Editor’s Message - Amrita IAS · 2018. 11. 1. · 11. India’s Current Foreign Policy Changes...

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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.

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

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-

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

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

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.

• 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

• 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-

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

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.

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

• 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

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.

• 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.

Conclusion

• Continuousimprovementinthequalityoftheproductanddiversificationofproductionwerethetwomajormeansbywhichtheindustrycouldhopetosustainitscompetitiveness

• TheFinlowcommitteehadpinpointed“thedistinctlackofvariety”asthemoststrikingfeatureofthegrowthofthejuteindustry.

• ThejuteEnquirycommissionalsocomplainedthattheindus-tryproducedonlycertaintypesofgoodsrequiredtraditional-lyincertainmarketsandstressedtheneedformorepositiveeffortstodiversifythepatternofproduction.

• UnlikeFrance,BelgiumandHollandwhich,byinstallingnewmachines,wereabletoproducelargervarietyofgoods,Indiadidnotmakemuchprogressinthisfield.

• IndiacouldnotindefinitelydependuponthemerciesofPaki-stanbuthadtoincreaseherowndomesticproduction.

• Createawarenessamongconsumersonsustainableproductsmadeofjute.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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

ARTICLE 35A OF INDIAN CONSTITUTION [GS-II]

Context:

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

• EarliertheissuecameupwhenaKashmiriwoman,Cha-ruWaliKhanfiledapetitiontochangetheconstitutionalprovisionasshewantedsuccessionrightsinthestatethoughsheissettledoutsidethestate.

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

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-

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”.

• 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.

• 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-

cededcertainportionofPoKtoChinainwhichtheCPECispassingthrough.ThisishenceasovereigntyissuetoIndia.

Not an easy decision

• ThereshouldbedeliberationonthevalidityofArticle370too.

• Article35Aisonlyanexplanatoryprovisionanditselfdoesnotconferanyspecialpower.

• TheorderhasalsobeenusedtooverridetheprovisionsoftheStateConstitution.

• Ifthearticle35Aisscrapped,allthe41subsequentPresidentialordersmaythenbecomesusceptibletolegalchallenges.

• TheresidentsofJ&KweredeemedasIndiancitizensthroughthesePresidentialOrders.

• PresidentialOrderswereusedtoextend94outof97entriesintheUnionList.

• PresidentialOrderswereusedtoextend260outof395Arti-clesoftheIndianConstitutiontoJ&KandevenandtoimposecentralruleinJ&K.

Question:Article35AoftheIndianConstitutiondidnotserveitspurposeeversinceitsinception.Examine?

LATERAL ENTRY INTOCIVIL SERVICES [GS-II]

Context:

• Inanapparentbidtobringinexpertisefromtheprivatesectorindividualsandinfusetalentintothecountry’sbureaucracy,thegovernmenthasinvited“outstandingindividuals”tojointhegovernmentatthejointsecretarylevelattheCentre.

• Inthisregard,theDepartmentofPersonnelandTraining(DoPT)hasinvitedapplicationsfor10seniorlevelposi-tionsinvariousdepartments.

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

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

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.

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

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.

» 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

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.

• 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

» SuchothermattersthatmaybereferredtoitbytheGov-ernment.

Conclusion

• Therecruitmentinthelateralentrycanbedoneforspecificmission-modeprojects.Eg,NandanNilekanifortheAadhaarProject.

• Transparentrecruitmentasperrecommendationsof10thARCreporttoensureclearlydefinedservicerulesandaccountabili-ty.

• Normsshouldbeliberalizedforcivilservantstoworkoutsidethegovernmentwithmultilateralagencies,non-profitsorcor-porations.

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

NCT DELHI VS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR [GS-II]

Context:

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

• TheSupremeCourtrecentlyheldthattheLtGovernorofDelhihasnoindependentpowertotakedecisionsandisboundbytheelectedgovernment’sadvice.

Constitutionalprovisions

• 69thCAA1991providedspecialstatustoDelhi.

• Article239AAdealswithSpecialStatusofDelhi

• UnderArticle163,thegovernorhastoactontheaidandad-viceofthecouncilofministerexceptinthecasewherehehastoexercisehisdiscretion.

• Statecanmakelawsregardingmattersinstatelist&concur-rentlistexceptthreemattersonstatelistthatis,Publicorder,policeandland.

• LawsofParliamentprevailoverthoseofmadebythestateassembly.

• PresidentialrulecanimposeonDelhibasedonthereportofLt.Governororotherwise.

• NoordinancecanbepromulgatedbytheLt.Governorwithoutthepriorpermissionofthepresident.

Primacyincaseofdifferenceofopinion

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

• 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.

• 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.

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.

• 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?

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.

• 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

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.

• 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

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-

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-

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.

• 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).

• 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-

vantagesinhighereducation.

• Theincreaseinsuicidesamongstudentscomingfromthesesectionsisalarming.

• Theeducationalspacesthatremainequalandsociallyjustshouldbekeptawayfromtheforcesofevilmarket.

• Yet,thiswilltakepoliticalwill,giventhatoverthepastthreedecadeslaissezfaireexpansionofhighereducationhasbeenpursuedpurelyforcommercialmotives.

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.

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.

• 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

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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:

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

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

» 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.

• 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

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

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-

• 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

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.

• 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.

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

• 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

• 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.

» 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-

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

• 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

oftheExpansionistPolicyofChinaandtheProtectionistpoli-ciesofUS,IndiashouldfocusonASEANcountriestoincreaseitsdiplomatictiestoensuresafetyanddevelopmentofstakeholdernations.Italsoshouldleveragethestrategicindependenceofourcountywithoptimizingthesharedinterestofallthestakehold-ers.

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.

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

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-

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

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

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

WayForward

• Manyfactorsbolsterco-operationamongBRICSmembers.ThecommonneedamongdevelopingcountriestoconstructeconomicorderthatreflectscurrentsituationmustdrivetheBRICScountriesforconjuringuptheireffortstowardsequita-bleglobaleconomicgovernance

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.

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

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

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

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

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

• 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

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

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

• 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

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-

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

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

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

• 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

fortheyouth,withinthecountry.

• Nepal-Indiaborderneedstobeequippedwithenhancedintel-ligencenetworksandeffectivemonitoringmechanisms

Wayahead

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

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

• 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-

cateanycomplaintsregardingthesametotheGovernment

• Enablethegovernmenttounderstandtheimpactofsocialmediacampaignsonwelfareschemesandimprovethereachofsuchcampaigns

• Itcouldalsohelptofilterthefakenewsfromthesocialmedia

• Helpstheauthoritiestochecktheunreliableinformationanddatathatcouldteartheveryfabricofthesociety

• Themisuseofsocialmediaplatformstoworkagainstthena-tionalinterestcanbecurbed

• Theradicalisationofyouthcouldbeminimisedwithadvancedsurveillanceinplace

Socialmediamanagers

• Aspertheproposal,theprojectismeanttostrengthenthesocialmediadivisionandrecruitsocialmediamanagerstobedeployedin712districtsofthecountry

• Eachdistrictwillhaveonesocialmediamanagerwhowillbeentrustedwiththetasksofkeepingacloseeyeontheregionalandlocalmedia,collectingdataofregionalmediaandoflocalevents

• Providingcontentforsocialmediaandsupportingmediaunitsattheregionallevelforsocialmediapublicity

Roleofsocialmediamanagers

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

• Theywillmakeadailyanalysisreportincorporatinglocalsen-timentstobesenttoregionheadinthePIBaswellastheme-diahub.(Commandcentre)

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)

• 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

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

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.

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

• 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

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

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

Question

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

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)

Malnutrition:AGlobalEpidemic

• Theestimateof815millionpeopleenduringchronicfooddeprivationin2016,comparedto775millionin2014

• Moreimportantisthefindingthatthedeprivationisevengreateramongpeoplewholiveinregionsaffectedbyconflictandtheextremeeffectsofclimatechange

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

• 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

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-

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.

• 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

» 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

• 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-

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

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

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

POLICE REFORMS IN INDIA [GS-III]

Context

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

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

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-

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

» 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.

“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

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.”

Conclusion

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

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

Background

• CabinetapprovesDNATechnology(UseandApplica-tion)RegulationBill,2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

CYBER SECURITY [GS-III]

Background

• Cyberspaceissuchaterm,whichisnotyetcompletelydefinedandalsohasnogeographicallimitation

• Cyber-attackshavegrownintermsofsophisticationandreachintherecenttimes

• IndiawasoneoftheworsthitcountriesoftheseattacksliketheWannaCryransomware

• Attacksareoftenanonymousanddifficulttoattributetospecificactors,stateornon-state

• AdvancedPrecisionThreats(APTs)carriedoutbyanonymoushackersareoftensilentandgounnoticedforlongperiods

TypesofSecuritythreats

• Hacking:Hackinginsimpletermsmeansanillegalintrusionintoacomputersystemand/ornetwork

• ChildPornography:TheInternetisextensivelyusedforsexualabuseofchildren,morechildrenareaccessingitandthisen-hancestheirvulnerabilityoffallingvictimstotheaggressionofpaedophiles

• CyberStalking:Thistermisusedtorefertotheuseoftheinternet,e-mail,orotherelectroniccommunicationsdevicestostalkanotherperson

• DenialofService:Thisisatechnologydrivencyberintrusion,wherebytheinfluencerfloodsthebandwidthorblockstheuser’smailswithspammailsdeprivingtheuser,accesstotheInternetandtheservicesprovidedtherefrom

• Phishing:Phisherslureuserstoaphonywebsite,usuallyby

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

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

• 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

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-

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-

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

MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE (MSPs)[GS-III]

Background

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

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

• 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

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

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

• 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

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

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

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

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

• WTOnegotiationsalsoclaimtoworktowardsthisdirection,butinherentconflictingandvestedinterestoffewcountriesaretooinfluentialinWTO

• WTO’sagreementonagricultureisjusta tool for neo-imperi-alisminhandofMNCs

• Lackofflexibilityisfoundintradeagreements.Everycoun-tryhasdifferentrequirementsanddifferentproductmix,soenoughflexibilityismustinanyagreement

• Righttofoodisaglobalmovementandisguaranteedbynu-merousUNconventions.So,ensuringfoodsecurityisado-mesticconcern

SystemofAmber,blue,greenboxshouldbeconsideredforchangeandpreferablyitshouldbedoneawaywithasitgivesleewaytodevelopedcountriestocarryonwithdistortingsubsi-dies.

NET NEUTRALITY [GS-III]

Background

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

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

• Netneutralityhasbecomeacontentiousissueacrosstheworldassocialmediagiantsandmobileandinter-netprovidersseekgreatercontrolondeliveryofcontentandservicestocustomers

• Itisfearedthathandingoutgreateranduncheckedcon-troltothemwillleadtomonopoliesandsituationsofpaidprioritisation,bothofwhichwillstiflethestart-upcultureandnewinnovations

NetNeutrality

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

• Italsomeansthatthereshouldnotbeanydiscriminationfromtheserviceprovidersbydifferentiatingonesetofdataoronesetofbitsandpiecesfromtheother

• Equalaccessibletoallsites

• Samedatacosttoaccessasite(thereshouldbenopricedif-ferential)

• 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

online/socialmediagianttocreatemonopoliesontheinternetbygettingspecializedtreatmentbypayingforit

• Therulesofequalaccesswillbemaintainedandnocompanycanbuyspecialtreatmentforitselforitsservices

• Itrestrictsthetelecomcompanies/ISPfromactingasagate-keeperandfromtakingarbitrarydecisionsoninternetservices

• Italsosupportsinnovationanddevelopmentofknowledgebasedeconomy

• Righttocreatecontentandaccessitwithoutrestrictions

• Further,netneutralitysupportstart-upcompaniesinavailingtechnologyandknowhow

• ThereisaneedforpreservingcustomerprivacyandnationalsecurityalongwithregulatingNN

• Itisasteptowardspromotingequalityamongconsumers

• Deterrentagainstcronycapitalism

• Creatingajustmarketecosystem

Argumentsagainstnetneutrality:

• Ithelpsthemtooptimizetherevenueforwhichtheyinvestinspectrums

• Theycanpaycertainamounttothegovernmentassubscrip-tionfee

• Investbillionsofdollarstobuildtheinfrastructureofinternetthatallowsustoaccesstheinternetmanywebsites

• Increasetheaccesstotheinternet

• Generatemorerevenuewhichwillleadtoproductinnovationandresearchinthefield

• Italsohelpstodiscardunwantedcontentsandinternetjunks

• AtpresentthereisnosinglestandardaccepteddefinitionofNN

• 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

• 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,

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

• Agreatamountofpoliticalwillisneededtofinalizetheintri-cateaspectsofNN

• IndependenceofregulationbyTRAIwithoutanyinterferenceisasinquanonforhavingNN

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

Background

• IndiaandSouthKorearecentlysignedagreementoncooperationindevelopmentofbigdatatechnologiesindisastermanagement.

• Bigdatacanplayasignificantroleinenhancingourca-pabilitiestomanagedisasters

• Itisthecollectionofscientificandengineeringmeth-odsandtoolsthathelpinmakingthebestofmassiveamountsofavailabledata

• Bigdatahasradicallychangedthewaysthroughwhichhumansocietiesadoptnaturaldisastermanagementstrategiestore-ducehumansufferingandeconomiclosses

• ThechallengeoftheexpertsinITistomakethebestofbigdatabysourcinginformationfromvariedformatsandstoringitinwaysthatitcanbeeffectivelyusedduringdifferentstag-esofnaturaldisastermanagement

• Allowsresearcherstoconductanefficientanalysisofdisasterspreaswellaspostdisasterphases

• Bigdatahasnowbecomeacrucialelementofdisastercom-munication

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

• Communicationalsoentailsunderstandingandmonitoringtheentirebodyofpublic

• Bigdataallowsresearcherstoconductadetailedanalysisofallcommunicationswhichprovidesvaluableinformationthat

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-

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

• 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

• 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

• 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-

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,

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

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

SolarParkScheme:

• MinistryofNewandrenewableEnergy(MNRE)hasdrawnaschemetosetupnumberofsolarparksacrossvariousstatesinthecountry,generallyabove500MW

• TheSchemeprovidefinancialsupportbyGovernmentofIndiatoestablishsolarparkswithanaimtofacilitatecreationofin-frastructurenecessaryforsettingupnewsolarpowerprojects

• Asperthepolicy,thesesolarparkswillbedevelopedincollab-orationwiththeStateGovernments

• TheimplementationagencywouldbeSolarEnergyCorpora-tionofIndia(SECI)onbehalfofGovernmentofIndia(GOI)

• Thestatesshalldesignateanodalagencyforimplementationofthesolarpark

SolarPark

• 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

• 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-

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

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

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

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

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.

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

TamilNadu.Amorevigilantcitizenryalongwithresponsivepolicingcouldreducethismenace

NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY [GS-IV]

Context

• 2018marks100yearssincethebirthofNelsonMandela(18July1918)

• UNMandeladayonJuly18

NelsonMandelaInternationalDay

• NelsonMandelaInternationalDayisaglobaleventheldannu-allytohonourformerSouthAfricanpresidentandanti-apart-heidactivistNelsonMandela

• TheeventstartedaftertheNelsonMandelaFoundationand46664,aconcertseriesthatbenefitsAIDSvictimsreferencingMandela’sprisonnumber46664

• IdeaofhonouringtheworkandlegacyofNelsonMandelain-ternationallystartedinApril2009

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

• OnMandeladay,workingintandemwiththeNelsonMandelaFoundation,theUNaskedeveryonetotake67minutesoutoftheirdaytoaidothers

• TheUnitedNationssoontookinterestandsupportedtheideaofaglobaldayhonouringMandela,declaringinNovember2009themarkingofJuly18asNelsonMandelaInternationalDay

NelsonMandela

• NelsonMandelawastheformerPresidentofSouthAfricaas

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

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

» 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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