Editor’s Message - Amrita IAS · 2018. 11. 1. · 11. India’s Current Foreign Policy Changes And Challenges II 64 12. Indo- Asean Delhi Dialogue II 72 13. BRICS Regional Aviation

www.amritaias.com | [email protected] | +91 85890 60000

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Editor’s Messagehis is not a journalistic venture but an academic one designed to handhold keen and sincere UPSC aspirants. We do not claim this to be yet another surrogate window to the world. We are sure, nevertheless, that you would find this venture novel as well as useful.


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In This IssueSl.

No. Topic GS

PaperPage No.

1. Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act I 4

2. Jute Sector in India I 123. Centre Notifies Cauvery Water Management Authority II 174. Article 35A of Indian Constitution II 225. Lateral Entry into Civil Services II 286. NCT Delhi Vs Lieutenant Governor II 377. Higher Education Council of India II 428. Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018 II 529. Section 377 of Indian Penal Code II 5610. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights II 5911. India’s Current Foreign Policy Changes And Challenges II 6412. Indo- Asean Delhi Dialogue II 7213. BRICS Regional Aviation Partnership II 7914. The State of State Government Finances II & III 8615. Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and

Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018II & III 94

16. Social Media Hub II & III 10217. Financial Action Task Force (FATF) III 10818. Nutritional Security v/s Food Security III 11419. Police Reforms in India III 12420. DNA Technology (Use & Application) Regulation Bill, 2018 III 13121. Cyber Security III 13722. Minimum Support Price (MSP) III 14423. Net Neutrality III 15424. Role of Big Data in Disaster Management III 16125. Solar Energy Related Issues III 16926. Recent Issue of Lynching in India III & IV 173 27. Nelson Mandela International Day IV 179


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Indecent Representation Of Women (Prohibition) Act (IRWA) [GS-I]

Context Based on the observations made by Parliamentary Standing Committee and recommendation made by the National Commission for Women on the basis of consultation stakeholders, WCD has proposed amendments in IRWA keeping in mind the recent technological advancement in the field of communications such as social media platforms, over the top services etc.

Reforms proposed:

• Amendmentindefinitionofterm‘advertisement’toincludedigitalformorelectronicformorhoardings,orthroughSMS,MMSetc.

• Amendmentindefinitionof‘distribution’toincludepublica-tion,licenseoruploadingusingcomputerresource,orcommu-nicationdevice.

• Insertionofanewdefinitiontodefinetheterm‘publishes’.

• Amendmentin‘Section4’toincludethatnopersonshallpub-lishordistributeorcausetobepublishedorcausetobedis-tributedbyanymeansanymaterialwhichcontainsindecentrepresentationofwomeninanyform.

• PenaltysimilartothatprovidedundertheInformationTech-nologyAct,2000.

Creation of new authority:

CreationofaCentralisedAuthorityundertheaegisofNationalCommissionofWomen(NCW).ThisAuthoritywillbeheadedbyMemberSecretary,NCW,havingrepresentativesfromAdvertis-ingStandardsCouncilofIndia,PressCouncilofIndia,MinistryofInformationandBroadcastingandonememberhavingexperi-

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enceofworkingonwomenissues.

• ThisCentralisedAuthoritywillbeauthorizedtoreceivecom-plaintsorgrievancesregardinganyprogrammeoradvertise-mentbroadcastedorpublicationandinvestigate/examineallmattersrelatingtotheindecentrepresentationofwomen.

What necessitated this?

» Reformshavebeenproposedkeepinginmindtherecenttechnologicaladvancements.Theneedwasfelttowidenthescopeofthelawsoastocoversuchformsofmediaononehandandtostrengthentheexistingsafeguardstopreventindecentrepresentationofwomenthroughanymediaformontheother.

Provisions in the Indian Constitution for Women

TheConstitutionaimstomakespecificprovisionsforwomeninIndia.

Preamble

ThePreambletotheConstitutionofIndiaassuresjustice,social,economicandpolitical;equalityofstatusandopportunityanddignitytotheindividual.Thusittreatsbothmenandwomenequal.

Fundamental Rights

• Article14ensurestowomentherighttoequality.

• Article15(1) specificallyprohibitsdiscriminationonthebasisofsex.

• Article15(3) empowerstheStatetotakeaffirmativeactionsinfavourofwomen.

• Article16providesforequalityofopportunityforallcitizensinmattersrelatingtoemploymentorappointmenttoanyoffice.

Directive Principles of State Policy

• Article39(a)providesthatthestatedirectitspolicytowards


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securingformenandwomenequallytherighttoanadequatemeansoflivelihood.

• Article39(d)mandatesequalpayforequalworkforbothmenandwomen.

• Article42providesthatthestatemakeprovisionforsecuringjustandhumaneconditionsofworkandformaternityrelief.

Important legislations for women

• In1983,Section498AwasintroducedintheIndianPenalCode(IPC)andforthefirsttimemadedomesticviolencetomarriedwomenacriminaloffences.

• ProtectionofWomenfromDomesticViolenceAct(2005)isacomprehensivelegislationtoprotectwomeninIndiafromallformsofdomesticviolence.Italsocoverswomenwhohavebeen/areinarelationshipwiththeabuserandaresubjectedtoviolenceofanykind—physical,sexual,mental,verbaloremo-tional.

• ImmoralTraffic(Prevention)Act(1956)isthepremierlegis-lationforpreventionoftraffickingforcommercialsexualex-ploitation.Inotherwords,itpreventstraffickinginwomenandgirlsforthepurposeofprostitutionasanorganisedmeansofliving.

• IndecentRepresentationofWomen(Prohibition)Act(1986)prohibitsindecentrepresentationofwomenthroughadver-tisementsorinpublications,writings,paintings,figuresorinanyothermanner.

• CommissionofSati(Prevention)Act(1987)providesforthemoreeffectivepreventionofthecommissionofsatianditsglorificationonwomen.

• DowryProhibitionAct(1961)prohibitsthegivingortakingofdowryatorbeforeoranytimeafterthemarriagefromwom-en.

• MaternityBenefitAct(1961)regulatestheemploymentofwomenincertainestablishmentsforcertainperiodbeforeandafterchild-birthandprovidesformaternitybenefitandcertain


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otherbenefits.

• MedicalTerminationofPregnancyAct(1971)providesfortheterminationofcertainpregnanciesbyregisteredmedicalprac-titionersonhumanitarianandmedicalgrounds.

• Pre-ConceptionandPre-NatalDiagnosticTechniques(Prohi-bitionofSexSelection)Act(1994)prohibitssexselectionbe-foreorafterconceptionandpreventsthemisuseofpre-nataldiagnostictechniquesforsexdeterminationleadingtofemalefoeticide.

• EqualRemunerationAct(1976)providesforpaymentofequalremunerationtobothmenandwomenworkersforsameworkorworkofasimilarnature.Italsopreventsdiscriminationonthegroundofsex,againstwomeninrecruitmentandserviceconditions.

Important Schemes for women

• BetibachaoBetipadhao–Preventionofsexselectiveelimi-nation,ensuringsurvival&protectionofthegirlchild,ensuringeducationandparticipationofthegirlchild.

• UJJAWALA:ASchemeforPreventionofTraffickingandRes-cue,RehabilitationandReintegrationofVictimsofTraffickingandCommercialSexualExploitation.

• SWADHARGreh–ASchemeforWomeninDifficultCircum-stances.

• IndiraGandhiMatritvaSahyogYojana(IGMSY)–Itisacondi-tionalmaternitybenefitscheme.ItwasrevisedinaccordancewithNationalFoodSecurityAct,2013

• NirbhayaFund–withamount1000crore,forwomensafetyinstrategicareasofprevention,protectionandrehabilitation

• OneStopCentreScheme–Suchcentreswillbeestablishedacrossthecountrytoprovideintegratedrangeofservicesin-cludingmedical,legal,andpsychologicalsupportandassis-tanceunderonerooftowomenaffectedbyviolence,bothinprivateandpublicspaces.ItwillbefundedbyNirbhayaFund.


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• RajivGandhiSchemeforEmpowermentofAdolescentGirls(RGSEAG)–‘SABLA’:ItisaCentrally-sponsoredschemeap-provedbytheGovernmenttomeetnutritionalneedsandtoprovidevocationaltrainingforgirlsabove16yearsofagefortheireconomicempowerment.

• RashtriyaMahilaKosh–(NationalCreditFundforWomen):TheRashtriyaMahilaKosh(NationalCreditFundforWomen)wassetupin1993withacorpusofRs.31crores,againstthebackdropofsocio-economicconstraintsfacedbypoorwomentoaccessmicro–creditfromtheformalfinancialsysteminthecountry,especiallythoseintheruralandinunorganizedsec-tors.

Key features of the Draft National Policy for Women, 2016

• ThepolicyisroughlybasedonthePamRajputCommitteere-portsetupbytheMWCDin2012whichsubmitteditsrecom-mendationsin2016,includingasuggestednationalpolicyforwomenandanactionplantoendviolenceagainstwomen.

• Maternalandprenatalmortalitywillremainapriorityarea,focusingonacoordinatedreferraltransportsystemforsafedeliveriesandemergencyobstetriccaretobemadeavailableindifficult,remoteandisolatedareas.

• Itaimstoimplement“agendertransformativehealthstrate-gy”whichshiftsthefocusoffamilyplanningeffortsfromfe-malesterilisationtomalesterilisation.

• Itfocusesonprioritisingthenutritionofwomenofallagesandstrengtheninggeriatricservicestoaddresswomenagedabove60,whoform8.4%ofthepopulation.

• Ittriestoaddressestheproblemofnavigatingthedistancefromhometoschoolbysuggesting“innovativetransporta-tionmodels”suchas“clusterpoolingofminibuses.”toenrolmoregirlsinsecondaryschoolsandretaincurrentgirlstu-dents.

• Thepolicytalksaboutengagingmenandboysthroughad-vocacy,awarenessgenerationprogrammesandcommunityprogrammestoinstilrespectforwomeninmenfromayoung


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age.

• Italsotakesnoteofmorewomentakingrecoursetoartificialreproductivetechniques.Itproposeseffortstoensuretherightsofsurrogatemothers,commissioningmothersalongwiththoseofthechildrenbornthroughsurrogacy.

• Itmentionsdesigning“acomprehensivesocialprotectionmechanism”toaddressthevulnerabilitiesofwidows,single,deserted,separatedanddivorcedwomenandcreateopportu-nitiesforthemsuchasbuildinga1000-roomshelterforwid-owsandothervulnerablewomeninVrindavan.

• Anotherareaofconcernthepolicyfocusesonisthetraffick-ingofwomen.Thedraftpolicyfeatureseffortstodevelopacompatibleandcomprehensivedatabaseonviolenceagainstwomen,strictmonitoringoftheresponseof(law)enforce-mentagenciestoviolenceagainstwomen,thetime-boundtrialofheinouscrimesagainstwomen,strengtheningnaariadalatsandfamilycourts,etc.

• Italsofocusesonincreasedparticipationofwomeninwork-forceandpolitics(throughneed-basedtraining),narrowingthegender-basedwagegap,creatingentrepreneurialoppor-tunitiesforwomen(throughschemeslikeE-haats),recognis-ingwomen’sunpaidwork(athome)intermsofeconomicandsocietalvalue,achievinggenderequityinagriculture.

• Thepolicyaimsatbetteringsecurityenvironmentswithinitia-tives,suchasonestopcentres,womenhelplines,Mahilapolicevolunteers,reservationofwomeninthepoliceforce,creat-ingimmediateresponsemechanismthroughpanicbuttonsinmobilephones,publicandprivatetransportandsurveillancemechanismsinpublicplaces.

Problems and challenges

• DeclineinChildsexratio(1911accordingto2011census)CSRreflectsboth,pre-birthdiscriminationmanifestedthroughgen-derbiasedsexselectionandpostbirthdiscriminationandLowSexRatio(940accordingto2011census).

• ThereareseveraldiscriminatorypracticeslikeKanyadan(dow-


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ry),notionofagirlasparayadhan(belongingtotheother),obligationofafathertomarryoffhisdaughter;whichgovernthelawsofmarriage,divorceandmatrimoniallife.Theseprac-ticesseldomholduptoscrutiny.

• Sacramentalandsocietalaspectsstilldominatethesocialpsy-cheinmanyaspectslikemarriagewithinthecaste,sendingthedaughterbacktoin-lawsratherthanriskingadivorceontheirname,childmarriages,forcedmarriagesetc.

• Underreportingofcases.Delhihasthehighestrateofcrimesagainstwomenoverall,thoughDelhihashighpopulationbutonecannottakeawaythefactthatherewomenaremoreawareandadministrationalsoactsbetterthanotherplacesinthecountry.

• Falsecases–therearehugenumberofcaseswhichareregis-teredtoharasstheotherparty,increasedcasesofkidnappingagainsttheboyincasethegirlhaseloped,falsecasesofrapecharges.

• Theconversionofanyissueonwomanrightintopoliticalcon-troversyorinfringementofrightofminoritiesinIndiaisabigchallengetoovercome.

Probable Solutions

• Peopleacrosspartylinesagreethatcertainlawsorcustomsfollowedsincelongorfollowedaspartofaregionneedschange.Whatitneedsisactiononbehalfoflawmakersrisingabovepartylines.

• IssueslikeUniformCivilCodewhichismostlyaboutgivingequalrights,iftheyhavebecomesopoliticizedthenrefor-mationcouldbebroughtwithineveryreligion.ItisnotaboutpassingalawonlyinformofUCCbuttheurgencythatmanymedievalpracticesarestillfollowedin21stcenturyinIndia.Separatelawscouldbebrought,whicheverywomancitizenofthiscountryisentitledtobythevirtueofbeingacitizenofIndia.

• Needtohavediscourseamongpeople,politiciansandlawmakershaveahugeroletoplayinseeingthatimplementation


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isdone.Onlyframingoflawsisofnohelp.

• LawagainstDowrywaspassedin1961,whilethemenaceofdowryhasonlyincreasedwiththepassageoftime.Allthispointstowardsbiggerissuesattachedtosocietaltraditionswhichneedmorethanjustframinglaw.

• Sexeducation,encouragingwomentobefinanciallyinde-pendent,providingthemreservationinlegislature,increaseinwomen’sparticipationinoddjobslikepolice,armyetc.couldbepossiblemoveforward.

• Awarenessamongmanandwomanaboutrightsofgirl,re-spectingherchoiceandindependence,celebratingbirthofgirlchild,socialcondemnationofactslikehonorkillingaremuchneededstepswhichneedmoreactiononpartofthesociety.

Conclusion

Thoughthepolicyaimsatwomenempowermentandtriestotakeintoconsiderationtheinterestsofthewomen,itissilentabouttheissueofmaritalrape.Inadditiontomoretraditionalwomen’sempowermentprogrammes,thepolicyclaimstorec-ognisecomplexitiesingenderrolesbroughtaboutby“thenewmillennium,andthedynamicsofarapidlychangingglobalandnationalscenario”.However,makinglegislationsaloneisnotsuffi-cient.Thereisaneedforusheringinchangesinthesocietalatti-tudetowardswomenandusherinbehaviouralchangesinvolvingmenandboysandinstitutionsoffamilyandwomen’sorgani-zations.Onlythen,wecangoaheadinthedirectionofmakingwomenhaveequalrightsandprovisionsasmen.


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JUTE SECTOR IN INDIA [GS-I]

Context

• Theoutcryandbanagainstplasticbagsandsin-gle-useplasticpackagingholdspotentialforthejutesector.

• 5millionfamiliescouldbedirectlybenefitedoutofit.

Problems of jute sector in India

• Shortageofrawmaterial:Indiaisnotself-sufficientinrawma-terial.TherawmaterialisimportedfromBangladeshandsomeothercountries.

• TheproblemsarefurtheraggravatedbyimportoffinishedJuteproductsbothlegallyandillegally.

• Obsoletemillandmachineryanditneededtechnologyupgra-dation.

• IndianjutegoodshadalsotocontendwithsyntheticssuchasPolypropylenewhichhadshownpromiseofbeinganeffectivesubstituteforjute.

• TheGovernmenthadlaunchedaJuteTechnologyMission(JTM)in2006.

• CompetitionfromtheBangladeshijuteproducts.

• Decreaseindemandbylosingmarkettoplastic,syntheticfi-bresandsimilarsubstituteproducts.

• StrikesandlockoutsinJuteIndustrytriggeredtheshutdownofjutemills.

•

History of jute sector

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• India’sfirstjutefactoryinIndiawasestablishedatRishira,nearKolkatain1854.

• From1863—64onwards,however,growthoftheindustrywasfairlyrapid,occasionalset-backsnotwithstandingjutewasthemonopolyofIndia,andinthis,theBengalindustry“furnishedwiththebestmechanicalappliancesmovedbysteam”hadastrongadvantage.

• Priortoindependence,Indiahadmonopolyinthebothpro-ductionofrawjuteandjutemanufacturing.

• TheSecondWorldWarbroughtaboutasea-changeinthein-dustry.Theboom,however,provedshort-lived.

• Juteindustryismarredwithseveralproblemsrightsinceinde-pendence.

• Onpartition,mostofJutemillsremainedinIndiawhilemajorjuteproducingareawenttoEastPakistan(NowBangladesh).

• TheproblemofrawmaterialcreatedacrisisintheJutesectorwhenPakistandeniedsupplyofrawJutetoIndia.

• TheproblemwasfurtheraggravatedwhenPakistanimposedanextradutyonthejuteexportstoIndiaandalsowhensherefusedtodevaluehercurrencyintunewiththerupeedevalu-ationin1949.

• TheareaextensionunderJutewasoneofthekeyeffortsoftheGovernmentinthissector.

• WestBengalisIndia’ssinglelargestrawjutecultivator.

• Itproducingalmost75%ofthecropinNadia,Dinajpur,Mur-shidabadandNorth24Parganasdistricts.

Challenges faced

• Morethan100-year-oldJutesector,supportingfivemillionfamiliesatthefarmandtheindustry-level,maynotbeinapo-sitiontobenefitfromthisopportunity,rightaway.

• Theavailabilityofqualityrawjuteandshrinkingacreageontheone-handandthefailureofmostjutemillstomodernise


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haveleftthesectordependentongovernment-supportlikepackagingreservations.

• Thesectorisstillprimitive,involveslabour-intensivecultivationmethodsandretting(drenchingrawjuteinwatertoextractthefibre)—acrucialdeterminantinrawjutequality—createsproblems.

• Withrawjutepricesremainingbelowthesupportpricein2017-18,area-under-cultivationmaystagnatein2018-19.

• Thetechnologyadoptiontothissectorislimitedbyvariousfactors.

• Theproductdiversificationisalsodoneinapoorpace.

• LessresearchanddevelopmentisconductedontheJuterelat-edproducts.

• Shortagesoftheskilledworkerstoprocessthejutehavebe-comeanimpedimenttothissector.

Efforts to support the sector

• Arecentinitiativecalled‘TheJuteFoundation’(TJF)istryingtoaddressmanyissuespertainingtotheenvironment-friendlyproductandengagingallstakeholders–farmers,workers,mills,researchorganisationsandconsumers.

• TheJ-CAREprogrammeunveiledbytheNationalJuteBoardandtheJuteCorporationofIndiaisplanningtointroduceapilotprojectonrettingtechnologiesaimedatincreasingfarm-ers’returns.

• Wheneverthemarketpriceofrawjutefallsbelowacertainlevel,theJuteCorporationofIndia(JCI)procuresrawjuteatMinimumSupportPrice(MSP).

• IncentiveSchemeforAcquisitionofPlantsandMachinery(IS-APM):GovernmentofIndialaunchedISAPMforJuteIndustryandJuteDiversifiedProductsManufacturingUnits.

• TheNationalJuteBoardimplementsvariousschemesformar-ketdevelopment,workers’welfareandpromotionofdiversifi-cationandexports.


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• GovernmenthasissuedanotificationonimposingDefinitiveAnti-dumpingDutyonjutegoodsoriginatingfromBangladeshandNepal.

• GoldenFibreRevolutionaimstoincreaseproductionofjuteandrelatedmaterials.

• TheparliamentofIndiahadenactedtheJutePackagingMan-datoryAct,1987withanobjectivetoprotecttheJuteindustry.

• Governmenthasmadeitmandatoryfortheentirechainfromimportersandtraderstothelevelbeforetheend-users,toreg-isterwiththeOfficeofJuteCommissioner,andfurnishmonth-lyreportsontheimportedgoods.

• GovernmentthroughitsOfficeofJuteCommissioner,Kolkatahasalsodirectedallmanufacturers,importersprocessorsandtraderstomark/print/brandthewords“Madein-CountryofOrigin”onimportedbags.

• NationalIndustrialDevelopmentCorporation,initiatesomeprogrammesofmodernisationsuchastheintroductionoftheelectricallydrivenlooms.Buttheprocesswasfarfromcom-plete—onlytheSpinningsectionhadbeenmodernized.

• JuteTechnologyMission(JTM)

» JuteTechnologyMission(JTM)wasapprovedbythegov-ernmentofIndiain2006andithas4miniMissions.TheObjectivesoftheJTMareasfollows:

» Tostrengthenagriculturalresearchandtechnologyachievements.

» Development/extensionofrawjuteministryofandtrans-ferofimprovedtechnology.

» Todevelopefficientmarketlinkagesministryofforrawjute.

» Tomodernize,technologicallyupgrade,improveproduc-tivity,textilesdiversifyanddevelophumanresourceforthejuteindustry.


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Conclusion

• Continuousimprovementinthequalityoftheproductanddiversificationofproductionwerethetwomajormeansbywhichtheindustrycouldhopetosustainitscompetitiveness

• TheFinlowcommitteehadpinpointed“thedistinctlackofvariety”asthemoststrikingfeatureofthegrowthofthejuteindustry.

• ThejuteEnquirycommissionalsocomplainedthattheindus-tryproducedonlycertaintypesofgoodsrequiredtraditional-lyincertainmarketsandstressedtheneedformorepositiveeffortstodiversifythepatternofproduction.

• UnlikeFrance,BelgiumandHollandwhich,byinstallingnewmachines,wereabletoproducelargervarietyofgoods,Indiadidnotmakemuchprogressinthisfield.

• IndiacouldnotindefinitelydependuponthemerciesofPaki-stanbuthadtoincreaseherowndomesticproduction.

• Createawarenessamongconsumersonsustainableproductsmadeofjute.


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CENTRE NOTIFIES CAUVERY WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY [GS II]

ContextOn 16th February, 2018 the apex court had directed the government to form the authority within six weeks. The Supreme Court through its verdict marginally increased Karnataka’s share of Cauvery water, reduced the allocation for Tamil Nadu and sought to settle the protracted water dispute between the two southern states.

What Indian Constitution Says About it?

Article262:AdjudicationofdisputesrelatingtowatersofinterStateRiversorrivervalleys

(1)Parliamentmaybylawprovidefortheadjudicationofanydis-puteorcomplaintwithrespecttotheuse,distributionorcontrolofthewatersof,orin,anyinterStateRiverorrivervalley

(2)NotwithstandinganythinginthisConstitution,ParliamentmaybylawprovidethatneithertheSupremeCourtnoranyoth-ercourtshallexercisejurisdictioninrespectofanysuchdisputeorcomplaintasisreferredtoinclause(1)Co-ordinationbetweenStates.

Composition of Cauvery Water Management Authority

Itwouldcompriseachairman,eightmembersbesidesasecre-tary.Outofeightmembers,twoeachwillbefull-timeandpart-timemembers,whiletherestfourwouldbepart-timemembersfromstates.

Mandate of Cauvery Water Management Authority

• Tomonitorthestorage,apportionshares,superviseoperationofreservoirsandregulatewaterreleaseswithassistanceoftheregulatingauthority.

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• Theauthorityhasalsobeentaskedtoadvisethestatestotakesuitablemeasurestoimprovewateruseefficiency,bywayofpromotingmicro-irrigation(dripandsprinkler),changeincroppingpattern,improvedagronomicpractices,systemdefi-ciencycorrectionandcommandareadevelopment.

• CauveryWaterManagementAuthorityisalsoexpectedtolookatregulatedreleaseofwaterbyKarnataka,attheinter-statecontactpointpresentlyidentifiedasBilligundulugaugeanddischargestation,locatedonthecommonborderofKarnatakaandTamilNadu.

Significance of notification

• Thiswouldhelptosolvethelongrunningconflictondistribu-tionofCauverywaters.

• ItwillmakethemanagementofCauverywaterscientific.

• ThedisputeincludesKerala,Karnataka,TamilNaduandPuduchhery.

Interstate water disputes

TheInter-StateRiverWaterDisputesaregovernedbytheIn-ter-StateWaterDisputesAct,1956.Asperthecurrentprovisionsofthe1956Act,atribunalcanbeformedafterastategovern-mentapproachesUnionGovernmentwithsuchrequestandtheCentreisconvincedoftheneedtoformthetribunal.Thisactwasfurtheramendedin2002toincludethemajorrecommendationsof‘TheSarkariaCommission’.Theamendmentsmandatedaoneyeartimeframetosetupthewaterdisputestribunalandalsoa3yeartimeframetogiveadecision,theCentralGovernmentmayextendtheperiodforafurtherperiodnotexceedingtwoyears.

Drawbacks of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956

• Setting up of tribunals:Eventhough,theActprovidedfores-tablishingtribunalsineverystateforresolutionofwaterdis-putes,stateshaveshownageneralreluctancetoconstitutethem.


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• Constitution of tribunals:Therearenodeadlinesfixedonthemtodecideadisputeandthereisalsonoagelimitfixedforthechairmanandothermembersofthetribunal.Thishasresultedinpersonssittingonthechairsforyearswithlittlescopegivenforentryoffreshbrainsandskillsinthetribunal.

• Lack of enforcement mechanism:Thereisnomethodbywhichanyawardpassedbythetribunalcanbeenforcedandmadebindingontheparties.Italwaysresultedinlegaldisputesattheend.

• Procedural issues:TheprocedureforhearinganddeclaringawardsinvolvesahugeperiodoftimeundertheAct.

• Onlythreeoftheeighttribunalshaveactuallygivenawards accepted by the states.

• Thereisnoupper age limitfortheChairmanorthemembers.

Sarkaria commission Recommendation on ISWD Act 1956

TheSarkariaCommissionhadrecommendedcertaintimelimitsforthesettingupofthetribunalasoneyearaftertherequestofthestateandfiveyearsforpassingofthefinalaward.ButnoneofthesewereacceptedandincorporatedintheAct.

Proposed Inter-state water dispute (Amendment) Bill 2017

• Thebillproposesasingle standing tribunalwithmultiplebenchesinsteadofmultipletribunalsthatexistatpresent.

• Thetotal timeperiodforadjudicationofdisputehasbeenfixedatmaximumof4.5years.

• ThedecisionoftheTribunalshallbefinal and binding.

• Thereisnorequirementofpublicationintheofficialgazette

• Aspertheproposedbill,theTribunalshallhavethecompo-sitionofonechairperson,onevice-chairpersonandnotmorethansixothermembers.

• Itlimitsthetenure of the chairpersontofiveyearsortilltheyattaintheageof70,whicheverisearlier.


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• Thebillalsoproposestointroducemechanismstoresolvedis-putesamicablybynegotiationsthroughaDispute Resolution Committee (DRC)beforeadisputeisreferredtothetribunal

• DRCtobeestablishedbythecentralgovernmentconsistingofexperts.

• Italsoprovidesforatransparent data collection systematthenationallevelforeachriverbasin.

• Italsocallsfortheappointmentofassessorstoprovidetech-nicalsupporttothetribunal.

• Anagencytomaintaindata-bankand informationsystemistobeauthorizedbycentralgovernment.

#Facts for the Prelims#

#FactsforthePreliminary#

Shangri-La Dialogue and Raisina Dialogue

TheIISSAsiaSecuritySummit:TheShangri-LaDialogue(SLD)isa“TrackOne”inter-governmentalsecurityforumheldannuallybyanindependentthinktank,theInternationalInstituteforStra-tegicStudies(IISS)whichisattendedbydefenceministers,per-manentheadsofministriesandmilitarychiefsof28Asia-Pacificstates.TheforumgetsitsnamefromtheShangri-LaHotelinSin-gaporewhereithasbeenheldsince2002.


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TheRaisinaDialogueisamultilateralconferenceheldannu-allyinNewDelhi.Sinceitsinceptionin2016,theconferencehasemergedasIndia’sflagshipconferenceongeopoliticsandgeo-economics.TheconferenceishostedbytheObserverRe-searchFoundation,anindependentthinktank,incollaborationwiththeMinistryofExternalAffairsofIndia.


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ARTICLE 35A OF INDIAN CONSTITUTION [GS-II]

Context:

• TheCentrehasdecidednottofileany“counter-affida-vit”onArticle35A,whichhasbeenchallengedintheSupremeCourtthroughaPublicInterestLitigation(PIL)petition.TheSupremeCourthasscheduledfurtherhear-ingforAugust6.

• EarliertheissuecameupwhenaKashmiriwoman,Cha-ruWaliKhanfiledapetitiontochangetheconstitutionalprovisionasshewantedsuccessionrightsinthestatethoughsheissettledoutsidethestate.

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What is Article 35A?

Article35.Asaysthat“Savingoflawswithrespecttopermanentresidentsandtheirrights.—NotwithstandinganythingcontainedinthisConstitution,noexistinglawinforceintheStateofJam-muandKashmir,andnolawhereafterenactedbytheLegislatureoftheState:

(a) defining the classes of persons who are, or shall be, perma-nent residents of the State of Jammu and Kashmir; or

(b) conferring on such permanent residents any special rights and privileges or imposing upon other persons any restrictions as respects—

(i) Employment under the State Government;

(ii) Acquisition of immovable property in the State;

(iii) Settlement in the State; or

(iv) Right to scholarships and such other forms of aid as the State Government may provide,

Shall be void on the ground that it is inconsistent with or takes


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away or abridges any rights conferred on the other citizens of India by any provision of this part.”

• Article35AisaprovisionintheConstitutionthatempowerstheJammuandKashmirlegislaturetodefinepermanentresi-dentsofthestate.

• ItwasaddedthroughtheConstitution(ApplicationtoJammuandKashmir)Order,1954,issuedunderArticle370.

• Article35AempowersJammuandKashmirlegislaturetode-fine“permanentresidents”ofthestatealongwiththeirspecialrightsandprivileges.ThisArticlehasanintricaterelationshipwithArticle370.

Who are permanent residents?

JammuandKashmirAssemblydefinedPermanentResidentasapersonwhowasastatesubjectonMay14,1954orwhohadbeenaresidentofthestatefor10yearsandhas“lawfullyacquiredim-movablepropertyinthestate.”ApersonwhoisnotapermanentresidentofJammuandKashmirisnotallowedtobuyorownpropertiesinthestateorvoteinstateAssemblyelectionorcon-testelectiontothestateAssembly.AnoutsidercannotgetajobintheJammuandKashmirgovernment.

Article 35A and Article 370 – Delicate Issues

• TheNDAGovernmentwantstohavealargerdebateovertheArticle35Achallengingtheconstitutionalvalidityoftheclause.

• AnNGO,‘WetheCitizens’havefiledawritpetitiontostrikedownArticle35A.

• Therulingpartybelievesthatthespecialstatus,certainrightsandprivilegesareenjoyedonlybytheresidentsofthestatewhichhasgivenrisetoalienationandseparatistidentitytothepeopleofJammuandKashmir.

• TheprovisiondoesnotallowpeoplefromoutsidethestateofJammu&Kashmirtowork,settleorownpropertyinthestate.Scholarships,formsofaidetcarealsonotallowedtonon-resi-


24

dentsofthestate.

What is Judiciary’s take on Article 35A?

• SupremeCourtwasreadytohaveadiscussiononscrappingArticle35Awhilethestategovernmentopposedsuchamove.

• Thematterhasbeenreferredtothreejudgebenchandhasbeengivenasix-weekdeadlinetosettlethedispute.

• ThestateBJPleadersarevocalaboutrepealingtheArticle35A.Asthematterissub-judice,thecourt’sdecisionshouldbebindingonall.ThisstandbytheBJPhasledtoriftsbetweentheBJPandPDP.

• TheSupremeCourthintedatreferringpetitionsagainstArti-cles370and35AoftheConstitution—whichgivespecialpro-visionstoJammuandKashmir—toaConstitutionbench.

• Thetopcourtsaidallpetitionsthatdemandscrappingofthearticlesshouldbeheardtogether.Argumentsagainstscrap-pingArticle35A.

• ScrappingtheArticle35AisseenasanassaultonthespecialstatusoftheJammuandKashmirbythestategovernment.

• Article35Acannotbechallengedonthegroundthattheyaf-fectthefundamentalrightsoftheotherIndianCitizens.

• Therightsofthestatelegislaturearenotunlimitedandcanbegivenonlyinthecaseof–Employment,Property,SettlementandScholarship.

• Kashmirisareapprehensivethatsuchamovewouldbedomi-natedbytheHindunationalistgroups.

• FormerchiefministerOmarAbdullahalsostatedthatthiswouldcreateabiggeragitationaswaswitnessedin2008overthetransferoflandtotheAmarnathShrineBoard.

Arguments against Article 35A:

• ThepetitionsaysArticle35Aisagainstthe“veryspiritofone-nessofIndia”asitcreatesa“classwithinaclassofIndianciti-zens”.


25

• RestrictingcitizensfromotherStatesfromgettingemploy-mentorbuyingpropertywithinJammuandKashmirisavio-lationoffundamentalrightsunderArticles14,19and21oftheConstitution.

• Also,theparliamentaryrouteoflaw-makingwasbypassedwhenthePresidentincorporatedArticle35AintotheConstitu-tion.

• Article35AwasnotapartoftheoriginalConstitutionbutwasaddedlaterbyapresidentialorderof1954.

• Article370isanothermatterofdiscussionasitisnotperma-nentbutatemporaryclause.

• Thedefinitioncanbealteredbythestategovernmentbypass-ingalawwithtwothirdmajorities.

• Article368(i)oftheConstitutionempowersonlyParliamenttoamendtheConstitution.

Amarnath Shrine Board: Protests in 2008

• TosetuptemporarysheltersandfacilitiesforHindupilgrims,onMay26th2008,theGovernmentofIndiaandStategovern-mentofJammuandKashmirsignedanagreementtotrans-fer99acreslandtotheShriAmarnathShrineBoard.Thishadcausedwidespreadprotestinthestate.

• Environmentalistsarguedthatthetransferofforestslandwouldhampertheecologicalbalanceastheconstructionofroadsanddamswasspeculated.

• ThedemandsoftheprotesterswereacceptedbythestategovernmentandthetransferoflanddecisionwasrevokedinJuly2008.

• DespitetheprotestfromHindugroups,thestategovernmentdidnotannultherevocationofthedecision.

• ThefrustrationamongsttheHindusandMuslimswasanattackonthesecularismofthestateandaregionaldivideeruptedbetweenthereligiousgroupsleadingtolossofmanylivesandproperty.


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• Anagreementwassignedbetweenthegroupleadingtheag-itationandGovernorofthestateappointedpanelbymakingtemporaryuseof40hectaresoflandduringtheyatraperiod.

• Pakistantakingtheopportunityofthesituationpassedares-olutionexpressingconcernsovertheattacksonMuslimsandtheirpropertybytheHindus.

Anomalies of Article 35A and 370

• Article370statesthatallemigrantsfromJammuandKashmir,includingthosewhomigratedtoPakistanareconsideredasstatesubjects.

• ThisgaverisetomanydoubtswhetheraPakistaninationalcansettleinthestateofKashmirandbuypropertywhichwasde-niedtomanyIndiancitizens.

• Theprovisionisalsogenderdiscriminatoryastherulesdis-criminateagainstKashmirwomenbyrestrictingtheirchoiceofpartnersinmarriage.Ifthehusbanddoesnotholdaper-manentresidentcertificate,thesubsequentrightsaredeniedtothechildren.HenceafemalemarryingoutsidethestateofJammuandKashmirisdeniedofpropertyrightsinthatman-ner.

• UnderArticle6oftheJammuandKashmirConstitution,Indi-ansarenotconferredstatesubjectswhichpreventthemfromvoting,holdingjobs,gettingadmissionstocollegesetc.

• ThisamountstotheviolationofArticle14,15,16,19oftheCon-stitutionofIndia.

Jammu and Kashmir –a Security Issue

• JammuandKashmirisnotonlyapoliticalissuebutalsoase-curityissue.

• PakistanhasagreedtodeclarePakoccupiedKashmirasitsfifthprovinceandhasdecidedtobleedIndiathroughthou-sandcuts.IthasbeenlaunchingterroristattacksinIndiasincelong.

• ChinaandPakistanhavebeenfriendssincelong.Pakistancon-


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cededcertainportionofPoKtoChinainwhichtheCPECispassingthrough.ThisishenceasovereigntyissuetoIndia.

Not an easy decision

• ThereshouldbedeliberationonthevalidityofArticle370too.

• Article35Aisonlyanexplanatoryprovisionanditselfdoesnotconferanyspecialpower.

• TheorderhasalsobeenusedtooverridetheprovisionsoftheStateConstitution.

• Ifthearticle35Aisscrapped,allthe41subsequentPresidentialordersmaythenbecomesusceptibletolegalchallenges.

• TheresidentsofJ&KweredeemedasIndiancitizensthroughthesePresidentialOrders.

• PresidentialOrderswereusedtoextend94outof97entriesintheUnionList.

• PresidentialOrderswereusedtoextend260outof395Arti-clesoftheIndianConstitutiontoJ&KandevenandtoimposecentralruleinJ&K.

Question:Article35AoftheIndianConstitutiondidnotserveitspurposeeversinceitsinception.Examine?


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LATERAL ENTRY INTOCIVIL SERVICES [GS-II]

Context:

• Inanapparentbidtobringinexpertisefromtheprivatesectorindividualsandinfusetalentintothecountry’sbureaucracy,thegovernmenthasinvited“outstandingindividuals”tojointhegovernmentatthejointsecretarylevelattheCentre.

• Inthisregard,theDepartmentofPersonnelandTraining(DoPT)hasinvitedapplicationsfor10seniorlevelposi-tionsinvariousdepartments.

5

EligibilityCriteriaforselection

• Theeligibilitycriteriaincludes“Individualsworkingatcompa-rablelevelsinPrivateSectorCompanies,ConsultancyOrgani-sations,International/MultinationalOrganisationswithamini-mumof15years’experience”besidesthoseworkingincentralpublicsectorundertakings,autonomousbodies,statutoryor-ganisations,researchbodiesanduniversities.

• Thenotificationspecifiesaminimumageof40yearsandmin-imumqualificationofgraduationfromarecogniseduniversityorinstitutewhilehigherqualificationwillbeanaddedadvan-tage.

• Therecruitmentwillbeoncontractbasisforthreetofiveyears.

Background

Sofar,thesepostswereheldbyjointsecretarylevelofficers,whowerecareerbureaucrats,whojointheserviceafterpassingUPSCexam.Thepostofjointsecretary(JS)iscrucialforpolicymakingandimplementationofgovernmentprogrammesandschemes,withmostcrucialdecisionsinministriesanddepartmentstaken


29

bybureaucratsappointedJS.TheNationalTrainingPolicy,2012,adoptsa“competency-basedapproach”.

Why is this move?

• TheWorldBankranksIndiaat130intheEaseofDoingBusi-nessIndex.

• Indiaranks76intheCorruptionPerceptionIndexbroughtbyTransparencyInternational.

• ItalsomentionsthatIndiahasthehighestincidenceofbriberyintheAsia-Pacific.

• ThePoliticalandEconomicConsultancyReportratedIndianbureaucracyastheslowestamongits12Asiancounterparts.SuchindicesandreportsareamanifestationoftheretrogradebureaucracyofIndiaanditsun-progressiveperformance,urg-ingimmediaterejuvenation.

Need for lateral entry in civil services

• Shortfallinnumbers:Thereisanoverall20%shortfallofIAScadreofficersalonein24statecadres.TheBaswanCommitteehaspointedoutthehugedeficitofofficers

• Developingeffectiveuser-focuseddigitalservicesisnownec-essary.Ascitizenseasilyconnecteffectivelywitheachotherinrealtime,theyexpectthesameend-to-endservicesfromtheiradministrators.

• Humanresourcemanagementconceptstaughtbyprofessorsfrombusinessschoolstreathumanbeingsliketechnologicalorfinancialresourcestobeusedtoestablishasuccessfulorgani-zation,orevenignorecitizensinachievingamission.

• Targetoriented:Outsidetalentfromtheprivatesectorismorelikelytobetarget-oriented,whichwillimprovetheperfor-manceofthegovernment.

• Also,morecompetitionwillencouragecareercivilservantstodevelopexpertiseinareasoftheirchoice.

• Itenablestheentryofright-mindedprofessionalsandthe


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adoptionofbestpracticesforimprovinggovernance.

• Theassuranceofasecurecareerpathhasbeenheldtobethecareer-basedsystem’sbiggestlacuna.

• Thisweaknesshasbeencompoundedbyaheavyrelianceonseniority,aninadequateannualreportingsystem,andfrequenttransfers.

• Accountability,theneedforasystemthatholdsadministratorsaccountableforbothresultsandthepublicinterest,iscentral.

• Ithasdiscouragedinitiativebyreducingcompetitioninthehigherechelonsofgovernment.

• Allegedly,thequasi-monopolisticholdofthecareercivilser-vicesonseniormanagementpositionbreedscomplacencyin-hibitsinnovativethinkingandpreventstheinflowofnewideasfromoutsidegovernment.

• AlsocareerpromotionsintheIASmovealongseamlesslywithfewimpedimentsalongtheway.Attemptstointroduce‘meri-tocracy’hasn’tquiteworkedout.

• ThereisreluctanceamongofficersofthestatetoundertakeCentredeputation.

• ThelackofspecialisationacrossthetoptierofIndianbureau-cracyisaconcernthathasremainedunaddresseduntilnow.

• IASofficersgetrecruitedataveryearlyageviatheUPSCex-ams.Itisdifficulttogaugetheiradministrativejudgementandcapabilitiesthen.

• TheIASwasdesignedforatimewhentheStatewasall-pow-erful.Thatrealitysomewhatchangedwithliberalisationin1991,wherethestatewascompelledtocedemorespacetomar-kets.

• Improvedgovernance:Theconventionalwisdomonlateralentryisthatitinfusesfreshenergyandthinkingintoaninsular,complacentandoftenarchaicbureaucracy.


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Challengesandconcerns

• TheAllIndiaServicesprovideauniquelinkbetweenthecut-tingedgeatthefieldlevelandtoppolicy-makingpositionsashasalsobeenmentionedbytheFirstAdministrativeReformsCommission(ARC)andbytheSarkariaCommission.

• Thisbridgebetweenpolicy-makingandimplementation,whilecrucialtoallsystems,hasbeenofstrategicsignificanceintheIndiancontext,giventheregionaldiversityofthecountry.

• Disturbedbalance:Theproposalforlateralentryatseniorde-cision-makinglevelsdisturbsthebalanceinbureaucracy.

• Theexposureandsensitivitytothecountry’scomplexso-cio-politicalmilieuandtotheneedsofthecommonman,whichwidespreadfieldexperienceprovidestotheseservices,maynotbeavailableintheprivatesectorsincetheprivatesectordoesnothavethesamewidthanddepthofexposuretothistypeoffieldexperience.

• Lateralentryonlyattoplevelpolicymakingpositionsmayhavelittleimpactonfieldlevelimplementation,giventhemul-tiplelinksinthechainofcommandfromtheUnionGovern-menttoaruralvillage.

• Lackofsufficientandsuitabletalentintheprivatesector.

• Theprincipleofmeritcouldbecompromised.

• OperationaldifficultiesoffreshrecruitmentforaSeniorExecu-tiveService(SES).

• Thepossibleadverseimpactofsuchrecruitmentonthecon-stitutionalmandateforaffirmativeactionasaresultofthecre-ationofanewrecruitmentchannelataseniorlevel.

• Anissueofconflictofinterestwhenitcomestoentrantsfromtheprivatesector.

• Thepotentiallossofinternaltalentaswellasthelikelihoodofatrophyoftheexistingcareerbasedservices.

• Difficultyinassessingperformance:Also,itisnoteasytoas-sesstheperformanceofasecretarytothegovernment,given


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thesheercomplexityandamorphousnatureofthejob.

• Thiswouldbecomeapotenttrinitytodetertalentedpersonsfromaspiringtocivilservicecareers.

• Therearealsoconcernsthattheintroductionofpro-establish-mentcandidatesthroughlateralentryatthepositionofjointsecretarycouldstiflegoodcivilservantswhoareresistingagainstsomethinginadvisablethatthegovernmentseekstodo.

• Lateralentrantsfromtheprivatesectorandacademiamaynotworkwellwiththebureaucracy.

• It’simportanttogaugewhatprocessestheCentrehasputinplacetoeasethetransitionandestablishauthority.

• TheIASestablishmentislikelytobalkatlateralentrantswhohaven’tmadeitthroughprobablythehardestopencompet-itiveexamintheworld,butbecauseofprivilegeandsocialnetworks.

HowdootherCountriesOperate?

I.Career-BasedSeniorExecutiveService(SES)

» FoundinIndia,France,Italy,Japan,SouthKorea,Malaysia,andSpain.

» Recruitmentattheentrylevelthroughcompetitiveexam-inations.

» Theyaretrainedandgroomedtobecomeelitecorpsandthenputonanacceleratedcareertrajectory.

» Theadvantageofitsclosednatureisthatthereareacommoncultureandvaluesystem,andanenviablede-greeofespritdecorps,acombinationthatfacilitatesexcellentcommunicationacrossthegovernmentalspec-trum.

II.Position-basedSeniorExecutiveService(SES)

» FoundinAustralia,Belgium,NewZealand,UK,USA,andNetherlands.


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» Theappointmentstoidentifiedseniorpositionsaremadefromawiderpoolcomprisingallcivilservantswhoarequalifiedtoapplyaswellasthoseapplicantsfromthepri-vatesectorwithrelevantdomaincompetencyandexperi-ence.

» Itsopennessisitsbasicstrength.Allprofessionalcadresinthegovernmentandeventhoseoutsidethegovernmentcancompeteforselectedtoppositions.

» Thismakesitpossibleforlateralentrantstobringintheirownworkculturewhichenablesrenewalandadaptive-nessingovernmentorganizations.

» However,thebulkofappointmentsintheposition-basedsystemisfromamongcareercivilservants.

» IntheAmericanSES,only10%ofthepositionsarefilledupby“outsiders”.InAustralia,recruitmenttotheSESfromoutsidetheAustralianPublicServicehasrangedfrom25%in1992-93to14%in2000-01.20%ofKorea’sca-reer-basedSESisnowrecruitedfromtheopenmarket.

Comparison

• Careermanagementismoredecentralizedintheposi-tion-basedsystemascomparedwiththecareer-basedsystem.

• Whilemembersofthecareer-basedSESareemployedfromthetimeofrecruitmenttotheageofretirement,theposi-tion-basedSESisonthebasisofcontracts.

• Inbothcases,performancestandardsarestipulatedinad-vanceandappraisedrigorously

First Administrative Reforms Commission inputs

ThefirstAdministrativeReformsCommissionwhileexaminingthewholeissueofpersonneladministrationwithreferencetothehighermanagementpositionsinGovernmentofIndia,haddis-tinguishedbetweentwocategoriesofseniormanagementposts,viz,

• Postswithinthefunctionalareawhichshouldbestaffedbythe


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relevantfunctionalcadre.

• Postsoutsidethefunctionalareaforwhichtherequiredfunc-tionalexperiencemaybeavailableintheAllIndiaServices,theCentralServices,andamongspecialistslikeengineers,scien-tists,economists,etc.

• TheCommissionwentontorecommendthatthelevelofJointSecretaryandAdditionalSecretaryinseniormanagement,outsidethepurelyfunctionalposts,“theareasofspecialismwillbroadenoutanditshouldbepossible,anditisnecessarytoprovideformobilityfromonespecialismtoanalliedspecial-ism.

• AtthehighestlevelofSpecialSecretaryorSecretaryandequivalentinCentralGovernment,thefactorthatshouldcountmostisone’sgeneralmanagerialcompetence”.

Sixth Central Pay Commission inputs

• ForcreatingaseniormanagementorleadershippoolinGov-ernmentofIndia,competitioncanbeinfusedthroughtwomainmechanisms:a)openinguptheseniormanagementcad-retoallexistingServices,andb)lateralentrybyopeningtheseniormanagementcadretoaspirantsfromtheprivatesectorwhocanbringnewskillsintogovernment.

• Lateralentryintocivilservicesasdoneinthepastonanadhocbasisisnotasuitablemodelofmanpowerplanningsincethepresentincumbentsingovernmentdepartmentstendtoresistentryofoutsidetalentandthewholeprocessremainspersonalitydrivenandinchoate.

• Needtoinstitutionalizetheprocessofinductionofoutsidetal-entintothegovernment.

• LateralentriesshouldbedoneatthepresentlevelofAddition-alSecretary/HAGwhichisaleadershippositionfromwhichonecanaspiretoreachtherankofSecretarytoGovernment.

• Thesepostsinvolveleadershipratherthanpurelyoperationalrolesandissuessuchastherequirementofgreaterfunctional/technicalknowledgeatoperationallevels.


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• CentralCivilServicesAuthorityshouldbeentrustedwiththetaskofidentifyingthepostsatthehighermanagementlevel,HAGandabove,whereinductionofoutsidetalentwouldbedesirable.

• SuchpostscouldthenbeopenedforrecruitmentbytappingtalentbothfromwithinandoutsidethegovernmentthroughatransparentprocesstobeimplementedbytheAuthority.

Recommendations from the 10th Administrative Reforms Committee report

• Thepresentempanelmentsystemforshort-listingofficersforpostingattheSeniorAdministrativeGrade(SAG)levelandaboveshouldbereplacedbyamoretransparentandobjectiveplacementprocedure.

• Athigherlevelsofgovernment,itisnecessarytoensurethatthetasksassignedtoapublicservantmatchhis/herdomaincompetenceaswellasaptitudeandpotential.

• MinistriesshouldclassifyalloftheirSAGlevelpostsaccordingtotheirrelevantfunctionaldomains.

• ThereisneedtointroducecompetitionforseniorpositionsingovernmentbyopeningthesepositionsinGovernmenttoallServices.

• ACentralCivilServicesAuthorityshouldbeconstitutedundertheproposedCivilServicesBill.Itshallbeafive-memberbodyconsistingoftheChairpersonandfourmembers.

• TheCentralCivilServicesAuthorityshoulddealwithmattersof

» assignmentofdomainstoofficers,

» preparingpanelsforpostingofofficersatthelevelofJointSecretaryandabove,

» fixingtenuresforseniorposts,

» decidingonpostswhichcouldbeadvertisedforlateralentryintocivilservicesand


36

» SuchothermattersthatmaybereferredtoitbytheGov-ernment.

Conclusion

• Therecruitmentinthelateralentrycanbedoneforspecificmission-modeprojects.Eg,NandanNilekanifortheAadhaarProject.

• Transparentrecruitmentasperrecommendationsof10thARCreporttoensureclearlydefinedservicerulesandaccountabili-ty.

• Normsshouldbeliberalizedforcivilservantstoworkoutsidethegovernmentwithmultilateralagencies,non-profitsorcor-porations.

• Thisisn’tthefirsttimethatthegovernmentbroughtinprofes-sionalsfromtheprivatesectororacademiaintothetoptierofgovernment.TakealookattheFinanceMinistry,ReserveBankofIndiaandeventhecurrentNITIAayog,whichhavehiredthelikesofRaghuramRajan,ArvindSubramanianandArvindPa-nagriyatonameafew.


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NCT DELHI VS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR [GS-II]

Context:

• VerdictoftheDelhiHighCourt,whichhaddeclaredthattheL-Ghas“completecontrolofallmattersregardingtheNationalCapitalTerritoryofDelhi,andnothingwillhappenwithouttheconcurrenceoftheL-G.”

• TheSupremeCourtrecentlyheldthattheLtGovernorofDelhihasnoindependentpowertotakedecisionsandisboundbytheelectedgovernment’sadvice.

6

Constitutionalprovisions

• 69thCAA1991providedspecialstatustoDelhi.

• Article239AAdealswithSpecialStatusofDelhi

• UnderArticle163,thegovernorhastoactontheaidandad-viceofthecouncilofministerexceptinthecasewherehehastoexercisehisdiscretion.

• Statecanmakelawsregardingmattersinstatelist&concur-rentlistexceptthreemattersonstatelistthatis,Publicorder,policeandland.

• LawsofParliamentprevailoverthoseofmadebythestateassembly.

• PresidentialrulecanimposeonDelhibasedonthereportofLt.Governororotherwise.

• NoordinancecanbepromulgatedbytheLt.Governorwithoutthepriorpermissionofthepresident.

Primacyincaseofdifferenceofopinion

• TheprovisotoClause(4)ofArticle239AA:ALG,coulddis-agreewithmanydecisionsofelectedgovernmentandreferthemtothepresident,whichmeansthecentralgovernment.


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• Thisvirtuallynullifiestheexecutivepowervestedinthecouncilofministers

• Butthepurposeoftheconstitutionalamendmentwastopro-videademocraticgovernmentforDelhiandnottoenhancethepowersoftheLG.

• Thus,itcannotbetheintentionofthelawmakerstotakeawaythepowersvestedintheelectedgovernmentandestablishtheprimacyoftheLG.

SC’sguidelinesfortheLG’sconduct

• ItdelineatesthepowersofthetwobranchesoftheexecutiveinDelhi.

• TheL-GisboundbytheaidandadviceoftheCouncilofMin-isters.Incaseofdifferenceofopinion,theL-Gshouldstraight-awayreferthedisputetothePresidentforafinaldecision.

• TheLieutenant-Governorshouldactasa“facilitator”forgoodgovernanceinthenationalcapitalandnotasan“obstruction-ist”.

• TheLieutenant-Governor’sauthority,sayinghecannotexercisehisdiscretionin“each and every matter”ofdailygovernance.HisdiscretionarypowersareinfactlimitedtoonlymattersintheStateList—publicorder,policeandland—overwhichthelegislativepoweroftheDelhiLegislativeAssemblystandex-cludedunderArticle239AA.

• TheNCTgovernmentneedonlytoinformtheL-Gofits“well-deliberated”decisions.Thegovernmentneednotobtainhis“concurrence”oneveryissueofday-to-daygovernance.

• TheelectedgovernmentcouldmakepoliciesonlawsenactedbyitsownAssembly.TheexecutivepoweroftheNCTgovern-mentwasco-extensivewithitslegislativepowers.

WhyDelhicannotbeafull-fledgedstate?

• Ithousesfederalinstitutions,adiplomaticcommunityandoth-ernationalandinternationalinstitutions.


39

• Therefore,anarrangementbeingmade,accordingtowhichtheprimarycontroloveracitythatservesasanodalcentrefortheentirenationveststocentralgovernment.

• TheSupremeCourtfollowedthe1987Balakrishnan reporttoconcludethatDelhiisnotaState.

• BalakrishnanreporthadenvisagedthatDelhicouldnothaveasituationinwhichthenationalcapitalhad“twogovernmentsrunbydifferentpoliticalparties.Suchconflictsmay,attimes,prejudicethenationalinterest.”

• Delhiasthenationalcapitalbelongstothenationasawhole.

• IfDelhibecomesafull-fledgedState,therewouldbeaconsti-tutionaldivisionofsovereign,legislativeandexecutivepowersbetweentheUnionandtheStateofDelhi.

• Parliamentwouldhavelimitedlegislativeaccessandthattooonlyinspecialandemergencysituations.

• TheUnionwouldbeunabletodischargeits“specialresponsi-bilitiesinrelationtothenationalcapitalaswellastothenationitself”.

WhyDelhineedsfullstatehood?

• Unlikeothercapitalsacrosstheworld,Delhiwithapopulationofnearly19millionandanareaofalmost1,500sq.km,itisbig-gerthanmanynations.

• Inafederalsystem,stategovernmentshaveclearlysetoutspheresofinfluencemakingthemallpowerfulwhencomparedtothenationalgovernment.

• Delhihasanelectedassembly,achiefministerandacouncilofministers,andthreemayors,asituationthatcreatedmultiplici-tyofauthorityandlackofaccountability.

• ConflictingauthoritieshascreatedvariouscivicproblemsacrossDelhianditalsoaffecteddevelopmentofthecity.

• HencethepeopleofDelhideserveafullyfunctioningandac-countableadministration,onethatiselectedbythem.


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Wayforward:

• DelhiGovernmentisademocraticallyelectedgovernmentwithoverwhelmingmajority.

• Therighttoreceiveinformationdoesn’tgivetheLGtherighttointerfere.

• However,Rule45ofthetransactionofbusinessrulessaysthatDelhigovernmentcanhavepowersonthesethreesubjectsifthereisanorderissuedbytheCentralGovernment.

• Transactionofbusinessrulessaysthatbeforeappointingachiefsecretaryareferencehastobemadetothecentralgov-ernment.

• TheConstitution,NCTactofDelhiandTransactionofBusinessRulesclearlydefinewhatLGcando.IncaseofadisputeordifferenceofopinionbetweenLGandcouncilofministers,LGcouldhavecalledtheministerconcernedtodiscussthemat-ter.

• LG’sroleisnotthatofaConstitutionalfigurehead,thoughtheultimateresponsibilityforgoodadministrationofDelhiisvest-edinthePresidentactingthroughtheAdministrator.

• TheAdministratorhastotakeasomewhatmoreactivepartintheadministrationthantheGovernorofaState.

• TheSupremeCourtrecommendedthatthe“bestway”ofsolv-ingadifferenceofopinionbetweenLGandcouncilofministeristolettheLGrefersuchdifferencesofopiniontothePresi-dentforafinaldecision.

• ThepositionoftheLGisnobetterthanthepositionofthegovernorofastate—exceptthathecanwithholdanydecisionofthecouncilofministersfortheconsiderationofthePresi-dent.

• WashingtonDCandMexicoCity,aboutthesamesizeasDelhiarefederaldistrictbutitenjoysmuchlessautonomythantheDelhigovernment.ForallpracticalpurposesNDMCshouldbedesignatedasNationalCapitalArea.Andtheremainingpor-tionsofDelhishouldbegivenfullstatehood.


41

• Thedemocraticprincipleandfederalismhavetoplayadomi-nantrole.

• Likedemocracy,federalismisalsooneoftheun-amendablebasicfeaturesoftheConstitution.

• TheLG’spowersarenarrowerascomparedtothatofthegov-ernorswhocanexercisesomepowersintheirdiscretiontoo.

Conclusion

TheworkingoftheConstitutiondependsnotonlyonitsprovi-sionsbutalsoonanunderstandingofitsgoalsandwaysofre-alisingthem.Inthatcontext,neithertherepresentativesofthepeopleaslegislatorsandministersnortherepresentativeofthecentreinthestatesorUnionterritoriesasgovernorsorL-GsareexpectedtoactinafashionthatmakestheConstitutionunwork-able.Inthatrespect,today’sjudgementishighlyeducativeforthosewhoworkaspertheConstitutionaswellasforeveryciti-zenofthecountry.LetushopeinallrespectstheConstitutionisoperatedassmoothlyaswasexpectedbyitmakerswhichiside-allyreflectedintoday’sjudgement.

MainsQuestion:CompareandcontrastpowersofDelhiLieu-tenantGovernor’swiththatofotherstateGovernor’s?


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ImportanceofEducation

• Educationisacriticaltoolfordevelopingamoderneconomy,ajustsocietyandavibrantpolity.Itprovidesskillsandcompe-tenciesforeconomicwell-beingandsocialmobility.

• Educationstrengthensdemocracybyimpartingtocitizensthetoolsneededtofullyparticipateinthegovernanceprocess.

• Italsoactsasanintegrativeforceinsociety,impartingvaluesthatfostersocialcohesionandnationalidentity.

• Awell-educatedpopulation,equippedwiththerelevantknowledge,attitudesandskillsisessentialforeconomicandsocialdevelopmentinthiscentury.

Highereducation:Status

• Indiahasthethirdlargesthighereducationsystemintheworldwitharound652universitiesanduniversitylevelinsti-tutesthatimparthigherandtechnicaleducation.Theyalsoprovideaffiliationtomorethan33,000collegesandinstitutes.

• Enrolmentratesinourhighereducationinstitutionshavegoneuptoaround17%butarestillwellbelowtheworldaverageof26percent.

UGChasfailedinmanyways

HIGHER EDUCATION COUNCIL OF INDIA [GS-II]

Context:AHigherEducationCommissionofIndia(RepealofUniversityGrantsCommissionAct)Bill2018(HECI)whichseekstorepealUGCActandprovidesforsettingupofHigherEducationCommissionofIndiahasbeenpreparedbytheMinistryofHRDandplacedinpublicdomainforcommentsandsuggestions.

7


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• Currently,UGCreleasesthenamesofbogusinstitutionsonitswebsitetoinformthepublicbutcannottakeanyaction.

• Sinceitsinception,theUniversityGrantsCommission(UGC)hasbeenwitnesstoaspectaculargrowthinhighereducation.

• Thenumberofuniversitieshasmultiplied40timesover,andstudentenrolmenthasincreasedahundred-fold.

• However,theUGChasbeenasilentspectatortothelanguish-ingqualityofeducationinmanyoftheseinstitutions.

• Fewrecentpoliciesincludingincreaseinteachinghoursofthefacultyanditssubsequentcancellation,theimplementationofthechoice-basedcreditsemestersysteminDelhiUniversity,andthedecisiontodiscontinueUGCnon-NETscholarshipforMPhilandPhDstudentsanditsabandonmentafterprotests,havebeenunpopular.

• Also,thisaffectsthecommissionwhiledisbursinggrantsandfellowshipstherebyaffectingqualitystandards.

• Itspoliciesalsosufferfromtwodiametricallyoppositeis-sues—under-regulationandover-regulation.Whileitletssmallersubstandardinstitutionsslipbyasdeemeduniversities,italsoinstigateswitch-huntsagainstreputeddeemeduniversi-ties.

• Hence,itisarguedthatUGChasnotonlyfailedtofulfilitsmandatebutalsohasnotbeenabletodealwithemergingdi-versecomplexities.

Highlights of the Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill 2018

• ThefocusoftheCommissionwillbeonimprovingacademicstandardsandqualityofhighereducation,specifyingnormsforlearningoutcomes,laydownstandardsofteaching/re-searchetc.

• Itwillprovidearoadmapformentoringofinstitutionsfoundfailinginmaintainingtherequiredacademicstandards.

• TheCommissionshallhavethepowertograntauthorization


44

forstartingofacademicoperationsonthebasisoftheircom-pliancewithnormsofacademicquality.

• Itwillalsohavethepowerstorevokeauthorizationgrantingtoahighereducationinstitutionwherethereisacaseofwilfulorcontinuousdefaultincompliancewiththenorms/regula-tions.

• TheCommissionwillencouragehighereducationinstitutionstoformulateaCodeofGoodPracticescoveringpromotionofresearch,teachingandlearning.

• TheCommissionwillalsospecifynormsandprocessesforfixingoffeechargeablebyhighereducationinstitutionsandadvicetheCentralGovernmentortheStateGovernments,asthecasemaybe,regardingstepstobetakenformakingedu-cationaffordabletoall.

• TheCommissionwillmonitor,throughanationaldatabase,allmatterscoveringthedevelopmentofemergingfieldsofknowledgeandbalancedgrowthofhighereducationinstitu-tionsinallspheresandespeciallyinpromotionofacademicqualityinhighereducation.

• Thecommissionalsohavethepowertoordertheclosureofsub-standardandbogusinstitutions.

LoopholesinthepresentHECIact

• TheActmustalsochartapathtointegrateteachingandre-search.

• Theseparationbetweenteachingatuniversitiesandcollegesandresearchatresearchcouncilshasnotservedthecauseofeitherhighereducationorresearchwell.

• Studentsmusthaveaccesstostate-of-the-artlaboratoriesandopportunitiestointeractregularlywithscholarsactivelyengagedatthefrontiersofresearch.

• Conversely,scholarsstandtobenefitfrominteractingwithyoung,inquisitiveminds.Itiscriticalforthisinteractiontobebroughttothecentreofuniversityeducation.


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• Theproposedactshouldprovidemoreautonomytohighereducationinstitutestopromoteexcellenceandfacilitateholis-ticgrowthoftheeducationsystem.

Problems and challenges in higher education sector in India

• Sinceindependence,Indiaasadevelopingnationisconten-tiouslyprogressingintheeducationfield,especiallyonquanti-tybutnotonquality.

• Itneedsgreatertransparencyandaccountability,theroleofcollegesanduniversitiesinthenewmillennium,andemergingscientificresearchonhowpeoplelearnisofutmostimportant.

• Indianeedwellskilledandhighlyeducatedpeoplewhocandriveoureconomyforward.

• Knowledgeispower.Themoreknowledgeonehas,themoreempoweredoneis.

• Despitegrowinginvestmentineducation,25percentofitspopulationisstillilliterate;only15percentofIndianstudentsreachhighschool,andjust7percentgraduate.

• Enrolment:TheGrossEnrolmentRatio(GER)ofIndiainhigh-ereducationisonly15%whichisquitelowascomparedtothedevelopedaswellas,otherdevelopingcountries.

• Withtheincreaseofenrolmentsatschoollevel,thesupplyofhighereducationinstitutesisinsufficienttomeetthegrowingdemandinthecountry.

• Disadvantagedsectionsofsocietyandwomenhavesignifi-cantlylowerenrolmentsthanthenationalaverage.

• WidedisparitiesexistinenrolmentpercentagesamongtheStatesandbetweenurbanandruralareas.

• Equity:ThereisnoequityinGERamongdifferentsectsofthesociety.AccordingtopreviousstudiestheGERinhigheredu-cationinIndiaamongmaleandfemalevariestoagreaterex-tent.

• ThereareregionalvariationstoosomestateshavehighGER


46

whileassomeisquitebehindthenationalGERwhichreflectasignificantimbalanceswithinthehighereducationsystem.

• Quality:Qualityinhighereducationisamulti-dimensional,multilevel,andadynamicconcept.

• Infrastructure:PoorinfrastructureisanotherchallengetothehighereducationsystemofIndiaparticularlytheinstitutesrunbythepublicsectorsufferfrompoorphysicalfacilitiesandin-frastructure.

• Politicalinterference:MostoftheeducationalInstitutionsareownedbythepoliticalleaders,whoareplayingkeyroleingov-erningbodiesoftheUniversities.

• Faculty:Facultyshortagesandtheinabilityofthestateed-ucationalsystemtoattractandretainwellqualifiedteachershavebeenposingchallengestoqualityeducationformanyyears.

• ResearchandInnovation:thereareverynominalscholarsinourcountrywhosewritingiscitedbyfamouswesternauthors.Thereisinadequatefocusonresearchinhighereducationin-stitutes.

• Thereareinsufficientresourcesandfacilities,aswellas,lim-itednumbersofqualityfacultytoadvicestudents.Mostoftheresearchscholarsarewithoutfellowshipsornotgettingtheirfellowshipsontimewhichdirectlyorindirectlyaffectstheirresearch.

• Theuseoftechnologyremainslimitedandstandardsofre-searchandteachingatIndianuniversitiesarefarbelowinter-nationalstandard.

• Moreover,IndianHighereducationinstitutionsarepoorlycon-nectedtoresearchcentres.

• Exceptionsapart,majorityofourhighereducationinstitutionsperformpoorlyintheareaofqualityonarelativeglobalscale.

• Structureofhighereducation:ManagementoftheIndianed-ucationfaceschallengesofovercentralisation,bureaucraticstructuresandlackofaccountability,transparency,andprofes-


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sionalism.

• Inrecentyears,themassiveexpansioninenrolmentinhighereducationinthecountryhasresultedinunbearableburdenbeingputonthephysicalandpedagogicinfrastructureofcol-legesanduniversities.

Committees and Schemes to rejuvenate Higher Education

1.NGopalaswamicommitteewasconstitutedtoselect20in-stitutesofhighereducationinIndiathatwillbedevelopedinto“world-class”institutes.

2.InstitutionsofEminencescheme:

» TheinstitutesofeminenceschemeundertheUnionhu-manresourcedevelopment(HRD)ministryaimstoprojectIndianinstitutestoglobalrecognition.

» The20selectedinstituteswillenjoycompleteacademicandadministrativeautonomy.

» Thegovernmentwillrun10oftheseandtheywillreceivespecialfunding.

» TheselectionshallbemadethroughchallengemethodmodebytheEmpoweredExpertCommitteeconstitutedforthepurpose.

» Onlyhighereducationinstitutionscurrentlyplacedinthetop500ofglobalrankingsortop50oftheNationalInsti-tutionalRankingFramework(NIRF)areeligibletoapplyfortheeminencetag.

» TheprivateInstitutionsofEminencecanalsocomeupasGreenfieldventuresprovidedthesponsoringorganisationsubmitsaconvincingperspectiveplanfor15years.

Suggestions Improving the System of Higher Education

• ThereisaneedtoimplementinnovativeandtransformationalapproachformprimarytohighereducationleveltomakeIndi-aneducationalsystemgloballymorerelevantandcompetitive.

• Highereducationalinstitutesneedtoimprovequalityandrep-


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utation.

• Thereshouldbeagoodinfrastructureofcollegesanduniversi-tieswhichmayattractthestudents.

• GovernmentmustpromotecollaborationbetweenIndianhigh-ereducationinstitutesandtopInternationalinstitutesandalsogenerateslinkagebetweennationalresearchlaboratoriesandresearchcentresoftopinstitutionsforbetterqualityandcol-laborativeresearch.

• Thereisaneedtofocusonthegraduatestudentsbyprovid-ingthemsuchcoursesinwhichtheycanachieveexcellence,gaindeeperknowledgeofsubjectsothattheywillgetjobsafterrecruitmentinthecompanieswhichwouldreduceunnec-essaryrushtothehighereducation.

• Universitiesandcollegesinbothpublicprivatemustbeawayfromthepoliticalaffiliations,Favouritism;moneymakingpro-cessshouldbeoutofeducationsystemetc.

• Thereshouldbeamultidisciplinaryapproachinhighereduca-tionsothatstudent’sknowledgemaynotberestrictedonlyuptohisownsubjects.

Higher Education Financing Agency

• TheGovernmenthassignedanagreementwithCanarabanktosetupnon-bankingfinancialcompany(NBFC)calledtheHigherEducationFinanceAgency(HEFA).

• ItwillbeajointventurebetweentheHRDministryandthebank.

• Itisformedtogiveamajorpushforcreationofhighquality infrastructureinpremiereducationalinstitutions.

• NBFCwillrisefundsfromthemarketandalsomobilizeCSRfundsfromPSUs/Corporatesandlendtogovernment-runhighereducationalinstitutionsforpromotingresearchandin-novation.

• TheHEFAwouldfinancethecivilandlabinfrastructureproj-ectsthrougha10-yearloan.


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• HEFAwillleveragetheequitytoriseuptoRs.20,000croreforthefundingofworld-classinfrastructureattheIITs,IIMs,theNationalInstitutesofTechnology(NITs)andsuchotherinstitu-tions.

Reforms needed in higher education sector

• Curricularandacademicreformsarerequiredtoimprovestu-dentchoices,withafinebalancebetweenthemarketorientedprofessionalandliberalhighereducation.

• Highereducationmustbealignedtothecountry’seconomyandalsototheneedsoftheglobalmarket.

• Innovativeandrelevantcurriculashouldbedesignedtoservedifferentsegmentsofthejobmarketorprovideavenuesforself-employment.

• Emphasismustbegiventotheexpansionofskill-basedpro-grammesinordertomakeouryouthemployableinthejobmarket.

• Factremainsthattoday,around60%oftotalenrolmentsinhighereducationareinprivateinstitutions.Someofthemex-celintheirchosenareas.

• Therealsoexistlegitimateconcernsaboutthesubstandard,exploitativenatureandsufferingtothestudentsandstaff.

• Governancereformsarerequiredtoenableprivateinstitu-tionstohavetheirautonomytodevelopdistinctivestrengths,whilebeingheldaccountableforensuringqualityandfulfillingtheirresponsibilitytosociety.

Demographic Dividend and education

• Indiahasayoungerpopulationnotonlyincomparisontoad-vancedeconomiesbutalsoinrelationtothelargedevelopingcountries.

• In2011,around50%ofourpopulationwaslessthan24yearsofage.By2020,aroundtwothirdsofourpopulationwillbeintheworkingagegroup(15-64years).


50

• Overthenext20years,labourforceinIndiaisexpectedtoincrease,whileitwilldeclineinindustrializedcountriesandinChina.

• Thisdemographicstructurepresentsuswithanopportunityofapotential‘demographicdividend’,whichtapped,couldaddtoourgrowthpotential,providedtwoconditionsarefulfilled.

» First,higherlevelsofhealth,educationandskilldevelop-mentareachieved.

» Second,anenvironmentiscreatedinwhichtheeconomynotonlygrowsrapidly,butalsoenhancesgoodqualityemployment/livelihoodopportunitiestomeettheneedsandaspirationsoftheyouth.

• Itisthusevidentthateducationisavitalingredientforactual-izingthe‘demographicdividend’andforachievinghigher,sus-tainableandmoreinclusiveeconomicgrowth.

• Indiahasthepotentialtocaptureahighershareofglobalknowledge-basedwork,forexamplebyincreasingitsexportsofknowledge-intensivegoodsandservices,ifthereisfocusonhighereducationanditsqualityisgloballybenchmarked.

Conclusion

• Thetransformationisbaseduponminimumgovernment&maximumgovernance,separationofgrantfunctions,endofinspectionraj,focusonacademicqualityandpowerstoen-force.

• Reformshould,therefore,leadtothecreationofanagencythathastheintellectualcorpustohelpuniversitiesandcol-legesadapt,andthevisiontoplanforpublicfundingintheemergingspheresofactivity.

• Thereisapositiveattemptinthedraftlegislationtoweedoutdegreemillsanddubioustraininginstitutions,withaprovisionforprosecutionandimprisonmentofmanagementofficialswhodefytheHECI.

• Itisimportanttorememberthatstudentsfromsociallyandeconomicallydisadvantagedsectionscontinuetofacedisad-


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vantagesinhighereducation.

• Theincreaseinsuicidesamongstudentscomingfromthesesectionsisalarming.

• Theeducationalspacesthatremainequalandsociallyjustshouldbekeptawayfromtheforcesofevilmarket.

• Yet,thiswilltakepoliticalwill,giventhatoverthepastthreedecadeslaissezfaireexpansionofhighereducationhasbeenpursuedpurelyforcommercialmotives.


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HighlightsofthepresentBill

• Itprovidesforstringentpunishmentincludingdeathpenaltyforthoseconvictedofrapinggirlsbelowtheageof12years.

• Theminimumpunishmentincaseofrapeofwomenhasbeenincreasedfromrigorousimprisonmentofsevenyearsto10years,extendabletolifeimprisonment.

• Incaseofrapeofagirlunder16years,theminimumpunish-menthasbeenincreasedfrom10yearsto20years,extend-abletoimprisonmentforrestoflife,whichmeansjailtermtilltheconvicts’“naturallife”.

• Thepunishmentforgangrapeofagirlbelow16yearswillin-variablybeimprisonmentfortherestoflifeoftheconvict,anotherofficialsaid.

• Stringentpunishmentforrapeofagirlunder12yearshasbeenprovidedwiththeminimumjailtermbeing20yearswhichmaygouptolifeinprisonordeathsentence.Gangrapeofagirlunder12yearsofagewillinvitepunishmentofjailtermfortherestoflifeordeath.

• Themeasurealsoprovidesforspeedyinvestigationsandtrial.Thetimelimitforinvestigationofallcasesofrapehasbeenprescribed,whichhastobemandatorilycompletedwithintwomonths.

• Thedeadlineforthecompletionoftrialinallrapecaseswillbetwomonths.Asix-monthtimelimitforthedisposalofappeals

CRIMINAL LAW (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2018 [GS-II]

Background:

TheMinistryofHomeAffairs(MHA)hassenttheCriminalLaw(Amendment)Bill,2018,totheUnioncabinetforap-proval,toreplacetherelatedOrdinance.

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inrapecaseshasalsobeenprescribed.

• Therewillalsobenoprovisionforanticipatorybailforaper-sonaccusedofrapeorgangrapeofagirllessthan16years.

• Ithasalsobeenprescribedthatacourthastogivenoticeof15daystoapublicprosecutorandtherepresentativeofthevictimbeforedecidingbailapplicationsincaseofrapeofagirlfewerthan16yearsofage.

Needforastringentlaw

• ThenumberofreportedcasesofrapesofchildrenincreasedinIndiaby82%in2016comparedto2015.

• Aclimateofviolence,socialandeconomicinsecurity,alien-ation,andaprogressiveunderminingofthestatusofwom-enandchildrenseemtohavegivenanimpetustocarryoutcrimesagainstwomenandchildren.

• Therefore,thelegalsystemmustgiveaclearsignalthatweasanationconsidertherapeofchildrenbelowtheageof12asamongthemostheinousofoffences.

Isitsufficienttocurbpresentcrimes?

• Statisticshavenotbeenabletoproveordisprovetheefficacyofcapitalpunishmentasadeterrent.

• WhiletheU.K.hasseenanincreaseinmurderssince1965whencapitalpunishmentformurderwasremovedfromthestatutebook,Canadahasnotseenanysuchimpactsinceitabolishedthedeathpenaltyin1976.

• Theunderlyingsocio-economicconditionsinasocietythatcausecrimesseemtohaveasmuchofanimpactonthein-creaseordecreaseofcrimesasthelawdoes.

• Theusesofalcoholicandnarcoticsubstanceshaveincreasedthefrequencyofheinouscrimes.

LoopholesinthelawsagainstcrimesinIndia

• InadequateLegalStructurewithchangeinnatureofcrimes.


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• DifficultiesinObtainingProofanduseofnon-scientificenqui-ries.

• Inadequatelegalbackingforwitness.

• LackofResources&Training.

• Inadequatenumberofcourtsatlowerlevels.

• LackofCo-ordinationbetweenstateandcentre.

• Problemsofcoordinationinthegovernment.

• Civicengagementisnotconduciveforapeoplefriendlylawandordermanagement.

IssueswithintheIndianjudicialsystem

• Thependencyofcases.Iterodedthefaithinthecriminaljus-ticesystem.Similartojusticedelayedisjusticedenied.

• Corruptionprevailsrightfromthelowerleveltotop.

• Lackoftransparency(particularlyintheappointmentofjudg-es).

• Undertrialsoftheaccused.

• Lackofaccountabilityincarryoutcriminalinvestigationsagainstservingjustices.

• Lackofinformationandinteractionamongpeopleandcourts.

Whyreformofcriminaljusticesystemisnecessary?

• Asperthelatestfiguresthereisapendencyofmorethanthreecrorecasesoutofwhichalmosttwocrorecasesarecriminalcases.Thearrearshaveatendencytocompoundeachyearandcould,ifuncorrected,leadtothecollapseofthejudi-cialsystem.

• Besides,criminalLawofIndiaisareplicaofcolonialtimes.Itishostiletothepoorandtheweakersectionsofsociety.

• Also,thewaycriminaljusticeisdesignedandadministeredtodayhardlyservesanyofthepurposesforwhichitissetup:towardssecuringlifeandproperty


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• Itdoesnotdetercriminalsbecauseofthedelayanduncertain-tiesinvolvedinitsprocessesandridiculouslyineffectivepun-ishmentsitimposesonthosefewwhogetconvicted.

• Itprovideswidediscretiontothepoliceandtheprosecution,renderingthesystemvulnerabletocorruptionandmanipula-tionandendangeringbasicrightsofinnocentcitizens.

• Itignorestherealvictim,oftencompellinghim/hertofindex-tra-legalmethodsofgettingjustice.

• Italsoputsheavyeconomiccostsonthestateforitsmainte-nancewithoutcommensuratebenefitsinreturn.

• Also,morethan30millioncriminalcasesarestillpendinginthesystem.Andanother10millionormorecasesarebeingaddedeveryyear

• Recentinitiatives:SupremeCourtisreadytogoliveoncam-erawhilethegovernmentmootedaseparateTVchannelforlive-streamingcourtproceedings.

Wayforward

• Modernorganizedcrimeconstitutesaglobalchallengethatmustbemetwithaconcerted,globalresponse.

• Thepolicedepartmenthastobeengivenafreehandtodealeffectivelywithtroublemakers.

• Mostimportantlynopoliticianshouldgivepatronagetothecriminalsinlieuofmoneyorpower.

• Mostofthecrimesarecommunicatedthroughwiresorinter-net;thus,thecybersecurityneedstobestrictandundercon-tinuoussurveillance.

• Thegovernmentshouldintroducehi-techsoftwareandma-chineriesinordertokeepatrackonthehighalertareas.


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Timelineofsection377ofIPC

• In1860Section377oftheIndianPenalCodedeemshomosex-ualintercourseasacriminaloffence.

• Whilein2001Nazfoundationfilesawritpetitionchallengingthesection377ofIPC.

• DelhiHighCourthadin2009ruledthatSection377ofIPC,whichprohibits“carnalintercourseagainsttheorderofnaturewithanyman,womanoranimal”,wasunconstitutional.

• In2013SupremeCourtsetasidetheDelhihighcourt’srulingonsection377IPC.

• In2014anewrightsgroupLGBTProfessionalNetworkfileanappealatSupremeCourtforareviewinthematter.

GlobalExperienceonLGBTlaws

• ThecriminalcodeofNapoleonwassilentonthesexualrela-tionshipofconsentingadults.

• InUSA,theeffortofSenatorJosephMcCarthyledtowide-

SECTION 377 OF INDIAN PENALCODE [GS-II]

Background:

• Choiceofapartnerisaperson’sfundamentalright,anditcanbeasame-sexpartner(saysSCjudgeathearingonSection377case).

• InHadiyacase(March2018judgement),SCheldthatneitherthestatenorone’sparentscouldinfluenceanadult’schoiceofpartner.Thatwouldbeaviolationofthefundamentalrighttoprivacy.

• Section377oftheIndianPenalCode(IPC)isacolo-nial-eraprovisionwhichcriminaliseshomosexuality.

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spreadpersecutionofgaysateverylevelofgovernmentactiv-ity.

• DuringEisenhower’spresidency,hedischargedhomosexualsfromprivateanddefencecorporationsbyanexecutiveorder.

• After1970,theviewthatthehomosexualitywaspathologicalanddangerouswasgraduallydiscarded.

• In1973thehomosexualitywasremovedfromthelistofmentaldisorders.

• By1990thediscriminationbasedonhomosexualityhadbannedacrossUSAthroughexecutivedecisions.

Why377needarelook?

• ItisanakedviolationofFundamentalrightsArticle14,15,19and21.Italsocanbeusedforarbitraryarrestofanindividual.

• Section377ofIPCislawwidelymisusedagainstinnocentho-mosexualpopulation.Thelawgivesanopportunitytopeopletouseandabusethecriminaljusticesystem.

• Thisprovisionviewthematterofhomosexualityasanactagainstthenaturalorder,whichitselfiscontentious.

• Inourcountrywherehomosexualitycontinuestobesocial-lystigmatizedandlegallypenalized,whichaffectsthelifeofmanywomenaswellasmen.

Whyweneed377?

• Manyofthecitizensviewhomosexualityasunnaturalandasin

• Mostofthepresentdayreligionsareagainstsame-sexmar-riages.

• Someinterveningpartiestoseekpublicopinionthrougharef-erendumontheissueofdecriminalizationofhomosexuality.

• Ahardscientifictruthisthatanysexotherthannaturalcauseofmanyseriousillsinthehumanbeings.Forexamplehomo-sexualsaremorepronetosexualtransmitteddiseaseslikeAIDSetc.thananynormalperson.


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• Section377decriminalizationmayhavefollowingimplicationsinIndia:

» Sexratiomayfurtherdeclineifmorepeoplewouldadoptforhomosexuality.

» StudentsandArmypeoplemightoptforhomosexualitytoremovestress.

• Amoralwrongbecomesalegalwrongonlywhenitsconse-quencesareforsocietyandnotjusttheperson/scommittingit.

SupremeCourtview

• SCuphold“constitutionalmorality”andnotthe“majoritarianmorality”whiledecidingontheconstitutionalvalidityofSec-tion377oftheIndianPenalCode.

• SCbenchtodecideconstitutionalityofSection377,whetherSection377stoodinconformitywithArticles21(righttolife),19(righttoliberty)and14(righttoequality)oftheConstitu-tion.

• TheSupremeCourtsaidalargergroupofjudgeswouldrecon-siderthepreviousjudgmentandexamineSection377’sconsti-tutionalvalidity.

• Thesocialstigmaattachedtohomosexualitywasahindranceforthelesbian,gay,bisexualandtransgender(LGBT)popula-tiontogetaccesstomedicalfacilities,whichisguaranteedun-dertheConstitutionasrighttolife,especiallyinsmalltowns.

• • “It(homosexuality)isnotanaberration,butavariation,”JusticeInduMalhotrasaidwhilepointingoutthathomosexual-ityexistedinotheranimalspeciesaswell.

• Section21(1)(a)oftheMentalHealthAct,2017,whichprohibitsanydiscriminationamongpeoplewithmentalillnessonvari-ousgroundsincludingtheirsexualorientation,toassertthatParliamentrecognisedtheexistenceoftheLGBTpopulationandprohibitedanydiscriminationonthatground.

• Theframework:


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•

Theframework

• Theframeworkisforprivateunaidedschools–whichare23%ofthetotalschoolsinIndiaandcaterto36%ofthetotalpop-ulationofchildrenattendingschool.

• Theframeworkisamodeldocumentthatmayberecommend-edtostateswherethefeeregulationmechanismdoesnotworkeffectively.

• Accordingtothedraftregulations,ifaschoolviolatesthenormsprovidedintheuniformfeeframework,therespectivegovernmentcanbartheschoolfromtakingnewadmissionsforthenextacademicyearorimposefineequivalentto10%ofthetotalrevenuegeneratedbytheschoolorsocietyortrustintheprecedingyear.

Recommendations

• A10%yearlycaponfeehikeinprivate,unaidedschools.

• Setupadistrictfeeregulatoryauthorityinstatestomonitorschoolfeeincreases.

AboutNCPCR

• TheNationalCommissionforProtectionofChildRights(NCP-

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS [GS-II]

Background:

• NCPCRhasbeenreceivingreportsthatchildrenwerebeingharassedbyschooladministrationsandthattheyconsideredcommittingsuicideoverthefeehikeissue.

• NCPCRhascomeupwithamodelfeeregulatoryframe-workforunaidedprivateschools.

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CR)wassetupinMarch2007undertheCommissionforPro-tectionofChildRightsAct,2005.

• ItworksundertheadministrativecontroloftheMinistryofWomen&ChildDevelopment.

• TheChildisdefinedasapersoninthe0to18yearsagegroup.

• TheCommission’sMandateistoensurethatallLaws,Poli-cies,Programmes,andAdministrativeMechanismsareincon-sonancewiththeChildRightsperspectiveasenshrinedintheConstitutionofIndiaandalsotheUNConventionontheRightsoftheChild.

ThemandateofNCPCR

TheCommission’sMandateistoensurethatallthePolicies,Pro-grammes,AdministrativeMechanisms,andLawsareinconformi-tywiththeChildRightsperspectiveasenshrinedintheConsti-tutionofIndiaandalsotheUNConventionontheRightsoftheChild.

• TheNCPCRvisualizesarights-basedperspectiveflowingintoNationalPoliciesandProgrammes,alongwithnuancedre-sponsesattheState,District,andBlocklevels,takingcareofspecificityandstrengthsofeachregion.

• Toensurethatnochildisleftout,itseeksadeeperpenetrationtohouseholds,communities.Italsoexpectsthatthegroundexperiencesgatheredatthefieldaretakenintoconsiderationbythehigherlevelauthorities.

• Therefore,theCommissionseesanindispensablerolefortheState,soundinstitution-buildingprocesses,respectfordecen-tralizationatthelocalbodiesandcommunitylevelandlargersocietalconcernforchildrenandtheirwell-being.

TheNationalCommissionforProtectionofChildRights(NCPCR)emphasizestheprincipleofuniversalityandinviolabilityofchildrightsandrecognizesthetoneofurgencyinallthechild-relatedpoliciesofthecountry.FortheCommission,protectionofallchil-dreninthe0to18yearsagegroupisofequalimportance.


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The composition of the Commission

• Thiscommissionhasachairpersonandsixmembersofwhichatleasttwoshouldbewomen.

• AllofthemareappointedbyCentralGovernmentforthreeyears.

• Themaximumagetoserveincommissionis65yearsforChairmanand60yearsformembers.

• TheCentralGovernmentcanremovetheChairpersonfromhisofficeonthegroundofprovedmisbehaviourorincapacity.

• TheChairpersonofNCPCRshouldbeapersonofeminencewhohasdoneoutstandingworkonpromotingthechildrights.

The functions of the Commission

• Itexaminesandreviewsthesafeguardsprovidedbythelawsforprotectionofchildrightsandrecommendsmeasuresforthesametogovernment.Itcansubmitareportannuallyorasitdeemsfit,forrecommendationofthesemeasures.

• Itcaninsureintotheviolationofchildrightsandrecommendinitiationofproceedingsinthesecases.Whileinquiringintoanysuchmatter,theNCPCRhaspowersofacivilcourttryingasuitandinparticularinrespectofthefollowingmatters:

» summoningandenforcingtheattendanceofanypersonandexamininghimonoath

» requiringthediscoveryandproductionofanydocument

» receivingevidenceonaffidavits

» requisitioninganypublicrecordfromanycourtorofficeand

» Issuingsummonsfortheexaminationofwitnessesordoc-uments.

» However,NationalCommissionisprohibitedfrominquir-ingintoanymatterwhichispendingbeforeaStateCom-missionforProtectionofChildRightsoranyotherStatu-toryCommission.


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• Tostudytreatiesandotherinternationalinstrumentsandun-dertakeperiodicalreviewofexistingpolicies,programmesandotheractivitiesonchildrightsandmakerecommendationsfortheireffectiveimplementation.

• Toundertakeandpromoteresearchinthefieldofchildrights.

• Tospreadchildrightsliteracyamongvarioussectionsofthesocietyandpromoteawarenessofthesafeguardsavailableforprotectionoftheserights.

• Toinspectanyjuvenilecustodialhomeoranyotherplaceofresidenceorinstitution(underthecontroloftheCentralGov-ernmentoranystategovernmentoranyotherauthority,in-cludinganyinstitutionrunbyasocialorganization)wherechildrenaredetainedorlodgedforthepurposeoftreatment,reformationorprotectionandtakeupwiththeseauthoritiesforremedialaction

• Toinquireintocomplaintsandtakesuomotonoticeofmattersrelatingto:

» Deprivationandviolationofchildrights

» Non-implementationoflawsprovidingforprotectionanddevelopmentofchildrenand

» Non-complianceofpolicydecisionsorinstructionsaimedatmitigatinghardshipsandensuringwelfareandprovid-ingrelieftochildren.

» Toperformsuchotherfunctionsasitmayconsiderneces-saryforthepromotionofchildrights.

Functions Assigned under RTE, 2009

• ToexamineandreviewthesafeguardsforrightsprovidedbyorunderthisActandrecommendmeasuresfortheireffectiveimplementation.

• Toinquireintocomplaintsrelatingtothechild’srighttofreeandcompulsoryeducation;and

• Totakenecessarystepsaftercompletionofaninquiry.


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Functions Assigned under POCSO Act, 2012

• TomonitortheimplementationoftheprovisionsofthePOC-SOAct

• TomonitorthedesignationofSpecialCourtsbystategovern-ments;

• TomonitortheappointmentofPublicProsecutorsbystategovernments;

• TomonitortheformulationoftheguidelinesdescribedintheActbythestategovernmentsetc.

Working of the Commission

• TheCommissionmaytakeanyofthefollowingstepsuponthecompletionofaninquiry:

• Itmayrecommendtotheconcernedgovernmentorauthori-tytheinitiationofproceedingsforprosecutionorsuchothersuitableactionagainsttheconcernedperson.

• ItmayapproachtheSupremeCourtortheHighCourtcon-cernedforthenecessarydirections,ordersorwrits.

• Itmayrecommendtotheconcernedgovernmentorauthorityforthegrantofnecessaryinterimrelieftothevictim.

• TheCommissionsubmitsitsannualorspecialreportstotheCentralGovernmentandtothestategovernmentconcerned.

• Thesereportsarelaidbeforetherespectivelegislatures,alongwithamemorandumofactiontakenontherecommendationsoftheCommissionandthereasonsfornon-acceptanceofanyofsuchrecommendationswithinoneyear.


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INDIA’S CURRENT FOREIGN POLICY CHANGES AND CHALLENGES [GS-II]

Background:

Indiaemergedasthenaturalleaderofthenewlyliberat-ednationsemergingfromtheravagesofimperialismandneo-colonialisminthelate1940sandearly1950s,aposi-tionitmaintainedwithgreatcareandperseveranceevenafterthecollapseoftheSovietUnionwhenstrategicthink-erswerecharacterisingthevictoryoftheWestastheendofhistory.

Withaworlddividedintotwoblocs,India’scompasswasnonalignment,withitspoliticalempathiesmorewiththeeasternblocwhoserhetoricwasfriendliertowardsthethirdworld.India‘srelationswiththewesternblocwereproblematicbecauseofthewest’snon-proliferationinjunc-tions,pro-Pakistanipoliciesandeconomicphilosophy.ThenatureofourrelationswithUShasbeenalteredinthelastfewyears.Ourpolicieshavebecomeconvergentinmanyways.AnimprovedrelationwithUShasgivenIndiamoreroomformanoeuvreregionallyandinternationally.Strate-gically,wearebeingpulledtowardsUS.ThismeansthatourrelationswithUSallieshavebecomebettertoo,as,forexample,withJapan,SouthKoreaandAustralia.

Simultaneously,ourrelationswithRussiahavelostthecentralityofthepast.EvenasIndia’seconomicgrowthischangingitsglobalprofile,oureconomictieswithRussiahaverelativelyshrunk.YetRussiaisimportantforthebal-anceofourforeignpolicy.Infact,thespacevacatedbyRussiahasbeenfilledbyChina.ForIndia,itisveryvitaltomaintainequilibriumwiththeU.S.,China,Russia,theEuro-peanUnionandmembersoftheASEAN.

» WithU.S.,China,Russia–because,theycarry

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» geostrategicheft,withtheU.S.stillbeingthenum-beroneoutsidepowerbalancerinalmosteveryregionoftheworld.

» WithEUandASEAN,astheytwoareeconomicpowerhouses.

Indianeedsallofthem,notoneatthecostoftheother.

Losingitseminentposition

• IndiahaslostitseminentpositioninSouthAsiaasaconse-quenceofrecklessadventurisminitsneighbourhood.

• Today,theneighbourhoodisbendingtowardsChina,withIndialookingonlikeahaplessbystander.

• Forinstance,India’smonopolyovergeopoliticsinNepalisover,andthereisanotherrelationshipthatNepalisnurturing.

• EveninAfghanistan,wheretheattentionofwhatremainsofthe‘WesternAlliance’isfocussed,Indiaisanon-player.

• ConsiderthecaseofSriLanka,SeashellsandMaldives.

• Indiahasalsolostitspre-eminentpositioninthedevelopingworldasaconsequenceofitswilfulabandonmentofthelead-ershipoftheNon-AlignedMovement(NAM)andothersuchinstitutionsofthepostcolonialworldorder.

India’sstrainedrelations

• NeitherduringtheObamayearsnorduringthecurrenttermofTrumpadministrationhasasingle“big”ideaemergedthatcouldtaketheIndia-U.S.relationshipforward.

• IndiahasfailedtoclearlyunderstandtheDonaldTrumpphe-nomenonandIndiadoesnotfitintothecalculusofTrump’snewparadigm.

• UnitedNationsNikkiHaley’saggressivespeechonIranshouldthereforecomeasnosurprise.


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• NDAgovernmenthadalsofailedtofostergoodtieswithRus-siaandChina.

• Russiaholdinganti-terrorexerciseswithPakistaninDRUZ-BA-2017.

• Theill-conceivedboycottoftheBeltandRoadForuminBei-jingin2017invitedthewrathofChinaviatheDoklamstandoff.

• PrimeMinisterhadtotraveltoWuhanandSochitoeffectivelypay‘court’toPresidentsXiJinpingandVladimirPutin,respec-tively.

• Theworstcasualtyhas,however,beenIndia’sneighbourhood.Inthepastfouryears,wehaveswungfromthesublimetotheridiculousonPakistan,blockadedNepalfornotdeclaringitselfasaHinduRashtra,lostSriLankatotheChinese,beenbelit-tledbytheMaldivesandevenSeychelles.Europe,Africa,LatinandSouthAmericahavefallenoffthemap.

India-RussiaRelationsnow

• IndiaandRussiasharetheagendaofmulti-polarity,respectforsovereignty,non-interferenceintheinternalaffairsofcoun-tries,geo-politicalabuseofthehumanrightsissues,regimechangepolicies,theproclivitytousemilitarymeanstofindsolutionstohighlycomplexissues.

• IndiacandolittletoboostRussia,exceptbymaintainingtheregularityofsummitmeetings,nurturingthetraditionallyclosedefencetiesthatassurenon-disruptionofsuppliesatcriticalmomentsaswellasaccesstosensitivetechnologies,andpart-neringitinpoliticalgroupings.

• ThechallengeforustoexpandoureconomictieswithRussia.Energycooperationprovidesanopportunitysofarinsuffi-cientlyexploited.

• ThisagendaputsIndiaatcrosspurposeswithmanypoliciesofthewest.ThechallengeforIndiaistomaintainthebasicsofitspositionbutavoidadirectclashwiththewestovertheseissues.

• However,intermsofmarkets,investmentneeds-especiallyto


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developourpoorinfrastructure,accesstomoderntechnolo-giesinhealth,energy,agriculture,industry,buildingaknowl-edgeeconomy,participatinginglobalsupplychainsetc,Indianeedsaremuchbetterservedbythewest.

• Ourpeopletopeoplerelationswiththewestarestrong.

India’sneighbours-currentsituation

• Unfortunately,ChinahasmadeitclearthatitdoesnotintendtosolvetheborderissuewithIndia;itsaysitwantsittoremaindormantandleaveittothenextgenerationtoresolveit.

• Butthen,aswehaveseeninthelatestmapsonChinesepass-ports,Chinaisestablishingitsclaimsininsidiousways.

• ItisclearTibetisnotreconciledtoChina’srule.IndiahastomakesureBhutandoesnotyieldtoChina’sblandishments.

• DalaiLama’ssuccessioncanrevivetensionsbetweenIndiaandChina.

• China’srisingprofileinSriLankaandNepalisacauseofcon-cern.

• TheChina-Pakistanaxisremainsagraveproblem.

• IndiahastodevelopitseconomicandmilitarymuscletocountertheChinathreat.

• IndiahastofindtherightbalancebetweenengagingChinaandhedgingagainstit.

• Ourneighboursaretradingchinacardagainstus.Inthiscon-textthestrengtheningofSAARCshouldbeapriority.

• PakistanremainsaperennialproblemwithgrowinginfluenceofradicalIslamization.

• Indiashouldcontinuetoencouragemoreeconomicandpeo-pletopeopletieswithPakistan,butshouldalsobeclear-sight-edabouttheseriousobstaclesinnormalizingrelationswiththatcountry

• ItwouldbeironicalforIndiatobesupportiveofPakistan’sgeographicalhealthwhenitwantsasliceawayapartofIndian


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Territory.ButIndiadoesnotactivelypursuetodestabilizePa-kistan,itwouldraisefurtherproblems.

• DestabilizedPakistanaffectsourcentralAsianandAfghani-stanpolicies.

• ThewestislookingforacompromisewiththeTaliban,believ-ingitcanlivewithanIslamizedAfghanistansolongasitisnotanti-west.

• LackofdirectaccesstoAfghanistanexposesthelackofacredibleIndianpolicytowardsCentralAsia.ThepresentIn-do-Iranissuescouldaffectthissituation.

• India’sLookEastpolicyisnowfacingnewchallengeswiththeerstwhileequationbetweenChinaandEastandSoutheastAsiadisturbedbyChina’smuscle-flexingintheSouthChinaSea.

• Indiahasconcernsaboutthefreedomofpassagethroughin-ternationalwatersinthesouthernChinaSearegionandMalac-caStrait.

• LittoralstatesintheIndianOceanaremovingawayfromIndiarecently.ArarehopeisleftforengagementswithSriLankaandSeashells.

• IndiawouldneedtogiveprioritytoitsrelationswithMyanmar,nowthatthelatterwantstoloosentheChinesegripoverthecountry.Orelseeast–westconnectivitytowardssouthEastAsiasuffers.

Argumentsinfavourofpresentforeignpolicy

• UnderthenewleadershipatDelhi,India’sforeignpolicyhasbeenonanupward trajectory.

• Country’sstaturehasgrownsignificantlyduetothisleadershipintheforeignpolicymakingprocess.

• PM’svisionistoturnIndiaintoaleadingpowerandanet pro-vider of security and prosperity.

• Indiaisnowwidelyacknowledgedasanactorlivinguptoitstruepotential,reflectingtheaspirationsofcontemporaryIndi-


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ans.

• TwoareaswhereIndianforeignpolicyhasleapfroggedunderMr.Modiarecultural and commercial diplomacy.

• Well-thought-outpolicyreformsandemotionalengagements with the Indian diasporahaveaddedaforcemultipliertona-tion’ssoftpower.

• Bytappingintothetransnational Hindu and Buddhist civilisa-tion linkagesandharnessingthemforstrategicbenefitsinourextendedneighbourhood,Mr.ModihasreifiedIndia’simageasarepositoryofancientwisdomthatgeneratesglobalpublicgoods.

• Record levels of inward FDI flowsandimprovementsinarangeofglobalrankingindicesbeartestamenttoMr.Modi’ssuccessineconomicdiplomacy.

Geopolitics-recentchoices

• PresentadministrationatDelhishedsthetaboosthatre-strainedIndiafromcapitalisingoncloser defence and strate-gic cooperation with the U.S., Japan and Israel.

• Casting aside the obsolete concept of non-alignment andenteringintodeepercircumstantialpartnershipstoexpandIn-dia’sgeostrategicfootprintarenominoraccomplishments.

• Indiaisworkingitswaytobecoming a third power centre in the world alongsidetheU.S.andChina.IndiaunderpresentleadershipputuparestraintagainstU.S.ontradebarriersandeconomicsanctionsrelatedissues.

FutureChallengesandoptions:

• Indiaisfacingauniquecombinationofdiplomatic,securityandstrategicchallengestoday.

• Indianforeignpolicyalreadyfacesmanychallengesandwillcontinuetoconfrontusinthefuture.Itishardtopredictwhatliesahead.

• Thenatureofconflictsandotherchallengesmaychangewith


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technological innovation,especiallyincyberspace.

• AbigchallengeforIndiaistomaintain coherence and balanceinitsforeignpolicy.

• Thegrowingeconomic,defenceandstrategicpartnershipwiththeU.S.isbeingquestionedonaccountofthetransactional nature of the Trump administration,it’sunreasonabletradedemands,itsfocusonotherissuessuchasNorthKorea,anditssanctionsrelatedtoIranandRussiathatareunmindfulofIndia’sinterestsandcosts.

• India’shithertoreliableandlargestdefencepartner,Russia,isbecomingincreasinglyenmeshedwithChinaandPakistan.

• India’s neighbours,includingtheMaldives,NepalandSriLan-ka,areexploitingnewopportunitiestoleveragetheirpossibili-tieswithChinavis-à-visIndia.

• The reform of international institutionsisthereforeveryim-portantandIndia’sdiscourseonthisislegitimate.Indiashouldhaveagreatersayintheseinstitutions.GettingapermanentseatintheSecurityCouncilwillremainachallengeasresis-tancetothiswillnotgoawaysoon.

• Climate change issues,inwhichenergyuseandenvironmentalconcernsintersectwithissuesofcompetitivenessandmarketopeningsforwesterntechnologieswillbecomeasourceofin-creasingexternalpressureonIndiaintheyearsahead.

Conclusion

• Bychoosingstrategic self-reliance India hastocopewithchallengeslargelyonitsown.

• Ourdiplomacywillneedtofacilitate investment in hydrocar-bonfieldsabroadaspartofourenergy securitydrive,besidesworkingforavoidance of conflictinareaswhichareourbig-gestsourceofoil and gas.

• Foreignpolicymakingalwaysfaceschallengesinanevolvingworld.USsupportChina’sterritorialintegritybuthavenotex-tendedsuchsupporttoIndia’sterritorialintegrity.WeshouldengageUSonthispointasastrategicpartner.


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• Indiawillalsoneedtostrengthenitselffurthereconomicallyandinitsdefencecapacity,includingintechnologyandpro-duction.

• Indiashouldfocusontheshared interest with neighbours and other countriesingeneral.Itwillalsoneedtoimproveitsca-pacityforimplementationofagreeduponcooperationproj-ects.

• AnewIndianapproachthatgoesbeyondrelyingonthepri-vatesectortomakeeconomicallyrationaldecisionsfromtheirperspectivewouldbeneeded,butthatimpliesadifferentwayofeconomic governance.

• Theeconomy is the building block of a successful foreign policy,asrequiredresourcesthenbecomeavailabletoerectdefencesathomeandtopursueinterestsabroad.

• Ourexternal dependence on arms and technology supplies limitstheoptionsavailabletoourforeignpolicy.Ithastobereducedtoacomfortablelevel.

Questions

1. WhatisyourassessmentoftheforeignpolicybeingpursuedbytheIndiangovernment?Doyouperceiveanyideologicalshift?Examine.

2.DiscusstheparadigmshiftinIndia’sforeignpolicywithrefer-encetothechangesbroughtbythenewgovernment.


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DelhiDialogue

• AnnualTrack1.5eventtodiscusspolitico-security,economicandsocio-culturalengagement.

• Heldannuallysince2009andpoliticalleaders,policymakers,seniorofficials,diplomats,thinktanksandacademiciansfrombothsidesparticipate.

• Aimedatfindingacommongroundandexpandingthescopeofcooperation.

Historyofrelations

• IndiathroughouttheColdWarwasnotinfavourofinvolve-mentinregionalorganizations,preferringtofocusonactiveparticipationinglobalorganizations.

• ThegeopoliticsoftheColdWarplacedASEANandIndiainopposingideologicalblocs.

• TheformationofASEANitselfwasviewedbyIndiaasaU.S.measuretocontaincommunism.

• AseriesofIndianmovescreatedfissuresinthealreadytenseASEAN-IndiarelationshiplikeIndia’sfriendshiptreatywiththeSovietUnionin1971,itsstanceontheVietnamWaretc...

INDO- ASEAN DELHI DIALOGUE [GS-II]

Background:

• 10theditionoftheDelhiDialogue(DDX)washeldinNewDelhi.

• Themeoftheevent:“StrengtheningIndia-ASEANMari-timeCooperation”.

• ASEAN-IndiaCommemorativeSummit,whichwasheldinNewDelhiinJanuary2018

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• ASEANandIndiadidconvergeontheissueoftheZoneofPeace,FreedomandNeutrality(ZOPFAN)intheIndianOceanRegion(IOR).

• IndiahadmodestbilateralrelationswithaselectedfewASE-ANcountriesintheeconomicsphere.

• ThroughouttheColdWar,ASEAN-Indiarelationsweredomi-natedbytensionsandmutualsuspiciononbothsides.

• ThestoryofASEAN-IndiarelationsthroughouttheColdWarcanbeappropriatelysummarizedasmissedopportunitiesduetopoliticalmistrust,economicinconsequentiality,andocca-sionalmilitarythreats.

• Structuralfactors—likethefalloftheSovietUnion,theriseoftheparallelforcesofglobalizationsandregionalization,theriseofChina,AsianFinancialCrisis,andthe9/11attacks—changedIndia’sperception.

ASEAN(AssociationofSoutheastAsianNations)

• Itwasestablishedon8August1967inBangkok,Thailand.

• EstablishedwiththesigningofanASEANDeclaration(Bang-kokDeclaration)bytheministersofthefoundingcountries.

• FoundingmembersareIndonesia,Malaysia,Philippines,Singa-poreandThailand.

• Eventually,BruneiDarussalam,VietNam,LaoPDRandMyan-marandCambodiawerejoined.

IndiaandASEANrelations

• India’ssearchforeconomicspaceresultedinthe‘LookEastPolicy’.

• TheLookEastPolicyhastodaymaturedintoadynamicandactionoriented‘ActEastPolicysince2014.

• IndiabecameaSectoralPartneroftheASEANin1992,Dia-loguePartnerin1996andSummitLevelPartnerin2002.

• Up-gradationoftherelationshipintoaStrategicPartnershipin


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2012.

• IndiahassetupaseparateMissiontoASEANandtheEASinJakartainApril2015.

• IndiaandASEANcelebrate25thAnniversaryofASEAN-IndiaDialogueRelations.

• Strategicrelation:

» ASEAN-IndiaPartnershipforPeace,ProgressandSharedProsperity,whichsetsouttheroadmapforlong-termASEAN-Indiaengagement(PlansofAction).

» Risingexportofterror,growingradicalizationthroughideologyofhatred,andspreadofextremeviolencedefinethePoliticalSecurityCooperationwithASEAN.

» MainforumforASEANsecuritydialogueistheASEANRegionalForum(ARF),whichIndiahasbeenattendingsince1996.

• EconomicCooperation:

» India-ASEANtradeandinvestmentrelationshavebeengrowingsteadily,withASEANbeingIndia’sfourthlargesttradingpartner.

» ASEANaccountingforapproximately12.5%ofinvestmentflowsintoIndiasince2000.

» TheASEAN-IndiaFreeTradeAreahasbeencompletedwiththeenteringintoforceoftheASEAN-IndiaAgree-mentsonTradeinServiceandInvestmentson1July2015.

• Socio-CulturalCooperationthroughnumberofprogrammeslikeinvitingStudentsExchangeProgramme,SpecialTrainingCourseforASEANdiplomats,ExchangeofParliamentarians,ASEAN-IndiaNetworkofThinkTanksetc...

• Connectivity:

» ASEAN-IndiaconnectivitythroughtheIndia-Myan-mar-ThailandTrilateralHighwayandtheKaladanMulti-modalProjectareinprogress.


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» Issuesrelatedtoincreasingthemaritimeandairconnec-tivitybetweenASEANandIndiaandtransformingthecorridorsofconnectivityintoeconomiccorridorsareun-derdiscussion.

» PossibleextensiontoIndia-Myanmar-ThailandTrilateralHighwaytoCambodia,LaoPDRandVietnam.

» ProtocoloftheIndia-Myanmar-ThailandMotorVehicleAgreement(IMTMVA).

• Fundingmechanism:

» ALineofCreditofUS$1billiontopromoteprojectsthatsupportphysicalanddigitalconnectivitybetweenIndiaandASEANandaProjectDevelopmentFund.

» ASEAN-IndiaCooperationFund:tosupportimplementa-tionoftheASEAN-IndiaPlansofAction.

» ASEAN-IndiaS&TDevelopmentFund(AISTDF).

» ASEAN-IndiaGreenFundtosupportcollaborationactivi-tiesrelatingtoenvironmentandclimatechange.

ASEAN-India Projects

• VariousprojectsinthefieldsofAgriculture,Science&Technol-ogy,Space,Environment&ClimateChange,HumanResourceDevelopment,CapacityBuilding,NewandRenewableEnergy,Tourism,People-to-PeoplecontactsandConnectivityetc.

• SpaceProjectenvisagingestablishmentofaTracking,DataReception/DataProcessingStationinHoChiMinhCity,Viet-nam.

• E-Networkforprovisionoftele-medicineandtele-educationinCLMVcountries,QuickImpactProjectsinCLMVetc.

• TrainingofEnglishLanguageforLawEnforcementOfficersinCLMVcountriesandTrainingofprofessionalsdealingwithcapitalmarketsinCLMVbyNationalInstituteofSecuritiesManagementMumbai

• ScholarshipsforASEANstudentsforhighereducationatNa-


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landaUniversity

• TrainingofASEANCivilServantsindroughtmanagement,disasterriskmanagement,sustainablegroundwatermanage-mentetc.

• DelhiDialogue:IndiahasanannualTrack1.5eventDelhiDi-alogue,fordiscussingpolitico-securityandeconomicissuesbetweenASEANandIndia.

• ASEAN-IndiaCentre(AIC)aimtopromotetheASEAN-IndiaStrategicPartnershipandtopromoteIndia-ASEANdialogueandcooperationintheareasofmutualinterests

• ASEANStudiesCentrelocatedintheNorth-EasternHillUni-versity(NEHU)inShillongisexpectedtofacilitateASEAN-In-diaresearchprojects,studies,workshopsandrelatedactivities

Significance of India-ASEAN relations for India

• ASEANisourfourthlargesttradingpartnerandIndiaistheirseventhlargesttradingpartner

• TheSouth-EastAsianregioniseconomicallyveryvibrant;thisisavibranteconomiccommercialspaceforIndia

• India’sinvestmentinthelasttwodecadeshasbeen$70billion.So,thereisalotofpotentialinengagingthemfurther

• ManycountriesintheregionhavepeopleofIndianoriginamongtheircitizens—mostnotablyMalaysiaandSingapore

Indian concerns with ASEAN

• ReductionintariffsratesamongmemberstoensureEconomicbenefitsandbridgingthetradedeficits

• CurbingtheIllegalpractiseslikedrugtrafficking,smuggling,Humantraffickingetcintheregion

• RemovingdisputesandfindingsmoothsolutionsinRCEPis-sue.

• IncreasinginvestmentofASEANcountriesinIndiatoprovideEconomicbenefittobothcountries


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• CollectiveResearchandDevelopmentbyCountriestoensureTechnologicaladvancementsincommonfieldsofinterest

• SettlingtheRohingyacrisis

• ProvidingboosttoIndia’s“LookEastPolicy”

• ImprovingLinkswithASEANnationswouldcontributetoSe-curityanddevelopmentofourNorthEasternStates

• AsBuddhismContributetoalinkbetweenASEANcountries,itcanbeusedtoincreasetourismopportunitiesbetweenNa-tions

• Sub-regionalinitiativesliketheBangladesh-Bhutan-India-Ne-palMotorVehicleAgreementalsohavestalled

Way forward

• HelptheASEANcountriestohaveabalancingforceagainstChina

• ApartfromASEAN,IndiahastakenotherpolicyinitiativesintheregionthatinvolvesomemembersofASEANlikeBIMS-TEC,MGCetc.

• IndiaisalsoanactiveparticipantinseveralregionalforumstomaintainabalanceintheIndo-ASEANrelations

• GreaterengagementswithASEANcountriesprovideanop-portunityfordiversificationofmarketandgreateraccesstoIndo-Pacificregion

• SouthAsianFreeTradeAssociationhasfailedtomakemuchheadway.ButaleadingrolecouldbeplayedbyIndiatoreviveit

• Integratethetworegionsforbettereconomicandsecurityrelation

• RemovephysicalimpedimentstotradewithASEANcountries

Conclusion

Issuesconcerningeconomics,security,andconnectivityhavealwaysbeenatthecentreofASEAN-Indiarelations.Inthewake


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oftheExpansionistPolicyofChinaandtheProtectionistpoli-ciesofUS,IndiashouldfocusonASEANcountriestoincreaseitsdiplomatictiestoensuresafetyanddevelopmentofstakeholdernations.Italsoshouldleveragethestrategicindependenceofourcountywithoptimizingthesharedinterestofallthestakehold-ers.


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Amongtheareasofcooperation,followingareashavebeenidentified

• PublicPoliciesandbestpracticesinregionalservices

• RegionalAirports

• Airportinfrastructuremanagementandairnavigationservices

• Technicalcooperationbetweenregulatoryagencies

• EnvironmentSustainability;includingdeliberationofglobalinitiatives

• QualificationandTraining

• Otherfieldsasmutuallydetermined

Impact

• TheMoUsignifiesanimportantlandmarkinthecivilaviationrelationsbetweenIndiaandotherBRICSMemberStatesandhasthepotentialtospurgreatertrade,investment,tourismandculturalexchangesamongsttheBRICSNations

BRICS REGIONAL AVIATION PARTNERSHIP [GS-II]

Background:

• TheUnionCabinethasapprovedthesigningofMem-orandumofUnderstanding(MoU)amongstBRICSNa-tionsontheRegionalAviationPartnershipCooperationviz.Brazil,Russia,India,ChinaandSouthAfrica.Themeoftheevent:“StrengtheningIndia-ASEANMaritimeCoop-eration”.

• TheobjectiveisthatBRICScountrieswouldbenefitfromtheestablishingofaninstitutionalframeworktocooper-ateinthefieldofcivilaviation.

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WhatisBRICS?

• BRICSistheacronymforanassociationoffivemajoremerg-ingnationaleconomies:Brazil,Russia,India,ChinaandSouthAfrica

• Theacronym“BRICs”wasinitiallyformulatedin2001byecon-omistJimO’Neill,ofGoldmanSachs,inareportongrowthprospectsfortheeconomiesofBrazil,Russia,IndiaandChina–whichtogetherrepresentedasignificantshareoftheworld’sproductionandpopulation

• ItcatersthecommonneedamongdevelopingcountriestoconstructeconomicorderthatreflectscurrentsituationwilldrivetheBRICS’efforts

• TheBRICSalternativeideainthelandscapeofglobalgover-nancewillattractsupportfromothercountries.TherehavebeensuggestionsbypoliticalanalyststhatBRICSmayexpanditsmemberquota

• TheexpansionofBRICSinteractiontoothersectorwillmakeitmorestrongpartnership

• ChinesesupporttoBRICSwillmakesurethatgroupremainsaforcetoreckonwithinthefuture

NewDevelopmentBank(NDB)

• TheNDBisamultilateraldevelopmentbankestablishedbyBrazil,Russia,India,ChinaandSouthAfricawiththeobjectiveoffinancinginfrastructureandsustainabledevelopmentproj-ectsinBRICSandotheremergingeconomiesanddevelopingcountries

• Itaimstocomplementtheeffortsofmultilateralandregionalfinancialinstitutionstowardglobalgrowthanddevelopment

• ItwasestablishedduringthesixthBRICSSummitinFortaleza(Brazil-2014)bythe5membercountries

• TheBankformallycameintoexistenceasalegalentityattheUfaSummit(Russia)inJuly2015

• ItisheadquarteredinShanghai,ChinaandMr.K.V.Kamathis


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itscurrentPresident

WhydoestheworldneedtheBRICS?

• JimO’Neill’spointhasbeenthattheworldischanging.TheleadingroleoftheGroupofSeven(G7)and,morebroadly,oftheOrganisationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment(OECD)isnolongerundisputed

• Themainreasonforco-operationtostartamongtheBRICsnationwasthefinancialcrisesof2008

• Theideaofdevelopmentbank(NDB)andContingencyRe-serveArrangement(CRA)hasstrengthenedBRICSasagrouping

• Mostmulti-lateralinstitutionsweredesignedintheerawhentheWestdominatedtheworld

• TheUSandEuropeareover-representedintheIMFandtheWorldBank.TogetherwithJapan,theycontrolmostregionaldevelopmentbanksaswell

• Thisimbalancehasbeenespeciallyclearduringtherecentglobalfinancialcrisiswhentheneedforparticipationbynon-G7countriesbecameevident

• ThisresultedinrevivingtheGroupof20(G20)andproposalstoredistributevotingrightsininternationalfinancialinstitu-tions

• ButchangehasbeenslowandWesterncountriescontinuetocontroltheinternationalfinancialinstitutions

• ThisiswhyBRICSsummitsaresoimportant.Thesemeetingsprovideauniqueforumwherenon-OECDleaderscandiscussglobalchallengesandco-ordinatetheiractionswithinandout-sideglobalinstitutions

• ThesmallsizeoftheclubandtheabsenceofOECDpartnershelpinshapingthediscussionsatthesummit

• TheBRICscalledforthe“thereformofmultilateralinstitutionsinorderthattheyreflectthestructuralchangesintheworldeconomyandtheincreasinglycentralrolethatemergingmar-


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ketsnowplay

• BRICSmanagedtopushforapartialinstitutionalreformwhichledtoInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF)quotareformin2010

BRICSforIndia

• NowthatNAM(Non-alignment)isalmostdefunctandverylit-tlewealthisleftintheCommonwealth,BRICSprovideagreatalternateforIndiatobuilditsglobalprofile

• Betterfootageattheworldforumsandgreaterinfluenceoverinternationaleconomicsystem

• IndiahastriedtouseBRICSasaforumtoengageChinaasthelatterhasbecomethelargestmarketforthefast-industrializ-ingcountriesofEastAsia

• Indiawantstoresolvetheage-oldmistrustandcomplicatedrelationshipbetweenthetwocountriessincethe1962warbe-tweenthem

• IthelpsIndiaincounteractingtowardsitsstrategicisolation

• Geo-strategically,BRICSarenowrepresentedonallconti-nentsoftheglobalsouth.Inbilateralandregionalagreements,theBRICSemphasizesouth-southsolidarityandhorizontalcooperationincontrasttowesterndominance

• ThroughBRICSIndiacanadvocateforUNSecurityCouncilreformstomakeIndiaasapermanentmembertobecomeasuperpower,supportofBRICSisessential

• ItmaybecomeagreatplatformforIndiawhereitsvoicewillbeheardbyallcountries

• Indianeedsitssupportforfoodandenergysecurityissuestoo

• TheNewDevelopmentBankisprovidingfundtoIndia.Recent-lyitapproved$470milliondollarloanforMadhyaPradesh’sMultivillageruraldrinkingwatersupplyscheme.Alsohelpinginrenewableenergyprojects

• IndiacanuseBRICSforraisingitsvoiceagainstterrorism

• Recently,BRICSgroupingbracketedLashker-e-Taibaand


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Jaish-e-MohhamedwithIslamicstateandAl-Qaeda

• IndiaseeBRICSasplatformtobuildmultilateralrelationswithLatinAmerican,AfricanandAsiancountries

• Indiacanpotentiallyusethisforumtode-hyphenatingcompli-catedissueswithChina

• MostimportantlythroughBRICS,countriescanhavemultilat-eraltransactionsintheirlocalcurrencies,soFor-Exsaved

• BRICShelpinInfrastructuredevelopmentpromotesSouth-SouthcooperationandNorth-Southdialogue.CanalsohelpinachievingSDGs

• BRICSnationaluniversity,agriculturalresearchplatformcanalsopromotecooperation

ConcernsregardingthefutureofBRICS

• Competitionwithinthemselves–TheBRICScountriesaspiretoberegionalpowersandhenceatsomepointwillcompetewitheachother

• Differentformsofgovernance–TheyhavedifferentpoliticalsystemswithBrazil,IndiaandSouthAfricabeingdemocracieswhileRussiaandChinahavingauthoritariancharacteristics.Itwouldbeinterestingtoseehowpolicyconsensusisbroughtabout

• Tradeconflicts,maybe?BrazilandRussiaarecommodityex-portingcountriesandthusbenefitfromhighcommoditypric-eswhileIndiaandChinaarecommodityimportersthatbenefitfromlowcommodityprices

• TerritorialIssues–ChinaandIndiahaveoutstandingterritorialissuestoresolveandIndialooksaskancetoanyinstitutionthathasChinesedomination.RussialookssuspiciouslyatChina’sinterestinitssparselypopulatedfareasternofSiberia

• ThebigdaddyChina–Chinaspearheadsthreeothermajorinitiativesinthisregion–OneBeltOneRoad(OBOR),AsianInfrastructureInvestmentBank(AIIB)andSCO

• Thereareseriousdifferencesofopiniononissuesrangingfrom


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tariffstointellectualpropertyrights,whichthemember-stateshavebeenunabletoresolve

• Thoughthegroupinghasbuiltinstitutions,liketheNewDe-velopmentBank,itsmembershavebeenunabletoagreeonarealroad-mapforreformingtheglobaleconomy

• AlsotheriseofChinahasdramaticallyalteredtheorientationoftheBRICS

• SlowingdownofChineseeconomy:ithascausedturmoilinnotjustinBRICSblocbutacrosstheworld

• FailureofBRICStosignanyagreementwithUS:NoneoftheBRICScountrieshassignedtradeorinvestmentagreementswiththeUnitedStatesandsomeofthenegotiationshavebeenfailedduetooppositiontoUSapproach.Thishashin-deredeconomicexpansionofBRICScountries

• RecessioninRussiaandBrazil:Thepoliticalandeconomiciso-lationofRussia,orchestratedbytheUSaftertheUkrainecrisis,hashadatremendousnegativeimpactontheoncesurgingeconomy.EvenBrazilianeconomyisslippingintorecession

• Failuretosustaineconomicgrowth:theemergingmembercountrieshavefailedtogainanymomentumforsustainedgrowth

• StructuraldisparitybetweenChinaandotherBRICSmem-bers:Chineseeconomyhasthelargestshareamongthemem-bercountriesanditaccountsfor38percentshareinthetotalexportofBRICS.ThishasresultedindominanceofChinaintheBRICSblocandinturnhasstokedtheeconomicnational-isminothermembercountries


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WayForward

• Manyfactorsbolsterco-operationamongBRICSmembers.ThecommonneedamongdevelopingcountriestoconstructeconomicorderthatreflectscurrentsituationmustdrivetheBRICScountriesforconjuringuptheireffortstowardsequita-bleglobaleconomicgovernance


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ReviewofStateFinances

• InIndiastatebudgetsdonotattracttheattentiontheyde-serve

• Analysisaboutstatebudgetsremainslargelyanacademicex-ercise

• Bondmarketinvestorsneitherrewardnorpunishstatesde-pendingontheirfiscalsituations

• Stateofstategovernmentfinanceshaswiderimplicationsthancentrefiscalposition

• FinancialDependenceofStates:inIndia,theStatesdependontheCentreforalldevelopment.Theyhavemuchlesssourc-esofincomebutmanymoreneedsofexpenditure

• FinancialdependencyhasverymuchhinderedthegrowthofStatesonfederallines

RiseinFiscalDeficitofStates

• ThishigherfiscaldeficitatthestatelevelinrecentyearshasmoderatedthebenefitoffiscalconsolidationbytheCentralgovernment

• Higherborrowing,eitherbytheUnionorstategovernments,putspressureonavailablefinancialresourcesandincreases

THE STATE OF STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCES [GS-II & GS-III]

Background:

• TheannualstudyofstategovernmentfinancesbytheReserveBankofIndia(RBI)becomesshowsthatstatesmissedthefiscaldeficittargetof3%ofgrossdomesticproduct(GDP)forthethirdyearinarow.

• Thefiscaldeficitofstatesisestimatedtobeat3.1%ofGDPin2017-18.

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interestrates

• Aftertheimplementationofthefiscalresponsibilityandbud-getmanagementrulesinthelastdecade,stategovernmentsimprovedtheirfinancessignificantly

• Whilethedeteriorationin2015-16and2016-17waslargelyduetothetakeoverofdebtofpowerdistributioncompaniesundertheUjwalDiscomAssuranceYojana(UDAY)scheme,govern-mentfinancesinthelastfiscalwereaffectedbyfactorssuchasashortfallinrevenue,implementationofpaycommissionrecommendationsandfarmloanwaivers

• Someofthesefactorswillcontinuetoaffectstategovernmentfinancesinthecurrentyearaswell.Asstatesaimtoconsol-idatetheirfinancesbyreducingthefiscaldeficitto2.6%ofGDPinthecurrentyear

Impactofpoorstatefinance:

• Fiscalslippageinrecentyearshasalsoledtodeteriorationinthequalityofexpenditure,withariseinrevenueexpenditure(butnotCapitalExpenditure)

• Onereasonforhigherexpenditureinthelastfiscal,forin-stance,wasasharpriseinsalaries

• StatesemploymorepeoplethantheCentralgovernment

• Further,aspertherevisedestimatesfor2017-18,debtwaiversdentedstategovernments’budgettotheextentof0.32%ofGDP

• Loanwaiversareunlikelytobenefitstatesinthelongrun

• Studieshaveshownthatwhiletheyreducehouseholddebt,loanwaiversdonothelpincreaseinvestmentorproductivity

• Onthecontrary,formalfinancialinstitutionsarereluctanttolendafterloanwaivers

• Thiscouldmakeaccesstoformalcreditmoredifficultforsomefarmers

• Expenditureonloanwaiversalsoaffectstheabilityofthestate


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toundertakecapitalexpenditurewhichcanaffectgrowthinthemediumterm

• Moreannouncementsofdebtwaiversintherun-uptocrucialassemblyelectionslaterthisyearandtheLokSabhaelectionnextyearcouldfurtherreducefiscalspaceforstategovern-ments

• Sincestategovernmentsareincreasinglyraisingresourcesfromthebondmarket,higherissuancecancomplicatefiscalmanagement.

• Theshareofmarketborrowinginthefinancingoffiscaldefi-citisexpectedtotop90%inthecurrentyear,comparedwithabout61%in2015-16.

• Thematurityprofileofstategovernmentbondsshowsthatre-demptionpressurehasstartedincreasingsincethelastfiscal

• Also,largebondissuancesbystategovernmentshaveresultedinariseinthespreadoverCentralgovernmentsecurities

• Continuedhigherborrowingbystatescouldfurtherraisethecostofborrowingandaffecttheirabilitytoundertakedevel-opmentwork

• Theproportionofstatedeficitsinthegeneralgovernmentdeficithasgoneupinrecentyears

• TheRBInotesthatin2016-17,thegeneralgovernmentsectorpre-empted68%offinancialresourcesintheformofgrossdo-mestichouseholds’financialsavingsatabout9%ofGDP

• Macroeconomicimplications,asitisperhapscrowdingouttheprivatesector.Largegeneralgovernmentborrowingkeepsin-terestrateselevatedandaffectsprivateinvestment

• Thisisonereasonwhy,despitethecurrencyrisk,largebusi-nessestendtoborrowfrominternationalmarkets

• Asharpmovementincurrenciescanalwaysmakedebtservic-ingmoredifficultandalsoincreasecomplexityinmacroeco-nomicmanagement


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FinancialrelationsinIndia

• Article268to293dealswiththeprovisionsoffinancialrela-tionsbetweenCentreandStates

• TheConstitutiondividesthetaxingpowersbetweentheCen-treandthestatesasfollows

» DutiesLeviedbytheUnionbutCollectedandAppropriat-edbytheStates

» ServiceTaxareLeviedbytheCentrebutCollectedandAppropriatedbytheCentreandtheStates

» TaxesLeviedaswellasCollectedbytheUnion,butAs-signedtotheStates

» TaxesLeviedandCollectedbytheUnionandDistributedbetweenUnionandtheStates

» SurchargeoncertaindutiesandtaxesforpurposesoftheUnion

• Grants-in-Aid:BesidessharingoftaxesbetweentheCentreandtheStates,theConstitutionprovidesforGrants-in-aidtotheStatesfromtheCentralresources

• StatutoryGrants(Art.275)andDiscretionaryGrants(Art.282)

• EffectsofEmergencyonCentre-StateFinancialRelations

1. DuringNationalEmergency:ThePresidentbyordercandirectthatallprovisionsregardingdivisionoftaxesbetweenUnionandStatesandGrants-in-aidsremainsuspended.However,suchsuspensionshallnotgobeyondtheexpirationofthefi-nancialyearinwhichtheproclamationceasestooperate

2.DuringFinancialEmergency:UnioncangivedirectionstotheStates:-a)toobservesuchcanonsoffinancialproprietyasspecifiedinthedirection.b)Toreducethesalariesandallow-ancesofallpeopleservinginconnectionwiththeaffairsoftheState,includingHighCourtsjudges.c)Toreserveforthecon-siderationofthePresidentallMoneyandFinancialBills,aftertheyarepassedbytheLegislatureoftheState


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Absence of Fiscal Federalism

• TheIndianConstitution,whileexpresslyvestingtheCentrewithgreaterpowersoftaxation,alsoprovidesforaninstitu-tionalmechanism—theFinanceCommission—todeterminetheshareofthestateinthecentraltaxrevenues

• WhiledecidingthedevolutionoftaxesandtheprovisionsofgrantstheFinanceCommissionisrequiredtoaddressboththeverticalimbalancebetweentheCentreandtheStatesandthehorizontalimbalancebetweenstates

• Atpresent,about40percentofCentralrevenues(taxandnon-tax)aretransferredtotheStates,andthisincludesthegrants

• Despitetheenlargementoftheshareablepoolunderthe80thAmendmentwhichincludesallcentraltaxes,therevenueac-crualsoftheCentreandtheStateshavenotseenanymajorchanges

• Asymmetricalsharingofrevenueandresourcecrunchattheperipheryresultsinunevendevelopmentacrossthecountry

• ThecurrentGSTmeasureisfearedbymanystatestobeagainstfiscalfederalisminIndia

• ManystatesinIndiademandformorefinancialautonomyinIndia

Issues with the fiscal federalism in India

• InthecurrentfederalfiscalstructureofIndia,revenueaccounttransfersfromtheUniontotheStatesconstitutemorethanone-thirdofthetotalrevenueresourcesoftheStates,andhenceifUnion’srevenueperformancedeclines,statesalsogetaffected

• Thelowlevelsofincomeandwideinter-regionaldisparities

• Verticalimbalanceemergesbecauseofdisproportionatealign-mentofrevenuesourcesinrelationtoincreasingexpenditureobligationsbylevelofgovernment

• Thecentrehasvirtualmonopolyintwosourcesofrevenuelike


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foreignaidanddeficitfinancing.Thesesourcesarenotacces-sibletostates

• Continuedfinancialdependenceofstatesoncentrehasin-creasinglyerodedtheautonomyofstates

• Theroleoffinancecommissionhasbeenmarginalizedandre-ducedtothestatusoffillingrevenuegapsofstates

• Theuseofloansandgrantsbythestatehasresultedinfinan-cialdependencyandindisciplineonthepartofthestates.Thisalsoledtoasituationofinevitabledebtburdenonthepartofstates

• IndialackanewinstitutionalmechanismhasbeenproposedfortransfersoutsidetherecommendationsofFinanceCom-missionintheinterestofsoundfiscalfederalism

• Promoterofeconomicreforms:theFinanceCommissionhasputadditionalresponsibilityonNITIAayogtopromoteap-propriatepoliciesandschemesbothintheUnionandamongStatesonacontinuousbasis

• TheFinanceCommissionhaseschewedcategorizationofStates,buttheresponsibilityrelatingtospecialproblemsofselectStatswouldsquarelybethatofNITIAayog

• ConstitutionmandatestheUnionGovernmenttoplayadirectroleinsupportingthedevelopmentofVIthscheduleareas.However,thequantumofassistancegivenovertheyearstotheseregionsbyMinistriesintheUnionGovernmenthasbeenverylimited

Recent issue of Finance commission

• Populationisanindicatoroftheexpenditureneedsofastate.Overtheyears,FinanceCommissionshaveusedpopulationdataofthe1971Census.The14thFinanceCommissionusedthe2011populationdata,inadditiontothe1971data.The 15th

Finance Commission has been mandated to use data from the 2011 Census

• Areaisusedasacriterionasastatewithlargerareahastoin-curadditionaladministrativecoststodeliverservices


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• Incomedistanceisthedifferencebetweenthepercapitain-comesofastatewiththeaveragepercapitaincomeofallstates.Stateswithlowerpercapitaincomemaybegivenahighersharetomaintainequityamongstates.

• Forestcoverindicatesthatstateswithlargeforestcoversbearthecostofnothavingareaavailableforothereconomicactiv-ities.Therefore,therationaleisthatthesestatesmaybegivenahighershare

• Untilthe13thFinanceCommission,thepracticewastouse1971Censusdataentirely,whichwasthelastcensusbeforeaggres-sivefamilyplanninginitiativeswereimplemented.The1971dataisalsothebasisfordistributionofLokSabhaseats,forinstance

• Thepoliticalconsensusthatranthiscountrywas:wecannotarriveatratiosofdistributionbasedoncurrentpopulationafteraskingstatestoaggressivelyimplementfamilyplanningandcontrolpopulation

• Itwasafaircompromisetofreezeallocationratios–beitfornumberofMPsfromeachstateorforallocatingtaxmoney–givennotdoingsowouldpunishsuccessandbecounterpro-ductive

• Between1971and2011,KeralaandTamilNaduhadanabsolutegrowthinpopulationof56%and75%respectively;thelowestamongallstates.Thatisunderstandablegiventheirfertilityrateshavedroppedtobelowreplacementlevelsforagenera-tion

• Someexpertshavearguedthathavingaweight-agefactorfordroppingfertilityratesisapossibility

• Alowfertilityrateishighfemaleliteracy.TamilNaduhasal-mostcaughtupwithKeralaintermsoffemaleyouthliteracyandthat’stheprimaryreasonforitsdramaticallylowerpopu-lationgrowthrate


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Conclusion:

• NITIAayogcanplayasignificantroleforinter-governmentalequitabletransferschemestoreducedisparities

• Theremovalofdistinctionbetweenplanandnon-planexpen-ditureisnotmerelyanissueofclassification

• Toeffectpurposiveandeffectivetransferofresourcesaprop-erco-ordinationbetweenthevariousagencies

• Thenumberofdivisibletaxesshouldbeincreasedtoenlargetheresourcebaseofthestategovernment

• Adequatestepsshouldbeundertakentonarrowdowntheinterstatedisparitiesbyadoptingadeliberatepro-standinfa-vourofbackwardstates

• Intheprovisionoffinancialassistancedueweight-ageshouldbegivenforsocialandeconomicbackwardness

• Thestateshouldbegivenmoreautonomyinfinancialmatters

• India’sgeneralgovernmentdeficitisoneofthehighestamongitspeers

• It’stimetoalignthemonetaryandfiscaleconomies.Ifbankcreditgrowthfalls,fiscaldeficitmayneedtogoup.Ifbankcreditgrowthrises,fiscaldeficitshouldreduce.Thisisparticu-larlytrueforagrowingeconomylikeIndia

• Eventhoughgovernmentfinancesshouldimprovewiththestabilizationofthegoodsandservicestax,Indianeedsbet-terfiscalmanagementatboththestateandCentrallevelstoavoidcrowdingouttheprivatesector.Thiswillenablehigherinvestmentandhelpattainhighersustainablegrowth


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FormsofTrafficking

• Trafficking for forced labour: Victimsarerecruitedandtraf-fickedusingdeceptionandcoercionandfindthemselvesheldinconditionofslaveryinavarietyofjobs.

• Trafficking in women for sexual exploitation: Thisaffectseveryregionintheworld,eitherasasource,transitordestinationcountry.

• Commercial sexual exploitation of children in tourism:ThishasbeenapparentinAsiaformanyyearsandnowtakenholdinAfricaaswellasCentralandSouthAmerica.

• Trafficking for tissue, cells and organs: Traffickinginhumansforthepurposeofusingtheirorgans,inparticularkidneysisarapidlygrowingfieldofcriminalactivity.

• People Smuggling:Closelyconnectedtotraffickinginhumanbeingsistheissueofpeoplesmugglinginwhichsmugglersprocureforfinancialormaterialgain,theillegalentryofanindividualintoacountryofwhichheisneitheracitizennorapermanentresident.

HumanTraffickingInIndia

TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS (PREVENTION, PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION) BILL 2018 [GS-II & GS-III]

Background:

• Activistshaveappealedtoparliamentariansthatthedraftanti-traffickinglegislationbesenttotheStandingCommittee.

• Theyhaveappealedtothegovernmentthatthebillshouldexplicitlystatethatconsentingadultworkerswillnotbepenalisedunderthenewlaw

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• Asperofficialestimates,15childrengomissingeveryhourinIndiaand8areneverfound.

• AsperthedatafromHomeMinistry,1379casesofhumantraf-fickingwerereportedfromKarnatakaintheperiodoffouryears,inTamilNaduthenumberis2,244whereasAndhraPradeshhas2,157casesofhumantrafficking.

• Delhiisthehotspotforillegaltradeofyounggirlsfordomesticlabour,forcedmarriageandprostitution.

• HumantraffickingoutsideIndia,althoughillegalunderIndianlaw,remainsasignificantproblem.

• PeoplearefrequentlyillegallytraffickedthroughIndiaforthepurposesofcommercialsexualexploitationandforced/bond-edlabour.

• Althoughnoreliablestudyofforcedandbondedlabourhasbeencompleted,NGOs.

• Estimatetheseproblemaffects20to65millionwomenandgirlsaretraffickedwithinthecountryforthepurposesofcom-mercialsexualexploitationandforcedmarriageespeciallyinthoseareaswherethesexratioishighlyskewedinfavourofmen.

• Asignificantportionofchildrenaresubjectedtoforcedlabourasfactoryworkers,domesticservants,beggars,andagricul-tureworkers,andhavebeenusedasarmedcombatantsbysometerroristandinsurgentgroups.

• IndiaisalsoadestinationforwomenandgirlsfromNepalandBangladeshtraffickedforthepurposeofcommercialsexualexploitation.

• IndiahasratifiedthethreeprotocolsoftheUnitedNationsConventionagainstTransnationalOrganizedCrime,includingtheUNTraffickingProtocol.

Relatedlawsandprovisions

• Article23inIndianconstitutionprohibitstraffickingandforcedlabour.ItsaysTrafficinhumanbeingsandbegarandother


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similarformsofforcedlabourareprohibitedandanycontra-ventionofthisprovisionshallbeanoffencepunishableinac-cordancewithlaw

• IndiaalsohasthelegalprovisiontocountertraffickingaspertheImmoralTraffickingpreventionact1986

• In2013ParliamentenactedtheCriminalLaw(Amendment)Act,2013(CLA).Thoughitprimarilyincorporatestherapeandsexualassault,butitincludesrangeofotheroffencesdealingwithviolenceagainstthewomen,manyofwhicharenotpun-ishedevenundertheIndianPenalCode,1860(IPC)

• Itinsertednewsection370whichcriminalizesrecruiting,trans-porting,andreceivingbycertainmeansofabduction,abuse,power,andinducementforthepurposeofexploitation

• Itwasin2014thattheNationalCommissionforWomensup-portingforalegislationofsextradeandforlegalizingprosti-tutioninIndia.HoweverministryofwomenandchildandtheSCappointedpanelcameoutsharplyanddiscardingthepro-posalssayingthatitwouldmakethesituationmorevulnerableandwouldfurtherproliferatethetrafficking

India’sgovernmentpoliciescurbthismenace

• UjjawalaAcomprehensiveschemeforpreventionofTraffickingandRescueandRehabilitationandRe-integrationofvictimsoftraffickingforcommercialsexualexploitations

• SudharGrehASchemeforwomenindifficultcircumstances

• JuvenileJustice(careandprotectingofchildren)Act2002Actdefines,achildinneedofcareandprotectiontoincludeachild“whoisfoundvulnerableandislikelytobeinductedintotrafficking.However,thisschemeonlyappliestominorsde-finedaspersonsbelowtheageof18years

• CodeofCriminalProcedureResponsibilityforprovidingcompensationtotraffickingvic-timsisfragmentedbetweenthecentral93governmentandin-


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dividualstates.ThisislargelytheresultofSection357,CodeofCriminalProcedure,whichstatesthattheCentralGovernmentshouldberesponsibleforcompensatingvictimsofanycrime(notlimitedtotrafficking)whohavesufferedlossorinjury.However,itfailstonotetheformordegreeofsuchcompensa-tion

Issuesinpolicyimplementation

• India’straffickingrecoverylawsandpoliciesarepiecemealandhaphazardlyappliedmoreover,Lackofcoordinationamongthepoliceandgovernmentagencies.Forinstancetheholdingfacilitiesforrescuedtraffickedgirlsoftenhavemiserablecon-ditions

• Malevictimsofhumantraffickingfaceadoublebarriertopro-tectionbecausenotonlyaretheylesseasilyidentifiedandthuslesslikelytoberescued,buttheyarealsoleftwithoutanyrecourseaftertheyhavebeenrescuedfromtheirtraffickers

• In2013,Indiaenactedground-breakinglegislation,theCriminalLaw(Amendment)Actof2013,whichamendedvarioussec-tionsoftheIndianPenalCode,includingprovisionsonhumantraffickinginIndia

• ThesereformsreflectasteptowardsaligningthecountrywithitsobligationsundertheUnitedNationsProtocoltoPrevent,SuppressandPunishTraffickinginPersons,EspeciallyWomenandChildren(UNTraffickingProtocol)

UNODC’sResponsetoHumanTrafficking

• UNODCofferspracticalhelptoStates,notonlyhelpingtodraftlawsandcreatecomprehensivenationalanti-traffickingstrategiesbutalsoassistingwithresourcestoimplementthem

• Statesreceivespecializedassistanceincludingthedevelop-mentoflocalcapacityandexpertise,aswellaspracticaltoolstoencouragecross-bordercooperationininvestigationsandprosecutions

• Theadoptionin2000bytheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyoftheProtocoltoPrevent,SuppressandPunishTraffickingin


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Persons,EspeciallyWomenandChildrenmarkedasignificantmilestoneininternationaleffortstostopthetradeinpeople

• AvastmajorityofStateshavenowsignedandratifiedthePro-tocol.Buttranslatingitintorealityremainsproblematic.Veryfewcriminalsareconvictedandmostvictimsareprobablyneveridentifiedorassisted

FeaturesofBill

• Ittakesintoconsiderationaggravatedformsoftrafficking.Itincludestraffickingforpurposeofforcedlabour,begging,traffickingofawomanorchildforthepurposeofmarriageorunderthepretextofmarriageoraftermarriage,traffickingbyadministeringchemicalsubstanceorhormonesonapersonforthepurposeofearlysexualmaturityetc.

• Itprescribespunishmentforpromotingandfacilitatingtraf-fickingofperson.Itincludesproducing,printing,issuingordistributingunissued,tamperedorfakecertificates,regis-trationorstickersasproofofcompliancewithGovernmentrequirements,orcommitsfraudforprocuringorfacilitatingacquisitionofclearancesandnecessarydocumentsfromGov-ernmentagencies

• Itdealswithconfidentialityofvictimsandwitnessesandcom-plainantsbynotdisclosingtheiridentity.Itwillbemaintainedbyrecordingtheirstatementthroughvideoconferencing(itwillhelptrans-borderandinter-Statecrimes)

• Ithasprovisionfortimeboundtrialandrepatriationofthevictims.Itwillbewithinaperiodof1yearfromtakingintocognizance.Itprovidesimmediateprotectionofrescuedvic-timsandtheirrehabilitation.Thevictimswillbeentitledtoin-terimreliefimmediatelywithin30daystoaddresstheirphysi-cal,mentaltraumaetc.andfurtherappropriatereliefwithin60daysfromthedateoffilingofchargesheet

• ItcreatesdedicatedinstitutionalmechanismsatDistrict,StateandCentrallevel.Theywillberesponsibleforprevention,pro-tection,investigationandrehabilitationworkrelatedtotraf-ficking.ThetasksofAnti-TraffickingBureauatthenational


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levelwillbeperformedbyNationalInvestigationAgency(NIA)

• Thepunishmentprescribedunderitrangesfromrigorousmin-imum10yearstolifeandfinenotlessthanRs.1lakh.Inordertobreaktheorganizednexus,bothatnationalandinternationallevel,itmandatesforattachment&forfeitureofpropertyandalsoproceedsforcrime

• Itcomprehensivelyaddressestransnationalnatureofthecrime.ItentrustsNationalAnti-TraffickingBureau(NATB)toperformfunctionsofinternationalcoordinationwithauthori-tiesinforeigncountriesandinternationalorganizations

Theopposition

• Manyhavespokenoutagainstthedevastatingeffectsthatthenewbillcouldhaveonseveralstakeholderswhichincludemar-ginalisedgroupssuchaschildren,thetransgendercommunityandconsentingsex-workers.Infact,itisclaimedthatthebillisessentiallynothingbutaveiledattempttofurthercriminalisesexwork

• ThenewbillincludesaclausethatmakestransmissionorevenexposuretoHIVinaninstanceoftraffickingamongoneofthe‘AggravatedOffences’.ThiswouldhaveagraveimpactonthosesufferingfromHIV

• Consentingsexworkerswillbeseverelyhitbythebill.Thesexworkers’communitywhichisoneofthebiggeststakeholdersinanti-traffickinglegislationhavenotbeenconsultedbeforethedraftingofthisbill

• Thebillmakesgivingchemicalsorhormonestoanotherfortheiracceleratedsexualmaturityan“aggravatedoffence”,aclausethatleavesthetrans-communityinalurch

• Thenewbillalsoincludeschildvictimsoftrafficking.Childrightsactivistshaveraisedconcernsabouttheproposed‘re-habilitation’ofchildrenbyinstitutionalisingthem,apracticewhichhasoftenfacedinternationalcensure

Needforanti-traffickinglegislation


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• Morethan300,000childrenwentmissinginthecountrybetween2012and2017,governmentdatashows.Around100,000areyettobetracedanditisfearedthatmanyofthemcouldhavebeentrafficked

• In2016,forinstance,111,569childrenwerereportedmissing.Ofthese,55,944childrenweretracedbutonly8,132traffick-ingcaseswerereported.Manyofthesechildrenarevictimsofmodernslavery—forcedintoprostitution,labourordomesticwork

• Theyarealsousedasdrugmulesandevengivenupforadop-tionillegally.Povertyandlackofopportunityalsopushesalotofyoungwomen,especiallyfromtheinteriorpartsofWestBengal,Odisha,BiharandJharkhand,intoprostitution.

• Despitetheenormityoftheproblem,Indialacksasinglecom-prehensivelawforhumantrafficking.Atpresent,traffickingiscoveredunderhalf-a-dozenlawsresultinginconfusionandpoorenforcement

Humantrafficking

• Identifyingcasesofhumantraffickingisnoteasyasnocaseofhumantraffickinghasbeenregisteredsince2015

• Itisoftendifficultforthepolicetoidentifyahumantraffick-ingcaseatthesourcesincethevictimmayhavebeenluredthroughthefalsepromiseofmarriageorajob

• TheIndo-NepalTreatyofPeaceandFriendship,1950providesforanopenborderbetweenNepalandIndiaandthereisaseamlesshumanmovement

• Individualsarestoppedonlyonthebasisofsuspicion,intelli-genceorinformationfromfamilymembersorrelatives

Measuresneeded

• Closingthebordermaypreventcross-bordertrafficking,butitcouldalsoengendereconomicvulnerabilitiesforthosewhohavejobsorownbusinessesalongtheborder

• Itisimperativetocreateeconomicopportunities,particularly


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fortheyouth,withinthecountry.

• Nepal-Indiaborderneedstobeequippedwithenhancedintel-ligencenetworksandeffectivemonitoringmechanisms

Wayahead

• ThenewlawwillmakeIndiaaleaderamongSouthAsiancountriestocombattrafficking.Traffickingisaglobalcon-cernalsoaffectinganumberofSouthAsiannations.Amongstthem,Indiaisnowapioneerinformulatingacomprehensivelegislation.UNODCandSAARCnationsarelookingforwardtoIndiatotakeleadbyenactingthislaw


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ConcernsovertheproposedSocialmediahub:

• Masssurveillanceapparatusthataimsatcollectingandanalys-inghugevolumesofdata

• Profilingpeoplebasedonthedataandutilisingthisdatatopredictthemoodofpeopleonlineandissueresponses,includ-ingthosetargetedatindividualsorgroups

SOCIAL MEDIA HUB [GS-II & GS-III]

Background

• TheSupremeCourthastakenastrongnoteoftheInfor-mationandBroadcastingMinistry’sdecisiontosetupasocialmediahubformonitoringonlinedataandsaidthatitwillbelikecreatingasurveillancestate

• TheministryhadinAprilissuedatendernoticerequest-ingproposalsforprovidingsoftware,serviceandsup-portforthefunction,operationandmaintenanceofthesocialmediacommunicationhubineachdistrictofthecountry

• Thesocialmediaanalyticaltoolshouldhaveacompre-hensiveanalyticssystemtomonitorandanalysevariousaspectsofsocialmediacommunicationandWorldWideWeb

• Theanalyticaltoolmusthave“listeningandrespondingcapabilities”withrespectto“standarddigitalchannels”suchasTwitter,Instagram,YouTube,email,andblogs

• Thetoolmustalsobecapableofcategorizing“socialmediasentiments”aspositive,negativeandneutral“asviewed/consideredbytheministryofinformationandbroadcasting”andhelpinunderstandingtheimpactofvarioussocialmediacampaignsconductedonvariousschemesrunbythecentre

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• Thesocialmediaanalyticaltoolisexpectedto‘listen’tocon-versationsonallmajordigitalchannels,includingFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,LinkedIn,Tumblr,aswellasblogsandnewschannels

• Theabovesaidfeaturescompromisetherighttoprivacywhichisafundamentalright

• Intrusiveactiononthepartofthegovernmentiswithouttheauthorityoflaw

• ItalsoinfringesfundamentalrighttofreedomofspeechunderArticle19(1)(a)oftheConstitution

• ThemoveisanakedviolationofArticles14,19(1)(a)and21

• Thecollecteddatacouldbeutilisedtomanipulateelectoraloutcomes

Socialmediacommunicationhub

• Thehubproposestomonitorsocialmedia(Facebook,Twitter,Instagramandevenemail)handlesattheverylocallevelinmultiplelanguages

• Italsoaimstocarryout“sentimentanalysis”,trackdowntheinfluence-makingsocialmediausers

• Furthertocategorisetheconversationsonsocialmediaintopositive,negativeandneutralsections

• Italsoaimedtotrackrealtimethewaysocialmediareceivesnewsongovernment’sschemesandannouncementsandalsopoliticalevents

BenefitsofSocialmediaHub

• Thisinformationwouldhelpthegovernmentinformulatingpolicies,schemesorrectifyanyflawsintheirimplementationatthegroundlevel

• Itcanalsomaketheschemesandprogrammesmorebenefi-ciaryorientedresponsivegovernance

• Commonmanisbenefitedtohaveadirectwaytocommuni-


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cateanycomplaintsregardingthesametotheGovernment

• Enablethegovernmenttounderstandtheimpactofsocialmediacampaignsonwelfareschemesandimprovethereachofsuchcampaigns

• Itcouldalsohelptofilterthefakenewsfromthesocialmedia

• Helpstheauthoritiestochecktheunreliableinformationanddatathatcouldteartheveryfabricofthesociety

• Themisuseofsocialmediaplatformstoworkagainstthena-tionalinterestcanbecurbed

• Theradicalisationofyouthcouldbeminimisedwithadvancedsurveillanceinplace

Socialmediamanagers

• Aspertheproposal,theprojectismeanttostrengthenthesocialmediadivisionandrecruitsocialmediamanagerstobedeployedin712districtsofthecountry

• Eachdistrictwillhaveonesocialmediamanagerwhowillbeentrustedwiththetasksofkeepingacloseeyeontheregionalandlocalmedia,collectingdataofregionalmediaandoflocalevents

• Providingcontentforsocialmediaandsupportingmediaunitsattheregionallevelforsocialmediapublicity

Roleofsocialmediamanagers

• Thesesocialmediamanagerswillalsomonitorlocaleditionsofnewspapers,localcablechannels,localaudiochannels(FM)andkeylocalsocialmediahandlesforimportantlocaldevel-opments

• Theywillmakeadailyanalysisreportincorporatinglocalsen-timentstobesenttoregionheadinthePIBaswellastheme-diahub.(Commandcentre)


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Concernswithsocialmediahub

• Theproposaltosetupsuchahubhadturnedcontroversial,asmanycalleditanindirectmeasureto“snoop”onandinfluencevoters

• Itcouldbecomeasurveillanceapparatusoverordinarycitizenandtheirrighttoprivacy

Fakenewsissue

• Astheincidentofwithdrawalofthefakenewscircularindi-cates,thefreespeechimplicationsathanddemandacaution-aryapproach.Apreliminaryissueisadifficultyindefiningfakenewsoridentifyingit

• Whilemisinformationspreadthroughsocialmediahascap-turedpublicattention,thefakenewsitselfisanamorphouscategory,including–

» misleadingnews,

» unverifiedcontent,

» hoaxes,and

» Fabricatedpicturesinthenatureofinternetmemes

• Theassessmentmayinvolvedistinguishingmerepoorjournal-ismfromdeliberateattemptstospreadmisinformation

• Anytop-downregulationthatdefinesfakenewssimplyascontainingfalsehoodmaybesettingitselfupforfailure

HowtodealwithFakeNews

• Pre-censorshipofnewsandinformation,whilebeingvirtuallyimpossibleduetothespeedofcontentcreation,willalsovio-latetheguaranteeoffreespeechunderArticle19(1)(a)oftheConstitution

• Ontheonehand,suchlegislationcoulddivestindividualsofautonomy

• Pre-Censorshipcouldbolsterthepowerofthegovernmenttocensoropinionsitisuncomfortablewith.(surveillancestate)


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• AnyscreeninginthecontextofsocialmediaapplicationssuchasWhatsAppcouldalsoviolatethefundamentalrighttopri-vacyrecognizedbytheSupremeCourt

• Acautionaryapproachwarrantsavoidingoverarchingregu-lationintheformofanti-fakenewslegislation,irrespectiveofthebenignityofitsmotivations

• Entrustingajudge,thestateorcompanieslikeFacebookwiththetaskofmakinganevaluationofveracitywillfacilitatejudi-cial,governmentorprivatecensorship

• Thiscanbreedachillingeffectandself-censorship

Decentralizedapproachagainstfakenews

• Toensurecriticalmedialiteracy,withcriticaldigitalliteracyasacomponent

» Itwouldfocusonencouragingindividualstolearntheskillsrequiredtonavigatetheinternetandquestionthecontenttheyareexposedto.

» Usersshouldunderstandthelimitationsofdigitalmedia.

• Tonurtureageneralcultureofscepticismamongcitizensto-wardsinformationavailableonnewmedia’s

» Goodpractices,suchasverifyingthesourceofthenewsandcorroborationwithrelatednews,oughttobead-vancedinschoolsandthroughpubliceducationcam-paigns

» Theroleofthedistrictadministrationandlocalcommuni-tyleadersisimperativeinthisregard

» RTIcouldbeactasatoolorvoluntarydisclosureofinfor-mationbyconcernedorganisations

• LimitedLegalInterventionscanbeexplored

» Inalimitedsetofsituations,suchaswhenthereisthreattolifeornationalsecurity,targetedandproportionatele-galinterventionscanbeexplored

» Theyshouldbeaccountableforexistingspeechoffences


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toavoidoverlap

» Despitetheirownflaws,existingprovisionsonhatespeech,seditionanddefamationalreadydealwithcertainkindsofharmthatmaybesubstantiallysimilartothoseposedbyfakenews

Socialmediaandinternalsecuritythreat

• AccordingtotheCisco2013AnnualSecurityReport,thehigh-estconcentrationsofonlinesecuritythreatsareonmassaudi-encesites,includingsocialmedia

• TherapidspreadoffalseinformationthroughsocialmediaisamongtheemergingrisksidentifiedbytheWorldEconomicForuminitsGlobalRisks2013Report

DifferentInternalSecuritythreatsduetoSocialMediaare:

• Cyberterrorism

• OnlineFraud

• OnlinesexracketsandPornbusiness

• Criminalactivityandmoneylaundering

• Internationalandtrans-boundarythreats

• Communalviolenceandfanningtensions

• Virtualcommunitieswithantinationalsentiments

• Cybersecurityisbecomenationalsecurity

ChallengesinMonitoringSocialMedia

• ServerLocationandLawsofDifferentCountries

• EncryptedMessage

• ComplicatedNetworks

• Rapidlychangingnatureofcrimes

• Dynamicnatureoftechnology


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FinancialActionTaskForce

• TheFinancialActionTaskForce(FATF)isaninter-governmen-talbodyestablishedin1989bytheMinistersofitsMemberjurisdictionsatG7

• Indiabecamethe34thcountrymemberoftheFinancialAc-tionTaskForcein2010.IndiaisalsoasignatorytovariousUnitedNationsConventionswhichdealwithanti-moneylaun-deringandcounteringfinancingofterrorism

• TheFATFSecretariatishousedattheOECDheadquartersinParis

• TheobjectivesoftheFATFaretosetstandardsandpromoteeffectiveimplementationoflegal,regulatoryandoperationalmeasuresforcombatingmoneylaundering,terroristfinancingandotherrelatedthreatstotheintegrityoftheinternationalfinancialsystem

• TheFinancialActionTaskForcecreatesuniversally-applicablerecommendationsthataredesignedtoensurethatallcoun-triesparticipatingaretreatedequally

• Becausemoneylaundererschangetechniquesovertime,theFATFhastoupdateitsrecommendationseverycoupleofyears

• TheFATFisthereforea“policy-makingbody”whichworksto

FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE(FATF) [GS-III]

Context

TheFinancialActionTaskForcehasplacedPakistanonthe‘greylist’forfailingtocurbanti-terrorfinancing.Thedeci-sionwastakenattheglobalfinancialwatchdogFinancialActionTaskForce’s(FATF)plenarysessionheldrecentlyinParis.

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generatethenecessarypoliticalwilltobringaboutnationallegislativeandregulatoryreformsintheseareas

• TheFATFmonitorstheprogressofitsmembersinimplement-ingnecessarymeasures,reviewsmoneylaunderingandterror-istfinancingtechniquesandcounter-measures,andpromotestheadoptionandimplementationofappropriatemeasuresglobally

• Incollaborationwithotherinternationalstakeholders,theFATFworkstoidentifynational-levelvulnerabilitieswiththeaimofprotectingtheinternationalfinancialsystemfrommisuse

• TheFATF’sdecisionmakingbody,theFATFPlenary,meetsthreetimesperyear

BenefitsofimplementingtheFATFRecommendations

• Securingamoretransparentandstablefinancialsystemthatismoreattractivetoforeigninvestors

• Ensurethatfinancialinstitutionsarenotvulnerabletoinfiltra-tionorabusebyorganisedcrimegroups

• Buildthecapacitytofightterrorismandtraceterroristmoney

• Meetbindinginternationalobligations,andavoidtheriskofsanctionsorotheractionbytheinternationalcommunity

• Avoidbecomingahavenforcriminals

Implicationsofrecentdevelopments

• PakistanremainedontheFATFgreylistfrom2012to2015

• Theplacementonthe‘greylist’couldhurtPakistan’seconomyaswellasitsinternationalstanding

• The37-memberFATFisavoluntarygroup,withoutmuchpowertoenforceitsruling,itworksthrough“peerpressure”and“namingandshaming”countriesintocomplianceonterrorfinancebyputtingthemon“greylistsandblacklists”

• Pakistanisobviouslynotimmunetotheirorders,andisalsofacinggrowingpressurefromtheUStocooperate


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• TheFATFmovewillensurethatPakistancurtailsactivitiesofallgroupsunderthescanner,andkeepglobalterroristsinde-tentionfortheforeseeablefuture

Developmentssofar

• TheprocessbeganinFebruary2018whenFATFapprovedthenominationofPakistanformonitoringunderitsInternationalCooperationReviewGroup(ICRG)commonlyknownas‘greyList’

• Pakistanwasaskedtoprepareaplantoaddressinternation-albody’sconcernsandgetitsapprovaloritcouldriskbeingmovedtotheblacklist

• Itpresenteda26-pointplanofactiontotheFATFplenarywiththecommitmenttoimplementitoveraperiodof15monthstoaddresstheconcernsoftheglobalcommunity

• TheendorsementoftheplanmeansthatFATFformallyplacedPakistanonthelist.Incaseithadrejectedtheplan,PakistanwouldhavebeenonFATF’sPublicStatement,alsocalledastheblacklist

•

EffortsbyPakistan

• OnJune20,theSecuritiesandExchangeCommissionofPaki-stanissuedAntiMoneyLaunderingandCounteringFinancingofTerrorismRegulations2018,incompliancewithFATFrec-ommendations

• OnJune8,theNationalSecurityCommittee(NSC)reaffirmeditscommitmenttocooperatewiththeFATF

• ByJanuarynextyear,Pakistanwillpublishupdatedlistsofper-sonsandentitiesproscribedundertheAnti-TerrorismActandtheUN-designatedentities

WhatwasIndia’sProposalabout?

• Recently,ChinablockedIndia’sproposalagainstMasoodAzhar,thePakistan-basedchiefoftheJaish-e-Mohammedin


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thelistofglobalterrorists,inthe15-memberUNSCcommittee

• Pakistanfailedtopenaliseorcurbtheactivitiesofanyoftheterrorgroups[designatedbytheUNSC]

• EvenIndiafacedaChinesevetoondesignatingMasoodAzharaterroristattheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil

• IndiaraisedtheissueattheInternationalCooperationReviewGroup(ICRG)inArgentina

• IndiascoredamajorvictoryattheFinancialActionTaskForce(FATF)thatlooksintoterrorfinancing

Whatisthesignificanceofthismove?

• ChinatriedhardtodefendPakistanduringtheFATFproceed-ings,butunlikeattheUN,twospeakingcountriesareneededtoblockconsensus,andChinawasisolatedthere

• AccordingtothedirectiveoftheFATFs’InternationalCooper-ationReviewGroup(ICRG),PakistanhasbeenaskedtoreportagaininFebruaryonactiontakenagainstdesignatedterrorgroupssuchastheLashkar-e-Taibaanditsoff-shoots

• ManycountriessupportedIndiaandnowPakistanhastosub-mitacompliancereportduringthenextsessioninFebruary2018

• Alsoforthefirsttime,Pakistan’sCentralBank,theStateBankofPakistan(SBP),hasbeenaskedspecificallytoreportonitsworkinshuttingoffthefinancestothegroups

• Areporton“SBP’senforcementactivityasitrelatestoensur-ingcomplianceofthestatutoryregulatoryorders[onterrorfinancing]andpenalisingnon-compliance”hasalsobeende-manded

• ThisseenasaresultofIndia’smoveonselectiveapproachestounderminetheinternationalcommunity’sresolvetocombatterrorism

SignificanceforIndia

• Indianhasbecomeafull-fledgedmemberofFinancialAction


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TaskForce(FATF)

• FATFmembershipisveryimportantforIndiainitsquesttobecomeamajorplayerintheInternationalfinance

• Securingamoretransparentandstablefinancialsystemthatismoreattractivetoforeigninvestors

• Ensurethatfinancialinstitutionsarenotvulnerabletoinfiltra-tionorabusebyorganisedcrimegroups

• Buildthecapacitytofightterrorismandtraceterroristmoney

• ItwillhelpIndiatobuildthecapacitytofightterrorismandtraceterroristmoneyandtosuccessfullyinvestigateandpros-ecutemoneylaunderingandterroristfinancingoffences

• Indiawillbenefitinsecuringamoretransparentandstablefinancialsystembyensuringthatfinancialinstitutionsarenotvulnerabletoinfiltrationorabusebyorganizedcrimegroups

• TheFATFprocesswillalsohelpusinco-ordinationofAn-ti-MoneyLaundering/CombatingtheFinancingofTerrorism(AML/CFT)effortsattheinternationallevel

• Meetbindinginternationalobligations,andavoidtheriskofsanctionsorotheractionbytheinternationalcommunity

WhatarethestepstakenbyIndia?

• RBIhasprohibitedIndianentitiesfrommakingdirectinvest-mentsinanyentitylocatedinNon-CooperativeCountriesandTerritories(NCCT)asidentifiedbyFinancialActionTaskForce(FATF)

• TheprohibitionisforaligninginstructionsunderFEMA(For-eignExchangeManagementAct)withtheobjectivesoftheFATF

• TheNCCTinitiativesprincipalobjectiveistoreducethevulner-abilityofthefinancialsystemtomoneylaunderingbyensuringthatallfinancialcentresadoptandimplementmeasuresforthedetection,preventionandpunishmentofmoneylaunder-ingaccordingtointernationallyrecognizedstandards


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Question

TheFinancialActionTaskForce(FATF)hasbecomethespear-headagainstglobaleffortscombatingthefinancingofterrorism(CFT).AnalysethebasisforFATF’sgrowingeffectivenessinthefightagainstterroristfinanceandhowithelpsIndiatodealwithcross-borderterrorism.Discuss?


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NUTRITIONAL SECURITY VS FOOD SECURITY [GS-III]

Context

• Malnutritionreferstothesituationwherethereisanunbalanceddietinwhichsomenutrientsareinex-cess,lackingorwrongproportioni.e.undernutritionorover-nutrition

• TheUN’sStateofFoodSecurityandNutritionintheWorldreportfor2017hasimportantpointerstoachieveNutritionpolicyreform

• Althoughabsolutenumbersofpeoplefacinghungerandpoornutritionhavealwaysbeenhigh,therewasareductionintherateofundernourishmentsincetheyear2000

• Thathasslowedfrom2013,registeringaworryingin-creasein2016

• AccordingtoFoodandAgricultureOrganization(FAO)ofUNIndiahasthehighestnumber(onequarter)ofun-dernourished(hungry)peopleintheworld(194.6millionor15percentofIndia’stotalpopulationduring2014-16)

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Malnutrition:AGlobalEpidemic

• Theestimateof815millionpeopleenduringchronicfooddeprivationin2016,comparedto775millionin2014

• Moreimportantisthefindingthatthedeprivationisevengreateramongpeoplewholiveinregionsaffectedbyconflictandtheextremeeffectsofclimatechange

• Inaconfoundingfinding,though,thereportsaysthatchildun-der-nutritionratescontinuetodrop,althoughoneinfourchil-drenarestillaffectedbystunting


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• Theseareaveragesanddonotreflectthedisparitiesamongregions,withincountriesandbetweenStates

• Yet,theimpactoftheeconomicdownturn,manyviolentcon-flicts,fallincommodityexportrevenues,andfailureofagricul-tureowingtodroughtandfloodsareallmakingfoodscarceandexpensiveformany

• ItstandsasasetbacktoallcountriestryingtomeettheSus-tainableDevelopmentGoalonendinghungerandachievingfoodsecurityandimprovednutrition

• TheCentreandStategovernmentsarewoefullyshortonthecommitmenttoendundernourishment

MalnutritioninIndia

• GreenrevolutionturnedIndiaintoFoodsurplusnation,butmalnutritionstillprevails

• The2017GlobalHungerIndex(GHI)ReportrankedIndia97thoutof118countrieswithaserioushungersituation.AmongstSouthAsiannations,itranksthirdbehindonlyAfghanistanandPakistan

• ThestateofhungerandmalnutritioninIndiaisworrying

• StatisticscompiledbytheFoodandAgriculturalOrganisation(FAO)showthatIndiahasthehighestnumberofundernour-ishedpeopleintheworld(194.6millionor15percentofIndia’stotalpopulationduring2014-16)

• Hungerandundernourishmentleadtosevereproblems

• Childrenandyouthinthisstatesufferfromnumerousnutri-tionaldeficiencieswhichadverselyimpacttheiroverallhealth

• InIndia,datafor2015-16showthefollowing:

» 38percentofchildrenbelowfiveyears(urban:31%,rural:41%)arestunted(lowheightforage)

» 25.6percent(urban:23%,rural:23%)arewasted(lowweightforheight)

» 36percent(urban:29%,rural:38%)areunderweight(low


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weightforage)

» 2percentwereoverweightin2006(abovenormalweightforheight);and

» 58percentofchildrenagedbetween6and59months(urban:56%,rural:59%)areanaemic

» Malnutritioninchildrenunder-fivealsoresultsinnearlyhalfofthe1.3milliondeathsoccurringinthecountryeachyear

» AmongIndia’sadolescents,theproportionofoverweightandobesewasestimatedat11percentandtwopercent,respectively,in2007

» Dataonanaemiashowthat56percentofyounggirlsand30percentofyoungboysintheagegroupof15-19yearsareanaemic

» Atthenationallevel,53%ofwomenareanaemic.

• AccordingtoNFHS2015-16,everysecondtribalchildsuffersfromgrowthrestrictingmalnutritionduetochronichunger.

• SuchacutefoodinsecurityintribalhouseholdsisduetoalossoftheirtraditionaldependenceonforestlivelihoodandtheState’sdeepeningagrariancrisis

• Besidesthese,systemicissuesandaweakeningofpublicnu-tritionprogrammeshaveaggravatedtheproblem

• Forexample,20%oftribalfamiliesdidnotreceiverations(publicdistributionsystem)inVikramgad(inPalghar,Maharas-tra)astheydidnothaveacard

• India’seffortsatimprovingaccesstofoodandgoodnutritionareledbytheNationalFoodSecurityAct

NationalFoodSecurityAct,2013:

• NationalFoodSecurityAct,2013(NFSA)isthelandmarklawcameinthewakeoffightingthehungerandmalnutritioninaffordablepriceandtolivewithdignity

• TheNationalFoodSecurityAct,2013isanactoftheParlia-


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mentwhichaimstoprovidesubsidizedfoodgrainstoapproxi-matelytwothirdofIndia’s1.2billionpeople

• TheActwassignedintolawon12September2013,retroactiveto5July2013

Needforfoodsecurityact

• Around40%ofIndianchildrenhavemalnutritionproblem

• 72%ofinfantand52%ofmarriedwomenhaveanaemia

• TomeetgoalofSustainabledevelopmentgoalsandalsocorepurposeofNFSA

• Needforhumanresourcesformation

• Tofulfilspiritofsocialandeconomicjustice

KeyfeaturesoftheNationalFoodSecurityAct

• Undertheprovisionofthebill,beneficiariesofthePublicDis-tributionSystemareentitledto5kgperpersonpermonthofcerealsatRs.3,2,and1forRice,wheatandcoarsegrainsrespectively

• CoverageandentitlementunderTargetedPublicDistributionSystem(TPDS):Upto75%oftheruralpopulationand50%oftheurbanpopulationwillbecoveredunderTPDS

• Statewisecoverage:PlanningCommissionhasdeterminedtheState-wisecoveragebyusingtheNSSHouseholdCon-sumptionSurveydatafor2011-12

• IdentificationofHouseholds:WithinthecoverageunderTPDSdeterminedforeachState,theworkofidentificationofeligiblehouseholdsistobedonebyStates/UTs

• NutritionalSupporttowomenandchildren:Pregnantwom-enandlactatingmothersandchildrenintheagegroupof6monthsto14yearswillbeentitledtomealsasperprescribednutritionalnormsunderIntegratedChildDevelopmentSer-vices(ICDS)andMid-DayMeal(MDM)schemes.Highernutri-tionalnormshavebeenprescribedformalnourishedchildrenupto6yearsofage.


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• MaternityBenefit:PregnantwomenandlactatingmotherswillalsobeentitledtoreceivematernitybenefitofnotlessthanRs.6,000

• WomenEmpowerment:Eldestwomanofthehouseholdofage18yearsorabovetobetheheadofthehouseholdforthepurposeofissuingofrationcards

• GrievanceRedressalMechanism:Grievanceredressalmecha-nismattheDistrictandStatelevels

• TransparencyandAccountability:ProvisionshavebeenmadefordisclosureofrecordsrelatingtoPDS,socialauditsandset-tingupofVigilanceCommitteesinordertoensuretransparen-cyandaccountability

• FoodSecurityAllowance:Provisionforfoodsecurityallow-ancetoentitledbeneficiariesincaseofnon-supplyofentitledfoodgrainsormeals

• Penalty:Provisionforpenaltyonpublicservantorauthority,tobeimposedbytheStateFoodCommission,incaseoffailuretocomplywiththereliefrecommendedbytheDistrictGriev-anceRedressalOfficer

MajorConcernsregardingNFSA

1. Distortionofagriculturalpatterns

» Smallfarmerswhogogrowgrainsforpersonalconsump-tionmayshifttoothercropstomakemoremoneyandbuysubsidisedgrain

» Assuredofcheapfood,smallfarmersthatproducedgrainforself-consumptionmaystopcultivatingcerealsandshifttoothercrops.Thiscanaffectfoodgrainoutput

2.Indiacouldbecomemassivelydependentonimports

» India’scommodityimportstendtomoveglobalprices.ShouldIndiabeforcedtobuygrainfrominternationalmarketbecauseofthefoodsecuritylaw,itwouldhavetopayheavyprices

3.One-thirdpopulationmayhavetopaysteepprices


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» Thegovernmentwillneedtoprocurefoodgrainsinlargequantitiestomeetthedemandsofthelaw.Thiswouldrequiresharpincreaseinminimumsupportpricestoin-centivisefarmers.Asaresulttherecouldbelowersupplyinopenmarket

4.Foodsubsidybillwillrisesharply

» ThecostatwhichtheFoodMinistrywillmakeadditionalgrainavailableisanissuetobeconsidered.Awidecover-ageandthrowawayissuepriceforfoodgrainsundertheschemewillincreasefoodsubsidysharply

» Itmaysqueezeoutprivatetradersfromthegrainmarket,givingstateagenciessuchastheFoodCorporationofIn-diatotaldominanceinthetrade

» Itmayputahugesubsidyburdenonthegovernment,whichcanderailthefiscalsituation

5.Overallinflationwillrise

» Ifamajorrice-consumingStatesuchasTamilNaduenterstheopenmarket,seekingtoprocurericeinhugequanti-ties,thepriceofthecommoditywillnaturallyincrease

» HigherMSPforcerealsanddemandforotherfooditemsbecauseoflowerhouseholdspendingoncerealswillpushupfoodinflationandtheoverallinflation

6.Overallcorruptionandmalpracticesmayrise

» Theremaybemanyleakagesandmalpractices

» Irregularsupplyofrationisabiggerissuethatgettingrationatsubsidisedrates.Theaccessibilityandquantitywheatorricemadeavailabletothepoorisalwaysatthediscretionoftherationshopkeeper.Thegovernmentmustensuretocurbhoardingoffoodgrain

» Responsibilityandaccountabilityshouldbestrictlyen-forced,withoutanyleniencyofanytype

Problems in implementation of NFSA


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• TheNationalfoodsecurityAct,whichisvitalforsocialsecu-ritythroughthePublicDistributionSystemandchildwelfareschemes,hassufferedduetoalackofpoliticalwill

• Identificationofeligiblehouseholdsbyfewstateswasnotdoneintime

• Manystatesneitherhaveadequategrainstoragefacilitiesnorasystemofdoor-stepdeliveryofgrainstofairpriceshops(FPS)–bothrequirementsthattheCentrestressesaremanda-tory

• AneffectivegrievanceredressmechanismtoimplementtheActwasalsomissing

• Besides,end-to-endcomputerisationofTPDSoperationswasalsopending

• ThereisashortageoffairpriceshopsinIndia.Whilethereare6lakhvillagesinIndia,thereareonly5.35lakhfairpricerationshopsfordisbursementoffoodgrains

• Duplicationofbeneficiaries,bogusrationcards,preparednessinallocationanderroneousregistrationsaresomeotherprob-lemsthatthestateshadtoface

SupremeCourtdirectionsonNFSA

• TheSupremeCourtdirectedtostatestosetupStateFoodCommissionandVigilanceCommitteesineverystatebytheendofyearandsetupsocialauditmachinery

• ThecourtalsodirectedthegovernmenttoframerulesanddesignateindependentofficialsforagrievanceredressalmechanismundertheActwithinayear

• ThedirectivesintheSwarahAbhiyancaseunderscorethede-pressingrealitythatseveralStategovernmentshavenotmetkeyrequirementsinthelegislationwhichempowerthecom-monpeopleinsecuringsubsidizedfood

• Thecourtpointedout,Article256,whichcastsaresponsibilityontheStatesandtheUniontoensurecompliancewithlawsmadebyParliament,alsoprovidestheremedy,asitcanbein-


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vokedbytheCentretosetthingsright

Challenges to NFSA

• Foodgrainsundertheactwillbedistributedthroughtheal-readyexistingPDS.However,thesePDSshavemanyloopholessuchasleakagesoffoodgrains,corruptionetc.

• Theexactnumberofpoorisnotcalculatedcorrectly.Differentdepartmentsaregivingdifferentfigures

• Thehugesubsidyandincurringcostwillleadtofiscaldeficit

• AsmostofthefoodgrainswillbeprocuredbyGovt.exportswillreduced,whichisabigthreattotheeconomy

• Smallfarmersmayshifttoothercrops,astheymaygetthesubsidizedfoodgrains.Thismayreducetheproductionoffoodgrains

Solution for the effective implementation of NFSA

• Thereshouldhavefull-fledged,independentmachineryintheformofaFoodCommission,anddistrict-levelgrievancere-dress,besidessocialaudits

• ModernisationofthePDS,withtheuseofinformationtechnol-ogy,couldincorporatesuchdynamicfeaturestothesupplyofsubsidizedfoodtothosewhoneedit,andeliminatedeficien-ciesandfraud

• TomakeFoodSecurityActasuccessfulmission,effortstakenshouldbetakentowardsitsproperimplementation,monitor-ingandevaluationbyanindependentbody

• EffectiveimplementationofNFSAwouldmakeanimportantcontributiontofoodsecurityandimprovednutritioninthecountry

• ButthePDSsystemmustbestrengthenedtoavoidcorruptionandleakages

• Procurementpricemustbeincreased.Farmersmustbepro-tected.Ifthislawisimplementedeffectively,itcanhelpineradicatinghunger


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Solutions to food nutritional security

• Policyshifts-Policymakersmustshifttheirattentiontotheroleofbiodiversityandthepoweroflocalfarmingsystemstoimprovenutritionalstatus

• Bio-fortification–Thiswillhelptoovercomehiddenhungercausedbymicronutrientdeficienciessuchasiron,iodine,zinc,vitaminA,andvitaminB12

• Indiaalsoneedstheoperationalisationofanationalnutritionsurveillancesystem

• Thereexiststheneedtocollectandmaintainreal-timedataonvariousnutritionindicatorsusingICTandGIS

• TheEnergyandResourcesInstitute(TERI)hasmadeanefforttohelpachievenutritionalsecuritybydesigningandimple-mentingareplicablemodelthatincludesoptimaluseofeas-ilyavailableminimallocalresourcesincorporatingtraditionalknowledgewhileencouragingcommunitiestoinculcatethebestnutritionalpractices

• Researchconnections-Theconnectionsbetweenagricultur-alandnutritionalresearchwithextensionservicesandpolicyneedstobeimproved

• Useoftraditionalvarieties-Underusedtraditionalcropssuchasmillets,pulseswillincreaseagriculturalproductionandim-provenutritionandhealthinhigh-needareas

• Empoweringwomen-Womenfarmersarethedirectrecipi-entsofdevelopmentimpacts,suchasaccesstomarketsandincome,toimprovetheirsandtheirchildren’saccesstoade-quateanddiversifieddiets.Theycarryout70%offarmactiv-itiesasalowskilledlabour.Henceempoweringwomenisoneofthebestwaystoimprovenutrition

• OptimizetheGovernmentofIndiaprogramslikeICDS,Nation-alChildren’sFundandNationalHealthMissiontoconvergethegrowingrateofundernutritionchildren

• Thereisconsiderablepotentialintargetingunderusedcropssuchasmillets,pulses,andvegetablesasasustainablemeans


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ofincreasingagriculturalproductionandimprovingnutritionandhealthinhigh-needareas

• Homegardenscouldprovidehouseholdswithupto135kgoflegumes,vegetables,tubers,leafygreens,andgourdsperyear

Conclusion

• Improvingnutritionisamajorgoaloftheseagriculturalpro-grammesandpolicies

• Acriticalaspectofnutrientadequacyis“dietdiversity”,calcu-latedbydifferentgroupingsoffoodsconsumedwiththerefer-enceperiodrangingfromoneto15days

• However,substantialevidenceconfirmsthatincreasesinag-riculturalproductionaloneand/orincreasedincomedonotnecessarilytranslateintoimproveddietsandnutritionwithoutconcurrentandwell-designednutritioneducationandbe-haviourchangeapproaches

• Women’sempowermentandinter-sectoralcollaborationcanalsohelpinoptimizetheresultsofvariousschemes

• Further,nutritioninterventionsandtrackingprogresscannotbedonewithoutsufficientinformationandreliable,updateddata

• Theinstitutionalaspectsofprogrammedelivery,technicalca-pacitieswithmajorfocusonresearchandintersectoralcol-laborationshouldbewellunderstood.Itisimportanttoknowwhichtypeofprogrammesdeliversthegreatestbenefittotargetbeneficiariesandarelikelytohavethegreatestimpact


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POLICE REFORMS IN INDIA [GS-III]

Context

SupremeCourtadvisedtheStategovernmentstoconsultUPSCforselectingpolicechiefs.ThewayPoliceforcesworkinIndianeedsalotofreforms.Policeneedmoreau-tonomy,professionalism,fixedtenureandsoon.

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RoleofPoliceinaParliamentaryDemocracy

• Thereisnodoubtthatpolicehaveavitalroleinaparliamenta-rydemocracy

• Thepoliceensuresafetyandsecurityofthesociety

• Therateandcomplexityofthecrimehaveincreasedovertheyearsaddingnewdimensionstotheresponsibilitiesofpolice

• ThepresentIndianpolicesystemislargelyalegacyoftheBrit-ishruleinIndiasinceitisbasedonthePoliceActof1861

A.H.LFraserCommission

A.H.LFraser,thechairmanofthecommissionappointedbytheBritishin1902said:

“The police force is far from efficient, it is defective in training and organizing, it is inadequately supervised, it is generally re-garded as corrupt, oppressive and it utterly failed to secure the confidence and cordial cooperation of the people”

• Since1902,littlehaschangedinthestructureandfunctionsofourpolicesystem

• ThefunctionsofthepoliceduringtheBritishtimearedifferentfromthefunctionsthataretobeperformedaftertheindepen-dence

• Afterindependence,Indiahadadoptedthemostinclusiveand


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comprehensiveconstitutiontoensurethewelfareoftheciti-zensbuttheinstitutionofpolicewhichisresponsibleforim-plementingthelawandorderwasnotoverhauled

PoliceisaStateSubject

• Policeisanexclusivestatesubjectandthecenterhasitslim-itationsinthisregard

• Afterindependence,somestatescameoutwiththeirownpo-liceacts

• Forexample,theBombayPoliceact,1951;theKeralaPoliceact1960;theDelhiPoliceact,1978

• However,allofthesepoliceactswereareplicaoftheIndianpoliceact,1861.Thishasinextremesituationsmadethesitu-ationofguardianturningpredatorandtheconfidenceofthepeoplehascomedown

Prominentcommitteesappointedare:

• GoreCommitteeonPoliceTraining

• TheNationalPoliceCommission

• TheRibeiroCommitteeonPoliceReforms

• ThePadmanabhaiahCommitteeonPoliceReforms(summa-ry),

• PrakashSinghVsUnionofIndia–SCdirectivesforPoliceRe-formsandSoliSorabjeeCommittee

NationalPoliceCommittee,1978

• Thiswasthefirstcommissionatthenationallevelafterinde-pendence

• Ithadwidetermsofreferencecoveringthepoliceorganiza-tion,itsrole,functionality,accountability,relationswiththepublicetc.

• Thiscommitteegaveacomprehensivereportandrecom-mendedtobringanautonomousbodyoforganizationwhichcouldbeaccountabletopeople.However,themajorrecom-


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mendationsofthiscommitteewerenotacceptedbythegov-ernment.

ImportantCase:PrakashSinghandothersvstheUnionofIndia(1995)

• In1995,PrakashSingh,formerDGPofUttarPradeshfiledaPILregardingpolicereformsinIndia

• Thisledtothegovernmentconstitutinganewcommitteeun-derthechairmanshipofJulioRibeiro,andtheJulioRibeiroCommitteewasformedin1998

• ThiswasfollowedbyfurthercommitteeslikePadmanabhaiah,Malimathcommittee,SoliSorabjeecommittee

• In2006,sincetherewerenomovementsinthedirectionofre-forms,theSupremeCourtmadethepolicereformsasaman-datoryreformtobetakenupbythecentralandstategovern-ments

TheSevenDirectivesbySupremeCourt(2006)

Theapexcourtgaveitsnearlyrevolutionarydirectionsin2006;adecadeafterMr.Singhfirstfiledhispetition.Thestatesandunionterritoriesweredirectedtocomplywithsevenbindingdirectivesthatwouldkick-startreform

1. DirectiveOne

ConstituteaStateSecurityCommission(SSC)to:

» Ensurethatthestategovernmentdoesnotexerciseun-warrantedinfluenceorpressureonthepolice

» Laydownbroadpolicyguideline

» Evaluatetheperformanceofthestatepolice

2.DirectiveTwo

» EnsurethattheDGPisappointedthroughthemer-it-basedtransparentprocessandsecureaminimumten-ureoftwoyears

3.DirectiveThree


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» Ensurethatotherpoliceofficersonoperationalduties(includingSuperintendentsofPolicein-chargeofadistrictandStationHouseOfficersin-chargeofapolicestation)arealsoprovidedaminimumtenureoftwoyears

4.DirectiveFour

» Separatetheinvestigationandlawandorderfunctionsofthepolice

5.DirectiveFive

» SetupaPoliceEstablishmentBoard(PEB)todecidetransfers,postings,promotionsandotherservicerelatedmattersofpoliceofficersofandbelowtherankofDeputySuperintendentofPoliceandmakerecommendationsonpostingsandtransfersabovetherankofDeputySuperin-tendentofPolice

6.DirectiveSix

» SetupaPoliceComplaintsAuthority(PCA)atstateleveltoinquireintopubliccomplaintsagainstpoliceofficersofandabovetherankofDeputySuperintendentofPoliceincasesofseriousmisconduct,includingcustodialdeath,grievoushurt,orrapeinpolicecustodyandatdistrictlevelstoinquireintopubliccomplaintsagainstthepolicepersonnelbelowtherankofDeputySuperintendentofPoliceincasesofseriousmisconduct

7.DirectiveSeven

» SetupaNationalSecurityCommission(NSC)attheunionleveltoprepareapanelforselectionandplacementofChiefsoftheCentralPoliceOrganizations(CPO)withaminimumtenureoftwoyears

Afterthis,14stateshavepassedlegislationbuttheseweremainlytocircumventthedirectivesbutnottoimplementthem.Tillto-day,thegovernmenthasnotshownitscommitmenttofollowthedirectivesofthecourtintrueletterandspirit.


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“Police reforms are going on and on. Nobody listens to our orders.” – Supreme Court

“Policereformsaregoingonandon.Nobodylistenstoouror-ders.”ThisishowaSupremeCourtbenchheadedbyChiefJus-ticeJ.S.Kheharreactedwhiledecliningthepleaofalawyerde-mandingimmediateactiontousherinmajorpolicereformsinthecountry(March2017).ThelawyerhadearlierbeenpermittedtopleadhimselfinapendingPILonthesubject.Itissadthatthehighestcourtofthelandissohelplessinthematter.

Why do we need police reforms?

• Theglobalaverageratioofpolice-populationis270to100,000,whereit’s120inIndia

• Thesecurityofthesocietyandthewelfareofthepeoplearedependentontheefficiencyofthepolice

• Toeliminatetheunduepoliticalinterferencethisledtothelossofautonomyofpolice.Thepoliceoftodayarevictimsofpolit-icizationaswellascriminalization

• Toinstiltheconfidenceofthepeopleintheinstitutionofpo-licebymakingpolicemorepeoplefriendly

• Topreventthehighhandednessofpoliceintheformofex-tra-judicialkillings.RecentlyNHRCnotedthat206casesofencountersoccurredinthelast12months

• Tocontinuesecurityandgrowthwithourhigheconomicgrowth,themaintenanceoflawandorderplaysavitalrole

• Crimeperlakhpersonsincreasedby28%from2005to2015

• Anoverburdenedpoliceforce:Statepoliceforceshave24%vacancies

• Severeshortagesinweaponryandvehicles

• 86%ofthestatepolicecomprisesofconstabulary

TherecentexampleofHaryanapoliceduringtheJatreservationriotseitherduetoinherentcastebiasorhesitationofnotgettingsupportbythepeoplefurtherstressestheneedforreforms


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Challenges and solutions

• Challengeslikepolicetrainingandquantityofforcealongwiththequality,thelongworkinghoursaswellastheisolationofpoliceforcefromthepublicintheformofseparatelivingquartersshouldbelookedinto

• Policeshouldbemadeanintegralpartthesocietytheylivein

• Policereformsshouldnolongerbedelayedandthecivilsoci-etyshouldplayitsroleforfasteractionbythegovernment

• Policeaccountsforabout3%ofgovernmentspending.Ithastoberevisedproperly

• CAGauditshavefoundashortageinweaponrywiththestatepoliceforcesinvariousstateshastobeaddressedasearlyaspossible

According to Supreme Court

• Stategovernmentshavetosendthenamesoftheprobables(toUPSC)threemonthsbeforetheincumbentDirectors-Gen-eralofPolice(DGP)istoretire

• TheUPSCwillpreparealistofthreeofficersfittobeDGP(giv-ingdueweightagetomeritandseniority)andsenditback.(inconformitytoPrakashSinghjudgement)

• TheState,inturn,shall‘immediately’appointoneoftheper-sonsshortlistedbythecommission

ThedirectivefromSupremeCourtisprimarilyto“ensurethatStategovernmentsdonotexerciseunwarrantedinfluenceorpressureonthepolice.”


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Conclusion

Theprimaryroleofpoliceforcesistoupholdandenforcelaws,investigatecrimesandensuresecurityforpeopleinthecoun-try.InalargeandpopulouscountrylikeIndia,policeforcesneedtobewell-equipped,intermsofpersonnel,weaponry,forensic,communicationandtransportsupport,toperformtheirrolewell.Further,theyneedtohavetheoperationalfreedomtocarryouttheirresponsibilitiesprofessionally,andsatisfactoryworkingcon-ditions(e.g.,regulatedworkinghoursandpromotionopportuni-ties),whilebeingheldaccountableforpoorperformanceormis-useofpower.


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DNA TECHNOLOGY (USE AND APPLICATION) REGULATION BILL, 2018 [GS-III]

Background

• CabinetapprovesDNATechnology(UseandApplica-tion)RegulationBill,2018

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Needforthelegislationanditssignificance:

• TheutilityofDNAbasedtechnologiesforsolvingcrimes,andtoidentifymissingpersons

• ThenewbillaimstoexpandtheapplicationofDNA-basedfo-rensictechnologiestosupportandstrengthenthejusticede-liverysystemofthecountry

HighlightsoftheBill:

• AspertheBill,national and regional DNA data bankswillbesetupformaintaininganationaldatabaseforidentificationofvictims,suspectsincases,under-trials,missingpersonsandunidentifiedhumanremains

• Accordingtoit,thoseleaking the DNA profile information topeopleorentitieswhoarenotentitledtohaveit,willbepun-ished with a jail term ofuptothreeyearsandafineofuptoRs.1lakh.Similar,punishmenthasalsobeenprovidedforthosewhoseektheinformationonDNAprofilesillegally

• Asperthebill,allDNAdata,includingDNAprofiles,DNAsam-plesandrecords,willonlybe used for identification of the person and not for “any other purpose”

• Thebill’sprovisionswillenable the cross-matching between persons whohavebeenreportedmissingontheonehandandunidentifieddeadbodiesfoundinvariouspartsofthecountryontheother,andalsoforestablishingtheidentityofvictimsinmassdisasters


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Biotechnology

• Biotechnologydealswithtechniquesofusingliveorganismsorenzymesfromorganismstoproduce products and pro-cessesusefultohumans

• Makingcurd,breadorwine,whichareallmicrobe-mediatedprocesses,couldalsobethoughtasaformofbiotechnology

• However,itisusedinarestrictedsensetoday,torefertosuchofthoseprocesseswhichusegeneticallymodifiedorganismstoachievethesameonalargerscale

• Modernbiotechnologyusinggeneticallymodifiedorganismswasmadepossibleonlywhenmanlearnttoalterthechemis-tryofDNAandconstructrecombinantDNA.ThiskeyprocessiscalledrecombinantDNAtechnologyorgeneticengineer-ing

• Geneticengineeringinvolvesthetechniquestoalter the chem-istry of genetic material(DNAandRNA)andthuschangethephenotypeofthehostorganism

• Asexualreproductionpreservesthegeneticinformation,whilesexualreproductionpermitsvariation

• Traditionalhybridisationproceduresusedinplantandanimalbreeding,veryoftenleadtoinclusionandmultiplicationofun-desirablegenesalongwiththedesiredgenes

• ThetechniquesofgeneticengineeringwhichincludecreationofrecombinantDNA,useofgenecloningandgenetransfer,overcomethislimitationandallowustoisolateandintroduceonlyoneorasetofdesirablegeneswithoutintroducingunde-sirablegenesintothetargetorganism

Cloning

• DNAwhichissomehowtransferredintoanalienorganismwouldnotbeabletomultiplyitselfintheprogenycellsoftheorganism

• But,whenitgetsintegratedintothegenomeoftherecipient,itmaymultiplyandbeinheritedalongwiththehostDNA.This


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isbecausethealienpieceofDNAhasbecomepartofachro-mosome,whichhastheabilitytoreplicate

• InachromosomethereisaspecificDNAsequencecalledtheoriginofreplication,whichisresponsibleforinitiatingreplica-tion

• Therefore,forthemultiplicationofanyalienpieceofDNAinanorganismitneedstobeapartofachromosome(s)whichhasaspecificsequenceknownas‘originofreplication’

• Thus,analienDNAislinkedwiththeoriginofreplication,sothat,thisalienpieceofDNAcanreplicateandmultiplyitselfinthehostorganism.Thiscanalsobecalledascloningormak-ingmultipleidenticalcopiesofanytemplateDNA

RecombinantDNA(rDNA)

• RecombinantDNA(rDNA)moleculesareDNAmoleculesformedbylaboratorymethodsofgeneticrecombination(suchasmolecularcloning)tobringtogethergeneticmaterialfrommultiplesources,creatingsequencesthatwouldnototherwisebefoundinthegenome

• RecombinantDNAispossiblebecauseDNAmoleculesfromallorganismssharethesamechemicalstructure.Theydifferonlyinthenucleotidesequencewithinthatidenticaloverallstruc-ture

• Inmostcases,organismscontainingrecombinantDNAhaveapparentlynormalphenotypes.Thatis,theirappearance,be-haviourandmetabolismareusuallyunchanged

• ThecuttingofDNAatspecificlocationsbecamepossiblewiththediscoveryoftheso-called‘molecularscissors’-restrictionenzymes

• Thelinkingofantibioticresistancegenewiththeplasmidvec-torbecamepossiblewiththeenzymeDNAligase,whichactsoncutDNAmoleculesandjoinstheirends.ThismakesanewcombinationofcircularautonomouslyreplicatingDNAcreatedinvitroandisknownasrecombinantDNA


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Biotechnology and Its Applications

• Biotechnologyessentiallydealswithindustrialscaleproduc-tionofbiopharmaceuticalsandbiologicalusinggeneticallymodifiedmicrobes,fungi,plantsandanimals

• Theapplicationsofbiotechnologyincludetherapeutics,diag-nostics,andgeneticallymodifiedcropsforagriculture,pro-cessedfood,bioremediation,wastetreatment,andenergyproduction

1. Cloning:Cloningistheproductionofanexactcopyofacell,anyotherlivingpart,oracompleteorganism.(AsheepnamedDolly)

2.BiotechnologicalapplicationsinagricultureGeneticallyModi-fiedOrganisms(GMO)

3.Biotechnologicalapplicationsinmedicine:massproductionofsafeandmoreeffectivetherapeuticdrugs.GeneticallyEngi-neeredInsulinisusedintreatingdiabetics

4.GeneTherapy:Ifapersonisbornwithahereditarydisease,canacorrectivetherapybetakenforsuchadisease?Genetherapyisanattempttodothis

5.MolecularDiagnosis:RecombinantDNAtechnology,Poly-meraseChainReaction(PCR)andEnzymeLinkedIm-mune-sorbentAssay(ELISA)

6.Transgenicanimals:AnimalsthathavehadtheirDNAma-nipulatedtopossessandexpressanextra(foreign)geneareknownastransgenicanimals

DNAtechnology-significance

• Mostoftheindustrialisednationsarerichfinanciallybutpoorinbiodiversityandtraditionalknowledge.Incontrastthede-velopingandtheunderdevelopedworldarerichinbiodiversityandtraditionalknowledgerelatedtobio-resources

• DNAanalysisisanextremelyusefulandaccuratetechnology


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inascertainingtheidentityofaperson,orestablishingbiolog-icalrelationshipsbetweenindividuals

• DNAtechnologyisbeingincreasinglyrelieduponininvestiga-tionsofcrime,identificationofunidentifiedbodies,orinde-terminingparentage

• ButinformationfromDNAsamplescanrevealnotjusthowapersonlooks,orwhattheireyecolourorskincolouris,butalsomoreintrusiveinformationliketheirallergies,orsuscepti-bilitytodiseases.Asaresult,thereisagreaterriskofinforma-tionfromDNAanalysisgettingmisused

• GeneticallyModifiedOrganismshavebeencreatedbyusingtechniquessuchasrecombinantDNAtechnology

• GMplantshavebeenusefulinincreasingcropyields,reducepost-harvestlossesandmakecropsmoretolerantofstresses

• Genetherapyistheinsertionofgenesintoanindividual’scellsandtissuestotreatdiseasesespeciallyhereditarydiseases

• RecombinantDNAtechnologicalprocesseshavemadeim-menseimpactintheareaofhealthcarebyenablingmasspro-ductionofsafeandmoreeffectivetherapeutics

• ThereareseveralGMcropplantswithimprovednutritionalvalueoffoodsandreducedtherelianceonchemicalpesticides(pest-resistantcrops)

DNA technology- concerns

• Themanipulationoflivingorganismsbythehumanracecan-notgoonanyfurther,withoutregulation

• Therefore,theIndianGovernmenthassetuporganisationssuchasGEAC(GeneticEngineeringApprovalCommittee),whichwillmakedecisionsregardingthevalidityofGMre-searchandthesafetyofintroducingGM-organismsforpublicservices

• Geneticmodificationoforganismscanhaveunpredictablere-sultswhensuchorganismsareintroducedintotheecosystem

• Bio-piracyisthetermusedtorefertotheuseofbio-resources


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bymultinationalcompaniesandotherorganisationswithoutproperauthorisationfromthecountriesandpeopleconcernedwithoutcompensatorypayment

• Therehasbeengrowingrealisationoftheinjustice,inadequatecompensationandbenefitsharingbetweendevelopedanddevelopingcountries

• Casestudy:Basmatiriceisdistinctforitsuniquearomaandflavourand27documentedvarietiesofBasmatiaregrowninIndia.ThereisreferencetoBasmatiinancienttexts,folk-loreandpoetry,asithasbeengrownforcenturies.In1997,anAmericancompanygotpatentrightsonBasmatiricethroughtheUSPatentandTrademarkOffice.Thisallowedthecompa-nytosella‘new’varietyofBasmati,intheUSandabroad.This‘new’varietyofBasmatihadactuallybeenderivedfromIndianfarmer’svarieties

• Severalattemptshavealsobeenmadetopatentuses,prod-uctsandprocessesbasedonIndiantraditionalherbalmedi-cines,e.g.,Turmeric&Neem

Wayforward:

• ItisexpectedthattheexpandeduseofDNAtechnologywouldresultnotonlyinspeedierjusticedeliverybutalsoinin-creasedconvictionrates,whichatpresentisonlyaround30%(NCRBStatisticsfor2016)

• ThejudicioususeofDNAtechnologiescanresultsintobetterhealthsystem,reliableconservationeffortsandensuringfoodsecurity

• ProperimplementationoftheCartagenaProtocolisrequiredtoensurethebio-safetyindealingwiththeLivingandmodi-fiedOrganisms

• AstheobjectivesofNagoyaProtocolsaythebenefitsarisingoutofthegeneticmaterialaccessedshouldbesharedwiththelocalcommunitiesoftheparticularregion


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CYBER SECURITY [GS-III]

Background

• Cyberspaceissuchaterm,whichisnotyetcompletelydefinedandalsohasnogeographicallimitation

• Cyber-attackshavegrownintermsofsophisticationandreachintherecenttimes

• IndiawasoneoftheworsthitcountriesoftheseattacksliketheWannaCryransomware

• Attacksareoftenanonymousanddifficulttoattributetospecificactors,stateornon-state

• AdvancedPrecisionThreats(APTs)carriedoutbyanonymoushackersareoftensilentandgounnoticedforlongperiods

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TypesofSecuritythreats

• Hacking:Hackinginsimpletermsmeansanillegalintrusionintoacomputersystemand/ornetwork

• ChildPornography:TheInternetisextensivelyusedforsexualabuseofchildren,morechildrenareaccessingitandthisen-hancestheirvulnerabilityoffallingvictimstotheaggressionofpaedophiles

• CyberStalking:Thistermisusedtorefertotheuseoftheinternet,e-mail,orotherelectroniccommunicationsdevicestostalkanotherperson

• DenialofService:Thisisatechnologydrivencyberintrusion,wherebytheinfluencerfloodsthebandwidthorblockstheuser’smailswithspammailsdeprivingtheuser,accesstotheInternetandtheservicesprovidedtherefrom

• Phishing:Phisherslureuserstoaphonywebsite,usuallyby


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sendingthemanauthenticappearinge-mail.Onceatthefakesite,usersaretrickedintodivulgingavarietyofprivateinfor-mation,suchaspasswordsandaccountnumbers

• DataRelated:DatainterceptionandDatadiddlingandDatatheft

• NetworkRelated:NetworkinterferenceandDataSecurityNetworksabotage

• DisseminationofMaliciousSoftware:Malware,Virus,Worms,Trojans,HoaxandSpyware

Importanceofcybersecurity

• Cybersecurityisanimportantwhenthecountryismovingto-wardsacashlesssocietyanddigitization

• Securitybecomesachallengeasnowprivacyisafundamen-talright

• Cybersecuritybecomesvitalforenforcingcyberlaw

• Theideaofdigitaleconomyshouldbecomplimentedbyade-quatecybersecurity

• RecentgovernmentinitiativesuchasAadhaar,MyGov,andGovernmente-Market,Digi-Locker,BharatNet,Start-upIndia,SkillIndiaandSmartCitiesareinneedofsecuredcyberspace

• Dataprotectionanddataprivacy

• Restraintagainstchild pornographyandchildsexualabuse

• Protectofintellectualpropertyrightsonline

• Protectionoffreedomofexpressionandconcernforcommu-nitystandards

• Concernofmoneylaundering

• Internethasemergedasthemediaofthepeople

• SecurityforGovernmentandPublicDATA

• Buildingrestraintagainstrisingmenaceoffinancialfrauds


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CyberTerrorism

• Section66FofITact2000dealswiththeCyberTerrorismre-latedcrimes

• Cyberterrorismistheconvergenceofterrorismandcyberspace

• Itisgenerallyunderstoodtomeanunlawfulattacksandthreatsofattacksagainstcomputers,networks,andinforma-tionstoredthereinwhendonetointimidateorcoerceagov-ernmentoritspeopleinfurtheranceofpoliticalorsocialob-jectives

• Some examples: a. Middle East Tension Sparks Cyber At-tacks, Pakistan/India Conflict, Retaliation of China for theaccidentalbombingofaChineseembassyinYugoslaviabyU.S.BombersandRecentactivitiesofISIS(radicalisationandrecruitmentofyouth)

CyberLawsinIndia

• ThefirsttechnologybasedlawinIndiawastheIndianTele-graphActof1885andlateritalsocoveredthetelephone

• TheInformationTechnologyAct,2000andITacthasbeenamendedin2008

• Governsthecyberrelatedcrimes

• MultipleactslikeIPC,CrPCandprovisionsoftheCompetitionAct,2002orincaseofunfairtradepractices,theConsumerProtectionAct1986,wouldalsoberelevantindealingcybersecurity

• Protectionofcopyrightstrademarksonlinewouldentailthein-vocationoftheIndianCopyrightActand,theTradeMarksAct

• ActssuchastheCompaniesAct,1956,and2013arealsoappli-cable

• TheInformationTechnologyAct,2000intendstogivelegalrecognitiontoe-commerceande-governanceandfacilitateitsdevelopmentasanalternatetopaperbasedtraditionalmeth-ods


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• TheActseekstoprotectthisadvancementintechnologybydefiningcrimes,prescribingpunishments,layingdownproce-duresforinvestigationandformingregulatoryauthorities

The National Cyber Security Policy of India 2013

• Tobuildsecureandresilientcyberspace

• Creatingasecurecyberecosystem,generatetrustinITtrans-actions

• 24x7nationalcriticalinformationinfrastructureprotectioncentre

• Indigenoustechnologicalsolutions(Chineseproductsandreli-anceonforeignsoftware)

• TestingofICTproductsandcertifyingthem.Validatedprod-ucts

• Creatingworkforceof500,000professionalsinthefield

• FiscalBenefitsforbusinessmanwhoacceptsstandardITprac-tices,etc

Tools for cyber security

• Digitalsignature:itispossibletosecureelectronicinformationinsuchawaythattheoriginatoroftheinformation,aswellastheintegrityoftheinformation,canbeverified

• Encryption:encryptsensitiverecordsandmessagesintransitandinstorage

• Securityaudit:systematicevaluationofthesecurityofacom-pany’sinformationsystembymeasuringhowwellitconformstoasetofestablishedcriteria

• CyberForensic:discovery,analysis,andreconstructionofevi-denceextractedfromanyelementofcomputersystems,com-puternetworks,computermedia,andcomputerperipheralsthatallowinvestigatorstosolveacrime


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Cyber Deterrence will be the way forward?

• Cyberdeterrence:Detectingandrespondingtosuchcyber-at-tacksintime

• Cyberdeterrencecanbeoftwokinds:bydenyingattacks(defensive)andbypunishment(offensive)

» Cyberdefencesareraisedsothattheattackerisunabletopiercetheadversary’snetworks

» Inthelattercase,thecyberattackerisassuredofadevas-tatingresponse

• Evidently,neitherdeterrencebydenialnorbypunishmentworksincyberspace

• Foroffensivecyberdeterrence,itisnecessarytoidentifytheattackerwithpinpointedaccuracy

• Indiscriminatetargeting:Someanalystshavearguedthatforcyberdeterrencetohold,theresponseneednotalwaysbeincyberspace.Itcanbeinpolitical,economicormilitarydomains

• Theattacker’sassetscanbetargetedinakineticmilitaryre-sponse

• Economicsanctionscanbeimposedoncountryororganisa-tions

• Buildingbitsofsoftwarecalled‘cyber-weapons’thatcandoenormousdamagetotheadversary’snetworks

Recent Government Initiatives:

• CybersecurityincidentsandresponseactionsaretakenbyCERT-Inon2004

• NationalTechnicalResearchOrganisationunderNSAin2004

• Tocombatcyberthreat,thegovernmentiscomingupwithmorecybersecuritylabs

• ThegovernmenthasearlierlaunchedDigitalInvestigationTrainingandAnalysisCentre(DITAC)totacklethesecrimes

• ThegovernmentlauncheditsfirstDITACinGurugram,Hary-


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anain2016incollaborationwithNationalTechnicalResearchOrganisation(NTRO).ThesecondoneisbeingsetupinMoha-li,Punjab

• DITACswillmonitorandpolicecyber-crimescommittedthroughdifferentplatformssuchasmobile,email,computerandsocialmediaplatformslikeTwitterandFacebook

• ApartfromDITACs,thegovernmentalsoestablishedNationalCyberCoordinationCentre,anoperationalcybersecurityande-surveillanceagencyinIndia

• NationalInformaticsCentreopenedthefourthnewdatacen-treinBhubaneswar,thesecondlargestaftertheoneinNewDelhi,recently

• GlobalConferenceonCyberspace(GCCS)waslaunchedwithaviewtoestablishinternationallyagreed‘rulesoftheroad’forbehaviourincyberspaceandcreateamorefocusedandinclu-sivedialoguebetweenallstakeholdersonhowtoimplementthem

• In2013,theUNGroupofGovernmentandExperts(UNGGE)hadsuggested11norms

• Inamajorsetbacktotheprocessofnormsdevelopment,the2015UNGGEfailedtoarriveataconsensus

• Presently,therearenoacceptablenormsofbehaviourincy-berspaceinternationally

Conclusion

• MostoftheIndianbankingindustryandfinancialinstitutionshaveembracedITtoitsfulloptimization

• Reportssuggestthatcyber-attacksareunderstandablydirect-edtowardeconomicandfinancialinstitutions

• Governmentandtheprivatesectorjointlyhavetogivecybersecuritysomepriorityintheirsecurityandriskmanagementplan

• Cyberawarenessmustbespreadandthereshouldbemulti-stakeholderapproach-technologicalinputs,legalin-


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puts,strengtheninglawenforcements,systemsandthendeal-ingwithtrans-bordercrimeinvolveslotofinternationalcoop-eration

Way Forward

• InIndia,itisimperativethatcybernetworks,softwareandcy-ber-physicalsystems,andplatformsshouldbecyber-secure

• Thisrequiresajudiciousmixofpeople,policiesandtechnolo-gy,aswellasrobustpublic-privatepartnership

• Therelianceonimportedinformationandcommunicationtechnology(ICT)productsandourinabilitytoscreenthemforvulnerabilitiesisamajorcybersecurityrisk

• InstitutionssuchastheNationalCybersecurityCoordinator(NCC),NationalTechnicalResearchOrganisation,ComputerEmergencyResponseTeamandtheNationalCyberSecurityCoordinatorCentrearealldoingareasonablejob

• Buttheysufferfromthelackofskilledmanpowerandpropercoordination

• TheexistingNationalInformationBoard(NIB),headedbytheNationalSecurityAdviser(NSA),dulyempowered,canplaytheroleofanapexbodyinIndia

• NCC,setupin2015asapartoftheNationalSecurityCoun-cilSecretariat,shouldbestrengthenedtobringaboutamuch-neededsynergyamongvariousinstitutionsandtoworkoutacoordinatedapproachtocybersecurity,includingcyberdeterrence


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MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE (MSPs)[GS-III]

Background

Givingamajorboostforthefarmers’income,theCabinetCommitteeonEconomicAffairshasapprovedtheincreaseintheMinimumSupportPrices(MSPs)forallKharifcropsfor2018-19Seasons.

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Howitworks?

• Intheory,anMSPistheminimumpricesetbytheGovernmentatwhichfarmerscanexpecttoselltheirproduceforthesea-son

• TheminimumsupportpricesareaguaranteepricefortheirproducefromtheGovernment.Itisalsocalledadministeredpricemechanismforagriculture

• WhenmarketpricesfallbelowtheannouncedMSPs,procure-mentagenciesstepintoprocurethecropand‘support’theprices

• TheCabinet Committee of Economic AffairsannouncesMSPforvariouscropsatthebeginningofeachsowingseasonbasedontherecommendationsoftheCommission for Agri-cultural Costs and Prices (CACP)

• TheCACPtakesintoaccountdemandandsupply,thecost of production and price trendsinthemarketamongotherthingswhenfixingMSPs

• DetailedassessmentofCostofproduction,Changesininputprices,Input-outputpriceparity,Trendsinmarketprices,De-mandandsupply,Inter-croppriceparity,Effectonindustrialcoststructure,Effectoncostofliving,Effectongeneralpricelevel,Internationalpricesituation,ParitybetweenpricespaidandpricesreceivedbythefarmersandEffectonissuepricesandimplicationsforsubsidyismadebyCAPC


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• TheCommissionmakesuseofbothmicro-leveldataandag-gregatesatthelevelofdistrict,stateandthecountry

• 26 commoditiesarecurrentlycovered.TheyareCereals(7),Pulses(5),Oilseeds(8),Copra,De-huskedcoconut,Rawcot-ton,Rawjute,Sugarcane(Fairandremunerativeprice)andVirginiaflucured(VFC)tobacco

• Except sugarcaneforallothercrops,oneMSPisdeclaredforwholeIndia

• Essential CommodityAct,1955,broadlygovernstheprocure-mentpoliciesofcentreandstates

WhyweneedMSP?

• Pricevolatilitymakeslifedifficultforfarmers

• MSPsensurethatfarmersgetaminimumpricefortheirpro-duceinadversemarkets

• MSPshavealsobeenusedasatool by the Government to in-centivise farmerstogrowcropsthatareinshortsupply

• MSPisalsogoodtooltoensurethatfarmersproducewhatismostlucrativeforthem,givenconsumerdemand

• Support the farmers from distress sales andtoprocurefoodgrainsforpublic distribution

ShortcomingsofthePresentMSPsystem

• TrendsinMSPimpacttheavailabilityofkeyfoodcropsandfoodinflation

• FromverybeginningthesepriceswereskewedinfavouroffoodgrainsmainlyRiceandWheat

• MSPwasabigpolitical plankandmajorityoffarmercommu-nitywascomfortablewithRiceandWheatduetotheircom-parativehighyields

• Growthinagricultureisnotdictatedbydemand of economy,butitdependsontheMSP

• However,inrecentyears,therehavebeenlarge-scaleimports


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ofpulsesandoilseedsintoIndiawithhighcostsaddingtoConsumerPriceinflation

• UnlesstheCentreincreasesStateprocurementofthesecrops,thebiastowardsrice,wheatandsugarcane(whereminimumpricesarefixedbyStates)maycontinue.Pulsesareacheapsourceofproteinforthemasses

• Delayinpaymentofduestofarmers

• Otherissueisofdataonwhichcommissionrelies.Thisdataisassimilatedoveralongperiodandthereistimelagofabout2yearsandtheadjustmentofpricestoinflationisalsoflawed

• CAGalsocriticizedmethodology on grounds of non-transpar-ency

• Distorted Production:Recentshiftinpatternoffoodcon-sumptionfromcerealstoproteinrichfoods,butnosuchre-markableshiftisseeninsowingorproductionpatterns

• Huge Stocks:Openendedprocurementinwhichgovernmentcan’tdecidequantityitwantstobuy

• OutofcontrolInflation:SituationnowisthatMarketpricesaredictatedbyMSPwhichremainsmostofthetimehigher

• Thereisdemand supply mismatch. (proteinvsCerealsincon-sumption)

• Growthinnon-cerealproductioniscompromisedinfavourofcropsthatfetchhigheryields,whichisoutofsyncwithmarketdemand

• Affectssoilquality

• Causetofailsecondgreenrevolutionofitsobjectives

HistoricalperspectiveofMSP

• Tillthemid-1970s,Governmentannouncedtwotypesofad-ministeredprices:

• MinimumSupportPrices(MSP):

» TheMSPsservedasthefloorpricesandwerefixedbythe


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Governmentinthenatureofalong-termguaranteeforin-vestmentdecisionsofproducers,withtheassurancethatpricesoftheircommoditieswouldnotbeallowedtofallbelowthelevelfixedbytheGovernment,eveninthecaseofabumpercrop

• ProcurementPrices

» Procurementpriceswerethepricesofkharifandrabice-realsatwhichthegrainwastobedomesticallyprocuredbypublicagencies(liketheFCI)forreleasethroughPDS

» Itwasannouncedsoonafterharvestbegan

» NormallyprocurementpricewaslowerthantheopenmarketpriceandhigherthantheMSP

• In1975-76,thepresentsystemwasevolvedinwhichonlyonesetofpriceswasannouncedforpaddy(andotherKharifcrops)andwheatbeingprocuredforbufferstockoperations

Wayahead

• Diversify Farm basketmoretowardstheproteinrichcropsorhorticultureistheneedofthehour

• Further,Indiahaschallengeto align domestic markets with international marketsasexportsofagricultureproductscanbringmoreprosperitytocountryside

• Itissaidthat1%increaseinAgroexportsresultsinInflowof8500croresinthesector

• Inthissensewecan’t ignore WTO negotiations.Thesearetobenegotiatedwhiletakingcareofsovereigntyandfoodsecu-rityofIndia

• AgriculturesectorinIndiashouldbemadecompetitive by adopting collectivisationandadaptingtonew technologies

• Market integrationoffarmersandavailabilityofexportoppor-tunitiescouldreapbetterresults

• Modernagriculturepracticelikecrop intensification,useofGM cropshastobeadopted


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• Soil conservationandpreservationofsoil nutrientsalsopro-videsvitalsupportforbetteragricultureproduction

• Farmersrelyonpolitical pressure to remedytheirproblems,insteadofadaptingtomarket.Thisallkeepsprivateinvest-mentawayforthesector

• Support should be Crop Neutralashasbeenrecommendedbymanyexpertsonthetopic.Itthemtodiversifytheircropsasperdemandsofthemarket.Thiscanbedonebychange-overtoIncomesupportfromMSP.(Telangana’sschemeforfarmerstopayfixedamountofabout8000perhectareofagricultureland)

Pricing policy for sugarcane

• ForsugarcaneinsteadofMSP,‘fair and remunerative price’isdeclaredin2009.Itdependsuponrecoverypercentagewhichvariesfromstatetostate

• Thepricingofsugarcaneisgovernedbythestatutoryprovi-sionsoftheSugarcane (Control) Order, 1966issuedundertheEssentialCommoditiesAct(ECA),1955

• Priorto2009-10sugarseason,theCentralGovernmentwasfixingtheStatutoryMinimumPrice(SMP)ofsugarcaneandfarmerswereentitledtoshareprofitsofasugarmillon50:50basis

• Asthissharingofprofitsremainedvirtuallyunimplemented,theSugarcane(Control)Order,1966wasamendedinOctober,2009andtheconceptofSMPwasreplacedbytheFairandRemunerativePrice(FRP)ofsugarcane

• Reasonablemarginsforgrowersofsugarcaneonaccountofriskandprofits’wereinsertedasanadditionalfactorforwork-ingoutFRP

• Accordingly,theCACPisrequiredtopaydueregardtothestatutoryfactorslistedintheControlOrder,whichare

» Thecostofproductionofsugarcane;

» Thereturntothegrowerfromalternativecropsandthe


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generaltrendofpricesofagriculturalcommodities;

» Theavailabilityofsugartotheconsumersatafairprice;

» Thepriceofsugar;

» Therecoveryrateofsugarfromsugarcane;

» Therealizationmadefromsaleofby-productsviz.mo-lasses,bagasseandpressmudortheirimputedvalue(in-sertedinDecember,2008)and;

» Reasonablemarginsforgrowersofsugarcaneonaccountofriskandprofits(insertedinOctober,2009)

MSP on Minor forest produce (MFP)

• TheschemeenvisagestoMechanismforMarketingofMinor Forest Produce (MFP)throughMinimumSupportPrice(MSP)anddevelopment of value chain

• TheschemeisdesignedasasocialsafetynetforimprovementoflivelihoodofMFPgatherersbyprovidingthemfairpricefortheMFPstheycollect

• ToprovidefairpricetotheMFPgatherersfortheproducecol-lectedbythemandenhance their income level

• Toensuresustainable harvestingofMFPs

• TheSchemewillhaveahuge social dividendforMFPgather-ers,majorityofwhomaretribalpeople

• Itincludesvaluechainandnecessary infrastructureatlocallevel

• TheMSPschemeseekstoestablishaframeworktoensurefairreturnsfortheproducecollectedbytribalpeople

WTO, Subsidies and MSP

• WTO’sagreementonagriculture(AoA)wasconcludedin1994,andwasaimedtoremovetradebarriersandtopromotetransparentmarketaccessandintegrationofglobalmarkets

• Agreementonagriculturestandson3pillarsviz.Domestic


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Support,MarketAccess,andExportSubsidies

Domestic Support

–ItreferstosubsidiessuchGuaranteedMinimumPriceorInputsubsidieswhichdirectandproductspecific.UnderthisSubsidiesarecategorizedinto3boxes–

• GreenBox–Subsidieswhicharenoorleastmarket distort-ingincludesmeasuresdecoupledfromoutputsuchasin-come-supportpayments(decoupledincomesupport),safety–netprograms,paymentsunderenvironmentalprograms,andagriculturalresearchand-developmentsubsidies

• BlueBox–Only‘Production limiting Subsidies’ underthisareallowed.Theycoverpaymentsbasedonacreage,yield,ornumberoflivestockinabaseyear.Targetpriceareallowedtobefixedbygovernmentandif‘marketprices’arelowerthanfarmerwillbecompensatedwithdifferencebetweentargetpricesandmarketpricesincash

• AmberBox–Thosesubsidieswhicharetradedistortingandneedtobecurbed.TheAmberBoxcontainscategoryofdo-mesticsupportthatisscheduledforreductionbasedonaformulacalledthe“AggregateMeasureofSupport”(AMS).TheAMSistheamountofmoneyspentbygovernmentsonagriculturalproduction,exceptforthosecontainedintheBlueBox,GreenBoxand‘deminimis’

De-Minimis provision

• Underthisprovisiondevelopedcountriesareallowedtomain-taintrade distorting subsidies or ‘Amber box’ subsidies tolevelof5%oftotalvalueofagriculturaloutput

• Fordevelopingcountriesthisfigurewas10%.SofarIndia’ssubsidiesarebelowthislimit,butitisgrowingconsistently

• ThisisbecauseMSParealwaysrevisedupwardwhereasMar-ketPriceshavefluctuatingtrends


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Bali Summit, Trade facilitation and Peace Clause

• ThismatterwastakenupinrecentBalimeetandaninterimpeace clause wasreachedat

• Developedcountriesmadeanattempttocouplenegotiationsonthisissuewithanotherissueof‘Trade facilitation’

• Pleaseclausegavecountries4yeartimestoadjusttothelimitandavoidsanctions

• DateforratificationofBaliagreementwas31July,2014,onwhichIndiadeclinedtoratifyunlessa‘permanentsolution’isreached

• AfterthisinNovember,India–USreachedunderstandinginwhichtimelimitof4yearswasremovedandinreturnTradeFacilitationwasagreedtobyIndia

• NotablyinDealatBali,Developedcountrieswereabletowoounderdevelopedcountriesonbasisofa‘SpecialPackage’forthemdirectedtowardSocialandphysicalinfrastructure

• India as a result was isolatedinallthis,onlySouthAfricaex-tendedsomesupporttoIndia’sstand

• TradeFacilitationrequiresmembercountriestoinvestinInfra-structurethatfacilitatesImportsandexports,simplifycustomproceduresandremoveothernon-tariffbarriers

Market Access

• Themarketaccessrequiresthattariffsfixed(likecustomdu-ties)byindividualcountriesbecut progressively to allow free trade

• Italsorequiredcountriesto remove non-tariff barriersandconvertthemtoTariffduties

• EarliertherewerequotasforImportsunderwhichonlycertainquantitiesofparticularcommoditieswereallowedtoImport.ThisisanexampleofNon-tariffBarrier

• Indiahasagreedtothisagreementandsubstantiallyreducedtariffs.Onlygoodswhichareexemptedbytheagreementare


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keptundercontrol

• MaximumtariffhasbeenbondedasrequiredbyWTO,underwhichahighersideoftariffsisfixedinpercentagethatshouldneverbesurpassed

• IfIndiaisabletodiversifyitsproductionandaddvaluebyfoodprocessing,thenthisisawin-windealforIndia

• AnumberofcommoditiesareexportedtoWestandlowtariffsinwestwillbenefitIndiansuppliers

Export Subsidy

• Thesecanbeinformofsubsidyoninputsofagriculture,mak-ingexportcheaperorcanbeotherincentivesforexportssuchasimportdutyremissionetc.

• Thesecanresultindumpingofhighlysubsidized(andcheap)productsinothercountry

• Thesesubsidiesarealsoalignedto1986-1990levels,whenex-portsubsidiesbydevelopedcountrieswassubstantiallyhigherandDevelopingcountriesalmosthadnoexportsubsidiesthattime

• ButUSAisdodgingthisprovisionbyitsExportcreditguaran-teeprogram(PublicLaw-480).ThisisoutofWTO’sAOA

Problems with WTO

• AswecannotethatSubsidieswerebind to levels of 1986-1988,therewasinequalityatverybeginningoftheagreement

• Atthattimesubsidieswhichlattercameunder‘AmberBox’werehistoricallyhigh in western countries

• Indevelopingcountries,includingIndiathesesubsidieswereverylimited.ItisonlynowunderpressureofInflationinpricesofagriculturalInputs,andwidedifferencesbetweenmarketpricesandMinimum support Price,subsidieshavegrowntothislevel

• Ineffectdevelopedcountriesareallowedtomaintainsubstan-tiallyhigheramountoftradedistortingsubsidies


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• WTOnegotiationsalsoclaimtoworktowardsthisdirection,butinherentconflictingandvestedinterestoffewcountriesaretooinfluentialinWTO

• WTO’sagreementonagricultureisjusta tool for neo-imperi-alisminhandofMNCs

• Lackofflexibilityisfoundintradeagreements.Everycoun-tryhasdifferentrequirementsanddifferentproductmix,soenoughflexibilityismustinanyagreement

• Righttofoodisaglobalmovementandisguaranteedbynu-merousUNconventions.So,ensuringfoodsecurityisado-mesticconcern

SystemofAmber,blue,greenboxshouldbeconsideredforchangeandpreferablyitshouldbedoneawaywithasitgivesleewaytodevelopedcountriestocarryonwithdistortingsubsi-dies.


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NET NEUTRALITY [GS-III]

Background

• TelecomCommission(agroupwithinIndia’sDepartmentofTelecom)hasapprovedtherecommendationsmadebytheTelecomRegulatoryAuthorityofIndia(TRAI)onnetneutrality

• Themoveaimstoensurethatallwebtrafficistreatedfairly,andthatinternetserviceproviderswon’tblock,throttle,orfavouranycontentorservices(withafewreasonableexceptions)

• Netneutralityhasbecomeacontentiousissueacrosstheworldassocialmediagiantsandmobileandinter-netprovidersseekgreatercontrolondeliveryofcontentandservicestocustomers

• Itisfearedthathandingoutgreateranduncheckedcon-troltothemwillleadtomonopoliesandsituationsofpaidprioritisation,bothofwhichwillstiflethestart-upcultureandnewinnovations

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NetNeutrality

• Thecomponentsofnetneutralitysaythatallthesebitsoftraf-ficareequal,sointernetserviceprovidersshouldnotdifferen-tiatethesebitsofdatabasedontheircontent;usage,theus-ers,orbasedonthewebsite

• Italsomeansthatthereshouldnotbeanydiscriminationfromtheserviceprovidersbydifferentiatingonesetofdataoronesetofbitsandpiecesfromtheother

• Equalaccessibletoallsites

• Samedatacosttoaccessasite(thereshouldbenopricedif-ferential)


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• Nozerorating:alsocalledtoll-freedataorsponsoreddataisthepracticeofmobilenetworkoperators(MNO),mobilevirtu-alnetworkoperators(MVNO),andInternetServiceProviders(ISP)nottochargeendcustomersfordatausedbyspecificapplicationsorinternetservicesthroughtheirnetwork,inlimit-edormetereddataplans.Ex.Internet.orgAirtelZeroetc

Therules

• AsperthenetneutralityrulesinIndia,mobileoperators,inter-netprovidersandsocial-mediaandinternetcompaniescannot engage in, or seek, preferential treatment astherewillnowbeprohibitiononanykindofinterferenceinthetreatmentofcontent,includingpracticeslikeblocking,degrading,slowingdownorgrantingdifferentialspeedsortreatmenttoanycon-tent

• Anyeffortstocreatezero-rated platformshavenowbeenblocked.Zero-ratedplatforms,whichhadearlierbeentried(bycompaniessuchasAirtelandFacebook)butbarred,offeronlyacertaincategoryofservicesandwebsitesasfree,thuscreat-ingpaidlayersandstiflingcompetitionandinnovation

• Undernetneutrality,online access is unrestricted and non-discriminatory. The only exceptionsarenewandemerg-ingservicessuchasautonomousdriving,tele-medicineorremote-diagnosticservices,whichmayrequireprioritisedin-ternetlanesandfaster-than-normalspeeds.Acommitteewilllookintothepossibleexceptionsfor“criticalservices”whichwillalsobedefinedkeepinginviewthebasictenetsofnetneutrality

Significanceofnetneutrality

• UserRightsandNon-discriminatoryaccesstointernet

• FundamentalRighttoexpression

• It’sahugewinforthosewhofavourfreeandfairinternetac-cessinthecountry

• Thegovernment’sdecisionisbeingseenasprogressiveasitwillnotallowanymobileoperator,internetserviceprovideror


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online/socialmediagianttocreatemonopoliesontheinternetbygettingspecializedtreatmentbypayingforit

• Therulesofequalaccesswillbemaintainedandnocompanycanbuyspecialtreatmentforitselforitsservices

• Itrestrictsthetelecomcompanies/ISPfromactingasagate-keeperandfromtakingarbitrarydecisionsoninternetservices

• Italsosupportsinnovationanddevelopmentofknowledgebasedeconomy

• Righttocreatecontentandaccessitwithoutrestrictions

• Further,netneutralitysupportstart-upcompaniesinavailingtechnologyandknowhow

• ThereisaneedforpreservingcustomerprivacyandnationalsecurityalongwithregulatingNN

• Itisasteptowardspromotingequalityamongconsumers

• Deterrentagainstcronycapitalism

• Creatingajustmarketecosystem

Argumentsagainstnetneutrality:

• Ithelpsthemtooptimizetherevenueforwhichtheyinvestinspectrums

• Theycanpaycertainamounttothegovernmentassubscrip-tionfee

• Investbillionsofdollarstobuildtheinfrastructureofinternetthatallowsustoaccesstheinternetmanywebsites

• Increasetheaccesstotheinternet

• Generatemorerevenuewhichwillleadtoproductinnovationandresearchinthefield

• Italsohelpstodiscardunwantedcontentsandinternetjunks

• AtpresentthereisnosinglestandardaccepteddefinitionofNN


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• UnclearregulatorystructureonNN-InIndia,issuesoflicens-ingandspectrumallocationaredealtbyDoT

TRAIsRecommendationonnetneutrality

• TRAI’sconsultationpaperwasawelcomesteptowardsdecid-ingtheNNframeworkinIndia

• InternetaccessinIndiawillremainunfetteredwiththegovern-mentacceptingthetelecomregulator’srecommendationstointroducestrongestnetneutralityprotectionsintheworld

• ToimplementNetneutrality,theregulatorhadrecommendedthatthetermsoflicenceagreementsthatgoverntheprovisionofInternetservicesinIndiabeamended“toincorporatetheprinciplesofnon-discriminatorytreatmentofcontentalongwiththeappropriateexclusionsandexceptions.”

• IthadthensuggestedthatInternetofThings,asaclassofservices,shouldnotbeexcludedfromthescopeofrestrictiononnon-discriminatorytreatmentbutcertaincriticalservicesshouldbeexemptfromtheserules

• DoTwillalsoframeapolicyontrafficmanagementpracticesforserviceprovidersandseparatelysetupabodyofindustryrepresentativesandcivilsocietytomonitorandenforcenetneutralitynorms

• Ithasfurtherrecommendedestablishingamulti-stakehold-ernot-for-profitbodyforthemonitoringandenforcementoftheseprinciples

ImplicationsofapprovedNetneutrality

• InamovethatwillensureopenandfreeinternetinIndia,thegovernmenthasapprovedtheprincipleofnetneutrality

• ThismeansthattelecomandInternetserviceprovidersmusttreatalldataontheInternetequally,andnotdiscriminateorchargedifferentlybyuser,content,site,platform,orapplica-tion

• Theycannotengageinpracticessuchasblocking,slowingdownorgrantingpreferentialspeedstoanycontent


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• TheTelecomCommission(TC)—whichisthehighestdeci-sion-makingbodyintheDepartmentofTelecom,approvedtherecommendationmadebytheTelecomRegulatoryAuthorityofIndia(TRAI)

CommitteeonNetNeutrality

A.K.BhargavaCommitteeonNetNeutralitywassetupbyDoT:

HighlightsoftheReport

• ThereporthasindicatedthatlegitimatetrafficmanagementpracticesshouldbeallowedyettestedagainstNetNeutralitycoreprinciples

• Improperprioritisationwillnotbepermitted,paidorotherwiseasperthecommittee

• ThespecificapproachofIndiatowardsNetNeutralityshouldtakeintoaccountglobalbestpracticeswhichservespecificneedsofthenation

• TheprimalaimofIndia’sNetNeutralityprincipleshouldbeto-wardsthefollowing:-Reasonablypricedbroadband

• Qualitybroadband

• Universalbroadbandforcitizens

• UserrightsonInternetneedtobeensuredsoISP/Telecomprovidersdonotlimittheabilityoftheusertoreceive,send,transmitorpostlegalcontent,apporserviceonlineorrestrictlawfulinternetactivityuse

• OTToroverthetopappservicesshouldbereallyencouragedandobstaclesintheirprogressshouldbeeliminated

• Applicationlayershouldbeseparatedfromnetworklayerbe-causeappservicesaredeliveredthroughalicensednetwork-ParticularOTTcommunicationservicesassociatedwithmes-sagingshouldnotcomeinthewayofregulatoryinstruments

• ForOTTVoIPinternationalcallingservices,theBhargavacom-mitteehasrecommendedaliberalapproach

• Asfarasdomesticcalls(localandnational)areconcerned,


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communicationservicesofOTTandTSPsshouldbetreatedequivalentfromtheregulatoryanglecurrently

• Contentaswellasapplicationprovidersmustnotbegate-keepersandinsteadpromotenetworkoperationsforextract-ingcoreNetNeutralityprinciples,evenforanostensiblepublicpurpose

• Athinktankmustbesetupwithfreshtalentgiventhecom-plexitiesofthenewdigitalworld

Wayforward:

• Activereforms–Passinglegislations,guidelinesandregula-tionstoregulateNN.EgTRAI’sProhibitionofDiscriminatoryTariffsforDataServicesRegulations2016

• Astheinterneteconomygainsinsizeandinfluenceacrosstheworld,therehavebeenincreasingconcernswithrelationtothepotentialfordiscriminatorytreatmentofinternettrafficbytheentitiesthatcontrolaccesstotheinternet

• AllthosewhobelieveinafairmarketplaceshouldwelcomethereiterationthattheprinciplesofnetneutralitywillbeupheldinIndia.Thiswillensurethatthosewhocontrolthepipesthroughwhichdataflows–betweenprovidersandconsumersofcon-tent–cannotfavoursomeprovidersoverothers

• Thegovernmentnowneedstoensuretherearenoloopholesthatcouldresultinanunevenplayingfield–forinstance,com-paniesthatownbothbroadbandandproducecontentshouldnotbeallowedtodistributetheircontentfree,bynotchargingforthedata.Conversely,othercontentprovidersshouldhavethesamefreeaccesstodistribution

• Self-regulationthroughtheformationofvoluntarymechanismmaynotworkduetoprofiteering

• WaitandWatchapproachasbeingdonebymanycountries.Asandwhentheinternetmarketmaturenecessaryactionsandlegislationcouldbeenacted

• CronycapitalismmayunderminetheconceptsofNN.Hencecontinuesandconstantvigilisimperativeforthissector


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• Agreatamountofpoliticalwillisneededtofinalizetheintri-cateaspectsofNN

• IndependenceofregulationbyTRAIwithoutanyinterferenceisasinquanonforhavingNN


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ROLE OF BIG DATA IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT [GS-III]

Background

• IndiaandSouthKorearecentlysignedagreementoncooperationindevelopmentofbigdatatechnologiesindisastermanagement.

• Bigdatacanplayasignificantroleinenhancingourca-pabilitiestomanagedisasters

• Itisthecollectionofscientificandengineeringmeth-odsandtoolsthathelpinmakingthebestofmassiveamountsofavailabledata

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• Bigdatahasradicallychangedthewaysthroughwhichhumansocietiesadoptnaturaldisastermanagementstrategiestore-ducehumansufferingandeconomiclosses

• ThechallengeoftheexpertsinITistomakethebestofbigdatabysourcinginformationfromvariedformatsandstoringitinwaysthatitcanbeeffectivelyusedduringdifferentstag-esofnaturaldisastermanagement

• Allowsresearcherstoconductanefficientanalysisofdisasterspreaswellaspostdisasterphases

• Bigdatahasnowbecomeacrucialelementofdisastercom-munication

• Bigdataaddressesnotonlystorageissues,butalsoissuesre-latedtoaccessibility,distribution,analysis,andeffectivevisualpresentationofdataandanalysis

• Communicationalsoentailsunderstandingandmonitoringtheentirebodyofpublic

• Bigdataallowsresearcherstoconductadetailedanalysisofallcommunicationswhichprovidesvaluableinformationthat


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hasageneralvalidityforthepopulationatlarge;suchasinfor-mationaboutadiseaseoutbreak

• EfficientAllocationofResources

• Helpingtomonitorrecovery,focusingearlywarningandas-sessingresilience

• IdentificationofVulnerablepopulationfornaturaldisasteranddataonthesecommunitiescanbeusedtopursue‘riskin-formed’development

• ConnectingmissingpeoplewiththeirFamilies.Facebook’s‘safetycheckservice’

• Allowsgovt.toanticipateindirectimpactofdisasterandre-ducerisks

• Italsoprovidesrealtimeaccesstodisastermanagers

GlobalInstitutionstostudyDisasterandRisks

• In2015,theUNDPpartneredwiththeTohokuUniversityandFujitsudecidedtocreateaGlobalCentreforDisasterStatis-tics(GCDS)

• Theaimistogatherandcrunch‘bigdata’tomeettheambi-tioustargetsoftheSendaiFrameworktoreducetherisksfromdisasters

• Fujitsu’scloud-basedecosystemcapturesdatafromavarietyofsources,includingunstructuredsourceslikesocialmedia,high-resolutionsatelliteimageryanddrones

• Provideinsightsforpolicymakersabouttheimpactsofdisas-ters.Thisincludeshelpingtomonitorrecovery,focussingonearlywarning,andassessingresilience

Conclusion

• Bigdatahasasignificantroleinallphasesofdisastermanage-ment

• Bigdatafromsensornetworks,socialmedia,andfromothersourcesareavailableandshowsitsusefulnessindisasterman-


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agement

• Thesebigdatahelppolicymakersandfirstresponderstocomewithquickandconcretedecision.Manynaturalhazardforecastingsystemsrelyonbigdata

• Earlywarningsystemfortsunami,storm,forestfire,andfloodcanbemoreaccurateandreliablefromthesehugevolumesofdata

• Crowdsourcing,cyberinfrastructure,andcloudcomputingapproachcanbeusedtogetrequiredinformationforemer-gencymanagementbyanalysingbigdata

• Machinelearningapproachandparallelprocessingapproachmightsavevaluableprocessingtimeduringanemergency

• Thebigdataarchivecanbehelpfulformodeldevelopmentandvalidationtoensuremoreefficientdisastermanagement

• Despitehavingthesechallenges,researchanddatagatheringontheusefulnessofbigdataindisastermanagementareon-going

NaturaldisastersinIndia

• Adisasterisaphysicalevent,phenomenonorhumanactivitythatleadstosuddendisruptionofnormallife,causingseveredamagetolifeandpropertytoanextentthatavailablesocialandeconomicprotectionmechanismsareinadequatetocope

• CoastalStates,particularlyontheEastCoastandGujaratarevulnerabletocyclones.4crorehectarelandmassisvulnerabletofloods

• 68percentofnetsownareaisvulnerabletodroughts

• 55percentoftotalareaisinseismiczonesIII-V,hencevulner-abletoearthquakes

• Sub-HimalayansectorandWesternGhatsarevulnerabletolandslides

• Floods

• Droughts


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• Cyclones

• Earthquakes

• LandslidesandAvalanches:

ManmadedisastersinIndia

• Nuclearandradiologicaldisasters

• Chemicaldisasters

• Biologicaldisasters

• Toxicwastes

• Urbanflooding

• Roadaccidents

• Warsandpopulationdisplacement

• Globalwarming

DisasterManagementsmechanisms

• UndertheprovisionsoftheAct,theNationalDisasterManage-mentAuthority(NDMA)hasbeenestablishedundertheChair-manshipofthePrimeMinister

• NationalExecutiveCommittee(NEC)ofSecretarieshasbeencreatedtoassisttheNDMAintheperformanceofitsfunctions

• StateDisasterManagementAuthorityhasbeencreatedun-dertheChairmanshipofChiefMinisteroftheState,whichhasbeenassistedbyaStateExecutiveCommittee

• AttheDistrictlevel,DistrictDisasterManagementAuthoritieshavebeencreated

• PrimaryresponsibilityformanagementofdisasterrestswiththeStateGovernmentconcerned

• InstitutionalmechanismputinplaceattheCentre,StateandDistrictlevels

• TheNationalPolicyondisastermanagementputsinplaceanenablingenvironmentforall


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• NDMAistheoverallcoordinatingagencies

• NDRFpersonnelrespondedtimelytoreduceimpactsofdisas-terandhelpinrescue

India’sinitiativesforDM

• NationalDisasterManagementAct,2005–Providedthelegalbasisfordisastermanagement

• NationalDisasterManagementAuthority(NDMA)–Coordi-natesactivitiesofdisastermanagement

• NationalPolicyonDisasterManagement(NPDM),2009–Insti-tutionalmechanisms

• NationalDisasterManagementPlan(NDMP),2016–AlignedwithSendaiFramework

• NationalinstituteforDisasterManagement(NIDM)conductre-searchinDM

• NDRF-NationalDisasterResponseForce

NationalDisasterManagementPlan2016

• NationalDisasterManagementPlanaimstomakeIndiadisas-terresilientandsignificantlyreducethelossoflivesandassets

• NationalDisasterManagementPlanbasedonthefourprioritythemesoftheSendaiFrameworknamelydisasterriskreduc-tion

• NDMPcoversallphasesofdisastermanagement:prevention,mitigation,responseandrecovery

• NDMPspellsoutrolesandresponsibilitiesofalllevelsofGov-ernmentrightuptoPanchayatandUrbanLocalBodylevelinamatrixformat

• ItprovidesforhorizontalandverticalintegrationamongalltheagenciesanddepartmentsoftheGovernment

• TheplanalsospellsouttherolesandresponsibilitiesofalllevelsofGovernmentrightuptoPanchayatandUrbanLocalBodylevelinamatrixformat


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• Theplanhasaregionalapproach,whichwillbebeneficialnotonlyfordisastermanagementbutalsofordevelopmentplan-ning

• Itisdesignedinsuchawaythatitcanbeimplementedinascalablemannerinallphasesofdisastermanagement

• Italsoidentifiesmajoractivitiessuchasearlywarning,infor-mationdissemination,medicalcare,fuel,transportation,searchandrescue,evacuation,etc.toserveasachecklistforagenciesrespondingtoadisaster.Italsoprovidesageneralizedframe-workforrecoveryandoffersflexibilitytoassessasituationandbuildbackbetter

• Topreparecommunitiestocopewithdisasters,NDMPempha-sizesonagreaterneedforInformation,EducationandCom-municationactivities

TheNationalPolicyonDisasterManagement

• IthasbeenpreparedintunewithandinpursuanceoftheDi-sasterManagementAct,2005

• TobuildasafeanddisasterresilientIndiabydevelopingaho-listic,proactive,multi-disasterorientedandtechnologydrivenstrategythroughacultureofprevention,mitigation,prepared-nessandresponse

• ThePolicycoversinstitutional,legalandfinancialarrange-ments

• Disasterprevention,mitigationandpreparedness,techno-legalregime;response,reliefandrehabilitation;reconstructionandrecovery;capacitydevelopment;knowledgemanagementandresearchanddevelopment

• Itfocusesontheareaswhereactionisneededandtheinstitu-tionalmechanismthroughwhichsuchactioncanbechannel-ized

• TheNPDMaddressestheconcernsofallthesectionsofthesocietyincludingdisadvantagedgroups

• Intermsofgrantofreliefandformulatingmeasuresforreha-


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bilitationoftheaffectedpersonsduetodisasters,theissueofequity/inclusivenesshasbeenaccordeddueconsideration

• TheNPDMaimstobringintransparencyandaccountabilityinallaspectsofdisastermanagement,throughinvolvementofcommunity,communitybasedorganizations,PanchayatiRajInstitutions(PRIs),localbodiesandcivilsociety

NationalDisasterManagementPlanforAnimals

• Indiangovernmentreleasedanationaldisastermanagementplanforanimals

• Rescueandreliefofanimalswillnowbeanintegralpartofdi-sasteroperationsinthecountry

• DMPwaspreparedbyDepartmentofAnimalHusbandry,Dairying&Fisheries

• TheplanisajointeffortoftheNationalInstituteofDisasterManagement(NIDM),theWorldAnimalProtectionandthePolicyPerspectivesFoundation(PPF)

• Pre-disasterpreparednessincludesdetailedactionplanrelat-ingtodisseminationofearlywarning,identificationofvulner-abilityamongstlivestock,animalvaccination,feedandfoddersupplyandcapacitybuildingofdifferentstake-holdersindi-sastermanagementetc

• Disasterresponsecomponentincludesstrategy/actionplanrelatingtoeffectiveandpromptresponse,rescueoflivestock,feed&foddersupply,measuresagainstepidemicsanddiseas-esandmaintenanceofSanitationetc

• Postdisastercomponentincludestrategyfortreatmentofsickanimals,diseasesurveillance,disposalofcarcass,restorationandrestockingoflivestockpopulation

NationalOilSpillDisasterContingencyPlan(NOS_DCP)

• ItgivestheIndianCoastGuardthemandatetooperations

• ItmandatesthatallmajorportsinIndiashouldhavebasic,minimumequipment,likeinflatableboomsandoilskimmers,


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totackleoilspill

• IthighlightstheresponsibilitiesforindividualPorts

• TherevisedNOS-DCPin2015envisagesmeetinginternationalstandards

• OnlineOilSpillAdvisorySystemwassetup

• ItplacesIndiaamongsttheselectfewcountriesthathave:

» Anindigenouslydevelopedcapabilityofpredictionoftra-jectoryofoilspills

» Mappingofenvironmentalsensitivitiesincoastalzones

» Deploymentofaerialdispersantspraysystem

» Facilitatingregionaloilspillcontingencyplans

• In2015IndiaratifiedtheInternationalConventiononCivilLia-bilityforBunkerOilPollutionDamage,2001(BunkerConven-tion)

• Conventionensuresadequate,promptandeffectivecompen-sationfordamagecausedbyoilspills

• Aninternationalforumonoilspillprevention,preparedness,responseandrestorationsystemswasconstitutedin2011viz.OilSpillIndia(OSI)

• OilZapperisacocktailofbacteriathatfeedontheoilandde-gradethehydrocarbons

• NewermethodsandtechnologieslikeNano-sheetsthatcouldrevolutionizeoilspillcleanupsandwaterpurificationneedstobedeployed

• Followstandardoperatingprocedure


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SOLAR ENERGY RELATED ISSUES [GS-III]

Background

• Gujarat,AndhraPradeshandRajasthanhavetoppedthelistofstateswithmaximumsolarpowergenerationca-pacity

• Gujarat’stotalcapacityof6,200MWisdistributedacross3solarparks;Rajasthan’s4,331MWcapacitiescomesfrom6parks;while4solarparksaccountforAndhra’s4,160MWtotalapprovedcapacity

• UttarPradeshandMadhyaPradeshhave570MWand2,570MWapprovedcapacity,respectively.Also,7ofthe45parkshavecapacityexceeding1,000MW

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SolarParkScheme:

• MinistryofNewandrenewableEnergy(MNRE)hasdrawnaschemetosetupnumberofsolarparksacrossvariousstatesinthecountry,generallyabove500MW

• TheSchemeprovidefinancialsupportbyGovernmentofIndiatoestablishsolarparkswithanaimtofacilitatecreationofin-frastructurenecessaryforsettingupnewsolarpowerprojects

• Asperthepolicy,thesesolarparkswillbedevelopedincollab-orationwiththeStateGovernments

• TheimplementationagencywouldbeSolarEnergyCorpora-tionofIndia(SECI)onbehalfofGovernmentofIndia(GOI)

• Thestatesshalldesignateanodalagencyforimplementationofthesolarpark

SolarPark


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• Asolarparkisaconcentratedzoneofdevelopmentofsolarpowergenerationprojectsandprovidesdevelopersanareathatiswellcharacterized,withproperinfrastructureandac-cesstoamenitiesandwheretheriskoftheprojectscanbeminimized

Benefitsoftheschemeforstates:

• Atthestatelevel,thesolarparkwillenablethestatestobringinsignificantinvestmentfromprojectdevelopersinSolarPow-ersector,tomeetitsSolarPurchaseObligation(SPO)man-datesandprovideemploymentopportunitiestolocalpopula-tion

• Thestatewillalsobeabletoreduceitscarbonfootprintbyavoidingemissionsequivalenttothesolarpark’sgeneratedcapacity

• Theywillalsogeneratelargedirect&indirectemploymentop-portunities

• Thesolarparkswillalsoprovideproductiveuseofabundantuncultivablelandswhichinturnfacilitatedevelopmentofthesurroundingareas

GovernmentSchemes

• KusumScheme:GovernmenthasannouncedtheKisanUrjaSurakshaevamUtthaanMahabhiyanorKUSUMschemewhichaimsatfurtheringtheproductionofsolarpowerinIndiaandalsogivethebenefitsofsolarfarmingtofarmers

• InternationalSolarAllianceforinternationalcooperationonsolarenergy

• NationalSolarmissionaimstogenerate100MWby2022

• 45approvedsolarparksacrosscountry

• TheSolarCityaimsatminimum10%reductioninprojecteddemandofconventionalenergyattheendoffiveyears

• Off-GridandDecentralizedSolarApplicationScheme

ProblemsFacedbyThesolarIndustry


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• Absenceofproperfinancingmechanism

• Availabilityoflandanditspossession

• Evacuationofpoweranditsconnectivitytothecentralgrid

• Foreverymegawattofsolarpowercapacityinstalled,anaver-ageoutputofamere19%isextracted

• Constraintssuchasreasons–night,monsoons,dust,storms–solarpowerisneitherproducedalldaynorthroughouttheyear

• TheCapacityUtilisationFactor(CUF),asitiscommonlycalled,istherealoutputoftheplantascomparedtotheplant’stheo-reticalmaximumoutput.(thedeliverablepower)

• ThegrowthofrooftopsolarinIndiaisrelativelylow

• Eventhoughgovernmentsubsidisesolarpowerproductionandpurchasefromrooftop,theloftycostofrooftopsolarpan-elsoverridesthetangiblebenefitintheeyesofcustomers

• Duetotheinstabilityinsolarpowerproduction,thedepen-denceofhouseholdswithrooftopsolaroncoalbasedelectric-ity/dieselgeneratorswillpersist

• TheideathatIndia’sdependenceoncoalbasedpowerwillde-creaseinthenearfutureseemsnaïve

Domesticcontentcontroversy

• IndiahitbackatWashington’slatestlegalassaultonitssolarpowerpoliciesattheWorldTradeOrganisation(WTO)

• IndiarejectedaU.S.legalclaimandstartedexploringpossiblenewprotectionofIndia’sownsolarindustry

• GuidelinesforthesolarmissionmandatedcellsandmodulesforsolarPVprojectsbasedoncrystallinesilicontobemanu-facturedinIndia

• Thisaccountsforover60%oftotalsystem

• IndiatoldtheWTOlastweekthatitwasconsideringthecaseforimposingtemporaryemergencytariffsonsolarcells,mod-


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ulesandpanels,afterapetitionfromthedomesticindustry

• SafeguardtariffsarepermittedbytheWTOifthereisevi-denceofseriousharmorthreatofseriousharm,toacountry’sproductionfromasudden,unforeseensurgeinimports

Wayahead:

• LeveragingthepossibilitiesofInternationalSolarAlliance(ISA)

• Enormousdifferenceinthepowergenerationisnotduetoanyparticularinefficiencyoftheplantbutduetothedrawbacksinthenatureofsolarpoweritself.NeedR&Dtosupportit

• MeasureshavetobetakenforincreasingtheCUFofsolarpowerplantsaround20%

• Increasinggroundmountedgridconnectedsolarpowerandrooftopgridinteractivesolarpower

• Giventhelargelandrequirement,around4acreperMw,forexecutionofsolarprojects,thereareinherentexecutionchal-lengesrelatedtolandacquisitionwhichvaryacrossstates

• Issuesofinadequatetransmissionconnectivitytogrids

• Implementnetmeteringthroughoutthecountry

Conclusion

Effortsfrombothcentralandstategovernmentsarerequiredtoenableandco-ordinatewithnodalimplementationagencyofasolarpark,especiallyforlandacquisitionandtransmissioncon-nectivity,inatime-boundmannersothatsolarprojectsoflargersizecanbeattractedthroughbiddingrouteinsuchparks.

However,oncloseexaminationitbecomesclearthatthepoweryieldfromthisincreasedcapacityonanaveragewillbeaslittleas20%ofthetotalcapacity,andthiswillmakelittledifferencetoIndia’semissions.Theambitioustargetspublicisedbythegov-ernmentprevaricatethisposition.

Needforananti-lynchinglaw:

• Atpresentthereisnolawthatcriminalisesmobkillings.The


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IndianPenalCodehasprovisionsforunlawfulassembly,riot-ing,andmurderbutnothingthattakescognisanceofagroupofpeoplecomingtogethertokill(alynchmob)

• UnderSection223(a)oftheCriminalProcedureCode(CrPC),toprosecutetogethertwoormorepeopleaccusedofthesameoffencecommittedinthecourseofthe“sametrans-action”

• Buttheprovisionfallsfarshortofanadequatelegalframe-workforprosecutinglynchmobs

WhatismeantbyLynching?

• Lynchingisnotjust“mobocracy”;itisacollectivehatecrimeagainstindividuals

• Thehumanfascinationwithwitnessingbarbaricviolencein-

RECENT ISSUE OF LYNCHING IN INDIA [GS-III & GS-IV]

Background

• Asthegrimthreatoflynchingcastsaterrifyingshadowoverlargeswathesofthecountry,directionsfromIndia’sSupremeCourttoallgovernmentstotakestepstopre-ventwhatitdescribedas“horrendousactsofmobocra-cy”canonlybewelcomed

• ThecourthasaskedParliamenttoconsiderpassingaspeciallawonlynching.This,itmaintains,isessentialtoprotectcitizensandensurethatthe“pluralisticsocialfabric”ofthecountryholdsagainstmobviolence

• Though,ifthisrulingwillhaveanyinfluenceonactuallystemmingthehateviolencesweepingthroughourland.Anewlawwillworkifgapsinexistinglawarewhatpre-ventstateadministrationsfromactingdecisivelyandfairlyagainstlynchmobs

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flictedonfellowmenpredatestheinventionofvideographandsocialmedia

• Beitthemesmerisedcrowdswatchinggladiatorsfighttodeathorthethrill-seekingaudiencewhocametowitnesspub-licexecutions;theideaofdeathasaspectacleisnotnew

• ForInstance,Lynchingmaybesparkedvariouslybydisputesoverallegationsofcowsmugglingorslaughter,orwildru-moursofcattletheftorchildkidnapping,orsomethingevenastrivialasaseatinanunreservedtraincompartment

• Whatevertheostensibletrigger,murderousmobsgathertolynchpeopleofhatedidentitieswithgratuitouscruelty.IndiaSpendfoundthat86percentofpersonskilledincow-relatedlynchingwereMuslim,and8percentDalit

• Therecentspateofmobkillingsonrumoursofchildkidnap-pingtargetstrangersandmentallychallengedpersons

• ThemoblynchinginIndiaindicateasimilarpsychologicalma-nia:thekillersareoftentheoneswhoshownoremorseinre-cordingandpublicisingtheircrime

MainReasonsoftheseLynchinginrecenttimes

• Mobviolencebecomespossiblebecauseconditionsarecreat-edfortheperpetratorstodehumaniseafellowhumanbeing

• Thisdehumanisationisconditionedbythesocial,economicandpoliticalconditionsofasocietyataparticularmomentintime

• Massaccesstovisualviolenceandthepsychologicaleffectonsociety

• Thesehatecrimesflourishmostofallbecauseoftheenablingclimateforhatespeechandviolencewhichisfosteredandle-gitimisedfromabove,whichfreespeopletoactouttheirprej-udices;andtheimpunityassuredbystateadministrationstotheperpetrators

• Seniorministersandelectedrepresentativesfrequentlycomeoutinopendefenceoftheattackers,chargingthevictims


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withprovokingtheattacks

• Themessagingisunambiguous:Notthelynchmob,butthevictim,andthecommunitytowhichhebelongs,areguilty

• Assoonasanissuearisesocialmediawouldbefloodedwithangstriddenhatemessagescallingforcounter-violenceandrevenge

• Thecurrentphenomenonoflynchingtobewhatintellectualsdescribeas“commandhatecrime”

• Bythisunderline,first,thatthesearehatecrimes,notordinarymobviolence,asthesemostlytargetidentifiedminoritycom-munitiesanddisadvantagedcastes.Andsecond,thatthesecrimesaretacitlyoropenlyencouragedbyseniorleadersofthepoliticalestablishment

• Themembersofthelynchmobinmostincidentsoflynchingvideo-tapetheact,anduploadthevideo-tapes.Torecordone’scrimesanddisplaytheseonthesocialmediareflectsabrazenconfidencethatyouwillnotbepunishedforyourcrime,andevenifyouarenabbed,youwillbeaherofortherulingestablishment

AdministrativeFailure

• Thereisarecurringpatterninpoliceactiontoo.Ifpresent,evenastheslaughterofinnocentsunfolds,theydon’tact,pleadinglaterthattheywereoutnumbered.Inmostcases,theycomeintoolatetosavelives,andveryoftentheyreg-istercrimesagainstthevictimsanddragtheirfeettochargeandarresttheattackers

• Theincidentsofbystandereffectsofpolicepersonalswithcriminalsascribedasafailureofthestatemachineryandthelossoffaithinthejudiciarybythepublic

• Afterthelynching,policeoftentriestorecordtheincidentasacrimeofcowsmuggling,animalcruelty,rashdrivingandroadrage

• Recentincidentsindicateanormalisationofhatredtowardsminoritieswhichcouldnothavebeensustainedinanabsence


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ofpoliticalmotivations

• Initsinvestigations,thepolicenevercordonoffthesiteofthelynchattacks:Evenhoursafterthecrime,peoplewalkoverthegroundstillsplatteredwithbloodorburnedflesh.Thisisnotashoddyinvestigation.Itisdeliberate(andcriminal)destructionofevidencewhichcouldhavebeenusedagainstthekillers

• Thepoliceinalmosteverycase,instead,registercrimesagainstthevictims

• Inrecentincidencesreflectthat,Statehomeministers,some-timeschiefministers,andseniorpoliceofficialspubliclyde-nouncenotthemembersofthelynchmobsbutthevictimsandsurvivors

• Case:TheSarbanandaSonawalgovernmenthasannouncedanawarenessprogramme‘Sanskaar-MaanuheMaanuhorBabe’withanaimtorootoutsuperstitiousbeliefsinruralareas.Thestateisnostrangertohorrificcasesofmobviolencefuelledbysuperstitionsandrumours.Asmanyasaround300hadbeenkilledinAssamonthesuspicionofbeingwitchesfrom2001to2006

Government’sresponse

• Consideringtheincreasingincidentsofmoblynching,theUnionGovernmenthasconstitutedaHighLevelCommittee chaired by the Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gaubatodeliber-ateinthematterandmakerecommendations

• StateGovernmentsareresponsibleforcontrollingcrime,main-taininglawandorder,andprotectingthelifeandpropertyofthecitizens.Butforaneffectivedeterrencetowardslynching,union-statecoordinationisrequired

Conclusion

• Itisclearthatmobkillingsdonotoccurinasocialvacuum.Itisperhapsaviolent,overtreactionoftensionsinsociety

• Forpeopleinpoliticalauthority,uniformandmagistratestotakesidesinhatebattlesisaprofoundcrimeagainsthumanity.


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Yetthisstillisrecognisedatbestasamoralfailure,notapun-ishablecrime

• Ifthereisanynewlawweneedtopreventthespreadlikeanepidemicofthisnewscourgeoftargetedhatecrime,oflynchmobs,itrequiresonlyonelaw,andthisisthecreationofacrimeofderelictionofdutyandcommunalpartisanshipbypublicofficials

• Thechallenge,ultimately,isnotoflaw,butofourcollectivemoralityandourcollectivehumanity

• Intherecentyears,thecasesofmoblynchinghaveincreasedexponentially,whichisanalarmingsignalforthesocialhar-monyofthenation

• InthelandofMahatmaGandhi,whowastheworshipperofnon-violence,itsverydisconcertingandheart-breakingtoseetheinnocentpeoplebeingpraytothepeoplewithvestedin-terestsandaparticularagendaclaimingtobetheprotectorofreligion,custom,andsociety

WayForward

• Offlate,wehaveseenastohowthetechnology,whichiscon-sideredtobetheboonformankind,isbeingusedbysomepeopletospreadrumoursandfakenewsleadingtoassaultanddeathofinnocentpeople

• Intherecenttimes,severalinstancesofmisuseofsocialnet-workingsitessuchasFacebook,Twitter,andWhatsApphavecausedthelossoflives

• Thoughtheserviceprovidershavecomeupwiththemodifi-cationsinthefeaturestocontaintheincreasingdisseminationoffakenews,yetithasnotproventobeveryeffective.Thatmeans,thereisaneedforstrongerregulationovertheuseoftheseapps

• Theproblemisnotmerelyalackofeducation.Thereisaneedtointrospectandaddressthenoxiousxenophobicprejudiceswhichmakeitpossibleto‘otherwise’andcreatedissensions

• MoblynchinghappensforwellliteratestateslikeKeralaand


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TamilNadu.Amorevigilantcitizenryalongwithresponsivepolicingcouldreducethismenace


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NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY [GS-IV]

Context

• 2018marks100yearssincethebirthofNelsonMandela(18July1918)

• UNMandeladayonJuly18

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NelsonMandelaInternationalDay

• NelsonMandelaInternationalDayisaglobaleventheldannu-allytohonourformerSouthAfricanpresidentandanti-apart-heidactivistNelsonMandela

• TheeventstartedaftertheNelsonMandelaFoundationand46664,aconcertseriesthatbenefitsAIDSvictimsreferencingMandela’sprisonnumber46664

• IdeaofhonouringtheworkandlegacyofNelsonMandelain-ternationallystartedinApril2009

• ThefirstMandelaDaywasheldonMandela’s91stbirthdayonJuly18,2009topromotevolunteeringandcommunityser-vice,beingmarkedworldwidewithcommunityserviceevents,artexhibits,fundraisersandaconcertatRadioCityMusicHallinNewYorkCity

• OnMandeladay,workingintandemwiththeNelsonMandelaFoundation,theUNaskedeveryonetotake67minutesoutoftheirdaytoaidothers

• TheUnitedNationssoontookinterestandsupportedtheideaofaglobaldayhonouringMandela,declaringinNovember2009themarkingofJuly18asNelsonMandelaInternationalDay

NelsonMandela

• NelsonMandelawastheformerPresidentofSouthAfricaas


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wellasananti-apartheidactivist,philanthropistandpoliticalleader

• Aleaderofbothpeacefulprotestsandarmedresistanceagainstthewhiteminority’soppressiveregimeinaraciallydi-videdSouthAfrica

• Mandelaemergedasakeyleaderintheresistancetoracistapartheidlaws,beingarrestedmultipletimes

• Latersentencedtolifeinprisonin1964afterbeingtrialledforconspiringtooverthrowthegovernment

• SouthAfricangovernmentfinallyreleasedMandelaafter27yearsin1990

• HesoonworkedalongsidePresidentF.W.deKlerktodismantletheapartheidregimein1991

• In1994generalelectioninwhichhewaselectedasthecoun-try’snewpresident

• Duringhispresidency,Mandelaworkedtopromoteracialrec-onciliation,fightpovertyandexpandhealthcareforallSouthAfricans

• Afterleavingoffice,heremainedactiveinmanyphilanthropiceffortsthroughouttheworld,particularlyendingtheHIV/AIDScrisisandreducingpoverty

• Forhisefforts,hewasawardeddozensofprestigiousacco-lades,includingtheNobelPeacePrizeandtheU.S.PresidentialMedalofFreedom

FamousQuotesbyMandela

» “Educationisthemostpowerfulweaponwhichyoucanusetochangetheworld”

» “Italwaysseemsimpossibleuntilit’sdone”

» “Ilearnedthatcouragewasnottheabsenceoffear,butthetriumphoverit.Thebravemanisnothewhodoesnotfeelafraid,buthewhoconquersthatfear”

» “Therecanbenokeenerrevelationofasociety’ssoulthan


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thewayinwhichittreatsitschildren”

» “Courageouspeopledonotfearforgiving,forthesakeofpeace”

» “Todenypeopletheirhumanrightsistochallengetheirveryhumanity”

» “Moneywon’tcreatesuccess,thefreedomtomakeitwill”

» “Itisbettertoleadfrombehindandtoputothersinfront,especiallywhenyoucelebratevictorywhennicethingsoccur.Youtakethefrontlinewhenthereisdanger.Thenpeoplewillappreciateyourleadership”

» “Ifyoutalktoamaninalanguageheunderstands,thatgoestohishead.Ifyoutalktohiminhislanguage,whichgoesintohisheart”

ContributionofMandela

• KnownforhiscontributiontoabolishapartheidinAfrica

• Helpedthecountytorebuildonmulti-culturalvalues

• NelsonMandelaisarolemodelandasymboloftriumphofpeaceandjustice

• Highestexampleofdemocraticleadershipinsocialmove-ments

• Hestandsforsolidarity,equality,respect,tolerance,peaceandfriendship,reconciliation,democracy,equalcitizenry,goodqualityoflifeandimprovementofSouthAfrica

• Hehascreatedaplethoraoffoundationsforcharityandhu-manrights

• Hislessoncansummariseinto

» Whenthegoinggetstough,thetoughmustgetgoing

» Bebraveandcourageous,orlearntoputupafront

» Learntoleadfrombehindandputothersinfrontwhenthetimeisfavourable


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» Spreadhappinessthroughyourteamwithasmile

» Focusonconvertingtheenemyintoanenemy-friend

• Leadershiplessons

» Learnedtocopewithchangeintime

» Aligningvariousinterestinnationbuilding

» Hedecidednotrevengebuttoparticipate

» Interpretthepowerandroleofminoritiesinnationbuild-ing

» Hechallengedtheunjustconditions

» Anticipatedabetterfuture

Conclusion

• NelsonMandelaisaninspirationalfigureforeveryone,butheisespeciallyinspirationalforyouthandadultsalike

• Heexemplifiesallofthequalitiesthatpeoplestrivetohave,andhasdedicatedhislifetohumanjustice

• IfyoungpeoplefollowevenafewofMandela’sexamples,vol-unteerintheircommunities,andtakethetimetohelpothersthentheywillhaveabetterunderstandingofpeopleingeneral

• Volunteeringandaidingothers,evenchildrentheirownage,canhelpyoungpeopledevelopacceptanceandtolerance,stopbullying,andbringanendtoschoolviolence

• YoungpeopleneedapositiverolemodellikeNelsonMandela,andforthatreasonitisimportanttokeephisachievementsandsuccessesalive

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