the middle layer of the cloud, it becomes positively charged. As a result, about 15%-20% of the current gets directed towards the Earth as well. It is this flow of current that results in damage to life and property on Earth.

There is a greater probability of lightning striking tall objects such as trees, towers or buildings. Once it is about 80-100 m from the surface, lightning tends to change course towards these taller objects. This happens because air is a poor conductor of electricity, and electrons that are travelling through air seek both a better conductor and the shortest route to the relatively positively charged Earth’s surface.

2.12 Cyclones so far in the Indian Ocean: 2019 may be the record-breaking cyclone year for India. We are already on a par with 2018 when a record of seven Cyclones was made. The latest cyclone- bulbul, is the seventh to be formed in the Indian Ocean this year. It is the highest in the last 34 years — a record held jointly with 2018. It will also be the second storm to form in the Bay of Bengal this year after extremely severe Cyclone Fani in April-May. Previously there was Cyclone Maha formed in the Arabian Ocean. In the Indian Ocean region, cyclones Bulbul and Maha came in quick succession after super cyclone Kyarr — a first in the region after the Odisha super cyclone of 1999. The Arabian sea, usually not known to be prone to cyclones, has had four major cyclones this year — very severe cyclone Vayu, very severe cyclone Hikaa, super cyclone Kyarr and extremely severe cyclone Maha. This equals the record for the highest number of severe cyclones in the Arabian sea in the last 117 years. There have been two extremely severe cyclones and one super cyclone in the Indian Ocean region in 2019, taking the total number of severe cyclones to five.

Elsewhere:

• Super typhoon Halong in the western north Pacific Ocean. • Hurricane Dorian– Bahamas. • Nakri– West Philippine’s Sea.

2.13 Coalbed methane

India has the fifth-largest coal reserves in the world, and CBM has been looked at as a clean alternative fuel with significant prospects. Coalbed Methane (CBM)CBM, like shale gas, is extracted from what are known as unconventional gas reservoirs — where gas is extracted directly from the rock that is the source of the gas (shale in case of shale gas and coal in case of CBM). The methane is held underground within the coal and is extracted by drilling into the coal seam and removing the groundwater. The resulting drop in pressure causes the methane to be released from the coal.

Uses of CBM CBM can be used for power generation, as compressed natural gas (CNG) auto fuel, as feedstock for fertilisers, industrial uses such as in cement production, rolling mills, steel plants, and for methanol production.

Reserves in India The country’s coal and CBM reserves are found in 12 states of India, with the Gondwana sediments of eastern India holding the bulk. The Damodar Koel valley and Son valley are prospective areas for CBM development, with CBM projects existing in Raniganj coalfields, the Parbatpur block in Jharia coalfield and the East and West Bokaro coalfields. The Son valley includes the Sonhat North and Sohagpur East and West blocks.

SOCIETY AND WELFARE 3.1 PISA Union Human Resource Development Minister recently reviewed preparations for PISA 2021. He instructed all the Deputy Commissioners to work hard to make India successful in this examination.

Background: Cabinet has already given ex-post facto approval to the Agreement between India and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for participating in the Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA), which will be conducted by the OECD in 2021. The Agreement was signed on 28th January 2019.

India’s participation in PISA:

• India had taken part in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2009 and bagged the 72nd rank among 74 participating countries. • Then UPA government had boycotted PISA, blaming “out of context” questions for India’s dismal performance. • Later, the HRD Ministry, under the NDA-II government, revisited this decision in 2016 and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) had set up a committee to review the matter and submitted its report in December 2016. • The report recommended for participation in test in 2018. However, India missed the application deadline for the 2018 cycle.

About PISA

1. It is an international assessment that measures 15-year-old students’ reading, mathematics, and science literacy every three years. 2. First conducted in 2000, the major domain of study rotates between reading, mathematics, and science in each cycle. 3. PISA also includes measures of general or cross-curricular competencies, such as collaborative problem solving. 4. PISA is coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization of industrialized countries, and is conducted in the United States by NCES.

Top performers: In 2012 PISA test, schools of Shanghai in China topped reading, mathematics and science test, followed closely by Singapore. In 2015, Singapore, Japan and Estonia were ranked as top three countries, in that order.

PISA and its works PISA is the only international education survey to measure the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds, an age at which students in most countries are nearing the end of their compulsory time in school. PISA is also unique in the way it looks at:

1. Public policy issues. 2. Literacy. 3. Lifelong learning.

What might have gone wrong for India in 2009? India performed very poorly – ranking 73rd out of 74 countries that participated in that round, finishing ahead of only Kazakhstan.

1. The result was so shocking that many people assume that it must have been an aberration. 2. Some feel that the students may not have been prepared for the test. Others believe that the students may have been tested in English, which they were not proficient in (actually, all students were tested in their medium of instruction.) 3. Still, others feel that the performance must have been poor because only government schools were tested – our private school students would have done much better. 4. But a well-publicized study by Education Initiatives (EI) in 2006 and repeated in 2012 established that even students of our top schools would perform well below the international average in grade 4.

Why assessments like the PISA turn out to be difficult for most Indian students?

1. The mentality that questions can be only from the textbook. 2. Very poor reading ability. 3. Process of answering questions – pattern-matching versus problem-solving. 4. When Indian students encounter PISA-type questions, many of them freeze at the first sign of the unfamiliar and decide that they have not ‘learnt this question type’ and cannot solve it. 5. Low understanding of processes or concepts and even comprehension skills.

Way forward:

• Each of the above represents an entrenched, yet solvable problem in the Indian education system. • Though there are no quick-fix solutions, there are key levers available to create change: • Changing the pattern of Board Exam questions – and teacher training starting with teachers from grade 5 or so are two strong levers in our control.

3.2 Free internet access for poor: Kerela government Kerala could have near-universal Internet access in a year’s time.

The project The state cabinet for the Kerala Fibre Optic Network project cleared the path for a Kerala-wide optical fiber network by December 2020. It recognised that Internet access is a basic human right. No other Indian State has recognised Internet access in this manner till now. This is also in sync with the UN. It aims to touch every household in Kerala by delivering free Internet access to over two million BPL families. It aims to charge affordable rates for other families. It is to be set up by the Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd. and the Kerala State IT Infrastructure Ltd. It will connect 30,000 government offices and educational institutions. When complete, a State that already tops in human development indicators in the country, will be ready for a steep digital evolution.

Importance Rights – The role of the Internet in enabling freedom of speech and reducing inequality is huge. Progress – India has made huge leaps in providing Internet access to its people in recent years. A good part of the growth till now can be attributed to cheap data plans, triggered by the advent of Reliance Jio. According to a recent study by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and Nielsen, the country has 451 million active Internet users.

Gaps and inequality Huge in number – Internet have-nots still exist in the millions Urban has higher penetration- Internet penetration is significantly higher in urban areas than it is in rural areas. Gender gap – It is also significantly higher for men than it is for women. Regional gaps – The best-performing State Delhi has an Internet penetration of 69%,Kerala 2nd , with just 54%. Tech companies – Global technology companies have in recent years eyed the huge population of Internet have-nots as an opportunity. Some, like Facebook, came up with an idea of free access to a list of chosen sites.

3.3 Draft Social Security code The draft code on social security, which subsumes eight existing laws covering provident fund, maternity benefits and pension, is being further worked upon after a recent round of public consultations. Draft Social Security Code Here are the five key things in the draft code: A) Insurance, PF, life cover for unorganized sector employees: Bulk of India’s labour force is in informal sector and a move looks forward looking but most of key initiatives it suggest may be the decision of the states with little contribution from the centre. There may be unorganized sector social security boards at the centre and state levels. The draft code says the “Central Government shall formulate and notify, from time to time, suitable welfare schemes for unorganised workers on matter 19

relating to life and disability cover; health and maternity benefits; old age protection; and any other benefit as may be determined by the central government”. While framing of schemes, the draft says the states may also formulate and notify suitable initiatives for unorganized workers, including schemes relating to provident fund, employment injury benefit, housing, educational scheme for their children, old age and funeral assistance.

B) Corporatization of EPFO and ESIC: The pension, insurance and retirement saving bodies including EPFO and ESIC will be body corporate. The world body corporate has been added in the draft and may bring in a departure from the current autonomous body status of such organization. The draft also talks about appointment of chief executive officers (CEOs) in these organization indicating that the labour minister, labour secretary, the central PF commissioner and Director General of ESIC may not be by default the head of such organizations. It means the EPFO may become a more structured national body with its entire Rs. 11 trillion corpus under the responsibility of a central government-appointed chairman. Currently EPFO is headed by the labour minister chaired central board of trustees. The Central Government shall also appoint a Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer to assist the Chief Executive Officer in the discharge of his duties draft code said.

C) Benefits for Gig workers: Millions of gig workforce in India, often referred as lonely in the workplace, may soon get life and disability insurance, health and maternity benefits among others as the union government is formulating a labour code that propose such provisions. As per the draft social security code, the Central Government may formulate and notify suitable social security schemes for gig workers and platform workers” and such schemes would encompass issues like “life and disability cover”, “health and maternity benefits, old age protection” and “any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government”. Though the exact number of gig workers are unknown as they are still figuring out whether they are formal workers or informal workers or independent entrepreneurs, a 2017 study by consulting firm EY has said that nearly one out four gig workers in the world are from India.

4) Maternity Benefit: The draft says subject to the other provisions of this Code, every woman shall be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for, the payment of maternity benefit at the rate of the average daily wage for the period of her actual absence. That is to say, the period immediately proceeds the day of her delivery, and any period immediately following that day. For the purposes of this sub-section, ―the average daily wage means the average of the woman’s wages payable to her for the days on which she has worked during the period of three calendar months immediately preceding the date from which she absents herself on account of maternity. This will be subject to the minimum rate of wage fixed or revised under the Code on Wages, 2019.

5) Existing labour laws that the code will merge: The Code on Social Security, 2019 once in place will merge eight exiting labour laws including Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923; Employees‘ State Insurance Act, 1948, Employees‘ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952; Maternity Benefit Act, 1961; Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972; Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1981; Building and Other Construction Workers Cess Act, 1996 and Unorganized Workers‘ Social Security Act, 2008

3.4 Global Migration Report The Global Migration Report 2020 highlighting the international migrants stock was recently released.

Global Migration Report 2020 It released by the UN-affiliated International Organization for Migration (IOM). It reiterates the key trend of the International Migrant Stock 2019 dataset released by the UN Population Division in September — of the 272 international migrants worldwide (3.5% of the global population). According to the report, roughly two-thirds of international migrants are labour migrants. Oceania (a geographic region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia) is the region with the highest proportion of international migrants. The UAE is the country with the highest proportion of international migrants.

Top destinations The top destination for international migrants is the US where, as of September 2019, there were 50.7 million international migrants. The US is followed by Germany, Saudi Arabia, Russian Federation and the UK. The top migration corridors for Indians are the United Arab Emirates, the US and Saudi Arabia. Conversely, the highest number of migrants entering India comes from Bangladesh. The US is also the top choice for migrants from China.

Indian case India accounts for the highest share with 17.5 million Indians living outside the country. India is followed by Mexico (11.8 million) and China (10.7 million).

Remittances inflows Among other details in the new report, the high count of international migrants living abroad also makes India the leading recipient of remittances. International remittances in 2018 (2020 report) reached $689 billion, out of which India received $78.6 billion from the 17.5 million living abroad. India is currently followed by China ($67.4 billion), Mexico ($35.7 billion), Philippines ($33.8 billion), Egypt ($28.9 billion) and France ($26.4 billion). The US was the top remittance-issuer, at $68 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates ($44.4 billion) and Saudi Arabia ($36.1 billion).

HEALTH AND EDUCATION 4.1 Highlights of the 14th edition of the NHP

Per capita health expenditure In 2016, India’s Domestic general government health expenditure stood at $16 per capita. This is lower than Norway ($6,366), Canada ($3,274), Japan ($3,538), Republic of Korea ($1,209) and Brunei Darussalam ($599).

The American system, though, is considered neither ideal nor economical. This data has been sourced from the Global Health Expenditure Database of the World Health Organisation.

Disease profile The NHP also notes the change in disease profile of the country with a shift towards the non-communicable disease from communicable ones. It has been observed that the non-communicable diseases dominate over communicable in the total disease burden of the country. Dengue and Chikungunya, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, are a cause of great concern to public health in India. In the same period, disease burden from non-communicable diseases increased from 30 per cent to 55 per cent. DALYs are an international standard of disease burden that measures how much of a normal life span of an individual is taken away by a disease related morbidity of mortality.

Life expectancy Life expectancy in India has increased from 49.7 years in 1970-75 to 68.7 years in 2012-16. For the same period, the life expectancy for females is 70.2 years and 67.4 years for males. For comparison, in last year’s survey, the life expectancy had increased from 49.7 years in 1970-75 to 68.3 years in 2011-15. For the same period, the life expectancy for females is 70 years and 66.9 years for males.

Economically active populationOn demographics, the survey found the high incidence of the young and economically active population. The survey notes that 27% of the total estimated population of 2016 was below the age of 14 years. Majority (64.7%) of the population were in the age group of 15-59 years i.e. economically active, and 8.5% population were in the age group of 60-85 plus years.

Birth/Death rates There has been a consistent decrease in the birth rate, death rate and natural growth rate in India since 1991 to 2017. As on 2017, India has registered birth rate of 20.2 per population of 1,000 and death rate of 6.3 while the natural growth rate was 13.9 per population of 1,000. The birth rate in rural areas was higher than in the urban. Similarly, the death rate and natural growth rate were also higher in rural areas as compared to the urban.

Sex Ratio As per the NHP, sex ratio (number of females per 1,000 males) in the country has improved from 933 in 2001 to 943 in 2011. In rural areas the sex ratio has increased from 946 to 949. The corresponding increase in urban areas has been of 29 points from 900 to 929. Kerala has recorded the highest sex ratio in respect of total population (1,084), rural population (1,078) and urban (1,091). The lowest sex ratio in rural areas has been recorded in Chandigarh (690).

Dip in IMR The infant mortality rate (IMR) has declined considerably (33 per 1,000 live births in 2016), however differentials of rural (37) and urban (23) are still high.

Various causes of death During the year 2015, 4.13 lakh people lost their life due to accidental injuries and 1.33 lakh people died because of suicide. Suicide rates are increasing significantly among young adults and the maximum number of suicide cases (44,593) is reported between the age group 30-45 years. The total number of cases and deaths due to snake bite are 1.64 lakh and 885, respectively, in 2018. The total number of disabled persons in India is 2.68 crore.

Pollution related illness Air pollution-linked acute respiratory infections contributed 68.47 per cent to the morbidity burden in the country and also to highest mortality rate after pneumonia. Acute diarrhoeal diseases, caused due to drinking contaminated water, caused the second highest morbidity at 21.83 per cent. Cholera cases went up to 651 in 2018 from 508 in 2017, the report showed. Uttar Pradesh followed by Delhi and West Bengal had the highest cases.

Medical education infrastructure The NHP has noted that medical education infrastructure has shown rapid growth over the past few years. The country has 529 medical colleges, 313 Dental Colleges for BDS & 253 Dental Colleges for MDS. The total number of admissions for the academic year 2018-19 in Medical Colleges is 58756.

National Health Stack and National Digital health print The challenge of making quality and affordable healthcare accessible to every one of India’s 135 crore citizens has acquired an altogether new dimension. The report charting out the process for implementing the National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) has been completed.

What is the National Health Stack (NHS)? Unveiled by the NITI Aayog last year, NHS is digital infrastructure built with the aim of making the health insurance system more transparent and robust. There are five components of NHS: Electronic national health registry that would serve as a single source of health data for the nation; Coverage and claims platform that would serve as the building blocks for large health protection schemes, allow for the horizontal and vertical expansion of schemes like Ayushman Bharat by states, and enable a robust system of fraud detection; Federated personal health records (PHR) framework that would serve the twin purposes of access to their own health data by patients, and the availability of health data for medical research, which is critical for advancing the understanding of human health; National health analytics platform that would provide a holistic view combining information on multiple health initiatives, and feed into smart policymaking, for instance, through improved predictive analytics; and Other horizontal components including a unique digital health ID, health data dictionaries and supply chain management for drugs, payment gateways, etc., shared across all health programmes.

What is the National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB)? The NDHB is the architectural document for the implementation of the NHS. Its vision is to create a national digital health ecosystem that supports universal health coverage in an efficient, accessible, inclusive, affordable, timely and safe manner, through provision of a wide range of data, information, and infrastructure services. NDHB recognizes the need to establish a specialised organisation, called the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) that can drive the implementation of the blueprint, and promote and facilitate the evolution of a national digital health ecosystem.

Features The key features of the blueprint include a federated architecture, a set of architectural principles, a five-layered system of architectural building blocks, a unique health ID (UHID), privacy and consent management, national portability, electronic health records, applicable standards and regulations, health analytics. A total of 23 such building blocks have been identified in the blueprint for the NHS to become a viable reality. Why is the NHS necessary? Currently apart from Ayushman Bharat there are many secondary and tertiary care schemes running in various states. West Bengal has opted out of Ayushman Bharat, and Telangana and Odisha have never been a part of the scheme. Also, there is an urgent need for integration of the two arms of Ayushman Bharat — health and wellness centres which constitute the primary care arm, and PMJAY. This is the secondary and tertiary care arm under which the target is to provide 10.74 crore families with an annual health cover of Rs 5 lakh each. Without integration, the goal of continuum of care cannot be met — and that would mean PMJAY might end up becoming a perpetual drain on resources. Would all the data going to be safe/secure? One of the biggest concerns following the high-profile rollout of Ayushman Bharat has been regarding data security and privacy of patients. More than a year after the Justice Srikrishna Committee prepared a draft data privacy law, there has been little meaningful movement on it. Critics have argued that in the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s privacy judgment, the data privacy law should ideally have preceded the implementation of Ayushman Bharat.

4.2 RAAH App NIMHANS has compiled a one-stop source online mental health care directory “RAAH”. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) has come out with a NIMHANS RAAH app, a mobile application that can be downloaded on Android and iOS platforms. It provides free information to the public on mental health care professionals and mental healthcare centres How does it work? Mental health professionals and organisations can register and update their information in the directory live for no cost. The online directory and mobile app allows people to search for information about professionals such as psychiatrists, 23

psychologists, psychiatric social workers, special educators and occupational therapists working with government, NGOs, clinics, hospitals, and rehabilitation centres.

Key features The main features of the directory are that people can filter the information according to their search requirements. A user will get two kinds of views in the directory — map and list view — where they can get all the information about the organisation and professionals such as timings, fees details, available services, and years of experience.

About NIMHANS The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences is a premier medical institution located in Bengaluru, India. NIMHANS is the apex centre for mental health and neuroscience education in the country, the institute operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

4.3 Lancet report on premature death An analysis published in The Lancet Global Health, which looked at about 9.7 million deaths in India in 2017, found that every condition that was common in one part of India was uncommon elsewhere. About the study The study is funded by the Ministry of Heath and Family Welfare. It included authors from the Indian Council of Medical Research, and from the global health research wings of the University of Toronto and University of California, San Francisco.

Highlights

YLLs (years of life lost) By the WHO definition, YLLs, or years of life lost, are calculated from the number of deaths multiplied by a standard life expectancy at the age of death. Premature deaths due to various causes expressed as YLLs, too were unevenly distributed in terms of the burden on the states. For example, liver and alcohol-related YLL rates were high in the northeastern states, Bihar, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, accounting for 18% of national YLLs.

DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) In 2017, India had 486 million DALYs (disability-adjusted life years, a measure of the number of years lost due to ill health or disability). The ratio of DALYs to the 9.7 million deaths was about 50 to 1. More than three quarters of deaths and DALYs occurred in rural areas, and males accounted for 54·3% of all DALYs. At all ages, the DALY rate per 100 000 population was 36,300, but rates were higher among rural residents and among males. DALY rates in rural areas were at least twice those of urban areas for certain conditions.

Deaths due to various reasons The Northeastern states, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Haryana, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh account for 44% of India’s cancer burden. Suicide YLL rates were highest in the southern states, accounting for 15% of national totals. Road traffic injuries were high in the northern states of UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, accounting for 33% of national totals. Drowning YLL rates, meanwhile, were highest in the central states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and in Assam in the Northeast, accounting for 11% of national totals.

4.4..The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) launched in four districts of the State has been able to control hypertension in about 35% of the people covered under the initiative.

What is Hypertension? Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. Usually hypertension is defined as blood pressure above 140/90, and is considered severe if the pressure is above 180/120. High BP often has no symptoms. Over time, if untreated, it can cause health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. Eating a healthier diet with less salt, exercising regularly and taking medication can help lower blood pressure.

About IHCI The IHCI was launched in Kerala in April 2018 as a multi-partner five-year initiative with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Council of Medical Research, State government, and WHO India. The IHCI was also launched in Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Punjab. The results from Kerala had been the most impressive so far because of the infrastructure strength of non-communicable disease clinics across the State. Each patient was given a treatment book and the health card was kept at the hospital. Every month there was a follow-up on the patient by the hospital over the phone or by visit of an Accredited Social Work Activist. With the success of the initiative, the government is considering replicating it in other districts too.

Success of the move A total of 2.23 lakh people — 72,460 in Thiruvananthapuram, 74,909 in Thrissur, 58,818 in Kannur, and 19,009 in Wayanad — were registered for the IHCI. Of 4,530 patients among them, 40% in Thiruvananthapuram, 32% in Thrissur, 37% in Kannur and 24% in Wayanad could better control their health parameters. This study group’s parameters for blood pressure (BP) control were followed up from July to September 2019.

Marked change This is a marked change from the average of 13% of people having control of hypertensive parameters recorded in non-communicable disease (NCD) clinics in the State (data inferred from NCD clinics). In the IHCI study group, those with uncontrolled blood pressure in these districts were put at 43%, 37%, 38% and 27%. In the group, 15%, 31%, 25%, and 49% had also defaulted because of various reasons – change of address, change in treatment system or others.

4.5 Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh Union Minister of Women and Child Development (WCD) has announced Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (BPKK). The Harvard Chan School of Public Health through its India Research Center and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will document and evaluate promising regional dietary practices. The BPKK will be a repository of diverse crops across 128 agro-climatic zones in India for better nutritional outcomes. In consultation with Ministry of WCD and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project team will select around 12 high focus states which are representative of the geographical, social, economic, cultural and structural diversities of India. In each of the states or group of states the team will identify a local partner organization which has relevant work experience in Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) and nutrition for developing the food atlas.

Why such move? The, two other approaches are required to complement the Government’s efforts to promote healthy dietary practices. One, addressing the challenge of malnutrition at such a vast scale requires a basic understanding of the social, behavioural and cultural practices that promote and reinforce healthy dietary behaviours both at the individual and community level. Two, creating the first ever data base that links relevant agro-food system data at the district, with an aim to map the diversity of native crop varieties that will be more cost-effective and sustainable over the long run.

4.6 Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS). The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched a campaign in Gujarat named Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS). Aims and objectives - To reduce child mortality due to pneumonia, which contributes to around 15% of deaths of children under the age of five annually. - To mobilise people to protect children from pneumonia, and train health personnel and other stakeholders to provide prioritised treatment to control the disease. Key features of the programTapan Deka :

• A child suffering from pneumonia will be treated with a pre-referral dose of antibiotic amoxicillinby Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers.

• Pulse Oximeter (device to monitor oxygen saturation) will be used at the Health and Wellness Centre for identification of low oxygen levels in the blood of child and if required, the child can be treated by the use of oxygen cylinders. • A mass awareness campaignwill be launched about the effective solutions for pneumonia prevention like breastfeeding, age-appropriate complementary feeding and immunization etc.

4.6_Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 IMI was launched from Vadnagar in 2017 and immunization has been given a strong push in the Gram Swaraj Abhiyaan and Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyaan. The IMI 2.0 aims to achieve targets of full immunization coverage in 272 districts in 27 States and shall be implemented in the block level (652 blocks) in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In October 2017, the PM Modi launched IMI, an ambitious plan to accelerate progress.

It aimed to achieve 90% full immunization coverage with focus towards districts and urban areas with persistently low levels. IMI was built on MI, using additional strategies to reach populations at high risk, by involving sectors other than health. It was an effort to shift routine immunization into a Jan Andolan, or a “peoples’ movement”.

Salient features of IMI 2.0 Immunization activity will be in four rounds over 7 working days excluding the RI days, Sundays and holidays. Enhanced immunization session with flexible timing, mobile session and mobilization by other departments. Enhanced focus on left-outs, dropouts, and resistant families and hard to reach areas. Focus on urban, underserved population and tribal areas. Inter-ministerial and inter-departmental coordination. Enhance political, administrative and financial commitment, through advocacy. IMI immunization drive, consisting of 4 rounds of immunization will be conducted in the selected districts and urban cities from Dec 2019 to March 2020.

4.7 Smart Safety Surveillance The central government is planning to expand the reach of the Smart Safety Surveillance, or 3S, programme. This is being done to optimize post-marketing surveillance of priority drugs and vaccines, and ensure the vaccines distributed under the universal immunization programme are safe.

What is 3S project? The 3S project was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), considering the limited safety data on vaccines introduced in India. As part of the 3S project, India is evaluating the recently-introduced rotavirus vaccines. It is also trying to strengthen the collaboration among key stakeholders, such as ministry of health and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), to ensure high levels of vigilance.

Need for and significance of this programme for India:

• According to the ministry of health and family welfare, new medical products often enter the market with limited safety data from clinical trials, which evaluate small controlled populations. Therefore, for immunization programmes, post-marketing safety surveillance is essential to monitor the risk-benefit profile of a product in the wider population. • WHO has been prodding countries to adopt the 3S programme, with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems in developing nations.

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 5.1 Jammu and Kashmir bifurcation Jammu and Kashmir is no more a state; it has been divided into two Union Territories. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 also comes into effect from 31st October 2019.

Changes in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh:

1. The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and the Ranbir Penal Code will cease to exist. 2. The Union Territory of J&K will have a legislature while the UT of Ladakh will have no legislature. 3. Both the Union Territories will have Lieutenant Governors as administrators who will be appointed by the President of India. Their tenure will be determined by the President. 4. Four sitting members of the Council of States representing the existing state of Jammu and Kashmir shall be deemed to have been elected to fill the seats allotted to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Legislative assembly of J&K:

1. The Delimitation of Parliamentary Constituencies Order, 1976 shall stand amended as directed in the Second Schedule of the Act. 2. The Election Commission may conduct the elections to the House of the People for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as per the allocation of seats specified in the Delimitation of Parliamentary Constituencies Order, 1976 as amended by this Act. 3. The provisions which are applicable to “Union territory of Puducherry” shall also apply to the “Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. 4. The total number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir to be filled by persons chosen by direct election shall be 107. 5. Seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. 6. There shall be a Council of Ministers consisting of not more than ten per cent of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly, with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Lieutenant Governor in the exercise of his functions in relation to matters with respect to which the Legislative Assembly has the power to make laws.

Abolition of legislative council:

• On the abolition of the Legislative Council, every member thereof shall cease to be such members. • All Bills pending in the Legislative Council immediately before the appointed day shall lapse on the abolition of the Council.

Powers of Lieutenant Governor:

• The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh shall be assisted by advisor(s) to be appointed by the Central Government. • Lieutenant Governor of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir may nominate two members to the Legislative Assembly to give representation to women, if in his opinion, women are not adequately represented in the Legislative Assembly. • The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. • The Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Lieutenant Governor and the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly. • Before a Minister enters upon his office, the Lieutenant Governor shall administer to him the oaths of office and of secrecy according to the forms set out for the purpose in the Fourth Schedule.

High Court:

• The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir shall be the common High Court for the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union territory of Ladakh. • The Judges of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir for the existing State of Jammu and Kashmir holding office immediately before the appointed day shall become on that day the Judges of the High Court. 27

• The expenditure in respect of salaries and allowances of the Judges of the common High Court shall be allocated amongst the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union territory of Ladakh on the basis of population ratio.

All India Services officials:

• The members of the cadres of Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Forest Service for the existing State of Jammu and Kashmir, on and from the appointed day, shall continue to function on the existing cadres. • The centre will be in direct control of the Jammu and Kashmir police and law and order matters.

5.2 Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) The Cabinet Secretariat has notified rules reasserting the Union Home Ministry as the authority that would decide on the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

What does the AFSPA mean?

• In simple terms, AFSPA gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”. • They have the authority to prohibit a gathering of five or more persons in an area, can use force or even open fire after giving due warning if they feel a person is in contravention of the law. • If reasonable suspicion exists, the army can also arrest a person without a warrant; enter or search premises without a warrant; and ban the possession of firearms.

What is a “disturbed area” and who has the power to declare it?

1. A disturbed area is one which is declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA. An area can be disturbed due to differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities. 2. The Central Government, or the Governor of the State or administrator of the Union Territory can declare the whole or part of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed area. A suitable notification would have to be made in the Official Gazette. As per Section 3, it can be invoked in places where “the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary”.

What’s the origin of AFSPA? The Act came into force in the context of increasing violence in the Northeastern States decades ago, which the State governments found difficult to control. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Bill was passed by both the Houses of Parliament and it was approved by the President on September 11, 1958. It became known as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.

What are the special powers given to army officials?

1. Under Section 4 of the AFSPA, an authorised officer in a disturbed area enjoys certain powers. The authorised officer has the power to open fire at any individual even if it results in death if the individual violates laws which prohibit (a) the assembly of five or more persons; or (b) carrying of weapons. However, the officer has to give a warning before opening fire. 2. The authorised officer has also been given the power to (a) arrest without a warrant; and (b) seize and search without any warrant any premise in order to make an arrest or recovery of hostages, arms and ammunitions. 3. Individuals who have been taken into custody have to be handed over to the nearest police station as soon as possible. 4. Prosecution of an authorised officer requires prior permission of the Central government.

What has been the role of the judiciary? There were questions about the constitutionality of AFSPA, given that law and order is a state subject. The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of AFSPA in a 1998 judgement (Naga People’s Movement of Human Rights v. Union of India). In this judgement, the Supreme Court arrived at certain conclusions including: (a) a suo-motto declaration can be made by the Central government, however, it is desirable that the state government should be consulted by the central government before making the declaration; 28

(b) AFSPA does not confer arbitrary powers to declare an area as a ‘disturbed area’; (c) the declaration has to be for a limited duration and there should be a periodic review of the declaration 6 months have expired; (d) while exercising the powers conferred upon him by AFSPA, the authorised officer should use minimal force necessary for effective action, (e) the authorised officer should strictly follow the ‘Dos and Don’ts’ issued by the army.

Has there been any review of the Act? On November 19, 2004, the Central government appointed committee headed by Justice B P Jeevan Reddy made the following recommendations: (a) AFSPA should be repealed and appropriate provisions should be inserted in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967; (b) The Unlawful Activities Act should be modified to clearly specify the powers of the armed forces and paramilitary forces and (c) grievance cells should be set up in each district where the armed forces are deployed. The 5th report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission on public order has also recommended the repeal of the AFSPA. These recommendations have not been implemented.

5.3 Second Judges case 1993

A Bench of the Supreme Court, led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, has dismissed a bunch of petitions seeking a review of the court’s judgment in the Second Judges Case in 1993, which led to the Collegium system of appointment of judges.

Collegium System The Collegium of judges is the Indian Supreme Court’s invention. It does not figure in the Constitution, which says judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by the President and speaks of a process of consultation. In effect, it is a system under which judges are appointed by an institution comprising judges. After some judges were superseded in the appointment of the CJI in the 1970s, and attempts made subsequently to effect a mass transfer of High Court judges across the country. Hence there was a perception that the independence of the judiciary was under threat. This resulted in a series of cases over the years.

What was the Second Judges Case of 1993? In The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCARA) Vs Union of India, 1993, a nine-judge Constitution Bench overruled the decision in S P Gupta, and devised a specific procedure called ‘Collegium System’ for the appointment and transfer of judges in the higher judiciary. The Case accorded primacy to the CJI in matters of appointment and transfers while also ruling that the term “consultation” would not diminish the primary role of the CJI in judicial appointments.

CJI’s role The role of the CJI is primal in nature because this being a topic within the judicial family, the executive cannot have an equal say in the matter. Here the word ‘consultation’ would shrink in a mini form. Should the executive have an equal role and be in divergence of many a proposal, germs of indiscipline would grow in the judiciary. Ushering in the collegium system the recommendation should be made by the CJI in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues, and that such recommendation should normally be given effect to by the executive. It added that although it was open to the executive to ask the collegium to reconsider the matter if it had an objection to the name recommended. If, on reconsideration, the collegium reiterated the recommendation, the executive was bound to make the appointment.

Criticisms of the Judgement Critics argue that the system is non-transparent since it does not involve any official mechanism or secretariat. It is seen as a closed-door affair with no prescribed norms regarding eligibility criteria or even the selection procedure. There is no public knowledge of how and when a collegium meets, and how it takes its decisions. Lawyers too are usually in the dark on whether their names have been considered for elevation as a judge.

What efforts have been made to address these concerns? The government of 1998-2003 had appointed the Justice M N Venkatachaliah Commission to opine whether there was need to change the Collegium system. The Commission favoured change, and prescribed a National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) consisting of the CJI and two seniormost judges, the Law Minister, and an eminent person from the public, to be chosen by the President in consultation with the CJI. The NDA 2 regime had NJAC as one of its priorities, and the constitutional amendment and NJAC Act were cleared swiftly. In 2015, a Constitution Bench declared as unconstitutional the NJAC Bill.

The Bench sealed the fate of the proposed system with a 4:1 majority verdict that held that judges’ appointments shall continue to be made by the collegium system in which the CJI will have “the last word”. Justice J Chelameswar wrote a dissenting verdict, criticising the collegium system by holding that “proceedings of the collegium were absolutely opaque and inaccessible both to public and history, barring occasional leaks”.

5.4 India Justice Report 2019 It was commissioned by Tata Trusts. It is prepared by groups like Centre for Social Justice, Common Cause, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, DAKSH, Tata Institute of Social Sciences – Prayas and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. It looks into the ‘four pillars’ – of Judiciary, Legal Aid, Police and Prisons, analysing the budgets, human resources, personnel workload, diversity, infrastructure and trends against the government’s declared standards and benchmarks.

Highlights of the report

Policing The study took several factors to assess the police system in the states, ranging from modernisation, inducing women, diversity, budgeting, human resource planning and infrastructure. On this front, the best score was achieved by Tamil Nadu – 6.49. UP received a score of 2.98, whereas Bihar got 3.77. UP fared poor in terms of budgeting, spending on police per person, vacancies and diversity.

Prisons This parameter was assessed on various factors ranging from overcrowding, inclusion of women staff, adequate human resources, budgeting, infrastructure, etc. Jharkhand fared the worst with a score of 3.46. It was followed by Uttarakhand (3.72), Punjab (4.35), Andhra Pradesh (4.35) and UP (4.42). Surprisingly, Bihar stood at number six with a score of 5.61. The best in this regard was Kerala with a score of 7.18.

Judiciary This parameter was assessed on availability of judges, clearance of cases, spending on judiciary, etc. Bihar, with a score of 2.41, fared the worst in this regard. It was followed by UP (3.7), Karnataka (3.76), Uttarakhand (4.17) and Jharkhand (4.3). Tamil Nadu again featured on the top in terms of judiciary with a score of 6.99. It was followed by Punjab (6.57), Haryana (6.23) and Maharashtra (5.96). On an average, Bihar saw a bleak growth in expenditure on judiciary in comparison to total spending. From 2011 to 2016, the state expenditure rose by 17.8 per cent; however, expenditure on judiciary rose by only 8 per cent.

Legal aid The report also highlighted the importance of legal aid. It said that almost 80 per cent of India’s 1.25-billion population is eligible for free legal aid, but only 15 million people have availed it since 1995.

States performance Maharashtra has topped the list of states in delivering justice to people followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana. Law and order has always been a major concern in the two big states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. A deeper look at the statistics reveals that in almost every aspect, UP and Bihar exchanged the last and second last position. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019 introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Labour and Employment is now open for suggestions.

About the Code The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Labour and Employment on July 23, 2019. The Code repeals and replaces 13 labour laws relating to safety, health and working conditions. These include the Factories Act, 1948, the Mines Act, 1952, and the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970. The Code applies to establishments employing at least 10 workers, and to all mines and docks. It does not apply to apprentices. Further, it makes special provisions for certain types of establishments and classes of employees, such as factories, mines, and building and construction workers.

Various provisions of the Code Relevant authorities: All establishments covered by the Code must be registered with registering officers. Further, Inspector-cum-facilitators may inquire into accidents, and conduct inspections of establishments. Both these authorities are appointed by the central or state government. Additionally, the government may require certain establishments to set up safety committees comprising representatives of employers and workers.

Advisory Bodies 30

The central and state governments will set up Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Boards at the national and state level, respectively. These Boards will advise the central and state governments on the standards, rules, and regulations to be framed under the Code.

Duties of employers The Code specifies several duties of employers. These include: (i) providing a workplace that is free from hazards that may cause injury or diseases, and (ii) providing free annual health examinations to employees, as prescribed. In case of an accident at the workplace that leads to death or serious bodily injury of an employee, the employer must inform the relevant authorities.

Rights and duties of employees Duties of employees under the Code include: (i) Taking care of their own health and safety, (ii) complying with the specified safety and health standards, and (iii) reporting unsafe situations to the inspector. Every employee will have the right to obtain from the employer information related to safety and health standards.

Working Hours Work hours for different classes of establishment and employees will be provided as per the rules prescribed by the central or state government. For overtime work, the worker must be paid twice the rate of daily wages. Female workers, with their consent, may work past 7pm and before 6am, if approved by the central or state government.

Leave No employee may work for more than six days a week. However, exceptions may be provided for motor transport workers. Workers must receive paid annual leave for at least one in 20 days of the period spent on duty. For sales promotion employees medical leave must be provided for at least one-eighteenth of the period of service. During medical leave, the worker must be paid half his daily wages.

Working conditions and welfare facilities The employer is required to provide a hygienic work environment with ventilation, comfortable temperature and humidity, sufficient space, clean drinking water, and latrine and urinal accommodations. Other welfare facilities may be provided as per standards prescribed by the central government. These facilities may include separate bathing places and locker rooms for male, female and transgender employees, canteens, first aid boxes, and creches.

Offences and penalties Under the Code, an offence that leads to the death of an employee will be punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine up to five lakh rupees, or both. Further, courts may direct that at least 50% of such fine be given as compensation to the heirs of the victim. For any other violation where the penalty is not specified, the employer will be penalized with a fine between two and three lakh rupees. If an employee violates provisions of the Code, he will be subject to a fine of up to Rs 10,000.

5.5 Office of Profit President Ram Nath Kovind has rejected a petition demanding disqualification of 11 Delhi MLAs belonging to Aam Aadmi Party for allegedly holding office of profit. The decision of the President rejecting the plea is based on an opinion rendered by the Election Commission.

What’s the issue?

1. In March 2017, a petition was filed before the President seeking disqualification of the lawmakers claiming that they were enjoying office of profit by being co-chairpersons of district disaster management authorities in 11 districts of Delhi. 2. The issue was referred to Election Commission which gave an opinion in August this year that holding the office of co-chairperson of a district disaster management authority does not attract disqualification as MLA since there is no remuneration by way of salary and allowances. 3. As per law, the President accepts the opinion of the Election Commission in cases of office of profit. What is an ‘office of profit’? If an MLA or an MP holds a government office and receives benefits from it, then that office is termed as an “office of profit”.

A person will be disqualified if he holds an office of profit under the central or state government, other than an office declared not to disqualify its holder by a law passed by Parliament or state legislature.

What are the basic criteria to disqualify an MP or MLA? Basic disqualification criteria for an MP are laid down in Article 102 of the Constitution, and for an MLA in Article 191. They can be disqualified for: a) Holding an office of profit under government of India or state government; b) Being of unsound mind; c) Being an undischarged insolvent; d) Not being an Indian citizen or for acquiring citizenship of another country.

What is the underlying principle for including ‘office of profit’ as criterion for disqualification? Makers of the Constitution wanted that legislators should not feel obligated to the Executive in any way, which could influence them while discharging legislative functions. In other words, an MP or MLA should be free to carry out her duties without any kind of governmental pressure. The intent is that there should be no conflict between the duties and interests of an elected member. The office of profit law simply seeks to enforce a basic feature of the Constitution- the principle of separation of power between the legislature and the executive.

Reason for controversies:

1. The expression “office of profit” has not been defined in the Constitution or in the Representation of the People Act, 1951. 2. It is for the courts to explain the significance and meaning of this concept. Over the years, courts have decided this issue in the context of specific factual situations. 3. But, articles 102 (1) and 191(1)which give effect to the concept of office of profit prescribe restrictions at the central and state level on lawmakers accepting government positions.

Role of Judiciary in defining the ‘office of profit: The Supreme Court in Pradyut Bordoloi vs Swapan Roy (2001) outlined the four broad principles for determining whether an office attracts the constitutional disqualification.

1. First, whether the government exercises control over appointment, removal and performance of the functions of the office 2. Second, whether the office has any remuneration attached to it 3. Third, whether the body in which the office is held has government powers (releasing money, allotment of land, granting licenses etc.). 4. Fourth, whether the office enables the holder to influence by way of patronage. The Supreme Court, while upholding the disqualification of Jaya Bachchan from Rajya Sabha in 2006, had said that for deciding the question as to whether one is holding an office of profit or not, what is relevant is whether the office is capable of yielding a profit or pecuniary gain and not whether the person actually obtained a monetary gain.

5.6 T N Seshan T.N. Seshan the election commissioner of India who transformed the way polls were conducted and contested in the country has passed away.

Who was Mr. Seshan? Born on December 15, 1932 in Palakkad, Kerala, Mr. Seshan belonged to the 1955 batch of Tamil Nadu cadre officers of the IAS. An alumnus of the Madras Christian College, he, as an IAS officer, did a year-long course in management at the Harvard University in the 1960s.

Electoral reforms under TN Seshan Photo Ids: N. Seshan, as Chief Election Commissioner during 1990-96, had initiated the process of cleaning up the electoral system. The introduction of electors’ photo identity cards was a measure towards this direction. A strict disciplinary He was known as a no nonsensical CEC and one who had enforced, in his own way, discipline on political parties and contestants. He did not compromise on his position that every election had to be held in accordance with the model code of conduct and electoral laws. Some of his big achievements include implementation of the election process and the Model Code of Conduct, introduction of voter ID cards, enforcing limits on poll expenses, and elimination of several

malpractices like distribution of liquor, bribing voters, ban on wall writing, use of loud speakers, use of religion in election speeches etc.

Expansion of EC As part of his variant of electoral reforms, the Election Commission had listed 150 malpractices in the elections. It was during Mr. Seshan’s period that the EC was made a multi-member body in October 1993 with the appointment of M.S. Gill and G.V.G. Krishnamurthy. Though he had opposed the government’s move, the Supreme Court had upheld the government’s decision to appoint Election Commissioners.

Other works During his term, Seshan witnessed the implementation of Mandal Commission, giving reservation to other backward classes (OBCs) in government jobs. These developments dominated politics and elections in India for nearly a decade.

Magsaysay award Briefly in the mid-1990s, Mr. Seshan became an icon of the middle class as he was seen as a crusader against corruption and electoral malpractices. His work was recognised internationally when he was given the Ramon Magsaysay award for 1996.

5.7 National Water Policy The Union Water Resources Ministry has finalised a committee to draft a new National Water Policy (NWP). National Water Policy is formulated by the Ministry of Water Resources of the Government of India to govern the planning and development of water resources and their optimum utilization.

The first National Water Policy was adopted in September 1987. It was reviewed and updated in 2002 and later in 2012. Among the major policy innovations in the 2012 policy was the concept of an Integrated Water Resources Management approach that took the “river basin/ sub-basin” as a unit for planning, development and management of water resources. A National Bureau of Water Use Efficiency is also on the cards.

About the committee It will be chaired by Mihir Shah, who is a former Planning Commission member and a water expert. The committee has 10 principal members, including Shashi Shekhar, a former secretary of Water Resources, and A.B. Pandya, former chairman of the Central Ground Water Board. The committee is expected to produce a report within six months. Focus on minimum levels It also proposed that a portion of river flows ought to be kept aside to meet ecological needs. Such an approach led to the government, in 2018, requiring minimum water levels to be maintained in the Ganga all through the year and hydropower projects, therefore, to refrain from hoarding water beyond a point. That policy also stressed for a minimum quantity of potable water for essential health and hygiene to all its citizens to be made available within easy reach of households. Inter-basin transfers are not merely for increasing production but also for meeting basic human need and achieving equity and social justice. Inter-basin transfers of water should be considered on the basis of merits of each case after evaluating the environmental, economic and social impacts of such transfers.

5.8 CJI Office under comes under RTI The office of the Chief Justice of India is a public authority and falls under the ambit of Right to Information Act, the Supreme Court ruled today.

What’s the issue? The five-judge bench of CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justices N V Ramana, D Y Chandrachud, Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna passed the judgment on an appeal filed by the Supreme Court administration. The appeal challenged the 2010 order of the Delhi high court which held that the CJI’s office comes under the ambit of the Right to Information Act. Oppositions to the plea had contended that courts had time and again given a slew of directions to infuse transparency in the functioning of various institutions. The bench had agreed that there should be transparency but added there was a need to do balancing. Who is a “Public Authority”? In 2011, the Punjab-Haryana High Court while deciding on 24 civil writ petitions against the Central/State Information Commissioners had held that if any person, or body, satisfies the following conditions then it would “squarely fall within

the ambit and scope of definition of ‘public authorities'” and would be “legally required to impart the indicated information as envisaged under the RTI Act” – the institution cannot come into existence and function unless registered and regulated by the provisions of a legislation; or the State Government has some degree of control over it through the medium of Acts/Rules; or it is substantially financed by means of funds provided directly, or indirectly, by the appropriate Government; or the mandate and command of the provisions of the RTI Act along with its Preamble, aims, objects and regime extends to their public dealing; or the larger public interest and totality of the other facts and circumstances emanating from the records suggest that such information may be disclosed.

The Delhi High Court order In a landmark verdict on January 10, 2010, the Delhi High Court had held that the office of the Chief Justice of India comes within the ambit of the RTI law. It said that the judicial independence was not a judge’s privilege, but a responsibility cast upon him. The 88-page judgment was then seen as a personal setback to the then CJI, KG Balakrishnan, who has been opposed to disclosure of information relating to judges under the RTI Act.

RTI and Judiciary The apex court said that the right to privacy and confidentiality is an important aspect and has to be balanced while taking a decision on giving out information from the CJI’s office. The CJI-led bench added that transparency cannot be allowed to run counter to right to privacy. The bench said that the information commissioner must apply test of proportionality while entertaining applications seeking information from the CJI’s office. However it must keep in mind right to privacy and independence of judiciary.

5.8 President’s rule in Maharashtra What’s the issue? It has been argued that governor’s decision is based on “objective material” and not on a political whim or fancy, if one goes by the Supreme Court verdict in the 1994 S.R. Bommai case.

President’s Rule President’s rule is the suspension of state government and imposition of direct central government rule in a state.

How it is imposed? President’s Rule implies the suspension of a state government and the imposition of direct rule of the Centre. This is achieved through the invocation of Article 356 of the Constitution by the President on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers. Under Article 356, this move can be taken “(1) If the President, on receipt of the report from the Governor of the State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution…”

How long President’s Rule can last A proclamation of President’s Rule can be revoked through a subsequent proclamation in case the leader of a party produces letters of support from a majority of members of the Assembly, and stakes his claim to form a government. The revocation does not need the approval of Parliament. Any proclamation under Article 356 —which stands for six months — has to be approved by both Houses in the Parliament session following it. This six-month time-frame can be extended in phases, up to three years.

The S.R. Bommai Case R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) was a landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India, where the Court discussed at length provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution of India and related issues. The judgement attempted to curb blatant misuse of Article 356 of the Constitution of India, which allowed President’s rule to be imposed over state governments. Article 356 (1) has been deliberately drafted in a narrow language by the Founding Fathers so that political parties in the Centre does not misuse it to subvert federalism, it had noted. The expression used in the Article is ‘if the President is satisfied”, the court had observed. In other words, the President has to be convinced of or should have sufficient proof of information with regard to or has to be free from doubt or uncertainty about the state of things indicating that the situation in question has arisen. The court had stated that although the sufficiency or otherwise of the material cannot be questioned, the legitimacy of inference drawn from such material is “certainly open to judicial review”. 34

What it directed? The judgment had explained that in a multi-party political system, chances are high that the political parties in the Centre and the State concerned may not be the same. Article 356 cannot be used for the purpose of political one-upmanship by the Centre. Hence there is a need to confine the exercise of power under Article 356[1] strictly to the situation mentioned therein which is a condition precedent to the said exercise,” the court had said.

Conditions for President Rule Where after general elections to the assembly, no party secures a majority, that is, Hung Assembly. Where the party having a majority in the assembly declines to form a ministry and the governor cannot find a coalition ministry commanding a majority in the assembly. Where a ministry resigns after its defeat in the assembly and no other party is willing or able to form a ministry commanding a majority in the assembly. Where a constitutional direction of the Central government is disregarded by the state government. Internal subversion where, for example, a government is deliberately acting against the Constitution and the law or is fomenting a violent revolt. Physical breakdown where the government willfully refuses to discharge its constitutional obligations endangering the security of the state.

Fouling factors The imposition of President’s Rule in a state would be improper under the following situations: Where a ministry resigns or is dismissed on losing majority support in the assembly and the governor recommends imposition of President’s Rule without probing the possibility of forming an alternative ministry. Where the governor makes his own assessment of the support of a ministry in the assembly and recommends imposition of President’s Rule without allowing the ministry to prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly. Where the ruling party enjoying majority support in the assembly has suffered a massive defeat in the general elections to the Lok Sabha such as in 1977 and 1980. Internal disturbances not amounting to internal subversion or physical breakdown. Maladministration in the state or allegations of corruption against the ministry or stringent financial exigencies of the state. Where the state government is not given prior warning to rectify itself except in case of extreme urgency leading to disastrous consequences. Where the power is used to sort out intra-party problems of the ruling party, or for a purpose extraneous or irrelevant to the one for which it has been conferred by the Constitution.

Similar precedents This is not the first time President’s Rule has been imposed following an election that did not lead to government formation. For instance, no party could mobilise a majority in the Bihar Assembly following elections in February 2005. President’s Rule, which was imposed on March 7, 2005, lasted 262 days until November 24 . It was lifted after fresh elections in October-November. A hung verdict in the J&K elections of 2002 led to the imposition of President’s Rule for 15 days, from October 18 to November 2 that year. In the UP Assembly elections of 2002, no party could secure a majority. This led to the imposition of President’s Rule for 56 days, from March 3 to to May 2, 2002.

5.10 Doctrine of Essentiality The Supreme Court has decided to refer the Sabarimala temple case to a larger 7-judge Bench. This reopens not only the debate on allowing women of menstruating age into the Ayyappa temple but the larger issue of whether any religion can bar women from entering places of worship.

The case for Sabarimala The majority opinion in the 2018 Sabarimala verdict had said that women have a fundamental right to equality in accessing public places which includes places of worship. However, since the Sabarimala verdict will essentially be heard afresh, the constitutional debate on gender equality will open up once again. The review gives the ‘devotees’ and the Sabarimala temple authorities who have battled the Supreme Court verdict a foot in the door to have the verdict potentially overturned.

What is the Supreme Court’s Doctrine of Essentiality? The doctrine of “essentiality” was invented by a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court in the ‘Shirur Mutt’ case in 1954. 35

It is a contentious doctrine evolved by the court to protect only such religious practices which were essential and integral to the religion. The court held that the term “religion” will cover all rituals and practices “integral” to a religion, and took upon itself the responsibility of determining the essential and non-essential practices of a religion. Referring to the Ayodhya case, the Constitution Bench had ruled in 1994 that A mosque is not an essential part of the practice of the religion of Islam and namaz (prayer) by Muslims can be offered anywhere, even in open.

How has the doctrine been used in subsequent years? The ‘essentiality doctrine’ of the Supreme Court has been criticised by several constitutional experts. Scholars of constitutional law have argued that the essentiality/integrality doctrine has tended to lead the court into an area that is beyond its competence, and given judges the power to decide purely religious questions. As a result, over the years, courts have been inconsistent on this question — in some cases they have relied on religious texts to determine essentiality. In others it relied on the empirical behaviour of followers, and in yet others, based on whether the practice existed at the time the religion originated.

Issues over the doctrine In the beginning, the court engaged with the question of whether untouchability, manifested in restrictions on entry into temples, was an “essential part of the Hindu religion”. After examining selected Hindu texts, it came to the conclusion that untouchability was not an essential Hindu practice. The idea of providing constitutional protection only to those elements of religion which the court considers “essential” is problematic as it assumes that one element or practice of religion is independent of other elements or practices. So, while the essentiality test privileges certain practices over others, it is, in fact, all practices taken together that constitute a religion.

How does essentiality square up against religious freedom? Freedom of religion was meant to guarantee freedom to practice one’s beliefs based on the concept of “inward association” of man with God. The apex court in ‘Ratilal Panachand Gandhi vs The State of Bombay and Ors’ (March 18, 1954) acknowledged that “every person has a fundamental right to entertain such religious beliefs as may be approved by his judgment or conscience”. The framers of the Constitution wanted to give this autonomy to each individual. Scholars have argued that the essentiality test impinges on this autonomy. The apex court has itself emphasised autonomy and choice in its Privacy (2017), 377 (2018), and Adultery (2018) judgments.

5.11 Ayodhya verdict A bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi delivered the Ayodhya verdict alongside CJI designate S.A. Bobde, and Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S.A. Nazeer. The verdict was unanimous.

What was the issue? At the centre of the issue is the belief among sections of Hindus that the Babri Masjid, named after Mughal emperor Babur, was built in Ayodhya after destroying a Ram Temple that marked the birthplace of the deity. The Hindu parties wanted the land to themselves, contending that Lord Ram was born at a spot on which later the central dome of the mosque was built. The Muslim parties, however, contended that the mosque was constructed in 1528 by Mir Baqi, a commander of Babur’s army, without demolishing any place of worship and since the land rights had not been transferred to any other party, the space was rightfully theirs.

The verdict:

1. The Hindus would get the entire disputed 2.77 acres in Ayodhya where the demolished Babri Masjid once stood. 2. Possession of disputed 2.77 acre land will remain with Central government receiver. 3. The Muslims will get alternate five acres of land either in the surplus 67 acres acquired in and around the disputed structure by the central government or any other “prominent” place. 4. A trust will be formed in 3 months to build a temple on the disputed land. The court held that the Nirmohi Akhara is not the shebait or devotee of the deity Ram Lalla but will get to be a member of the Trust.

What is Article 142, invoked by SC to give land for a mosque? The Supreme Court, implicitly referring to the demolition of the Babri Masjid at the disputed site, said that it was invoking Article 142 “to ensure that a wrong committed must be remedied”. Article 142(1) states that “The Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it, and any decree so passed or order so made shall be enforceable throughout the territory of India in such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament and, until provision in that behalf is so made, in such manner as the President may by order prescribe”. This was the first time that the court invoked this power in a case involving a civil dispute over an immovable property, involving private parties.

Who are the travellers quoted in Ayodhya judgment? In its judgment, the Supreme Court relied in part on centuries-old travelogues, gazetteers and books to provide an account of the faith and belief that the Hindus placed in the Janmasthan. The travelogues that the court took note of included, among others, those by the European travellers Joseph Tieffenthaler, William Finch, and Montgomery Martin – these being written before the building of the grill-brick wall in front of the mosque during British rule.

1. Tieffenthaler was an 18th-century missionary who travelled in India for 27 years, and wrote his travelogue titled “Description Historique et Geographique De l’Inde”. In India, he was commissioned at the famous observatory of Sawai Jai Singh, the Raja of Jaipur, and was later attached at the Jesuit College in Agra which was built with the patronage of Akbar. 2. William Finch’s account has been recorded in the 1921 book ‘Early Travels in India (1583-1619)’ by the historiographer Sir William Foster. 3. Originally from Dublin in Ireland, Martin was an Anglo-Irish author and civil servant. He practised medicine in Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka), East Africa and Australia. Martin then went on to work in Kolkata where helped found the paper ‘Bengal Herald’. He wrote the three-volume work ‘History, Antiquities, Topography and Statistics of Eastern India’.

What is adverse possession, the Muslim claim SC rejected? One of the questions before the Supreme Court was whether the Sunni Wakf Board had acquired the title of the disputed land by adverse possession. Adverse possession is hostile possession of a property – which has to be continuous, uninterrupted and peaceful. The Muslim side had claimed that the mosque was built 400 years ago by Babar – and that even if it is assumed that it was built on the land where a temple earlier existed, Muslims, by virtue of their long exclusive and continuous possession – beginning from the time the mosque was built, and up to the time the mosque was desecrated – they had perfected their title by adverse possession. This argument has now been rejected by the Supreme Court.

5.12 Sabarimala Case The Supreme Court has referred to a 7 judge- bench a clutch of review petitions challenging its September 2018 verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple.

Background:

• The verdict was given by a 5- judge bench. • In 3:2 majority verdict, two judges stuck to their earlier stand of quashing the custom which barred entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 years.

The split decision came on 65 petitions – 56 review petitions, four fresh writ petitions and five transfer pleas – which were filed after the apex court verdict of September 28, 2018 sparked violent protests in Kerala.

Observations made by the court:

1. Restrictions on women in religious places are not limited to Sabarimala alone and are prevalent in other religions too. The issue of entry of women into mosques and Agiyari could also be taken by the larger bench. 2. Both sections of the same religious group have a right to freely profess, practise and propagate their religious beliefs as being integral part of their religion by virtue of Article 25 of the Constitution of India.

Questions before the larger bench:

1. Whether a court can probe if a practice is essential to a religion or should the question be left to the respective religious head? 2. Should “essential religious practices” be afforded constitutional protection under Article 26 (freedom to manage religious affairs)? 3. What is the “permissible extent” of judicial recognition a court should give to PILs filed by people who do not belong to the religion of which practices are under the scanner?

Constitutional vs Cultural dimensions: The case has constitutional as well as cultural dimensions. Displaying great cultural sensitivity, a division Bench of the Kerala High Court had, back in 1991, pointed out that “age regulation” in Sabarimala is not unconstitutional. In Sabarimala, the deity is worshipped in the form of Naishtika Brahmacharior a celibate, as pointed out by the Kerala High Court. The supporters of Temple ban say that:

1. This particular deity system is Tantric in nature and not Vedic. 2. In the Tantric system, the temple is not a prayer hall but an energy centre; the deity is not God who is omnipresent, but a source of energy (chaithanya) in a particular spiritual space. 3. Uniqueness is the soul of every temple. Lakhs of women congregate in Sabarimala every year. There is only one limitation: they should not be between 10 and 50, because of the specific nature of the Prathishta(idol) and the vow celibacy associated with the idol. 4. The restriction finds its source in the legend that the Sabarimala temple deity – Swami Ayyappa – is a ‘Naishtika Brahmachari’ – and should not be disturbed.

Why does preventing women’s entry to the temple discriminatory in nature? Preventing women’s entry to the Sabarimala temple with an irrational and obsolete notion of “purity” clearly offends the equality clauses in the Constitution. In any civilised society, gender equality is to be treated as one of the core values.

• It denotes a patriarchal and partisan approach. • The entry prohibition takes away the woman’s right against discrimination guaranteed under Article 15(1) of the Constitution. • It curtails her religious freedom assured by Article 25(1). • Prohibition of women’s entry to the shrine solely on the basis of womanhood and the biological features associated with womanhood is derogatory to women, which Article 51A (e) aims to renounce. • The classification based on age is an act of discrimination based on sex. Way ahead: This issue raises serious questions about faith and practices of a religious denomination or sect.

Therefore, it is time to evolve a judicial policy to do substantial and complete justice.

5.13 Contempt of court The Supreme Court has held former Ranbaxy promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh guilty of contempt for violating its order that had asked them not to divest their shares in Fortis Healthcare Limited.

What is contempt under the Indian law? In India, the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, divides contempt into civil contempt and criminal contempt. ‘Civil contempt’ is a ‘wilful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other processes of a Court or wilful breach of an undertaking given to the court’. ‘Criminal contempt’ is ‘the publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which:

1. Scandalises or tends to scandalise, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court. 2. Prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with the due course of any judicial proceeding. 3. Interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other manner.’

Need: Judiciary ensures justice and equality to every individual and institutions, therefore, the makers of the constitution upheld the sanctity and prestige of the revered institution by placing provisions under articles 129 and 215 of the constitution, which enables the courts to hold individuals in contempt if they attempt to demean or belittle their authority.

Is fair criticism allowed? Yes. The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, very clearly states that fair criticism of any case which has been heard and decided is not contempt.

Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Act, 2006: The statute of 1971 has been amended by the Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Act, 2006 to include the defence of truth under Section 13 of the original legislation. Section 13 that already served to restrict the powers of the court in that they were not to hold anyone in contempt unless it would substantially interfere with the due process of justice, the amendment further states that the court must permit ‘justification by truth as a valid defence if it is satisfied that it is in public interest and the request for invoking the said defence is bona fide.’

Constitutional Background:

• Article 129: Grants Supreme Court the power to punish for contempt of itself. • Article 142(2): Enables the Supreme Court to investigate and punish any person for its contempt. • Article 215: Grants every High Court the power to punish for contempt of itself.

5.14 Essar steel verdict In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has upheld the supremacy of the Committee of Creditors comprising the financial creditors of the bankrupt firms over the distribution of claims. The verdict: The Supreme Court quashed the earlier NCLAT order which brought parity between financial and operational creditors of Essar Steel in matters of distribution of proceeds. The two set of creditors will be treated differently during the insolvency proceedings and taking over of a debt- ridden firm by another company. There is no principal of equality between secured and unsecured creditors. The Court has done away with the 330-day mandatory deadline for the resolution of insolvency and bankruptcy cases after which liquidation will be invoked. The mandatory nature of the 330-day mark as a violation of Article 14 (right to equal treatment) of the Constitution and an “excessive and unreasonable restriction on the litigant’s right to carry on business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution”.

What was the issue? In its judgment in July this year, the NCLAT placed financial (secured and unsecured) and operational creditors on the same footing, setting aside the categorisation by the resolution plan. Peeved with the NCLAT ruling, the financial creditors had approached the apex court saying that the NCLAT order exceeds the scope of the IBC. They also argued that secured creditors have the first right over funds.

Way ahead: The order will finally pave the way for resolution of Essar Steel, one of the oldest cases in the IBC process. It was one of the original Dirty Dozen referred by the RBI to NCLT for Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process under the IBC Code. With the Supreme Court finally upholding CoC’s primacy over distribution of funds, a major area of concern has been addressed.

What is the purpose of enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016?

To consolidate and amend the laws relating to reorganization and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time bound manner for maximization of value of assets of such persons, to promote entrepreneurship, availability of credit and balance the interests of all the stakeholders including alteration in the order of priority of payment of Government dues and to establish an Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, as a regulatory body for Insolvency and Bankruptcy law.

Who shall be termed as creditor under the Code? A Creditor means any person to whom a debt is owed and includes a financial creditor, an operational creditor, a secured creditor, an unsecured creditor and a decree holder.

What is the difference between Financial Creditor and Operational Creditor? Financial creditor is any person to whom a financial debt is owned and includes a person to whom such debt has been legally assigned or transferred to. Operational creditor is any person to whom operational debt is owned and includes a person to whom such debt has been legally assigned or transferred to. They are suppliers of good or services to any company or operational debtor.

5.15 Citizenship amendment bill With political positions on the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) largely unchanged, the government, which is hoping to move a new version of it during the winter session of Parliament, faces tough negotiations.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill:

1. It seeks to allow illegal migrants from certain minority communities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for Indian citizenship by amending the Citizenship Act of 1955. 2. It seeks to grant citizenship to people from minority communities — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians —after 6 years of stay in India even if they do not possess any proper document. The current requirement is 12 years of stay. 3. The Bill provides that the registration of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders may be cancelled if they violate any law. The Bill, however, does not extend to illegal Muslim migrants. It also does not talk about other minority communities in the three neighbouring countries, such as Jews, Bahais etc.

However, the bill is being criticised for the following reasons:

1. It violates the basic tenets of the Constitution. Illegal immigrants are distinguished on the basis of religion. 2. It is perceived to be a demographic threat to indigenous communities.

3. The Bill makes illegal migrants eligible for citizenship on the basis of religion. This may violate Article 14 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to equality. 4. It attempts to naturalise the citizenship of illegal immigrants in the region. 5. The Bill allows cancellation of OCI registration for violation of any law. This is a wide ground that may cover a range of violations, including minor offences.

Need for Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016:

1. There are thousands of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Parsis who have entered India after facing religious persecution in countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan without any valid document. 2. These refugees have been facing difficulty in getting Long Term Visa (LTV) or Citizenship. 3. The existing Citizenship law does not allow anyone granting Indian nationality if he or she can not show proof of documents on country of birth and therefore they have to stay at least 12 years in India. 4. Those Hindus who are persecuted due to religion has no other place to go except India.

Concerns, issues and consequences of these changes:

• Introduced religion as a new principle into the citizenship law: By marking out Muslims as a residual category, it reiterates the narrative of partition, without incorporating the principles of inclusion which were present in both the constitution of India and the Citizenship Act of 1955 at its inception. • While religious persecution is a reasonable principle for differentiation, it cannot be articulated in a manner that dilutes the republican and secular foundations of citizenship in India, and goes against constitutional morality.

Special concerns of NE indigenous people:

1. The Bill has not been sitting well with the Assamese as it contradicts the Assam Accord of 1985, which clearly states that illegal migrants heading in from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971, would be deported. 2. Mizoram fears Buddhist Chakmas and Hindu Hajongs from Bangladesh may take advantage of the Act. 3. Meghalaya and Nagaland are apprehensive of migrants of Bengali stock. 4. Groups in Arunachal Pradesh fear the new rules may benefit Chakmas and Tibetans. 5. Manipur wants the Inner-line Permit System to stop outsiders from entering the state

5.16.Equal representation for all states in Rajya sabha

On the occasion of its 250th session, Rajya Sabha MPs have made the following suggestions: Giving all States, irrespective of their population and size, an equal number of seats in the Rajya Sabha. All members, irrespective of their parties’ strength in the House, the same amount of time to speak in debates.

Need for Rajya Sabha:

1. The Upper House of the Indian Parliament traces its direct history to the first bicameral legislature introduced in British India in 1919 as a consequence of the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms. 2. Unlike the US Senate which ensures equal representation for all federal units (each state having two representatives), India’s Rajya Sabha does have more members from populous states. 3. Even though Indian states are ‘mere administrative units’ which don’t enjoy a constitutionally-assured permanence, their continued existence over all these years and the constitutional separation of power has given them the nature of autonomous units in their own spheres. Therefore, the ‘state-wise’ identity cannot be ruled out completely. 4. India’s Rajya Sabha has equal powers to the Lok Sabha except for money bills, where it has no jurisdiction.

Is the Rajya Sabha essential?

1. The contemporary argument against it comes from two primary angles: 2. The first one suggests that a Lok Sabha that has representation from several regional parties more than adequately represents a federal country. 3. The second argument charges that the Rajya Sabha has become a haven for losers in elections, crony capitalists, compromised journalists and party fundraisers.

What can be done? It is virtually impossible to abolish the Rajya Sabha without adopting a new Indian Constitution. The bicameral nature of the Indian Parliament is likely to be interpreted as a “basic structure” of the Indian Constitution, rendering it incapable of being amended. Even if this were to be tested, it would be ensnared in a judicial process for a very long time. It is much more practical to try and reform the Rajya Sabha than seeking to abolish it.

Reforms needed:

1. Have members of the Rajya Sabha be directly elected by the citizens of a state. This will reduce cronyism and patronage appointments. 2. This step should be combined with equal representation for each state (say, five members) so that large states do not dominate the proceedings in the House. 3. This streamlined Rajya Sabha should remain deliberative, but there should be deadlines set for responding to bills initiated in the Lok Sabha

5.17 Opacity around electoral bonds Election Commission and the Reserve Bank of India had expressed reservations about the Electoral Bonds scheme. Challenges In 2017, then RBI Governor wrote to the Finance Minister that “allowing any entity other than the central bank to issue bearer bonds is fraught with considerable risk.” The EC warned that this would allow illegal foreign funds to be routed to political parties. There is no other country in the world where such a scheme exists.

Electoral Bonds The scheme was passed in the Lok Sabha as part of the Finance Bill so that it could bypass Rajya Sabha.

Importance of Electoral Bonds – Money Money plays a larger role in elections. India spends more on elections than the U.S. with a per capita GDP of 3% of the U.S. Sustaining victory over several elections requires funds. To reach voters, candidates and parties use hoardings and advertisements on printed, electronic and social media. They hold election rallies. They travel and have to pay party workers. There is the added expenditure of buying votes through the distribution of gifts, money, liquor and so on.

Funding elections Some countries have public funding of elections. Campaign funding laws and reforms are a constantly evolving subject internationally. They focus on public funding, limits on expenditure, limits on donations, transparency in funding and penalties for non-compliance.

Loopholes Harassment by the party in power through law enforcement agencies is well known. The bank knows the purchaser of the bonds as well as the party that cashed it. The law agencies can obtain this information whenever they want. Ruling party use this to demand donations for itself, prevent donations to others, and use the law enforcement agencies to harass those who donate to rival parties. A large corporate could buy the government using electoral bonds. The ruling party gets nearly all the funds. If big money entirely funds elections in an opaque way, democracy will not exist.

Other electoral funding challenges India continues to have spending limits. Hardly any winning candidate sticks to it. Black money cannot be used to buy electoral bonds. However, black money can be used outside the scheme during elections. The reduction in cash donations from ₹20,000 to ₹2,000 is not good enough. There are parties with hundreds of crores of declared income who claim that all the funds were received from small cash donations of ₹100 or less. ₹2,000 notes printed after demonetisation are being hoarded. Electoral bonds cannot eliminate black money.

Way forward Any political party can voluntarily choose to disclose its funds and sources. There is no law that prevents them from doing so. They can also state publicly that they will henceforth not use black money. 42

We need to benchmark ourselves against the best international practices and laws on campaign funding. Complete transparency in all funding. Political parties need to be under the Right to Information Act. There must be spending limits as well as donation limits and strict penalties for flouting rules and the law. Public funding needs to be examined and introduced with proper checks and balances. Voters need to demand changes and we need voter awareness campaigns. The electoral bonds scheme needs to be scrapped.

5.18.Evolution of anti-defection law In the extraordinary political drama unfolding in Maharashtra, it remains unclear precisely till when is the new government established. The gazette notification for the revocation of President’s Rule by President was issued at 5.47 am. Seeds of Ant-Defection: The 1967 elections The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, inserted by The Constitution (52nd Amendment) Act, 1985, when Rajiv Gandhi’s government was in power. The seeds were sown after the general elections in 1967. The results of those elections were a mixed bag for the Congress. It formed the government at the Centre, but its strength in Lok Sabha fell from 361 to 283. During the year it lost control of seven state governments as MLAs shifted their political allegiance. In this backdrop, P Venkatasubbaiah, a MP in Lok Sabha proposed the setting up of a high-level committee to make recommendations to tackle the “problem of legislators changing their allegiance from one party to another”. The proposal saw a spirited debate in Lok Sabha. Opposition members suggested renaming the proposal to “save Congress”, while the ruling party accused the opposition of inducing MLAs to defect.

The Y B Chavan panel Despite the acrimony, the Lok Sabha agreed to the setting up of a committee to examine the problem of political defections. The then Home Minister, Y B Chavan, headed the committee. The panel defined defection — and an exception for genuine defectors. According to the committee, defection was the voluntary giving up of allegiance of a political party on whose symbol a legislator was elected, except when such action was the result of the decision of the party. In its report, the committee noted “that the lure of office played a dominant part in decisions of legislators to defect”. To combat this, the committee recommended a bar on defecting legislators from holding ministerial positions for a year — or until the time they got themselves re- elected. It also suggested a smaller CoM both at the levels of the Centre and the states. The committee was in favour of political parties working together to help evolve a code of conduct to effectively tackle disruptions. Early attempts at a law Following the report of the Y B Chavan committee, two separate legislative attempts, both unsuccessful, were made to find a solution to defections. The first one was made by Indira’s Home Minister Uma Shankar Dikshit in 1973; the second, in 1978, by Shanti Bhushan, Minister for Law and Justice in the Janata Party government of Morarji Desai. The third attempt — which was successful — was made in 1985, after the Congress won more than 400 seats in Lok Sabha in the aftermath of Indira’s assassination. The Tenth Schedule The Bill to amend the Constitution was introduced by Rajiv Gandhi’s Law Minister Ashoke Kumar Sen, the veteran barrister and politician who had also served in the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill said: “The evil of political defections has been a matter of national concern. If it is not combated, it is likely to undermine the very foundations of our democracy and the principles which sustain it.” The amendment by which the Tenth Schedule was inserted in the Constitution, did three broad things. One, it made legislators liable to be penalised for their conduct both inside (voting against the whip of the party) and outside (making speeches, etc.) the legislature — the penalty being the loss of their seats in Parliament or the state legislatures. Two, it protected legislators from disqualification in cases where there was a split (with 1/3rd of members splitting) or merger (with 2/3rds of members merging) of a legislature party with another political party. Three, it made the Presiding Officer of the concerned legislature the sole arbiter of defection proceedings. Criticism and passage Opposition argued that the Bill would curtail the freedom of speech and expression of legislators. The leftists expressed concern over the impact the amendment could have on the office of the Speaker. The Bill was debated in Lok Sabha on January 30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and was passed by Rajya Sabha the following day. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi referred in Parliament to the Mahatma’s seven social sins, the first one being politics without principles. The immediate challenges No sooner was the law put in place than political parties started to stress-test its boundaries. 43

The issue of what constitutes a spilt in a political party rocked both the V P Singh and the Chandra Shekhar governments. The role of the Presiding Officers also became increasingly politicised. Judicial intervention The intervention of the higher judiciary was sought to decide questions such as what kinds of conduct outside the legislature would fall in the category of defection, and what was the extent of the Speaker’s power in deciding defections. The Supreme Court, while upholding the supremacy of the Speaker in defection proceedings, also held that the Speaker’s decisions were subject to judicial review. The 2003 Amendment The last step in the legislative journey of the anti-defection law came in 2003. An Amendment Bill was introduced in Parliament by the government of PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to address some of the issues with the law. However, as events in the years and decades since have demonstrated, these amendments have had only limited impact. Pranab Mukherjee Committee A committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee examined the Bill. The committee observed that the provision of split has been grossly misused to engineer multiple divisions in the party, as a result of which the evil of defection has not been checked in the right earnest. Further it is also observed that the lure of office of profit plays dominant part in the political horse-trading resulting in spate of defections and counter defections The one-third split provision which offered protection to defectors was deleted from the law on the committee’s recommendation. The 2003 Amendment also incorporated the 1967 advice of the Y B Chavan committee in limiting the size of the Council of Ministers, and preventing defecting legislators from joining the Council of Ministers until their re-election. Decider : the Speaker The anti-defection law does not specify a timeframe for Speakers to decide on defection proceedings. When the politics demanded, Speakers were either quick to pass judgment on defection proceedings or delayed acting on them for years on end. The events in the Karnataka Vidhan Sabha in the summer of this year showed that even after three decades, the anti- defection law has not been able to stop political defections.

5.19 NATGRID The ambitious National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) project will be operational by December 31, 2020.

What is NATGRID?

• It is an ambitious counter terrorism programme. • It will utilise technologies like Big Data and analytics to study and analyse the huge amounts of data from various intelligence and enforcement agencies to help track suspected terrorists and prevent terrorist attacks. • It will connect, in different phases, data providing organisations and users besides developing a legal structure through which information can be accessed by the law enforcement agencies. • NATGRID is a post Mumbai 26/11 attack measure.

Who can access the data? The database would be accessible to authorised persons from 11 agencies on a case-to-case basis, and only for professional investigations into suspected cases of terrorism. Criticisms:

1. NATGRID is facing opposition on charges of possible violations of privacy and leakage of confidential personal information. 2. Its efficacy in preventing terror has also been questioned given that no state agency or police force has access to its database thus reducing chances of immediate, effective action. 3. According to few experts, digital databases such as NATGRID can be misused. Over the last two decades, the very digital tools that terrorists use have also become great weapons to fight the ideologies of violence. 4. Intelligence agencies have also opposed amid fears that it would impinge on their territory and possibly result in leaks on the leads they were working on to other agencies.

Why do we need NATGRID?

1. The danger from not having a sophisticated tool like the NATGRID is that it forces the police to rely on harsh and coercive means to extract information in a crude and degrading fashion. 2. After every terrorist incident, it goes about rounding up suspects—many of who are innocent. If, instead, a pattern search and recognition system were in place, these violations of human rights would be much fewer. 3. Natgrid would also help the Intelligence Bureau keep a tab on persons with suspicious backgrounds. 4. The police would have access to all his data and any movement by this person would also be tracked with the help of this data base.

6.20 Right to Carry Business The Supreme Court has increased the time limit for the corporate resolution to extend beyond the mandated 330 days. The judgment is significant for India’s fledgling corporate resolution process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Time limits As of now, the time limit for resolution process is mandatorily 330 days in all cases. If debts are not resolved and the bankrupt firm cannot be brought back to its feet within this time-frame, the only option left is liquidation of its assets to pay creditors. The court said that the provision saying the 330-day mark should be followed in the ‘ordinary course’. Extension of time should be granted by the NCLT if parties are able to prove there is very little time left in the resolution process and the delay has been caused by ‘tardy’ legal proceedings.

Why extension? A Bench led by Justice Nariman in a judgment, observed that many litigants suffer the prospect of liquidation for no fault of theirs. Delay in legal proceedings leads to the resolution process being dragged beyond the 330-day mark.

How is Article 19 involved? Justice Nariman said it would be arbitrary to let litigants suffer liquidation unnecessarily. The court held the mandatory nature of the 330-day mark as a violation of Article 14 (right to equal treatment) of the Constitution and an excessive and unreasonable restriction on the litigant’s right to carry on business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.

Article 19 According to Article 19, all citizens shall have the right— to freedom of speech and expression; to assemble peaceably and without arms; to form associations or unions or co-operatives; to move freely throughout the territory of India; to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and the right to acquire, hold and dispose of property (deleted after 44th CAA, 1978) to practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 6.1 India China and Nepal relation President Xi Jinping flew straight from Chennai to Kathmandu. It is even an affront to India.

Background to the trip Long pending – Nepal has been waiting for Xi since 2014. China has been waiting for the right timing: For Nepal to have a full-fledged communist government. India’s marginalisation in Nepal — is largely self-inflicted. Narendra Modi chose Nepal for his first visit and promised to reset India-Nepal relations. That never happened. The china-nepal relationship is to be upgraded to a long-term strategic and security cooperation. Xi pledged to safeguard Nepal’s national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Agreements signed – 18 agreements and two letters of exchange were signed.

Agreements & Challenges Boundary Management Systems that help insulate China’s northern reaches with Nepal — is a perennial issue relating to the illegal passage of Tibetans. Anti-China activities – China’s main security concern relates to anti-China activities by 20,000 Tibetans living in Nepal who are virtually under lockdown during such visits. Mutual legal assistance in criminal matters – Beijing hopes will ultimately result in an extradition treaty. Financial assistance – Xi also announced a financial assistance package of $495 mn for the next two years which India will find difficult to match. China has overtaken India in FDI to Nepal which was about $300 mn in 2018. Connectivity – The feasibility study for the Cross Himalayan Connectivity Network of a railway from Kyirong to Kathmandu was approved. This will be extended via Pokhara to Lumbini in Terai as the China-Nepal Economic Corridor component of the Belt and Road Initiative. Cost of connectivity – A preliminary study by China Railway First Survey and Design Institute Group Co Ltd has noted technical, geological, scientific and engineering challenges to this. This includes its security along with high costs and risks that outweigh the benefits. One estimate puts the cost of the Kathmandu-Kyirong section which includes a 28 km tunnel at $2.7 bn. Debt trap – The question of funding invokes the memory of the Hambantota debt trap. A railway line from Lhasa to Kathmandu, unless it reaches the border with India, makes little commercial sense. Strategic issues – It will raise strategic doubts and uncertainties between India and China given the state of current relations.

Nepal’s view Opportunity – Nepa does not view the CNEC as a threat but an opportunity for it to play the bridge between the two fastest-growing economies, China and India. Risks to Nepal – Given the great rise of China, and its involvement in Nepal’s domestic politics, Nepal may be forced to make major strategic choices. India’s role – In the past, former prime ministers had sought to encourage India to join the triangular India-Nepal- China grouping. In 2016, the three countries did discuss it. But India preferred to deal bilaterally with Nepal. China-India plus one – After Wuhan, then Chinese Ambassador to India, mooted this as a new model, as the two countries agreed to jointly train Afghan diplomats. Connectivity to Nepal – the Cross-Himalayan Connectivity Network will help Nepal become land-linked from landlocked with additional entry points. This will reduce the dependence on India.

Chinese view Window to Tibet – China sees Nepal as a window to Tibet. Parity with India – due to its pre-eminence in Nepal and deep pockets, China has sought parity with India including enhanced defense and military cooperation as part of the new blueprint in Nepal-China relations. CNEC – The CNEC is more strategic than economic, especially its envisaged outreach to Lumbini which will breach India’s red line on Chinese activities in Nepal.

India India has completed its feasibility study of a railway line from Raxaul to Kathmandu. How the Kathmandu-Kyirong rail will connect with the Indian section to the south is unclear. The Indian military still views a PLA challenge through Nepal to the strategic Indo-Gangetic plains.

6.2 EAST ASIA SUMMIT The latest edition of the East Asia Summit (EAS) is being held in Bangkok.

About East Asia Summit: EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the centrality of ASEAN. It is a forum held annually by leaders of 18 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian regions. EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings. The first summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 14 December 2005. There are six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS. These are – Environment and Energy, Education, Finance, Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases, Natural Disaster Management, and ASEAN Connectivity. India endorses regional collaboration in all six priority areas.

Potential: EAS, representing nearly 50 per cent of the world’s population and over 20 per cent of global trade,is a mega gathering and is a testimony to the rise of Asia. EAS is a region of strong and fast growing economies. It is considered the third pole of world economy after the US and Europe. Its four major economic players namely Japan, China, India and Korea are among the twelve largest ranking global economies. Financial and monetary cooperation between ASEAN+6 or EAS countries could be an area of fruitful cooperation in view of the fact that their combined foreign exchange reserves exceed $ 3 trillion.

Significance for India: For India, EAS acts as an alternative to the APEC in which India doesn’t enjoy the membership. India’s membership to the EAS is a recognition of its fast growing economic and political clout. Act East policy of India: In order to build multi-faceted relations with ASEAN and other multilateral nations and strengthen bilateral relations India has emphasised upon its Act East Policies for which EAS will prove crucial. China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea and the nature of its growing investments has led the ASEAN countries to view India as a potential power that could balance a rising China. India’s strength lies in service sector and information-technology and Japan has a sound capital base. Thus there are complementarities in trade and production structures of the EAS members. India’s deep cultural and civilizational links with the EAS countries are widely known. India can play a major role in cultural and people to people cooperation with the region, which can reinforce the economic momentum for community building.

6.3 QUAD initiatives Quad convened on November 4 at the level of senior officials on the margins of the EAS in Bangkok.

China – QUAD animosity The US Secretary of State said that the “Quad” between Japan, Australia, India, and the United States would ensure that “China retains only its proper place in the world”. The Chinese Foreign Ministry retorted to condemn the American plain-speaking as habitual lies and malicious slandering.

Origin of QUAD Early origins – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed in early 2007 to hold a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. It was endorsed by US Vice President and the governments of India and Australia, leading to the first meeting at the official level. Non- military – There was a general understanding that it would not take on a military dimension against any country. Chinese response

• The strategic community in China branded it an emerging “Asian NATO”. • It began with maritime-centric concerns. • It is gradually seen by China as a means to involve the use of the wider Indo-Pacific theatre to target China.

Growing idea – Abe’s “Confluence of Two Seas” address to the Indian Parliament gave a fresh impetus to the nascent concept. Abe had spoken of a “broader Asia” taking shape at the confluence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Broader Asia – It recognised the economic rise of India and brought Japan and India together as part of a network spanning the entirety of the Pacific Ocean, the US, and Australia. It was seen as a network that would allow people, goods, capital, and knowledge to flow freely.

Australia walked away – The Quad dissipated when Australia walked away on account of Chinese sensibilities.

Later, Asia’s “Democratic Security Diamond” was announced – involving Australia, India, Japan, and the US to safeguard the maritime commons from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific.

Reducing differences – differences among the Quad countries have narrowed down in the last two years. They hold a common interest in the creation of a free, open and inclusive regional architecture, rules of the road, freedom of navigation and overflight, and, ASEAN centrality.

Challenges Friendships with China – Even as the US has described China and Russia as revisionist powers, Japan has dropped the word “strategy” from its own Free and Open Indo-Pacific to better ties with China. Dependence on China – Japan’s overwhelming economic dependence on China, Australia’s continued commitment to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China signify the nations’ relationship with China. Chinese response – China believes that the concept of the Indo-Pacific and Quad is a plot by the US to contain its rise. It believes that trilateral compacts involving the US, Japan and India and the US, Japan, and Australia are aimed at strengthening the Quad. China believes in “Asia-Pacific” for building an inclusive regional cooperative structure. A switch to “Indo-Pacific” implies erosion of its pre-eminence.

Chinese five-point formula for Asia – Pacific - making greater efforts to work together on the BRI - forging China-ASEAN digital cooperation, including in 5G - fully implementing the China-ASEAN FTA - finalising regional rules-of-the-road based on the negotiating text of the Code of Conduct - engaging in joint maritime exercises

China – ASEAN

- China also pitched for synergies between the BRI and ASEAN’s development. - China has signed bilateral agreements with ASEAN countries to advance transportation routes, including the existing economic corridors, China-Thailand Railway, China-Laos Railway, and Jakarta-Bandung high-speed Railway.

India – China India’s commitment to “strategic autonomy” is reassuring to China. It suggests that India would never agree to fully align itself with the US against China. This impression has been reinforced by India holding up Australia’s participation in the annual Malabar naval exercise. India did not join the Indo-Pacific Business Council. The recent Mamallapuram summit is a positive development as the key to giving strategic guidance to stakeholders on both sides.

China – other QUAD nations Japan – With Japan, the opportunity for China lies in working together on agreed-upon projects in third countries Australia – it is an alliance partner of the US and is involved in freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea. China wants to leverage its deep economic engagement to balance the hard line being taken by Australia’s security and intelligence establishment. China – QUAD : way ahead China remains wary of the Quad and its future contours. It remains worried about the advantages that the Quad process might offer to India in the Indo-Pacific. It will seek to use its considerable bilateral engagement with Japan, Australia as well as India to ensure that the Quad does not flip over from a regional coordinating mechanism focused on connectivity and Infrastructure, capacity-building, HADR and maritime security and cyber 48

security and counter-terrorism to become an “Asian NATO”. Much will depend on China’s actions and how others perceive her capabilities and intentions.

6.4 Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS) India and Russia are finalising a defence agreement that will simplify interoperability and enable military platforms to receive support and supplies across bases in both nations- Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS).

What is Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS)? It is an arrangement that will allow access to India and Russia, to each other’s military facilities for supplies and fuel, expanding the logistics support and operational turnaround of the Indian military.

Benefits and mutual significance:

1. This will be beneficial for the Indian Navy, which has a large number of Russian origin ships, that will get access to Russian ports for supplies and refueling. It would be crucial for joint exercises. 2. The air force too will benefit by finding it easier to deploy aircraft for the same purpose. 3. This access will also be for ports in the Russian part of the Arctic, allowing access to energy resources there. 4. Russia, on the other hand, will be able to access Indian ports and air bases. 5. Russia has also assured India access to energy resources in the vast Arctic region.

6.5 BIMSTEC Port conclave First ever ‘BIMSTEC Ports’ Conclave will be held at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

Significance:

• The Conclave will explore the possibility of increasing economic cooperation by furthering EXIM trade and coastal shipping. • It will also discuss various investment opportunities, best practices adopted for productivity and safety at Ports.

What is BIMSTEC? In an effort to integrate the region, the grouping was formed in 1997, originally with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and later included Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. BIMSTEC, which now includes five countries from South Asia and two from ASEAN, is a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. It includes all the major countries of South Asia, except Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Why the region matters?

1. The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world. Over one-fifth (22%) of the world’s population live in the seven countries around it, and they have a combined GDP close to $2.7 trillion. 2. Despite economic challenges, all the countries in the region have been able to sustain average annual rates of economic growth between 3.4% and 7.5% from 2012 to 2016. 3. The Bay also has vast untapped natural resources. One-fourth of the world’s traded goods cross the Bay every year.

India’s stake:

1. As the region’s largest economy, India has a lot at stake. BIMSTEC connects not only South and Southeast Asia, but also the ecologies of the Great Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal. 2. For India, it is a natural platform to fulfil our key foreign policy priorities of ‘Neighborhood First’ and ‘Act East’. 3. For New Delhi, one key reason for engagement is in the vast potential that is unlocked with stronger connectivity. Roughly one-quarter of India’s population, live in the four coastal states adjacent to the Bay of Bengal (Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal). And, about 45 million people, who live in landlocked Northeastern states, will have the opportunity to connect via the Bay of Bengal to Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand, opening up possibilities in terms of development.

4. From the strategic perspective, the Bay of Bengal, a funnel to the Malacca straits, has emerged a key theatre for an increasingly assertive China in maintaining its access route to the Indian Ocean. 5. Besides, as China mounts assertive activities in the Bay of Bengal region, with increased submarine movement and ship visits in the Indian Ocean, it is in India’s interest to consolidate its internal engagement among the BIMSTEC countries.

6.6 No Money For Terror Conference India will host the next edition of the ”No Money For Terror” conference to be held in 2020. The announcement was made at the ”No Money For Terror” conference in Melbourne, Australia.

Key facts:

• The ”No Money For Terror” conference is organised by Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of over 100 countries, jointly called The Egmont Group. • Recognising the importance of international cooperation in the fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism, a group of FIUs met a few years ago at the Egmont Arenberg Palace in Brussels, Belgium, and decided to establish an informal network of FIUs for the stimulation of international co-operation. • The Egmont Group was created to provide FIUs around the world a forum to exchange information confidentially to combat money-laundering, the financing of terrorism and other predicate offences.

Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism:

• Terrorists and terrorist organizations rely on money to sustain themselves and to carry out terrorist acts. Money for terrorists is derived from a wide variety of sources. • While terrorists are not greatly concerned with disguising the origin of money, they are concerned with concealing its destination and the purpose for which it has been collected. Terrorists and terrorist organizations therefore employ techniques similar to those used by money launderers to hide their money. • The ability to prevent and detect money-laundering is a highly effective means of identifying criminals and terrorists and the underlying activity from which money is derived. • The application of intelligence and investigative techniques can be one way of detecting and disrupting the activities of terrorists and terrorist organizations.

6.7 Kalapani dispute

The new political map of India, recently released by the government to account for the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, has triggered fresh protests over an old issue in Kathmandu.

Kalapani Mapped within Uttarakhand is a 372-sq km area called Kalapani, bordering far-west Nepal and Tibet. While the Nepal government and political parties have protested, India has said the new map does not revise the existing boundary with Nepal.

Defining the boundaries Nepal’s western boundary with India was marked out in the Treaty of Sugauli between the East India Company and Nepal in 1816. Nepali authorities claim that people living in the low-density area were included in the Census of Nepal until 58 years ago. Five years ago, Nepali Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pande claimed that the late King Mahendra had “handed over the territory to India”. By some accounts in Nepal, this allegedly took place in the wake of India-China War of 1962.

6.8 International Seeds treaty A session of the Governing Body of International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) better known as Seed Treaty is recently held. About the Seed Treaty : ITPGRFA also known as Seed Treaty is a comprehensive international agreement for ensuring food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of the world’s plant genetic resources.

It aims for food and agriculture (PGRFA), as well as the fair and equitable benefit sharing arising from its use. The governing body meets biennially and India is a signatory to the treaty.

Objectives Farmers’ Contribution: To recognize the contribution of farmers to the diversity of crops, Access and Benefit Sharing: Establish a global system to provide farmers, plant breeders and scientists with access to plant genetic materials, Sustainability: To conserve and sustainably use plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act The PPV&FR Act, 2001 was enacted to grant intellectual property rights to plant breeders, researchers and farmers who have developed any new or extant plant varieties. The rights granted under this Act are exclusive right to produce, sell, market, distribute, import and export the variety. According to the act, a farmer is entitled to save, use, sow, resow, exchange, share or sell his farm produce including seed of a variety protected under the PPV&FR Act, 2001 except the brand name. The Act is compliant to Article-9 of the Seed Treaty. A few months back in April 2019, PepsiCo sued Gujarati farmers by invoking the provisions of the act. The PPV&FR Authority has registered about 3631 plant varieties out of which 1597 (44%) belong to the farmers

ECONOMY 7.1 Global Microscope Report According to the report, Global Microscope report on inclusion, by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), India has the fifth most conducive environment among emerging countries for inclusive finance. Facts of report - Only Columbia, Peru, Uruguay and Mexico are ahead of India. - The EIU’s analysis takes four basic parameters into account: - whether non-banks can issue e-money - the presence of financial service agents - proportionate customer due diligence - effective financial consumer protection - Of the 55 countries assessed, only four scored perfectly across all four enablers. India is among them. India – Financial Inclusion Amartya Sen has famously once remarked that “poverty is the deprivation of opportunity”. Former US president Bill Clinton, on a visit to an Indian village, was quoted as saying all that India’s poor needed was “education and some credit”. It’s the credit part that financial inclusion initiatives aim to provide. The poor opened bank accounts under the government’s Jan Dhan Yojana. In 2011, only 40% of Indian adults had an account, according to the Global Findex report; now almost 80% have one.

Way ahead It remains unclear whether poverty itself is being alleviated as a result of such inclusion. At least it’s possible for the government to directly reach a vast chunk of the population with cash transfers. Such handouts could help bridge gaps in people’s ability to use these accounts. Over time, if rural incomes witness an uptrend and non-financial inclusion goes up, India could fulfill the objective of the whole exercise.

7.2 WTO ruled against India’s export Subsidies The WTO’s dispute settlement panel ruled that India’s export subsidy schemes, including the provision for special economic zones, violated core provisions of global trade norms.

India’s dispute with the US at WTO Last year, the US had taken India to the WTO’s over the issue of export subsidy schemes, claiming that they were hurting American companies. The US alleged that some subsidy programmes run by the Indian government were giving undue advantage to Indian businesses. The Trump administration filed a case against India citing a violation of the SCM Agreement as India’s gross national product per capita was over $1,000. While the government had earlier said that it would phase out the aged export subsidy programmes, no such scrapping has occurred. It has also come to light that India is already working on rolling out new schemes to replace the old programmes

Recent WTO ruling Upholding US’s complaints in the case WTO panel rejected India’s claims that it was exempted from the prohibition on export subsidies. India had made claims under the special and differential treatment provisions of the WTO’s Agreement on Subsidies & Countervailing Measures (SCM). The panel further ruled that India is not entitled to provide subsidies depending on export performance and said it’s per capita gross national product crossed $1,000 per annum.

What does it mean? It is worth noting that under Article 3.1 of the WTO’s SCM agreement, all developing countries with gross per capita of $1,000 per annum for three consecutive years are required to stop all export incentives. The US had earlier accused India of giving prohibited subsidies to Indian steel producers, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, information technology, textiles and apparel.

Impact of the ruling Some of the schemes that will be affected by the WTO’s ruling include Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), export-oriented units (EOU) scheme. It will hamper some sector-specific schemes, including Electronics Hardware Technology Parks (EHTP) scheme and Bio-Technology Parks (BTP) scheme, Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) 52

scheme; and duty-free imports for Exporters Scheme. Under the various schemes, domestic companies are currently receiving billions in subsidies on an annual basis. Withdrawing the subsidies may have a significant effect on the performance of such companies.

What lies ahead? The WTO dispute settlement panel has asked India to withdraw the concerned export subsidy schemes within a time period of 90 days from the adoption of the report. It also asked India to withdraw prohibited subsidies under the EOU/EHTP/BTP schemes, EPCG and MEIS, within a period of 120 days and SEZ scheme within 180 days. India has a month to appeal against the WTO’s order. However, India has the right to challenge the ruling before the appellate body of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism with regards to export subsidy schemes

7.3 Electoral bonds: What are electoral bonds? Bonds that allow donors to pay political parties using banks as an intermediary.

Key features:

1. Although called a bond, the banking instrument resembling promissory notes will not carry any interest. 2. It will be a bearer instrument. 3. It will not carry the name of the payee. 4. It can be bought for any value, in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh or Rs 1 crore.

Eligibility:

• May be purchased by a citizen of India, or entities incorporated or established in India. • A person being an individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals. • Only the registered Political Parties which have secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last Lok Sabha elections or the State Legislative Assembly are eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds.

Need: The electoral bonds are aimed at rooting out the current system of largely anonymous cash donations made to political parties which lead to the generation of black money in the economy.

How will the Bonds help?

• Encourage political donations of clean money from individuals, companies, HUF, religious groups, charities, etc. • After purchasing the bonds, these entities can hand them to political parties of their choice, which must redeem them within the prescribed time.

Why is there a controversy?

• The introduction of the electoral bond scheme is part of what appears to be a growing trend away from transparency and accountability, two values which were already sparse in relation to Indian political parties. • Opponents to the scheme allege that since the identity of the donor of electoral bonds has been kept anonymous, it could lead to an influx of black money. • Others allege that the scheme was designed to help big corporate houses donate money without their identity being revealed.

7.4_CMIE report on Joblessness The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) has released a report on Unemployment in India.

- India’s unemployment rate in October rose to 8.5%, the highest level since August 2016. - Urban unemployment rate at 8.9%, is more than the rural unemployment rate of 8.3%. - Highest unemployment rate in Tripura and Haryana, at more than 20%. - Lowest in Tamil Nadu at 1.1%. - Rajasthan saw its unemployment rate double between September and October 2019.

Why this is a cause for concern? 53

1. CMIE findings are in line with the findings of the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey, which had estimated an unemployment rate of 6.1% between July 2017 and June 2018, the worst in 45 years. 2. The data also comes on the back of other indicators showing a downturn in the economy, including the core sector output in September posting its worst contraction in at least 14 years. 3. Earlier, August’s industrial output shrank at its fastest rate in more than six years. 4. Another research estimates that between 2011-12 and 2017-18, employment declined by an unprecedented nine million jobs (a 2% drop), with agricultural employment declining by 11.5%. In the same period, employment in the service sector increased by 13.4%, while manufacturing employment dipped by 5.7%. 5. While employment has been declining, the number of working age people who are “Not in Labour Force, Education and Training” has continued to increase — from about 84 million in 2011-12, it has now crossed 100 million.

What causes this? Most of the decline in employment has happened due to the fall in the number of workers in agriculture and a sharp fall in the absolute number of female workers- Roughly 37 million workers left agriculture in the last six years. During the same time, 25 million women workers were out of the workforce. While the trend of workers moving out of agriculture is seen since 2004-05 and is welcome, it also points to the rising vulnerability of farm production.

Way ahead: No doubt, the problem is not new and even earlier governments are to be blamed for the mess that the economy is in. Unfortunately, blaming the data or earlier governments does not make people who are looking for jobs vanish from the country. Stagnant wages and jobless growth are not just indicators of a weakening economy, but also a recipe for political instability and a crisis in the countryside. The least that is expected of the government is an acknowledgement of the extent of the problem and then try to address it.

Need of the hour: Falling manufacturing employment and decelerating construction employment growth are bad news for the economy. To sustain the growth of income, improve standard of living, and to reduce poverty, employment opportunities in manufacturing and construction (although a transitory sector) is necessary.

7.5_Adjusted Gross Revenue in telecom sector

In a strongly-worded order, the Supreme Court of India upheld the Department of Telecom (DoT)’s interpretation of “adjusted gross revenue” (AGR). This came as a huge blow to telecom service providers. Following the order, the telcos are now staring at dues of an estimated ₹1.4 lakh crore, which needs to be paid to the government within three months. Most industry players and analysts have argued that the payout of the huge amount could be the final straw for the already distressed sector.

What is AGR? Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) is the usage and licensing fee that telecom operators are charged by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It is divided into spectrum usage charges and licensing fees, pegged between 3-5 percent and 8 percent respectively.

Why is AGR important? The definition of AGR has been under litigation for 14 years. While telecom companies argued that it should comprise revenue from telecom services, the DoT’s stand was that the AGR should include all revenue earned by an operator, including that from non-core telecom operations. The AGR directly impacts the outgo from the pockets of telcos to the DoT as it is used to calculate the levies payable by operators. Currently, telecom operators pay 8% of the AGR as licence fee, while spectrum usage charges (SUC) vary between 3- 5% of AGR.

Why do telecom companies need to pay out large amounts? Telecom companies now owe the government not just the shortfall in AGR for the past 14 years but also an interest on that amount along with penalty and interest on the penalty. While the exact amount telcos will need to shell out is not

clear, as in a government affidavit filed in the top court, the DoT had calculated the outstanding licence fee to be over ₹92,000 crore. However, the actual payout can go up to ₹1.4 lakh crore as the government is likely to also raise a demand for shortfall in SUC along with interest and penalty. Of the total amount, it is estimated that the actual dues is about 25%, while the remaining amount is interest and penalties.

Is there stress in the sector? The telecom industry is reeling under a debt of over ₹4 lakh crore and has been seeking a relief package from the government. Even the government has on various occasions admitted that the sector is indeed undergoing stress and needs support. Giving a ray of hope to the telecom companies, the government recently announced setting up of a Committee of Secretaries to examine the financial stress in the sector, and recommend measures to mitigate it.

Issue of lower tariff Currently, telecom tariffs are among the lowest globally, driven down due to intense competition following the entry of Reliance in the sector. The TRAI examines the merits of a “minimum charge” that operators may charge for voice and data services.

7.6 Balance of Trade and RCEP

A key reason that India forwarded for declining to sign on was the existence of trade deficits with many of the constituents of the RCEP.

What concerned India?

India was concerned that joining the RCEP trade pact could lead to Chinese goods flooding the Indian markets, and India’s trade deficit ballooning against most of the RCEP members. This, India argued, would have led to several sectoral producers such as those in the dairy and steel sector being dominated by foreign competition.

India’s trade deficit For instance, against the 10 member ASEAN, India’s trade deficit was nearly $22 billion in 2018. Against South Korea it was $12 billion, against Australia $9.6 billion, against Japan almost $8 billion. Worst of all is the trade deficit with China – $53.6 billion.

What is Trade Deficit? Simply put, the trade “balance” of a country shows the difference between what it earns from its exports and what it pays for its imports. If this number is in negative – that is, the total value of goods imported by a country is more than the total value of goods exported by that country – then it is referred to as a “trade deficit”. If India has a trade deficit with China then China would necessarily have a “trade surplus” with India.

What does it mean A trade deficit broadly can mean two things. One, that the demand in the domestic economy is not being met by the domestic producers. For instance, India may be producing a lot of milk but still not enough for the total milk demand in the country. As such, India may choose to import milk. Two, many a time a deficit signifies the lack of competitiveness of the domestic industry. For instance, Indian car manufacturers could import steel from China instead of procuring it from the domestic producers if the Chinese steel was decidedly cheaper, for the same quality. More often than not, the trade deficit of a country is due to a combination of both these main factors.

Is a trade deficit a bad thing? No trade is ever balanced. That’s because all countries have different strengths and weaknesses.

India may have a trade deficit with China but a surplus with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It all depends on whether a country is playing to its strength or not. Trade typically enhances wellbeing all across the world by forcing countries to do what they can do most efficiently and procure (import) from the rest of the world what they cannot produce efficiently.

Do higher tariffs help in bringing down trade deficits? Of course, they do. For instance, if cheaper milk and steel from New Zealand and China, respectively, was held off by India levying higher. Then the people most hurt would be Indian consumers of milk and steel – a number far in excess of the number of Indian producers of milk and steel. The consumers would have to either pay a higher cost for imported steel or use equally costly or poorer quality domestic steel or indeed, go without milk (at least the poorer consumers).

Way forward That is not to say that trade doesn’t have elements that compromise a country’s strategic interests and that is why there are some commodities in which every country wants to maintain self-sufficiency. But merely levying higher tariffs or not choosing to trade do not bring about self-sufficiency. For attaining self-reliance, a country’s domestic industry has to improve and the best of this happening is when one learns from the competition.

7.8 ICEDASH and ATITHI initiative

Union Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs unveiled two new IT initiatives – ICEDASH and ATITHI.

ICEDASH ICEDASH is an Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) monitoring dashboard of the Indian Customs helping public see the daily Customs clearance times of import cargo at various ports and airports. With ICEDASH, Indian Customs has taken a lead globally to provide an effective tool that helps the businesses compare clearance times across ports and plan their logistics accordingly. This dashboard has been developed by CBIC in collaboration with NIC. ICEDASH can be accessed through the CBIC website.

ATITHI With ATITHI mobile app, CBIC has introduced an easy to use mobile app for international travelers to file the Customs declaration in advance. Passengers can use this app to file declaration of dutiable items and currency with the Indian Customs even before boarding the flight to India. ATITHI would in particular create a tech savvy image of India Customs and would encourage tourism and business travel to India.

7.9 SkillBuild platform

The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched the SkillsBuild platform in collaboration with IBM. SkillsBuild platform As part of the programme, a two-year advanced diploma in IT, networking and cloud computing, co-created and designed by IBM will be offered at the ITIs & National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs). The platform will be extended to train ITI & NSTI faculty on building skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The platform is deployed with the support of leading NGOs like Unnati and Edunet Foundation. IBM Volunteers along with the NGOS will offer students personalized coaching and experiential learning opportunities.

Benefits The digital platform will provide a personal assessment of the cognitive capabilities and personality via MyInnerGenius to the students. They will then learn foundational knowledge about digital technologies, as well as professional skills such as resume- writing, problem solving and communication. Students will alsos receive recommendations on role-based education for specific jobs that include technical and professional learning.

About “New Collar Curriculum” initiative IBM joined hands with Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in early 2018 to launch a first-of-its kind ‘New Collar Curriculum’. This initiative is part of IBM’s global commitment to create a job-ready workforce and to build the next generation of skills needed for new collar careers. 56

7.10 Steel scrap recycling policy

Ministry of Steel has issued the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy. Steel Scrap Recycling Policy This will ensure scientific processing & recycling ferrous scrap generated from various sources and variety of products. The policy framework shall provide standard guidelines for collection, dismantling and shredding activities in an organized, safe and environmentally sound manner. The policy aims to achieve the following objectives – To promote circular economy in the steel sector. To promote a formal and scientific collection, dismantling and processing activities for end of life products that are sources of recyclable (ferrous, non- ferrous and other non-metallic) scraps. It will lead to resource conservation and energy savings and setting up of an environmentally sound management system for handling ferrous scrap. Processing and recycling of products in an organized, safe and environment friendly manner. To evolve a responsive ecosystem by involving all stakeholders. To produce high quality ferrous scrap for quality steel production thus minimizing the dependency on imports To decongest the Indian cities from ELVs and reuse of ferrous scrap. To promote 6Rs principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign and Remanufacture through scientific handling, processing and disposal of all types of recyclable scraps including non-ferrous scraps, through authorized centers / facility.

Background Steel is a material most conducive for circular economy as it can be used, reused and recycled infinitely. While iron ore remains the primary source of steel making, used or re-used steel in the form of Scrap is the secondary raw material for the steel industry. Indian steel industry is characterized by the presence of a large number of small steel producers who utilize scrap with other inputs for steel making.

Why focus on scrap steel? The availability of scrap is a major issue in India and in 2017 the deficit was to the tune of 7 million Tons. This was imported at the cost of more than Rs. 24,500 crores (approx.) in 2017-18. The gap between demand and supply is can be reduced in the future and the country may be self-sufficient by 2030. The scrap has to be channelized so that the same can be utilized for steel production in an environmentally friendly manner.

Commercial significance of scrap Scrap is an important input for the electric furnaces. If quality scrap is provided as the charge to the electric furnaces, then the furnaces can produce high grade steel. High Grade Steel Scrap shall not have the impurities if processing is done with the scrap processing centres and by shredders etc. The high-grade steel scrap shall be recycled to produce high grade steel again, to be used in the industries such as equipment manufacturing, automobiles and other downstream industries. Scrap with less or no impurities shall result in better long products that are commonly used in the construction industry and is common use steels. If better-processed scrap is produced in the country, it shall result in not only import substitution of scrap but also import substitution of high-end steel that is currently imported in the country. Climate-friendly Scrap based steel making technologies have been envisaged as one of the important options to reduce GHG emission intensity. This shall also contribute in adopting the principle of 6Rs i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Redesign and Remanufacture to avoid any adverse impact on the environment. There is a worldwide trend to increase steel production using scrap as the main raw material as recycling of scrap helps in conservation of vital natural resources besides other numerous benefits.

7.11 Core Investment company RBI panel proposes stricter rules for core investment companies. The recommendations were made by the Working Group to Review Regulatory and Supervisory Framework for Core Investment Companies set up by the central bank on 3 July and headed by Tapan Ray, former secretary of the corporate affairs ministry.

These include:

1. Core investment companies (CICs) will have to form board level committees, appoint independent directors and conduct internal audits. 57

2. Prepare consolidated financial statement and ring-fence the boards of CICs by excluding employees or executive directors of group companies from its board. 3. Step-down CICs may not be permitted to invest in any other CIC, but can invest freely in other group companies. 4. The capital contribution by a CIC in a step-down CIC, can be over and above 10% of its owned funds. It should be deducted from its adjusted networth, as applicable to other NBFCs. 5. The number of layers of CICs in a group should be restricted to two and any CIC within a group shall not make investment through more than a total of two layers of CICs, including itself.

What are Core Investment Companies (CICs)? CICs are non-banking financial companies with asset size of ₹100 crore and above which carry on the business of acquisition of shares and securities, subject to certain conditions. CICs, which are allowed to accept public funds, hold not less than 90% of their net assets in the form of investment in equity shares, preference shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in group companies. Investments of CIC in the equity shares (including instruments compulsorily convertible into equity shares within a period not exceeding 10 years from the date of issue) in group companies constitutes not less than 60% of its net assets as mentioned in clause. Exemption: CICs having asset size of below Rs 100 crore are exempted from registration and regulation from the RBI, except if they wish to make overseas investments in the financial sector.

What do the term public funds include? Is it the same as public deposits? Public funds are not the same as public deposits. Public funds include public deposits, inter-corporate deposits, bank finance and all funds received whether directly or indirectly from outside sources such as funds raised by issue of Commercial Papers, debentures etc. However, even though public funds include public deposits in the general course, it may be noted that CICs/CICs-ND-SI cannot accept public deposits. Need: This Concept was originated in order to safeguard NBFCs which are formed for group investments from stringent RBI procedures. Experts have been seeking a review of CIC guidelines ever since defaults by Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS), a large systemically important core investment company.

7.12 Alternative Investment Funds The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) of Rs. 25,000 crore to provide last-mile funding for stalled affordable and middle-income housing projects across the country.

Key features:

1. The fund size will initially be Rs. 25,000 crore with the government providing Rs. 10,000 crore and the State Bank of India and the Life Insurance Corporation providing the balance 2. The funds will be set up as Category-II Alternative Investment Fund registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India and will be managed by SBICAP Ventures Limited. 3. The open-ended fund is expected to swell over time. The government is also in talks with sovereign bonds and pension funds to put in money in AIF further. 4. The Cabinet also approved the establishment of a ‘Special Window’ to provide priority debt financing for completion of stalled housing projects in the affordable and middle-income housing sector.

What are AIFs? As defined in Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012, AIFs refer to any privately pooled investment fund, (whether from Indian or foreign sources), in the form of a trust or a company or a body corporate or a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).

• AIF does not include funds covered under the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996, SEBI (Collective Investment Schemes) Regulations, 1999 or any other regulations of the Board to regulate fund management activities. • Hence, in India, AIFs are private funds which are otherwise not coming under the jurisdiction of any regulatory agency in India.

Categories: As per SEBI (AIF) Regulations, 2012, AIFs shall seek registration in one of the three categories:

1. Category I: Mainly invests in startups, SME’s or any other sector which Govt. considers economically and socially viable. 2. Category II: These include Alternative Investment Funds such as private equity funds or debt funds for which no specific incentives or concessions are given by the government or any other Regulator 3. Category III : Alternative Investment Funds such as hedge funds or funds which trade with a view to make short term returns or such other funds which are open ended and for which no specific incentives or concessions are given by the government or any other Regulator.

7.13 Harmonized system code

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry allocated a separate Harmonised System (HS) code for Khadi.

HS code The Harmonized System, or simply ‘HS’, is a six-digit identification code developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO). It is called the “universal economic language” for goods, it is a multipurpose international product nomenclature. Over 200 countries use the system as a basis for their customs tariffs, gathering international trade statistics, making trade policies, and for monitoring goods. The system helps in harmonizing of customs and trade procedures, thus reducing costs in international trade.

What makes the 6 digit code? A unique six-digit code has numbers arranged in a legal and logical structure, with well-defined rules to achieve uniform classification. Of the six digits, the first two denote the HS Chapter, the next two give the HS heading, and the last two give the HS subheading. The HS code for pineapple, for example, is 0804.30, which means it belongs to Chapter 08 (Edible fruit & nuts, peel of citrus/melons), Heading 04 (Dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, etc. fresh or dried), and Subheading 30 (Pineapples). Significance of the move

Khadi is India’s signature handspun and hand-woven cloth that was made iconic by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle. The move is expected to boost Khadi exports in the coming years. In 2006, the government had given the MSME-controlled Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) the Export Promotion Council Status (EPCS). Yet, the absence of a separate HS code hindered Khadi from achieving its full potential, as its exports were difficult to categorise and calculate. The latest move is expected to help resolve this issue.

7.14 Diamond Quadrilateral Bullet Train project Some information about the Diamond Quadrilateral Bullet Train Network Project was given by the Minister of Railways in Rajya Sabha.

Diamond Quadrilateral Bullet Train Network Project In the Railway Budget 2014-15, it was announced to undertake planning of high speed rail connectivity on Diamond Quadrilateral network connecting major metros and growth centres of the country. Accordingly, Ministry of Railways has undertaken feasibility studies for some routes namely Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Kolkata, Mumbai-Chennai, Mumbai-Nagpur and Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru. However, being highly capital intensive, the sanction of any High Speed Rail Project has not yet commended. Till now, Government has sanctioned Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project with technical and financial assistance of Government of Japan. This project is targetted for completion by the year 2023.

7.15 Base Year in GDP calculation At a time when India is facing an economic slowdown in GDP growth the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation announced that the new base year for the GDP series will be decided in a few months.

What is Base Year? The base year of the national accounts is chosen to enable inter-year comparisons. It gives an idea about changes in purchasing power and allows calculation of inflation-adjusted growth estimates. The last series has changed the base to 2011-12 from 2004-05. The base year is a benchmark with reference to which the national account figures such as gross domestic product (GDP), gross domestic saving, gross capital formation are calculated.

How is a base year calculated? In India, the first estimates of national income were published by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) in 1956 taking 1948-49 as the base year. With the gradual improvement in availability of data, the methodology was revised. Earlier, CSO depended on the population figures in the National Census to estimate the workforce in the economy. Therefore, the base year always coincided with the census figures like 1970-71, 1980-81 etc. Subsequently, CSO decided that the National Sample Survey (NSS) figures on the workforce size were more accurate and hence, the base year would change every five years when the NSS conducted such survey. This system was started from 1999 when the base year was revised from 1980-81 to 1993-94. Why need it? The base year prices are termed as at constant prices. This reduces all the data to a comparable benchmark, base year price. The base year is a representative year which must not experience any abnormal incidents such as droughts, floods, earthquakes etc. It is a which is reasonably proximate to the year for which the national accounts statistics are being calculated. Why is the base year changed every few years? The base year has to be revised periodically in order to reflect the structural changes taking place within an economy, such as increasing share of services in GDP. The more frequently the base year can be updated, the more accurate the statistics will be.

7.16 Project Zero E-com giant Amazon has announced to bring “Project Zero” to India. “Project Zero” introduces additional proactive mechanisms and powerful tools to identify, block and remove counterfeits goods on Amazon website. It aims to ensure that customers receive authentic goods when shopping on Amazon. Over 7,000 brands have already enrolled in Project Zero across US, Europe and Japan. A number of Indian brands participated in a pilot to help the company test the experience in India.

Functioning It combines Amazon’s advanced technology and innovation with the sophisticated knowledge that brands have of their own intellectual property and how best to detect counterfeits of their products. It does so through three powerful tools: Automated protections, self-service counterfeit removal tool and product serialization. Product serialization is enabled by a unique code that brands apply within their manufacturing and packaging process. It allows Amazon to individually scan and confirm the authenticity of every single purchase of a brand’s enrolled products through Amazon’s marketplace.

7.17 International Symposium on Lighting (iSoL)

Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises has inaugurated the International Symposium on Lighting (iSoL).

The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) organizes International Symposium on lighting (iSoL). The two days Symposium provides a common platform to professionals related directly or indirectly to the automotive lighting fraternity from all around the globe. The iSoL from 2009 has grown and transformed itself into a global event. ICAT has been associated with the field of lighting research and testing since 2006. Taking this commitment to a greater height, iSoL-2019 is aimed at creating a knowledge sharing platform ensuring the flow of information.

About ICAT The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), Manesar (Haryana) is located in the northern automotive hub of India. It is a leading world class automotive testing, certification and R&D service provider. It functions under the aegis of NATRiP (National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project), Government of India.

7.18 BHIM UPI BHIM app has gone international with a pilot demo of BHIM UPI QR- based payments beginning at the ongoing Singapore FinTech Festival 2019.

• This QR code-based system would allow anyone with a BHIM app to scan the SGQR at NETS terminals for payments in Singapore. • The project is being jointly developed by NPCI and NETS of Singapore. It is targeted to go live by Feb 2020.

What is BHIM? Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) is a UPI based payment interface.

• Developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). • Allows real time fund transfer. • Launchedin December, 2016.

What is UPI? Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood. It also caters to the “Peer to Peer” collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience. Each Bank provides its own UPI App for Android, Windows and iOS mobile platform(s).

Why UPI is outperforming e- wallets? People are changing the way they transact, choosing bank-to-bank methods such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) over other instruments such as e-wallets. This is because UPI is completely interoperable and as such, it is unique in the world, where you have an interoperable system on the ‘send’ and ‘receive’ side. The rapid growth of UPI is accompanied by a reasonably strong growth in the value of transactions done using e- wallets, but the latter’s growth has not taken off much following the fillip it received in the aftermath of demonetisation in November 2016. The BHIM apps has three levels of authentication:

1. For one, the app binds with a device’s ID and mobile number. 2. Second a user needs to sync whichever bank account (UPI or non-UPI enabled) in order to the conduct transaction. 3. Third, when a user sets up the app they are asked to create a pin which is needed to log into the app. The UPI pin, which a user creates with their bank account is needed to go through with the transaction.

UPI – Benefits to the Ecosystem participants: Benefits for banks:

1. Universal Application for transaction. 2. Leveraging existing infrastructure. 3. Safer, Secured and Innovative. 4. Payment basis Single/ Unique Identifier. 5. Enable seamless merchant transactions.

Benefits for end Customers:

• Round the clock availability. • Single Application for accessing different bank accounts. • Use of Virtual ID is more secure, no credential sharing. • Single click authentication. • Raise Complaint from Mobile App directly.

Benefits for Merchants:

• Seamless fund collection from customers – single identifiers. 61

• No risk of storing customer’s virtual address like in Cards. • Tap customers not having credit/debit cards. • Suitable for e-Com & m-Com transaction. • Resolves the COD collection problem. • Single click 2FA facility to the customer – seamless Pull. • In-App Payments (IAP).

About NPCI: NPCI is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. It is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for creating a robust Payment and Settlement Infrastructure in India. It has been incorporated as a not for profit company. In 2016 the shareholding was broad-based to 56 member banks to include more banks representing all sectors.

7.19 Financial firms under IBC The Centre has issued rules that provide a framework for bringing ‘systemically important financial service providers’ under the purview of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

• The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has notified the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Insolvency and Liquidation Proceedings of Financial Service Providers and Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2019. • These rules aim to provide a generic framework for insolvency and liquidation proceedings of systemically important FSPs other than banks. Background: Section 227 of the [Insolvency and Bankruptcy] Code enables the Central government to notify, in consultation with the financial sector regulators, financial service providers (FSPs) or categories of FSPs for the purpose of insolvency and liquidation proceedings, in such manner as may be prescribed.

The new rules:

• As per the new rules, only a regulator will be allowed to refer a non-bank lender or housing financier to a bankruptcy tribunal, unlike in the case of companies that can approach a tribunal on their own, or can be dragged into one either by lenders or operational creditors such as material suppliers. • The bankruptcy tribunal will appoint an administrator who will try to stitch together a turnaround plan. • The administrator will be nominated by the regulator, such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the case of non-bank lenders and housing financiers. • The registration or the licence of the financial services provider will not be suspended or cancelled during the bankruptcy resolution process. • In case a turnaround of the financial institution is not possible, before deciding to liquidate it, the tribunal will listen to the views of the regulator.

Significance: The introduction of an interim framework for resolution of financial service providers under the IBC is a timely and important step for resolution of financial service providers permitting an interplay between regulators, creditors and the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) for appropriate actions. These rules are likely to help out distressed shadow banks and housing financiers, which have been battling a liquidity crunch for a year.

7.20 India Asean FTA A report, analysing the benefits of India’s free trade agreements with Asean has been released. The report has been prepared by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Background: Asean compromises 10 countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. India had signed an FTA in goods with the regional bloc in 2009, known as the Asean–India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA). In 2014, an FTA in services was also included. 62

Key findings:

1. Overall, India failed to benefit from free trade agreements (FTAs) with the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). 2. In fact, India’s trade deficit had increased ever since the country entered into FTAs with Asean. 3. India’s net exports to countries without a trade agreement were only marginally lower than its net exports to countries with FTAs. 4. The imports from countries with trade agreements were substantially higher, pushing India into a trade deficit.

What changed after the signing of these agreements? India’s imports from Asean countries increased sharply in comparison to its exports to them after signing these agreements.

India’s experience with other FTAs: India’s past experience with FTAs has not been encouraging. India had recorded a trade deficit in all major trade agreements other than the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).

Need of the hour: India needs to work on its manufacturing sector to benefit from any FTA. India should not consider entering into FTAs without preparing the agriculture and manufacturing sectors adequately.

7.21 PM Kisan maan dhan yojana As per the latest data, over 18 Lakh Farmers are registered under PM KISAN MAAN DHAN YOJANA.

About the scheTapan Deka : Aim: To improve the life of small and marginal farmers of the country.

Salient features of the scheTapan Deka :

• The scheme is voluntary and contributory for farmers in the entry age group of 18 to 40 years. • A monthly pension of Rs. 3000/–will be provided to them on attaining the age of 60 years. • The spouse is also eligible to get a separate pension of Rs.3000/- upon making separate contributions to the Fund. • Initial contribution:The farmers will have to make a monthly contribution of Rs.55 to Rs.200, depending on their age of entry, in the Pension Fund till they reach the retirement date i.e. the age of 60 years. • The Central Government will also make an equal contribution of the same amount in the pension fund. • The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) shall be the Pension Fund Managerand responsible for Pension pay out. • If there is no spouse, then total contribution along with interest will be paid to the nominee. • If the farmer dies after the retirement date, the spouse will receive 50% of the pension as Family Pension. • After the death of both the farmer and the spouse, the accumulated corpus shall be credited back to the Pension Fund. • The beneficiaries may opt voluntarily to exit the Scheme after a minimum period of 5 years of regular contributions. • In case of default in making regular contributions, the beneficiaries are allowed to regularize the contributions by paying the outstanding dues along with prescribed interest. Need for and Significance of the scheTapan Deka : It is expected that at least 10 crore labourers and workers in the unorganised sector will avail the benefit of the scheme within next five years making it one of the largest pension schemes of the world.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 8.1 Pegasus Spyware WhatsApp has revealed that Indian journalists and human rights activists have been under the surveillance of Israeli spyware Pegasus.

This disclosure was made after WhatsApp filed a lawsuit in a US federal court against NSO. NSO, the bug’s maker has allegedly been helping governments around the world hack smartphones and place their on- screen activity under watch. Pegasus can reportedly gain access to mobile devices simply by making missed calls via WhatsApp to identified targets. Reports say that, by WhatApp’s count, over 20 Indians were under the scanner for about a fortnight in May. Not the first time This is not the first time NSO has been sued. Victims of hacking had taken it to Israeli courts on earlier occasions. The spyware doesn’t just intercept network communication, it has the ability to steal your data, track your location, and much more. Surveillance Intelligence agencies use whatever means they can to zoom into the lives of people who arouse suspicion. Most often, it reveals a pattern that suggests a state paranoid about dissent. Way ahead Each individual should take precautionary measures to protect from spy agencies and cybercriminals.

8.2 Indigen Genome The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has conducted Whole Genome Sequencing of 1,008 Indians from different populations across the country. Announcing details of the IndiGen Genome project, the Union Minister for Science & Technology said that the whole genome data will be important for building the knowhow, baseline data and indigenous capacity in the emerging area of Precision Medicine.

What is a genome?

• A genome is the DNA, or sequence of genes, in a cell. Most of the DNA is in the nucleus and intricately coiled into a structure called the chromosome. • The rest is in the mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse. Every human cell contains a pair of chromosomes, each of which has three billion base pairs or one of four molecules that pair in precise ways. • The order of base pairs and varying lengths of these sequences constitute the “genes”, which are responsible for making amino acids, proteins and, thereby, everything that is necessary for the body to function. • It is when these genes are altered or mutated that proteins sometimes do not function as intended, leading to disease.

Process of Genome Sequencing: Sequencing a genome means deciphering the exact order of base pairs in an individual. This “deciphering” or reading of the genome is what sequencing is all about. Costs of sequencing differ based on the methods employed to do the reading or the accuracy stressed upon in decoding the genome. It has been known that the portion of the genes responsible for making proteins called the exome occupies about 1% of the actual gene. India, led by the CSIR, first sequenced an Indian genome in 2009, it is only now that the organisation’s laboratories have been able to scale up whole-genome sequencing and offer them to the public.

About IndiGen Genome project:

• The IndiGen initiative was undertaken by CSIR in April 2019, which was implemented by the CSIR- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. • The objective is to enable genetic epidemiology and develop public health technologies applications using population genome data. • This has enabled benchmarking the scalability of genome sequencing and computational analysis at population scale in a defined timeline. • The ability to decode the genetic blueprint of humans through whole genome sequencing will be a major driver for biomedical science.

• IndiGen programme aims to undertake whole genome sequencing of thousands of individuals representing diverse ethnic groups from India.

Need for genome sequencing:

• A genetic test, which is commercially available at several outlets in the country, usually involves analysing only a portion of the genome that’s known to contain aberrant genes linked to disease. • It is important to ensure that India, with its unparalleled human diversity, is adequately represented in terms of genomic data and develops indigenous capacity to generate, maintain, analyse, utilize and communicate large-scale genome data, in a scalable manner. • Ever since the human genome was first sequenced in 2003, it opened a fresh perspective on the link between disease and the unique genetic make-up of each individual. • Nearly 10,000 diseases including cystic fibrosis, thalassemia are known to be the result of a single gene malfunctioning. • While genes may render some insensitive to certain drugs, genome sequencing has shown that cancer too can be understood from the viewpoint of genetics, rather than being seen as a disease of certain organs. • The human genome has about 3.2 billion base pairs and just 10 years ago cost about $10,000. Now prices have fallen to a tenth.

Applications of IndiGen Genome project: The outcomes of the IndiGen will have applications in a number of areas including predictive and preventive medicine with faster and efficient diagnosis of rare genetic diseases. The outcomes will be utilized towards understanding the genetic diversity on a population scale, make available genetic variant frequencies for clinical applications and enable genetic epidemiology of diseases. The benefits of this initiative include epidemiology of genetic diseases to enable cost effective genetic tests, carrier screening applications for expectant couples, enabling efficient diagnosis of heritable cancers and pharmacogenetic tests to prevent adverse drug reactions.

Way forward: The aim of the exercise was twofold: To test if it’s possible to rapidly and reliably scan several genomes and Advise people on health risks that are manifest in their gene and, understand the variation and frequency of certain genes that are known to be linked to disease. The IndiGenome card and app ensures privacy and data security, which is vital for personal genomics to be implemented at scale. The CSIR exercise ties into a larger programme coordinated by the Department of Biotechnology, which plans to scan nearly 20,000 Indian genomes over the next five years, in a two-phase exercise, and develop diagnostic tests that can be used to test for cancer.

8.3 Glyphophate herbicide Monsanto (the company Bayer acquired in 2018) produces the glyphosate based herbicides which allegedly has cancer risks.

Glyphosate based herbicides The herbicides are based on a compound called glyphosate. First developed in 1970, glyphosate is scientifically N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine under the IUPAC system of nomenclature. It is applied to the leaves of plants to kill weeds. It is widely used in India, too.

Usage in India According to a 2016 bulletin published by the ICAR the weedkiller in India goes by various brand names, including Roundup, Glycel, and Brake. Glyphosate was highly accepted by the tea planters in the past two decades. It has a very good market size in the teasector of West Bengal and Assam. Presently, the consumption of glyphosate is highest in Maharashtra as it is becoming a key herbicide in sugarcane, maize and many fruit crops including mango, banana, grapes, pomegranate and citrus.France, Italy, and Vietnam banned the herbicide’s use after the WHO finding. Issues over Glyphosate In 2015, the WHO study found that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans”. Since then activists have been campaigning against glyphosate-based products. The herbicide is needed for agriculture and is used in many countries, including the US, China, Brazil and Canada. The harmful effects on human health are yet to be established as the WHO has not issued any advisory.

8.4 Voyager 2

The spacecraft exited the protective bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by the Sun. Voyager 2 was launched in 1977, 16 days before Voyager 1, and both have travelled well beyond their original destinations. The spacecraft were built to last five years and conduct close-up studies of Jupiter and Saturn. As the spacecraft flew across the solar system, remote-control reprogramming was used to endow the Voyagers with greater capabilities than they possessed when they left Earth. It carries a working instrument that will provide first-of-its- kind observations of the nature of this gateway into interstellar space. It is slightly more than 18 billion kilometres from Earth. Its twin, Voyager 1, crossed this boundary in 2012. Their five-year lifespans have stretched to 41 years, making Voyager 2 NASA’s longest running mission

What is Heliosphere? The heliosphere is the vast, bubble-like region of space which surrounds and is created by the Sun. In plasma physics terms, this is the cavity formed by the Sun in the surrounding interstellar medium. The “bubble” of the heliosphere is continuously “inflated” by plasma originating from the Sun, known as the solar wind. Outside the heliosphere, this solar plasma gives way to the interstellar plasma permeating our galaxy. The boundary, called the heliopause, is where the tenuous, hot solar wind meets the cold, dense interstellar medium.

Still in the solar system While the probes have left the heliosphere, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have not yet left the solar system, and won’t be leaving any time soon. Mission operators still can communicate with Voyager 2 as it enters this new phase of its journey, but information — moving at the speed of light — takes about 16.5 hours to travel from the spacecraft to Earth. By comparison, light travelling from the Sun takes about eight minutes to reach Earth.

Future missions of NASA NASA also is preparing an additional mission — the upcoming Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), due to launch in 2024 — to capitalise on the Voyagers’ observations.

8.5 Cloud Seeding Haryana Dy. CM has written to PM Modi, requesting him to “undertake cloud seeding plan to combat the air pollution engulfing Delhi and NCR”.

What is Cloud Seeding? Cloud seeding is a kind of weather modification technology to create artificial rainfall. It works only when there are enough pre-existing clouds in the atmosphere. Rain happens when moisture in the air reaches levels at which it can no longer be held, and cloud seeding aims to facilitate and accelerate that process by making available chemical ‘nuclei’ around which condensation can take place.

These ‘seeds’ of rain can be the iodides of silver or potassium, dry ice (solid carbon dioxide), or liquid propane. The seeds can be delivered by plane or simply by spraying from the ground.

Where all has it been tried earlier? Cloud seeding is not new to India and it has earlier been attempted in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra to address drought. Similar experiments of cloud seeding had earlier been tried in Australia, America, Spain and France. In United Arab Emirates, the cloud seeding technique led to creation of 52 storms in Abu Dhabi. Till last year, IMD had around 30 successful incidents of seeding. Also, such seeding is routine in Russia and other cold countries where the technique is used to disperse fog at the airports.

What is the IIT Kanpur study? The scientists at IIT Kanpur had prepared a project to induce artificial rain via cloud seeding to clear smog in Delhi. Officials in the Environment Ministry had approved the project. The project demanded an aircraft of National Remote Sensing Agency — an ISRO-affiliated body — to fly into the clouds. It would inject silver iodide that would lead to the formation of ice crystals, making the clouds denser and causing them to condense into rain and settle atmospheric dust and clearing the sky. It was in 2018 when IIT Kanpur had got all the clearances from DGCA and Defence and Home ministries for the project. But due to non-availability of the aircraft, the project could not take off.

Did state governments adopt this technology? In May 2019, Karnataka Cabinet approved a budget of Rs 91 crore for cloud seeding for a period of two years. It involved two aircraft spraying chemicals on moisture-laden clouds to induce rainfall. It was expected to begin by June end and continue for three months. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had also partnered with IIT Kanpur and agreed to provide Dornier aircraft and their pilots to provide logistical support to the project.

How successful is the cloud seeding technology? The Pune-based IIMT has been carrying out cloud seeding experiments for several years now. These experiments have been done in areas around Nagpur, Solapur, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, and recently Varanasi. The success rate of these experiments in inducing rains is about 60 to 70 per cent, depending on local atmospheric conditions, the amount of moisture in the air and cloud characteristics. Apart from IITM, some private companies also offer cloud-seeding services. It is these companies that have been engaged by Maharashtra and Karnataka in the last few years. These also received mixed success.

8.6 Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme The Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (N.A.I.P) which was recently launched by PM covering 600 chosen districts including aspirational districts as identified by NITI Aayog. The NAIP is a campaign mode genetic upgradation program covering all breeds of bovines to enhance the milk production using low cost breeding technology. It aims for improving genetic merit of milch animals with high quality seed. The gestation period for getting the benefits from the AI bovine is approximately 3 years.

A mission mode project The aim of the program is to inseminate over 1 crore bovines in 6 months. The rate of Artificial Insemination is continuously increasing and has reached an average of 25,000 animals per day so far. 8 Lakh Artificial Inseminations has been performed under this programme benefitting more than 3.7 lakh farmers as on 29th November, 2019.

Pashu Aadhaar The NAIP also aims to ear-tag them with ‘PashuAadhaar’ which is a unique identification provided to the animals. This will enable the Government to identify and track the animals uniquely with all details such as the breed, age, gender and owner details. Every cow and buffalo under AI will be tagged and can be tracked through the Information Network on Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) Database.

8.7_X-57 Maxwell

NASA unveiled its first all-electric experimental aircraft X-57 Maxwell which was being developed since 2015.

The Maxwell is the latest in a line of experimental aircraft the NASA. It has been developed over many decades for many purposes, including the bullet-shaped Bell X-1 that first broke the sound barrier and the X-15 rocket plane flown by Neil Armstrong before he joined the Apollo moon team. The two largest of 14 electric motors that will ultimately propel the plane are powered by specially designed lithium ion batteries. The Maxwell will be the agency’s first crewed X-plane to be developed in two decades. The lift propellers will be activated for take-off and landings, but retract during the flight’s cruise phase.

What makes it significant? Electric motor systems are more compact with fewer moving parts than internal-combustion engines, they are simpler to maintain and weigh much less, requiring less energy to fly. They also are quieter that conventional engines.

8.8_Arrokoth The most distant space object ever seen up close has been recently named as ‘Arrokoth’. (Note: It was earlier nicknamed as Ultima Thule) The International Astronomical Union and Minor Planets Center, the global body for naming Kuiper Belt objects have given this name. It was discovered in 2014 with the Hubble Space Telescope, which is operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft flew by the snowman figured ice mass in December 2018, some 1.6 billion kilometres beyond Pluto. The New Horizons team of NASA proposed the name to the International Astronomical Union and Minor Planets Center. For the New Horizons team it took some months to finalise this name. In the language of the Powhatan tribe, Arrokoth means “sky”. The team got the approval from the elders of the Powhatan tribe to assign it to their new found “baby”.

About New Horizons mission NASA launched the New Horizons mission in January 2006. After crossing by Pluto in 2015, in 2019 it flew by Arrokoth. This remains the “farthest flyby ever conducted.” The Kuiper Belt is a disk-shaped region found in the outer solar system, past the orbit of Neptune. It is known as the third zone of the solar system, after the zone hosting the gas planets in our solar system. It contains hundreds of millions of small icy bodies that are thought to be left over material from the formation of the outer planets. At least three dwarf planets are located in the Kuiper belt: Pluto, Haumea and Makemake. Also, some of the solar system’s moons are thought to have originated there, such as Neptune’s Triton and Saturn’s Phoebe.

8.9_International treaty on plant genetic resources During the session, informed the delegates about the uniqueness of Indian legislation “Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act” to protect Farmers’ Rights and breeder’s rights.

About the treaty: The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was adopted by the Thirty- First Session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on 3 November 2001.

• It is also known as Seed Treaty as it is a comprehensive international agreement for ensuring food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of the world’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA). The Treaty aims at:

1. recognizing the enormous contribution of farmers to the diversity of crops that feed the world;

2. establishing a global system to provide farmers, plant breeders and scientists with access to plant genetic materials; 3. ensuring that recipients share benefits they derive from the use of these genetic materials with the countries where they have been originated.

Main Provisions: Multilateral system: The treaty puts 64 of our most important crops – crops that together account for 80 percent of the food we derive from plants – into an easily accessible global pool of genetic resources that is freely available to potential users in the Treaty’s ratifying nations for some uses.

Access and benefit sharing: The Treaty facilitates access to the genetic materials of the 64 crops in the Multilateral System for research, breeding and training for food and agriculture. Those who access the materials must be from the Treaty’s ratifying nations and they must agree to use the materials totally for research, breeding and training for food and agriculture. The Treaty prevents the recipients of genetic resources from claiming intellectual property rights over those resources in the form in which they received them.

Farmers’ rights: The Treaty recognizes the enormous contribution farmers have made to the ongoing development of the world’s wealth of plant genetic resources. It calls for protecting the traditional knowledge of these farmers, increasing their participation in national decision-making processes and ensuring that they share in the benefits from the use of these resources

Sustainable use: Most of the world’s food comes from four main crops – rice, wheat, maize and potatoes. However, local crops, not among the main four, are a major food source for hundreds of millions of people and have potential to provide nutrition to countless others. The Treaty helps maximize the use and breeding of all crops and promotes development and maintenance of diverse farming systems.

The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001:

• Enacted by India in 2001 adopting sui generis system. • It is in conformity with International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), 1978. • The legislation recognizes the contributions of both commercial plant breeders and farmers in plant breeding activity and also provides to implement TRIPs in a way that supports the specific socio- economic interests of all the stakeholders including private, public sectors and research institutions, as well as resource-constrained farmers.

Rights under the Act: Breeders’ Rights: Breeders will have exclusive rights to produce, sell, market, distribute, import or export the protected variety. Breeder can appoint agent/ licensee and may exercise for civil remedy in case of infringement of rights. Researchers’ Rights: Researcher can use any of the registered variety under the Act for conducting experiment or research. This includes the use of a variety as an initial source of variety for the purpose of developing another variety but repeated use needs prior permission of the registered breeder.

Farmers’ Rights:

1. A farmer who has evolved or developed a new variety is entitled for registration and protection in like manner as a breeder of a variety; 2. Farmers variety can also be registered as an extant variety; 3. A farmer can save, use, sow, re-sow, exchange, share or sell his farm produce including seed of a variety protected under the PPV&FR Act, 2001 in the same manner as he was entitled before the coming into force of this Act provided farmer shall not be entitled to sell branded seed of a variety protected under the PPV&FR Act, 2001; 4. Farmers are eligible for recognition and rewards for the conservation of Plant Genetic Resources of land races and wild relatives of economic plants; 5. There is also a provision for compensation to the farmers for non-performance of variety under Section 39 (2) of the Act, 2001 and 6. Farmer shall not be liable to pay any fee in any proceeding before the Authority or Registrar or the Tribunal or the High Court under the Act.

8.10 Starlink project SpaceX, the world’s leading private company in space technology, has launched 60 satellites into the low earth orbit, under the Starlink network project.

What is it? The Starlink network is one of several ongoing efforts to start beaming data signals from space. Under the project, the company intends to evolve into a constellation of nearly 12,000 satellites. The aim is to provide low-cost and reliable space-based Internet services to the world. The project announced in 2015, has now 122 satellites in the orbit.

Significance of the project: The project ensures that reliable and uninterrupted Internet services are universally available in every part of the globe.

• Currently, about 4 billion people, more than half the world’s population, do not have access to reliable Internet networks. • And that is because the traditional ways to deliver the Internet — fibre-optic cables or wireless networks — cannot take it everywhere on Earth. • In many remote areas, or places with difficult terrain, it is not feasible or viable to set up cables or mobile towers. Signals from satellites in space can overcome this obstacle easily.

Why use low earth orbit instead of geostationary? Geostationary orbit is located at a height of 35,786 km over the Earth’s surface, directly above the Equator. Satellites in this orbit move at speeds of about 11,000 km per hour, and complete one revolution of the Earth in the same time that the earth rotates once on its axis. To the observer on the ground, therefore, a satellite in geostationary orbit appears stationary. Advantages: Signals from geostationary orbit can cover a very large part of the Earth. Signals from one satellite can cover roughly a third of the planet — and three to four satellites would be enough to cover the entire Earth. Also, because they appear to be stationary, it is easier to link to them. Then what’s the issue? There is a time lag — called latency — between a user seeking data, and the server sending that data. And because data transfers cannot happen faster than the speed of light (in reality, they take place at significantly lower speeds), the longer the distance that needs to be covered the greater is the time lag, or latency. A transmission from a satellite in geostationary orbit has a latency of about 600 milliseconds.

How low earth orbit seeks to solve this issue? A satellite in the lower orbit, 200-2,000 km from the Earth’s surface, can bring the lag down to 20-30 milliseconds, roughly the time it takes for terrestrial systems to transfer data.

Concerns over LEOs: Owing to their lower height, their signals cover a relatively small area. As a result, many more satellites are needed in order to reach signals to every part of the planet. Other issues include: Increased space debris, increased risk of collisions, and the concern of astronomers that these constellations of space Internet satellites will make it difficult to observe other space objects, and to detect their signals.

8.11_Spicules in Sun

One of the puzzles concerning is the Sun’s surface and atmospheric temperature. A team of researchers has observed the reason why Sun’s atmosphere is hotter than its surface.

Anomaly of the Sun’s temperature The temperature at the core of the Sun is nearly 15 million degrees Celsius, while that at its surface layer, known as the photosphere, is merely 5,700 degrees C. The natural thing to expect is that still further outwards, in its atmosphere, known as the corona, the temperatures would be comparable to that at the surface (photosphere).

However, the temperature of the corona is much higher. It starts increasing outside the photosphere, reaching a value of about one million degrees or more in the corona.

Coronal heating 70

One would expect that as there are no extra sources of heat, when you move away from a hot object, the temperature steadily decreases. However, with respect to the Sun, after dropping to a low, the temperature again rises to one million degrees in the corona which stretches over several million kilometres from the surface of the Sun. This implies there should be a source heating the corona. The puzzle of coronal heating has been tackled by many theories. Now, in a research paper, the team of solar physicists has made observations and matched it with an analysis that explains this conundrum.

Mystery now solved: Spicules in the Sun The key to the puzzle lies in geyser-like jets known as solar spicules that emanate from the interface of the corona and the photosphere. While in a photograph these look like tiny hairlike projections, they are in fact 200-500 kilometres wide and shoot up to heights of about 5,000 km above the solar surface. It has been suspected that these spicules act as conduits through which mass and energy from the lower atmosphere bypass the photosphere and reach the corona. These spicules heat up while propagating upward, reaching the coronal temperature. They are made of plasma – a mixture of positive ions and negatively charged electrons. The coronal plasma emits light in extreme ultraviolet.

8.12_Gravastars According to some scientists, the universe contains not just black holes but many exotic objects, such as gravastars and boson stars which are black hole mimickers.

Why study Gravastars? In September 2015, the LIGO detectors in the US made history by directly detecting for the first time the merging of two black holes. Since then, LIGO, joined by other detectors around the world, has gone on to detect eleven events of which one is the merger of two neutron stars and the remaining ten, of pairs of black holes (binary black holes). As they spiralled in towards each other and merged, the binary black holes let off characteristic gravitational wave signals. The properties of the merging black holes, namely the masses and spins could be arrived at by looking at the initial part of the signal waveform. Similarly, by carefully looking at the tail end – also known as the ring down part of the signal, the mass and spin of the final merged state (black hole) can be inferred. The question emerges – whether other exotic objects exist that may act as black hole mimickers and give off similar signals.

What is Gravastar? Theoretically, there are possibilities such as the so-called gravastars and boson stars which are black hole mimickers. For instance, a gravastar is a strange object that would have a core of exotic matter resembling dark energy with an external shell of normal star-like matter. There are no observational evidences for their existence till date, but then, there were not too many ways in which one could look for them.

How it is distinguished from black hole? The spinning of the compact object has a different effect on it whether it is a black hole or, for instance, a gravastar. Since the gravastar is filled with dark energy, it exerts a negative pressure on the outside. So when it spins it behaves differently from normal stars and black holes. When a normal star spins about an axis, it tends to bulge about the equator and get compressed at the poles. However, for a gravastar this effect is just reversed – It gets compressed near the equator and bulges out at the poles. Thus their shapes change differently when spinning.

8.13_Budapest convention on cyber security India maintained its status as a non-member of the Europe-led Budapest Convention and it voted in favour of a Russian- led UN resolution to set up a separate convention.

Budapest Convention The Convention on Cybercrime, also known as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime is the first international treaty seeking to address Internet and cybercrime. It aims at harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations. It was drawn up by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, with the active participation of the Council of Europe’s observer states Canada, Japan, Philippines, South Africa and the US. It was opened for signature in Budapest, on 23 November 2001 and it entered into force on 1 July 2004. The convention is the sole legally binding multilateral treaty that coordinates cybercrime investigations between nation-states and criminalizes certain cybercrime conduct. 71

Why India rejected to ratify? Since it entered into force, important countries like Brazil and India have declined to adopt the Convention on the grounds that they did not participate in its drafting. India’s is concerned due to data sharing with foreign law enforcement agencies as it infringes on national sovereignty. The Russian proposal entitled “Countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes” was passed in the UNGA. It allows for regarding cross-border access to data, including by limiting the ability of a signatory to refuse to provide access to requested data. The proposal creates a committee to convene in August 2020 in New York to establish a new treaty through which nation-states can coordinate and share data to prevent cybercrime.

8.14_Cartosat and its applications Advanced earth observation satellite Cartosat-3 has been launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR at Sriharikota.

Cartosat-3 At 1,625 kg, Cartosat-3 is unusually heavy and more than double the mass of the previous eight in its class. Many new technologies have been built in, such as a highly agile or flexible camera; high-speed data transmission, advanced computer system and new power electronics. It is aimed to have the `sharpest eye’ of civil remote sensing satellites in the world. It was carried by PSLV-C47. Thirteen small satellites of two U.S. customers will be the secondary payloads.

What’s so special about Cartosat-3? A key feature of the Cartosats is that they help to detect changes in natural geographical or man-made features. Their cameras can `look back and forth’ in an angle to generate continuous spot images. One of Cartosat-3’s cameras offers a ground resolution of 25 cm – this means it can pick up an object of a minimum of that size from a height of around 500 km. Currently, WorldView-3, a satellite owned by US company Maxar, has the best ground resolution of 31 cm. Cartosat-3 ushers in the third generation of high-resolution `optical imaging’ satellites that enable precise cartographic or mapping activities, apart from their unstated military use.

Cartosat series The Cartosat satellites are a series of Indian earth observation satellites built and operated by the ISRO. The Cartosat series is a part of the Indian Remote Sensing Program. They are used for Earth’s resource management defence services and monitoring. So far, the ISRO has orbited eight Cartosats since May 2005. Data from most of them, especially the last four Carto-2 series ones, launched in relatively quick succession in the last three years, are exclusively used by the armed forces. The second one, Cartosat-2 of January 2007, breached the 1-metre threshold, which was an ambitious benchmark at that time. The previous best view from a Cartosat was 65 cm, as put in the last three or four satellites in the Cartosat- 2 series – 2C, 2D, 2E and 2F. However, an existing policy allows only government and government authorised agencies to access ISRO’s high-resolution imageries below a resolution of 1 metre.

Uses The imageries from Cartosat series satellites are useful for cartographic applications, urban and rural applications, infrastructure planning, coastal land use and regulation. It also finds applications in utility management such as monitoring road networks, water grids or distribution, creation of land use maps, among others.

8.15_Fastags

From December 1, lanes on NH toll plazas across India will accept toll only through FASTag. One hybrid lane will continue to accept cash in addition to being tag- enabled. What is ‘FASTag’?

FASTags are stickers that are affixed to the windscreen of vehicles and use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enable digital, contactless payment of tolls without having to stop at toll gates. The tags are linked to bank accounts and other payment methods. As a car crosses a toll plaza, the amount is automatically deducted, and a notification is sent to the registered mobile phone number.

How does it work? The device employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it. It is affixed on the windscreen, so the vehicle can drive through plazas without stopping. RFID technology is similar to that used in transport access-control systems, like Metro smart card. If the tag is linked to a prepaid account like a wallet, or a debit/credit card, then owners need to recharge/top up the tag. If it is linked to a savings account, rthen money will get deducted automatically after the balance goes below a pre- defined threshold. Once a vehicle crosses the toll, the owner will get an SMS alert on the deduction. In that it is like a prepaid e-wallet.

How can one buy it? E-commerce portals like Amazon and PayTM sell these tags issued by various banks. Places, where these counters are set up, include Road Transport Authority offices, transport hubs, bank branches, and selected petrol pumps. A FASTag bought from NHAI comes with a one-time fee of Rs 100 besides a refundable security deposit of Rs 150. Apart from the currently free tags at NHAI booths, there is also a cashback of 2.5 per cent on FASTag transactions as an offer. In the tag taken from NHAI, the Rs 150 security deposit, which the government is bearing as a promotion, comes back to the user as wallet value if the FASTag is linked to the NHAI e-wallet in the “My FASTag app” mobile app. So in this particular scheme, the user gets Rs 150 back without even paying it.

Penalties A FASTag is valid for five years, and can be recharged as and when required. Vehicles entering FASTag lanes without FASTag will be charged twice the toll amount.

Will those living close to toll roads not end up paying more frequently? As per a government notification, users living within 10 km of a toll plaza can avail a concession on toll to be paid via FASTag. They need to submit proof of residence and nearest point-of-sale location to validate. Once the address is verified, the concession is ensured via FASTag affixed on the vehicle.

Is it working smoothly? The tags sold by banks are not “bank-neutral”. A FASTag bought from one bank can be recharged through that particular bank only and not through other banks. However, tags sold/distributed by NHAI are bank-neutral as one can use any bank account to recharge/top up the value in the tag. What about state highways? Under a new “One Nation One FASTag” scheme, the NHAI is trying to get states on board so that one tag can be used seamlessly across highways, irrespective of whether it is the state or the Centre that owns/manages it. Recently as part of a pilot, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana signed MoUs with the Centre to accept FASTags in state highways also.

ENVIRONMENT 9.1_UNFCCC COP 25 Chile, the designated host for this year’s UN climate change conference, has said it would not be able to organise the December event because of political unrest at home. Spain which stepped in and offered to host it on the same dates, December 2-13 will host the CoP.

COP25: The event The signatories to the 1992 UNFCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) meet to discuss and decide on steps that countries need to take to fight climate change. The year-end conference called COP has been held since 1995 and never been postponed. This will be the 25th edition of the meeting, hence COP25.

Why is it for? It is the same meeting that, at COP3, delivered the 1997 Kyoto Protocol the first international agreement to fight climate change. The Kyoto Protocol was later deemed to be inadequate, and after several years of negotiations, COP21 in 2015 delivered the Paris Agreement. In subsequent years, countries have been trying to finalise the rules and procedures that will govern the implementation of the Paris Agreement. One of the most important tasks at the upcoming COP is to complete the negotiations over the rulebook.

How is a host decided? The venue for the COP meeting is rotated among the five UN-identified regions — Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Caribbean, and Western Europe and Others. The countries in the region have to propose a candidate, and a host is usually decided at least two years in advance. If no one else agrees to do it, Bonn in Germany, as headquarters of the UNFCCC secretariat, has to step in and host the event.

Trends in the hosting pattern The rotation cycle has not been followed very strictly. The first and second COPs were both held in Western Europe (Berlin and Geneva), and so were the fifth and sixth (Bonn and the Hague). After the 2012 COP in Doha, the event has not returned to Asia. That is because Fiji, the host in 2017, lacked the resources to organise an event of this scale; as a compromise, the event had to be held in Bonn under the Fijian presidency. Even before the ongoing unrest, Chile had been a reluctant host. The only other contender from the region to host COP25 was Costa Rica, but it lacked the resources.

Why hosting a COP is difficult? The host city incurs huge expenditure on the event, not all of which is reimbursed. Apart from the over 20,000 participants, the city has to make arrangements for visits by heads of states and governments, and other personalities. Side events and demonstrations invariably come with the conference, and the host city has to brace for such disruptions for more than two weeks. The event does help local economy, and tourism, but many countries do not see that as an adequate incentive.

A weak climate leadership For countries with smaller greenhouse gas emissions, this is not much of a problem, but such expectations explain why the US, China or Russia have not shown much interest in hosting the event. Japan hosted the 1997 event that produced the Kyoto Protocol, but it also happened to be the first country to walk out of it in 2011. Australia, which too withdrew from Kyoto Protocol, has never hosted it. Spain will now host it for the first time, and so will the UK, in Glasgow next year. Germany and Poland have been hosts three times each. India, the third largest emitter, hosted the 2002 COP in New Delhi, much before climate change became this big. The EU which has a relatively strong climate change action plan, has hosted the most COP editions — 11 of 24 COPs, with Madrid now the 12th of 25.

9.2_Public health Emergency

EPCA declares public health emergency in Delhi-NCR. AQI entered the “severe plus” or “emergency” category. Background– Pollution levels and indicators: An AQI between 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’. Above 500 falls in the ‘severe-plus emergency’ category. 74

Measures announced under GRAP- Severe+ or Emergency- (PM 2.5 over 300 µg/cubic metre or PM10 over 500 µg/cu. m. for 48+ hours):

1. Stop entry of trucks into Delhi (except essential commodities). 2. Stop construction work. 3. Introduce odd/even scheme for private vehicles and minimise exemptions. 4. Task Force to decide any additional steps including shutting of schools.

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):

• Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016. • It works only as an emergency measure. • As such, the plan does not include action by various state governments to be taken throughout the year to tackle industrial, vehicular and combustion emissions. • When the air quality shifts from poor to very poor, the measures listed have to be followed since the plan is incremental in nature.

Has it been helpful?

1. It has created a step-by-step plan for the entire Delhi-NCR region and getting on board several agencies including pollution control boards, industrial area authorities, municipal corporations, regional officials of the India Meteorological Department, and others. 2. It has been successful in fixing accountability and deadlines. For each action to be taken under a particular air quality category, executing agencies are clearly marked. 3. Coordination among as many as 13 agencies from four states is simplified to a degree because of the clear demarcation of responsibilities. 4. Three major policy decisions that can be credited to EPCA and GRAP are the closure of the thermal power plant at Badarpur, bringing BS-VI fuel to Delhi before the deadline set initially, and the ban on Pet coke as a fuel in Delhi NCR. To address this menace, we need a permanent solution which might include the following:

1. Strict enforcement of lower pollution norms: Trucks and buses mixing kerosene and diesel should be impounded, and fined. 2. Buses from other states should be allowed to enter Delhi only if they meet certain pollution norms. 3. Constant monitoring of garbage dumps such as those in Bhalswa and New Ashok Nagar and any fire incidents at these places need to proactively put out. 4. Complete ban on burning of leaves in Delhi through the year. 5. All construction activity in Delhi should be done with draping, to ensure that dust and dirt doesn’t fly into the air. This is done everywhere else in the world. 6. Dust soppers can be run through Delhi roads regularly, every morning. 7. To prevent burning of wood etc during peak winters, build shelters for the homeless to sleep at night in the winters. Some of this has been done by the govt. More needs to be done. 8. Move Brick kilns out of Delhi within 3 years. This was done with tanneries almost 20 yrs ago.

Health emergency in Delhi As New Delhi’s AQI crosses 500, the national capital has officially entered the public health emergency category. Schools have been shut, children are complaining of breathing problems, but the state and Central governments are simply indulging in blame-games.

When something as fundamental as the health of our children is at risk, we should devise a more robust, permanent solution to the problem of pollution. This forms the basis of the need for amending the 1981 Air Act and making it more compatible with contemporary India.

Public Health at stake Air pollution in India is not simply an environmental problem, but a major public health concern. It impacts all those breathing in the polluted air — children, the elderly, women and men alike. Recently, the Centre for Science and Environment reported that air pollution kills an average of 8.5 out of every 10,000 children in India before they turn five. Similarly, the WHO in 2016 reported that pollution has led to the deaths of over 1 lakh children in India. Overall, several internationally acclaimed studies have affirmed that life expectancy in India has declined anywhere between two to three years.

Impacting India’s image Statistics show that India is in a worse situation compared to its global counterparts. According to Greenpeace, 22 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities are in India and Delhi has yet again bagged the position of the world’s most polluted capital. These are grim figures, especially when compared to India’s neighbours: Five in China, two in Pakistan and one in Bangladesh. In 2018, India was placed in the bottom five countries on the Environmental Performance Index, ranking 177th out of 180 countries, along with Bangladesh, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nepal.

Learning from US The Indian government needs to identify the tangible benefits that concrete legislation on air pollution has brought across the world. In the United States, the Clean Air Act has proven that public health and economic progress can go together. For instance, the aggregate national emissions of the six common pollutants in the USA dropped an average of 73 per cent from 1970 to 2017. Through one piece of legislation, the US has challenged multiple sources of pollution, airborne or motor vehicle-led. Similarly, after declaring a war on pollution, Chinese cities reduced PM concentration by 32 per cent in 2018.

Goal isn’t too unrealistic In a country with a human power and technical know-how like India, achieving a better feat is not impossible. However, in India, we are ignoring the change that progressive legislation can bring. In recent times, the government has worked on a much hyped “mission-mode” — drafting policies and programmes to alleviate pollution. But with little to no legal mandate or a budgetary allocation of as little as Rs 300 crore under programmes such as the National Clean Air Programme, no true enforcement of targets and goals is guaranteed. In such dire circumstances with high stakes, higher targets need to be set, penalties need to be stricter, and the mandate needs to be stronger.

Going back to Air Act of 1981 It is essential to retrace our steps back to the Air Act of 1981 that governs our pollution control system. Under the 1981 Air Act, the Pollution Control Boards are presently unable to fulfil their mandate as watchdogs against polluting industries. A new bill will plug many loopholes in the 1981 Act and would align the functions and priorities of the Pollution Boards towards reducing the adverse impact of pollution on human health in India.

Need for reforms in the Act India’s pollution liability regime has never prioritized the adverse impact of pollution on health. In its present form, India’s Air Act does not mention or prioritise the importance of reducing the health impact of rising pollution. This is the first change that a new law on air pollution should bring protecting health needs to become the central mission that the boards work towards. For instance, at any point that the State Boards find evidence of excess air pollution, they should take all measures possible to actively disseminate this information to the masses. When the air quality goes from normal to toxic and hazardous, the boards must be empowered to declare public health emergencies, with the power to temporarily shut down all polluting activities.

Making industries comply Accountability and deterrence are essential in making sure industries comply with emission standards. While the boards cannot levy penalties, in the new law they should be empowered to encash environmental compensations from polluting industries to make up for the cost of mitigating the damage. This possibility of paying compensation would be a strong reinforcement for industries to adopt cleaner technologies and comply with standards.

Working hand-in-hands In a federal set-up the Centre and states must work in synergy to ensure that targets set for the country and states are fulfilled. Therefore, the new law must push Central and state boards to convene joint sittings with a multi-sectoral participation from ministries such as housing, urban development, agriculture and road transport. Air pollution is not, and has never been, a problem with a single solution. It is caused by emissions from vehicles, industries and agriculture, construction dust, and other factors related to household consumption and municipal planning.

Bringing in Accountability Because multiple ministries and government departments are involved, without appropriate political leadership, public commitment will remain on paper only. Therefore, the new law on air pollution must give an additional mandate to either a senior minister, such as the minister of environment, forest and climate or the PMO needs to be involved directly. Greater public transparency is essential to the success of winning the war on air pollution. There is no better watchdog than active citizens, which is why the pollution targets must be made public every year for their perusal and to be evaluated at the end of the year.

Way Forward Breathing clean air is the fundamental right of every Indian citizen. Human health must become a priority when it comes to legislating on air pollution. As 2019 nears its end, and the season of smog begins, there is an urgent need for India to be a pollution-free nation. Pollution control boards must be empowered sufficiently to ensure that pollution does not take more lives or hinders the overall progress of India.

9.3_Red Atlas Action Plan The Vice President has launched the red atlas action-plan map as part of the coastal flood warning system developed for Chennai. The Atlas has been prepared by the Ministry of Earth Sciences to aid Tamil Nadu government in effective flood mitigation in Chennai. The atlas with probable scenarios for different rainfall periods is aimed at flood mitigation, preparedness, operations and management aspects. The manual provides information including on corporation wards that are likely to be affected due to flooding and the areas that may need evacuation in Chennai taking into account all historical datasets.

Coastal Flood Warning System app for Chennai (CFLOWS) Launched by NIOT, CFLOWS is India’s first integrated coastal flood warning system. It is an integrated GIS-based decision support system to provide forecast on potential inundation 10 days in advance. CFLOWS can simulate the scenario and predict what will happen in a particular area. It will be hosted and made operational at National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) with meteorological data inputs from IMD, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).

9.4_IND-AIR

The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) along with the CSIR has launched India’s first web repository documenting air quality studies done in the last 60 years. The IndAIR has archived approximately 700 scanned materials from pre-Internet era (1950-1999), 1,215 research articles, 170 reports and case studies and 100 cases. It aims to provide the history of air pollution research and legislation. Such a repository on air pollution is one of the first in the world. 77

Why need such a repository? Though air pollution is one of the most widely deliberated issues, little is known about it in India as far as the statistics or the history is concerned. The general belief has been that not much is being done to tackle the problem. IndAIR will help the academicians understand the issue better and also enable policymakers to frame legislation that encourages development.

9.5_Climate Finance The next climate conference has the challenge of deciding how markets can be deployed in the service of climate. CDM – Clean Development Mechanism • • CDM – is a market instrument that can help the industry as well as climate. • India leads the initiative – Along with China and Brazil, India is a leader in CDM since its inception in 2007. • India benefited from CDM – A number of small and medium projects in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy were financed from CDM. Challenges to the future of CDM • • New mechanisms – in 2021, new market mechanisms mandated under the Paris Agreement come into operation. • Opposition by developed countries – Most developed countries is strongly opposed to permitting the carryover of CDM projects and their credits into the Paris Pact’s mechanisms. • Credits under CDM – The credits lying unsold with the CDM projects could lose their economic worth. • New validation procedures – CDM projects will have to go through the process of validation and registration again with the new mechanism. This will involve additional financial and administrative costs. India – CDM • • CER – India has about 250 million Certified Emission Reduction (CER) units under CDM issued by the UNFCCC. The number of CDM projects registered in India is 1,376 and 89% of these projects are still active. • Declining demand – The demand in the EU, which has been the largest market for CDM credits, has declined sharply over the last decade because of regulatory barriers. • Value of CDM credits – The unrealised value of CDM credits could be in the range of almost $5 billion. India stands to lose substantially if existing CDM projects and credits are closed in 2020. Arguments against CDM • • No environmental impact – It has failed to demonstrate environmental benefits in addition to the “business as usual” scenario. • Difficult transition – Its transition to new mechanisms will have adverse impacts on carbon prices and investor sentiments in future markets. • Double counting – double counting could compromise global ambition on reducing GHG emissions. Alternative arguments • • Alternative technologies – CDM project proponents should be free to choose available cost-effective technologies as long as the objective of emission reductions is achieved. • Technology is not a judge – “Additionality” in CDM projects should not be judged solely on the criterion of technology. They are also about investments and overcoming market barriers. All CDM projects have passed these tests. • Transition is not so quick – The argument that a transition of CDM credits may flood the market and lead to deterioration in the carbon prices in future markets is also over-stretched. Validation and registration of projects under the new mechanism may take at least three years. • Possible increase of credit demand – If all CDM units available globally till 2020 are traded immediately, they may be fully absorbed by 2024 — as demand for credits for meeting the Paris commitments increases. • Increased demand from airlines – More than 60% of the credits may be used fully even before 2022 if we take into account the demand from airline operators to meet commitments under CORSIA. Challenges • • Environmental integrity is an objective of the market mechanisms under the Paris Agreement. • Double counting – for project/program-based mechanisms, countries should make arrangements to prevent double-counting of emission reduction units in their national accounts. • Nonuniform adjustment principle – the difference in levels of development of countries requires that the adjustment principle should not be applied uniformly to developed and developing countries.

• ICAO actions – ICAO is actively considering a plan to limit the use of CDM credits to those issued after 2015. This could be a challenge to the CDM in the future carbon market. Way ahead

• For India – India should have a strategy that ensures that it does not get shut out of the CORSIA market even as ICAO enlarges the source of supplies from other countries. • Changing the binaries – the relationship between the project/program-based emission reduction units and the national pool of emission reductions should be changed. • Assessing carbon markets – there is a need for a firm basis to establish access to future carbon markets.

9.6_Nirmal Tat Abhiyan

The Environment Ministry is undertaking a mass cleanliness-cum-awareness drive in 50 identified beaches under the “Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan”.

Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan The identified beaches are in 10 coastal States/ UTs namely Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. The beaches have been identified after the consultation with the States/UTs. Environment Education Division of the Ministry and Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) under the aegis of this Ministry will be responsible for the overall coordination for the drive in 50 beaches. The cleaning drives in all beaches are being undertaken, involving school/college students of Eco-clubs, district administration, institutions, volunteers, local communities and other stakeholders. State Nodal Agencies for the Eco-clubs will be facilitating the week-long intensive cleanliness drive in all 10 States/UTs.

Working For beach cleaning activities which will be a duration of two hours on daily basis, a minimum of one Kilometre stretch of the beach shall be identified Beach sand cleaning machines shall also be deployed at about identified 15 beaches. Thereafter collected waste will be processed as per extant Waste Management Rules, 2016.

9.7_Acqua alta

Venice is situated on the coast of northeastern Italy, bounded by the Adriatic Sea Acqua alta is the name given to exceptionally high tides in the Adriatic Sea. Water levels this week has reached heights of 1.87 metres (well over 6 feet) — only a little short of the 1.91-metre record that was set during the “great flood” of 1966. The city’s Saint Mark’s Square went under more than a metre of water, whereas the adjacent Saint Mark’s Basilica was flooded for only the sixth time in the last 1,200 years and for the fourth time in the last 20 years.

Late autumn and winter are the seasons for high tides or acqua alta in Venice. At the end of October last year, over 75% of the lagoon city went underwater after high tides and stormy weather led to an increase in the water levels of the canals. About Venice Venice is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is situated on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The islands are located in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay that lies between the mouths of the Po and the Piave rivers. The lagoon and a part of the city are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Venice has been known as “La Dominante”, “La Serenissima”, “Queen of the Adriatic”, “City of Water”, “City of Masks”, “City of Bridges”, “The Floating City”, and “City of Canals”

9.8_Brown to Green report The 2019 Brown to Green Report has been published by the Climate Transparency partnership, an international research collaboration. The report is the most comprehensive review of G20 countries’ climate performance, mapping achievements and drawbacks in their efforts to reduce emissions, adapt to climate impacts and green the financial system.

Key findings:

1. Carbon emissions from the world’s 20 biggest economies, including India, are rising. 79

2. None of the G20 countries have plans that will help them achieve the target. Many of the current 2030 climate targets under the Paris Agreement (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs) are too weak, with about half of the G20 countries projected to meet or overachieve their inadequate NDCs. 3. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in G20 countries shot up by 1.8 per cent in 2018 due to rising energy demand. 4. Energy supply is not getting cleaner: despite a more than five per cent rise in G20 total renewable energy supply in 2018, the share of fossil fuels in the G20 energy mix remains at 82 per cent. 5. While renewables now account for 25.5 per cent of power generation, this is not sufficient to outweigh the growth of emissions from fossil fuel sources. 6. Low-carbon fuels need to increase roughly 10 times by 2050 to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. 7. G20 emissions in the building sector grew more than in any other sector in 2018 (4.1 per cent). Retrofitting existing buildings challenges all G20 and especially OECD countries. New buildings have to be near zero-energy by 2020-25 to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.

India specific observations:

• Among the G20 countries, India has the most ambitious NDC. However, it still needs real action now to prepare the different sectors for stringent emission reductions. • In the power, India is currently investing most in renewable energy, while Brazil and Germany are the only G20 countries with long-term renewable energy strategies. • India and China are among the G20 countries with the most progressive energy efficiency policies.

Need of the hour:

1. To keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degrees goal within reach, G20 countries will have to increase their 2030 emission targets by 2020 and significantly scale up mitigation, adaptation and finance over the next decade. 2. Coal needs to be phased out by 2030 in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and by 2040 globally. 3. G20 countries need to scale up their policies to ban new fossil fuel cars by 2035 at the latest, reduce emissions from freight transport to net-zero by 2050 and shift towards non-motorised and sustainable public transport. 4. Cutting government subsidies to the aviation sector, taxing jet fuel and using revenues to invest massively in new carbon free fuels would leverage huge emissions reductions and health benefits. 5. A coal phase-out plan is needed in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Turkey and the US.

9.9_Green Climate Fund In a move that may positively impact over 10 million people living on the coastline, India has kicked-off a USD 43 million project to boost climate resilience in three coastal states in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project is funded by the Green Climate Fund. Details:

• The six-year project will build climate-resilient livelihoods for 1.7 million people in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha. • It seeks to offset 3.5 million tonnes of carbon, protect vulnerable ecosystems, and benefit another 10 million people with improved shoreline protection. • The project will work with communities in restoring ecosystems and promoting climate-resilient livelihood options, such as the sustainable farming of mud crabs.

About GCF: The GCF was set up in 2010 under the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism to channel funding from developed countries to developing countries to allow them to mitigate climate change and also adapt to disruptions arising from a changing climate. How it helps? The Green Climate Fund will support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing country Parties using thematic funding windows.

• It is intended to be the centrepiece of efforts to raise Climate Finance of $100 billion a year by 2020. • The Fund will promote the paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways by providing support to developing countries to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change, taking into account the needs of those developing countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. • The Fund will strive to maximize the impact of its funding for adaptation and mitigation, and seek a balance between the two, while promoting environmental, social, economic and development co-benefits and taking a gender-sensitive approach.

Who will govern the Fund? The Fund is governed and supervised by a Board that will have full responsibility for funding decisions and that receives the guidance of the Conference of Parties (COP). The Fund is accountable to, and functions under the guidance of, the COP.

9.10_Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure At the Leaders’ Dialogue with BRICS Business Council and New Development Bank (NDB), Prime Minister Modi requested the BRICS countries and the NDB to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

About CDRI: Launched by Modi in September 2019 at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit in New York, US.

• A platform where knowledge is generated and exchanged on different aspects of disaster and climate resilience of infrastructure. • It will create a mechanism to assist countries to upgrade their capacities and practices, with regard to infrastructure development in accordance with their risk context and economic needs.

Benefits and significance:

• This initiative will benefit all sections of society. • Economically weaker sections of society, women and children, are the most vulnerable to the impacts of disasters and hence, will be benefitted from the improvement of knowledge and practice in creating disaster resilient infrastructure. • It will also benefit all areas with high disaster risk. • In India, the north-eastern and Himalayan regions are prone to earthquakes, coastal areas to cyclones and tsunamis and central peninsular region to droughts.

Why do we need a global coalition? Many countries, including India, have over the years developed robust disaster management practices that have helped in sharply reducing human casualties in a disaster. However, the economic costs of a disaster remain huge, mainly due to the damage caused to big infrastructure. A global coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure would address concerns that are common to developing and developed countries, small and large economies, countries at early and advanced stages of infrastructure development, and countries that have moderate or high disaster risk.

9.11_Avian Botulism On November 10, visitors at Sambhar Lake, India’s largest inland saltwater lake located about 80 km southwest of Jaipur, spotted a very large number of dead birds.

Why and how did these birds die? Nearly 10 days into the tragedy, the government is yet to determine the cause of the deaths. The investigation so far points to Avian Botulism — a paralytic, frequently fatal disease caused by the ingestion of toxins — as a possible cause. This has not, however, been officially confirmed. After studying bird samples and on the basis of history, epidemiological observations, classical clinical symptoms and post-mortem findings, the most probable diagnosis is avian botulism. The clinical signs exhibited by affected birds included dullness, depression, anorexia, flaccid paralysis in legs and wings, and neck touching the ground. The birds were unable to walk, swim, or take flight. There was no rise of body temperature, no nasal discharge, no respiratory distress or any other sign.

Other possible reasons After a Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court took cognizance of the bird deaths, the Rajasthan government listed four likely reasons. Viral infection Toxicity, as new area has been filled up after almost 20 years, and there could be higher concentration of salts along the edges Bacteriological infection Higher temperature and high water levels due to good monsoon might have led to an increase in intra-species and inter-species competition for resources.

The weaker individuals, exhausted from the long journey, perhaps were unable to compete, and may have succumbed to stress emanating from the shortage of food, susceptibility to disease/pollutants/toxins and other habitat-related factors in the wintering grounds.

In such an eventuality, it is expected that with fall of temperature and lowering of water levels, the incidence of such mortality will go down.

9.12_Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) is a quantitative estimate of the amount of aerosol present in the atmosphere, and it can be used as a proxy for surface Particulate Matter PM2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 µm median diameter). AOD measures the extinction of a ray of light as it passes through the atmosphere.

How is AOD calculated? Using medium resolution Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite data, stubble burned area maps are generated at the end of stubble burning activity in Kharif season. ISRO has been carrying out monitoring of stubble burning since 2015. The products generated are comparable to the NASA products. The Imager payload on-board ISRO’s INSAT-3D & 3DR satellites are used to monitor Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD).

Significance of AOD It is found that AOD, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations are higher over Indo-Gangetic Plain covering parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during October and November. High concentration of these pollutants is seen originating from parts of Punjab and Haryana during stubble burning. Climatological study of satellite based fire occurrences and associated pollutant parameters reveal that fire occurrences increased by 4% over Punjab and Haryana region during Oct-Nov between 2003 and 2017. The model based analysis suggests that there is a high probability of transportation of smoke aerosols from Punjab & Haryana, towards down-wind regions of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

9.13_Recycling of Ships The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for enactment of Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019 and accession to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009.

Background India is the leader in the global ship recycling industry, with a share of over 30% of the market. As per UNCTAD report on Review of Maritime Transport, 2018, India had demolished 6323 tonnes in 2017, of known ship scrapping across the world. The ship-recycling industry is a labour-intensive sector, but it is susceptible to concerns on environmental safety.

Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019 The proposed Bill restricts and prohibits the use or installation of hazardous material, which applies irrespective of whether a ship is meant for recycling or not. For new ships, such restriction or prohibition on use of hazardous material will be immediate. That is, from the date the legislation comes into force, while existing ships shall have a period of five years for compliance. Restriction or prohibition on use of hazardous material would not be applied to warships and non- commercial ships operated by Government. Ships shall be surveyed and certified on the inventory of hazardous material used in ships. Under the Bill, ship recycling facilities are required to be authorized and ships shall be recycled only in such authorized ship recycling facilities. The Bill also provides that ships shall be recycled in accordance with a ship-specific recycling

plan. Ships to be recycled in India shall be required to obtain a Ready for Recycling Certificate in accordance with the Hong Kong Convention.

Salient features The GoI has decided to enact a Bill, namely Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019, to provide for the regulation of recycling of ships by setting certain international standards and laying down the statutory mechanism for enforcement of such standards. It has also been decided to accede to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009. When the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 comes into force, its provisions will be implemented under the provisions of the Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019 and rules and regulations framed there under.

About Hong Kong Convention The Hong Kong International Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships, or Hong Kong Convention is a multilateral convention adopted in 2009, which has not entered into force. The convention has been designed to try to improve the health and safety of current ship breaking practices. The Hong Kong Convention recognised that ship recycling is the most environmentally sound way to dispose of a ship at the end of its life, as most of the ship’s materials can be reused.

ASSAM AND NORTH EAST 10.1_Naga Peace accord and Naga flag The deadline for a final Naga peace accord passed on amid assertions from both sides that peace talks would continue. Among the issues that have been contentious is the demand for a separate Naga constitution and use of the Naga flag, for decades a symbol of Naga nationalism.

The Nagas & the Indian Union In a memorandum to the Simon Commission in 1929, representatives of Naga tribes demanded that Nagas be left free after Independence and not be included in the Indian Union. Ahead of Independence, a nine-point agreement was signed between the Government of India and the Naga National Council. This included an experimental coexistence with India for a period of 10 years to be reviewed at the end of that period. While the Nagas saw this provision as temporary, with a right to self-determination after 10 years, Naga historians say the Indian government has interpreted the “trial period’’ as accession to the Indian Union.

Independence celebration The tallest leader of the Naga struggle, Dr A Z Phizo, met M K Gandhi in Delhi on July 19, 1947. According to Naga historians, Gandhi agreed that the Nagas would celebrate their independence a day ahead of India, on August 14, 1947. To this day, Nagas across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh celebrate August 14 as Independence Day.

The Naga flag In the Naga narrative, passed down generations by word of mouth, the Naga flag was not designed by a mortal but is of divine origin. As Naga groups battled the Indian armed forces, the legend goes, Phizo and his closest colleagues had a vision — a rainbow, in a startlingly blue sky that had appeared after a storm. A woman of the Rengma tribe, one of the tribes under the Naga umbrella, was commissioned to weave the flag. It was hoisted for the first time in Parashen in Rengma on March 22, 1956. The flag has a blue background, representing the sky. A red, yellow and green rainbow arches across the centre. The Star of Bethlehem adorns the top left corner of the flag; Nagas are predominantly Christian.

Where it stands today? The flag remains a symbol of the Nagas’ struggle for over 60 years, of their religious faith, of the aspirations of the Naga people, and of their identity. It helps bind all the different Naga tribes together. Outside Nagaland state, in particular, the flag continues to elucidate strong emotions of identity from Nagas. Inside the state, common citizens are today divided on it. Certain sections believe that with secession from the Indian Union no longer possible, the Naga flag has lost some of its relevance.

What are the secessionist tendencies today? The moderates have supported a complete inclusion in the Indian state, for access to the latter’s development project, infrastructure, and its education and health facilities. But a large section of the Nagas still holds dear the idea of the Naga identity and of their tribal roots.

Way Forward The Naga struggle claimed thousands of lives over decades and devastated countless homes, all over the idea of a sovereign Naga nation. If the NSCN (I-M) accedes to economic and political packages alone, without a separate flag and constitution, it remains to be seen whether it will be seen as a solution, or as a defeat.

10.2_First ever movement of container cargo in Brahmaputra

The first cargo consignment will sail on National Waterway-2 from Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) to Pandu in Guwahati.

NW-2 National Waterway 2 (NW-2) is a section of the Brahmaputra River having a length of 891 km between the Bangladesh border near Dhubri and Sadiya in Assam. It was declared as NW No. 2 on 1 September 1988. It has only one fixed terminals namely the Pandu Port while rest are floating which include Dhubri Port, Jogighopa, Tezpur, Silghat, Dibrugarh, Jamuguri, Bogibil, Saikhowa and Sadiya NW-1 has witnessed healthy growth with the augmentation of navigation capacity of Ganga under Jal Marg Vikas Project. The traffic on NW-1 has grown from 5.48 million tonnes in 2017-18 to 6.79 million tonnes in 2018-19. 84

Out of the total traffic of 6.79 million tonnes on NW-1, approximately 3.15 million tonnes is the EXIM trade between India and Bangladesh using the Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes.

What is the Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route? The Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) between India and Bangladesh allows mutually beneficial arrangements for the use of their waterways for movement of goods vessels of both countries. The IBP route extends from Kolkata (India) on NW-1 to Silghat (Assam) on NW-2 (River Brahmaputra) and Karimganj (Assam) on NW-16 (River Barak). In addition to the above, India and Bangladesh have taken major steps to enhance utilization of waterways in the recent past. An SOP to facilitate the movement of goods to and from India through Chittagong and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh has been signed by the two countries on 5th October 2019. The proximity of these two ports will reduce logistics cost and improve trade competitiveness of North East states.

10.3_“Shishu Suraksha” app launched in Assam: “Shishu Suraksha”, the mobile application, is the brainchild of Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR).

• The e-complaint box will enable users from all over the state to lodge complaints about the violation of child rights. • The purpose of the e-box is to empower citizens to take moral responsibility of protecting our future generations. • The app can be used by anyone in Assam, coming across any incident of children’s rights violation, to lodge a complaint which will be directly registered at ASCPCR. • As soon as the complaint is lodged, the Commission will receive a message. It will then deal with the issue by being in touch with the appropriate authority.

10.4_Assam roofed turtle: Context: The multipurpose Assamese gamosa, a ubiquitous, white cotton towel, has been assigned a new function — conservation of rare freshwater turtles- Assam roofed turtle. Key facts:

• It is an endangered small freshwater species. • Protected under Schedule I of the wildlife protection act.

10.5_Arundhati scheme The government of Assam has announced a new scheme called Arundhati to provide gold at free of cost to the brides. Key features: Under the scheme, the government of Assam aims to provide 1 Tola Gold to brides belonging to all such communities of Assam where it is customary to provide gold at the time of the wedding. The scheme is named after Arundhati, wife of great sage Basistha. The government has set aside Rs 300 cr has been for the implementation of the Arundhati Scheme. The benefit under Arundhati scheme can be availed upon formal registration of marriages under Special Marriage (Assam) Rules, 1954. The scheme is limited for economically weaker sections, whose annual income is below Rs 5 lakh.

Significance of the scheTapan Deka : Gold forms an inherent part of Indian weddings. With the introduction of the Arundhati Scheme, the government wants to stand with those fathers who cannot afford to gift a set of gold ornaments to their daughters and would to resort to borrowings and put themselves in the vicious cycle of debt.

10.6 New Land Policy 2019 Assam Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal released the new Land Policy 2019. It was prepared by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department. Chief Minister also released the Hand Book of Circulars, Volume-V. It contains the Government Circulars, Office Memorandum, etc. from 1 May 2007 to 30 August 2019.

Assam Land Policy 2019: ♦ The Land Policy 2019 was approved by Cabinet on 21 October 2019. ♦ It was prepared by the department after 30 years. It was last prepared in the year 1989. ♦ The state government has put a lot of effort into preparing the Land Policy to safeguard the interest of the indigenous people. ♦ The Land Policy would remove complications regarding land allotments and settlements.

10.7 Turtle survival and Gamosa Activists are banking on the ‘gamosa’, woven with images of endangered turtles, to spread the message of turtle conservation.

About Assam Roofed Turtle:

• The Assam roofed turtle (Pangshura sylhetensis), also known as Sylhet roofed turtle is a species of the turtle family Geoemydidae found in the Brahmaputra-Meghna drainage in India (Assam) and parts of eastern Bangladesh. • It is under Endangered Category under IUCN list • It is exploited for its meat and eggs for local consumption or be collected for the pet trade, especially in Asia where this turtle fetches high prices as pets. • Habitat destruction by logging and incidental capture in fishing gear are also thought to present threats.

About Gamosa:

• It is a white handmade cotton towel, with its characteristic red border of woven motifs. • It is valued as a gift for visitors, used as a scarf, anti-dust mask, wrapped around the head as a turban.

Benefits to the Environment and Community:

• Kaso Sakhi (Friend of Turtles), a self-help group comprising 60 women has formed a week ago which wove 36 ‘turtle scarves’ as an experiment under a project initiated by Turtle Survival Alliance.

Turtle Survival Alliance:

• It was formed in 2001 as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) partnership for sustainable captive management of freshwater turtles and tortoises • It arose in response to the rampant and unsustainable harvest of Asian turtle populations to supply Chinese markets, a situation known as the Asian Turtle Crisis. • Today, the TSA is an action-oriented global partnership, focusing on species that are at high risk of extinction, and working in turtle diversity hotspots around the world. • TSA’s conservation actions utilize a three-pronged approach: o Restoring populations in the wild where possible; o Securing species in captivity through assurance colonies; and o Building the capacity to restore, secure and conserve species within their range country.

• About 800 women of Puranigaon in Assam were motivated to join the conservation program because restrictions on fishing had hit their husbands hard. • They intend to sell the Kaso Sakhi-branded games and other handloom products for generating revenue. • A part of this money would go to conservation of rare turtles such as the Assam Roofed Turtle (Panghshura sylhetensis)

10.8_Chokuwa Rice and Gamosa GI tag

Assam’s ‘Gamosa’ and a semi-glutinous winter rice variety Chokuwa have earned the coveted geographical indications (GI) recognition in 2019 as proof of their unique geographical origins, thereby getting legal protection to prevent their unauthorized use. The Muga silk was the state’s first product to get the tag in 2007. In 2015, the pungent Karbi Anglong ginger and the juicy Tezpur litchi got the recognition. The 124th Geographical Indications Journal has announced the two as having the GI tag. A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place. There are different types of gamosa like uka, phulam, bihuwan, tiyoni, pani, aanakota, telosh, dora boronor or jur and xadharon gamosa. The word gamosa originated from the Sanskrit word, gatro marjoni, meaning fabric used to wipe the body after taking a bath. The journal also mentioned, “The chokuwa rice of Assam is a unique gift of nature, not known in any other part of the world. It is a special class of semi-glutinous winter rice (Sali rice in vernacular) of Assam, in cultivation from time immemorial,” the journal further mentioned. The application for gamosa was made by the Institute of Handicraft Development, Golaghat, while the application for chokuwa rice was made by Seuj Satirth of Sivasagar. “The Chokuwa rice is grown in Assam from time immemorial to cater the household needs of the farmers. Chokuwa rice of Assam has significance in social and religious ceremonies and forms a popular daily breakfast diet in rural Assam,” the GI Journal said. Chokuwa rice is grown are Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Sivsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Morigaon, and Sonitpur districts of Assam.

10.9_Dehumidifier based dehydration for turmeric A dehumidifier-based dehydration technology will soon be tested for the first time in the northeast, to take Assam turmeric to global markets. Guwahati-based Horticultural Research Station (HRS) under the Assam Agricultural University will conduct the experiment. The introduction of technology to process raw turmeric is aimed at fulfilling the quality needs of the global spice markets. India is the largest producer and consumer of raw turmeric, accounting for more than 78% of global production. On an average, India exports about 50,000 tonnes of turmeric a year to major export destinations, including the UAE, the US, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Japan, the UK, and Iran. During 2017- 18, the export value of turmeric from India was worth Rs 1,036 crore, with some pockets from hill districts such as Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao in Assam showing good productivity. It has long been observed that in subtropical humid Assam basin, the open air drying of turmeric is not effective, owing to high moisture of rhizome and prevalence of high humidity, coupled with low-light intensity during the harvesting period. As a result, the entire chunk of produce is sent to the market in green form. Green turmeric has limited value as the spice processors need centres around dry turmeric. Introduction of dehumidifier-based dehydration technology will help dry turmeric as a whole, and boost its market

10.10_Mithun meat may soon get approval from FSSAI Mithun, a semi-domesticated bovine, found in large numbers in four northeast states, could soon be declared a food animal paving the way for its commercial rearing and consumption. The meat is considered more tender than any other variety. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is actively pursuing a proposal by the Nagaland- based Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)'s National Research Centre on Mithun (NRCM) to declare it a food animal. Scientific studies by NRCM have found that mithun meat contains significantly low (2-3%) fat compared to beef and buffalo (10-12%). NRCM had submitted the proposal to FSSAI in October 2017. The Nagaland cabinet in March 2017 had given its nod for taking necessary steps to register the bovine as a food animal. Reared in free-range and forest ecosystem-based semi-domesticated conditions, mithuns are found only in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. The four states account for 98% of the global mithun population. They are usually found in altitudes ranging from 300 to 3,000 meters.

10.11_Assam in NITI Ayog’s top six best education states Assam has been ranked among the top-six best-performing states by NITI Aayog's School Education Quality Index (SEQI), but the state has been found to have the least percentage of toilets for girl students in the country. Daman & Diu, Assam top the category of daily attendance of teachers in their respective electronic systems. Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Delhi, are the only other states or Union Territories that record teachers' attendance in electronic devices. Assam is one of 10 states and UTs, where recruitment of new teachers is more transparent and is done online, while most states and UTs are yet to adopt this practice.

The report states that 32 states and Union Territories reported that at least 95% of their schools had girls' toilets. Only Assam and Meghalaya reported the lowest percentages for this indicator -83.4% and 84.1%, respectively. On the other hand, Sikkim and Nagaland reported a decrease in the number of toilets for girls from 2015-16 by 2.5 and 2.1 percentage points, respectively. The top-six best-performing states are Kerala, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Assam, each achieving an overall performance score above 60%. Kerala has the highest overall performance score of 76.6%, while Uttar Pradesh ranks last among the large states, with an overall performance score of 36.4%. Among the eight small states, Manipur, Tripura and Goa are the top performing states, each achieving an overall performance score above 55%. The report states that Manipur has the highest overall performance score of 68.8%, while Arunachal Pradesh ranks last, with an overall performance score of 24.6%. The School Education Quality Index (SEQI) was developed to evaluate the performance of States and Union Territories (UTs) in the school education sector. The index aims to bring an outcomes focus to education policy by providing States and UTs with a platform to identify their strengths and weaknesses and undertake requisite course corrections or policy interventions.

10.12_Issue of Mid-day meal issue in Assam Midday meal workers protested in front of the residence of state education minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya in Guwahati, demanding withdrawal of the government's decision to rope in NGOs for the meal delivery service to government-run schools. The Assam government has initiated a probe into allegations of "low quality" meals in schools by the NGOs. The midday meal workers staged the protest seeking an assurance from the Minister that the workers will be reinstated permanently. Mid-day meal scheme he midday meals scheme is a unique programme designed to improve nutritional status and health of school children in the country. The scheme offers free lunches for children in primary, secondary classes in government, government aided, local body funded, selected NGOs which support government initiatives, NGO serving and training mentally and physically challenged children etc. According to estimates, around 1.2 crore children are served free lunch every day, making it a largest meals scheme in the world.

History of the scheme

Despite being a largest meals scheme, the programme was originally started by British officials and was introduced in 1925 in Madras Corporation. Later, the French administration introduced in the Union Territory of Puducherry in the early 1930’s. The scheme was later re-introduced in primary schools in the 1962–63 throughout Tamilnadu by then Chief Minister K Kamaraj in order to attract more children to the school. Later, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M G Ramachandran upgraded the existing Mid-day meal scheme in the state to 'Nutritious food scheme' in order to eradicate malnutrition among 60 lakh children.

Challenges in midday meals scheme

Poor quality of food

According to the CAG report, in many cases, the quantity was less than the prescribed quantity. Of the total 2,012 samples of food grains collected, around 1,876 failed to meet nutritional standards. Making it around 80 percent of the foods are substandard. At least eight states and one Union Territory are verified offenders. These states are Assam, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Manipur, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Lakshadweep. Apart from this, between 2013 and 2015, there were 107 complaints about bad quality food - 18 in 2013, 41 in 2014 and 48 in 2015. But, action was taken against those responsible in only 32 cases. Kerala is the only state where not a single case relating to sub-standard food was reported for the past three years. Though Karnataka had reported several instances in 2013 and 2014, not a single case was reported in 2015.

Claws of Casteism

Along with complaints of poor quality of food, there are many complaints regarding the prevalence caste system following during Midday meals scheme. According to a report presented by a dalit academic body, dalit students were offered lesser food compared to upper caste students. These incidences were found during the visits in the states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Around 30 per cent of Dalit children and parents said Dalit children were not allowed to serve food to upper caste children. Such caste based discrimination was the primary reason for the dropout of 20 per cent of the children attending school. 88

Gross irregularities

Apart from the casteism and sub-standard food articles, the CAG report mentioned several abnormalities. One among the serious irregularities are that the percentage of actual children getting benefits from the scheme are lower than that furnished by the states to the Ministry of Human Resources in order to claiming the cost of food grains and cooking costs. The CAG audit has listed out institutional exaggeration of figures regarding meals offered to the students, irregular supply of food grains, inflated transportation costs etc. 10.13_Shishu Shuraksha App Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the mobile app Shishu Suraksha of Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights at a city hotel here on Thursday. Speaking at the programme, Sonowal said that children had limitless possibilities within themselves and parents must avoid the tendency to pressurise their wards for success while letting them grow naturally. He also stressed on the need to avoid harsh words while addressing children as bad or vulgar words could impact their psychology negatively. Remembering the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary, Sonowal urged the society to put emphasis on the holistic development of children as today’s children would carry forward the future society. Calling on the people to sustain the qualities of humanity, empathy, respect in the society, Sonowal underlined the importance of keeping the children away from superstitions and dogmas by instilling a scientific temperament in them.

10.14 Elephant death and the need to revive the habitats The rogue elephant(Laden), which was tranquilized in the Rongjuli forest division of Goalpara district in western Assam, was in captivity at the Rowmari camp of Orang National Park. Later, the elephant died in captivity.

To minimize incidents of human-elephant conflicts, the state needs concerted efforts to create sustainable solutions. They include reviving elephant habitats, removing squatters from forest land, forcing industrial units to vacate land close to elephant habitats, and re-settle tribes that live off forests away from the elephant corridors.

Some initiatives for elephants : A_Asian Elephant Alliance, an umbrella initiative by five NGOs, has come together to secure 96 out of the 101 existing corridors used by elephants across 12 States in India. Key facts:

1. The joint venture aims to secure the 96 remaining elephant corridors, old and new, in the next ten years. 2. The alliance joined hands to raise the mammoth sum as money was the main constraint in securing the land. 3. NGOs Elephant Family, International Fund for Animal Welfare, IUCN Netherlands and World Land Trust have teamed up with Wildlife Trust of India’s (WTI) in the alliance.

B. Elephant Corridors? Elephant corridors are narrow strips of land that connect two large habitats of elephants. Elephant corridors are crucial to reduce animal fatalities due to accidents and other reasons. So fragmentation of forests makes it all the more important to preserve migratory corridors. Why protect elephant corridors?

1. The movement of elephants is essential to ensure that their populations are genetically viable. It also helps to regenerate forests on which other species, including tigers, depend. 2. Nearly 40% of elephant reserves are vulnerable, as they are not within protected parks and sanctuaries. Also, the migration corridors have no specific legal protection. 3. Forests that have turned into farms and unchecked tourism are blocking animals’ paths. Animals are thus forced to seek alternative routes resulting in increased elephant-human conflict. 4. Weak regulation of ecotourism is severely impacting important habitats. It particularly affects animals that have large home ranges, like elephants. C. Gaj Yatra:

1. ‘Gaj Yatra’, a nationwide campaign to protect elephants, was launched on the occasion of World Elephant Day in 2017. The campaign was planned to cover 12 elephant range states. The elephant is part of India’s animal heritage and the Government celebrates this day to spread awareness about the conservation of the species.

2. The 15 months campaign was led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). The campaign aims to create awareness about elephant corridors to encourage free movement in their habitat.

D. MIKE site

• MIKE stands for Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants • Comes under CITES • It was started in South Asia in 2003 with the following objective: • • To measure levels and trends in illegal hunting of elephants. • To determine changes in these trends overtime. • To determine the factors causing or associated with these changes and to try and assess in particular to what extent observed trends are a result of any decisions taken by the Conference of the Parties to CITES. • In India, Project Elephant has been formally implementing MIKE • Data are collected from all sites on monthly basis in specified MIKE patrol form and submitted to Sub-Regional Support Office for South Asia Programme in Delhi who are assisting Ministry in implementation of the programme

E. Project Elephant • It is a centrally sponsored scheme • Launched in 1992 • Objectives: • To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors • To address issues of man-animal conflict • Welfare of captive elephants • It provide financial and technical support to major elephant bearing states in the country for protection of elephants, their habitats and corridors. It also seeks to address the issues of human-elephant conflict and welfare of domesticated elephants. • Main activities of the Project are as follows: • Ecological restoration of existing natural habitats and migratory routes of elephants; • Development of scientific and planned management for conservation of elephant habitats and viable population of Wild Asiatic elephants in India; • Promotion of measures for mitigation of man elephant conflict in crucial habitats and moderating pressures of human and domestic stock activities in crucial elephant habitats; • Strengthening of measures for protection of Wild elephants form poachers and unnatural causes of death; • Eco-development and Veterinary care.

10.15_Plan Bee

Plan Bee, a unique strategy adopted by Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to keep wild elephants away from railway tracks, has won the best innovation award by Indian Railways.

▪ Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR)'s Plan Bee, involves setting up of devices (an amplifying system imitating the buzz of a swarm of honey bees) near tracks, which emit the ‘buzzing’ sound of swarming bees, considered as a natural repellent of elephants (elephants have a natural fear of the perilous stings of the insects).

o First one was installed near the Guwahati railway station. ▪ The sound is audible to elephants 600-700 meters away and thus helps them in keeping away from the tracks. ▪ According to wildlife experts, India has the highest number of train accidents involving elephants in the world.

TOPICS FOR UPSC CSE PERSONALITY TEST 2019

11.1 Interview Transcript of Tapan Deka, IRS (UPSC CSE-2016,AIR-859)

[Lucent IAS team would like to thank Mr. Tapan Deka (Assistant Commissioner, IRS) for sharing his interview transcript. We hope, aspiring civil servants will get insight about UPSC CSE Personality Test from this article.]

Board: P.K.Joshi Date: 04-05-2017 (Afternoon) Position: 3rd Panel Members: Chairman, M1, M2, FM1, M4

Tapan Deka : May I come in Sir

Chairman: Please come in

(Tapan entered the room, walked a few steps, stop and greet with hands behind the back): Good afternoon Sir. Good afternoon Ma’am. Good afternoon Sirs

Everyone: Good afternoon

Chairman: Please take your seat

Tapan Deka : Thank you Sir

Chairman: (Reading from my DAF) So you have done your Engineering from XXX College in XXXX year, then you did your MBA in XXXX, then you worked as Business Analyst in XXXX, but you left it in only 8 months. After that you have worked as Faculty in XYZ College, your salary has drastically dropped to just 5000 rupees. Why such a change?

Tapan Deka : Sir, I had left my job to prepare full time for civil services. I was invited by the Director of that institute to take a few classes and I was paid 2000 per class. I was only a Part Time Faculty and did only a few classes, so over a span of 8 months, it came out to be 5000 per month.

Chairman: What was your role as a Business Analyst in your company?

Tapan Deka : Sir, the company is an IT firm in Financial Services. My role was Sales – pitching for new clients, client management and people management. Based on requirements of the client, we develop modules for them. I was involved with a client Bangkok Bank Limited for developing an FX system. I had a team of 25 people under me to develop the system.

Chairman: What did you teach in XXX College?

Tapan Deka : Sir, I took classes on HR, OB, Operations… Sir, I mean Human Resources Management, Organizational Behaviour

Chairman: And what did you teach at XXX University

Tapan Deka : Sir, it was a 50 day crash course to prepare students for UPSC and State service examinations. I took classes on Economy, Art and Culture and Aptitude.

Chairman: Ok, I will give you a problem. Suppose there are 2 companies A and B. Both have the same capitalization, and both have same earnings in a year. Company A is paying dividend, but company B is not. Company A’s dividend per share is more than company B. Why do you think this is happening?

Tapan Deka (forgetting the last statement): Sir, dividend decisions of companies are dependent on factors like shareholder interests and future expansion. Company A might be wanting to assure their shareholders of good returns on their shares, so paying dividend while company B is retaining that money for future expansion of the business or for operational purposes for next fiscal years.

Chairman: But why is company A’s dividend per share higher than company B?

Tapan Deka : Sir, the Present Value of the cash flows should be the same in both cases

Chairman: I had said their capitalization is same, so what constitutes capitalization.

Tapan Deka : Sir, debt and…(interrupted) 91

Chairman: Yes, so debt is also a part right. So one company may have higher debt

Me (realizing my mistake, but still kept cool): Yes, Sir

Chairman: So what is Capital Gear?

Me (I heard capital gain): Sir, Capital gain is the increase in value of an asset. For example, if I buy a painting for 100 today and two years later its value becomes 150, it will be capital gain of 50.

Chairman: I asked about Capital Gear

Tapan Deka : Sorry Sir…(1 sec pause) I am not aware of that

Chairman: Do you know “some management term I have never heard, and don’t recall now”

Tapan Deka : No, Sir. I am not aware of it.

Chairman: Suppose there is a company and it has estimated the cost of production of an item as 60000 rupees per unit, and selling price as 72000 per unit making a profit of 12000. Now, after production, it was found that the cost came out to be 80000. How will you present your case to the manager?

Tapan Deka : Sir, it would depend on the costing methodology used whether same method was used for both. If marginal costing method will be used, we will be considering only the variable costs and the cost will come out to be less. I think we have a higher cost value because we also took the fixed costs

Chairman: Fixed costs will be there for a lot of items, so how will you separate fixed costs from it

Tapan Deka : Sir, we will have to reduce the values of land, property, machinery from the costs to get the variable costs

Chairman: Is it the same as Standard Costing?

Tapan Deka : Sir, I am a little confused if standard costing is same as Absorption costing. If they are same, we will be taking the fixed cost values too.

Chairman: You have cleared NET also. Why don’t you go for teaching?

Tapan Deka : Sir, my first priority is civil services.

Chairman: Have you heard of HR Accounting?

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir

Chairman: How can you account for the work that people do?

Tapan Deka : Sir, we can different metrics to measure the amount for HR. For example, in IT companies, there can be metrics like numbers of hours billed to client, number of modules created in certain numbers of working hours.

Chairman: Ok, (indicating to M1 to ask)

M1: Let me ask you, do you know about Strategic CSR?

Tapan Deka : Sir, I am not exactly aware of the term, can I make a….

M1: Yes, please

Tapan Deka : Sir, I think Strategic CSR will be those CSR activities which are planned for a long term purpose unlike what is done currently. For example, if a company plans to construct a school instead of donating to NGOs for carrying out their activities

M1: When this idea of CSR was introduced, CII, ASSOCHAM and others opposed this move. They said why doesn’t the Government take that 2% and do these activities themselves instead of asking the companies to do. But two years later, they have begun to praise it and are not criticizing it anymore Why is it so?

Tapan Deka : Sir, because companies have realized that it is good for the company as it creates value and helps in their business 92

M1: What is this value that is created?

Tapan Deka : Sir, value as in terms of goodwill for the company. For example, ITC has this thing written on the back of their Classmate notebooks that 1 rupee from it is going for the education of the poor, so it helps in creating a positive image of the company in the minds of the customer.

M1: So you mean to say that it is aligned with their larger business interests?

Tapan Deka : Yes, Sir

M1: Ok, so this is called Strategic CSR when you align your CSR activities with the vision of your business

Tapan Deka : Yes, Sir

M1: What is Soft CSR?

Tapan Deka : I am not aware of it Sir

M1: Nowadays we are seeing a lot of young startups and they are also receiving a lot of investor funds. You have Amazon, Flipkart who are running into losses, but the investors are continuing to invest in the startups. What is the reason behind this?

Tapan Deka : Sir, the reason behind investors investing despite losses is they are trying to create a user base first and to wipe out competitors so that only a few players remain in the market. For example, in the cab business, we have seen a lot of investments in Uber and Ola, and they are currently the two major firms operating in the business with others being removed…

M1: So what are investors seeking? Are investors looking at exit or entry?

Tapan Deka : Sir, currently investors are looking at entry. They are investing more and more in the startups to create user base and remove competitors (I don’t know why I repeated the same words I used in the previous answer again)

M1: Have you heard of the current VIP and EPI issue

Tapan Deka : Sir, I am aware of the VIP beacon issue, but I am not aware of EPI

M1: It’s Every Person is Important

Tapan Deka : Oh, Yes Sir Yes Sir I am aware

M1: So how do you make every person feel important

Tapan Deka : Sir, there is a gap between the bureaucracy, politicians, ministers and general public due to the perception that they are not approachable. We will have to increase accessibility of officers for the general public. Only when people will know that they can come and directly meet officers will they come and seek redressal of their grievances.

M1: What else can be done?

Tapan Deka : Sir, like the red beacon on cars have been banned, we can also have policy of banning official vehicles and promoting use of public transport by officers, ministers. They will be able to interact with common people, and also people will feel close to them

M1: What else?

Me (thinking for some 4-5 seconds): We can have community meetings. Also, we can have some dedicated days for organizing some forums where people’s grievances are noted like some Tuesday, or Thursday…

M1: I will give you 3 statements, you answer me in Yes or No

1.Football is sport 2.Football is business 3.Football helps in peace and building relationships

Tapan Deka : Ok Sir

M1: Football is sport?

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir 93

M1: Football is business?

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir, nowadays it is becoming a business

M1: It helps in maintaining peace?

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir. (his face seemed like he wanted to get something more, so I continued) For example, in ISL, we have our team called North East United FC. Despite the hostility and problems between the North Eastern states, whenever the team plays, every one of us cheer for it. So, it has helped in promoting peace among the various communities and build relationships.

M1 (handing over the baton to M2 through a hand gesture)

M2: How do you find ways to fulfil your interests?

Tapan Deka (confused as to what did he ask): Sir, I didn’t get you

M2: How do you find ways to fulfil your interests? You have indicated quite a few interests (pointing to my DAF page). Do you devote time specifically for them?

Tapan Deka : No Sir, I do not give dedicated time for them. Most of my interests happen unconsciously. Like I have this interest of collecting boarding passes… (interrupted)

M2: Yes yes I am coming to that. So you do not give dedicate time for your interests?

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir. They happen as and when the time comes, like I collect the passes when I travel

M2: Do you get frustrated when your interests are not fulfilled?

Tapan Deka : No Sir

M3: You realize if you become a bureaucrat, you will not be able to undertake an airline travel maybe for the next 7-8 years. I don’t think you go about asking people for their boarding passes in the airport because that will be a very wrong thing to do (he said this with a big laugh, I joined in with a slight laugh too saying “No, No Sir definitely not”) So not able to travel, not getting hold on to them, will it not frustrate you

Tapan Deka : No Sir (with a smile). Infact I… (interrupted)

M3: Are you sure you will not be frustrated?

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir. Like I have a liking for cars, but I don’t not get frustrated when I see a high end car, and that I am not able to get behind the steering wheel.

M3: But you wish you were behind the wheel, that you had purchased it

Tapan Deka : Sir, I hope that I will be able to purchase one one day and I believe that I will be able to do so.

M3: We have some good colleges in India but we fail to get into the top rankings in the world. One thing that is continuously mentioned is the lack of research. We have Professors from IIMs devoting a greater part of their time in teaching executive programs, consulting assignments. Do you think they should do consulting assignments? Instead shouldn’t they just go for research?

Tapan Deka : Sir, I agree that research is a bit low in our institutions. But I think doing consulting assignments is also good as it helps them in getting inputs which can help in research. Also, since they contribute a part of their consulting fee to the institute, it helps keep the fees low.

M3: But consulting fee maybe constitutes only 30% of the total earnings of the institute. They also say that Professors tend to do a lot of executive programs. Should Professors devote a lot of time for executive programs?

Tapan Deka : Sir, executive programs are attended by people who have gained sufficient experience in their fields, of 5 years, or 7 years, or 9 years. So their inputs also help in Professor gaining inputs which can be used for their research.

M3: Executive programs fetch the maximum money, so Professors want to take more of such classes. The per-class fee is very high. Research is neglected don’t you agree

M3 (after a period of silence of 5-6 seconds): Do you know about sterilization in context of RBI?

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir. It is an operation…whenever a lot of capital flows in to our country, dollars and other foreign currency, we need to supply rupees for those currencies which increases money supply in the country which may lead to inflation. To check that, RBI does an operation to stabilize money supply. This is called sterilization

M3: What are these actions that can be taken?

Tapan Deka : Sir, one of the ways can be to go for limited convertibility. Like we convert only 60% of forex into rupees, rest 40% goes into our forex reserves.

M3: But that will infuriate the investors. They will want their entire FDI to be converted to rupees

Tapan Deka : Sir, we already have this system of limited convertibility…

M3: Ok, what else?

Tapan Deka : Sir, we can use the forex to finance our exports (damn )

M3: If you finance exports with that forex, won’t that be counter-productive. Your currency is appreciating, which will harm your exports. You are negating your own statement.

Tapan Deka (thinking for 3-4 seconds): Yes Sir

M3 handing over baton to FM1

FM1: The questions I would be asking, you would not have prepared

Tapan Deka : :o

FM1: You have so many optional choices (pointing to the educational details table in DAF) why did you take Literature?

Tapan Deka : Ma’am I had Management as optional in my last attempt, but had changed it to Literature this year

FM1: Because you felt you did not get adequate benefits out of it?

Tapan Deka : Yes Ma’am

FM1: So it means you do not have genuine interest in Literature?

Tapan Deka : No Ma’am, it’s not like that. I like Literature. Assamese was the first language I learned in school. Also, my parents are graduates in Assamese, so I could get a lot of help from them.

FM1: (exact question I don’t remember) Something regarding my own interest in Literature

Tapan Deka : No Ma’am, I write in Assamese too. So I chose.

FM1: Tell me the difference between theme and plot

Me (taking some 5-6 seconds to think): Ma’am, theme will be the overall feel of the written content. Like a novel on crime would have crime as theme. A plot will be how the story is…carried forward (my voice came in bits and pieces while answering this, a bit of nervousness was easily observable and hand movements were prominent)

FM1: Tell me the difference between rhythm and “don’t remember the term”

Me (thinking for a long time, tension evident on face, forgot the second term asked there itself): Sorry Ma’am, I don’t know

FM1: Tell me difference between unity and uniformity

Tapan Deka : Ma’am uniformity means painting everyone with the same brush, and unity means collection of different things to form a whole.

FM1: Tell me difference between equity and equality

Tapan Deka : Ma’am, equality means treating everyone on the same platform. Equity means giving opportunity to the weaker group to be able to compete with the stronger on the same platform. Like if we have a poor man and a rich man, giving concessions to the poor so that he is able to compete with the rich is equity.

(A bit of fumbling was evident in the “tell me the difference between” questions)

FM1: What type of stories do you like to write, character centric or story centric?

Tapan Deka : Ma’am, I like character centric stories, and my writings are also mostly character centric,

FM1: Tell me one author who wrote character centric stories

Tapan Deka : Ma’am, Shakespeare

FM1 (gave an expression of disapproval)

Tapan Deka : Ma’am, his plays like Macbeth, Hamlet…

FM1: But Macbeth has a very powerful story line

Tapan Deka : Yes Ma’am, but if we look at the naming of his play Macbeth, and also his other plays, they are mostly on character names

FM1: Tell me one other character centric author

Tapan Deka : Ma’am, Walter Scott

FM1 handing over baton to M4

M4 (pointing towards pencil and page in front of me): Write

M4: NPTEL, MOOCs

M4: What are these?

Tapan Deka : Sir, NPTEL is an initiative started by IITs to provide online classes for the public. MOOC is Massive Open Online Courses is similar to NPTEL where online classes for different subjects are available for viewing for free by public. If one needs a certificate, they will have to pay a certain fee.

M4: Do you think they can replace class room teaching?

Tapan Deka : No Sir, I think they can supplement class room teaching and not replace them.

M4: Why do you think so?

Tapan Deka : Sir, a lot of people like the feel of studying in a class room situation. Also, online classes do not provide for doubt clearing sessions. Also, since online classes can be watched anytime and anywhere, there is a lack of seriousness as there is no supervision or nobody to reprimand

M4: You might have also bunked classes in college…

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir (with a smile)

M4: So you could study those subjects without the teacher

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir, but for doubt clearing…

M4: For clearing doubts, you can have a separate online session

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir, but clearing doubts in real time is liked by many

M4: Ok, you have mentioned your hobby as football, tell me what is the role of a captain in football, when the game is being played? I see no role of a captain in football

Me (thinking for 4-5 seconds): Sir, a captain can determine the formation during the game, he can assign players who they need to guard

M4: But formation is decided by coach before the game, and who will guard who is also decided before the game. Even who goes in and goes out is decided by coach

Me (silent for a few seconds)

M4: Can you relate this to the teacher example

Me (thinking for a few seconds): Sir, like a teacher, the captain can act as a motivator for the players, and also reprimand them if they are not playing well…

M4: Ok. What is the relationship between Lakshminath Bezbaroa and Rabindranath Tagore?

Tapan Deka : Sir, Lakshminath Bezbaroa had married in the Thakur family. His wife was the daughter of the second son, or third son, no Sir second son of Debendranath Thakur (I said Thakur instead of Tagore). So she will be niece of Rabindranath…

M4: Ok ok so you know their relationship

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir

M4: What is Environmental Racism?

Tapan Deka : (thinking about it for 2-3 seconds): Sir, I don’t know

M4 (still looking for an answer)

Meanwhile, Chairman Sir indicates to M4 to end the session.

M4: Sir, final two questions

M4 (turning towards me): The other states of the North East allege that Assam is more developed than them. Do you agree?

Tapan Deka : Yes Sir

M4: What do you think that is the case?

Tapan Deka : Sir, the first glaring difference is in infrastructure development. Assam is mostly a plain area so it has roads, railways developed but the others states are hilly… (interrupted)

M4: Ok infrastructure I understood, what else?

Tapan Deka : Sir, the discrimination faced by the people of the other states is also more, due to their physical features. People of Assam also face discrimination, but a lot less than the other states

M4: What else?

Tapan Deka : Sir, in terms of economic opportunities that have been tapped. In Assam, oil, natural gas, plywood they have been exploited, but the other states, despite having a lot of natural resources, they have not been economically exploited

M4: What else?

Tapan Deka : Sir, I think the reference to Assam’s organizations get more prominence than the groups of other states. Like people outside Assam know about ULFA, NDFB, but are not aware of Kuki Liberation Front, GNLA… Garo National Liberation Army due to the scale of their attacks…

M4: Ok (indicating towards Chairman that he is done)

Chairman: Ok, your interview is over

Tapan Deka : Thank You Sir

11.2 Modern Assam: Foundation of company rule, [Part 1]

The Brahmaputra Valley came under the British contact during the tenure of the Ahom King Gaurinath Singh(1769- 80) when he sought for military help to control the uprising of the Moamarias. Lord Cornwallis, then Governor General sent Captain Welsh in September,1792.The Company's forces reached Goalpara on the 8th November,1792 and by 24th November,1792, Captain Welsh and his men reached Guwahati and without much trouble restored order. Captain Welsh and his team continued their good work to quell a series of disturbances including protracted rebellion by the Moamarias in the Upper Assam right upto Rangpur during 1792-1794.

Captain Welsh left Assam in mid 1794.

Soon a period of rapid expansion and intensive consolidation of the British Rule took place. In the meantime, the Treaty of Yandabo between the British and the Burma on the 24th February,1826 marked the end of Burmese misadventure and formal beginning of the British rule in Assam proper started.

The British annexed Cachar area in 1830 and it was brought under British administration in1832.A separate Goalpara District was curved out of North East Rangpur in 1822. The Brahmaputra Valley Districts of Kamrup, Darrang, and Nagaon were brought under direct British control after the Treaty of Yandabo while the Districts of Sibsagar and Lakhimpur were incorporated formally in 1839; Sadia and Matak tracts were added in 1842.The consolidation of British rule in Assam may be said to be completed in 1874.

The period from the Treaty of Yandabo(1826) to the formation of the Province of Assam(1874) witnessed intensive development in the field of public administration and Tea industry, enactment of different Legal measures and Revenue Laws and Regulations which were to influence the State Administration for a long time.

The constitution of Assam into a Chief Commissionership by the proclamation of 6th February,1874, was a landmark development in the history of Assam administration. When Colonel R.H. Keating assumed the office of the Chief Commissionership at Guwahati on February,1874, his secretariat consisted of only one Secretary having three main Departments viz; General, Judicial and Revenue with two subsidiary departments, Native and Records.

Some important points to remember

11.3 Peasant Movements in Assam a. Phulguri Uprising

The Phulguri Uprising which is also known as ‘Phulguri Dhawa’ in Assamese was the first agrarian revolt in Assam after 1857. Phulguri is a place in present Nagaon district. Most of the people of this area belong to Lalung and Kachari tribes. As the people of Phulguri were mostly opium-eaters, the consumption of opium was higher there compared to other places. High price of opium fixed by the British government caused much resentment among the people of Phulguri. The ban imposed by the British government on private cultivation of opium also caused much dissatisfaction among the people of Phulguri. Besides, a rumour spread that the British government would soon impose duties on all their sources of income such as cultivation of betel leaf (pan) and cultivation of fruits in the garden.

Due to the above mentioned causes an uprising broke out which initially took the form of protest through Raij Mels. One day on 17 October, 1861 when people from district villages assembled in a mel the British police forcibly tried to disperse the village men. The incident enraged the native people so much that they jumped upon 98

the police party who tried to disperse them. In this encounter many policemen were injured and Mr. Singer, the Assistant Commissioner of police of Nagaon district was beaten to death. However, an additional police force captured the rebels and their leaders were severally punished either with the death sentence or life imprisonment.

Though the Phulguri uprising was a failure its significance cannot be underrated. It was the first popular rebellion of the peasantry of Assam against the British colonial rule. For the first time the middle class intelligentsia came out in support of the Phulguri rebels. Not only that, it also served an inspiration to other villagemen and tribals. This is evident from the fact that within the next few years the peasants of the districts of Darrang and Kamrup broke out in rebellion against the exploitation of the British.

B. Rangia and Lachima revolt

The people of Rangia, in the district of Kamrup following the foot steps of the Phulguri peasants very soon lodged their protests, organizing Raij Mels. The cause of their protest was a hundred percent increase in the land revenue. The Rangia revolt began on 24th December 1893 when the people of Rangia ransacked the Rangia market. Moreover, people staged a demonstration on 10th January, 1894 in which they raised the slogan of not paying the increased revenue. On the same day McCabe, the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup, imposed a ban on holding any Mel All the important leaders of the revolt were soon arrested by the police and the revolt lost its edge.

The Lachima Revolt was also held due to the same reasons as that of Rangia. The only difference was that the rebels of Lachima took recourse to violence. They assaulted the revenue collectors who were the agents of the British government. The incident took place in Kalpa, near Lachima, in the district of Kamrup on 21st January 1894. The revenue collectors were so severely beaten by the villagers that one of them died. The infuriated British police immediately arrested as many as seventy- five villagers. But the agitated villagers soon freed the arrested persons from the custody of the police. This led to a major police crackdown on the village. Unable to sustain the torture the rebels ultimately had to give in and the revolt came to an end.

C. Patharughat Uprising

Like Phulguri Dhawa the rebellion of Patharughat is also commonly known among Assamese as Patharughatar Ran i.e. the battle of Patharughat. Patharughat is a place in the Darrang district where a revolt broke out in 1894. Here also the grievances of the people were against the enhancement of the rates of revenue. Raij-Mels were held in which not only a protest was lodged against the increased in the rates of land-revenue but a warning was also issued to the villagers to the effect that no one should pay the increased revenue to the government. On 28th January, 1894 when a police party went to the village to attach the property of a peasant cultivator, who was a defaulter, they were surrounded by a mob. Soon after the incident the rebels of Patharughat marched towards the police camp leading the police to open fire.Many of the villagers died and were injured. It led to the complete suppression of the rebels of Patharughat by the British.

D. Jaintia revolt

The tribal people of Jaintia burst out in rebellion when the British government imposed house tax and stamp duty. In fact, the tribal people were not accustomed to any such tax in the past. Therefore, they felt they lost their freedom to the British. So they raised their voice through a rebellion which lasted from 1860 to 1863. It was not before 1863 that the British government could restore law order suppressing the hill people.

Before the outbreak of this revolt the Khasi tribes in present Meghalaya also revolted against the British. The Khasi leader U. Teerut Singh, the Raja of Nongkhalo led this rebellion against the British. The background of the revolt was the construction of a road across the Khasi hills joining the two valleys of the Brahmaputra and Surma. Though Teerut Singh in the beginning approved the idea of the road, suddenly he became suspicious of British intensions. The Khasis got the impression that after the completion of the road the British would levy tax from them. So, under leadership of Teerut Singh they attacked the British officials posted there and killed them. The conflict between the Khasis and British continued for almost four years and ended with the surrender of Teerut Singh in 1834.

E. Revolts of Naga, Garo and Lushai

The Tribal people of Naga, Garo and Lushai hills were discontented upon the British not because of imposition of any tax but for the curtailment of certain rights being enjoyed by them for long time past. In fact these turbulent hill tribes were freedom loving people and could not tolerate any interference in their socio-economic life. But their frequent raids in the neighbouring areas which were under British possession made the government worry. To get rid of their attacks and raids the British government became offensive towards them and in 1866 captured the hill tract of the Angami Nagas. The other Naga tribes also surrendered in course of time. In 1869 the Garo hills region was captured. Finally in 1898 the Lushai hills came under British rule.

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