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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. POLITY 01 • UDAN -Giving wings to better air connectivity
• Deliberate, don’t disrupt: On Budget session • US Federal Reserve’s rate cut
• Fast-Track Courts (FTC) • World Biofuel Day
• Giving voice sample does not violate privacy, says SC
• Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2019
3. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 40
• Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019
• An end to arms control consensus
• Polygraph, Narcoanalysis Tests
• Falaq
• Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill,
2019 • Fortifying the Africa outreach
• Article 370 • Free fall: On the Afghan conflict
• G7
• Henley Passport Index
2. ECONOMY 17 • India- Bahrain relations
• ANUBHAV Awards, 2019 • Manasarovar
• Bond Yields • Narendra Modi’s Bhutan visit
• Centre of Excellence” for Citrus Fruit • Order of Zayed
• CSR: On Companies Act amendments • President of India in Guinea
• Development Banks • Pulling a Vietnam in Afghanistan
• Farm Pond • SpaceCom (U.S. launches command for space warfare)
• FDI Policy Reform- Tinkering for optics • U.S. to open Greenland consulate
• GI Tag to new Products • What will happen if Pakistan closes its airspace to India?
• Increasing investment to stimulate growth • Yemen Crisis
• Jal Jeevan Mission
• Kisan Network App
• Merger of Banks 4. SOCIAL ISSUES 53
• Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 • Anti-Lynching Laws
• Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojna • Campaign Angikaar & E-Course on Vulnerability Atlas
• Pashmina Products Receive BIS Certification • Child Well-Being Index
• PM Ujjwala Yojana- Cooking with gas, not wood • Finding the data on missing girls
• Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention • Honor Killing
Access (PAiSA) • National Trust
• Rajaswa Gyan Sangam • Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
• RBI issues final norms for regulatory sandbox (Amendment) Bill, 2019
• RBI transfer ‘surplus’ to government • San-Sadhan’ Hackathon
• RBI’s Goldilocks cut: On repo rate cut • The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019
• Sabka Vishwas-Legacy Dispute Resolution Scheme, 2019 • Unnao Rape Case
• SEBI’s liberalized norms for FPIs • UP, Delhi and Rajasthan among worst performers in
breastfeeding
• State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index (SARAL)
• Why is age of marriage different for men and women?
• Tirur Vettila obtains GI tag
• Women Transforming India Awards
• Uber for tractors
• World Tribal Day
5. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 67 9. ART AND CULTURE 93
• Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research • Gallery of Confiscated and Retrieved Antiquities
(FEDOR) • Indus Valley seals carried meaning like modern coins do,
• Indian National Science Academy (INSA) shows study
• Japan approves growing human organs in animals for the • Kondapalli Toys
first time • Mogao Caves
• Nila Gumbad
• Prachi River Valley Civilisation
6. SECURITY AND DEFENSE 69
• Relics found by ASI in Maharastra’s Phupgaon
• Assam’s final NRC
• Shyamoli
• Chief of Defence Staff
• China issues white paper on national defence
• Homeland Security Conference 10. GEOGRAPHY 98
• How the forces protect VIPs? • Gj 357 d
• India’s doctrine of Nuclear No First Use • Kajin Sara Lake
• Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) • Mapping of Soil Worms
• Perseid Meteor Shower

7. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY 78

• Amazon’s Rainforest Fire 11. EDUCATION 100
• Anshupa Lake • NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers
• Bandipur adds value worth Rs.6,405 cr. Holistic Advancement)
• Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) • ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ Drive
• Clouded Leopard/ Neofelis Nebulosa • Shagun
• Composite Water Management Index (CWMI 2.0) • TechEx
• Glyptothorax Gopii and Garra Simbalbaraensis • Urkund
• Koundinya Forests
• Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS)
12. DISASTER MANAGEMENT 102
• Heracles Inexpectatus
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
• Vaquita/ Phocoena Sinus
• Kerala Landslides
• Wild Buffaloes
• World Elephant Day
• The taproot of conservation justice 13. MISCELLANEOUS 104
• IPCC special report on climate change • Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award
• Lessons after the great deluge. • Underground Bunker Museum
• Rare tarantula sighted in Villupuram district • World Youth Conference on Kindness

8. HEALTH ISSUES 88 14. PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS 115

• Fit India Movement
• Janaushadhi Sugam
• Kalaazar 15. ANSWER KEY 118
• National Essential Diagnostics List
• No formalin found in fish imported to Goa: minister
• PET bottles have no toxic Chemicals
• The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019
• The risks of legalising cannabis
16. MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS 121

17. INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS 124

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AUGUST-2019 1

POLITY
1. Deliberate, don’t disrupt: On Budget session • T hese committees have in the past been useful in
expanding discussion over laws with civil society and
Context: experts from various streams of the larger society.
• Vice President has urged all political parties to include * T hey have also facilitated an enhanced cross-
code of conduct for MPs and MLAs in their election party coordination over issues.
manifestoes
• B
y not sending a single Bill among the 28 that
Details were introduced and passed to a standing or
select committee for scrutiny, the current session
• The Vice President of India and the Chairman, Rajya
accentuated the trend that has minimised the
Sabha, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has called upon all
importance of such committees over the last few
political parties to incorporate a code of conduct for
years.
people’s representatives, including MPs and MLAs, in
their election manifestos. Key Stats
• T he code of conduct should include stipulations that • U
nlike the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-2014), when 71%
the members would not enter the well of the house, of the bills were referred to such committees, in the
nor resort to sloganeering and disruptions or any 16th Lok Sabha, they constituted only a fourth of the
other unruly behavior such as tearing papers and overall number of bills.
throwing them in the House.
• T ime spent on debates in the current session in both
Background the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha was barely a third
of the overall business. This does not augur well for
• In the past lawmakers have taken the route of
lawmaking.
organised disruption of legislative business.
• I t has become common among the political parties Conclusion
and legislators to demonstratively advertise their • A
s Mr. Naidu has also pointed out correctly,
points of view without recourse to debate. deliberation is an important component of
• A
number of crucial bills have taken an inordinate time parliamentary democracy apart from legislation and
to be enacted due to disruption, while others were accountability of lawmakers. All three aspects must
not enacted despite a broad consensus — such as the cohere for a thoroughgoing procedural democracy.
Women’s Reservation Bill — due to the behaviour of a
few naysayers. 2. Fast-Track Courts (FTC)

• M
any sessions of Parliament in the recent past saw Background
little business being done due to repeated disruption. • F TC’s are set up with the major objective of enabling
In this context, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s exhortation quick and efficient disposal of cases.
to political parties to incorporate a model code of conduct * T hey are established to expeditiously dispose of
for their legislators in State Assemblies and in Parliament long pending cases in the Sessions Courts and
is welcome. long pending cases of Under trial prisoners.
Inference • T he term of scheme on the Fast Track Courts were
• I f indeed parties adopt a code, it will go a long way in recommended by the Eleventh Finance Commission
making parliamentary work meaningful. • T hey were actualized though an executive scheme (as
• O
therwise, the general public will lose interest in the opposed to a statute of the legislature)
procedural aspects of parliamentary democracy and • F ast-track courts (FTCs) have been around for a long
limit their participation to just voting in the elections. time, with the first ones being established in the year
2000.
Need for deliberation not disruption
• T he current Budget session sailed through with Context:
minimal disruption. Yet the high productivity during • S mriti Irani, Minister for Women and Child
the session came without sufficient deliberation over Development, informed the Rajya Sabha that the
crucial bills, several of which were rushed through government has proposed to set up 1,023 fast-track
without vetting by parliamentary standing and select courts to clear the cases under the Protection of
committees. Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act

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AUGUST-2019 2

Stats Why FTC have not met intended objective?

• T o quote the Ministry of Law and Justice, at the end • T he original concept of fast-track courts envisaged
of March, there were 581 FTCs operational in the the hiring of additional judges and new infrastructure,
country, with approximately 5.9 lakh pending cases, including courtrooms, technological facilities and
Uttar Pradesh having the most number of cases. libraries, this has not happened and fast-track courts
now function with existing infrastructure and no
• H
owever, 56% of the States and Union Territories,
additional judges.
including Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat,
had no FTCs. • Several FTCs lacked technological resources to
conduct audio and video recordings of the victims
• I n terms of money, ₹870 crore was released by the
Centre between 2000-2001 and 2010-2011 towards * D
esignated Vulnerable Victims Deposition
these FTCs. Complexes, where testimonies can be conducted,
are set up only in few court complexes. Since a
Views of Legal luminaries different level of sensitivity is required to hear
• F ormer Supreme Court chief justice KG Balakrishnan and handle such cases, such designated rooms
has said the fast track courts were quite successful in provide a conducive atmosphere and great
reducing the backlog of cases comfort to vulnerable victims to share their
thoughts in a free manner.
• L eading lawyer and rights activist Colin Gonsalves
says fast-track courts have not turned out to be a “very * I t is of utmost concern that witnesses are
satisfactory system of delivering justice”. sometimes threatened by the system and so do
not appear before the courts. This shows that
• I ndia’s Law Commission sums up the paradox: “Justice the way the system treats victims who seek legal
delayed is justice denied and at the same time justice redress has to be readdressed.
hurried is justice buried.”
• I nadequate staff and IT infrastructure, frivolous
Allocation of cases varies from state to state adjournments and over-listing of cases in the cause
• I n a survey of FTCs conducted by National Law list are some of the variables.
University Delhi, it was observed that there is a huge * I n addition, designated staff working solely in
variation in the kinds of cases handled by these courts a FTC is not always present. Sometimes, staff
across States, with certain States primarily allocating from other (regular) courts end up working in
rape and sexual offence cases to them and other FTCs as well. Staff working in some FTCs are on
States allocating various other matters. contractual appointments; so they can leave at
* F TCs in Delhi mostly deal with cases of rape any time
with and without murder, sexual assault against • In the police part of the system, there are no
women, and cases involving vulnerable victims. designated investigating officers who only investigate
* B
ut in West Bengal, the FTCs presently deal with cases filed in FTCs.
all types of cases * I nvestigating officers also do normal policing
Has increase in Judges let to reduction in Pendency of duties, so their time is shared. Additionally, if an
cases? accused is in custody (rather than on bail), then
police tend to work faster.
While the Centre is promising to set up FTCs across the
* F urther if offences take place in different parts of
country, the moot question is: will a mere increase in the the country, then also it takes more time.
number of judges lead to a direct reduction in pendency • The forensic science laboratories, which are crucial to
of cases? the working of FTCs, are highly understaffed and not
• D
ata collated from the Supreme Court’s ‘Court well-equipped.
News’ between 2010 and 2017 show otherwise. For * They deal with reports relating to both regular
instance, in Karnataka, the number of working judges courts and FTCs.
increased between 2012 and 2017 (with occasional
* T his leads to delay in submitting expert reports
dips in certain years) but pendency did not reduce.
to courts.
• S imilarly in other States, such as Maharashtra, Kerala,
• F urthermore, given the vacancies in subordinate
Delhi and West Bengal, increase or decrease in the
courts across the country, it also needs to be seen
number of judges did not affect pendency of cases.
whether States will hire additional judges or appoint
Hence, there are several other factors that have an impact FTCs from the current pool of judges. For instance,
on disposal of cases. in the case of commercial courts, several States
designate special judges from the current pool of
judges.

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AUGUST-2019 3

* S uch a move could prove to be problematic as it • It was held that it is not a violation of the fundamental
would increase substantially the workload of the right against self-incrimination.
remaining judges.
• I t was reasoned that a voice sample was given for the
• In the United Kingdom, where the concept was first reason of comparison with other voices in order to see
experimented with, the courts are backed by special if they matched and were of the same person.
laws. The system is time-bound and gives a definite
• A voice sample by itself is not incriminating evidence.
time to file pleadings, evidence, and dispose of the
case. • T he Chief Justice compared a voice sample with
other impressions like specimen handwriting, or
Steps to be taken by the Govt
impressions of his fingers, palm or foot collected by
For the FTCs to become successful, States will need to take police during investigation.
stock of the issues at the ground level. • T he 87th Report of the Law Commission of India in
1980 describes a voice print as a “visual recording of
• It is important that States engage with the principal
voice”. Voiceprints resemble fingerprints, in that each
and senior district judges to get a sense of issues the
person has a distinctive voice with characteristic
courts are facing in various districts. Equal attention
features dictated by vocal cavities and articulates.
must be paid to both the metropolitan and far-flung
non-metropolitan areas. • T he judgment authored by Chief Justice Gogoi said
“the fundamental right to privacy cannot be construed
• C
ritical issues such as inadequate court staff, improper
as absolute and must bow down to compelling public
physical and IT infrastructure and understaffed
forensic labs, which affect the day-to-day functioning interest”.
of the FTCs, must be comprehensively addressed.
4. Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2019
• F or wholesome effectiveness, even the corresponding
parts of the system, such as the investigation, filing of Context
charge sheet, the forensic reports and appeals must • T he Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed a Bill against
also be fast-tracked conversion by force, inducement or through marriages
solemnised for the “sole purpose” of adopting a new
Conclusion
religion.
• M
erely increasing the number of FTCs to overcome
their shortage is not the answer. The need is to Details
revamp the system based on micro-level studies with • T he Bill seeks to repeal the Himachal Pradesh Freedom
the stakeholders. of Religion Act, 2006, which is on similar lines.
• T he FTCs cannot be allowed to routinely function • T he Bill prohibits conversion by misrepresentation,
like ordinary courts. Further both internal as well as force, undue influence, coercion, inducement,
external factors affecting FTCs should be considered marriage or any fraudulent means.
while deciding the issue of delay in justice. * A
ny marriage for the sole purpose of conversion
3. Giving voice sample does not violate privacy, says SC will also be declared null and void under Section
5 of the Bill.
Context: • A
s per the Bill, anyone seeking to convert will need to
• I n a significant judgment, the Supreme Court held give a month’s notice to the district magistrate, stating
that a judicial magistrate is empowered to order a that the person is converting on his/her own.
person to give a sample of his voice for the purpose of • T he priest who performs conversion ceremony
investigation. will also give a month’s notice in advance. Those
• T he judgment came while answering an issue reconverting to their “parent religion” are exempted
whether a judicial order compelling a person to give a from this provision.
sample of his voice violates the fundamental right to
privacy under Article 20(3) of the Constitution. Penal Provisions

• T he appeal was filed by Ritesh Sinha against a 2010 • T he new Bill proposes stringent punishments — up to
order of a magistrate court in Uttar Pradesh allowing seven years in jail compared to the three years under
police to get his voice sample. the existing law.
• A
ccording to the new Bill, if Dalits, women or minors
Details: were made to convert, the jail term will be between
• A three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice of India two-seven years.
Ranjan Gogoi, said directing a person to part with
his voice sample to police was not a violation of his
fundamental right to privacy.

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AUGUST-2019 4

5. Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, • T he DRC will seek to resolve the dispute through
2019 negotiations, within one year (extendable by
six months), and submit its report to the central
context: government.
• T he Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) * If a dispute cannot be settled by the DRC, the
Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha central government will refer it to the Inter-State
• I t amends the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, River Water Disputes Tribunal. Such referral must
1956. The Act provides for the adjudication of disputes be made within three months from the receipt of
relating to waters of inter-state rivers and river valleys. the report from the DRC.

Why the change? If the DRC fails to settle the dispute, it would be referred
to the permanent Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal
• T he main purpose is to make the process of dispute
settlement more efficient and effective. (ISRWDT)

• T he amendment is bringing a time limit for ISRWDT

adjudicating the disputes. All disputes would now • The central government will set up an Inter-State River
have to be resolved within a maximum of four-and-a- Water Disputes Tribunal, for the adjudication of water
half years. disputes. This Tribunal can have multiple benches.
• T he multiplicity of tribunals has led to an increase in * All existing Tribunals will be dissolved, and the
bureaucracy, delays, and possible duplication of work. water disputes pending adjudication before
* T he replacement of five existing tribunals with a such existing Tribunals will be transferred to the
permanent tribunal is likely to result in a 25 per new Tribunal.
cent reduction in staff strength, from the current • Composition: The Tribunal will consist of a Chairperson,
107 to 80, and a saving of Rs 4.27 crore per year. Vice-Chairperson, three judicial members, and three
How it will work? expert members.

In the existing mechanism * T hey will be appointed by the central

government on the recommendation of a
• Under the Act, a state government may request Selection Committee. Each Tribunal Bench will
the central government to refer an inter-state river consist of a Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, a
dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication. judicial member, and an expert member.
* I f the central government is of the opinion * T he central government may also appoint two
that the dispute cannot be settled through experts serving in the Central Water Engineering
negotiations, it is required to set up a Water Service as assessors to advise the Bench in its
Disputes Tribunal for adjudication of the dispute proceedings. The assessor should not be from
• U
nder the current law, the tribunal has to give its the state which is a party to the dispute.
award within three years, which can be extended by
Time frames:
another two years.
• Under the Act, the Tribunal must give its decision
• I n practice, tribunals have taken much longer to give
within three years, which may be extended by two
their decisions.
years.
Under the new system, the Centre would set up a DRC • U
nder the Bill, the proposed Tribunal must give its
once states raise a dispute. decision on the dispute within two years, which may
be extended by another year.
Disputes Resolution Committee (DRC)
• U
nder the Bill, when a state puts in a request regarding Data bank:
any water dispute, the central government will set up • U
nder the Act, the central government maintains a
a Disputes Resolution Committee (DRC), to resolve data bank and information system at the national
the dispute amicably. level for each river basin.
* T he DRC will comprise of a Chairperson, and • T he Bill provides that the central government will
experts with at least 15 years of experience in appoint or authorise an agency to maintain such data
relevant sectors, to be nominated by the central bank.
government.
* I t will also comprise one member from each
state (at Joint Secretary level), who are party to
the dispute, to be nominated by the concerned
state government.

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AUGUST-2019 5

Decision of the Tribunal: Concerns

• U
nder the Act, the decision of the Tribunal must be • H
owever, neither method has been proven
published by the central government in the official scientifically to have a 100% success rate, and remain
gazette. This decision has the same force as that of an contentious in the medical field as well.
order of the Supreme Court. Are Indian investigators allowed to put suspects through
* The Bill removes the requirement of such these tests?
publication. It adds that the decision of the
Bench of the Tribunal will be final and binding • I n Selvi & Ors vs State of Karnataka & Anr (2010), a
on the parties involved in the dispute. Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice of
India K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran
• The Act provided that the central government may and J M Panchal ruled that no lie detector tests should
make a scheme to give effect to the decision of the be administered “except on the basis of consent of the
Tribunal. accused”.
* The Bill is making it mandatory for the central * The Bench took into consideration international
government to make such scheme. norms on human rights, the right to a fair trial,
and the right against self-incrimination under
Supreme Court
Article 20(3) of the Constitution
• S upreme Court in the past while hearing a civil suit
• T hose who volunteer must have access to a lawyer, and
in the Cauvery dispute, had said the decision of
have the physical, emotional, and legal implications of
that tribunal could be challenged before it through
the test explained to them by police and the lawyer,
a Special Leave Petition under Article 136 of the
the Bench said.
Constitution.
• I t said that the ‘Guidelines for the Administration
Concerns of Polygraph Test on an Accused’ published by the
• Opposition Parties allege that the proposed legislation National Human Rights Commission in 2000, must be
has no provision for consultation with states and was strictly followed.
an assault on the federal structure. • T he subject’s consent should be recorded before a
judicial magistrate, the court said.
6. Polygraph, Narcoanalysis Tests
• T he results of the tests cannot be considered to be
Polygraph Test “confessions”, because those in a drugged-induced
• It is based on the assumption that physiological state cannot exercise a choice in answering questions
responses that are triggered when a person is lying that are put to them.
are different from what they would be otherwise. • H
owever, any information or material subsequently
• I nstruments like cardio-cuffs or sensitive electrodes discovered with the help of such a voluntarily-taken
are attached to the person, and variables such as test can be admitted as evidence, the court said.
blood pressure, pulse, respiration, change in sweat * T hus, if an accused reveals the location of a
gland activity, blood flow, etc., are measured as murder weapon in the course of the test, and
questions are put to them. police later find the weapon at that location, the
• A
numerical value is assigned to each response to statement of the accused will not be evidence,
conclude whether the person is telling the truth, is but the weapon will be.
deceiving, or is uncertain. Context
Narcoanalysis • G
okulnath Shetty retired deputy manager of Punjab
• It involves the injection of a drug, sodium pentothal, National Bank (PNB), refused to give his consent for
which induces a hypnotic or sedated state in which the test, stating among other reasons, that it could
the subject’s imagination is neutralised, and they are have an adverse effect on his health.
expected to divulge true information. • H
e also cited a Supreme Court judgment that makes
• T he drug, referred to as “truth serum” in this context, it mandatory to obtain the consent of the accused for
was used in larger doses as anaesthesia during such tests.
surgery, and is said to have been used during World Why has the CBI sought to use these tests in the PNB case?
War II for intelligence operations.
• The CBI has said that it has been unable to ascertain
More recently, investigating agencies have sought to Shetty’s “other motives and details of undue pecuniary
employ these tests in investigation, and are sometimes advantage obtained by him”.
seen as being a “softer alternative” to torture or ‘third
degree’ to extract the truth from suspects.

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AUGUST-2019 6

• Shetty is alleged to have issued fraudulent Letters of (d) such of the other provisions of this Constitution shall
Understanding in favour of Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, apply in relation to that State subject to such exceptions
and their firms in violation of bank rules. and modifications as the President may by order specify:
Provided that no such order which relates to the matters
7. Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, specified in the Instrument of Accession of the State
2019 referred to in paragraph (i) of sub clause (b) shall be issued
except in consultation with the Government of the State:
Context: Provided further that no such order which relates to
• Parliament has passed a Bill which seeks to increase matters other than those referred to in the last preceding
the number of Supreme Court judges from the proviso shall be issued except with the concurrence of that
present 30 to 33 with a view to reducing pendency Government
of cases. (2) If the concurrence of the Government of the State
Details referred to in paragraph (ii) of sub clause (b) of clause (1)
or in the second proviso to sub clause (d) of that clause be
• T he Bill amends the Supreme Court (Number of given before the Constituent Assembly for the purpose of
Judges) Act, 1956. framing the Constitution of the State is convened, it shall
• T he Current judges in the Supreme Court is at 30 be placed before such Assembly for such decision as it may
judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India). take thereon
• The Bill increases this number from 30 to 33. (3) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions
of this article, the President may, by public notification,
Background declare that this article shall cease to be operative or shall
• I nitially the Constitution of India provided for a be operative only with such exceptions and modifications
supreme court with a chief justice and 7 judges. and from such date as he may specify: Provided that the
recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the
• A
s the work of the court increased and cases began State referred to in clause (2) shall be necessary before the
to accumulate, parliament increased the number of President issues such a notification
Judges (including the CJI) from the original 8 in 1950
to 11 in 1956, 14 in 1960, 18 in 1978, 26 in 1986 and 31 What is Article 370?
in 2009. • A
rticle 370 is a constitutional provision that gave
8. Article 370 Jammu and Kashmir its special status.

370. Temporary provisions with respect to the State of • T he provision was incorporated in Part XXI of the
Jammu and Kashmir Constitution: Temporary, Transitional and Special
Provisions.
(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution,
* A
s evident from the title of the Part, it was
(a) The provisions of Article 238 shall not apply in relation supposed to be a temporary provision and
to the State of Jammu and Kashmir; its applicability was projected to last till the
(b) The power of Parliament to make laws for the said State formulation and adoption of the State’s
shall be limited to constitution.
* t hose matters in the Union List and the • I t restricts the Parliament’s legislative powers with
Concurrent List which, in consultation with the respect to state of J&K.
Government of the State, are declared by the
Application of 370
President to correspond to matters specified
in the Instrument of Accession governing the • H
owever, the State’s constituent assembly dissolved
accession of the State to the Dominion of India as itself on 25 January 1957 without recommending
the matters with respect to which the Dominion either abrogation or amendment of the Article 370,
Legislature may make laws for that State; and leaving the status of the provision on a cliffhanger.
* such other matters in the said Lists as, with the • T he provision was later held to have acquired
concurrence of the Government of the State, the permanent status by way of rulings of the Supreme
President may by order specify Explanation For Court of India and the High Court of Jammu and
the purposes of this article, the Government of Kashmir.
the State means the person for the time being • T his implied that to apply a central law to the state
recognized by the President as the Maharaja of on subjects included in the Instrument of Accession,
Jammu and Kashmir acting on the advice of the mere “consultation” with the state government is
Council of Ministers for the time being in office required.
under the Maharajas Proclamation dated the
fifth day of March, 1948 ; • H
owever, to apply a central legislation to matters other
than defence, foreign affairs and communications,
(c) The provisions of Article 1 and of this article shall apply ‘concurrence”of the state government was mandatory.
in relation to that State;

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AUGUST-2019 7

Jammu and Kashmir Constitution What is the status of Article 35-A?

• A
rticle 3-> Relationship of the State with the Union of • S ince Presidential Order of August 5 has extended
India:-The State of Jammu and Kashmir is and shall be all the provisions of the Constitution to Kashmir,
an integral part of the Union of India. Fundamental rights chapter has now been extended
and therefore some discriminatory provisions of
• I n the Preamble to the Constitution, not only is there
Article 35-A may not be in accordance with prescribed
no claim to sovereignty, but there is categorical
Rules.
acknowledgement about the object of the J&K
Constitution being “to further define the existing • T herefore the President can also declare this to be
relationship of the state with the Union of India as its inapplicable
integral part thereof.
Background
Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir)
• A
rticle 35A of the Indian Constitution is an article that
Order, 2019.
empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state’s legislature
1. (1) This Order may be called the Constitution (Application to define “permanent residents”
to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019.
• T he provision mandates that no act of the State
(2) It shall come into force at once, and shall thereupon legislature coming under the ambit of Article 35A can
supersede the Constitution (Application to Jammu be challenged for violating the Indian Constitution or
and Kashmir) Order, 1954 as amended from time to time. any other law of the land.
2. All the provisions of the Constitution, as amended from Who Are Permanent Residents?
time to time, shall apply in relation to the State of Jammu
and Kashmir and the exceptions and modifications subject • T he rights are given in the state Constitution of
to which they shall so apply shall be as follows:- Jammu and Kashmir.
To article 367, there shall be added the following clause, * as a person who was a state subject on May 14,
namely:- 1954
”(4) For the purposes of this Constitution as it applies in * who had been a resident of the state for 10 years
relation to the State of Jammu and Kashmir- * Has lawfully acquired immovable property in the
(a) References to this Constitution or to the provisions state
thereof shall be construed as references to the Constitution • T he state legislature can alter the definition of a
or the provisions thereof as applied in relation to the said permanent resident by passing a law with a two-third
State; majority.
(b) references to the person for the time being recognized • Permanent residents are given a Permanent Resident
by the President on the recommendation of the Legislative Certificate which forms the basis of their rights in the
Assembly of the State as the Sadar-i-Riyasat of Jammu and state.
Kashmir, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers of
the State for the time being in office, shall be construed as • I t also has a provision to recognize as permanent
references to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir; residents, people who had migrated to Pakistan and
returned, though subject to certain conditions.
(c) references to the Government of the said State shall
be construed as including references to the Governor of Rights and Privileges
Jammu and Kashmir acting on the advice of his Council of • S pecial Rights and privileges are given in the following
Ministers; and four categories:
(d) in proviso to clause (3) of article 370 of this Constitution, * Employment under the state government/ State
the expression “Constituent Assembly of the State referred Public Sector Jobs
to in clause (2)” shall read “Legislative Assembly of the
State”.” * Acquisition of immovable property in the state

Has Article 370 been scrapped? * Settlement in the state

• T he Presidential order signed by the President of India * Right to scholarships and such other forms of aid
has not scrapped Article 370. as the state government may provide

• B
ut invoking this very article special status of Jammu Why removal was a necessity?
& Kashmir has been withdrawn. By reorganising Kashmir’s political status, Modi govt is
• Thus Article 370 is very much on the statute book. addressing a colonial mess
• I n other words, the move by the government gives full • I n Africa and Asia, there are countless territorial
applicability of the Indian Constitution in Jammu and conflicts. The Indo-Tibetan frontier opened up by
Kashmir. Earlier, only a set of limited provisions such Curzon remains a contested boundary dispute
as foreign relations, communication and defence had between India and China. More broadly, the buffers
jurisdiction over Jammu and Kashmir. and protectorates constructed by the Raj to limit
conflict with Russia are now zones of political
contestation between India and a rising China.

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AUGUST-2019 8

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AUGUST-2019 9

• The Durand Line drawn between India and • I ndia has had greater success with Bangladesh. Early
Afghanistan in 1893, a few years before Curzon on in his first term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
arrived in India, remains disputed between Kabul and seized the opportunities to settle the disputes with
Islamabad. Even the Taliban, nurtured by Pakistan as Dhaka on the land and maritime boundary inherited
an instrument to gain influence in Afghanistan, does from the Partition.
not accept the Durand Line.
Conclusion
• Many other peripheries of the Raj, from Balochistan in
the west to Xinjiang and Kashmir in the north to Tibet • But unlike Dhaka and Beijing, Rawalpindi is not
and the eastern Himalayan regions between India, really prepared for a peaceful resolution. Repeated
upper Burma and China are all in turmoil of varying efforts by Indira Gandhi (1972), Atal Bihari Vajpayee
degrees. (1999), and Manmohan Singh (2005-07) ended in
failure. The inherent difficulty of negotiation has
Part of the problem lies in the nature of the frontiers that been compounded by Pakistan’s use of terrorism and
the Subcontinent inherited from the Raj. Kashmir’s ambiguous political status within the Indian
The land borders of India were not defined by a single line; Union.
but by what Curzon identifies as the three-fold frontier. • I n confronting Pakistan’s terrorism and reorganising
• There was the “administrative frontier” that marked the political status of Kashmir, the Modi government
out regions that the Raj governed to the fullest extent. has set a new policy template.
• B
eyond that was the “frontier of active defence” like • T he key to its success lies in finding early political
the Durand Line reconciliation within Kashmir and persuading the
Pakistan army that its interests are better served by
• A
third was the “strategic frontier” consisting of the
stable, peaceful and a legitimate frontier with India.
outer boundaries of protectorates over which the Raj
exercised a measure of control. Criticisms
Confusion over Control of territories Due process
• W
hile the British Raj, Czarist Russia and Qing China • T he process of revocation of Article 370, which ties
found ways to live with ambiguities in remote corners the state with India, needed the approval of J&K’s
of the empire, the new nationalist regimes that Constituent Assembly. In the absence of such an
succeeded them have had much more difficulty. assembly, it can be removed with the concurrence of
the state legislative assembly. But the assembly does
• T he Partition of the Subcontinent, based on religious
not exist at the moment either, and the notification
considerations, added an explosive dimension to an
suggests that it was the Governor’s concurrence that
already complex inheritance.
was obtained to render the provisions irrelevant. This
• T he successor states to the empires laid formal claims is clearly not sufficient.
to tracts of territory that had an ambivalent status, but
• T he process has been pushed through without
have struggled to realise them.
consultations with Kashmir’s political leaders, who
The colonial past has left territories that are claimed by have been under detention.
many countries with significant challenges • F urther, the reorganization of states requires the
• P
akistan has struggled to find stability on its western consent of the state assembly concerned.
border lands — where the Baloch and the Pashtun • I n this case, J&K has been bifurcated, and statehood
continue to challenge its claims. diluted to UT status, without any deliberations in the
• C
hina reacted furiously when Delhi in 1975 ended assembly
Sikkim’s protectorate status and integrated it with
Article 3 of the Constitution
India. It took nearly three decades for China to accept
the new reality. • I t says that before parliament can consider a Bill
that diminishes the area of a state or changes its
* Beijing continues to claim the entire state of
name, the Bill must be “referred by the President to
Arunachal Pradesh.
the Legislature of that State for expressing its views
* But the arguments with China are now mostly thereon”.
political. After instigating trouble in each other’s
• This is an essential safeguard of India’s federal system
territory for a period, Delhi and Beijing are now
and has clearly not been followed in this case.
committed to managing the dispute peacefully,
while expanding the broader relationship. • I n parliament, Home Minister invoked that since the
J&K assembly was dissolved and the state is under
* There is frequent spike in military tensions, but
Central rule, it is parliament which gets to exercise the
there has been no shooting war.
prerogatives of the assembly.

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AUGUST-2019 10

• T his move will strain India’s social fabric not only in its Why Jammu and Kashmir is special?
impact on Jammu and Kashmir but also in the portents
• F ormer MP Karan Singh, son of Maharaja Hari Singh,
it holds for federalism, parliamentary democracy and
wrote in An Examined Life: “The right wing seems to
diversity.
resent that J&K carries a special status. That has always
• The Centre’s abrupt move disenfranchised people on surprised me. We are a great country, we should be
a matter that directly affects their life and sentiments. large-hearted. J&K came to India under complex and
difficult circumstances. Now after all these years to ask
Kashmiris seek greater democracy.
why it holds a special position is baffling. It will always
• L ike all Indian citizens, Kashmiris seek greater be special because it was born out of a special historical
democracy. event and subsequent political developments. In
• E lements keen to destabilize India would seek to build England they have all sorts of governing systems…
a narrative that Delhi is taking away powers from the we should feel so lucky that J&K, a Muslim-majority
local level. It is important that the process of turning state became a part of India despite the religion-led
the state into a UT does not lead to alienation. Partition. Cherish that; relish that; honour that.”
• I n November 1963, in a debate in Parliament, when
Deepen Communal and religious lines Hari Vishnu Kamath argued that Kashmir was “not
• W
hile Ladakhi Buddhists, for instance, are now fully” integrated, Nehru asserted that it was, indeed,
celebrating the fulfilment of their long pending “fully integrated” with India. He said: “The House
demand for Union Territory’s status, the voices of will remember that we have some restrictions with
Kargilis who are still under a strict curfew are yet to be respect to NEFA and other places; outsiders cannot
heard. buy land. This is also in some other districts, the hill
districts of Assam. This is to protect them.”
• T hey may not support this decision because ‘a Union
Territory without a legislature’ not only negates the Looking at these arguments from the past, the people,
idea of decentralisation of power to the grassroots the local political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and the
(the undergirding principle of the autonomous hill political parties in India should have been taken into
council) but could well lead to a shifting of the loci of confidence for bringing about an end to a legislation that
power to Leh, resulting in losing whatever gains they was indeed the bridge between India and the state of
have assiduously made over the years. Jammu and Kashmir.

Instrument of Accession Challenges

• I n Kashmir’s Instrument of Accession in Clause 5, Raja • T he first, and most obvious result could be a worsening
Hari Singh, ruler of J&K, explicitly mentioned that of the law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley.
the terms of “my Instrument of Accession cannot * T he recent pre-emptive deployment of additional
be varied by any amendment of the Act or of Indian forces into Jammu and Kashmir enables the
Independence Act unless such amendment is state government to deal appropriately with any
accepted by me by an Instrument supplementary to situation.
this Instrument”.
* If large-scale protests do erupt, how they are
• C
lause 7 said “nothing in this Instrument shall be handled will be extremely important.
deemed to commit me in any way to acceptance of any
• P
akistan will undoubtedly step up its support to terror
future constitution of India or to fetter my discretion
activities in Kashmir.
to enter into arrangements with the Government of
India under any such future constitution”. * P
akistan can be expected to fish actively in the
troubled waters of Kashmir. Buoyed by the recent
• O
riginally it was India’s stated policy that wherever
statements of United States President Donald
there was a dispute on accession, it should be settled
Trump on mediation, Pakistan will attempt to
in accordance with the wishes of people rather than a
internationalize the issue of Kashmir.
unilateral decision of the ruler of the princely state.
* However, there are limits to Pakistan’s response.
* I n India’s acceptance of the IoA, Lord
Hobbled by international pressure and a dire
Mountbatten stated that “it is my Government’s
financial situation, Pakistan needs to keep its
wish that as soon as law and order have been
actions calibrated to ensure that the situation
restored in Kashmir and her soil is cleared of the
does not escalate to a conventional conflict.
invader, the question of the State’s accession be
settled by a reference to the people”. * T he Indian Army’s deployment along the Line
of Control in Jammu and Kashmir is extremely
Elections in Jammu and Kashmir were delayed robust, and will not allow large-scale infiltration.
• T he three independent observers appointed by the • I t is also essential to not look at tackling the
Election Commission — to assess the readiness for situation purely through a security approach. If the
assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir — are learnt government’s action aims to find a resolution to the
to have conveyed to the poll panel that the situation is Kashmir conflict, it has to take the local population
conducive for elections immediately after Lok Sabha into confidence.
polls.

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AUGUST-2019 11

• It must also be understood that narratives are more Kashmir could, in these circumstances, become
than verbal messages; they also need visible actions even more vulnerable to external elements than
to show the sincerity of the political leadership in it was in the 1990s.
finding a just solution. * The situation emerging in the western
* T he decision of the government must not be neighbourhood and the possible re-ascendance
painted in terms of victory or defeat, but as a of the Taliban in Afghanistan call for greater
win-win for everyone. attention and care to be taken in what will
remain as J&K after bifurcation. Making it a
* The advisory to various state governments to
Union Territory with a legislature makes a lot of
ensure the safety and security of the residents
strategic sense.
of Jammu and Kashmir is a step in the right
direction. * In the interest of security this is a good move.
Once all the security measures are met, we can
It must now be followed up by a genuine outreach to the
give statehood as it happened with Goa and
people of the state.
Arunachal Pradesh in the past
Union Territory Status
• It will insulate Ladakh from the happenings in the other
• T here were seven union territories (UTs) specified two regions and provide for greater development of
under Part II of the First Schedule to the Constitution the region.
of India, viz. Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
• Ladakh remained critical for India’s national security.
Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu,
Imagine, without Ladakh, the China’s People’s
Lakshadweep, National Capital Territory of Delhi and
Liberation Army would be sitting on the southern
Puducherry.
foothills of the Himalayas. It has been self-harming to
• Except for the National Capital Territory of Delhi and have ignored Ladakh thus far.
Puducherry, UTs did not have their own legislature
* Ladakh’s unique geographical location should
until now.
offer India a huge counter-offensive potential in
• N
ow, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has also been terms of leveraging connectivity to the Eurasian
added along with Delhi and Puducherry to be a UT region and China
with a legislature.
• `My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir’ (1986)
Article 240 of the Indian Constitution * It is a book penned by Ex-Governor of J&K
• A
ccording to Article 240, the president of India has Jagmohan during 1984-1990
the power to make regulations for UTs not having * “Article 370 is nothing but a breeding ground for
their own legislature. the parasites at the heart of the paradise. It skins
the poor. It deceives them with its mirage. It lines
Is it right to give a state Union territory status? Yes
the pockets of the ‘power elites’”.
• A
delegation headed by Chewang Rigzin, President,
Ladakh Buddhist Association approached the then Conclusion
Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru • G
eographically and metaphorically, Jammu and
and submitted a memorandum in New Delhi on 4th Kashmir is the crown of secular India — a Muslim
May, 1949 which concludes as under:- “ Ladakh is not majority region in a Hindu majority country. Its people
prepared to go to Pakistan whatever the result of the and leaders had chosen secular India over Islamic
plebiscite may be”. Pakistan, a fact that Islamists never reconciled with.
* Frederic Drew, who served as Governor of • T he new doctrine will have to persuade the majority
Ladakh in the 19th Century had rightly observed of the people of Jammu and Kashmir that greater
that “the territories of J&K have no other bond integration with India will provide them with more
of cohesion than the fact of Maharaja’s rule, no opportunities, provide more freedom and space,
simple name for it exists”. and strengthen their rights much more than the
* Ladakhis since then have consistently been alternatives proposed by other mainstream parties or
demanding separate region from Jammu and separatists.
Kashmir State and asking for the status of Union • G
oing forward India should take people of J&K into
Territory for the area confidence, bring development which includes all
• J ammu and Kashmir is strategically important for sections of society and restore statehood as per its
India. initial promise.
* With the United States seeking a quick exit from, Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019
and willing to let the Inter-Services Intelligence- • I t is an act by the Indian Parliament where the State
sponsored Taliban to control Afghanistan (and of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two union
China deeply embedded in the power play), territories — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
the heartland of central Asia has rarely been as
adverse to Indian interests since 1989, when * The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will
the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan. have a legislative assembly,

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AUGUST-2019 12

* Whereas the Union Territory of Ladakh will • The High court of the existing state of Jammu and
not have a legislative assembly and will be Kashmir will be the common High Court of the two
administered by the Lieutenant Governor alone. Union Territories
• T he Union Territory of Ladakh will include the districts • T he new Assembly shall have reservation for
Leh and Kargil which will, in effect, cease to be part of Scheduled Caste and Tribes as in other parts of the
the existing state of Jammu and Kashmir. state.
• T he remaining territories will remain with Jammu and Legislative powers of the Union Territory of Jammu and
Kashmir after the bifurcation. Kashmir
• R
epresentation in the House of People: Out of the six • T he Legislative Assembly may make laws for the
Lok Sabha seats in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, whole or any part of the Union Territory of Jammu
five will remain with the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with respect to any of the matters
and Kashmir and one will go to the Union Territory of enumerated in the state list except on subjects “public
Ladakh. order” and “police” which will remain in the domain of
• T he Election Commission may conduct Lok Sabha the Centre vis-a-vis the LG.
elections for both the Union Territories as per the • In case of inconsistencies between laws made
allocation of seats specified in the Delimitation of by Parliament and laws made by the Legislative
Parliamentary Constituencies Order, 1976 as amended Assembly, earlier law shall prevail and law made by
by this act. the Legislative Assembly shall be void.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
Role and powers of the Lieutenant Governor
• T he Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will
have a tenure of five years unless it’s dissolved earlier • T he Governor of the existing State of Jammu and
by the L-G. Kashmir shall be the Lieutenant Governor for the
Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and Union
• P
rovisions contained under Article 239a of the territory of Ladakh for such period as may be
constitution that are applicable to Puducherry shall determined by the President.
be applicable here as well.
• Appointment of L-G in Ladakh: The President shall
* This allows the Union Territory of Jammu and appoint the L-G under article 239.
Kashmir to function as a legislative assembly
under an administrator appointed under the * The L-G will be assisted by advisors appointed by
said Article. In this case, it will be the LG. “ the Centre since the Union Territory will not have
a Legislative Assembly.
• The delimitation of constituencies following the
bifurcation may be determined by the Election • I n the case of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,
Commission. the L-G shall “act in his discretion” on issues which
fall outside the purview of powers conferred on
* The constituencies will be re-organised through the Legislative Assembly, in which he is required to
a de-limitation exercise under the 2002 Act of exercise any judicial functions, and/or matters related
Parliament. to All India services and the Anti-Corruption Bureau
* For the purpose of delimitation, the 2011 census UNSC Resolution 47 on Kashmir
figures will be taken as benchmark
• I t focuses on the complaint of the Government of
• The number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of India concerning the dispute over the State of Jammu
Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to and Kashmir that India took to the Security Council in
114. January 1948.
* The state assembly currently has 111 seats, of
Who were the UNSC members who oversaw the issue?
which 46 are in the Valley, 37 in Jammu and the
remaining four are in the Ladakh division. • T he UN Security Council increased the size of the
investigating council to include six members along
* Of these, 24 seats would be deemed to be vacant
with permanent members of the UNSC.
till the time Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir comes
under the jurisdiction of the Indian state. • Along with the five permanent members, China,
France, UK, US & Russia, non-permanent members
• With this, the existing legislative council in Jammu
included Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Syria
and Kashmir stands abolished. “Every member thereof
and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
ceases to be such member and all bills pending in the
Legislative Council shall lapse.” What happened at the UNSC?
• Four sitting members of the council of states (Rajya • I ndia’s position was that it was ready to hold a
Sabha) representing the existing state of Jammu and plebiscite, a direct vote in which an entire electorate
Kashmir shall be deemed to have been elected to fill votes on a specific proposal, to know of the people’s
the seats allocated to the Union Territory of Jammu desire and accept the results of the vote.
and Kashmir. Their term of office remaining unaltered.
• P
akistan denied its involvement in the conflict and
counter-accused India.

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AUGUST-2019 13

• UNSC ordered for the conflict to cease and to create * India also believed that the powers conferred
conditions for a “free and impartial plebiscite” to on the Plebiscite Administrator undermined the
decide whether Jammu and Kashmir would accede state’s sovereignty.
to India or Pakistan. * India also wanted Pakistan to be excluded from
What did the UNSC order Pakistan to do? the operations of the plebiscite.

• T he UNSC ordered that Pakistan was to withdraw its • P

akistan on the other hand, objected to even the
tribesmen and Pakistan nationals who had entered minimum presence of Indian forces in Kashmir, as
“the State for the purpose of fighting” and to prevent allowed by the resolution.
future intrusions and to prevent“furnishing of material * It also wanted an equal representation in the
aid to those fighting in the State”. state government for the Muslim Conference,
• T he UNSC also stated that it gave “full freedom to which was the dominant party in Pakistani-held
all subjects of the State, regardless of creed, caste or Kashmir.
party, to express their views” and the freedom to vote * Despite their differences with the provisions of
on the issue of the accession of the State. Resolution 47, both India and Pakistan welcomed
• I t was also ordered Pakistan to cooperate with the UN Commission and agreed to work with it.
maintaining peace and order. Pakistan Angle
What did the UNSC order India to do? Steps taken by Pak
• T he UNSC had a more comprehensive set of orders • P
akistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) has
for India. It said that after the Pakistani army and taken the decision to downgrade diplomatic ties with
tribesmen had withdrawn from the State and the New Delhi
fighting had ceased, India was to submit a plan to the
* Islamabad announced it was expelling the
Commission for withdrawing forces from Jammu and
Indian ambassador as part of the downgrading
Kashmir and to reduce them over a period of time to
of diplomatic ties, snapping bilateral trade and
the minimum strength required for civil maintenance
observe August 15 as a black day in supposed
of law and order.
solidarity with the people of Jammu & Kashmir is
• I ndia was ordered to appraise the Commission of a serious setback for diplomatic relations.
the stages at which steps had been taken to reduce
• P
akistan has closed air space corridor which will affect
military presence to the minimum strength and to
Air India flights
arrange remaining troops after consultations with the
Commission. • Pakistan suspended the Samjhauta Express and the
Thar Express trains amid tensions between the two
• A
mong other instructions, India was ordered to agree
neighbouring countries
that till the time the Plebiscite Administration found
it necessary to exercise the powers of direction and • Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue at the United Nations,
supervision over the State forces and police, these mobilise the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and
forces would be held in areas to be agreed upon with send envoys to friendly capitals.
the Plebiscite Administrator. • India is well placed to deal with Pakistan on the
• I t also directed India to recruit local personnel for law diplomatic front given the changed international
and order and to safeguard the rights of minorities. context.
How did India & Pakistan react to the UNSC Resolution 47? * India’s economic clout has grown enormously
in the last couple of decades, and given doubts
Both countries rejected Resolution 47. in the Western world about Pakistan’s overt and
• I ndia’s contention was that the resolution ignored the covert support to Islamist terror, New Delhi has
military invasion by Pakistan and placing both nations the space to deal with Islamabad’s efforts to
on an equal diplomatic ground was a dismissal of “internationalise” the Kashmir issue.
Pakistan’s aggression and the fact that the Maharaja
Examples of expulsion from the past
of Kashmir, Hari Singh had signed the Instrument of
Accession. • I ndia withdrew its High Commissioner to Pakistan
after the 2001 Parliament attack, but chose not to
* India also objected to the Resolution’s
send back the Pakistani envoy at the time.
requirement that did not allow India to retain
military presence which it believed it needed for • However, the Pakistani High Commissioner was
defence. expelled by India after the Kaluchak terror strike in
2002.
* The Resolution’s order to form a coalition
government, would also put Sheikh Abdullah, * In May 2002, terrorists killed seven bus
the Prime Minister of the Princely State of Jammu passengers and 25 armymen and their family
& Kashmir, in a difficult position. members.

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AUGUST-2019 14

• In 2003, India expelled Jalil Abbas Jillani, Deputy • Pakistan has done all this without any UN pushback.
high commissioner and Pakistan’s acting high • I n addition, its sustained support of terror groups
commissioner, from New Delhi, accusing him of inimical to India has discredited its protests on the
espionage. Kashmir issue.
* Pakistan retaliated by sending back the Indian • Given that four permanent members of the UNSC
acting high commissioner Sudhir Vyas. have already accepted Kashmir’s reorganisation as
In fact, even after the 2001 Parliament attack, India and an “internal matter” — and China’s dissent is mainly
Pakistan managed to have their High Commissioners back on the issue of the reorganisation of Ladakh and
in place by March 2003 Aksai Chin — there is little expectation that the UNSC
petition by Pakistan will make any headway.
Conclusion
Ineffectiveness of the UN over many other similar disputes.
• D
iplomacy is a mechanism to ensure that channels
of communication remain open. While India and • Russia’s control of Crimea has only strengthened
Pakistan have used back channels in recent years, since 2014 despite a UN General Assembly (UNGA)
the presence of seasoned diplomats in Delhi and resolution, UNSC statements and a “package of
Islamabad has always benefited the two countries. measures”.

• Pakistan needs to understand this. • When the U.S. decided, in 2017, to declare Jerusalem
as Israel’s capital, it lost a vote in the UNGA, but
The UN’s limited impact suffered no real action as a consequence of changing
How has UNSC looked at the Kashmir issue? the decades-old status quo. Neither has Israel, despite
UN censure of the Gaza bombings, and settlements in
• First, the UNSC does not have any agenda item the West Bank; nor has
explicitly termed “Jammu and Kashmir”. The only
agenda item on its mandate is “The India Pakistan • C
hina changed after UNSC resolutions on Tibet and
Question”. UNGA petitions on Xinjiang
• S econd, UNSC Resolutions 209, 210, 211, 214 and 215 China and its quasi-colony
of September 1965 focused on a ceasefire during the
Context
war and demanded that the two sides cooperate with
UNMOGIP. • T he 15 members of the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) engaged in closed-door informal
• T hird, the last formal resolution under the agenda
consultations in response to a letter written by
item titled “The India Pakistan Question”, was
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to
UNSC Resolution 307 of 21 December 1971, which
the President of the United Nations Security Council
noted India’s unilateral declaration of a ceasefire
(UNSC), backed by a request from China, on the
in the western theatre during that war, Pakistan’s
situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
acceptance of it, and, demanded a durable cessation
of all hostilities. Outcome of the meeting
Pakistan’s Reorganization • T here is no official record of the proceedings nor
• Pakistan has itself carried out restructuring in the does the informal exchange result in any outcome
parts of Kashmir it occupied in 1948: military control document.
and demographic changes in Pakistan Occupied • I n this case, the only consensus that had the backing
Kashmir (PoK), or what Pakistan calls Azad Jammu and of the majority of members was that India and
Kashmir; elections in which its national parties, the Pakistan should resolve matters bilaterally.
Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League
• C
hina’s attempts to get the president of the UNSC
(Nawaz) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf take part,
to issue an informal statement to the media, was
and an ongoing process to dilute Gilgit-Baltistan’s
curiously backed by the UK, perhaps in the hope of
autonomous status.
scoring some brownie points with the large domestic
* In 1970 the territory of present day Gilgit-Baltistan constituencies of Pakistanis.
was made into a separate administrative unit in
• T he UK might also have hoped to curry some favor
Pakistan under the name “Northern Areas”.
with China to further its mercantilist interests in the
* In January 2019, Pakistan’s Supreme Court face of an imminent Brexit meltdown.
passed an order involving Gilgit-Baltistan to
which India objected on the ground that the Human right violations in Pakistan
court had no jurisdiction over an area belonging • P
akistan’s Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi
legally to India. made a dishonest and propagandist statement to the
media making allegations against India, claiming that
“the voice of the people of Kashmir was being heard
in the UNSC”.

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AUGUST-2019 15

• B
ut, Islamabad’s own track road in Baluchistan and What China needs to note is, Unlike China’s opaque political
the fact that it sponsors terrorism in Afghanistan and functioning and decision-making processes, national
India is not a secret. media control, suppression of dissent and draconian
• P
akistan has a long-held policy to create unrest and internal security laws, the change in J&K’s constitutional
tensions in neighbouring countries especially in India status was done through an open political process — a
and Afghanistan by backing jihadist groups. publicly aired parliamentary debate and voting.

Pakistan meanwhile should first permit the voice of China’s silence when Pakistan made changes in Pakistan
the Baloch people to be heard, along with that of the occupied Kashmir
oppressed in Gilgit-Baltistan. China has never commented when Pakistan unilaterally
Why this has become a major concern for Pakistan? changed the status of regions in PoK exposes its deep bias.
• The Indian government’s bold step to revoke the • G
ilgit-Baltistan was re-designated by Pakistan as
special status of J&K, long overdue, has given Pakistan Northern Areas in 1970.
and its cohorts in J&K a big jolt.
• I n 1974, Pakistan unilaterally overturned a law of
• It has hurt vested interests in the Valley who, for the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir
generations, have siphoned off the wealth of the state prohibiting outsiders from owning property, and
and waltzed with separatists at the same time. encouraged large-scale settlement by Sunnis in
India’s reaffirmation on resolving border dispute with predominantly Shia-populated Gilgit-Baltistan
China • P
akistan once again unilaterally issued the Gilgit-
• Earlier, the external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order
had clearly conveyed, during his visit to Beijing, that in 2009, without any consultation with the people,
the decisions were internal to India and aimed at with a view to giving itself and China a freer hand to
providing good governance, promoting social justice develop Chinese link through PoJ&K to Gwadar.
and ensuring economic development in J&K. Besides allowing the presence of China’s military and
• He had also pointed out to the Chinese that the civilian personnel close to India’s border.
constitutional change in India had no bearing on
On changes in Tibet
the boundary issue or the Line of Actual Control with
China. • O
ne should recall that in 1965, when China
reorganised the erstwhile Tibet region into the Tibet
China’s deviation tactics
Autonomous Region, giving it a provincial status, India
• China is facing global censure for its unbridled human was not apoplectic, like China has been following the
rights violations in Xinjiang province, the mass designation of Ladakh as a union territory.
incarceration of Uighurs in so-called re-education
• B
ased on the principle of non-interference in each
camps and the razing of mosques and other historical
other’s internal affairs, India has always refrained from
places that give the Uighurs their distinct identity.
making statements concerning the internal situation
• T he daily images on television screens around the of China.
world of the mass unrest in Hong Kong must be
galling for a regime that takes pride in its ability to Options with India to weaken china’s call
use force to quash dissent and seeks, with vaulting • I ndia has multiple choices — reiterating India’s claim
ambition, to emerge as the number one power in the over Aksai Chin as an unsettled territorial issue on the
world. agenda of the special representatives,
• T he long-drawn public protests in Hong Kong are • eliminating Huawei from 5G trials,
a reaction to the progressive erosion of the special
• p
lacing curbs on China’s economic inroads into India
status accorded to Hong Kong Special Administrative
in sensitive sectors,
Region under the terms of its Basic Law, which protects
Hong Kong’s capitalist system, the independence of • m
aking a statement on developments in Hong
the judiciary and the media. Kong because of our concerns on the security of our
community there,
• A
part from its undying commitment to Pakistan, it is
to deflect scrutiny of its own actions in Xinjiang and • I nviting a Taiwan minister to India officially and giving
Hong Kong that China would have decided to support the Dalai Lama a major platform to speak in Delhi,
Pakistan’s request and also to have its permanent with an Indian minster in the audience
representative masquerade as a spokesman for
members of the UNSC.

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AUGUST-2019 16

Conclusion
• T he global community will no doubt take positive
note of the steps being taken by India to restore
normalcy in J&K through restoration of landlines,
phased lifting of restrictions and the re-opening of
government offices and schools.
• And, as Pakistan remains mired in its medieval ways,
the world will soon see visible evidence of rapid
development in J&K, which will contrast sharply with
the backwardness of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

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AUGUST-2019 17

ECONOMY
1. ANUBHAV Awards, 2019 What are bonds yields?
• The Anubhav portal was created in 2015 with a vision • Simply put, the yield of a bond is the rate of return that
to preserve the rich experience of retired officials in it earns. But in bonds, the rate of return is not fixed – it
digital form. changes with the price of the bond.
• It is envisaged that their rich experience will be • Every bond has a face value and a coupon payment.
preserved for future generation to learn and explore There is also the price of the bond, which may or may
knowledge on various aspects of governance, culture not be equal to the face value of the bond. And then
& development history of a particular region. there is the yield, which is the effective rate of interest
that one earns when one buys a bond.
• The Anubhav Awards were instituted in 2016 to
encourage more retirees to submit their write-ups Example
regarding their experience of working with the • Now suppose the face value of a 10-year G-sec is Rs
government on the portal. 100, and its coupon payment is Rs 5. Buyers of this
• The current awards series was the fourth annual series bond will give the government Rs 100 (the face value);
of awards. in return, the government will pay them Rs 5 every
year for the next 10 years and will pay back their Rs
About All India Pension Adalat
100 at the end of the tenure.
• The Pension Adalats were also organised by various
• In this instance, the bond’s yield or the effective rate
ministries and departments at different parts of the
of interest is 5%.
country.
• T he yield is the investor’s reward for parting with Rs
• The Pension Adalat brings all stakeholders on
100 today, but for staying without it for 10 years.
a common table i.e., the aggrieved pensioner,
the concerned department, the bank or CGHS Why and how do yields go up and down?
representative, wherever relevant, so that such cases • Suppose there was just one bond, and two buyers
can be settled across the table within the framework (people willing to lend to the government).
of extant rules.
• The actual selling price of the bond may in such a
• States and UTs are also conducting such Pension scenario go from Rs 100 to Rs 105 or Rs 110 because
Adalats. of the bidding war between the two buyers.
• It is an initiative of the Department of Pension & • Importantly, even if one buys the same bond at Rs
Pensioners’ Welfare. 110, the coupon payment of Rs 5 will not change.
Context: • T hus, as the price of the bond increases from Rs 100 to
• A Minister of State presents ANUBHAV awards, 2019. Rs 110, the yield falls to 4.5%.
The Minister also inaugurated the All India Pension What does their movement signify?
Adalat organised on the occasion
• The way bond yields function, especially G-sec yields,
2. Bond Yields implies that they are in close sync with the prevailing
interest rate in an economy.
What are bonds?
• With reference to the above example, only if the
• A bond is an instrument to borrow money. A bond interest rate in the broader economy is 5% will the
could be floated/issued by a country’s government or bond’s selling price be the same as the bond’s face
by a company to raise funds. value. If there is any discrepancy, the market will
• Of course, because government bonds (also referred ensure it is removed.
to as G-secs in India or Treasury in the US or Gilts in • For instance, if the prevailing interest rate is 4% and
the UK) come with the sovereign’s guarantee, they are the government announces a bond with a yield of 5%
considered one of the safest investments. (that is, a face value of Rs 100 and coupon of Rs 5) then
• As a result, they also pay the least return on investment a lot of people will rush to buy such a bond to earn a
(or rate of return or interest rate). Investments into higher interest rate.
corporate bonds tend to be riskier because the * T his increased demand will start pushing up
chances of failure (and, as a result, the chances of the bond prices, even as the yields fall.
company not repaying the loan) are higher.

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AUGUST-2019 18

* This will carry on until the time the bond price 3. “Centre of Excellence” for Citrus Fruit
reaches Rs 125 — at that point, a Rs-5 coupon • It is located at Lunglei and is availing Israeli technology
payment would be equivalent to a yield of 4%,
the same as in the rest of the economy • I t has started providing planting material and training
to farmers with collaboration from Israel and some of
What is happening to bond yields at present and what the officers of Mizoram have already received their
does it signify? training from Israel.
• The global economy has been slowing down for the • A tripartite collaboration of the Government of
better part of the last two years. Some of the biggest Israel, State Government of Mizoram and the Union
economies are either growing at a slower rate (such Government, with the Ministry of DoNER performing
as the US and China) or actually contracting (such as the role of facilitator and coordinator.
Germany).
• The technical support, planting material and capacity
• As a result, last week, US Treasury bond yields fell building is being provided by Israel and the Centre
sharply as the news of Germany and China slowing specializes in exclusively dealing with the processing
down came through. Reason: investors, both inside
the US and outside, figured that if growth prospects of Citrus Fruits.
are plummeting it makes little sense to invest in stocks 4. CSR: On Companies Act amendments
or even riskier assets.
Context:
What is yield inversion and what does it mean?
• Parliament has passed amendments to the Companies
• Broadly speaking, the fall in the yields of 10-year Act to strengthen laws governing corporate social
government bonds shows that the demand for responsibility (CSR).
money in the future would fall. That is why future
interest rates are likely to be lower. The demand for What does the law state?
money being lower in the future, in turn, suggests • Corporate Social Responsibility was introduced
that the growth will be weaker. through Section 135 of the Companies Act of 2013.
• So government bond yields falling typically suggests • These laws state that companies with a net worth of
that economic participants expect growth to slow ₹500 crore or revenue of ₹1,000 crore or net profit
down in the future. of ₹5 crore during the immediately preceding fiscal
What is a yield curve and what does it signify? should spend 2% of their average net profit in the last
three years on activities related to social development
• A yield curve is a graphical representation of yields for
bonds (with an equal credit rating) over different time • It includes sanitation, education, eradication of
horizons. hunger, poverty and malnutrition, conservation of
heritage, art and culture, and vocational training such
* Typically, the term is used for government as setting up grooming outlets or training centres for
bonds – which come with the same sovereign sewing.
guarantee. So a yield curve in US treasuries shows
how the yields change when the tenure (or the What are the changes in the law?
time for which one lends to the government) • Till now, if a company was unable to fully incur the
changes. CSR expenditure in a given year, it could carry this
• If bond investors expect the US economy to grow amount forward and spend it in the next 12 months,
normally, then they would expect to be rewarded in addition to the money for that year.
more (that is, get more yield) when they lend for a • Under the new legislation, any unspent amount will
longer period. This gives rise to a normal – upward have to be deposited into an escrow account within
sloping – yield curve. 30 days of the end of that fiscal.
* The steepness of this yield curve is determined • This amount will have to be spent within three years
by how fast an economy is expected to grow. from the date of its transfer, failing which it will be put
The faster it is expected to grow the more the into a fund, which could even be the Prime Minister’s
yield for longer tenures. Relief Fund.
• When the economy is expected to grow only What are the penalties?
marginally, the yield curve is “flat”.
• Companies violating CSR norms will attract fines
• However, a yield inversion makes the yield curve ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹25 lakh, with the officers
inverted. Again, this shows, that bond investors concerned liable for imprisonment of up to three
expect the future growth to fall; in other words, the years, according to the Companies (Amendment) Bill,
demand for money would be much lower than what 2019.
it is today and hence the yields are also lower.

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AUGUST-2019 19

Key Stats • Development banks are also known as term-lending

institutions or development finance institutions.
• Filings with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs show
that in 2017-18, only a little over half of those liable How are funding requirements met?
to spend on CSR have filed reports on their activity to • To lend for long term, development banks require
the government. correspondingly long-term sources of finance, usually
• The other half either did not comply or simply failed obtained by issuing long-dated securities in capital
to file. The average CSR spend by private companies market, subscribed by long-term savings institutions
was just ₹95 lakh compared to ₹9.40 crore for public such as pension and life insurance funds and post
sector units. office deposits.
Objections to the proposed amendments • Considering the social benefits of such investments,
and uncertainties associated with them, development
• The proposed changes come in an environment
banks are often supported by governments or
where profit has become a dirty word. Starting from
international institutions.
the budget, which increased taxes on the rich, this is
seen as another move aimed at penalizing the private • Such support can be in the form of tax incentives and
sector. administrative mandates for private sector banks and
financial institutions to invest in securities issued by
* There’s a sense that the government is unloading
development banks.
its responsibilities on the private sector.
Development banks and Commercial banks
* The new provisions are also tantamount to
raising taxes on companies as they would be • Development banks are different from commercial
penalized for not spending the full CSR amount. banks which mobilise short- to medium-term
The move will also increase costs for companies. deposits and lend for similar maturities to avoid a
maturity mismatch — a potential cause for a bank’s
• Key amendments to the relevant sections of the
liquidity and solvency.
Companies Act have now made non-compliance
with CSR norms a jailable offence for key officers of • The capital market complements commercial banks
the company in providing long-term finance. They are together
termed as the Anglo-Saxon financial system.
* But the committee, headed by the Corporate
Affairs Secretary has proposed that non- Types of banking models
compliance be de-criminalised and made a civil • Historically, in the U.K. and the U.S., such a debt market
offence. took root to fund expansion of the market economy
Conclusion and colonial investments in the 19th century, such
as financing of railways worldwide. This market was
• It should be recognized that CSR is not the main
mostly sweetened by fiscal sops to promote Britain’s
business of a company and in these challenging times
global political and commercial interests.
they would rightly be focusing their energies on the
business rather than on social spending. • Industrialization of continental Europe and Asia
was, however, financed under the aegis of German-
• The government should be careful to not
type universal banks (providing long- and short-
micromanage and tie down businesses with rules and
term credit) and state-sponsored (or guaranteed)
regulations that impose a heavy compliance burden.
development banks underwriting the risks of long-
• Else it might end up with the opposite of what it term credit.
intends — to rope in corporates as citizens to promote
• For instance, the earliest and ubiquitous saving
social inclusion.
institution, namely the post office bank (mostly
5. Development Banks government-owned and managed), mobilized
national savings and channeled them into
Context
development banks for long-term investments whose
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s press social rates of return were higher than the assured
conference, announcing a slew of measures to boost interest rates for depositors.
the economy and financial market sentiments, had an
• Alexander Gerschenkron, a Ukrainian economic
interesting idea of setting up a development bank.
historian at Harvard University, famously theorised
What are development banks? that the greater the backwardness of a country, the
• Development banks are financial institutions that greater the role of the state in economic development,
provide long-term credit for capital-intensive particularly in providing long-term finance to catch
investments spread over a long period and yielding up with the advanced economies in the shortest
low rates of return, such as urban infrastructure, possible time.
mining and heavy industry, and irrigation systems.
• Such banks often lend at low and stable rates of
interest to promote long-term investments with
considerable social benefits.

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AUGUST-2019 20

USA’s Economic Depression Examples from the world

• In the context of the Great Depression in the 1930s, • China’s Development Banks — the Agricultural
John Maynard Keynes argued that when business Development Bank of China, China Development
confidence is low on account of an uncertain Bank, and the Export-Import Bank of China — have
future with low-interest rates, the government can been at the forefront of financing its industrial
set up a National Investment Bank to mop up the prowess.
society’s savings and make it available for long- * After the global financial crisis, these institutions
term development by the private sector and local have underwritten China’s risky technological
governments. investments helping it gain global dominance in
How it all started in India? IT hardware and software companies.
• Following foregoing precepts, IFCI, previously the • Germany’s Development Bank, KfW, has been
Industrial Finance Corporation of India, was set up spearheading long-term investment in green
in 1949. This was probably India’s first development technologies and for sustainable development efforts
bank for financing industrial investments. In 1955, requiring long-term capital.
the World Bank prompted the Industrial Credit and Conclusion
Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) — the parent
of the largest private commercial bank in India today, • In this light, the Finance Minister’s agenda for setting
ICICI Bank — as a collaborative effort between the up a development bank is welcome. However, a few
government with majority equity holding and India’s hard questions need to be addressed in designing the
leading industrialists with nominal equity ownership proposed institution. How will it be financed?
to finance modern and relatively large private • If foreign private capital is expected to contribute
corporate enterprises. equity capital (hence part ownership), such an option
• In 1964, IDBI was set up as an apex body of all needs to be carefully analysed, especially in the
development finance institutions. current political juncture.
Government’s Role in Financing • The design of the governance structure is fraught
with dangers with many interest groups at work. One
As the domestic saving rate was low, and capital market sincerely hopes that the political and administrative
was absent, development finance institutions were leadership carefully weigh in the past lessons to lay a
financed by
firm foundation for the new institution.
• lines of credit from the Reserve Bank of India (that
is, some of its profits were channelled as long-term 6. Farm Pond
credit); and • A farm pond is a large hole dug out in the earth,
• Statutory Liquidity Ratio bonds, into which usually square or rectangular in shape, which harvests
commercial banks had to invest a proportion of their rainwater and stores it for future use.
deposits. • It has an inlet to regulate inflow and an outlet to
• In other words, by sleight of government hand, short- discharge excess water.
term bank deposits got transformed into long-term • The pond is surrounded by a small bund, which
resources for development banks.
prevents erosion on the banks of the pond.
Fall of development banks
Why it has become a necessity in India?
• However, development banks got discredited for
• With an increased variability of monsoons and rapidly
mounting non-performing assets, allegedly caused
depleting groundwater tables, large parts of India are
by politically motivated lending and inadequate
reeling under water stress.
professionalism in assessing investment projects for
economic, technical and financial viability. • A number of peninsular regions like Bundelkhand,
Vidarbha and Marathwada have been facing recurring
• After 1991, following the Narasimham Committee
drought-like situations.
reports on financial sector reforms, development
finance institutions were disbanded and got • There is the need to implement innovative water
converted to commercial banks. management measures, stressing particularly the
importance of rainwater harvesting both at the
• The result was a steep fall in long-term credit from a
household and community levels.
tenure of 10-15 years to five years.
Benefits of farm ponds:
• The development of the debt market has been
an article of faith for over a quarter-century, but • Farm ponds can be cost-effective structures that
it has failed to take off — as in most of Europe and transform rural livelihoods. They can help enhance
industrializing Asia, where the bank-centric financial water control, contribute to agriculture intensification
system continue to prevai and boost farm incomes.

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AUGUST-2019 21

• They also helped in providing supplemental irrigation • To provide greater flexibility and ease of operations
in the kharif season and an enhanced irrigation to foreign single-brand retail entities with more than
coverage in rabi. 51% FDI, the cabinet decided that all procurements
made from India by the entity for that single brand
• Farm ponds retained water for 8-10 months of the
shall be counted towards local sourcing of 30%,
year; thus farmers could enhance cropping intensity
irrespective of whether the goods procured are sold
and crop diversification within and across seasons.
in India or exported.
The area used to cultivate vegetables and other
commercial crops also increased. • Further, the current cap of considering exports for
five years only was removed, to give an impetus to
• ‘It is useful as drinking water for cattle’s during drought
exports.
situation.
• So far, only incremental sourcing of the single brand
• It can be used for spraying pesticides.
entity was taken into account while current sourcing
• It conserves soil and moisture. was not considered. From now on, total sourcing,
Need for inlet, outlet provisions including by group companies, will be considered for
meeting the 30% local sourcing norm.
• Most of ponds being constructed in Maharashtra does
not have inlet and outlet provisions and their walls are Contract Manufacturing
raised above the ground level by only a few feet. • The cabinet allowed 100% FDI in contract
• They cannot arrest the excess run-off as there is no manufacturing, allowing large foreign electronics and
inlet, and therefore they cannot be used effectively pharmaceutical companies to directly invest in local
for rainwater harvesting. or foreign contract manufacturers. This will give a big
boost to the government’s Make in India policy.
• Further, farmers line them at the bottom with plastic,
restricting seepage and converting the ponds into • Manufacturing activities may be conducted either by
intermediate storage points. the investee entity or through contract manufacturing
in India under a legally tenable contract, whether on
• Such farm ponds have an adverse impact on the Principal to Principal or Principal to Agent basis
water tables and accelerate water loss.
Coal Sector
Conclusion
• As per the present FDI policy, 100% FDI under
• They occupy a large portion of farmers’ lands. automatic route is allowed for coal & lignite mining
However, this can be compensated for by rearing for captive consumption by power projects, iron &
fish in the pond, effectively utilizing the bunds for steel and cement units and other eligible activities
vegetable and/or tree plantations, etc. permitted under and subject to applicable laws and
• Overall, farm ponds can act as effective harvesting regulations.
structures and also yield healthy financial returns. But * Further, 100% FDI under automatic route is also
if they are promoted merely for on-farm storage of permitted for setting up coal processing plants
groundwater and canal water, they could accelerate, like washeries subject to the condition that the
rather than reduce, the water crisis in the countryside. company shall not do coal mining and shall
not sell washed coal or sized coal from its coal
7. FDI Policy Reform- Tinkering for optics processing plants in the open market and shall
Context supply the washed or sized coal to those parties
who are supplying raw coal to coal processing
• The Union cabinet cleared a raft of changes in Foreign
plants for washing or sizing.
Direct Investment (FDI) regulations, including easing
rules for overseas single-brand stores and permitting • The Union cabinet has now allowed 100% FDI under
FDI through the automatic route in contract the automatic route for coal mining as well as sale and
manufacturing and all areas of coal mining. export of coal.
• The government, clearly concerned by the economic • This is expected to end the monopoly enjoyed so
slowdown and persistently weak investment activity, far by Coal India Ltd (CIL), which is often considered
has sought to provide a policy fillip to attract more lacking capability to mine the coalfields.
foreign capital into sectors that it sees as having a Significance
multiplier effect particularly in terms of job creation.
• The changes in FDI policy will result in making India
Single-Brand Retail a more attractive destination, leading to benefits of
• In single-brand retail, the government allowed increased investments, employment and growth
companies to conduct online retail trading prior to • Online sales will lead to creation of jobs in logistics,
opening of physical stores, subject to the condition digital payments, customer care, training and product
that brick-and-mortar stores come up within two skilling
years from the date it starts online operations.

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AUGUST-2019 22

• Further, manufacturing through contract contributes Tawlhlohpuan from Mizoram:

equally to the objective of Make in India. FDI now • Tawlhlohpuan, a medium to heavy, compactly woven,
being permitted under automatic route in contract good quality fabric from Mizoram.
manufacturing will be a big boost to Manufacturing
sector in India. • It is known for warp yarns, warping, weaving &
intricate hand-made designs.
• In the coal sector, for sale of coal, 100% FDI under
automatic route for coal mining,activities including • Tawlhloh, in Mizo language, means ‘to stand firm or
associated processing infrastructure will attract not to move backward’.
international players to create an efficient and • Tawlhlohpuan is produced throughout the state of
competitive coal market. Mizoram, Aizawl and Thenzawl town being the main
• The reforms are part of India’s strategy to become part centre of production.
of the global supply chain amid its disruption due to • It holds high significance in the Mizo society.
the US-China trade war.
Mizo Puanchei from Mizoram:
A closer examination, however, raises several concerns
about the ultimate attractiveness of these changes. • Mizo Puanchei is a colourful Mizo shawl/textile, from
Mizoram.
• For instance, the tweaks to investment norms on
coal appear at first flush to be a win-win for both • It is considered as the most colourful among the Mizo
the economy at large and the coal industry, but the textiles.
environmental costs of focusing on one of the most • It is an essential possession for every Mizo lady and an
polluting fossil fuels needs focus important marriage outfit in the state.
• This is predicated on the prospect of seeing an influx • It is also the most commonly used costume in Mizo
of both capital and modern technology into mining festive dances and official ceremonies.
and processing, as well as raising domestic supply
• The weavers insert the designs and motifs by using
of the key raw material for power, steel and cement
supplementary yarns while weaving.
production thereby cutting costly and burgeoning
imports. Tirur Betel leaf from Kerala:
* But for foreign mining companies to make a • Tirur betel vine from Kerala, is mainly cultivated in
beeline to pitheads, several related regulatory Tirur, Tanur, Tirurangadi, Kuttippuram, Malappuram
and market challenges will have to be addressed and Vengara block panchayaths of Malappuram
post-haste. District.
• While domestic thermal power plants have had to • It is valued both for its mild stimulant action and
rely on increased imports in recent times, many of the medicinal properties.
electricity producers themselves are in financial stress. • It is commonly used for making pan masala for
How much additional investments may actually chewing, it has many medicinal, industrial and cultural
accrue is not clear. usagesand is considered as a remedy for bad breath
Steps that needs to be taken up and digestive disorders.
• Large miners will need economies of scale and so Dindigul Lock:
require access to large contiguous fields with minimal • The famous Dindigul locks are known throughout
bureaucratic constraints on operations. the world for their superior quality and durability, so
much so that even the city in Tamil Nadu is called Lock
8. GI Tag to new Products City.
Palani Panchamirtham from Palani Town in Tamil • The abundance of iron in this region is the reason for
Nadu: the growth of the lock-making industry.
• Palani Panchamirtham is an abishega Prasadam and • Though machine-made locks are easily available,
is one of the main offerings in the Abisegam of Lord government institutions like prisons, godowns,
Dhandayuthapani Swamy, the presiding deity of hospitals and even temples use the older pattern
Arulmigu Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple, situated locks.
in palani Hills, in Dindigul District.
• These lock manufacturing units are limited to an area
• It is a combination of five natural substances, of 5 km in and around Dindigul.
namely, banana, jaggery sugar, cow ghee, honey and
cardamom in a definite proportion. • There are over 50 varieties of locks made by the
artisans using raw materials such as MS flat plates
• It is prepared in a natural method without addition of and brass plates procured from the nearby towns,
any preservatives or artificial ingredients and is well including Madurai and Salem.
known for its religious fervour and gaiety.
• This is the first time a temple ‘prasadam’ from Tamil
Nadu has been bestowed with the GI tag.

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AUGUST-2019 23

Kandangi saree: • The most important exclusion from GFCF is land sales
and purchases.
• The Kandangi saree, manufactured in Karaikudi taluk
in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu. • Any rise or increase in GFCF means an increase in
investment in fixed assets which gets translated into
• The original Kandangi saree is manually made using a
higher rate of economic growth in long run.
winding machine, loom, shuttle and bobbin.
Stats
• It is a team effort of the families who live in the town
of Karaikudi and it forms part of their livelihood. • When it comes to the Gross Fixed Capital Formation
(GFCF) relative to GDP at current prices, a steady fall
• T hese sarees are characterised by the large contrast
has been visible since 2011-12, when it was 34.3%.
borders, and some of them are known to have borders
By 2017-18, it had fallen by 5.7% points, to a level of
covering as much as two-thirds of the saree.
28.6%.
• The sarees are usually around 5.10 meters – 5.60
• Assuming an Incremental Capital Output Ratio (ICOR)
meters in length.
of 4, this meant a fall of nearly 1.4% points in the
• The Kandangi sarees exude brilliant colours like potential growth rate. The fall consisted of sectoral
bright yellow, orange, red and a minimal black in the decreases in the household, private corporate and
traditional pattern of stripes or checks with broad public sectors
borders woven in coarse cotton.
• It is noticeable that the fall in the household sector’s
• Over the years, more interesting colours have been investment rate got arrested by 2015-16.
introduced for the saree, which is worn in a particular
* However, by then, the rate had already fallen by
manner. 6.3% points.
9. Increasing investment to stimulate growth * From 2016-17, the sector’s investment rate even
showed some recovery.
Introduction
• In contrast to the household sector rate, the private
India’s current economic slowdown is due to a combination
corporate sector investment rate did not show any
of two underlying trends.
fall up to 2015-16 when, at 11.9%, it was in fact higher
• First, there is the short-run cyclical slowdown than the corresponding rate for 2011-12 (11.2%).
exhibited by a number of high-frequency indicators,
* It fell in the subsequent years, but only by 0.7%
reflecting a significant fall in demand, especially for
points.
sectors such as automobiles, consumer durables and
housing. * This near-constancy runs counter to what
industry leaders have been saying and what
• Second, there is the more serious long-term fall in
other data sources such as CMIE indicate, casting
investment and savings rates. Raising growth requires
some doubts on the veracity of the figures.
that attention be paid to both cyclical and structural
dimensions of the problem. • In the case of the public sector, the rate fell by 0.3%
points between 2015-16 and 2017-18.
Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF)
• Thus, the period from 2011-12 to 2017-18 can be seen
• As per RBI, Gross capital formation refers to the
as consisting of two parts:
‘aggregate of gross additions to fixed assets (that is
fixed capital formation) plus change in stocks during * 2011-12 to 2015-16, when the household sector
the counting period.’ investment rate fell sharply;
* It consists of resident producers’ investments, * 2015-16 to 2017-18 when the investment rates
deducting disposals, in fixed assets during a of the private corporate and public sectors fell
given period. marginally.
* GFCF is not a measure of total investment, Fall in household savings rate
because only the value of net additions to fixed • The Gross Domestic Savings Rate also fell between
assets is measured, and all kinds of financial assets 2011-12 and 2017-18 by 4.1% points, from 34.6%
are excluded, as well as stocks of inventories and of GDP to 30.5%. However, this fall was entirely due
other operating costs to the household sector, with the private corporate
• Fixed asset refers to the construction, machinery and and public sectors showing increases in their savings
equipment. rates by margins of 2.2% points and 0.2% points,
respectively.
* They are tangible or intangible assets produced
as outputs from production processes that are • T hroughout the period from 2011-12, the savings rate
used repeatedly, or continuously, for more than of the private corporate sector increased, reducing its
one year. dependence on the surplus savings of the household
sector.

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AUGUST-2019 24

• Given this pattern, at present, all the surplus savings of * The government should actually move towards
the household sector is available for the public sector. reducing the revenue deficit to zero.
With private corporate sector’s investment demand * This can happen if the Centre focusses more on
being largely met by its own savings, public sector’s items on the Union list.
borrowing requirements can be fully financed using
the surplus from the household sector, supplemented • O
nce this is achieved, the Central Government can
by net inflow of foreign capital without any fear of be given full freedom over fiscal deficit, as the entire
crowding out. deficit will be directed towards meeting capital
expenditures. This was described as the ‘golden rule’
In 2018-19, the real GDP growth rate was 6.8%. Two critical
policy challenges need to be addressed. in U.K.

• First, a countercyclical policy should increase growth 10. Jal Jeevan Mission
rate to its current potential of 7%-7.5% and then • T he Jal Jeevan Mission, under the Department of
• Second structural reforms should raise the potential Drinking Water and Sanitation will focus on:
growth itself to above 8.5% if India is to attain a size of * Piped water supply to rural households
$5 trillion by 2024-25.
* It will focus on integrated demand and supply-
More capital expenditure side management of water at the local level
• From the monetary side, reducing the repo rate by a * Creation of local infrastructure for source
cumulated margin of 110 basis points in 2019 has not sustainability like rainwater harvesting,
as yet induced a noticeable growth response. groundwater recharge, and management of
• Complementary fiscal stimulus, in the form of household wastewater for reuse in agriculture.
additional public sector investment, may prove to be * The Jal Jeevan Mission aims converge with
more effective. other Central and State Government Schemes
* However, given the fiscal deficit constraint, there to achieve its objectives of sustainable water
is limited flexibility for increasing center’s capital supply management across the country
expenditure directly. Significance
• There may be some expansion, if additional dividends • It is expected to create huge business opportunities
from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) flow to the for corporates.
government. Further, there may be some possible
additional disinvestment. However, care should be • The move would provide employment to millions of
taken to deploy all of these additional funds for capital people and may kick-start the investment cycle.
expenditure. • Such investment results in job creation and ancillary
Prescription to meet slowing demand is to increase economic activities
government expenditure. Concerns
• In the current situation, there can be an increase in • Some analysts express doubt on the availability of
government expenditure but it has to be directed huge funds for these projects.
towards an increase in investment expenditure.
• A similar effort may be made by State governments 11. Kisan Network App
and non-government public sector enterprises to • I t is a mobile application for farmers designed by
increase capital expenditures. All these measures may Gurugram-based enterprise
also crowd in private investment.
• F armers would be able to obtain useful tips and
* Another area that needs immediate attention is information in order to boost both productivity and
the financial system, which must be activated to income.
lend more.
• T he Kisan Network app, presently available only in
• Thus, this fiscal push, together with the already- Hindi
initiated monetary stimulus, may help raise the
Features
growth rate.
• The Kisan Network comprises a page where farmers
Conclusion can secure both text and audio-visual content about
On the structural reforms that are needed to push the all the available government schemes that farmers
economy onto a sustained high growth path, much can can leverage, as well as modern agricultural practices,
be said. like mixed cropping, micro irrigation, and mulching.
• We need a re-look at the Fiscal Responsibility and • The highlight of the application is its weather forecast
Budget Management Act (FRBM) Act. component. Just by giving access to their location,
farmers can obtain weather predictions.

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AUGUST-2019 25
How have previous bank mergers fared?
• Another useful feature of the app is the identification
of crop diseases. In case of crops being infested with • 2018 the government had merged Dena Bank and
pests or defects, the farmer can upload a picture of it Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda, creating the third-
to access data on the details of the problem including largest bank by loans in the country.
ways to resolve it. • The government said this merger has been “a good
• The app also shows the farmers the nearest mandi learning experience” as profitability and business of
based on their need to buy seeds, fertilisers, and other the merged entity has improved.
materials. Reforms initiated
• And, in case they need any other specific advice on • In order to make the management accountable to
guidance, the farmers have an option to get in touch the boards of the banks, a Board Committee would
with agronomists, academicians, and other experts be made in charge of appraising the performance of
through The Kisan Network. officers of the rank of general managers and above,
including the managing director.
12. Merger of Banks
• The banks have also been allowed to recruit Chief
Context
Risk Officers from the market, at market-linked
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced compensation to attract the best available talent.
a big consolidation of 10 public sector banks to be
• To enable Succession Planning, Boards to decide
merged into four.
system of Individual Development Plans for all senior
Background executive positions
• It was the Narasimham Committee in the late 1990s • To ensure sufficient tenure, Boards given flexibility
that recommended consolidation through a process to prescribe Residual Service of two years for
of merging strong banks. appointment of GM and above
• What the committee also recommended was shutting • Other reform measures were aimed at increasing the
down the weaker banks and not merging them with engagement of Non-Official Directors
the strong ones as is being done now.
* People for the post of non-official director will
Under the scheme of amalgamation have to be at least a graduate, aged less than 67,
• Punjab National Bank (PNB), Oriental Bank of and with 20 years of experience in various fields,
Commerce (OBC) and United Bank of India to be including agriculture, rural economy, banking,
merged (PNB will be the anchor bank); cooperation, economics, business management,
human resources, finance, corporate law and
* These three banks are technologically information technology.
compatible as they use Finacle Core Banking
Solution (CBS) platform. * They will help in improving the quality of
deliberation on the boards, leading to their
* The amalgamated entity — to be called Punjab efficient management and better profitability
National Bank — will become the second-largest ratios
public sector bank in India, after the State Bank
of India. * Any director in non-official capacity will be
appointed for up to six years, or two terms.
* It will also become the second-largest bank
in India in terms of its branch network, with a * Candidates who have successfully led reputed
combined total of 11,437 branches. organisations or brought turnaround in failing
organisation will be preferred
• Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank to be merged
(anchor bank - Canara Bank). Significance

* The merger also has the potential to lead to large • This consolidation offers the promise of economies
cost reductions due to network overlaps, adding of scale, leveraging of pooled resources, manpower,
that the similar business cultures of the two brands, better utilisation of branch networks and
banks would also facilitate a smooth transition. increased efficiencies which will lead to the creation
of big banks with an enhanced capacity to give credit
• Indian Bank will be merged with Allahabad Bank
(anchor bank - Indian Bank); • There are too many banks in India with sizes that
are minuscule by global standards with their growth
• Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank and Corporation constricted by their inability to expand
Bank to be merged (anchor bank - Union Bank of
India); and * With the merger these big banks, would now
be able to compete globally and increase their
In place of 27 public sector banks in 2017, now there operational efficiency by reducing their cost of
will be 12 public sector banks after the latest round of lending.
consolidation of PSU banks. This is second wave of the
government’s efforts to revive the economy as slowdown
in impacting the economy. After the first wave dealing
with FDI and FPI reforms.

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AUGUST-2019 26

• In the near term, this will certainly benefit the largest Concerns
shareholder, the government, more, with fewer banks • The key reforms to be made are at the board level,
to focus on and to assign capital including in appointments, especially of government
• Large banks will entail cost advantages by way nominees.
of elimination of branch overlap, eliminating * ese are often political appointees, with little
redundancies in administrative infrastructure, better exposure to banking.
manpower planning, optimum funds management,
and savings in IT and other fixed costs. * Surely, such practices need to be curbed as the
definition of global banks is not just about size
Managing the NPA’s but also professionalism in governance.
• In terms of resolution of NPAs there is some merit in • It is possible that the current mergers may face more
having the merger because there are coordination friction than the last one — of BoB, Dena and Vijaya.
problems involved when you have multiple banks
trying to resolve NPAs which are common to all of * In that case, a large, well-capitalised strong bank
them. absorbed two much smaller entities.
• The middle and senior management who are deputed * In the present case, the mergers are mostly
for meetings, have discussions with their counterparts among larger banks, Example: Canara and
from other banks. Syndicate
• A
nd then they have to go back to the top management * The absorbing bank not necessarily in strong
for a decision, come back again for a meeting, and it health. Example Punjab Bank riddled with fraud
goes on and on. issues
• T herefore, the resolution of NPAs becomes difficult • It is no secret that public sector banks are overstaffed.
when you have so many banks trying to arrive at an * The success of these mergers, therefore, will
understanding amongst themselves. hinge on how well these banks handle the
• S o, to the extent that the discussion is happening sensitive issue of staff rationalisation.
among fewer banks, the resolution of NPAs will be * The All India Bank Employees Association has
facilitated. already raised the red flag.
Appointing the top management gets easy for the Govt • Merger related issues including HR/IT related
• The most important rationale is that the multiplicity synchronisation, branch rationalisation ad realigning
of banks was making enormous demands on the NPAs could impact interim profitability
bandwidth of the Finance Ministry in terms of • Due to high bad loans of the merged entities,
appointments of chairmen, managing directors, profitability could be impacted in the near term.
executive directors, independent directors.
• T he largest of the mergers that has been proposed,
• E ven though they have the banks board bureau which PNB is combining with two other entities, is
to advise them on appointments, the process is going to give the bank which is about one third the
extremely time-consuming. There were long delays in size of the 50th largest bank in the world, which is low
making the senior appointments, as a result of which in ranking on the Global Standards.
these banks have been incurring substantial costs.
• T he correlation between size and efficiency is suspect
• W
hen the bank does not have a person at the top or beyond a certain minimum size.
persons at the top, or even directors in play, it exacts
its own cost on the bank. • E vidences have also shown that in the Indian context
large public sector banks underperform in relation to
• A
nd so, collapsing the number of banks makes it private banks, which are much smaller.
easier for the Ministry to monitor the banks on its
watch * The Price To Book Value Ratio of HDFC Bank is
close to 4, whereas the price to book value of SBI
Consolidation of Private Banks in pipeline? is around 1.25.
• A lesser number of banks means, hopefully, speedier * Therefore, the suggestion that getting bigger
decision-making across banks. is going to, in itself, give some benefits is not
• And the other thing which it can trigger is some validated by experience, either internationally or
consolidation in private sector banks. Because the within India.
private sector banks would now be falling behind in • W
henever a merger of such scale happens, the senior
terms of scale compared to some of these banks. And management gets distracted in terms of trying to
therefore, to some extent, this can force the private make sure who gets what.
sector banks to think of a similar consolidation.
* And therefore, in the short term, there is going to
be some amount of disruption.

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AUGUST-2019 27

The biggest argument against big banks is that they can Conclusion
become too big to fail.
• The government’s move comes at the right time, with
• The financial sector is all inter-connected and a risk in the NPA or bad loans problem appearing to have
any part of the system is a risk to the entire system. If a bottomed out.
large bank were to fail, it could bring down the whole
• But India’s banking reforms will be complete only
financial sector with it, as was evident from the near
when the next set of governance reforms show in
death experience following the collapse of Lehman
board driven and professionally run banks, which are
Brothers in 2008, which triggered the global financial
free to operate without policy constraints or hounding
crisis.
by probe agencies and when the government reduces
• No country can therefore afford the failure of a big its equity.
bank. The tacit knowledge that the sovereign will be
• That should be the next milestone.
forced to rescue it encourages irresponsible behaviour
by big banks. Provision Coverage Ratio (PCR)
A look at numbers • PCR is the ratio of provisioning to gross non-
performing assets, and indicates the extent of funds a
bank has kept aside to cover loan losses.
• Higher the PCR, lower is the unexposed part of the
bad debts.

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AUGUST-2019 28

13. Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 demands.

Context • The amendments will improve road safety, facilitate
citizens in their dealings with transport departments,
• President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent to the
and strengthen rural transport, public transport
Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, that aims to
and last mile connectivity through automation,
make Indian roads safer, reduce corruption and use
computerization and online services.
technology to overhaul the country’s transportation
system. Road Safety
What was the need? • In the area of road safety, amended act increases the
penalties to act as deterrent against traffic violations.
• India’s Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 has remained in
Stricter provisions are being proposed in respect of
hibernation, unable to meet the needs of a large
offences like juvenile driving, drunken driving, driving
economy that is witnessing rising travel demand, fast-
without licence, dangerous driving, over-speeding,
paced motorization, major shifts in technology and
overloading etc.
deteriorating road safety.
• Stricter provisions for helmets have been introduced
• Hence it required changes to meet the growing
along with provisions for electronic detection of

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AUGUST-2019 29

violations. Penalty regarding motor vehicles is to be • Studies show that sustained, zero tolerance
increased by 10 % every year. enforcement of even small fines reduces violations,
while stringent penalties are either not enforced or
Vehicle Fitness
lead to more bribery.
• The Amended act mandates automated fitness
Way forward
testing for vehicles. This would reduce corruption in
the transport department while improving the road • Going forward, the Centre must deliver on its promise
worthiness of the vehicle. that the amended Act will help reduce dependence
on personal vehicles, and present its National
* Penalty has been provided for deliberate
violation of safety/environmental regulations as Transport Policy without delay.
well as body builders and spare part suppliers. • States must be incentivized to provide clean,
* The process for testing and certification for comfortable and affordable services for all users,
including people with disabilities. It is relevant to
automobiles is proposed to be regulated more
point out that the National Urban Transport Policy of
effectively.
the UPA failed to achieve this.
• The testing agencies issuing automobile approvals
• New regulation can certainly shake up the status quo,
have been brought under the ambit of the Act
facilitating transparent investment by any intending
and standards will be set for motor vehicle testing
operator and removing vested interests, particularly
institutes.
in inter-State and multi-State coach services.
• The amended act also provides for compulsory
Putting accident victims at the centre of vehicles law
recall of defective vehicles and power to examine
irregularities of vehicle companies. Introduction
National Road Safety Board • It is well known that India is one of the most accident-
prone countries in the world, accounting for nearly
• The amended act provides for a National Road Safety
1,50,000 deaths — 10% of all motor vehicles-related
Board, to be created by the central government
fatalities worldwide.
through a notification.
• However, the debate often revolves around how to
• The Board will advise the central and state
minimize road accidents by incorporating deterrents
governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic
into laws and ignores the interests of the victims.
management including standards of motor vehicles,
registration and licensing of vehicles, standards for Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019
road safety, and promotion of new vehicle technology. • The amended Act gives the victims some respite as it
Motor Vehicle Accident Fund provides for an enhanced insurance compensation of
₹5 lakh in case of death of a person in a traffic accident
• The amended act requires the central government to
and ₹2.5 lakh where there is “grievous hurt”.
constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, to provide
compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India. • The compensation to be awarded following hit-and-
run accidents has also been raised to ₹2 lakh when
• It will be utilized for: treatment of persons injured
a victim dies and ₹50,000 when he/she suffers a
in road accidents as per the golden hour scheme,
grievous injury.
compensation to representatives of a person who
died in a hit and run accident, compensation to a • Additionally, the Act now requires insurance
person grievously hurt in a hit and run accident, and companies and the government to notify schemes
compensation to any other persons as prescribed by relating to cashless treatment during the ‘Golden
the central government. Hour’ — the period of first 60 minutes from the
occurrence of an accident when the risk of fatality can
• The amended act provides for a scheme for cashless
be minimised to the greatest extent.
treatment of road accident victims during golden
hour. • Further, it mandates compulsory insurance of all road
users, including pedestrians, who will be covered
Taxi aggregators:
through a ‘Motor Vehicle Accident Fund’.
• The amended act defines aggregators as digital
• Lastly, it also provides for interim relief to be provided
intermediaries or market places which can be used by
to the claimants.
passengers to connect with a driver for transportation
purposes (taxi services). Institutional Flaws
• The amended act provides guidelines for Aggregators. • The National Crime Records Bureau does not
At present there are no rules in many states for collate data pertaining to the socio-economic and
regulating aggregators, taxis etc. demographic profile of victims of traffic accidents is
a testament to the relative apathy shown by the state
Some of the other amendments are less promising.
machinery.

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AUGUST-2019 30

• A sharp increase in fines has little chance of improving longer period of time to victims or their kin, as against
safety. a lump-sum award.
Therefore these provisions, well-intentioned, are no doubt • This has been overlooked by the new Act.
steps in the right direction. However, much more needs Way forward
to be done if the accident victims are to be provided
complete justice. • Understandably, many of the points raised above
cannot be specified statutorily.
Unsettled Issues
• Hence, the government needs to notify an institutional
1. First, closer attention needs to be paid to the formula framework which encourages advocacy for victims
used to calculate the quantum of compensation.
and facilitates access to the various services.
• In the case of Arun Kumar Agarwal & Anr v. National
Insurance Co. Ltd & Ors (2010), the deceased was a 14. Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojna
homemaker. Context
• The Accident Claim Tribunal reduced the amount of • The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu
compensation from the calculated sum of ₹6 lakh to has called for introducing structural reforms in the
a sum of ₹2,60,000, stating that she was unemployed. agricultural sector along with financial assistance
• In light of the same, on appeal, the Supreme Court schemes like Direct Benefit Transfer to make
commented that: “The time has come for the agriculture profitable and sustainable.
Parliament to have a rethink on properly assessing • He inaugurated the Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad
homemakers’ and householders’ work and suitably Yojna of the Jharkhand Government,
amending he provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act…
for giving compensation when the victims are women About the scheme
and homemakers.” • Under the scheme, all the small and marginal farmers
• The amended Act, however, does not account for of the state, who have arable land up to a maximum
such nuances. of 5 acres, will be given a grant-in-aid at the rate of Rs.
5000 / – per acre per year, which will also reduce their
2. Second, many of the problems with the Motor Vehicles dependence on loans.
Act highlighted by the apex court in the case of Jai Prakash
v. M/S. National Insurance Co. & Ors (2009) either remain • This amount would be given in two installments
unaddressed or are inadequately addressed by the through Direct Benefit Transfer to the beneficiary’s
amended version. bank account.

• For instance, though vehicle users who don’t give • This is in addition to PM Kisan Nidhi Yojana under
passage to emergency ambulance vehicle are liable which each small & marginal farmer’s family having
to be punished with fines, such punitive measures combined landholding/ ownership of up to two
are likely to remain ineffective in the absence of an hectares is paid Rs. 6, 000 per year.
effective implementation mechanism. • Direct Benefit Transfer would eliminate middlemen
• Further, other factors that lead to a poor response and ensure that every penny of the financial assistance
time, including lack of road infrastructure, also need given by the government reaches the beneficiaries.
to be taken into account. • Government of India has taken a firm resolve to
3. Another problem highlighted by the apex court for double the income of farmers by 2022.
which the new Act does not provided any remedy is that
of procedural delays on the part of tribunals in claims 15. Pashmina Products Receive BIS Certification
settlement. Context:
• The provision for interim compensation is bound • Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published an
to bring some respite to the victims but another Indian Standard for identification, marking and
unaddressed concern makes this stipulation labeling of Pashmina products to certify its purity.
susceptible to criticism.
Details:
4. An absence of in-built safeguards in the compensation
• The certification is intended to help curb the
mechanism allows for the money to be frittered away
adulteration of Pashmina and also protect the
by unscrupulous relatives, touts and agents, especially
interests of local artisans and nomads who are the
in cases where the victim or his nearest kin are poor and
producers of Pashmina raw material.
illiterate.
• It will also assure purity of the product for customers.
• It is to address this concern that the Supreme Court
in Jai Prakash suggested payment in the form of • It is also intended to discourage counterfeit or
monthly disbursements of smaller amounts over a substandard product in the market.

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AUGUST-2019 31

• It will also encourage the younger generation of the air pollution and improve health. What can policymakers
community to continue in this profession. do to achieve exclusive use of clean fuels in rural India?
Three strategies could work:
• It will ensure better prices for the goat herding
community in Ladakh as well as for the local handloom • Communicating the harms of solid fuels and the
artisans producing genuine Pashmina products. benefits of cleaner fuels;
• The ministry is processing a proposal for funding • R
educing the cost of LPG cylinder refills in rural areas;
of Rs. 20 crore for a de-hairing plant for Leh which and
along with this initiative will lead to progress in the • P
romoting gender equality within households,
Pashmina sector in Ladakh. particularly in cooking and related tasks.
About Pashmina Information outreach need of the hour
• Pashmina is a type of fine cashmere wool. • A large Anti-Tobacco Style Campaign communicating
• Textiles made out of it were first woven in Kashmir. that solid fuels harm respiratory health may change
these beliefs. Similarly, advertisements that food
• Pashmina comes from the Persian word for “made
cooked on gas can be as tasty and healthy as food
from wool”.
cooked on a chulha would be helpful.
• It was first called “cashmere” because westerners first
• Reducing LPG prices in rural areas, where residents are
encountered it in Kashmir.
poorer and solid fuels are easier to access, would also
• The wool is taken from various breeds of Cashmere help. One way is to build on the targeting experience
goat. of the National Food Security Act.
• Ladakh produces 50 MT of the finest grade of * Under this Act, 75% of rural households are
Pashmina in the world (12-15 microns). classified as priority households and entitled to
Pashmina Herders subsidised rations. Another 10% of extremely
poor households are classified as Antyodaya
• The nomadic Pashmina herders live in the hostile and households, eligible for higher grain amounts at
tough terrain of Changthang. even lower prices.
• They are dependent on Pashmina for their livelihood. * If priority households could become eligible for
• C
urrently, there are 2400 families rearing 2.5 lakh even higher subsidies in a revamped LPG pricing
goats. regime, and Antyodaya households could
become eligible for LPG cylinders free of cost,
About Changthangi or Pashmina goat
exclusive LPG use would likely be higher.
• I t is a special breed of goat indigenous to the high
• F inally, public policy must recognise that in households
altitude regions of Ladakh.
men should take be taking equal responsibility along
• T he goat grows a thick, warm undercoat which is the with the women
source of Kashmir Pashmina wool.
* Men rarely cook or make dung cakes in rural
• T he goats are generally domesticated and reared households. Current Ujjwala messaging, which
by nomadic communities called the Changpa in the focuses on the benefits of clean fuels for women,
Changthang region of Greater Ladakh. reinforces this inequality.
* Advertisements showing that gas is so good that
16. PM Ujjwala Yojana- Cooking with gas, not wood
even men can cook with it will challenge both
Introduction misinformation on LPG and gender inequalities
Please read about the scheme here: in household tasks.
https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/lpg-every-indian- 17. Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention
household/
Access (PAiSA)
Illiteracy and misinformation the core problem
Context
• Few people in the rural set up believed food cooked
• Deendayan Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban
on a chulha was healthier and tastier. In contrast, rotis
Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), a flagship mission
cooked on gas cause indigestion
under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has
• They view that cooking with solid fuels was healthy been conferred the prestigious SKOCH Governance
for the person cooking too: fumes purified the eyes Gold Award for its Portal for Affordable Credit and
because they caused tears, and in blowing into a Interest Subvention Access (PAiSA).
traditional stove, a woman did kasrat (exercise).
Using cleaner fuels such as LPG is essential to reduce rural

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AUGUST-2019 32

PAiSA appointed to recommend the economic capital

framework for the RBI, decided to keep a major part
• Launched in November 2018, PAiSA is a centralized IT
of the reserves locked up and out of the reach of the
platform which simplifies and streamlines release of
government while opening up the remainder with
interest subvention under the Mission.
strict stipulations.
• It offers end to end online solution for processing,
• The Committee has recommended, and rightly so,
payment, monitoring and tracking of interest
that the Currency and Gold Revaluation Reserve
subvention claims from banks on a monthly basis.
Account (₹6.91 lakh crore as of June 30, 2018), at least
• C
laims for subvention are uploaded by banks through half of which was eyed by the government, represents
their CBS (Core Banking Solution) in respect of the unrealised gains and hence is not distributable to the
beneficiaries of the Self Employment Programme, government.
which are verified and approved by the ULB and State
• I n the case of the Contingency Reserve (built out of
concerned.
retained earnings), which was ₹2.32 lakh crore as of
• T he approved claim amount gets credited directly to the same date, the committee said that it should be
the beneficiary’s loan account through DBT mode. maintained within a band of 6.5-5.5% of total assets.
• S MS is also sent to the beneficiary’s mobile number • I t left it to the RBI board to decide the precise
intimating the credit of subvention amount. percentage it was comfortable within this band
SKOCH Award and transfer the excess to the government. As it
happened, the board, in its meeting, decided to peg
• It was instituted in 2003, is the highest civilian this ratio at 5.5% thus enabling it to transfer a sum of
honor in the country conferred by an independent ₹52,637 crore to the government immediately
organization.
• T he committee should also be complimented for
• I t recognizes people, projects and institutions that go clearly specifying that the revaluation reserve cannot
the extra mile to make India a better nation. be used to bridge shortfalls in other reserves.
• S KOCH Award covers the best of efforts in the area of The RBI transfers its surplus to the government every year.
digital, financial and social inclusion. So what is special about the pay out this time?
18. Rajaswa Gyan Sangam • Yes, the RBI does transfer its surplus annually to the
government, the owner of the institution, after
• It is an annual conference of tax administrators making adequate provisions for contingencies or
• T here are various issues when it comes to tax collection potential losses. The profit that is distributed has
like Litigation Management, Strategies for Revenue varied, averaging over Rs 50,000 crore over the last
Maximisation, Tax Evasion, Taxpayer Services, GST and few years.
Customs Reforms and Modernisation. • T he RBI Board accepted the recommendations of a
• T he objective of the Conference is to enable a two- committee headed by former Governor Bimal Jalan
way communication between the policy-makers and on transfer of excess capital. Based on the panel’s
the senior officers in the field offices with a view to report, the Central Board decided to transfer a surplus
increase revenue collection and facilitate effective of Rs 1.23 lakh crore and Rs 52,637 crore of excess
implementation of law and policies in key result areas. provisions made over the years
• I ssues arising in implementation of policies and • T his marks the first time the RBI will be paying out
strategies to achieve targets in core functional areas such a huge amount, a one-off transfer.
will also be discussed. How does a central bank like the RBI make profits?
19. RBI transfer ‘surplus’ to government • intervenes for instance to buy or sell foreign
exchange; Open Market operations, when it attempts
Context
to prevent the rupee from appreciating; as income
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Board has approved a from government securities it holds; as returns from
transfer of Rs 1,76,051 crore to the government, its foreign currency assets that are investments in the
including a surplus or dividend of Rs 1,23,414 bonds of foreign central banks or top-rated securities;
crore, and a one-time transfer of excess provisions from deposits with other central banks or the Bank
amounting to Rs 52,637 crore. for International Settlement or BIS; besides lending
Bimal Jalan Committee to banks for very short tenures and management
commission on handling the borrowings of state
• The outflow from the RBI’s reserves was limited to this governments and the central government.
amount only because the Bimal Jalan Committee,

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AUGUST-2019 33

• The RBI is a “full service” central bank— not only is • But in Japan, it is the government that decides.
it mandated to keep inflation or prices in check, it What can the government do with this huge surplus?
is also supposed to manage the borrowings of the
• Normally, the money is transferred to the Consolidated
Government of India and of state governments;
Fund of India from which salaries and pensions
supervise or regulate banks and non-banking finance
to government employees are paid and interest
companies; and manage the currency and payment
payments done, besides spending on government
systems.
programmes.
• I ts expenditure is mainly on the printing of currency
• T he large payout can help the government cut back
notes and on staff, besides the commission it gives
on planned borrowings and keep interest rates
to banks for undertaking transactions on behalf of
relatively low.
the government across the country, and to primary
dealers, including banks, for underwriting some of • B
esides, it will provide space for private companies to
these borrowings. raise money from markets.
Why are these called transfers to the government, rather • A
nd if it manages to meet its revenue targets, the
than dividends? windfall gain can lead to a lower fiscal deficit.
• T hat is because the RBI is not a commercial • T he other option is to earmark these funds for public
organisation like banks and other companies owned spending or specific projects, which could lead to
or controlled by the government to pay a dividend a revival in demand in certain sectors and boost
to the owner out of the profit generated. Though it economic activity.
was promoted as a private shareholders’ bank in 1935 Why do central banks hold back on transferring large
with a paid-up capital of Rs 5 crore, the government amounts?
nationalised it in January 1949, making the sovereign
the “owner”. • E specially after the global financial crisis when central
banks had to resort to unconventional means to
• W
hat the RBI does is transfer the surplus — excess of revive their economies, the approach has been to
income over expenditure —to the government. build adequate buffers in the form of higher capital,
• U
nder Section 47 of the RBI Act, “after making reserves and other funds as a potential insurance
provision for bad and doubtful debts, depreciation against future risks or losses.
in assets, contributions to staff and superannuation • A
higher buffer enhances the credibility of a central
funds and for all other matters for which provision is bank during a crisis and helps avoid approaching
to be made by or under this Act or which are usually the government for fresh capital and thus maintain
provided for by bankers, the balance of the profits
financial autonomy.
shall be paid to the Central government”.
• This is done in early August by the Central Board. 20. RBI’s Goldilocks cut: On repo rate cut
Is it right for the Government to request RBI to share its Context
profits? • In its monetary policy review, the Monetary Policy
• I n principle, it could be argued that the government Committee of the RBI decided to cut the repo rate by
as sovereign owns the RBI and hence there is nothing 35 Basis Points (BPS).
wrong if it decides to tap the central bank’s reserves. • T he Reserve Bank of India has reduced policy rates
• Y
et, that it actually chose to do so is unfortunate four times since February. The cumulative year to date
because these reserves represent inter-generational reduction is 110 basis points.
equity built up over several years by the RBI by Repo Rate
squirrelling away a part of its annual surplus.
• Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends money to
• I t is morally unacceptable that any one government commercial banks. 100 bps make a full percentage
can swallow even a part of such funds to help meet its point.
expenditure in a particular year.
• A
s such, if the repo falls, all interest rates in the
• T he reserves, as the Jalan Committee has pointed out, economy should fall. And that is why common people
represent the country’s savings for a ‘rainy day’, which should be interested in the RBI’s monetary policy.
is a monetary or financial crisis.
Why does monetary policy matter?
How do other central banks manage the transfer of
surplus? In any economy, economic activity, which is measured by
gross domestic product or GDP, happens by one of four
• Like in India, central banks in both the UK and US ways.
decide after consultations with the government.
• One, private individuals and households spend
money on consumption.

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AUGUST-2019 34

• Two, the government spends on its agenda. Way forward

• T hree, private sector businesses “invest” in their • The slowdown now is part cyclical — which can be
productive capacity. addressed by a rate cut — and part structural, for
which reforms are an absolute necessity.
• A
nd four, the net exports — which is the difference
between what all of them spend on imports as against • T herefore, unless the government responds with its
what they earn from exports. own measures, the RBI’s efforts to support growth
At the heart of any spending decision taken by any of may go in vain.
these entities lies the question: What is the cost of money?
21. Sabka Vishwas-Legacy Dispute Resolution Scheme,
• Monetary policy essentially answers that question. In 2019
every country, the central bank is mandated to decide
the cost of money, which is more commonly known • The Sabka Vishwas Scheme, 2019 is a scheme
as the “interest rate” in the economy. proposed in the Union Budget, 2019, and introduced
to resolve all disputes relating to the erstwhile Service
• W
hile various factors make it difficult for a central Tax and Central Excise Acts, which are now subsumed
bank to exactly dictate interest rates, as a thumb rule, under GST, as well as 26 other Indirect Tax enactments
RBI’s decision on the repo rate sets the markers for the
rest of the economy • T he scheme will be for taxpayers who wish to close
their pending disputes, with a substantial relief
Why 35 BPS? provided by the government.
The expectation was of either a 25 or 50 basis points one. The two main components of the Scheme are dispute
• Given the extent of the slowdown in the economy, resolution and amnesty.
the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) deemed the • The Dispute Resolution component is aimed at
former as too low but taking into account factors such liquidating the legacy cases of Central Excise and
as the turbulence in the global financial markets and Service Tax that are subsumed in GST and are pending
the rupee’s fall in the last few days, the latter was seen in litigation at various forums.
as too high.
• T he Amnesty Component of the Scheme offers an
• I n the event, the MPC settled on a median and opportunity to the taxpayers to pay the outstanding
unconventional 35 basis point cut, which keeps the tax and be free of any other consequence under the
powder dry for further cuts this financial year. law.
But the interest rate for consumer loans has not reduced. How does it work?
Why?
• For all the cases pending in adjudication or appeal – in
• In the real world, the “transmission” of an interest rate any forum - this Scheme offers a relief of 70% from the
cut (or increase) is not a hundred per cent. And that duty demand if it is Rs.50 lakhs or less and 50% if it is
is why, even though when the RBI cut by 35 bps, lay more than Rs. 50 lakhs.
consumers may only receive a much lower reduction
in the interest rate on their borrowings. • T he same relief is available for cases under investigation
and audit where the duty involved is quantified and
• T his is due to a lot of factors — but primarily, it has communicated to the party or admitted by him in a
to do with the health of the concerned commercial statement on or before 30th June, 2019.
bank.
• F urther, in cases of confirmed duty demand, where
So, how does RBI decide the interest rate? there is no appeal pending, the relief offered is 60% of
• The first is to ensure price stability in the economy. the confirmed duty amount if the same is Rs. 50 lakhs
The interest rate anchors the prices in an economy. or less and it is 40%, if the confirmed duty amount is
more than Rs. 50 lakhs.
* The RBI continuously maps prices, inflation
(which is the rate of increase in prices), and • F inally, in cases of voluntary disclosure, the person
expectations of inflation (of households) to availing the Scheme will have to pay only the full
decide if it should increase or decrease interest amount of disclosed duty.
rates. Significance
• The other related concern for a central bank is to take • The most attractive aspect of the Scheme is that
care of economic growth. For instance, economic it provides substantial relief in the tax dues for all
growth is anaemic at present and partly as a categories of cases as well as full waiver of interest,
consequence, the inflation rate has been below 4% fine, penalty
for several months now. The RBI is, therefore, cutting
interest rates to incentivise people to consume more
and businesses to invest more.

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AUGUST-2019 35

• I n all these cases, there would be no other liability Conclusion

of interest, fine or penalty. There is also a complete • But given the broader trend of capital flowing out
amnesty from prosecution. of emerging markets across the world, it remains
to be seen whether SEBI’s present move will yield
22. SEBI’s liberalized norms for FPIs
immediate benefits.
Context
• E ven if it fails to do so, the move will still help Indian
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), markets become more attractive to foreign investors
based on the recommendations of the H.R. Khan in the long-run.
committee, eased several regulatory restrictions
• I n a world of globalised capital markets, where many
that are likely to make life easier for foreign portfolio
nimble emerging markets compete to attract capital
investors (FPIs).
from the developed world, India cannot afford to be
Background seen as flip-flopping on its commitments.
• FPIs have been withdrawing from Indian equities after
23. State Rooftop Solar Attractiveness Index (SARAL)
the finance minister introduced higher tax surcharge
on the super-rich in the budget in July. Context
• I n the past two months, FPIs have sold Indian shares • The Union Minister of State for Power and New &
worth $3.07 billion, while they were net buyers of Renewable Energy (IC) and Skill Development &
shares worth $11.3 billion till June. Entrepreneurship, launched the State Rooftop Solar
Attractiveness Index
Foreign investors who have been fleeing the country since
the Union budget have something to cheer about finally. What is it?
Measures taken by SEBI • S ARAL is the first of its kind index to provide a
comprehensive overview of state-level measures
• Among a slew of measures, the financial markets
adopted to facilitate rooftop solar deployment.
regulator has simplified the registration process for
FPIs by doing away with the broad-based eligibility • S ARAL has been designed collaboratively by the
criteria, which required a minimum of at least 20 Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE),
investors in a foreign fund, and certain documentary Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF),
requirements. Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
India (ASSOCHAM) and Ernst & Young (EY).
• F PIs can now also engage in the off-market sale of
their shares with fewer restrictions. • I t was launched during the Review Planning and
Monitoring (RPM) Meeting with States and State
• F urther, SEBI has allowed entities registered at
Power Utilities.
an international financial services centre to be
automatically classified as FPIs. This might help SARAL currently captures five key aspects –
foreign investors bypass some of the restrictions. • robustness of policy framework,
• Mutual funds with offshore funds too can invest in • implementation environment,
India as FPIs to avail certain tax benefits now.
• investment climate,
• C
entral banks that are not members of the Bank of
International Settlements are also allowed to register • consumer experience and
as FPIs and invest in the country under the new norms. • Business ecosystem.
Changes in Classification Ranking
• Till now, Sebi classified FPIs into three categories, with • T he State of Karnataka has been placed at the first
the easiest set of compliance norms for Category-I rank in the Index that evaluates Indian states based
FPIs and the strictest for Category-III FPIs. on their attractiveness for rooftop development.
• T he classification of an FPI depends on the way the • T elangana, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have got 2nd,
offshore entity is regulated in its home market or 3rd and 4th rank respectively.
the number of investors in the fund. The most well-
regulated FPIs fall into Category-I. Significance

• Sebi removed the concept of Category-III FPIs. • I t encourages each state to assess the initiatives taken
so far, and what it can do to improve its solar rooftop
• T here will now be only two categories of FPIs, said ecosystem.
Sebi. However, Sebi has not elaborated how the two
categories of FPIs will be decided. • T his will help states to channelize investments that
can eventually help the sector grow.

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AUGUST-2019 36

• I n addition, such an exercise is likely to create a more • T he mobile app seeks to efficiently connect farmers
conducive environment for solar rooftop installations, with custom hiring centres CHCs, just like Uber
encourage investment and lead to accelerated connects passangers to cabs.
growth of the sector • T here are more than 38,000 custom hiring centres
(CHCs) across the country, which rent out 2.5 lakh
24. Tirur Vettila obtains GI tag pieces of farm equipment every year.
• T irur Vettila (Betel Leaf) from the state of Kerala has • O
nce the app is officially launched, farmers who wish
obtained GI (Geographical Indication) tag to hire equipments can register using their names,
* G
rown in Tirur and nearby areas of Malappuram addresses and mobile numbers, and then punch in
district their requirements.
• I t is unique for its significantly high content of total • T he app also includes a rating system wherein the
chlorophyll and protein in fresh leaves. feedback from both the CHC and the farmers, allowing
customers to make informed decisions.
* T he antioxidant capacity is more in Tirur betel
leaf adding to its medicinal properties. • T he app will also create an invaluable database for
policy-makers, who can track the use and cost of
* I t’s shelf period is also more compared to other
equipment.
betel leaves
• T he system would also help to track the usage of new
• T his betel leaf is more pungent due to presence of
technology that the government wants to promote,
Eugenol
such as the Happy Seeder that aims to prevent stubble
Other important Facts burning that causes air pollution, or solar dryers that
• T he IPR Cell of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has can help farmers process and preserve their produce.
received National IP Award, 2019 of Government of • Successful demos have already been conducted in
India its efforts in the facilitation of GI Registration. Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab.
* The Indian Intellectual Property Office confers 26. UDAN -Giving wings to better air connectivity
National Intellectual Property (IP) Award
Introduction
* I t comes under the administrative control of
Ministry of Commerce and Industry • C
ivil aviation is a central subject and one that barely
got significant attention from the States until recently.
* I t is awarded to outstanding innovators,
organisations and companies in the field of • I t is evident from the fact that very few States in
patents, designs, trademarks and geographical India have active civil aviation departments. This is
indications on the occasion of World IP Day (26 also due to the reason that States have had a passive
April) every year. role, invariably, having had to look up to the Central
government for the development of airports and
• T he other products received the GI tag before enhancing air connectivity. However, in the last four
with the initiative of the IPR cell of the KAU are years, the situation has changed considerably.
Kaipad rice, Pokkali rice, Wayanad Jeerakasala rice,
Wayanad Gandhakasala rice, Vazhakulam pineapple, • T he cooperation of States is seen as a major factor in
Marayur jaggery, Central Travancore jaggery and the growth of the civil aviation sector. The Regional
Connectivity Scheme, UdeDeshkaAamNaagrik
Chengalikodan nendran.
(UDAN), has become a game changer as this flagship
25. Uber for tractors programme has a built-in mechanism to develop
stakes of State governments in the growth of the
Context
sector.
• I ndia’s agriculture ministry has developed a farm
Key policy interventions
equipment rental app for Indian farmers, which lets
them hire tractors, rotavator and other farm related Thirty States and Union Territories have already
machinery on rent for with flexible tenures. signed memoranda of understanding with the Central
government. The policies of States and Centre are now
Details
being interlinked to make flying accessible and affordable.
• T he new app – “Uber for tractors” would enable Here are some policy intervention suggestions to jump-
farmers to have affordable access to cutting-edge start the aviation market.
technology at their doorsteps.
• T he app is reportedly similar to Uber and looks to
bring a similar convenience to farmers.

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AUGUST-2019 37

1. For any airline in India, the cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel • T his unique scheme has been successful in
(ATF) forms about 40% of the total operational cost. encouraging airlines to operate on regional
unconnected routes instead of trunk routes. Market
• K
eeping petroleum products out of the purview
appetite and aspirations of remote areas can match
of Goods and Services Tax (GST) may be a policy
the plans of airlines where States play a catalytic role.
imperative for the State governments but this is a step
that adversely impacts the expansion of air services to Steps to be taken
the States. • C
onvergence is an element in governance which is
• States have very high rates of value-added tax (VAT) often overlooked due to a compartmentalisation in
on ATF — sometimes as high as 25% — which has implementation.
dampened the growth trajectory of civil aviation. ATF • S tates may converge their relevant schemes relating
is a small component of overall petroleum products to tourism, health, and insurance for supporting air
and deserves to be treated separately. connectivity to supplement the objectives of regional
Impact connectivity.
• T he airline industry is capital-intensive and works Conclusion
on very thin profit margins. Therefore, relief on ATF • C
urrently the penetration of the aviation market in
is a major incentive for airlines to augment their India stands at 7%. There is potential to be among
operations. the global top three nations in terms of domestic and
• F or States, it would be a notional revenue loss which international passenger traffic.
can be offset by enhanced economic activities as a • F or this States need to create a conducive business
result of increased air connectivity to the region. environment to facilitate the strong aspirations of a
• T herefore Reducing VAT on ATF is the biggest lever burgeoning Indian middle class to fly at least once a
States can operate, which will enable them in being year. It would boost ticket sales from the present level
an equal partner in steering sector policy. of eight crore domestic tickets.
2. Airport development • D
eveloping airports, incentivising airlines and pooling
resources of both the Union and State governments
The second area is in the development and management
can accelerate the harmonised growth of the Indian
of airports. There are many regional airports which can be
civil aviation sector which would be equitable and
developed by States on their own or in collaboration with
the Airports Authority of India (AAI). inclusive.
In this, there have been different models of public- 27. US Federal Reserve’s rate cut
private-partnership which can be leveraged to develop
Context
infrastructures.
• T he US Federal Reserve has announced a quarter-
Impact
percentage-point cut in interest rates — the first rate
• L and involves huge capital and is a scarce resource. cut by the US central bank in 11 years
Innovative models can be explored to create viable
Why has US Fed cut rates?
‘no-frill airports’. These functional airports can open
up regions and change the way people travel. • T he Fed has cited concerns about the global economy
and muted US inflation as reasons for the move, and
3. Linking the hinterland
signaled a readiness to lower borrowing costs further
Third, States and the Central government can play a crucial if needed.
role in supporting airlines to develop air services in the
• F inancial markets had widely expected the quarter-
remote regions.
percentage-point rate cut, which lowered the US
• T o reduce operational cost of airlines and airport central bank’s benchmark overnight lending rate to a
operators, incentives from State governments have target range of 2.00% to 2.25%.
been sought: some in the form of financial support
Why Fed’s rate cut is significant?
such as VAT reduction; sharing of viability gap funding
with airlines, and non-financial incentives such as • T he cut in interest rates is the first time since the 2008
providing security and fire services free of cost to financial crisis.
airport operators. • W
hat is ironic is that this move comes despite a strong
• Similarly, under the scheme, the Union government US economy and indicators such as job market data
has declared concessions on excise duty on ATF and showing renewed buoyancy.
made budgetary allocations for airport development. • T he rate cut follows months of pressure from US
President Donald Trump, who has been pushing the
American central bank for a cut in rates.

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AUGUST-2019 38

US rate cut impact on India • UCO is either not discarded at all or disposed of in an
environmentally hazardous manner choking drains
• A
rate cut in the US is good for emerging market
and sewerage systems.
economies and is projected to catalyze a debt and
equity market rally in countries such as India. Steps taken by the Govt
• T ypically, emerging economies such as India tend to • The National Policy on Biofuels, released by the
have higher inflation and thereby higher interest rates Government of India in 2018, envisages production of
than those in developed countries such as the US and biofuel from UCO.
Europe. • F ood Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
* A
s a result, FIIs would want to borrow money in is implementing a strategy to divert UCO from the
the US at low-interest rates in dollar terms and food value chain and curb current illegal usage.
then invest that money in bonds of emerging • T o facilitate the production of Biodiesel from UCO, the
countries such as India in Re terms to earn a Oil Marketing Companies shall float an Expression of
higher rate of interest. Interest (EOI) for procurement of Biodiesel from Used
* W
hen the US Fed cuts its interest rates, the Cooking Oil across 100 cities.
difference between interest rates of the two * T he purpose of inviting this EOI is to encourage
countries increases, thus making India more the applicants to set up Biodiesel producing
attractive for the currency carry trade. plants from Used Cooking Oil (UCO), processing
• A
rate cut cycle means a weaker dollar, which is good plants and further utilizing the existing potential
for the US but may not be so for the rest of the world. of UCO based Bio-diesel in India.
* It has been seen in the past that as the dollar Significance
weakens due to lower growth tendencies, the • Biofuels have the benefits of reduction of import
rupee has tended to strengthen which will dependence, cleaner environment, additional income
pose a conundrum for us as exports will come to farmers and employment generation.
under pressure with a double whammy – slower
demand due to lower global growth and a • B
iofuel programme also compliments Government of
stronger rupee. India’s initiatives for Make in India, Swachh Bharat and
increasing farmer’s income. A number of initiatives
* This will not be good for the current account have been undertaken to increase production and
deficit (CAD). blending of biofuels since 2014.
• L ower interest rates and a weaker dollar also means • T he benefits of transformation of UCO will help bring
stronger gold, as the metal will continue to shine health benefits as there would be no recycling of
under such circumstances. From the Indian point of the UCO, employment generation, infrastructural
view greater investment demand for gold can surface investment in rural areas & cleaner environment with
putting pressure on a pressurised trade deficit. reduced carbon footprint.
28. World Biofuel Day 29. World Skills Kazan 2019
Context Context:
• World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th of • T he world’s biggest international vocational skills
August to create awareness about the importance competition, World Skills Kazan 2019 got underway
of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional with a grand ceremony at Kazan, Russia
fossil fuels and highlight the various efforts made by
Details
Government in the biofuel sector.
• A
n initiative of the National Skill Development
• T his year the theme of the World Biofuel Day is
Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of Ministry of Skill
“Production of Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), World
(UCO)”.
Skills India is integral to the vision of building a Skilled
Harmful impact of UCO India, exposing young talent to the best-in-class
• In India, the same cooking oil is used for repeated technology, techniques and skills amongst different
frying which adversely affects the health due to trades.
formation of polar compounds during frying. These The key objectives of World Skills India are to:
polar compounds are associated with diseases such
• P
romulgate skills in the society and motivate the
as hypertension, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease,
youth to pursue vocational education.
liver diseases among others.

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AUGUST-2019 39

• C
hampion skills and learning for work through local,
regional, national and international skills competition
and contribute to the society.
• I nvite sponsorships to organize the local, regional,
national and international skills competitions and also
host international competitions.
• E stablish links and a long-term association with
the WSI secretariat along with development of
cooperation with the Government of India, state
Governments, registered vocational skills training and
awarding bodies.
One School One Country
• Before the opening ceremony, the competing teams
came together to present their national cultures
under the One School-One Country initiative.
• T he initiative aims to promote cultural exchange
between the participating countries and to raise the
profile of skills and different career pathways.

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AUGUST-2019 40

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. An end to arms control consensus • By 1991, the INF had been implemented. The USSR
Background destroyed a total of 1,846 missiles and the U.S. did the
same with 846 Pershing and cruise missiles.
• The decade of the 1980s saw heightened Cold War
tensions. Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan • A
ssociated production facilities were also closed
in 1979 provided the U.S. an opportunity to fund a down. In keeping with Reagan’s dictum of ‘trust but
(barely) covert jihad with the help of Pakistan. verify’, the INF Treaty was the first pact to include
intensive verification measures, including on-site
• P
resident Ronald Reagan called the USSR “an evil inspections.
empire” and launched his space war initiative.
End of the Cold War
• S oviet deployments in Europe of SS-20 missiles
were matched by the U.S. with Pershing II and cruise • It led to break-up of the USSR in end-1991, the arms
missiles. race was over. Former Soviet allies were now joining
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Cold War talks and negotiating to become European Union (EU)
In 1985, the two countries entered into arms control members.
negotiations on three tracks. • T he U.S. was investing in missile defence and
• The first dealt with strategic weapons with ranges of conventional global precision strike capabilities to
over 5,500 km, leading to the START agreement in expand its technological lead. Importantly, some of
1991 that limited both sides to 1,600 strategic delivery these were blurring the nuclear-conventional divide.
vehicles and 6,000 warheads. Context
• A
second track dealt with intermediate-range missiles, • The process for bringing an end to this treaty was
of particular concern to the Europeans, and this led to called in October 2018, when President Donald Trump
the INF Treaty in 1987. announced that U.S. was considering a withdrawal.
• A
third track, Nuclear and Space Talks, was intended to On August 2 2019, the U.S. formally quit the pact.
address Soviet concerns regarding the U.S.’s Strategic How it all began?
Defence Initiative (SDI) but this did not yield any
concrete outcome. • In 2001, when the U.S. announced its unilateral
withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty (ABM Treaty), a keystone of bilateral nuclear arms
• It is a 1987 arms control agreement between the control was removed.
United States and the Soviet Union to eliminate • T he INF Treaty had been under threat for some time.
and permanently renounce all of their nuclear and The U.S. had started voicing concerns about the
conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise Novator 9M729 missile tests nearly a decade ago.
missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. As Russia began production, formal allegations of
* The treaty did not cover sea-launched missiles violation of the INF Treaty were raised by the Obama
administration in 2014.
• I t was signed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and
Mikhail Gorbachev * Russia denied the allegations and blamed the
U.S. for deploying missile defence interceptors
• T he treaty marked the first time the superpowers had in Poland and Romania, using dual-purpose
agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals, eliminate launchers that could be quickly reconfigured to
an entire category of nuclear weapons, and utilize launch Tomahawk missiles.
extensive on-site inspections for verification.
• B
asically, Russia believes that nuclear stability began
How INF helped? getting upset since the U.S.’s unilateral withdrawal
• T he INF Treaty was hailed as a great disarmament pact from the ABM Treaty. As the U.S. used its technological
even though no nuclear warheads were dismantled lead to gain advantage, Russia became more
and similar range air-launched and sea-launched dependent on its offensive nuclear arsenal and began
missiles were not constrained. its modernization and diversification.
• F urther, since it was a bilateral agreement, the treaty • T he U.S.’s 2017 National Security Strategy and the
did not restrict other countries, but this hardly Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) the following year
mattered as it was an age of bipolarity and the U.S.- reflected harsher-than-before assessment of its
USSR nuclear equation was the only one that counted. security environment and sought a more expansive
role for nuclear weapons, in a break from the policies
that had been followed since the end of the Cold War.

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* Russia was seen as a ‘disruptive power’ pushing Conclusion

for a re-ordering of security and economic • A new nuclear arms race could just be the beginning.
structures in Europe and West Asia in its favour. Unlike the bipolar equation of the Cold War, this time
* C
hina was identified for the first time as a it will be complicated because of multiple countries
strategic competitor that was seeking regional being involved.
hegemony in the Indo-Pacific region in the near- • T echnological changes are bringing cyber and space
term and “displacement of the U.S. to achieve domains into contention.
global pre-eminence in the future”.
• A
ll this raises the risks of escalation and could even
• The 2018 NPR envisaged development of new nuclear strain the most important achievement of nuclear
weapons, including low-yield weapons. The Nevada arms control — the taboo against the use of nuclear
test site, which has been silent since 1992, is being
readied to resume testing with a six-month notice. weapons that has stood since 1945.

• W
ith the geopolitical shift to the Indo-Pacific, the 2. Falaq
U.S. believes that the INF Treaty was putting it at a • Iran unveiled Falaq, a locally upgraded radar system
disadvantage compared to China which is rapidly with a range of 400 km that could help defend against
modernising and currently has 95% of its ballistic and cruise and ballistic missiles and drones.
cruise missile inventory in the INF range. Against this
political backdrop, the demise of the agreement was • T he Falaq is an improved version of the Gamma, a
a foregone conclusion. system that military experts said was of Russian origin.

Consequences • T he announcement comes at a time of rising tension

between Iran and United States.
• The 2011 New START was a successor to the START
framework of 1991 and limited both sides to 700 * Iran shot down a U.S. military surveillance drone
strategic launchers and 1,550 operational warheads. in the Gulf with a surface-to-air missile in June.
It lapses in February 2021 unless extended for a five- * T ehran says the drone was over its territory, but
year period. Washington says it was in international airspace.
* Mr. Trump has already labelled it “a bad
deal negotiated by the [Barack] Obama 3. Fortifying the Africa outreach
administration.” Context
* H
e has indicated that a decision on the • Two important Indian dignitaries have began their
agreement will be taken in January 2021, after respective visits to Africa. President Ram Nath Kovind
the 2020 election. is visiting Benin, Gambia and Guinea-Conakry and
* G
iven his dislike for it, if he is re-elected, it is clear Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived to Maputo.
that the New START will also meet the fate of the It indicates enhanced priority to Africa assigned by
INF Treaty. India.

• The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a “zero- Stats

yield” treaty. This means that the agreement prohibits • India has substantive economic engagement with
all nuclear explosions that produce a self-sustaining, Africa. Its trade with Africa totalled $63.3 billion in
supercritical chain reaction of any kind whether for 2018-19. India
weapons or peaceful purposes.
• B
y 2017, India had cumulatively extended 152 Lines
* Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency of Credit worth $8 billion to 44 African countries.
Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley declared that “Russia
• I ndia has also unilaterally provided free access to its
probably is not adhering to the nuclear testing
market for the exports of 33 least developed African
moratorium in a manner consistent with the
countries.
‘zero-yield’ standard” imposed by the CTBT
• I ndia was ranked the third largest trading partner of
* M
any have interpreted Lt. Gen. Ashley’s
Africa having edged past the United States in 2019
statement as preparing the ground for a
resumption of nuclear explosives testing. Taken An area that needs Introspection
together, these ominous pointers indicate the • Although these statistics are impressive, they are
beginning of a new nuclear arms race. well below the potential for India-African economic
• This means that, for the first time since 1972, when synergy and are often dwarfed by the corresponding
the Strategic Arms Limitation Act (SALT) I concluded, Chinese data.
strategic arsenals from the U.S. and Russia will not be • T here seems to be a visible disconnect between Indian
constrained by any arms control agreement. developmental assistance to and India’s economic
engagement with Africa.
• T he time has now come to have a more comprehensive
and sustainable engagement.

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AUGUST-2019 42

Reciprocity is a must in the Indian Africa Relationship • S ixth, the Indian Head of Mission in the recipient
African state must be an integral part of the aid
• India is neither a rich country nor has its hands been
stream including project selection, co-ordination and
tainted by a history of slavery, colonisation and the
implementation.
exploitation of Africa.
* Apart from empowering our diplomacy, this
• I n fact, it is a developing country with similar domestic
would ensure better harmonisation between
challenges of poverty, infrastructure deficit and
our aid and economic objectives.
underdevelopment.
• F inally, the aforementioned should not distract us
• I ndia’s funds committed and seats in our prestigious
from our duty to provide the needed humanitarian
academic institutions offered to Africa are at the
assistance to Africa: to be rendered promptly and with
expense of the tax-paying Indians.
sensitivity, but without noise.
• I ndia’s aid to Africa should be reciprocated by
acknowledgement and quid pro quo in terms of 4. Free fall: On the Afghan conflict
goodwill (beyond the easy-flowing official rhetoric),
Context
and institutional preference.
• T he suicide attack at a crowded wedding hall in Kabul
India cannot simply be a cash cow for Africa, particularly
killed at least 63 people and injured more than 180
when its own economy is slowing down.
others is yet another tragic reminder of the perilous
Steps forward security situation in Afghanistan.
We need to ask ourselves these: for all the development • T he blast was claimed by the local arm of the Islamic
billions spent, how many mega-projects did Indian State (IS)
companies get and how many natural resources does
Background
India have access to in Africa? We should reorient our
developmental profile to be more economically productive. • U
.S. and the Taliban are preparing to announce a
To this end, a number of steps can be considered: peace agreement to end the 18-year-long conflict
• First, we need to take direct control of our development • T he government in Kabul, backed by the U.S. and the
programme instead of handing our funds to international community, is fighting to preserve the
intermediaries such as the African Union, the African existing system, which despite its faults, at least offers
Development Bank Group and the Techno-Economic a semblance of democracy.
Approach for Africa-India Movement (TEAM 9), whose • B
ut the government is a failure in ensuring safety and
priorities are often different from India’s. security of the people. The Taliban, which controls the
* To make an impact, our aid should be disbursed mountainous hinterlands, wants to expand its reach
bilaterally and aligned with national priorities of to the urban centres.
the recipient state, which should be a substantial Peace will remain elusive to people of Afghanistan
stakeholder and co-investor in schemes and
projects from initiation to operation. • B
ut if the IS attack is anything to go by, Afghans will not
be able to live in peace irrespective of the consensus
• Second, India’s development assistance should prefer reached between the Taliban and the U.S.
the countries with its substantial interests, both
existing and potential. • I t’s now a three-way conflict in Afghanistan — the
government, the Taliban insurgents and the global
* For instance, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, terrorists.
Angola and Algeria are India’s top six trading
partners in Africa, accounting for nearly two-thirds • T he IS, which has declared a province (Khorasan) in
of its trade and half its exports to the continent; eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar, has emerged as the
yet, they do not figure commensurately in India’s third player.
developmental pecking order. • A
ttacks against civilians, especially the Shia minority,
* I ndia’s own needs for raw materials, commodities is the central part of its brutal military tactics.
and markets should be factored in its aid calculus. Afghanistan’s Hazara Shias were the target of the
wedding hall bombing as well.
• Third, we ought to prefer aiding countries which
are willing to help us — from access to their natural Concerns
resources to using our generics. • This complex, mutually destructive nature of the
• F ourth, the aided project selected should be conflict is the biggest challenge before any attempt
compatible with local requirements. They should be to establish order and stability in Afghanistan.
cost-effective, scalable, future ready and commercially • W
hat if the Taliban, which ran most of Afghanistan
replicable. according to its puritanical interpretation of the
• F ifth, for greater transparency, India should prefer its Islamic law from 1996 to 2001, turns against Kabul
public sector to implement the aid projects. once the Americans are out?

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AUGUST-2019 43

• What if the country plunges into a multi-party civil Context

war as it did after the Soviet Union pulled out in 1989?
• M
odi was invited to attend the Summit as a special
Future prospect of the peace deal guest of French President Emmanuel Macron.
• A
s part of a potential peace deal, the U.S. is ready to What the G7 does?
pull troops from Afghanistan in return for assurances
The G7 Summit is an informal gathering that lasts two
from the Taliban that they will not allow the Afghan
days, in which leaders of member countries discuss a wide
soil to be used by transnational terrorists such as the
range of global issues.
IS and al-Qaeda.
• T he Group was initially formed as an effort by the US
• I t will be left to the Taliban and the government to
and its allies to discuss economic issues, which in the
have their own peace talks and settle differences.
late 1970s included battling a global oil crisis
• A
rguably, a peace deal or at least a ceasefire between
• S ince then, the G7 has discussed issues affecting
the Taliban and the Kabul government would allow
every decade, such as financial crises, and has aimed
both sides to rechannel their resources to fighting
to tackle specific challenges, such as the economic
terrorist groups.
changeover of ex-Soviet bloc nations, terrorism, arms
Conclusion control, and drug trafficking, among others.
• T he IS has demonstrated an ability to survive and • T he groundwork for the Summit, including matters to
strike in Afghanistan despite the U.S.’s heavy air be discussed and follow-up meetings, is done by the
campaign in the east. Ideally, the international “sherpas”, who are generally personal representatives
community should have strengthened the hands of or members of diplomatic staff such as ambassadors.
the Kabul government against all kind of terrorists,
* The sherpa for Prime Minister Modi at the current
before seeking a settlement with the insurgents.
Summit is former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu.
• T hey should have helped alter the balance of power
G7 and G20
in the conflict. But it does not seem likely now. And
Afghanistan is in a free fall. • T he G20 is a larger group of countries, which also
includes G7 members. The G20 was formed in 1999,
5. G7 in response to a felt need to bring more countries on
• T he G7 or ‘Group of Seven’ are Canada, France, board to address global economic concerns.
Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the * Apart from the G7 countries, the G20 comprises
United States. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India,
• I t is an intergovernmental organisation that was Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South
formed in 1975 by the top economies of the time as Africa, South Korea, and Turkey.
an informal forum to discuss pressing world issues. * T ogether, the G20 countries make up around
• T he G7 was known as the ‘G8’ for several years after 80% of the world’s economy.
the original seven were joined by Russia in 1997. • A
s opposed to the G7, which discusses a broad range
• T he Group returned to being called G7 after Russia of issues, deliberations at the G20 are confined to
was expelled as a member in 2014 following the those concerning the global economy and financial
latter’s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine. markets.

• T he G7 nations meet at annual Summits that are Big Takeawasy for India:
presided over by leaders of member countries on a • F or India, getting invited to be a part of the G7 summit,
rotational basis. even though it is not a member of the grouping, came
* The G7 does not have a formal constitution or a as a special gesture from the host country France,
fixed headquarters. which is keen on furthering strategic ties with India.

* T he decisions taken by leaders during annual • T his invite came at an opportune time for India as it
Summits are non-binding. gave the Prime Minister the right platform to engage
with the top leaders and present India’s viewpoint
• T he current G7 Summit being held in France is the on the Kashmir issue, especially since Pakistan has
45th, and the next one will be held in the United launched a smear campaign against India at all major
States in 2020. global platforms.
* The host country typically gets to invite • A
ll the G7 members were supportive of India’s stand
dignitaries from outside the G7 to attend the and there was no reference to the Kashmir situation in
Summit. the joint statement. This can be seen as a diplomatic
victory for India and an endorsement of its position,
considering that the G7 joint statement did make a
reference to the ongoing political turmoil in Hong
Kong.

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AUGUST-2019 44

• It was an anti-climax for Pakistan at the G7 because Global ranking

its all-weather ally – China, which is not a part of the • Singapore has the strongest passport.
grouping, was not there to push for its case just as it
did at the UNSC. • A
fghanistan holds the weakest passport, with a score
and ranking of 25 and 109, respectively.
• E ven the European countries, which are otherwise
hawkish on the Kashmir issue, chose not to bring • Syria and Pakistan follow with rankings of 107 and 106
up the Kashmir issue and in fact, close partners like and scores of 29 and 30, respectively.
France have openly embraced India’s stand. How are passport ranks and scores interpreted?
• T his shows that the European powers see India as • The score is the sum of the number of countries
a major trading and investment partner and they accessible by that passport holder without requiring
respect India’s sensitivities, which was tactfully pre-departure government approval for visa-types
conveyed by the Prime Minister. including a visitor’s permit, visa on arrival or an
• T he opportunity given to PM Modi to speak on Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).
digital transformation, technology and environment * F or every territory/country that a passport holder
sustainability is an indication that India is being seen of a particular country/territory is able to access
as a major player in these domains. through these visa-types (without pre-departure
government approval), a value of 1 is attributed
6. Henley Passport Index to it.
• P
repared by Henley and Partners, a London-based * A
value of 0 is attributed to a score when a
global citizenship and residence advisory firm, the passport holder has to seek pre-departure
Henley Passport Index claims to be the “original government approval for visa-types including
ranking of all the world’s passports”. e-visa (visas applied for online and received) and
• T he index gathers data from the International Air visa on arrival. Therefore, the total score becomes
Transport Association (IATA) that manages inter- the sum total for all the values of 1.
airline cooperation globally. • For instance, a passport holder from Singapore and
• T he Henley Passport Index is updated in real time Japan can travel to 189 countries/territories without
according to countries’ visa policy changes. It covers requiring pre-departure government approval.
227 destinations and 199 passports. What assumptions does the index make?
• T he index receives data from the IATA on a fixed day • The index assumes that the passport is valid, belongs
every year that forms the basis of the index. to an adult who is a citizen of the issuing country and
• T his data is supplemented by accounting for that it is not diplomatic, emergency or temporary in
real-time changes in visa policies using publicly nature.
available sources to prepare a visa list, which is a list • I t also assumes that the person travelling is doing
of destinations that a passport can access visa-free, so alone, rather than in tourist groups and meets
through a visa on arrival, e-visa or with a traditional all the basic requirements for entry such as hotel
visa. reservations.
• T he strength of a passport is defined as the countries • F urthermore, the traveller is assumed to be arriving
to which holders are eligible to travel without a visa. and departing from the same airport and is seeking
This implies that passport holders can obtain a visa a short stay (between three days-several months) for
on arrival, an electronic travel authority, or a visitor’s business and tourist purposes only.
permit when entering the destination country.
What does this mean for Indian passport holders?
Context India’s latest ranking
• India has a score of 58. That is the number of
• According to the Henley Passport Index 2019, the destinations an Indian passport holder can travel to
strength of the Indian passport has weakened today, without pre-departure government approval.
considerably in the last decade.
• T hat is the same as a citizen of any country, on an
• I ndia slipped nine places on the list, from 77 in 2010 to average, could travel to 13 years ago.
86 in 2019 down five places from 81 in 2018.
Significance
• I n the last decade, only eight nations granted visa-
free-access to Indian nationals. • Passport rankings point towards the strength of
diplomatic relations between countries.
• I ndia ranks below other BRICS countries, with which
are at a similar stage in their economic development.

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7. India- Bahrain relations Strategic Relationship

Context • Bahrain has always advocated India to play a major
role in International Affairs and has also supported
• PM Modi is the first Indian PM to visit Bahrain. This was
India’s candidature for UNSC Permanent seat.
the third leg of his three-nation tour
Details
• India and Bahrain agreed to collaborate in the areas of
space technology, solar energy and culture exchange
• T he Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and
Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency agreed to
collaborate in the area of space technology.
• T he two sides agreed on cooperation of the Kingdom
with the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
* The ISA, launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Modi
and then French President Francois Hollande at
the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, is
a major global initiative for contributing to the
implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement
Introduction through rapid and massive deployment of solar
• India and Bahrain have enjoyed outstanding, worthy energy.
relationship since Ancient times. Shri Krishna Temple in Bahrain
• O
ur Exchanges dates back to that of Indus valley • PM Modi launched the renovation of 200-year-old
Civilization in India and Dilmun (Telmun) Civilization Sree Krishna temple in Bahrain
in Bahrain.
• T he temple is estimated to have been established
* Dilmun is associated with ancient sites on the around 1817 and was built by Thathai Bhatia Hindu
islands of Bahrain community
• Traders from Bahrain exchanged goods like the • I t is considered to be the first and the oldest temple in
Bahraini pearls with Indian spices. the Gulf countries
Diaspora Relationship The King Hamad Order of the Renaissance
• India and Bahrain have had economic and trade • P
rime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred
relations for over several centuries; these relations The King Hamad Order of the Renaissance by King of
received fresh impetus from the oil boom of the early Bahrain
seventies.
• W
hile receiving the award Modi said: “I feel very
* Presence of nearly 350,000 Indian nationals who honoured and fortunate to be awarded The King
are an important anchor of our bilateral relations Hamad Order of the Renaissance. I am equally
with Bahrain. honoured by your majesty’’s friendship for me and for
• The Indian expatriate community enjoys great my country. I humbly accept this prestigious honour
goodwill from the Bahraini authorities and the on behalf of 1.3 billion Indians”.
employers alike.
8. Manasarovar
* It is no secret that Indians are preferred over
Context:
other expatriates from the subcontinent.
• The Chinese government has taken initiatives to
* T he main reasons for this include the trust factor,
improve the material comforts of the pilgrims
strong work ethics and the “apolitical” orientation
undertaking trek to the high altitude Kailash
of Indian expatriates.
Manasarovar.
Economic Relationship
Kailash Manas Sarovar Yatra:
• India’s main items of exports to Bahrain are mineral
• Lake Manasarovar or Mapam Yumtso is one of the
fuels, mineral oils, inorganic chemicals, organic or
highest body of freshwater lake in the world.
inorganic compounds of precious metals of rare
earth, Elam/radii/isotopes, cereals, nuts, fruits, articles • It is fed by the Kailash Glacier.
of apparel and clothing accessories etc., while • I t is present near Mount Kailash in Tibet Autonomous
• M
ain Items of import from Bahrain are crude oils, Region.
mineral fuels, their bituminous substance, distillation, • T he Manasarovar Lake is revered a sacred place in four
aluminum, fertilizers, ores/slags/ ashes of aluminum, religions: Bön, Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.
iron and copper, pulp, salt, printed books, newspapers
etc.

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AUGUST-2019 46

• L ake Manasarovar has long been viewed by the RuPay Card

pilgrims as being nearby to the sources of four great
• The RuPay Card was launched in Bhutan by making a
rivers of Asia, namely the Brahmaputra, Ghaghara,
transaction at Simtokha Dzong, which functions as a
Sindhu and Sutlej.
monastic and administrative centre.
• Pilgrimage tours are organized regularly from India.
• T his will further enhance our relationship in digital
Details: payments, trade and tourism.
• The Yatra involves trekking at high altitudes of up to Ground Earth Station and SATCOM network
19,500 feet, under inhospitable conditions, including
• Modi and Tshering also jointly inaugurated the
extreme weather, and rugged terrain, and may prove
Ground Earth Station and SATCOM network,
hazardous for those who are not physically and
developed with assistance from Isro for utilization of
medically fit.
South Asia Satellite in Bhutan
• T he yatris (piligrims) travel four to five days to get to
• T he network was being used for broadcast
the Pass. If conditions are improved, their journey
applications on a 24×7 basis as well as for meeting the
could be made less exhausting.
social and administrative requirements of Bhutan
• T he Yatra is organized with the support of the state
India should not take the relationship with Bhutan for
governments of Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Sikkim; and
granted
the cooperation of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
• In the past few years, ties came under a strain over
9. Narendra Modi’s Bhutan visit India’s sudden change in its power purchasing policy,
Context rigid rates and refusal to allow Bhutan to join the
national power grid and trade with third countries like
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bhutan, which is Bangladesh. These issues are being addressed now.
a bid to diversify India’s partnership with the kingdom
from the hydro-power sector to enhanced trade and • A
nother concern that could create differences is over
linkages in space and education. Bhutan’s worry that too much trade, transport and
tourism from India could put its environment at risk.
Background
* India’s plans for a Motor Vehicles Agreement
• The relationship between India and Bhutan is (MVA) in the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal
built on traditional closeness, one that is unique in grouping have been held up, and a Bhutanese
today’s world. Open borders, close alignment and proposal to levy entry charges on Indian tourists
consultation on foreign policy, and regular, open could cause differences with India.
communications on all strategic issues are the
hallmark of the relationship that has maintained its • E arlier generations of Bhutanese students never
consistency for the past many decades. looked beyond India, but in recent years young
Bhutanese have shown a preference for education
• Bhutan’s unequivocal support to India on strategic destinations in Australia, Singapore and Thailand.
issues has meant a lot to India on the international
stage and at the United Nations. Conclusion

• O
n the security front Bhutan has helped India in 2003 • There is thus much to repair in the ties. More
to drive out ULFA rebels or support for India’s stand importantly, India will have to remain alert to strategic
against Chinese troops on the Doklam plateau. powers which are courting Bhutan assiduously, as is
evident from the high-level visits from China and the
• I ndia’s assistance to Bhutan’s planned economy, to U.S.
constructing its highest revenue earner of hydropower
generated electricity, and then buying the electricity • I n a world of growing options, it remains in India’s and
generated has also ensured a symbiotic and mutually Bhutan’s best interests to make each other’s concerns
beneficial base to the relationship, which has been a top priority.
nurtured by the leaders in both countries, in a manner
10. ‘Order of Zayed’
Mr. Modi called “exemplary”.
Context
A new blueprint for cooperation
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with the
• The two countries inked 10 MoUs in the fields of space
‘Order of Zayed’, the UAE’s highest civilian award
research, aviation, IT, power and education to infuse
new energy in their ties. Details
• T he Prime Minister invited more students to visit India • The award in the name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
for studies in traditional areas such as Buddhism and Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE
newer areas like space research

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AUGUST-2019 47

* It acquires special significance as it was awarded • A

fter France exited Vietnam in 1954, the S. backed
to Prime Minister Modi in the year of the birth South Vietnam against the communist-led North.
centenary of Sheikh Zayed
• I nitially, the U.S. involvement was limited to advisory
• It has been awarded as a mark of appreciation for his roles but later it was steadily escalated.
efforts to boost bilateral ties between the two nations.
• A
t its peak, in 1968, American troop deployment in
* It underlines the new good will, trust and Vietnam reached 549,500 personnel.
personal intimacy between PM Modi and the
• However, by the late 1960s, it became evident to
UAE leadership.
American leaders that they could not win the Vietnam
• The award has earlier been bestowed on several world War.
leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin,
* By then, the American public opinion also had
Queen Elizabeth II and Chinese President Xi Jinping. largely turned against the war.
11. President of India in Guinea * B
esides, the South Vietnamese regime that the
Context: U.S. had supported was unpopular, oppressive
and weak at the same time
• The President Mr. Ramnath Kovind was on a visit to
Benin, Gambia and Guinea. • President Richard Nixon assigned Henry Kissinger,
the National Security Adviser, to hold talks with the
• O
n 1st August, he reached landed in Conakry, Guinea, communist North Vietnam, seeking ‘peace with
becoming the first Indian Head of State to visit the honour’.
West African country.
• T he goal was not to defeat North Vietnam but to stop
Details: them from taking over the South.
• President Kovind met the President of Guinea, Prof • N
ixon started by reducing U.S. troop presence
Alpha Conde. in Vietnam and shifting the focus from direct
• B
oth sides reaffirmed their commitment to reformed participation in land war to training and advisory
multilateralism and for comprehensive reforms of the roles.
UN Security Council to make it more representative, • W
hen talks were deadlocked, the U.S. offered to pull
accountable, transparent, inclusive and effective. out of the South as a compromise.
• P
resident Conde conveyed support for India’s • I n 1973, the U.S., North Vietnam and representatives
candidacy as non-permanent member of the UN of South Vietnam and Viet Cong, the communist
Security Council for the term 2021 – 2022. guerillas from the South, signed the Paris Peace
• MoUs were signed on: Accords.
* cooperation in the field of traditional system • T he North and the South agreed to a ceasefire and
of medicine and homeopathy (between both continue holding peace talks, while the S. agreed
governments) topull troops out of Vietnam
* f or Participation in the e-VBAB Network Afghanistan’s Similarities with Vietnam:
Project (between the Govt. of Guinea and • The U.S. went into Afghanistan after the September
Telecommunications Consultants India Limited) 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, launching its war on terror.
* o
n cooperation in the field of renewable energy • A
t the peak of the war here, there were over 1, 00,000
(between both governments) troops.
• P
resident Ram Nath Kovind has also been conferred • D
espite the massive deployment of troops and
with the National Order of Merit, the highest award of superior air power, the U.S. got stuck in the war and
Guinea, failed to stabilize the country.

12. Pulling a Vietnam in Afghanistan • A

fter 18 years of fighting, the U.S. has realized that it
cannot win the Afghan war.
Context:
• T he American goal is no longer defeating the Taliban
• There are striking similarities between the U.S’ attempt but to stop them from taking over Kabul.
at an exit from the war in Afghanistan and earlier in
Vietnam. • T he role of veteran diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad is
comparable to that of Henry Kissinger.
Vietnam War:
• J ust as Nixon wanted to get out of Vietnam, President
• The U.S.’s involvement in Vietnam goes back to the last Donald Trump too wants to get out of Afghanistan.
years of French colonial rule.
• H
ere also, the U.S. is negotiating from a position of
• T he U.S. first backed France against the Viet Minh weakness.
guerrillas.

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AUGUST-2019 48

• America’s allies in Afghanistan stand divided: • A

new and an Independent domain was formally
* T he government in Kabul, which the U.S. backs, launched by United States (US) President Donald
is known for infighting and chronic corruption. Trump called the Space Command

* T he security forces are struggling to ensure basic Details

security to the public, even in the capital city. • Currently it is the Air Force which focuses on space
• U.S. President Barack Obama had started pulling out warfare, the new command will be developing
most troops and moving the remainder to training specialised systems and preparation modules.
and advisory roles. • T his is because the US military chiefs see China and
* The Afghan war is also unpopular in America. Russia making advancements in the military final
frontier
* T rump campaigned to wind down America’s
foreign interventions. * C
hina has illustrated it can target satellites with
missiles
Challenges:
* R
ussia has stated that it aims to create space-
• Taliban: based laser weaponry.
* Taliban remains offensive despite multiple • T herefore the SPACECOM will focus on defending
rounds of talks with the U.S representatives in American interests in space, such as the hundreds of
Doha, Qatar.
satellites used for communication and surveillance.
* T he main demand of the Afghan insurgents is a
complete U.S. troop withdrawal. 14. U.S. to open Greenland consulate
* T he U.S. has already made a big compromise Context
in its rush for an exit deal by agreeing with the • The Trump administration is planning to open a U.S.
Taliban demand that the Afghan government consulate in Greenland for the first time in decades
should be kept away from the peace process.
• P
resident Donald Trump sparked a diplomatic dispute
* F urther, U.S. continued to hold talks even in the with Denmark after he proposed that the U.S. buy
absence of a ceasefire. Greenland and the Danish government rejected the
• Apprehension about Afghanistan’s fate after the idea
complete withdrawal of U.S. Details
* Taliban is an anti-modern, anti-woman, anti- • Greenland which is part of Denmark is the world’s
minority fundamentalist machine, whose earlier largest island which is placed between the Atlantic
regime was notorious for excessive sectarian and Arctic oceans.
violence.
• G
reenland’s economy depends of fisheries and
* I n Vietnam, the peace did not last long. In the two related industries, as well as annual subsidies provided
years after the U.S. pulled out, the communists from Denmark, which handles its foreign affairs and
captured Saigon and the government crumbled. defence matters.
Solution: * Greenland’s 56,000 residents are mainly
• According to recent reports, the U.S. and the Taliban Inuits, the aboriginal People, the indigenous
have agreed to a road map for peace. Community Who are concentrated on the West
Coast in small towns and hamlets or remote
• T he deal envisages the US.’s withdrawal in return for coastal settlements where life revolves around
the Taliban’s assurance that Afghanistan would not be fishing and the hunting of seals and whales.
used by terrorists.
Economic Importance
Conclusion:
• Due to global warming, it is believed that oil and other
• The Taliban is part of the problem, not a solution. mineral wealth could become more accessible in the
• U
S needs to be more cautious before yielding to the Arctic — and Greenland.
Taliban’s demands. • T he island, whose capital Nuuk is closer to New York
than the Danish capital Copenhagen, boasts mineral,
13. SpaceCom (U.S. launches command for space
oil and natural gas wealth.
warfare)
• G
reenland harbours some of the largest deposits
Context of rare-earth metals, including neodymium,
• There are various domains of warfare like land, air, sea, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium, along with
and cyber which are vital war-fighting spheres uranium and the byproducts of zinc.

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AUGUST-2019 49

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AUGUST-2019 50

Examples from the past Impact on Pakistan

• Thomas Jefferson secured Louisiana from the French • But more than anyone else, it is Pakistan itself that will
in 1803. suffer. The last time it shut its airspace, the Pakistani
Civil Aviation Authority took a blow of almost $50
• P
resident Andrew Johnson bought Alaska from Russia
million in revenue.
in 1867
* This is a sum that Pakistan can hardly afford,
• P
resident Woodrow Wilson’s administration
given the precarious state of its economy.
purchased Virgin Islands in 1917 for $25 million from
Denmark — then known as the Danish West Indies • Its fiscal deficit was 8.9% of gross domestic product
in June 2019, compared with 6.6% a year earlier. The
15. What will happen if Pakistan closes its airspace to deficit is now at its highest in nearly three decades,
India? the report said.
Context • T he International Monetary Fund’s first quarterly
review of a bailout programme for Pakistan is looming.
• After opening its airspace to all civilian traffic, Pakistan Pakistan must increase government revenue by more
has threatened to close it again to flights taking than 40% in the fiscal year that beginning in July
off from India, apparently to punish New Delhi for 2019, as part of the conditions for the $6 billion loan.
removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The loan from the IMF could be in jeopardy if the
• P
akistan had closed its airspace on February 26 after government continues to miss its revenue targets.
Indian Air Force war jets hit a terrorist camp in Balakot, • I n this situation, voluntarily taking a hit by closing its
and opened up to all civilian aircraft only on July 16.
airspace to India makes very little sense.
Impact on India
16. Yemen Crisis
• Longer flights: Flight times for aircraft to and from
India that normally use Pakistani airspace for transit Yemeni Revolution
are likely to increase by at least 70-80 minutes on • he Yemeni Uprising (intifada), and also known as the
average. Yemeni Revolution of Dignity followed the initial
* If Pakistan were to shut down its airspace again, stages of the Tunisian Revolution and occurred
westbound flights taking off from airports in simultaneously with the Egyptian Revolution of 2011
northern India, such as Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, and other Arab Spring protests
Chandigarh, and Amritsar, will be worst affected. • I n its early phase, protests in Yemen were initially
* T hese flights will have to fly south towards against unemployment, economic conditions and
Gujarat or Maharashtra, and then turn right over corruption, as well as against the government’s
the Arabian Sea on their way to destinations in proposals to modify Yemen’s constitution.
Europe, North America, or West Asia. • T he protesters’ demands then escalated to calls for the
• Refueling, cancellations: The last time, Air India’s non- resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
stop flights from Delhi to Chicago had a planned • S aleh signed a power-transfer agreement brokered
stoppage in Europe for refuelling. IndiGo’s flight from by the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh where
Delhi to Istanbul, which is the first non-stop flight on Vice President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi took over as
this route by an Indian carrier, was forced to make a president after Presidential elections in 2012.
refuelling stop at Doha.
* President Hadi struggled to deal with a variety
* SpiceJet, which was the only Indian airline flying of problems, the continuing loyalty of many
the Delhi-Kabul route, had cancelled the flight. military officers to Mr Saleh, as well as corruption,
• Losses for airlines, costlier tickets unemployment and food insecurity.
* Indian carriers will suffer losses as flight times • There was continuous threats both from Al-Qaeda in
increase and more fuel is burnt. The last time the Arabian Peninsula and Houthi militants.
around, Indian carriers lost a total of around Rs Houthis
700 crore due to the Pakistani action. The largest
chunk of losses was suffered by flag carrier Air • The Houthis are members of a rebel group, also
India. known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), who adhere
to a branch of Shia Islam known as Zaidism.
* F or passengers, tickets could get more expensive,
as airlines will look to pass on at least some of the • Z
aidis make up one-third of the population and ruled
increased costs to fliers. North Yemen under a system known as the imamate
for almost 1,000 years until 1962.
• T he Houthis take their name from Hussein Badr al-Din
al-Houthi.

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AUGUST-2019 51

* He led the group’s first uprising in 2004 in • After four years of war, the Saudis have not met their
an effort to win greater autonomy for their declared goal — pushing back the Shia Houthi rebels
heartland of Saada province, and also to protect from the capital Sana’a and restoring the ousted
Zaidi religious and cultural traditions from government
perceived encroachment by Sunni Islamists. • O
n the contrary, the war has pushed Yemen into what
• I n 2011, the Houthis joined the protests against then the UN calls the worst humanitarian crisis.
President Saleh and took advantage of the power • T housands have been killed, tens of thousands
vacuum to expand their territorial control in Saada displaced and about two thirds of the country’s 28
and neighboring Amran province. million people do not have enough to eat. And now,
• I n 2014, Houthi fighters swept into the capital of there is a rebellion within the coalition.
Sana’a Southern Transitional Council (STC)
• T he 2015 Houthis declared themselves in control • It is a secessionist organization in Yemen.
of the government, dissolving Parliament and
installing an interim Revolutionary Committee led by • It was formed by a faction of the Southern Movement
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a cousin of Houthi leader * The Southern Movement also known as the
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. Southern Separatist Movement, or South Yemen
Saudi Arabian war in Yemen Movement, and colloquially known as al-Hirak
• Saudi Arabia started the attack in March 2015 after • The Southern Movement was established in 2007,
Shia Houthi rebels captured parts of Yemen, including during the term of former president Ali Abdullah
the capital city Sana’a. Saleh, and it has called for and worked toward the
separation of southern Yemen from the rest of the
• R
iyadh saw the Houthis as Iranian proxies and nation (as it previously was until 1990).
was worried they would establish stable rule in its
backyard. A triangular War unfolding in Yemen
• F or the sake of legitimacy, the Saudis claimed they • The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a militia
were fighting on behalf of the globally recognised group that was fighting the Houthis as part of the
government of Yemen, led by President Abdrabbuh Saudi-led coalition, turned against their masters and
Mansour Hadi who is reported to be residing in captured the presidential palace in Aden as well as the
Riyadh. city’s main port.
• B
ut the war has reached a bloody stalemate as the • I n return, Saudi jets targeted STC fighters before a
Houthis still remain powerful in northern Yemen tenuous ceasefire set in.
and the government controls the southern parts, * The Shia Houthis, who the Saudis claim are
including Aden. backed by Iran, are controlling much of the
Grave violations of Human Rights country’s north including Sana’a.
The Saudi-led coalition’s intervention in Yemen is proof
of how things can go wrong with an ill-conceived, poorly
strategized and geopolitics-driven military interference
that cares little about human lives.

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AUGUST-2019 52

* Y
emen’s internationally-backed government * T he UAE has already pulled out of the Yemen war
of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the Saudi ally, is leaving it to Saudi Arabia to defeat the Houthis.
controlling the south, though Mr. Hadi is running * A
nd with their continued backing to the STC, the
the purported administration from Saudi Arabia. Emiratis appear less concerned about defeating
* T he STC wants the south to be an independent the Houthis than maintaining their influence in
entity, like it was till the Yemeni unification in southern Yemen.
1990. Way forward
Differences of opinion in the mode of Operation between • This should be a moment of reckoning for Mohammed
Saudi and UAE bin Salman, the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and the
• In the past the Saudi and UAE stayed together in main architect of the Yemen intervention. He has lost
propping up the military dictatorship of Abdel Fattah the war and his coalition is crumbling, while Yemen is
el-Sisi in Egypt, in countering the spread and influence left with unimaginable human suffering.
of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Arab world, in • I f Saudi Arabia has geopolitical concerns about Iran’s
opposing the Iran nuclear deal and on blockading growing influence, it should address them directly
Qatar. with Tehran, not by punishing the people of Yemen.
• B
ut when it comes to Yemen, the Saudis see the Hadi • I t is time for a nationwide ceasefire and talks with all
government and Sunni Islamic parties, including the stakeholders under the mediation of a willing UN to
Islah, as allies who could stabilise and rebuild the
whole country after the Houthis are defeated, while find a political settlement to the crisis.

• U
AE, already frustrated by the coalition’s failure to
defeat the rebels, counts on the STC and is staunchly
opposed to the Islah party, which has ties to the
Brotherhood.

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AUGUST-2019 53

SOCIAL ISSUES
1. Anti-Lynching Laws • F or the offence of an assault by mob, leading to the
victim suffering grievous hurts, the Bill provides for jail
Rajasthan Protection from Lynching Bill, 2019
terms up to 10 years and a fine of ₹25,000 to ₹3 lakh.
Context
• For hatching a conspiracy of lynching or aiding,
• ‘The Rajasthan Protection from Lynching Bill, 2019’ abetting or attempting such an offence, the Bill seeks
was passed by the Vidhan Sabha by a voice vote to punish the offenders in the same manner as if he
What was the need? actually committed the offence of lynching.

• After 2014, 86% cases of mob lynching reported in the West Bengal (Prevention of Lynching) Bill, 2019
country happened in Rajasthan Context
• T he Indian Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure • A
s per the Supreme Court direction to take action
Code have provisions to deal with the cases of mob against lynching, West Bengal Assembly passed a Bill
lynching incidents but they are not adequate. to prevent and punish mob assaults and lynching.
• I t will prevent spreading of hatred or incitement to Definition
mob lynching by creating special offences against
• It defines lynching as any attempt or act of violence
such acts.
by a mob on the “grounds of religion, race, caste, sex,
Definition of a mob place of birth, language, dietary practices, sexual
• The Bill defines the mob as a group of two or more orientation, political affiliation, ethnicity, or any other
individuals. ground”.

• I t also defines lynching as “an act or series of acts of Details

violence or those of aiding, abetting or attempting an • T he legislation prescribes the appointment of a Nodal
act of violence, whether spontaneous or preplanned, Officer for periodic assessment of local intelligence
by a mob on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, inputs on potential flashpoints
place of birth, language, dietary practices, sexual
• I t mandates that lynching incidents be investigated
orientation, political affiliation or ethnicity”.
by an officer not below the rank of an inspector.
Key features
• I t also calls for witness protection and compensation
• The Bill also empowers the State police chief to for victims, adding that any allegation of threat,
appoint a state coordinator of the rank of Inspector coercion or inducement of witnesses must be brought
General of Police to prevent the incidents of lynching to the notice of a court within 24 hours.
in the State with the district Superintendents of Police
Penal Provisions
acting as the district’s coordinator, to be assisted
by a Deputy Superintendents of Police, for taking • The legislation pitches for a jail term, which may vary
measures to prevent incidents of mob violence and from three years to life for those involved in assaulting
lynching. and injuring a victim.
• T he Bill also enlists various other offences related to the • T hose found guilty of assisting or interfering with the
lynching such as dissemination of offensive materials, accused will be punished with imprisonment of up to
propagation of hostile environment and obstructing three years and fined a maximum Rs 1 lakh.
legal processes, which would be punishable with jail • I n case of death of the victim, persons responsible
terms varying from three to five years. for the incident would be punished with rigorous life
• T he Bill also stipulates the provision of compensation imprisonment and fine up to Rs 5 lakh
to victims by the State government as per the Fight against hate crime and Lynching
Rajasthan Victim Compensation Scheme.
Introduction
• I t also binds the State government to take necessary
measures to rehabilitate the victims of mob lynching, • The USA Senate has passed Justice for Victims of
suffering displacements from their native places. Lynching Act in 2018
Penal Provisions * It took the United States Senate 100 years to
approve a bill to make lynching a federal crime.
• In cases of the victims suffering simple injuries, the Bill
proposes imprisonment up to seven years and a fine
up to ₹1 lakh.

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AUGUST-2019 54

• It would classify lynching–defined as bodily injury * It is significant to remember that the first anti-
on the basis of perceived race, color, religion or, lynching legislation proposed as far back as in
nationality–a federal hate crime in the United States. 1918 in the U.S. targeted state officials for failing
to provide equal protection under the laws to
• T he U.S. bill describes lynching as “the ultimate
anyone victimised by a mob.
expression of racism in the United States”.
Recommendations by UPLC
When will the Indian Parliament here recognise, similarly,
that lynching is “a bias-motivated act of terror” and “the • Both the Manipur law and UPLC recommendations
ultimate expression of communal hatred in India”? also lay down elaborate duties of police officials in the
event of lynching.
Lynching is an act of creating fear in the minds of a
community * These include taking all reasonable steps
to prevent any act of lynching including its
• The number of lynch murders in the U.S. mentioned
incitement and commission;
in the bill averages around 55 annually, but despite
these small numbers, these performative acts of * t o that end making all possible efforts to identify
violence succeeded in instilling intense fear among all instances of dissemination of offensive material
African-Americans for decades. or any other means employed in order to incite
or promote lynching of a particular person or
* Therefore the hate lynching is designed as an act
group of persons; and
to terrorize an entire community
* M
aking all possible efforts to prevent the
• The same purpose is being served by lynching in
creation of a hostile environment against a
India; again performative acts of hate violence, but
person or group of persons.
now using modern technology, video-graphing
of mob lynching, widely circulating these images • B
oth sensitively and expansively lay down official
through social media, and celebrating these as acts of duties to protect victims and witnesses.
nationalist valour. * They state that a victim shall have the right
* These have similarly instilled a persistent sense of to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of
everyday normalised fear in the hearts of every any court proceeding and shall be entitled to
Indian from the targeted minority community. be heard at any proceeding in respect of bail,
discharge, release, parole, conviction or sentence
* It is this which indeed makes lynching an
of an accused, and to file written submissions on
ultimate act of terror.
conviction, acquittal or sentencing.
Some noteworthy initiatives in Lawmaking
* They also explicitly require the Superintendent
• The Uttar Pradesh Law Commission (UPLC) took the of Police to inform the victim in writing of the
initiative to recommend a draft anti-lynching law. It progress in the investigation.
commends a law which closely follows in almost every
* T he victim shall have the right to receive a
major detail the first law against lynching passed in
copy of any statement of the witness recorded
this country, a remarkable ordinance introduced by
during investigation or inquiry and a copy of all
the Manipur government
statements and documents.
• B
oth the Manipur statute and the UPLC draft create
• Where the UPLC goes further than the Manipur
a new crime of Dereliction of duty by police officials,
statute is in laying down the right to compensation.
holding a police officer guilty of this crime if he or she
“omits to exercise lawful authority vested in them * It places the duty squarely on the Chief Secretary
under law, without reasonable cause, and thereby to provide compensation to victims of lynching
fails to prevent lynching”. within 30 days of the incident.
* Dereliction also includes the failure to provide * I t states that while computing compensation,
protection to a victim of lynching; failure to the State government must give due regard to
act upon apprehended lynching; and refusing bodily, psychological and material injuries and
to record any information relating to the loss of earnings, including loss of opportunity of
commission of lynching. This crime carries the employment and education, expenses incurred
penalty of one to three years and a fine. on account of legal and medical assistance.
* T he UPLC goes further to include also a new crime * I t also lays down a floor of ₹25 lakh in case
of dereliction of duty by District Magistrates. lynching causes death
• A
noteworthy observation in the text of the United
2. Campaign Angikaar & E-Course on Vulnerability Atlas
States bill is that it records that at least 4,742 people
were lynched in the U.S. between 1882 and 1968, but Context
99% of all perpetrators remain unpunished. • Minister of State (I/C) for Housing and Urban
Affairs launched “angikaar” a campaign for change
management and e-Course on Vulnerability Atlas of
India.

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AUGUST-2019 55

About the campaign Angikaar • T he e-course will be a tool for effective & efficient
disaster mitigation & management in the field of
• Angikaar has been launched for social behaviour
Architecture, Civil Engineering, Urban & Regional
change, focusing on issues such as water & energy
Planning, Housing & Infrastructure Planning,
conservation, waste management, health, tree
Construction Engineering & Management and
plantation, sanitation and hygiene for beneficiaries of
completed houses under PMAY (U) Building & Materials Research.
• T his will be done through community mobilisation 3. Child Well-Being Index
and IEC activities. For this purpose, the campaign
Context:
will converge with schemes and Missions of other
Ministries dealing with these subjects. • Child well-being index, a tool designed to measure
and track children’s well-being comprehensively has
• T he convergence would especially focus on Ujjwala
for gas connection and Ayushman Bharat for health been released.
insurance to the beneficiaries of PMAY (U). Details:
E-course on Vulnerability Atlas • The report released by the non-government
• The e-course on Vulnerability Atlas is offered by the organisation World Vision India and research institute
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs in collaboration IFMR LEAD.
of School of Planning & Architecture (SPA), New Delhi • T he report is an attempt to look at how India fairs on
and Building Materials & Technology Promotion child well-being using a composite child well-being
Council (BMTPC). index.
• I t is a unique course that offers awareness and • T he India child well-being index is a crucial report
understanding about natural hazards, helps identify that can be mined both by the Government and civil
regions with high vulnerability with respect to various organisations to achieve the goal of child well-being
hazards (earthquakes, cyclones, landslides, floods, and we will use this report effectively.
etc.) and specifies district-wise level of damage risks
to the existing housing stock.

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AUGUST-2019 56

• T his report provides insights on health, nutrition, 4. Finding the data on missing girls
education, sanitation and child protection. Stats on Female feticide and Sex ratio at Birth
• T he dimensions of the index include healthy individual • Female Feticide continues to increase at an alarming
development, positive relationships and protective rate, as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) data
contexts. released in July 2019 for the period 2015-2017.
• F ocusing on the three key dimensions, 24 indicators * Female feticide is undergoing abortion after
were selected to develop the computation of the finding out that the sex of the fetus is a Girl
child well-being index.
• The Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) has been dropping
• The report highlights the multi-dimensional approach continuously since Census 2011, coming down from
towards measuring child well-being — going beyond 909 girls per thousand boys in 2011-2013 to 896
mere income poverty. girls in 2015-2017, to quote the yearly SRS Statistical
Significance of the report: Reports.
• The report is important considering that 40 per cent of • I n the 2014-2016 period, of the 21 large States, only
the country’s population is made of children between two — Kerala and Chhattisgarh — had an SRB of
the ages of 1 and 18. above 950 girls per 1000 boys.
• The report, calls for States to look at their respective • T hus at present, about 5% of girls are ‘eliminated’
scores on the dimensions of child well-being, and to before they are born, despite the promises of the Beti
prepare for priority areas of intervention with specific Bachao Beti Padhao scheme.
plans of action. Health Management Information System (HMIS)
• I t also hopes to trigger policy level changes, seek HMIS is an online portal that provides information on
better budgetary allocations and initiate discussions health indicators in India. HMIS compiles data from state-
with all stakeholders, which can help in enhancing the and district-level health authorities, the National Family
quality of life of all children in the country. Health Survey (NFHS), the District Level Household Survey
• O
ne of the primary objectives of this index is to garner (DLHS), and the Office of the Registrar General & Census
attention to the under-researched theme of child Commissioner, among other sources.
well-being in India, and inspire further academic and • It is a fundamentally flawed source that largely
policy conversations on related issues. considers home deliveries and births in government
Performance of the states: institutions.
• Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry • D
ata from the HMIS are incomplete and not
topped the charts in the child well-being index. representative of the country as a whole as births
happening in private institutions are under-reported.
• M
eghalaya, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh featured
at the bottom. • T he HMIS report itself acknowledges that based on the
estimated number of births, the number of reported
• A
mong the Union Territories, Puducherry led the way
births is much less in both the years considered —
and Dadra and Nagar Haveli featured at the other end.
2015-16 and 2018-19.
• K
erala bagged the top spot due to its exceptional
* The differences among the three points of
performance in health, nutrition and education
delivery become evident when SRB is calculated
facilities.
using data from National Family Health Survey-4
• K
erala also performed better in addressing (NFHS-4).
malnutrition and ensuring child survival and access
* O
f the 2.5 lakh reported births in the 2010-
to a healthy environment in terms of clean drinking
2014 period, the distribution of births at home,
water and sanitation facilities.
government hospitals and private hospitals
Way forward: was 21%, 52% and 27% respectively and the
• Children have the potential to transform the country, corresponding SRB figures were 969, 930 and
but if neglected, they will exacerbate the burden 851.
of poverty and inequality. It is imperative that all * T hus, private hospitals had a disproportionate
stakeholders prioritise and invest in the well-being excess of male children births, which the HMIS
of children. The research has brought to the fore sample excludes.
compelling insights on child well-being in India. Some
Emphasis should have been on SRS over HMIS
of the key indicators that need to be studied in the
future include mobile usage, digital access, financial • Taking into consideration the SRS estimates, the Niti
literacy, mental health and quality of relationships per Aayog acknowledged the seriousness of the problem
se, between parents/peers and children. in its latest report.

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AUGUST-2019 57

* I t is to be noted here that sources in the Niti • T he Indian Medical Association (IMA) has to ensure
Aayog confirmed that they did consider HMIS that private hospitals don’t profit from discrimination
data but found after statistical examination that against girls before birth.
it was unreliable and therefore used SRS.
5. Honor Killing
• However, despite all the officially acknowledged facts,
Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani Abduction and murder of Kevin Joseph
claimed in the Lok Sabha that SRB has improved from • H
onour killing is defined as the killing of a relative,
923 to 931 girls. She was quoting data from the HMIS especially a girl or woman, who is perceived to have
A look at performance of Zones brought dishonour on the family.
• Further, even when we only consider institutional * I t is the murder of a woman or girl by male family
deliveries in government hospitals, the SRB is falling. members.
• T he worst regional SRB for government sector was for • The term ‘honour killing’ is also being used widely to
Northern India (885 girls per thousand boys). describe the class of murders that family members
commit while seeking to impose on young couples
• T he picture was somewhat better for Central India
their medieval view that all marriages should be
(926) Southern India (940) while the performance of
within their community.
Eastern India (965) and Western India (959) was even
better. Existing Laws
• I n the Northeast, where the government is the Existing Penalties under Indian Penal Code:
dominant health-care provider, the government • Sections 299-304: Penalises any person guilty of
sector SRB rivalled that of the private sector (both are murder and culpable homicide not amounting to
900). murder. The punishment for murder is life sentence or
Reasons for continuing menace of Female feticide death and fine. The punishment for culpable homicide
not amounting to murder is life imprisonment or
• Massive expansion of ultrasound clinics in remote
imprisonment for upto 10 years and fine.
corners in bigger states like Utter Pradesh and Bihar
• S ection 307: Penalises attempt to murder with
• A
bsence of a stringent implementation of the Pre-
imprisonment for upto 10 years and a fine. If a person
Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques
is hurt, the penalty can extend to life imprisonment.
(Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act (PCPNDT Act),
practically anyone who wants to determine the sex of • S ection 308: Penalises attempt to commit culpable
the foetus is able to get it done illegally homicide by imprisonment for upto 3 years or with
fine or with both. If it causes hurt, the person shall be
• T herefore, the increased deterrence in States like
imprisoned for upto 7 years or fined or both.
Maharastra, Haryana and Rajasthan in recent years
has been undermined by the laxity of the biggest • S ection 120A and B: Penalises any person who is a
States. party to a criminal conspiracy.
• T he Central Supervisory Board established under the • S ections 107-116: Penalises persons for abetment of
PCPNDT Act has not met for over one-and-a-half years offences including murder and culpable homicide.
but ideally they should have met at least thrice during • S ection 34 and 35: Penalises criminal acts done by
this period. several persons in furtherance of common intention.
• For too long, institutional births have been the goal Supreme Court Judgements
of the government. That data for the private sector
are more skewed has not been articulated in the The Supreme Court, which has been intervening
NFHS reports or adequately dealt with by the Health repeatedly to preserve the freedom of marital choice of
Ministry. individuals, once remarked that there is no ‘honour’ in
‘honour killing’. Various judgments have highlighted the
Conclusion need to come down on such crimes, as well as the social
• The Supreme Court has been continuously reminding structures that keep such a communal outlook alive.
medical associations since 2002 of their obligation • Supreme Court ruling in Lata Singh v. State of U.P.
to follow the law, its latest reminder being the (2006) ordering “stern action” against all those
formidable 92-page judgment against the Federation threatening or carrying out threats against couples.
of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India The Supreme Court reiterated the fact that inter-caste
(FOGSI) in 2019. marriages are not banned as per Hindu Marriage Act
and is in national interest. It is illegal to stop them in
any way.

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AUGUST-2019 58

• I n fact, the apex court, in Bhagwan Dass v. Delhi in Rajasthan Prohibition of Interference with the
May 2011, deemed honor killings in the “rarest of rare” Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances in the Name of
category of crimes that deserve the death penalty. Honour and Tradition Bill, 2019
• I n Armugam Servai vs. State of Tamil Nadu, Supreme Context
Court said that Khaps are illegal and must be rooted / • The Bill was passed in the Rajasthan Assembly to
stamped out. curb incidents of ‘honour killing’ in the State with
• C
hief Justice of India Dipak Misra, speaking against the provision of punishment of death penalty or life
honour killings has said “Two adults are free to marry imprisonment for murdering couples in the name of
and no third party has a right to harass or cause harm family honour.
to them” Stats
Context • In the state of Rajasthan there have been 71 cases of
• The Principal Sessions Court, Kottayam, Kerala, has illegal diktat given by ‘Khap Panchayats’ (caste councils
passed a judgment awarding life imprisonment to 10 which function like kangaroo courts) were registered
men involved in the abduction and murder of Kevin and 10 cases of honour killing occurred in which four
Joseph, a 23-year-old Dalit Christian men and eight women were killed.
Background Provisions of the Bill
• Kevin was abducted by a group led by Shyanu Chacko, • The Bill says, “Whoever causes death of a couple or
the principal accused and brother of Neenu either of them on the basis that marriage of such
couple has dishonored, or brought disrepute to the
• T he court ruled that it was an ‘honour killing’ based
caste, community or family shall be punished with
on Neenu’s testimony that her family was vehemently
death, or with imprisonment for life, which shall mean
against the marriage as Kevin was a Dalit.
imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s
Court’s Judgment natural life, and with fine which may extend to ₹5
• The court rightly chose not to award the death penalty. lakh.”
Instead it handed down two separate life terms, one • A
ccording to the Bill, Sub Divisional Magistrate or
each for kidnapping with intention to threaten the the District Magistrate shall receive any request or
victim with death, and for murder. information from any person or persons seeking
• E ven though there is a Supreme Court judgment protection from any unlawful assembly, or from
allowing trial courts to deem ‘honour killings’ as those any other person who is likely to or who have been
that fall under the ‘rarest of rare cases’ category, the objecting to any lawful marriage.
trial judge chose to take note of the fact that the • I t says no person or group shall assemble at any
accused were young and had no previous criminal time with the view or intention to deliberate on or
background. condemn any marriage, not prohibited by law, on the
Issue Area basis that such marriage has dishonored the caste or
community tradition or brought disrepute to all or
• Discrimination against Dalits is not limited to Hindu any of the persons forming part of the assembly or
communities listed as Scheduled Castes, but extends the family or the people of the locality concerned.
to those who have converted to other religions too.
Punishment
Conclusion
• If the couple or either of them is grievously hurt,
• At a time when caste groups have become politically the punishment will be from 10 years rigorous
organised and caste associations attract the young imprisonment to imprisonment for life and with fine
and the educated, there is a need for a redoubled of maximum ₹3 lakh
effort to eliminate the evils of a stratified society.
• w
hereas the punishment will be three to five years
• In particular, administrators must give full effect to the imprisonment with fine which may extend to ₹2 lakh
various preventive, remedial and punitive measures
in case of simple injuries
recommended by the Supreme Court.
• T he Centre may also examine the need for a 6. National Trust
comprehensive law to curb killings in the name of • The National Trust is a Statutory Body under
honour and prohibit interference in matrimonial Department of Empowerment of Persons with
choice of individuals. Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice &
Empowerment.

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AUGUST-2019 59

• I t is set up under the “National Trust for the Welfare of * Currently, the punishment for aggravated
Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Retardation and penetrative sexual assault is imprisonment
Multiple Disabilities” Act (Act 44 of 1999). between 10 years to life, and a fine.
The National Trust has been set up to discharge two basic • The Bill adds two more grounds to the definition of
duties – legal and welfare. aggravated penetrative sexual assault. These include:
(i) assault resulting in death of child, and (ii) assault
• Legal duties are discharged through Local Level
committed during a natural calamity, or in any similar
Committee (LLC) set up at district level under the
situations of violence.
chairmanship of the District Collector / District
Magistrate and providing legal guardianship. • The Bill increases the minimum punishment from ten
years to 20 years, and the maximum punishment to
• W
elfare duty is discharged through the schemes and
death penalty.
activities.
Aggravated sexual assault:
* The schemes and activities of the National
Trust inter-alia include training, awareness and • Under the Act, “sexual assault” includes actions where
capacity building programmes and shelter, care a person touches the vagina, penis, anus or breast of a
giving and empowerment. child with sexual intent without penetration.
The objectives of the National Trust in particular are: * “Aggravated sexual assault” includes cases
where the offender is a relative of the child, or if
• to enable and empower persons with disability to live
the assault injures the sexual organs of the child,
as independently and as fully as possible within and
among others.
as close to their community as possible;
• The Bill adds two more offences to the definition of
• t o facilitate the realization of equal opportunities,
aggravated sexual assault.
protection of rights and full participation of persons
with disability; * These include: (i) assault committed during a
natural calamity, and (ii) administrating or help
• t o extend support to its registered organisations to
in administering any hormone or any chemical
provide need based services; and
substance, to a child for the purpose of attaining
• T o evolve procedures for appointments of guardians early sexual maturity
and trustees for persons with disabilities. Pornographic purposes:
7. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences • Under the Act, a person is guilty of using a child for
(Amendment) Bill, 2019 pornographic purposes if he uses a child in any form
of media for the purpose of sexual gratification.
Context The Act also penalises persons who use children for
• Parliament approves bill providing death penalty for pornographic purposes resulting in sexual assault.
sexual assault against children. The Bill amends the • T he Bill defines child pornography as any visual
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child
Penetrative sexual assault including photograph, video, digital or computer
generated image indistinguishable from an actual
• Under the Act, a person commits “penetrative sexual
child.
assault” if he: (i) penetrates his penis into the vagina,
mouth, urethra or anus of a child, or (ii) makes a child Concerns
do the same, or (iii) inserts any other object into the • The Bill provides for death penalty for the rape of
child’s body, or (iv) applies his mouth to a child’s minors. The intention of the Bill is to have a deterrent
body parts. The punishment for such offence is effect; but it can be argued that the introduction of
imprisonment between seven years to life, and a fine. the death penalty may backfire in cases of child sexual
• T he Bill increases the minimum punishment from abuse and even have a catastrophic effect.
seven years to ten years. It further adds that if a • O
ften, the perpetrators of abuse are family members
person commits penetrative sexual assault on a child and having such penalty in the statute book may
below the age of 16 years, he will be punishable with discourage the registration of the crime itself.
imprisonment between 20 years to life, with a fine.
• A
lso, it may threaten the life of the minor as the
Aggravated penetrative sexual assault: maximum punishment for murder is also the death
• The Act defines certain actions as “aggravated sentence.
penetrative sexual assault”. These include cases when
a police officer, a member of the armed forces, or a
public servant commits penetrative sexual assault on
a child. It also covers cases where the offender is a
relative of the child, or if the assault injures the sexual
organs of the child or the child becomes pregnant,
among others.

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AUGUST-2019 60

Offence POCSO Act, 2012 2019 Bill

Use of child for pornographic • Maximum 5 years • Minimum 5 years

purposes

Use of child for pornographic • Minimum 10 years • Minimum 10 years (in case of
purposes resulting in penetrative • Maximum life im- child below 16 years 20 years)
sexual assault prisonment • Maximum life imprisonment

Use of child for pornographic • Life imprisonment • Minimum 20 years

purposes resulting in aggravated • Maximum life imprisonment
penetrative sexual assualt or death

Use of child for pornographic pur- • Minimum six years • Minimum Three years
poses resulting in sexual assault • Maximum Eight • Maximum Five year
years

Use of child for pornographic pur- • Minimum Eight • Minimum Five years
poses resutling in aggravated sexual years • Maximum Seven years
assault • Maximum 10 year

8. ‘San-Sadhan’ Hackathon 9. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill,

Context 2019
• The government has called for applications for its Definition of a transgender person
latest initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission, • The Bill defines a transgender person as one whose
called the ‘San-Sadhan’ Hackathon, an initiative to gender does not match the gender assigned at birth.
ease lives of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) by
making toilets smarter, more accessible, and easier to • I t includes trans-men and trans-women, persons with
use. intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with
socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.
• I n this hackathon, the government is looking for smart,
scalable and innovative solutions for economical • I ntersex variations is defined to mean a person who
toilets for individual and community use in rural and at birth shows variation in his or her primary sexual
urban contexts. characteristics, external genitalia, chromosomes, or
hormones from the normative standard of male or
Details female body.
• The initiative is being organized jointly by the Ministry Prohibition against discrimination:
of Jal Shakti and the Department of Empowerment of
Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with Atal The Bill prohibits the discrimination against a transgender
Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Bill & Melinda Gates person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in
Foundation, and 91springboard. relation to:

• T he Hackathon invites researchers, start-ups, student • education

innovators, technology enthusiasts, and industry * Educational institutions funded or recognised by
experts to participate. the relevant government shall provide inclusive
• T his hackathon is a great opportunity to win exciting education, sports and recreational facilities for
prizes and get handholding and mentoring support transgender persons, without discrimination.
by ministry, industry experts and ecosystem enablers.

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AUGUST-2019 61

• employment; The NCT will consist of:

* No government or private entity can discriminate • Union Minister for Social Justice (Chairperson);
against a transgender person in employment • Minister of State for Social Justice (Vice- Chairperson);
matters, including recruitment, and promotion.
• Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice;
* Every establishment is required to designate
a person to be a complaint officer to deal with • O
ne representative from ministries including Health,
complaints in relation to the Act. Home Affairs, and Human Resources Development.
• healthcare; • O
ther members include representatives of the NITI
Aayog, and the National Human Rights Commission.
* The government must take steps to provide
health facilities to transgender persons including • State governments will also be represented.
separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex • T he Council will also consist of five members from the
reassignment surgeries. transgender community and five experts from non-
* T he government shall review medical curriculum governmental organisations.
to address health issues of transgender persons, Impact
and provide comprehensive medical insurance
schemes for them. • The Bill will benefit a large number of transgender
persons, mitigate the stigma, discrimination and
• right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy property; abuse against this marginalized section and bring
* E very transgender person shall have a right to them into the mainstream of society.
reside and be included in his household. • T his will lead to inclusiveness and will make the
* If the immediate family is unable to care for the transgender persons productive members of the
transgender person, the person may be placed society.
in a rehabilitation centre, on the orders of a Concerns
competent court.
• The government has made rules without consulting
• Certificate of identity for a transgender person: the transgender community
* A
transgender person may make an application • I ntersex persons lead a very different life compared to
to the District Magistrate for a certificate of a transgender.
identity, indicating the gender as ‘transgender’.
* An ideal Bill would be different and have
* A revised certificate may be obtained only if the separate provisions for transgender, transsexual
individual undergoes surgery to change their
and intersex persons.
gender either as a male or a female.
• access to, or enjoyment of goods, facilities,
opportunities available to the public;
• right to movement;
• opportunity to hold public or private office;
• A
ccess to a government or private establishment in
whose care or custody a transgender person is.
Offences and penalties:
The Bill recognizes the following offences against
transgender persons:
• forced or bonded labour (excluding compulsory
government service for public purposes),
• denial of use of public places
• Physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic abuse.
Penalties for these offences vary between six months and
two years, and a fine.
National Council for Transgender persons (NCT):
The Council will advise the central government as well as
monitor the impact of policies, legislation and projects
with respect to transgender persons. It will also redress the
grievances of transgender persons.

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AUGUST-2019 62

SALIENT FEATURES COMMUNITY’S RESPONSE

• Definitions do not differentiate between trans- • Community differentiates between transgender, transsexual and
genders, transsexuals, intersex persons and intersex persons and dismisses the ‘one-solution first all’ idea
genderqueer
• Prohibiton against discrimination in education, • Lack of enforceability dilutes provision, Lived experiences rid-
employoment, healthcare, public facilities etc. dled with discrimination
Also prevents forced labour
• Certificate of identity can be obtained at the DM’s • Shuns provision as impinging on their right to self-determina-
office and a revised certificate is to be obtained if tion. Fear it’ll lead to bureaucratic discrimination
sex is changed
• Government welfare measures and provisions of • Step forward but medical community lacks knowledge of trans-
healthcare, including HIV surveillance centres, gender bodies
and sex reassignment surgeries
• Transgender persons may only change their first • Prefer to take Guru’s name since many have severed ties with
name their birth family

• Setting up of a National Council for Transgender • Desire greater representation in decision making that affects
persons (NCT), including various Ministers and them directly
five transgender persons

Challenges faced by the Complainants:

10. Unnao Rape Case
• Sexual assault complainants are most likely
Introduction disbelieved, blamed for what happened to her, and
• A MLA from Uttar Pradesh Kuldeep Singh Sengar, his denigrated and rubbished if she is a Dalit or Adivasi,
brother Atul Singh and their accomplices is alleged to or from a community perceived as marginal.
have gangraped a 17 Year old Girl on the promise that • I f she persists in keeping with the justice system, its
they will help her get a job in June 2017. menacing indifference may even demoralize
Timeline of Events • T here might be some relief and care if her family
Since that day in June 2017, for two years, the Unnao rape supports. But if they don’t or cannot, because they are
survivor has battled multiple tragedies in her traumatic themselves under pressure to keep quiet, she is left
fight for justice feeling abandoned, friendless and tainted.
• A
pril 3, 2018: The victim’s father was beaten up by • M
any a time, a protest or a campaign or the continued
some persons allegedly at the behest of Sengar presence of women’s groups, Dalit groups and
progressive political and civil rights interventions
• A
pril 8: The victim tries to immolate herself outside CM
alone have made it possible for even an FIR to be
Yogi Adityanath’s residence, alleging police inaction
registered.
• A
pril 9: The victim’s father dies in custody allegedly
Brazen show of power and subjugation of institutions to
owing to police torture after he was arrested.
the whims of the power elite
• J uly 4, 2019: The victim’s uncle convicted in a 19-year-
• It is a case where the law enforcement machinery
old case and sentenced to 10 years jail term on a case
systematically hounds the victim, a powerful accused
filed by Sengar’s brother, Atul Singh.
who is able to spread fear even from inside jail. And a
• J uly 17: The victim and her family write a letter to the political regime that, at the very least, turns a blind eye
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi expressing threat to horrific injustice.
and danger to their lives allegedly by Sengar and his
• T he family did not get any relief from State government
men.
agencies, which appear to have been complicit in the
• J uly 28: An over-speeding truck rams into the car in cover-up, with the MLA belonging to the ruling party.
which the victim, her family and their lawyer were
• I n the Unnao case, muscle, money power and the
travelling, killing her two aunts, leaving the victim and
right political alignment weighed heavily against the
the advocate critically injured.
girl.
• A
ugust 1: SC directs transfer of all five cases registered
• I t is a glaring example of alleged administrative failure
in connection with the incident from a court in Uttar
to deliver justice and protect the victim
Pradesh to a court in Delhi.

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AUGUST-2019 63

Challenges to the Constitution: • G

lobally, only 40% infants are exclusively breastfed for
the first six months.
• When a woman approaches an elected representative
of the people for assistance, exercising her right to • W
hile breastfeeding is a natural act, it is also a learned
state redressal and assistance, she realizes that her behaviour, according to WHO.
claims are not transactable in a civic sense, but only in Details:
a violently sexual sense.
• The report notes that these states have the lowest rate
• N
ot only is her bodily integrity violated, but also a for breastfeeding within one hour of birth, exclusive
series of constitutionally guaranteed rights, including breast feeding for six months and complementary
the right to life and livelihood. breastfeeding from six to nine months.
• I rony is that the violators are those who have taken an • S tates that top the report card include Mizoram,
oath in the name of the Constitution. Sikkim, Odisha and Manipur.
• T he Constitution is seldom viewed as enunciating • T hese regions also show good indicators in terms of
shared civic values and morality. the other parameters where children are breast fed
• R
ather, it exists as a formal and ornamental document exclusively for six months etc.
that affirms not so much our sovereign democratic Advantages of Breastfeeding:
selves, but the privileges we have gained as elected
representatives. Breastfeeding contributes to:
Caste society • The health and well-being of mothers.
• Such male entitlement and power are affirmed by the • The spacing of children.
caste society. • T he reducing the risk of ovarian cancer and breast
• B
irth based superiority cannot be sustained unless it cancer.
is renewed day in and day out through a combination • The growth of family and national resources
of patent lies and brute force.
• B
reastfeeding is one of the most cost-effective
• I n the Unnao instance, and in other such instances, intervention which addresses both survival and
sexual brutality is thus not an afterthought: it is the growth of the child.
quintessential form of political privilege and social
authority in our social context. • Early initiation of breastfeeding within an hour of
birth can prevent neonatal mortality.
• Our criminal justice system is yet to reckon with such
routinized and habitual criminality. • E xclusive breastfeeding for six months can reduce
under-five deaths significantly.
Conclusion
Conclusion:
• The Supreme Court has ordered the State government
to pay a ₹25 lakh compensation to the family. • Counselling and practical support to women,
both during the time of birth and later, and linking
• T his may bring some relief, even though justice has them to community workers are key to promoting
been inordinately delayed. Despite the increased breastfeeding.
focus on women’s rights, nothing changes on the
ground. World Breastfeeding Week 1st - 7th August

• T ill such crimes continue with impunity and patriarchal Context

mindsets don’t change, as a diverse and plural society, • The Food and Nutrition Board, under the Women and
India would have failed the girl, and every woman. Child Development Ministry is observing the World
Breastfeeding Week (WBW) by organizing a number
11. UP, Delhi and Rajasthan among worst performers in of activities.
breastfeeding Details:
Context: • The theme is“Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding”.
• According to a report-card released by the Union • T his year’s focus is on protection, promotion, and
Health Ministry, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, support of breastfeeding.
Uttarakhand and Punjab fare the worst when it comes
to the practice of breastfeeding. • Activities planned:

Background: * Annaprashan Ceremony

• The World Health Organisation says that if * Quiz competition on IYCF

breastfeeding was scaled up to near-universal levels,
lives of about 8 lakh children could be saved every
year.

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AUGUST-2019 64

About World Breastfeeding Week * C

hild marriages are not illegal but can be
declared void at the request of the minor in the
• T his is celebrated in the first week of August (1st – 7th
marriage.
August) every year.
• Personal laws of various religions that deal with
• I t was first observed in 1992 by World Alliance for
marriage have their own standards, often reflecting
Breastfeeding Action (WABA).
custom.
• I t is now observed in 120 nations by the UNICEF and
* In Islam, the marriage of a minor who has attained
the WHO.
puberty is considered valid under personal law.
• T he chief aim is to encourage breastfeeding and
How the law evolved?
improve the health of babies around the world.
• The Indian Penal Code enacted in 1860 criminalized
Objectives of WBW:
any sexual intercourse with a girl below the age of 10.
• T o create awareness among parents about
• T he provision of rape was amended in 1927 through
breastfeeding
the Age of Consent Bill, 1927, which made marriages
• Encourage parents to adopt breastfeeding with a girl under 12 invalid.
• C
reating awareness about the importance of initiation * The law had faced opposition from conservative
and exclusive breastfeeding, and adequate and leaders of the nationalist movement such as Bal
appropriate complementary feeding Gangadhar Tilak and Madan Mohan Malaviya
• Providing advocacy material about the importance of who saw the British intervention as an attack on
Hindu customs.
breastfeeding
• In 1929, the Child Marriage Restraint Act set 16 and
12. Why is age of marriage different for men and women? 18 years as the minimum age of marriage for women
Context and men respectively.
• The Delhi High Court took up a plea that sought a • T he law, popularly known as Sarda Act after its
uniform age of marriage for men and women. sponsor Harbilas Sarda, a judge and a member of Arya
Samaj, was eventually amended in 1978 to prescribe
• A
bench comprising Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice 18 and 21 years as the age of marriage for a woman
C Hari Shankar issued a notice to the Centre and the and a man, respectively.
Law Commission of India, seeking their response to
the public interest litigation filed by advocate and BJP Two genders, two ages
spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyaya. • In a consultation paper of reform in family law in 2018,
Current Law the Law Commission argued that having different
legal standards “contributes to the stereotype that
• Currently, the law prescribes that the minimum age wives must be younger than their husbands”.
of marriage is 21 and 18 years for men and women,
respectively. * The Law Commission paper recommended that
the minimum age of marriage for both genders
* For Hindus, Section 5(iii) of the Hindu Marriage be set at 18.
Act, 1955 sets 18 years as the minimum age for
the bride and 21 years as the minimum age for * “ The difference in age for husband and wife
the groom. has no basis in law as spouses entering into
a marriage are by all means equals and their
* T he Special Marriage Act, 1954 and the partnership must also be of that between equals,”
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 also
prescribe 18 and 21 years as the minimum age • Women’s rights activists too have argued that the law
of consent for marriage for women and men perpetuates the stereotype that women are more
respectively. mature than men of the same age and therefore can
be allowed to marry sooner.
• The minimum age of marriage is distinct from the age
of majority, which is gender-neutral. • T he international treaty Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), also calls
• A
n individual attains the age of majority at 18 as per for the abolition of laws that assume women have a
the Indian Majority Act, 1875. different physical or intellectual rate of growth than
Why a minimum age? men.
• The law prescribes a minimum age of marriage to
essentially outlaw child marriages and prevent abuse
of minors.

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AUGUST-2019 65

The challenge in court • W

EP platform, as a driver of change, will also promote
offline initiatives and outreach programmes to
• Upadhyaya, the petitioner in the Delhi High Court
promote entrepreneurial spirit among potential
case, has challenged the law on the grounds of
women entrepreneurs, in collaboration with partner
discrimination.
organizations.
* He alleges that Articles 14 and 21 of the
• A
lso, WEP offers incubation and acceleration
Constitution, which guarantee the right to
support to women founded / co-founded startups
equality and the right to live with dignity, are
through its various partners who handhold women
violated by having different legal age for men
entrepreneurs registered with WEP and provide them
and women to marry.
necessary support to help them start and scale-up.
• Two Supreme Court rulings could be significant to the
Eligibility
context of this argument.
• Women Entrepreneurs who are at ideation stage,
* In 2014, in National Legal Services Authority
have just started off with thieir startups or are an
of India v Union of India, the Supreme Court
established startup can register under the scheme to
while recognising transgenders as the third
take the benefit.
gender said that justice is delivered with the
“assumption that humans have equal value and • C
orporates, NGOs, research organisations, Incubator,
should, therefore, be treated as equal, as well as Accelerator, etc. who can provide support in any form
by equal laws.” to the the women entrepreneurs.
* I n 2019, in Joseph Shine v Union of India, the Context
Supreme Court decriminalised adultery and said • The NITI Aayog will launch the Fourth Edition of
that “a law that treats women differently based Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards in the
on gender stereotypes is an affront to women’s
capital.
dignity.”
14. World Tribal Day
13. Women Transforming India Awards
Context:
• NITI Aayog has launched a Women Entrepreneurship
Platform (WEP) for providing an ecosystem for • The Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC)
budding & existing women entrepreneurs across the distributed 50 leather kits and 350 Bee-Boxes with
country. SIDBI has partnered with NITI Aayog to assist live bee colonies in tribal-dominated village in Sirohi
in this initiative. district of Rajasthan on World Tribal Day (9 August).
• A
s an enabling platform, WEP is built on three pillars- Key Points:
Iccha Shakti, Gyaan Shakti & Karma Shakti • K
VIC announced on the occasion that it is launching
* Iccha Shakti represents motivating aspiring a new programme ‘Leather Mission’ from the tribal-
entrepreneurs to start their business dominated village of Chandala.
* G
yaan Shakti represents providing knowledge • U
nder this new programme, KVIC will give Leather
and ecosystem support to women entrepreneurs Kits to leather artisans from across India.
to help them foster entrepreneurship • I t will not only increase their incomes but will also
* K
arma Shakti represents providing hands-on inspire the traditional leather artisans who had
support to entrepreneurs in setting-up and migrated to other jobs from their traditional skill to
scaling up businesses. adopt this vocation again.
Benefits & Highlights • H
oney Mission has proved as a game-changer in
the lives of tribals, farmers, SC/STs and unemployed
• I n addition to providing services such as free credit youths.
ratings, mentorship, funding support to women
entrepreneurs, apprenticeship and corporate • I t has not only increased the income of the bee-
partnerships. keeping farmers, but has also increased the yield of
the crops by up to 30 percent due to cross-pollination
• W
EP will encourage entrepreneurs to share their of the honey-bees.
entrepreneurial journeys, stories & experiences to
nurture mutual learning.

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AUGUST-2019 66

International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples

• The International Day of the World’s Indigenous
Peoples is observed on 9 August each year to protect
the rights of the world’s indigenous population.
• T his event recognizes the achievements and
contributions that indigenous people make to
improve world issues such as environmental
protection.
• I t was first pronounced by the United Nations General
Assembly in December 1994.
• T he day is observed as the international day of
Indigenous people across the world and World Adivasi
Day in India, to promote and safeguard the interest,
culture, customs and traditions of Indigenous people.
• 2019 Theme: Indigenous Languages

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AUGUST-2019 67

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research Details:

(FEDOR) • T his is the first study of its kind in the country that has
• It was built by Russia to assist space station astronauts received approval after Japan changed its rules on
implanting human cells into animals.
• Fedor stands 180 cm tall and weighs 160 kg.
• J apan had previously required researchers to
• I t copies human movements, which will enable it to terminate animal embryos implanted with human
perform tasks that are risky for astronauts cells after 14 days and prevented the embryos from
* F edor was originally intended as a rescue robot being placed into animal wombs to develop.
for the emergency situations Procedure:
• W
hile Fedor is Russia’s first robot in space, other • T he cutting-edge, but controversial research involves
countries have previously sent theirs. implanting modified animal embryos with human
Robots of other countries “induced pluripotent stem” (iPS) cells that can be
coaxed into forming the building blocks of any part of
• I n 2011, NASA sent up Robonaut 2, a humanoid the body.
developed with General Motors that had a similar aim
of working in high-risk environments • I t is the first step in what researchers caution is a very
long path towards a future where human organs for
• I n 2013, Japan sent up a small robot called transplant could be grown inside animals.
Kirobo, developed with Toyota. It was able to hold
• T he research involves generating animal embryos —
conversations in Japanese.
mice, rats or pigs — that lack a particular organ such
2. Indian National Science Academy (INSA) as a pancreas.
• The Indian National Science Academy is the apex • T he modified embryos are then implanted with
body of Indian scientists representing all branches of human iPS cells that can grow into the missing
science and technology. pancreas. The embryos would be transplanted into
wombs where they could theoretically be carried to
• INSA promotes science and its use in India.
term with a functioning human pancreas.
• I t was originally established in 1935 and was known
Significance:
as the ‘National Institute of Sciences of India’ until the
present name was adopted in 1970. • I t is the first step in what researchers caution is a very
long path towards a future where human organs for
• T he Government of India recognised it in 1945 as the
transplant could be grown inside animals.
premier scientific society representing all branches of
science in India. • T he technique involves genetically modifying sheep
or pig embryos so they cannot grow a specific organ.
• I n 1968, it was designated as the adhering organisation
in India to the International Council for Science (ICSU) • H
uman stem cells are then injected into the embryo
on behalf of the Government of India. in the hope that the DNA will fill in the missing code.

• It is headquartered in New Delhi. • T he hybrid embryos would then be implanted back

into the original animal or a surrogate, and the baby
3. Japan approves growing human organs in animals for animal would be born with a human organ.
the first time • I f successful, it could mean an unlimited supply
Context: of organs for transplants or even a cure for Type 1
diabetes, if an entirely new pancreas could be created.
• T he government has given permission to the scientists
in Japan to begin trying to grow human organs in Concerns:
animals. • I mplanting animal embryos with human cells creates
what is known as a chimera - an entity with both
animal and human cells.

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AUGUST-2019 68

• T he process throws up complex ethical issues,

particularly over concerns that it may not be possible
to completely control which organs are formed in the
animal by the human iPS cells.
• R
ules on the process differ by country: the US has no
federal restrictions on creating chimeras, while other
countries prohibit chimeras being kept alive behind
two weeks.
• E thicists fear that chimeras with human brain or
reproductive cells would pose serious questions
about the nature of the animal being tested.

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AUGUST-2019 69

SECURITY AND DEFENCE

1. Assam’s final NRC • These cannot, however, be expected to accommodate

all the exclusions, which could finally run into lakhs.
Context
If not deported or detained in a camp, how would life
• M
ore than 19 lakh of the 3.29 crore applicants in
change for the finally excluded individuals?
Assam were left out of the final National Register
of Citizens (NRC) that was published to conclude a • T hey would officially be non-citizens, but what
Supreme Court-monitored exercise that took five happens to them remains a grey area. India has no
years and ₹1,220 crore. fixed policy for “stateless” persons, Home Ministry
sources said.
Process of NRC
• T he only aspect that is more or less clear is that a
• U
pdating the NRC was a mammoth exercise involving
“stateless” person will not have voting rights.
about 52,000 Assam government officials working for
a prolonged period. • A
s of now, nothing is clear about their rights to work,
housing and government healthcare and education.
• A
ll decisions of inclusion and exclusion were taken by
these statutory officers in an objective and transparent Timeline
manner The following is the timeline of the immigration issue in
• T he applicants were provided adequate opportunities Assam since Independence to the publication of the final
of being heard at every stage of the process conducted National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Saturday, August 31,
as per statutory provisions and due procedure 2019.
followed at every State • 1
950: Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act comes
Recourse into force following influx of refugees from then East
Pakistan to Assam after partition.
• S tate Home Department officials said though the
NRC was called ‘final’, the 19,06,657 people excluded • 1951: First Census of Independent India conducted.
would have opportunities to be back on the citizens’ • Based on Census, first NRC compiled.
list if they appeal against their exclusion and establish
their citizenship via courts. • 1
957: Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act
repealed.
• E ach excluded person will have 120 days to file an
appeal at any of the existing 100 Foreigners’ Tribunals • 1
964-1965: Influx of refugees from East Pakistan due
— 200 more are to be established within a month — to disturbances in that country.
which in turn will have to dispose of the cases within • 1
971: Fresh influx due to riot and war in East Pakistan.
six months. Independence Bangladesh comes into existence.
• T he appellant then has the option of approaching the • 1
979-1985: Six-year-long Assam agitation,
High Court and Supreme Court. spearheaded by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU)
• S omeone who is not only excluded from the final NRC and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP) for
but also loses his or her case in a Foreigners Tribunal, detection, disenfranchisement and deportation of
however, faces possible arrest, and the prospect of foreigners.
being sent to a detention centre. • 1
983: Massacre at Nellie in Central Assam which
How do those excluded back up their claims for inclusion? claimed the lives of over 3,000 people. Illegal Migrants
(Determination by Tribunals) Act passed.
• T hey will need to prove that they or their ancestors
were citizens on or before March 24, 1971. • 1
985: Assam Accord signed by the Centre, the state,
AASU and AAGSP in the presence of then Prime
• T his is the cutoff date in the Assam Accord of 1985, Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It stated, among other clauses,
agreed upon by the Centre, the state and the All Assam that foreigners who came to Assam on or after March
Students’ Union, at the end of a six-year movement 25, 1971 shall be expelled.
against migration from Bangladesh.
• 1
997: Election Commission decides to add ‘D’
If even legal recourse fails for those excluded, will they be (doubtful) against names of voters whose claim to
deported? Indian citizenship is doubtful.
• A
lthough the Assam movement was for deportation, • 2
005: Supreme Court strikes down IMDT Act as
Bangladesh has never officially acknowledged that unconstitutional. Tripartite meeting among Centre,
any of its citizens migrated illegally to Assam. state government and AASU decides to update 1951
• T he state also has six detention camps (with plants to NRC. But no major development takes place.
build more) for illegal migrants within existing jails,
and proposes to build a seventh with a capacity for
3,000.

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• 2
009: Assam Public Works (APW), an NGO, files case What does the Home Ministry manual say?
in Supreme Court praying for deletion of foreigner’s • The MHA framed a ‘Model Detention Centre/Holding
name in electoral rolls and updation of NRC. Centre/Camp Manual’, which was circulated to all
• 2
010: Pilot project starts in Chaygaon, Barpeta to States and Union Territories
update NRC. Project successful in Chaygaon. Four • S tate governments have been instructed from time to
killed in violence in Barpeta. Project shelved. time (2009, 2012, 2014 and 2018), to set up detention
• 2
013: Supreme Court takes up APW petition, directs centres.
Centre, state to begin the process for updating NRC. • U
nder Section 3(2)(c) of The Foreigners Act, 1946, the
NRC State Coordinator’s office set up. Central Government has the powers to deport foreign
• 2015: Updation of NRC process begins. nationals staying illegally in the country.

• 2
017: On December 31 midnight, Draft NRC published • T hese powers have also been entrusted to State
with names of 1.9 crore of total 3.29 crore applicants. governments under Article 258(1) of the Constitution
and under Article 239(1) for administrators of Union
• J uly 30, 2018: Another Draft NRC published, 40 lakh of Territories.
2.9 crore people excluded.
Power of the Union to confer powers, etc, on States in
• J une 26, 2019: Publication of Additional Draft
Exclusion List of 1,02,462 released. certain cases
• August 31, 2019: Final NRC released. (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the
Conclusion President may, with the consent of the Governor of a State,
• Genuine citizens must be protected and included in entrust either conditionally or unconditionally to that
the NRC list Government or to its officers functions in relation to any
• T ill all the loopholes are plugged, none of the excluded matter to which the executive power of the Union extends
members should be sent to a detention camp. Concerns
Detention Centers • State does not make any distinction, for all practical
Background purposes, between detention centres and jails; and
thus between detainees and ordinary inmates
• Delhi Police recently has told the Supreme Court that
nearly 500 illegal Bangladeshi migrants have been • I t found there was no clear legal regime governing
deported from the capital in the past 28 months. the rights and entitlements of detainees.
• T he Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai, • C
onsequently, the jail authorities appear to apply the
informed the Lok Sabha that State governments have Assam Jail Manual to them, but deny them even the
been instructed from time to time to set up detention benefits, like parole, waged work etc., that the inmates
centres. get under the jail rules.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also drawn up • T he detention centres are therefore de facto, if not de
a manual for States and Union Territories. jure, administered under the Assam Jail Manual, and
the detainees are treated in some ways as convicted
• At present, there are six detention centres in Assam, prisoners, and in other ways are deprived even of the
the highest among the States. rights of convicted prisoners
What are detention centres? It was in the context of this petition that on November 5,
• Detention centres are set up to house illegal 2018, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that it was
immigrants or foreigners who have completed framing new guidelines for keeping foreign nationals in
their jail sentence but their deportation process to detention centres across the country.
the country concerned has not been initiated or What are some of the guidelines?
completed.
There are 39 points in the manual.
• I t is also set up to accommodate foreign convicts in
criminal cases who have completed their jail terms • The manual says that States require “no specific
and await deportation. approval” from the Home Ministry to set up “detention
centres /holding centres/ camps”.
• A
ccording to the MHA, these holding camps are also
“to restrict the movement of foreigners staying back • I t lays down that centres should be set up outside
illegally and thereby ensure that they are physically the jail premises and their numbers and size should
available at all times for expeditious repatriation or be decided by the States keeping in view the actual
deportation”. number of foreigners to be housed as well as the
progress in deportation proceedings.

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AUGUST-2019 71

• T he MHA has said the detention centres should be * I n most democracies, the CDS is seen as being
designed for inmates to maintain standards of living above inter-Service rivalries and the immediate
in consonance with “human dignity”. operational preoccupations of the individual
military chiefs.
* Well-lit, airy rooms adhering to basic hygiene
standards and equipped with electricity, water * The role of the CDS becomes critical in times of
and communication facilities are to be provided conflict.
at the centre. Why it is required?
* T he order says that detention centres should also • To provide single-point military advise to government
have open spaces for detainees to move around
• B
etter manage country’s strategic resources & nuclear
and segregated accommodation for men and
arsenal
women.
• B
ring synergy among Army, Navy & IAF by resolving
* T he MHA manual has addressed these concerns
inter-service doctrinal, planning, procurement &
saying no restrictions shall be imposed to meet
problems
family members.
* Branch rivalry will be subsumed
* I t also asks States to pay special attention to the
needs of women, nursing mothers, transgenders • S treamline long-term defence planning &
and open a crèche in the camp. procurement process
• Other than CCTVs and round-the-clock security • T ruly integrate Service HQs with defence ministry &
personnel, the manual adds, the centre’s boundary reduce civil-military divide
wall should be at least 10 feet high and ringed with • T he CDS is expected to bridge such dangerous gaps
barbed wires with strict access control measures. and reduce response time.
There should also be a periodic security audit by the
• I t is envisaged he will keep the Defence Minister,
appropriate authorities.
continuously and fully briefed and effectively advised,
2. Chief of Defence Staff be part of the adjunct apparatus of the Cabinet
Committee on Security Affairs, and better link the
Context
three services in terms of planning, coordination and
• As India celebrated 73rd Independence Day Prime execution.
Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag at
What necessitated this move currently?
the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi and came
up with a landmark announcement for the creation of • Pulwama and Balakot, the repeated offers for
the post of Chief of Defence Staff to p mediation in Kashmir by the U.S. President, the
imminent pull-out of American troops from
• r ovide “effective leadership at the top level” to the
Afghanistan, which would leave Pakistan and its
three wings of the armed forces, and to help improve
proxies the dominant players on the ground with a
coordination among them.
strong chance of blowback into Kashmir, as well as
Present Military Architecture the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, are factors
• We have Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, that have come together to confer urgency to taking
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, and Chief this step.
of Air Staff Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa. Committees that have suggested similar measures
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) The proposal for a CDS has been there for two decades.
• The CDS is a high military office that oversees and • Right after the 1999 Kargil War that a high-level
coordinates the working of the three Services, and committee headed by K Subrahmanyam, international
offers seamless tri-service views and single-point strategic affairs expert
advice to the Executive (Prime Minister) on long-
* It was set up to examine the gaps in the country’s
term defence planning and management, including
security system in the wake of the conflict, had
manpower, equipment and strategy, and above all,
recommended that the three services should
“jointsmanship” in operations.
have a Chief of Defence Staff.
• T he CDS, being above the three Service Chiefs, is
* T he committee had recommended that the
expected to play this role by optimizing procurement,
CDS would be a five-star military officer and
avoiding duplication among the services and
should be the single-point military adviser to the
streamlining the process.
defence minister
* I ndia being a nuclear weapons state, the CDS
* H
owever, lack of consensus and apprehensions
will also act as the military advisor to the Prime
among services meant it never moved forward.
Minister on nuclear issues.

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AUGUST-2019 72

• Besides the high-level committee on Kargil War, a * A

fter the 1971 war, Air Chief Marshal P. C. Lal had
Group of Ministers (GoM) that was formed in 2001 threatened to resign if it was decided to have a
to explore reforms necessary for the improvement Chief of Defence Staff in India
of India’s national security had also favoured creating
• Fourth, is the inhibitions of serving Service Chiefs that
the post of Chief of Defence Staff.
their position would get undermined if the CDS were
• I n 2012, the Naresh Chandra committee to be appointed
recommended the appointment of a Permanent
* E ach Service has its own ethos, and the Chiefs
Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) as a
feel that under a CDS, they will be rendered
midway to allay apprehensions over the CDS.
virtual nonentities.
• T he CDS is also one of the 99 recommendations made
Who at present advises India’s Prime Minister on military
by the Lt General D.B. Shekatkar (retd) Committee
matters?
which submitted its report in December 2016 which
had 34 recommendations pertaining to the tri- • In effect it is the National Security Adviser. This
services. has been especially so after the Defence Planning
Committee was created in 2018, with NSA Ajit
What is the current status?
Doval as its chairman, and the foreign, defence, and
• I n the absence of a CDS, presently the seniormost of expenditure secretaries, and the three Service Chiefs
the three Chiefs functions as the Chairman COSC. as members.
• B
ut it is an additional role and the tenures have been Global Picture
very short.
Most countries with advanced militaries have such a post,
• F or instance Air Chief Marshal (ACM) B.S. Dhanoa took albeit with varying degrees of power and authority.
over as the Chairman COSC on May 31 from outgoing
• The United States Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
Navy Chief Adm Sunil Lanba. However, ACM Dhanoa
Committee (CJCSC), for example, is extremely
will be in the role for only few months as he is set to
powerful, with a legislated mandate and sharply
retire on September 30 after which the baton will pass
delineated powers.
to Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat who will then be the
seniormost. * He is the most senior military officer and military
adviser to the President, and his remit extends
• G
en Rawat too is set to retire on December 31 after
to the National Security Council, the Homeland
three years in office.
Secuirty Council, and the Defence Secretary.
Why it was not sanctioned in the past?
* The Chiefs of the United States Army, Navy, Air
• First, is the political leadership’s fear. They were of the Force, Marine Corps, and National Guard too, are
apprehension that the Defence Services will become members of the JCSC. All, including the CJCSC,
too powerful and subvert civilian control over the are four-star officers, but by statute only the
military, a military coup will occur. CJCSC is designated as the “principal military
* Harcharanjit Singh Panag a retired lieutenant adviser”.
general of the Indian Army said “Despite the • The U.K. from which the Indian armed forces and the
political control over the armed forces clearly Defence Ministry are modelled on has a Permanent
established in Constitution, the politicians have Secretary, equivalent to the Defence Secretary, and
this lurking fear. They do not want the executive also a CDS.
military power to be concentrated in the hands
* The U.K. Government guidelines state that the
of a single person – the Chief of Defence Staff.”
CDS is the professional head of the British armed
* I t also needs to be mentioned that Army Chiefs forces and, as military strategic commander, is
in different countries have staged military coups responsible for how operations are carried out.
but no CDS has ever done so.
* H
e is also the most senior military adviser to the
• Second, the opposition of the civilian bureaucracy Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime
to any arrangement in which their dominance Minister.
and stranglehold over the higher defence set up is
Challenges
diminished.
• The appointment of the CDS will make the armed
• T hird, the feeling among the smaller Services,
forces more effective. However, the mere creation of
particularly the Air Force, of Army dominance in
the office is not enough.
defence policy formulation.
• T his will need to be augmented by restructuring of
* Some fear that a CDS may lead to a situation like
the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and creating integrated
the one that prevailed before 1947, when the
theatre commands.
Army was the dominant Service.

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AUGUST-2019 73

• T he CDS has to have good understanding of the 3. China issues white paper on national defence
global security environment and functioning of the Context
three services.
• The Chinese State Council Information Office has
* It should not be a rotational appointment; the released a white paper titled China’s National Defense
government must select one after interviewing in the New Era
top officials of the three services.
What is it?
• Ingrained with a mindset shaped by conflicts and
face-offs on its land frontiers and near-continuous • It is the official defence policy of china and has offered
internal armed conflicts, India’s security landscape has details of its military reforms and break-up of defence
been naturally dominated by the Indian Army expenditure.
* B
alancing this reality with a realisation that • T he document offers an insight into Beijing’s view of
both maritime and air power are going to play the changes in the international security situation.
an increasingly important role in India’s rise as a • I t discusses its policy objectives, along with the
leading power will be among the initial strategic reform, missions and tasks that its armed forces are
challenges any CDS faces. undertaking. The fundamental goal of China’s national
* T o begin with, and to assuage the fears of the defense in the new era is to resolutely safeguard
smaller services, it may be wise to not let an China’s sovereignty, security and development
Army officer to first tenet this post. interests
• Finally, an important aspect of any reorganisation Beijing is ready to display some of the muscle it’s prepared
should look at the inter-se relations between the to flex in order to secure its interests.
military and the Ministry of Defence. This needs to • The history of China was based on Deng Xiaoping’s
focus on capacity, expertise, decision-making powers dictum of an earlier era, “Hide your strength, bide your
and aligning responsibility and accountability. time and never take the lead” has been consigned to
* T he relations between the civilian bureaucracy the dustbin of history.
and the military are among the biggest fault- • E ven a cursory read suggests that this adaptation
lines in the defence apparatus and remedial involves the ability to project military power across
actions are required, on both sides, to create much of the eastern hemisphere. What stands out in
a professional, well-developed and qualified the paper is the explicit position taken by China on its
bureaucracy which integrates both civilian- willingness to use force in a variety of scenarios.
military expertise.
• T aiwan’s insistence on its autonomy, anathema to
Conclusion a Beijing that sees it as a rebel province, has been
• Balancing national interests, shedding his own service highlighted as one potential provocation.
affiliations, and looking after the interests of all the * There’s a mention of “external separatist forces”
three services will always be a tough act. He must with regard to Tibet and Xinjiang.
also have the world view and political awareness
necessary to engage with diverse stakeholders. * B
ut the forces seeking Taiwan’s “independence”
are identified as the “gravest immediate threat”,
* This will happen only after years of joint-service with the use of force not being ruled out.
assignments, an exposure to working with
government and educational interludes in a • The white paper gave greater clarity to Chinese views
military career. on the South China Sea where the Chinese said that
the islands were an inalienable part of China.
• With PM’s announcement, Gen (retd) VP Malik, who
was the Army chief during Kargil War, tweeted, * Other powers seen as trying to thwart its claims
“Thank you PM Modi for announcing historic step of in the South China Sea are to be fended off.
institution of CDS. This step will make our national • This is quite assertive, given that its past white papers
security more effective and more economical. It will only had anodyne statements on peace, “win-win
ensure better jointmanship and multi-disciplinary cooperation” and so on.
coordination. Salute!”
Changes brought about by the Chinese
• T he CDS is imperative for efficient, economical
The white paper encapsulates People’s Liberation Army
and effective functioning of our higher defence
(PLA) striving to transform itself from a quantity-and-scale
organization in both peace and war.
model to that of quality and efficiency. This entails a shift
• T he creation of the CDS will need to be followed up in focus from manpower to firepower and from personnel-
with further reforms to reconfigure the armed forces intensive to science and technology–intensive forces
to meet India’s aspirations to be a global power.

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AUGUST-2019 74

• P
LA has been downsized in terms of soldiers, but is far • T heme of the 2019 edition: Innovation Led Cyber
better equipped with modern technology than it was Crime Management
some years ago. • T he programme aims to bring together stakeholders
• T he PLA is claimed to be savvy with cloud services, the from the Government, Intelligence & Police Forces,
Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence Industry, Academia & Think Tanks to promote
development and implementation of systems and
• Greater attention has been paid to safeguarding
concepts to combat cyber-crime, encourage ‘Make-
interests in outer space, electromagnetic space and
in-India’ for Cybersecurity and provide platform to
cyberspace.
Indian startups for understanding the requirements
• I ts equipment-development policy and approach to of Government agencies and support them to
combat, therefore, are evolving from mechanisation promote indigenous expertise in cyber security.
to “intelligentised warfare” and “informatisation”.
• It also has workshops for law enforcement agencies,
* That has led to a reassessment of training and exhibition on homeland security.
methods to ensure greater interoperability
Context
among forces.
• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh spoke at the
* These are developments that New Delhi should
Homeland Security 2019 conference. He presented
be watching closely and factoring into its
35 Smart Policing Awards.
defence planning, given that they have a direct
impact on India’s security interests. • 2019 is the 11th edition of the conference.
• I ts budgetary slice-up points to investments not only
5. How the forces protect VIPs?
in digital enablement, but also enhanced naval heft,
with its operational locus shifting from mere “offshore Context
waters defense” to a combination of this and “open • T he Government has recently downgraded the
seas protection”. security cover of former PM Manmohan Singh, from
Nuclear Policy Special Protection Group (SPG) to Z plus of the CRPF.
• The white paper has reiterated that “China is always How does the government decide the level of protection an
committed to a nuclear policy of no first use of nuclear individual needs?
weapons at any time and under any circumstances, • T he Home Ministry takes the decision based on
and not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons inputs from intelligence agencies, which include the
against non-nuclear weapons states or nuclear Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis
weapons free zones unconditionally.” Wing.
On India • T hey largely give a subjective measure of threat to
India gets only 18 mentions in the 17,696-word document. life or injury to a person from terrorists or any other
group, based on information from their sources.
• On Doklam, all it says is that the PLA will take “effective
measures to create favourable conditions for the • C
ertain individuals, by dint of their position in
peaceful resolution of the… standoff” government, are automatically entitled to security
cover. These include the Prime Minister and his
• M
ore than the Himalayan region, it is China’s ambitions
immediate family.
in the Indian Ocean that our defence planners should
be wary of. China spends three times what India • T he Home Minister and officials such as the National
does on defence, and signs of its seaward thrust are Security Adviser too generally get security cover on
apparent the basis of their position.
Conclusion A defined structure to whom security cover has to be
provided is the need
• China has issues with every countries on the Periphery.
This idea of white paper as a transparent policy layout • Since none of the intelligence agencies in India
is a smokescreen, a mask, a camouflage used by is accountable to any statutory body, barring the
China as a country of Peace. What matters is action on internal oversight of the Home and External Affairs
ground and not words statements made on paper. Ministries, VIP security is sometimes seen as open to
manipulation.
4. Homeland Security Conference
• A
number of protectees, it has been alleged, are under
• I t is organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers security cover for political reasons and not necessarily
of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) due to any real threat.
• I t sees participation from senior officials of the GOI, What are the various protection levels?
the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and various
State Police Forces (SPFs), defence force, intelligence There are largely six types of security covers: X, Y, Y plus,
agencies, domestic and global players, etc. Z, Z plus and SPG.

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• W
hile SPG is meant only for the PM and his immediate • F ollowing Indira Gandhi’s killing, a review committee
family, other categories can be provided to anyone of secretaries recommended formation of a special
about whom the Centre or state governments have group under a designated officer and for STF to
inputs about facing a threat. provide immediate security cover both in New Delhi
and outside as a short-term measure.
• T he X category on an average entails just one gunman
protecting the individual; • I n 1985, the Birbal Nath Committee set up by the
Home Ministry recommended raising a Special
• Y
has one gunman for mobile security and one (plus
Protection Unit (SPU), and 819 posts were created
four on rotation) for static security;
under the Cabinet Secretariat.
• Y
plus has two policemen on rotation for security and
• T he SPU was then re-christened SPG and the post
one (plus four on rotation) for residence security;
of Inspector General of Police was re-designated as
• Z has six gunmen for mobile security and two (plus director.
eight) for residence security;
SPG Act
• Z
plus has 10 security personnel for mobile security
• F or three years, SPG functioned under executive
and two (plus eight) for residence security.
orders. In 1988, Parliament passed the SPG Act. Then,
How does it work? the Act did not include former prime ministers.
• T here are various kinds of cover within these levels. • When V P Singh came to power in 1989, his
These include security of residence, mobile security, government withdrew SPG protection given to his
office security and inter-state security. predecessor Rajiv Gandhi.
• D
ifferent VIPs are given different kinds of cover * After Rajiv’s assassination in 1991, Singh faced
depending on threat perception. much criticism and the SPG Act was amended
• F or example, if the Chhattisgarh CM is assessed to to offer protection to all former PMs and their
be facing a threat from Maoists only in his state, the families for at least 10 years.
Centre may choose to give him residence and mobile • In 2003, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government again
security only in his state, and appropriate security amended the SPG Act to bring the period of automatic
by the concerned state police when he travels out. protection down from 10 years to “a period of one year
Similarly, some may have a threat only when they from the date on which the former prime minister
travel, so they are given an escort force. ceased to hold office” and beyond one year based on
• T hen, different forces may be engaged for residence the level of threat as decided by the government
and mobile security. Many protectees get residence How do these protection levels compare with VIP
security from state police and mobile security from a protection in other countries?
Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)
• I n the US, the security of the President and his family
Who are SPG? Whom do they protect? is handled by the Secret Service, which also looks after
• T he SPG is a force raised specifically for the protection the safety of the vice president, his immediate family,
of the PM, former PMs and their immediate family. former presidents, their spouses, and their minor
children under age 16.
* The force is currently 3,000 strong and protects
only four people —PM Narendra Modi, Congress * It also provides security to major presidential
president Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and vice presidential candidates and their
and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi. spouses, and foreign heads of state; security
for the White House, the Treasury Department
• The elite force is highly trained in physical efficiency, building, the vice president’s residence, and
marksmanship, combat and proximate protection foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, DC.
tactics and is assisted by all central and state agencies
to ensure foolproof security. • In the UK, VIP security, including of the PM, is handled
by the Protection Command under London’s
• S PG Special Agents assigned to the PM security Metropolitan Police Service.
detail wear black, Western-style formal business suits,
with sunglasses, and carry a two-way encrypted * It has two branches: Royalty and Specialist
communication earpiece, and concealed handguns. Protection (RaSP), providing protection to the
Royal Family, the PM and government officials,
Why was SPG Created? and Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection
• T he SPG was raised in 1985 in the wake of the killing of (PaDP), providing security to government
PM Indira Gandhi in 1984. buildings, officials and diplomats.
• E arlier, Delhi police (before 1981) and Special Task
Force (raised by the Intelligence Bureau in 1981)
provided residence and proximate security to the PM.

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6. India’s doctrine of Nuclear No First Use • A

ll the gains enjoyed by us in the international
community by the restraint of our nuclear posture
Context
would be frittered away. These do not merely
• D
efence Minister Rajnath Singh said while India has constitute intangibles but entailed the termination of
strictly adhered to Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s doctrine sanctions, support for our entry into the multilateral
of ‘No First Use’ (NFU) of nuclear weapons, “what nuclear export control regimes as well as our civil
happens in future depends on the circumstances”. nuclear cooperation agreements.
What is this doctrine, and how did it come into being? • M
akes crises more stable because adversaries do not
• I n 2003, when Vajpayee was India’s Prime Minister, the have to fear that India will initiate nuclear use and
Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met to review threaten the survivability of their own nuclear forces,
the progress in operationalizing the country’s nuclear which might tempt them to use nuclear weapons
doctrine early and massively against India

• A
mong the major points in the doctrine was “a • I t would enormously complicate and increase the
posture of No First Use”, which was described as expenditure incurred by us in regard to our command
follows: “Nuclear weapons will only be used in and control mechanisms which would have to be
retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory reconfigured to engage in calibrated nuclear war
or on Indian forces anywhere”. fighting.

• However, the doctrine made it clear that India’s • I t would facilitate the painting of South Asia as a
“nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and nuclear flashpoint and thereby encourage foreign
designed to inflict unacceptable damage”. meddling.

• Also, “in the event of a major attack against India, or India should not have NFU
Indian forces anywhere, by biological or chemical • F irstly, NFU implies probable large-scale destruction
weapons, India will retain the option of retaliating in own country economically
with nuclear weapons”.
• S econdly, in India there is hardly any debate on
The doctrine also said: security policy issues, much less on the NFU policy.
• N
uclear retaliatory attacks can only be authorised by Inputs indicate that the Indian public in totality is not
the civilian political leadership through the Nuclear in sync with the policy. Some call it a cause of concern;
Command Authority. others call it ‘the Panipat Syndrome’ of allowing the
enemy to defeat us on our own soil.
* T he Nuclear Command Authority comprises a
Political Council and an Executive Council. • T hirdly, to fight a war with constraints which jeopardise
the future of a country is also morally wrong; no
* T he Political Council is chaired by the Prime leadership has the right to place its population at peril
Minister. without exhausting other options and opting only for
* T he Executive Council is chaired by the National NFU.
Security Advisor. It provides inputs for decision • G
lobal context - Viewed in a global context, at present,
making by the Nuclear Command Authority and very few countries adhere to NFU.
executes the directives given to it by the Political
Council. • N
eed of ambiguity for deterrence - Ambiguity in
nuclear weapons posture is necessary to create
• India would not use nuclear weapons against non- confusion in the minds of India’s adversaries. Dread is
nuclear weapon states. at the heart of successful nuclear deterrence.
• I ndia would continue to put strict controls on the The following could be some moves in this direction:
export of nuclear and missile related materials and
technologies, participate in the Fissile Material Cutoff • G
overnment must restore faith in itself by doing what
Treaty negotiations, and continue to observe the it says and not shying from biting the bullet. Firmness
moratorium on nuclear tests. must be shown in all its actions.

• I ndia remains committed to the goal of a nuclear • P

eriodic statements about the nurturing and up
weapons free world, through global, verifiable and gradation of our nuclear arsenal and systems
non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament. including alternate command structure.

Factors against revisiting our nuclear doctrine: • A

n indication that our nuclear arsenal will be large
enough to take care of all adversaries will have to be
• T his chipping away at India’s nuclear-weapons use
taken up.
posture is strategically unsound and diplomatically
questionable. It plays into the hands of Pakistan,
which has forever sought a notional parity with India

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AUGUST-2019 77

7. Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) • T he system is being developed for the Indian Army
with search and track on move capability with very
• I t is a missile developed by the Defence Research and
short reaction time.
Development Organisation (DRDO) in association
with Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamics • T his missile is an all-weather, all-terrain surface-to-air
Limited for the Indian Army missile equipped with electronic counter measures
• The missile has a strike range of 25 km to 30 km. against jamming by aircraft radars.
• I t uses solid-fuel propellant and has the capability of Context
engaging multiple targets. • I ndia successfully test-fired a Quick Reaction Surface-
• T he systems are equipped with indigenously to-Air Missile (QRSAM) with 30-kilometre range from a
developed phased array radar, Inertial Navigation test range off the Odisha coast.
System, Data Link and RF seeker. • T he missile successfully engaged its target during the
flight test and met all the desired parameters.

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AUGUST-2019 78

ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAND
ANDECOLOGY
ECOLOGY

1. Amazon’s Rainforest Fire What’s causing the fire in Amazon?

Context Deforesting the Amazon is a long, slow process. People
clear the land by cutting down the vegetation during the
• T he largest tropical rainforest in the world, Amazon
rainy season, letting the trees dry out and burning them
Which produces approximately 20 per cent of the
during the dry season. Fully clearing the dense forest for
oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere and is called the
agricultural use can take several years of slashing and
“lungs of the planet” saw environmental catastrophe
burning.
with its forest’s burning.
• F orest fire is not an exceptional phenomenon in
• T he repeated forest fires have been spotted even
Amazon. The rainforest experiences regular and
by satellites in space, and have led to worries over a
widespread fires at this time of the year due to dry
significant rise in greenhouse gas emissions, because
season.
of the reduced absorption of carbon dioxide.
* B
ut environmentalists across the world
Amazon’s spread
believe that this disaster is indeed man-made
• The Amazon basin, spanning 7.4 million square and President Bolsonaro’s anti-environment
kilometers, covers nearly 40 percent of Latin America approach is leading to large scale deforestation
and is spread across nine countries: Bolivia, Brazil, in Amazon
Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru,
• The dramatic scale of this year’s fires is the result of
Suriname and Venezuela. About 60 percent of it is in
a significant acceleration of deforestation for the
Brazil.
lumber industry, for agriculture or for other human
• T he Amazon forest, of which 2.1 million sq km are activities.
protected zones, is home to a biodiversity sanctuary
Economics Vs Climate
that is unique in the world.
• The fragile legacy of the forests is now imperiled,
• A
quarter of the Earth’s species are found there,
as President Jair Bolsonaro has spoken in favor of
namely 30,000 types of plants, 2,500 fish, 1,500
“reasonable” exploitation of these lands.
birds, 500 mammals, 550 reptiles and 2.5 million
insects, according to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty • A
lthough the forest code has not been changed, his
Organization (ACTO). comments have emboldened illegal expansion into
forests.
Importance of Amazon forest to the world
• A
rmed Gangs have threatened the local tribal
• A
National Geographic report said the Amazon
community with their leaders being murdered and
rainforest influences the water cycle not only on a
the president denying any violence, questioning the
regional scale, but also on a global scale.
satellite data, are depressing developments in the
* T he rain produced by the Amazon travels forest land
through the region and even reaches the Andes
• M
ost nations tend to view their land and forests
mountain range. Moisture from the Atlantic falls
through the narrow prism of short-term economic
on the rainforest, and eventually evaporates
gain
back into the atmosphere.
Concerns
* T he report said the Amazon rainforest has
the ability to produce at least half of the rain it • T he massive fire is alarming as it not only threatens the
receives. This cycle is a delicate balance. rich biodiversity of the forest but also threatens the
atmosphere due to the release of massive amounts of
• T he Amazon basin, spread across millions of
carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
hectares in multiple countries, hosts massive sinks of
sequestered carbon, and the forests are a key factor in • T he rainforest recycles its own water to produce a
regulating monsoon systems. portion of the region’s rain, so deforestation makes
rains less frequent, extending the dry season.
• T he rainforests harbour rich biodiversity and about
400 known indigenous groups whose presence has • B
esides being the lungs of the planet, the Amazon
prevented commercial interests from overrunning rainforest is also home to indigenous communities
the lands. whose lives and homelands are under threat due
to encroachment by the Brazil government, foreign
corporations and governments with economic
interests in the resource-rich region, and local farmers.

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AUGUST-2019 79

How the international community has reacted? • A

nsupa is famous for its sweet water fish, especially
• T he European Union has reacted sharply to this labeo bata locally known as pohala.
development. Chilika Lake
• F rench President Emmanuel Macron called for G7 • Chilika Lake is India’s largest brakish water lagoon.
leaders to discuss the environmental crisis in Brazil
• In 1981, Chilika became the first Ramsar site in India.
• N
orway has also suspended donations of $1.2 billion
supporting projects to curb deforestation in Brazil. • I t is the largest wintering ground for migratory
waterfowls on the Indian subcontinent.
• G
ermany has also suspended 35 million euros ($39
million) in funding of Amazon preservation in Brazil * L akhs of tourists visit the lake to watch
due to increasing deforestation. endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and migratory
birds during winter.
Steps that can be initiated
Context
• As the custodian of forests in about 5 million sq km
of Amazon land, Brazil has everything to gain by • T he Odisha Wetland Authority has approved
engaging with the international community on implementation of an integrated management plan
meeting the opportunity cost of leaving the Amazon for Chilika, country’s largest brackish water lagoon,
undisturbed. and Ansupa, State’s largest freshwater lake

• G
lobally, there is tremendous momentum to save the Significance
Amazon forests. Brazil must welcome initiatives such • T he five-year management of lakes is intended at
as the billion-dollar Amazon Fund backed by Norway strengthening livelihood of thousands of fishermen
and Germany, which has been operating for over a relying on the two water-bodies.
decade, instead of trying to shut them down.
• B
esides, tourism promotion and conservation of
• R
emedial funding, accounting for the value of ecology will be taken up.
environmental services, is the most productive
approach, because forest removal has not helped 3. Bandipur adds value worth Rs.6,405 cr.
agriculture everywhere due to soil and other factors.
Context:
• O
ne estimate by the World Bank some years ago
• T he economic evaluation of tiger reserves was
noted that 15 million hectares had been abandoned
released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
due to degradation.
Details:
Conclusion
• B
andipur National Park was established in 1974 as a
• B
razil’s President must recognise that rainforests
tiger reserve under Project Tiger.
are universal treasures, and the rights of indigenous
communities to their lands are inalienable. • I t is a national park located in the Indian state of
Karnataka, which is the state with the second highest
• T he international community must use diplomacy to
tiger population in India.
convince Mr. Bolsonaro that no other formulation is
acceptable. • T he study is authored by the Centre for Ecological
Services Management at the Indian Institute of Forest
‘Legal Amazon’
Management.
• It is the legal denomination that includes some areas
• I t estimates the economic valuation of Bandipur and
of Brazil that don’t have the Amazon biome, but are
nine other tiger reserves in the country.
very close the Amazon.
• T he objective, states the report, is to enhance tiger
• ‘Legal Amazon’ was created in the 1950s for tax breaks.
conservation by highlighting the holistic economic
• M
any of the fires (being reported) are on land that benefits of protected areas.
has already been deforested for many years and is
• R
esearchers have used an array of methods to
traditionally burnt every year.
determine the economic, scientific, educational,
• It is something similar to the agricultural burning cultural and recreational services of tiger parks.
2. Anshupa Lake Economic valuation of Bandipur Tiger Reserve:
• It is a fresh water lake on the left bank of the Mahanadi • I f monetary values could be assigned to tiger reserves,
River then the Bandipur Tiger Reserve would record a
staggering Rs. 6,405.7 crore annually, says the report.
• A
nsupa is spread over almost 2 sq km. It is also the
wintering ground for 32 species of migratory birds • F or every rupee spent on the reserve, the rate of return
through various tangible and non-tangible benefits is
an incredible 700%.

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AUGUST-2019 80

• T he park also contributes nearly 1,121 billion litres of • T hey then develop fever, nasal discharge, coughing,
water to the Cauvery, while the forests prevent soil lethargy, reduced appetite, and vomiting.
loss and nutrient loss that would have cost Rs. 82.59 • A
s the virus attacks the nervous system, infected dogs
crore to rectify. develop circling behavior, head tilt, muscle twitches,
• S imilarly, monetary values are assigned to various convulsions with jaw chewing movements and
other benefits including biological control of disease, salivation (“chewing gum fits”), seizures, and partial or
encouragement to pollination and others. complete paralysis.
• T he report estimates that 3.06% of the flow benefits How is canine distemper prevented?
are accrued at the local level, while 16.01% are at the • Vaccination is crucial in preventing canine distemper.
national level.
• A
series of vaccinations is administered to puppies to
• A
t the global level the reserve’s forests store 1.2 crore increase the likelihood of building immunity
tonnes of carbon, apart from sequestering 3.45 lakh
tonnes of carbon annually, which leads to savings of Stats
social costs. • A
recent study published in Threatened Taxa notes
that 86% of the tested dogs around Ranthambhore
4. Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) National Park in Rajasthan carried CDV antibodies in
Background their bloodstream.
• The Prime Minister’s announcement that tiger • T his means that the dogs are either currently infected
numbers have increased in the country may be good or have been infected sometime in their life and have
news. overcome the disease.
• B
ut the loss of habitat, a decline of prey and poaching • T his finding points out that there is an increased risk of
continues to be a threat to tigers’ survival. disease transfer from the dogs to tigers and leopards
that live in the park.
• A
long with these, a potential virus — Canine
Distemper Virus (CDV) — that can be transmitted Last year, over 20 lions from the Gir forest succumbed to
from CDV-infected dogs living in and around wildlife the viral infection and now a guideline has been prepared
sanctuaries has started to raise concern among by the National Tiger Conservation Authority to prevent
wildlife biologists. the spillover of the disease to wild animals.
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)/ Hardpad Disease Steps that needs to be taken
• C
anine distemper is a contagious and serious • T he main aim should be to vaccinate the free-
disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, ranging and domestic dogs that are not owned by
gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and any particular person in the village around national
dogs. parks. A lot of NGOs have started started animal birth
control programmes. They need more support from
• I t is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus of the
the government
family Paramyxoviridae (the same family of the
viruses that causes measles, mumps, and bronchiolitis • T he disease needs to be recognised and more targeted
in humans). studies need to be initiated to collect baseline data on
CDV from wherever they are reported from in wild
How is canine distemper spread?
carnivores.
• P
uppies and dogs most often become infected
* U
nderstanding the role of domestic animals as
through airborne exposure (through sneezing or
contributors to a local CDV reservoir is imperative
coughing) to the virus from an infected dog or wild
animal. precursor in considering control measures.

• T he virus can also be transmitted by shared food and 5. Clouded Leopard/ Neofelis Nebulosa
water bowls and equipment. • IUCN: Vulnerable
• M
other dogs can pass the virus through the placenta • The clouded leopard is found from Nepal, Bangladesh,
to their puppies. and Assam (eastern India) through Indochina to
• B
ecause canine distemper also impacts wildlife Sumatra and Borneo, and northeastward to southern
populations, contact between wild animals and China
domestic dogs can facilitate the spread of the virus. • It is the state animal of Meghalaya.
What are the symptoms of canine distemper? Dampa Tiger Reserve
• I nitially, infected dogs will develop watery to pus-like • It is a tiger reserve in Mizoram
discharge from their eyes.
Context

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AUGUST-2019 81

• A
study is being counducted to understand their • T his was a first ever attempt at creating a pan-India
habitats and migration corridors set of metrics that measured different dimensions of
water management and use across the lifecycle of
• I n India, the Dampa tiger reserve was chosen as the
water.
study site
• T he report was widely acknowledged and provided
6. Composite Water Management Index (CWMI 2.0) actionable guidance to States on where they were
Context doing well absolutely and relatively and what they
needed to focus on to secure their water future.
• T o supplement the efforts of Jal Shakti Ministry, NITI
Aayog has prepared the second Round of CWMI 2.0 What is it?

Background • I t is water data collection exercise in partnership with

Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Rural Development
• N
ITI Aayog first launched and conceptualized the and all the States/ Union Territories.
Composite Water Management Index in 2018 as a tool
to instill the sense of cooperative and competitive
federalism among the states.

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AUGUST-2019 82

• The index would provide useful information for the Other features:
States and also for the concerned Central Ministries/ • Both fish are hill stream fauna and are equipped with
Departments enabling them to formulate and special morphological features to suit rapid water
implement suitable strategies for better management flow.
of water resources.
• E xperts suggest that the origin or evolution of the
CWMI 2.0 ranks various states for the reference year 2017- fishes in the Himalayas and north-eastern parts of
18 as against the base year 2016-17. India must have been the consequence or after-
• G
ujarat hold on to its rank one in the reference year effects of orogenic events (geological movement) at
(2017-18), followed by Andhra Pradesh, Madhya various stages in the Himalayas’ uplift.
Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. • D
etailed surveys can provide valuable information
• I n North Eastern and Himalayan States, Himachal about the evolutionary trends and many rare groups
Pradesh has been adjudged number 1 in 2017-18 of fishes can be discovered.
followed by Uttarakhand, Tripura and Assam.
8. Koundinya Forests
• T he Union Territories have first time submitted their
data and Puducherry has been declared as the top • K
aundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary
ranker. and an elephant reserve situated in Andhra Pradesh
• I n terms of incremental change in index (over 2016-17 • T he sanctuary has dry deciduous forests with thorny
level), Haryana holds number one position in general scrubs interspersed with trees.
States and • T hese forests have small ponds, tanks and the
* U
ttarakhand ranks at first position amongst Kaindinya and Kaigal tributaries of Palar River.
North Eastern and Himalayan States. * P
alar rises in the Nandi Hills in Chikkaballapura
• O
n an average, 80% of the states assessed on the district of Karnataka
Index over the last three years have improved their * It flows through states of Karnataka, Andhra and
water management scores Tamilnadu
7. Glyptothorax Gopii and Garra Simbalbaraensis • T he sanctuary is situated in region where the Kolar
Plateau ends and slopes down into the plains of Tamil
Glyptothorax Gopii
Nadu
• It is a new species of catfish found in Mizoram’s
Kaladan River. 9. Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS)
• G
lyptothorax gopii (measuring 63 mm standard • I t is a wildlife sanctuary and estuary located in Andhra
length without caudal fin) is dark brown on its dorsal Pradesh.
surface, and its ventral surface is yellowish-light • D
eclared a sanctuary in 1989, the KWS is spread across
brown. 194.84 hectares in Krishna and Guntur districts.
• I t has been named to celebrate the contribution of • I t is one of the rarest eco-regions of the world because
taxonomist K.C. Gopi. it harbors vast tracts of pristine mangrove forests.
• I t has an axe-shaped anterior nuchal plate (bone Context
below dorsal fin), which makes it distinct from other
species of the genus Glyptothorax. • In Andhra Pradesh, the Forest Department has
identified 308.84 hectares of revenue land for
• T he elliptical thoracic adhesive apparatus and plicae inclusion in the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS).
(folds of tissue) present on the ventral surfaces of the
pectoral-fin spine help the fish cling to rocks. Details
Garra Simbalbaraensis • T he decision has been taken on the recommendation
by the National Board for Wildlife, compensating for
• It was found in Himachal Pradesh’s Simbalbara River. the land being diverted for setting up a Missile Test
• G
arra simbalbaraensis (measuring 69 mm standard Launch Facility.
length without caudal fin) has a yellowish-grey color • T he Missile Test Launch Facility is being established by
fading ventrally. the Defence Research and Development Organisation
• It takes its name from the Simbalbara River. (DRDO) in Nagayalanka mandal in Krishna District.
• I t has a prominent unilobed and rounded proboscis • T he huge chunk of revenue land adjacent to the
with tubercles that help the fish in maneuverability. existing sanctuary is now supporting a moderately
dense mangrove cover in Nagayalanka mandal,
geographically near the confluence point of the river
Krishna and the Bay of Bengal.

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AUGUST-2019 83

• O
f the total 154.42 hectares of forest land to be • Millions of dollars have been spent compensating
diverted to the DRDO, 45 acres falls in the heart of local fishermen for not fishing and to increase efforts
the sanctuary where it proposes build a road facility to implement vaquita-safe fishing gear.
that connects to the test and technical facility of the * U
ndermining of compensation schemes and
project. resistance to the use of the smart fishing gear are
• T he stretch of 308.84 hectares of revenue land all contributing to the vaquita’s demise
adjacent to the KWS has been identified as per the Context
recommendations of the National Board for Wildlife.
• The vaquita, which means “little cow” in Spanish, is
• T he final notification exercise to include the area in
perilously close to extinction.
the sanctuary has almost been completed.
12. Wild Buffaloes
10. Heracles Inexpectatus
• T he wild water buffalo, also called Asian buffalo,
• It is a giant fossil parrot species from New Zealand Asiatic buffalo and wild Asian buffalo, is a large bovine
* T he bird would have stood about one metre (39 native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
inches) tall and weighed up to seven kilograms • I t is classified as “Endangered” in the IUCN Red List and
(15.5 pounds) is listed under Schedule 1 of the Wild Life (Protection)
* T he parrot has been named Heracles Act, 1972.
inexpectatus to reflect its Herculean size and • T he estimated population of the wild buffaloes
strength -- and the unexpected nature of the (Bubalus arnee) in the Northeast is around 3,000-
discovery. 4,000, the largest in the country and accounting for
• Heracles likely lived in subtropical forests which were 92% of the world population.
rich in laurels, palms and podocarp trees. • I n India, the species is largely restricted to in and
• H
eracles belongs to a group of ancient parrots around Kaziranga, Manas and Dibru-Saikhowa
native to New Zealand, which includes the kakapo, a National Parks, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary and Bura
critically endangered flightless bird which still exists in Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary and in a few scattered
the country. pockets in Assam; and in and around D’Ering Memorial
Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh.
• T he kakapo is the heaviest parrot alive today although
it is about half the weight of Heracles. • A
small population survives in Balpakram National
Park in Meghalaya, and in Chhattisgarh in the Indravati
Context
National Park and the Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The remains of a super-sized parrot that stood more
Context:
than half the height of an average human and roamed
the earth 19 million years ago have been discovered • A
round the end of monsoon in October, five female
in New Zealand. wild buffaloes will be trans-located from Assam to
Chhattisgarh.
• E vidence of the parrot was unearthed in fossils near
St Bathans in southern New Zealand, an area that Details:
has proved a rich source of fossils from the Miocene • T he wild buffaloes will travel more than 1,500 km
period crossing five States — the longest such translocation
in the country ever.
11. Vaquita/ Phocoena Sinus
• T hey will be moved from Assam to the Udanti Wildlife
• IUCN: Critically Endangered
Sanctuary in Raipur district.
• T he vaquita is the world’s smallest cetacean -- the
• I t is to help revive the waning population of
group of mammals that includes porpoises, dolphins
Chhattisgarh’s State animal and expand its territory
and whales.
across States.
• I t is also the world’s most endangered marine
• W
hile the government will provide the infrastructure,
mammal species.
the Wildlife Trust of India will provide technical
• I t is found only in the shallow waters of the northern support.
Gulf of California, Mexico. • 2
0-25 buffaloes of Indravati National Park in Bijapur,
Threats Chhattisgarh, also frequently travel to neighbouring
Kolamarka Conservation Reserve in Gadchiroli,
• Vaquita are often caught and drowned in gillnets Maharashtra, as keeping them in one place is not
used by illegal fishing operations in marine protected sustainable.
areas within Mexico’s Gulf of California.

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AUGUST-2019 84

• Wild buffaloes (Bubalus arnee) What the FRA is?

Concerns: • The FRA very clearly states that forest dwellers who
are either Scheduled Tribes or Other Traditional Forest
• U
danti Wildlife Sanctuary in Raipur district in
Dwellers are only entitled to claim both individual
Chhattisgarh has just nine buffaloes, including three
and community forest rights through a clear process
females, left.
of submitting a claim and after its verification and
• T he survival hazard of inbreeding, continuing lineage subsequent approval or rejection. For the rejected
and increasing male population have necessitated cases, an appeal process has been outlined.
the translocation.
• T he FRA aims to only confirm tenure and access rights
• T heir revival across central India – a historical habitat, which in some sense the forest dwellers have been
depends on hassle-free translocation, successful exercising de facto but under severe restrictions and
breeding and subsequent restocking of other habitats control especially by the forest department.
in the region.
• T he FRA does not sanction any fresh clearance of
• M
ajor challenge is the translocation of the buffaloes, forest, as individual rights over land will only be
which are heavy and grow horns more than a metre granted if the forest dweller was in possession of that
long. parcel of land on December 13, 2005.

13. World Elephant Day • I t also limits the extent of land that can be granted to
the area that was occupied on December 13, 2005 and
• I t is an international annual event observed on August places an upper limit of four hectares per claimant for
12. individual rights.
• I t is dedicated to the preservation and protection of Why the FRA is criticized?
the world’s elephants.
• O
ne of the key arguments of the petitioners has
• T he goal of International Elephant Day is to create been that it is beyond the legislative competence of
awareness of the urgent plight of African and Asian Parliament to enact the FRA as ‘land’ is a state subject.
elephants, and to share knowledge and positive
solutions for the better care and management of * W
eak as this is, if this argument of the petitioners
captive and wild elephants. is accepted, the Wildlife Protection Act and the
entire architecture of forest laws will have to be
• A
frican elephants are listed as “Vulnerable” and Asian dismantled as ultra vires as all of them deal with
elephants as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List of ‘land’, including the Indian Forest Act and the
threatened species. Forest (Conservation) Act.
• T his day highlights need for better protection for wild • Wildlife conservationists fear that the law will make
elephants, improving enforcement policies to prevent it impossible to create “inviolate spaces”, or areas
the illegal poaching and trade of ivory, conserving free of human presence, for the purposes of wildlife
elephant habitats, better treatment for captive conservation
elephants, etc. • F ew activists ask if this law acting as a land distribution
14. The taproot of conservation justice scheme that will lead to the handing over of forests to
tribals and forest dwellers
Background
Way forward
• T he Forest Rights Act (FRA) is a piece of social
legislation which aims to address the historical • T he FRA has been savagely criticized as a land
injustice that our forest dwelling communities have distribution legislation, which it is not. The FRA, by
had to face for nearly 150 years by providing them design, has tremendous potential to strengthen the
with security of tenure over land for cultivation and conservation regime across India by recognizing
habitation through individual rights. rights of forest dwellers over land and community
forest resources, a key factor for conservation to
• I t also provides access to a variety of resources through succeed as shown both by research and practice in
more than a dozen types of community forest rights. many countries.
• T he FRA also empowers forest dwelling communities • B
y democratizing forest governance and conservation
to protect, regenerate, conserve and manage any through the provision of rights and authority to local
community forest resource which they have been communities and gram sabhas for conservation and
traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable management of forests, the FRA will empower gram
use. sabhas of the forest dwelling communities to halt the
• I t has the provision for creating critical wildlife destruction of forests, as especially highlighted in the
habitats within protected areas which currently is Niyamgiri case.
the strongest conservation provision among existing
laws of the country.

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AUGUST-2019 85

• Implementing the FRA in letter and spirit with * Another compelling reason not to espouse a
empathy for forest dwellers will be a decisive step by purely plant-based diet is that billions of poor
India to achieve conservation justice. people around the world depend on fish, and
to a lesser extent meat, for protein and nutrients
15. IPCC special report on climate change that may not be readily available elsewhere.
Context • T his means going for much more climate-sensitive
• T he IPCC approved and accepted Climate Change food, and less wastage.
and Land: an IPCC special report on climate change, * Scientific studies have shown that alternative
desertification, land degradation, sustainable land grains like millets and sorghum could help the
management, food security, and greenhouse gas country cope better with the impact of global
fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems at its 50th Session in heating on agriculture and variations in supply,
August 2019. than continuing to rely on water-intensive rice
Climate crisis is damaging the ability of the land to sustain and wheat.
humanity
16. Lessons after the great deluge
• A
bout a quarter of the Earth’s ice-free land area is
Introduction
subjected to what the report describes as “human-
induced degradation”. • The unique geography of Kerala, has resulted in a land
with a vast riverine network.
* R
apid agricultural expansion has led to
destruction of forests, wetlands and grasslands • T here are no less than 44 fast flowing rivers that drain
and other ecosystems. Soil erosion from the rainwater Kerala is blessed with into the Arabian
agricultural fields, the report estimates, is 10 to Sea.
100 times higher than the soil formation rate. • I t is a lifeline that supports a very fertile land, some of
This has created spinoff effects. the most singular flora, fauna and also a people and
• The report said that land is heating up faster than the their lives in a symbiotic way.
oceans. The average surface temperature is now 1.5C Large-scale urbanisation
higher than in the late 19th century.
• However, this drainage basin has seen massive
• This is affecting food security, as heat, drought, and urbanisation over the last two decades with the
changes in rainfall damage crops. erstwhile wisdom of coexistence with the State’s
• A
bout 23% of global human-caused greenhouse gas waterways beginning to fade away.
emissions come from agriculture, forestry and other • T his linear development which has been along major
land uses. road networks, has completely ignored the varying
* L and use change, such as clearing forest to make and ecologically sensitive landscape.
way for farms, drives these emissions. • S ubstantial portions of revenue lands in the State are
• T herefore the IPCC report warns that clean energy, wetlands and forests, which has resulted in a shortage
clean transport and reduction emissions alone will of buildable land parcels.
not cut global emissions enough to avoid dangerous • T his in turn is creating huge pressure on these
warming beyond 2 degrees Celsius. It points out that ecologically fragile areas for conversion to
the global food system is responsible for 21 to 37 per government-supported infrastructure projects as well
cent of the world’s GHG emissions. as private profit-making enterprises.
Steps to be taken Laws not implemented
• O
ne of the most effective ways of degraded area • N
ot surprisingly, all landslide and flood-affected areas
development is conservation and an efficient use in the State are in Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ-1),
of natural resources, and this can best be achieved as categorised by the Madhav Gadgil report.
through watershed development adopting ridge-to-
valley approach. • T he Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report
that was prepared by the UN for Kerala following the
• T he report says there is scientific evidence which says massive flooding of 2018 looks at some of the gaps in
that certain diets have a lower carbon footprint. law and policy.
* T he UN report points out that global meat • T he State Action Plans on Climate Change elucidate
consumption must fall to curb global warming, measures for disaster-risk reduction in the wake of an
reduce growing strains on land and water and increasing frequency of heavy rainfall in turn leading
improve food security, health and biodiversity. to more flooding and landslides.

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AUGUST-2019 86

• Though plans and laws such as Integrated Water * C

ontrolled development can be proposed using
Resources Management or Coastal Regulation Zone building height rules, floor area ratio control, and
Notification hold key solutions to natural disasters restrictions on cutting and filling natural land.
that are linked to water management, most of them • F ourth, strategies to make sure that all infrastructure
are not implemented or followed to the letter. projects are carried out in a scientific manner with
• A lack of holistic and coordinated measures within strict scrutiny must be specified.
planning departments has resulted in further * T his should include roads built on difficult terrain
problems. Also missing are key pieces of legislation and all public infrastructure projects in wetlands
for housing and land use in fragile zones which allow and the High Ranges.
buildability but with sensitive development.
Expertise Requirement
Dilution of laws
• S uch an intensive and sensitive hydrology-driven
• T he need of the hour is for a review and revision master plan requires much specialised expertise and
of building bye-laws for urban and rural areas experience which may not be readily available in our
in accordance with bettering environmental homegrown available pool of resources.
sustainability.
• T he State should not shy away from acquiring the
• I n 2017, a judgment of the High Court of Kerala most appropriate skills to implement this urgently
mandating the inclusion of a clause in building rules, given the massive damage to life and property it now
and which said that ‘natural drains and streams shall faces both in the short and long term.
not be obstructed by this development/building
permit’, has yet to come into effect. • A
complete overhaul of processes to hire technical
expertise which allows access to necessary skills, and
• F urther, the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and with a long-term vision of capacity building of local
Wetland Act, 2008 — it has immense potential to agencies, is the way forward.
preserve such land as natural watershed buffers —
has suffered too many dilutions even as rampant • S trategies and techniques followed elsewhere cannot
reclamation of paddy lands continues. just be transferred or we have carbon copy solutions
from Europe, we must learn from each experience in
• T he absence of a databank on paddy lands order to collectively formulate strategies that address
and wetlands as mandated by the law, has only our needs.
exacerbated the issue.
Way forward
Master plan focus
• Legal processes and bye-laws need revisions.
There are, however, cities and regions the world over that
deal most successfully with heavier precipitation in much • T he water footprint needs to be reinstated, and the
less favourable topography than Kerala’s. The dire need is relationship with water resources rebuilt.
for watershed-based master planning and development
legislated guidelines for each major river basin, especially 17. Rare tarantula sighted in Villupuram district
those that impact densely populated settlements. Context:
Primarily, such master plans should focus on these areas.
• Researchers have sighted a critically endangered
• First, there must be a demarcation of ecologically species of tarantula for the first time beyond its known
sensitive zones using existing village survey maps and habitat in the Eastern Ghats.
public participation.
Details:
* There must be clear land use plan for these zones
• The spider is commonly known as the Peacock
specifying flood plains, protected forest areas,
agricultural and plantation zones, with details Parachute Spider or Gooty Tarantula.
of the types of crops, building usages permitted • I t belongs to the genus Poecilotheria and is known to
and the density of buildings permitted. be endemic to India.
• Second, to compensate owners in non-buildable • It is the only blue species of the genus Poecilotheria.
areas, there must be strategies such as Transfer of • T he known habitat of Peacock Parachute Spider is in
Development Rights to buildable zones in cities. degraded forests near Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh.
• T hird, the master plan should focus on permitting only • T he spider was spotted by a team of researchers
ecologically sensitive building strategies for these of the Puducherry-based Indigenous Biodiversity
areas by proposing new construction techniques. Foundation (IBF) in the Pakkamalai Reserve Forests
near Gingee in Tamil Nadu.

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AUGUST-2019 87

• The species was found at different locations in the

reserve forests.
• T he species had so far not been sighted in any other
part of India or Sri Lanka except its known habitat in
Andhra Pradesh.
• T he International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) has categorised it as Critically Endangered.
• T arantulas are biological pest controllers and there is a
huge demand for them by collectors in the pet trade.
Threats
• I ts habitat is rapidly degrading due to logging and
firewood harvesting.
• A
nother threat identified by IUCN assessors is
specimen collection for the pet trade.
• P
opulation size is unknown, but the combination of
its small natural range and the habitat threats indicate

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AUGUST-2019 88

HEALTH ISSUES

1. Fit India Movement • “ Janaushadhi Sugam” mobile application would

have user-friendly options like- to locate nearby
Context
Janaushadhikendra, direction guidance for location of
• The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the the Janaushadhikendra through Google Map, search
Fit India Movement at a ceremony in New Delhi on Janaushadhi generic medicines, analyse product
the occasion of National Sports Day. comparison of Generic vs Branded medicine in form
• T he Prime Minister urged the people of the country to of MRP & overall Savings, etc.
make fitness their life style. Significance
Details • T his is an important step in ensuring the health
• The nation-wide campaign aims to encourage people security for the section of Indian women who still use
to inculcate physical activity and sports in their unhygienic aids during menstrual period due to non-
everyday lives affordability of sanitary pads available in the market.

• A committee comprising government officials, • T his will ensure ‘Swachhta, Swasthya and Suvidha’ for
members of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the underprivileged women of the country.
national sports federations, private bodies and fitness
promoters was also formed to advise the government 3. Kalaazar
on the Fit India Movement. • T he term “kala-azar” comes from India where it is the
• T he movement is not just central government’s but of Hindi for black fever.
all state governments, panchayats and local bodies. • A
chronic and potentially fatal parasitic disease of
the viscera (the internal organs, particularly the liver,
spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes) due to
infection by the parasite called Leishmania donovani.
• L eishmania donovani, the agent of kala-azar, is
transmitted by sandfly bites in parts of Asia (primarily
India), Africa (primarily Sudan) and South America
(primarily Brazil)
• T he disease is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases
(NTD)
• K
ala azar is the second largest parasitic killer in the
world.
• T he disease is also known as Indian leishmaniasis,
visceral leishmaniasis, leishmania infection, dumdum
fever, black sickness, and black fever.
What are Signs & Symptoms of Kala-Azar?
• R
ecurrent fever intermittent or remittent with often
double rise
• l oss of appetite, pallor and weight loss with progressive
emaciation
• S plenomegaly – spleen enlarges rapidly to massive
enlargement, usually soft and nontender(not painful)
• L iver – enlargement not to the extent of spleen, soft,
smooth surface, sharp edge
• Lymphadenopathy – not very common in India
2. Janaushadhi Sugam
• S kin – dry, thin and scaly and hair may be lost. Light
• The “Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable coloured persons show grayish discolouration of the
Sanitary Napkin” will now be available at only One skin of hands, feet, abdomen and face which gives the
Rupee per pad. Indian name Kala-azar meaning “Black fever”
• Anaemia – develops rapidly

• Weakness

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AUGUST-2019 89

4. National Essential Diagnostics List • Addressing the crisis of antimicrobial resistance

Context: Key Challenges:
• India has got its first National Essential Diagnostics • A
doption by States and harmonization with local
List (NEDL) finalized by the Indian Council of Medical standard diagnostic protocols and treatment
Research (ICMR). guidelines.
Details: • P
rovision of requisite infrastructure, processes and
human resources.
• I ndia has become the first country to compile such a
list that would provide guidance to the government • E nsuring quality of tests and adequate utilization of
for deciding the kind of diagnostic tests that different EDL tests for making informed decisions for treatment
healthcare facilities in villages and remote areas protocols.
require.
5. No formalin found in fish imported to Goa: minister
• T he list is meant for facilities from village till the district
level. Context:
• N
EDL builds upon the Free Diagnostics Service • R
egular checks were being conducted on fish
Initiative and other diagnostics initiatives of the imported to Goa and the state’s Health Minister has
Health Ministry. confirmed that no trace of formalin has been found in
fish brought to the state from outside.
• T he list also encompasses tests relevant for new
programs such as Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) Formalin:
under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. • Formalin is a toxic, colourless solution that is derived
• I n addition to tests, corresponding In-Vitro Diagnostic by dissolving formaldehyde gas in water.
(IVD) products have also been recommended. • Formaldehyde is highly reactive and flammable gas.
Background: • F ormalin is a cancer-inducing chemical used to
• I n India, diagnostics (medical devices and in vitro illegally preserve fish.
diagnostics) follow a regulatory framework based on • I t is used in the manufacture of pesticides, fertilisers,
the drug regulations under: glue, paper and paint, among other products.
• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 • I t irritation in the eyes, throat, skin and stomach. In the
• Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945 long run, continued exposure to formalin can result in
cancers and also harm to the kidneys and liver.
• Medical Device Rules, 2017
Details:
Reasons behind the Move:
• F ormalin increases the shelf life of fish (highly
• D
iagnostics serve a key role in improving health and
perishable), therefore, is used as a preservative.
quality of life.
• S ome amount of formalin is naturally formed while
• L ow cost, inaccurate diagnostics, with no regards
fish is transported with ice, but these are usually
to quality, have made their way into the health care
bound with tissues and not a risk.
system
• I f fish is laced externally with formalin, it remains free
• T he current system is equipped to manage only the
and can cause serious health issue.
few notified devices.
• I n July 2018, the state government had banned the
• T he list aims to bridge the current regulatory system’s
import of fish from outside in view of the scare of
gap that do not cover all the medical devices and
formalin (formaldehyde), being found in it.
IVDs.
• S ince then, the state government was taking services
Advantages of the List:
of the Quality Council of India (QCI) to conduct
• T he list will provide an expanded basket of tests at random checks on fish brought on the state borders
different levels of the public health system. and various local markets.
• I mplementation of the list would enable improved • I t is found that no added formalin has been detected
health care services delivery through in any samples of fishes imported to Goa so far.
• Evidence based care
6. PET bottles have no toxic Chemicals
• Improved patient outcomes
Context
• Reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure
• A
comprehensive evaluation by the CSIR-Central
• Effective utilization of public health facilities Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore has
• E ffective assessment of disease burden, disease determined PET bottles are safe.
trends, surveillance, and outbreak identification

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AUGUST-2019 90

Details • not for commercial purposes;

• T here has been a debate internationally on • n
ot for producing children for sale, prostitution or
whether PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles, other forms of exploitation; and
leach harmful chemicals when exposed to high
temperatures. • F or any condition or disease specified through
regulations.
• T he CFRTI analysis, commissioned by an industry
body, concluded that antimony, arsenic, barium, Eligibility criteria for intending couple:
cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury, selenium The intending couple should have a ‘certificate of
and zinc were Below their Detection Limits (BDL) of essentiality’ and a ‘certificate of eligibility’ issued by the
0.001 mg/kg. appropriate authority.
• B
isphenol-A was below its detection limit of 0.02 mg/ • A
certificate of essentiality will be issued upon
kg. fulfilment of the following conditions:
* B
PA is a synthetic organic compound and used * a certificate of proven infertility of one or both
in the manufacture of PET bottles but is now members of the intending couple from a District
phased out after research found a link between Medical Board;
the presence of BPA and the disruption of
* a n order of parentage and custody of the
hormone regulation, as well as breast cancer.
surrogate child passed by a Magistrate’s court;
• T he CFTRI scientists found that the presence of metals, and
BPA and pthalates were below detection limit.
* I nsurance coverage for a period of 16 months
• T he analysis found that no chemicals breached the covering postpartum delivery complications for
EU-specified norms. the surrogate.
• I n most cases the EU standards are similar to the ones • T he certificate of eligibility to the intending couple is
specified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority issued upon fulfilment of the following conditions:
of India.
* the couple being Indian citizens and married for
• T he studies further confirmed that antimony does at least five years;
not leach out of PET bottles. These findings further
* b
etween 23 to 50 years old (wife) and 26 to 55
establish that no endocrine disruption happens from
years old (husband);
the use of PET bottles.
* t hey do not have any surviving child (biological,
7. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 adopted or surrogate); this would not include a
child who is mentally or physically challenged
Definition
or suffers from life threatening disorder or fatal
• T he Bill defines surrogacy as a practice where a illness; and
woman gives birth to a child for an intending couple
* O
ther conditions that may be specified by
with the intention to hand over the child after the
regulations.
birth to the intending couple.
Eligibility criteria for surrogate mother:
Regulation of surrogacy:
To obtain a certificate of eligibility from the appropriate
The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows
authority, the surrogate mother has to be:
altruistic surrogacy.
• a close relative of the intending couple;
• A
ltruistic surrogacy involves no monetary
compensation to the surrogate mother other than the • a married woman having a child of her own;
medical expenses and insurance coverage during the • 25 to 35 years old;
pregnancy.
• a surrogate only once in her lifetime;
• C
ommercial surrogacy includes surrogacy or its
related procedures undertaken for a monetary • P
ossess a certificate of medical and psychological
benefit or reward (in cash or kind) exceeding the basic fitness for surrogacy. Further, the surrogate mother
medical expenses and insurance coverage. cannot provide her own gametes for surrogacy.
Purposes for which surrogacy is permitted: National and State Surrogacy Boards:
Surrogacy is permitted when it is: The central and the state governments shall constitute the
National Surrogacy Board (NSB) and the State Surrogacy
• f or intending couples who suffer from proven Boards (SSB), respectively. Functions of the NSB include,
infertility;
• a dvising the central government on policy matters
• altruistic; relating to surrogacy;
• l aying down the code of conduct of surrogacy clinics;
and

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AUGUST-2019 91

• Supervising the functioning of SSBs. There are many misconceptions about cannabis.
Offences and penalties: • First, it is not accurate that cannabis is harmless.
• undertaking or advertising commercial surrogacy; * Its immediate effects include impairments in
memory and in mental processes, including
• exploiting the surrogate mother;
ones that are critical for driving.
• a bandoning, exploiting or disowning a surrogate
* Long-term use of cannabis may lead to the
child; and
development of addiction of the substance,
• S elling or importing human embryo or gametes for persistent cognitive deficits, and of mental
surrogacy. health problems like schizophrenia, depression
• T he penalty for such offences is imprisonment up and anxiety.
to 10 years and a fine up to 10 lakh rupees. The Bill * E xposure to cannabis in adolescence can alter
specifies a range of offences and penalties for other brain development.
contraventions of the provisions of the Bill. * C
annabis smoking is associated with an increased
8. The risks of legalising cannabis risk of bronchitis, pneumonia and respiratory
distress, as also transient ischemic attacks, stroke,
Context myocardial infarctions and cannabis arteritis.
• T here is a growing movement in the West to legalize • A
second myth is that if cannabis is legalised and
cannabis, with rumblings of the same in India. regulated, its harms can be minimised.
• I ndia should carefully weigh the risks and benefits of * W
ith legalization comes commercialization.
cannabis before blindly following suit with the West. This comes at a cost which we have seen with
Introduction tobacco and alcohol over the last century.
• I n India, cannabis, also known as bhang, ganja, charas * T he morbidity and mortality associated with
or hashish, is typically eaten (bhang golis, thandai, tobacco and alcohol rank amongst the top 10
pakoras, lassi, etc.) or smoked (chillum or cigarette). in terms of the global disease burden. Tobacco,
too, was initially touted as a natural and harmless
• T he major psychoactive constituent in cannabis is ∆-9 plant that had been “safely” used in South
Tetra Hydro Cannabinol (THC). American religious ceremonies for centuries.
* C
ompounds which are structurally similar to THC * T he tobacco industry invented cigarettes for ease
are referred to as cannabinoids. of use, altered the acidity of tobacco to make it
• I ts potency depends on the content of its principal less harsh, added other chemicals to improve its
active constituent THC, though cannabis contains taste, mass-produced cigarettes, and sold them
more than 500 other chemicals. using sophisticated advertising.
Indian Milieu * I t manipulated knowledge about the adverse
effects of tobacco despite being aware of these
• I n India, there is a tradition of using cannabis in many
effects, and successfully staved off legal battles
religious contexts.
for decades.
• A
yurvedic texts refer to cannabis as a treatment for
* N
o amount of taxation of the tobacco industry
several maladies,
can compensate for the health toll on billions
* I n the Atharva-veda, the ‘bhang’ plant finds a of tobacco users over the last century. Despite
notable mention as one of nature’s five sacred, knowledge of the risks of smoking, cigarettes
distress-relieving plants. remain legal and the tobacco industry continues
• B
ut what is often overlooked is that it is categorised as to thrive. This also highlights the point that once
Upavisha Varga (sub poisonous), and its recreational out, the genie cannot be put back into the bottle.
use has been described as toxic. IHow the business works?
Regulations in the west • I t’s important to make a distinction between
• I n the US, the use of marijuana (a more addictive legalisation, decriminalisation and commercialisation.
derivative) for medicinal purposes is legal in a number * W
hile legalisation and decriminalisation are
of states, whereas its use for recreational purpose has mostly used in a legal context, commercialisation
also been legalised in some states. relates to the business side of things.
• C
anada has legalized its use for recreational as well as * T he goal of commercialisation is to sell as much
medicinal purposes. of the product, and the cannabis industry is
• E urope recognizes the use of marijuana for recreational steadily growing in the U.S.
purposes as a crime, but its use for medical purposes
is permitted in many countries.

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AUGUST-2019 92

• I n fact, as the sale of tobacco products have shown • L egalisation of cannabis is not only going to worsen
signs of a decline in the West, some tobacco these alarming statistics, but also serve as a gateway
companies have entered the cannabis market. for one of these carcinogens.
* A
ltria, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, has Considering alternatives
invested $1.8 billion (₹12,400 crore) in the • In 1961, driven by Western nations, the UN sponsored
cannabis grower Cronos Group. an international treaty to prohibit the production and
• T hese commercial entities will bring their wealth supply of drugs including cannabis. India resisted and
of experience navigating the law, their successful negotiated exceptions, loopholes, and deferrals.
marketing, their well-oiled lobbying, and deep pockets • I t is ironic that the West is now legalising cannabis and
to influence the government to maximise profit and other drugs. Given that some in India are clamouring
minimise risk to their commercial enterprise. for the same, the country should carefully consider all
• I n the U.S., cannabis is being incorrectly advertised the risks, and consider alternatives.
as being “natural” and “healthier than alcohol and * O
ne, it could decriminalize cannabis but forbid
tobacco”. commercialisation.
* C
ommercial entities also understand that * T wo, if India were to liberalize its policy on
targeting the young assures them lifelong cannabis, it should ensure that there are enough
customers. protections for children, the young, and those
* A
new array of cannabis products in the form with severe mental illnesses, who are most
of ice creams, sweets, and even soft-drinks are vulnerable to its effects.
becoming available. * F inally, treatments for those who become
• T he West also says that legalising and regulating addicted to cannabis should be offered.
cannabis will “undermine criminal markets”.
* Congress MP Shashi Tharoor echoed this in 2018.
* Y
et, as we have seen in Colorado, the black
market has only increased.
If risks outweigh benefits, why did the US and Canada
legalise it?
• W
ith an increasing number of youth (though a
minority) supporting legalisation, most policymakers
don’t see it a battle worth fighting, even though
justified.
• I n the US, public opinion was built on decades of
misinformation, racial discrimination, police excesses,
degree of punishment, incarceration in jail, craving for
liberty, etc.
• A
lso, policymakers seem to be excited about another
source of revenue.
Impact on India
• I ndia has a history of misuse of even prescription
drugs that are otherwise beneficial.
• I n Indian context, when prescription drugs are grossly
misused, how can we ensure disciplined used of
cannabis?
• I t is obvious that arguments of medicinal or industrial
use are simply smokescreens to fool policymakers
and swing public support.
• I ndia is struggling to control the three addictive
substances of tobacco, alcohol and areca nut.
* As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 270
million Indians use tobacco and it kills around
1.35 million Indians every year.
* Nearly 30% of India’s adult population is using
alcohol, leading to 3.3 million deaths.

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 AUGUST-2019 93

ART AND CULTURE

1. Gallery of Confiscated and Retrieved Antiquities Conclusion

Context • As per the Antiquity and Art Treasures Act, 1972 and
rules 1973, it is the duty of Archaeological Survey
• T he Minister of State for Culture & Tourism
of India to stop theft, illegal export and regulates
(Independent charge), inaugurated ‘Gallery of
domestic trade of antiquities.
Confiscated and Retrieved Antiquities’ at Purana Qila
in New Delhi • So far, ASI, has retrieved 44 stolen antiquities from
USA, Australia, Singapore, Germany, Canada and
Details
England and 119 more antiquities are in the process
• T he Gallery is located in the arched cells of Purana of retrieval.
Qila.
• O
wing to the efforts of ASI no theft has been reported
• It is curated by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). from any Centrally Protected Monument or site
• I t displays confiscated and retrieved antiquities to museum under ASI during last few years.
public.
2. Indus Valley seals carried meaning like modern coins
Some of the exclusive exhibits showcased in the gallery are
do, shows study
• B
ronze sculptures of Parvati and Sridevi of Chola
Context:
Period (brought back in 2016),
• A research paper titled Interrogating Indus inscription
• S tanding Buddha (returned by the Metropolitan
to unravel their mechanism of meaning conveyance,
Museum of Art in the year 1999),
was recently published in Palgrave Communications,
• T erracotta Mother Goddess of Mauryan period a Nature group journal.
(brought back in the year 2016),
Issue:
• B
rahma-Brahmani (confiscated by Central Bureau of
• Nearly 4,000 ancient Indus inscriptions such as
Investigation),
inscribed objects, including seals, tablets, ivory rods,
• M
ithuna (seized in New York and brought back in the pottery shards, etc., have been discovered.
year 2010)
• T hese mysterious legacies of the Indus Valley
• K
ashmiri Harwan tile (returned to India by Consulate civilizMation have not been deciphered due to
General of India, New York in the year 2016)
* The absence of bilingual texts

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AUGUST-2019 94

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AUGUST-2019 95

* Extreme brevity of the inscriptions • B

ommala Colonytranslates to Toys Colony in
* I gnorance about the language(s) encoded by Kondapalli is the place where the art of crafting takes
Indus script. place.

Details: • These toys have received a Geographical Indication

Tag.
• T he research paper mainly focuses on understanding
how Indus inscriptions conveyed meanings, rather • T hese toys are one of the variety of toys assembled
than on deciphering what they conveyed. in the houses during the festivals of Sankranti and
Navratri and is referred as “Bommala Koluvu”.
• T he paper claims that a majority of the Indus Valley
inscriptions were written logographically (by using • The art of crafting is a 400 year old tradition.
word signs) and not by using phonograms (speech • T he artisans who make the toys are referred as
sounds units). Aryakhastriyas, who have their mention in the
• I t points out that the inscriptions can be compared to Brahmanda Purana.
the structured messages found on stamps, coupons, • T hey are said to have migrated from Rajasthan in the
tokens and currency coins of modern times. 16th century to Kondappali and claims their origin to
• I n the publication, signs are classified into nine Muktharishi, a sage endowed with skills in arts and
functional classes. crafts by Lord Shiva.

• E pigraphic analysis claims that the inscribed seals and Details:

tablets were used in some administrative operation • T he art form which has got patronage from the rulers
that controlled the commercial transactions prevalent in ancient times is in decline due to
in the trade-savvy settlements of the ancient Indus
* Lack of profits
Valley Civilisation.
* Time taking to produce toys
• I t is said that these inscriptions can be compared to
the messages found on stamps, coupons, tokens * Influence of western art
and currency coins of modern times, where we * F act those younger generations not encouraged
expect formulaic texts that encode certain type of towards this art.
information in some pre-defined ways, rather than
freely composed narrative. • C
ompetition from Chinese machine made toys is their
main obstacle.
• A
common perception among some scholars is that
the Indus script is logo-syllabic, where one symbol • T hey spend 10-20 hours-a-day making a dozen
can be used as a word sign at one time and as a miniature buffaloes that are sold for a mere Rs. 300.
syllable-sign at another. This method, where a word- • W
hile they toil their lives away making these toys,
symbol also gets sometimes used only for its sound sustaining themselves in this competing age is major
value, is called the rebus principle. For example, you challenge
can combine the pictures of a honey bee and a leaf to
• Adding to their troubles is the scarcity of the ‘Tella
signify the word “belief” (bee+leaf).
Poniki’ wood, which gives the toys its unique
• H
owever, according to the research paper, the character. No other wood can be a replacement to
inscriptions found on the Indus seals and tablets have make these toys as Tella Poniki is malleable and can
not used rebus as the mechanism to convey meaning. be easily chiseled into the desired shape.
It is believed that this work could serve as a basis in the Way forward:
future for the deciphering of the script. • T he toys have a great demand both in abroad and in
3. Kondapalli Toys India.

Context: • I f the government sanctions us funds a timely manner,

imparts training to the younger generation, coupled
• K
ondapalli toy makers claim that, though platforms
with an incentive, the craft can regain its lost glory.
such as Lepakshi, Amazon and MyStateBazaar endorse
the products promoting the craft, such a promotion 4. Mogao Caves
has barely helped them in their sustenance.
• I t is also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes or
Kondapalli toys: Caves of the Thousand Buddhas
• Kondapalli Toys are the toys made of wood in • I t is Carved into the cliffs above the Dachuan River,
Kondapalli of Krishna district, a village nearby the Mogao Caves south-east of the Dunhuang
Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh. oasis, Gansu Province, comprise the largest, most
richly endowed, and longest used treasure house of
Buddhist art in the world.

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AUGUST-2019 96

• The Mogao Caves were inscribed on the World * The Prachi River is considered the holiest river in
Heritage List in 1987. the region and originates from the river Kuakhei
• M
ogao Grottoes are a treasure house of art, which is a tributary of river Mahanadi.
architecture, sculpture and painting with 735 * There are around 350 to 400 monuments
grottoes, over 45,000 square meters of murals and including temples, maths, ghats, structures and
2,000 painted sculptures. sites constructed during 7th century to 15th
Significance century AD along the 60 km stretch of the river

• T he murals and Buddha figures in these caves tell • A

rchaeological evidence reveals that the Prachi Valley
the historical and cultural ties between Chinese and Civilization predates, preexisted both Harappa and
Indian civilisations, and witness the light of inter- Mohenjo-Daro.
civilisational exchanges and mutual learning. • P
resently the parts of the modern day districts of
• I ndian-style sculptures can be seen in the Mogao Puri, Khurda, Cuttack and Jagatsingpur comprise the
Grottoes built during the 4th to 6th centuries. The Prachi valley region
moves of the most commonly seen Apsara figure Conclusions drawn from the Site
in Dunhuang murals are similar to those in Indian
• T here existed a rural settlement that had thrived at
classical dances.
the site about 3600 years ago.
• D
unhuang also keeps many ancient Buddhist sutras
• T hey worshiped single specimen of the Sun motif
written in Sanskrit and Pattra-Leaf Scripture, a wealth
found arrayed in chocolate-slipped pottery.
of information for China-India cultural exchanges.
* D
evotees from different parts of Odisha as
5. Nila Gumbad well as the neighbouring States congregated
at Chandrabhaga on the shore of the Bay of
• T he Nila Gumbad is one of the earliest Mughal era
Bengal on the occasion of Magha Saptami to pay
structure built in the 1530’s.
homage to Sun God
• I ts name is derived from the turquoise blue tiles that
• T he world famous Sun temple of Konark, located
cover its dome
some 30 kilometres from the excavation, was built
• I n 2017, Nila Gumbad was declared by UNESCO as a in the 13th century CE. The tradition of Sun worship
World Heritage Monument as part of the extended seems to have evolved with human settlements in the
Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site. region
Context • T he excavated remains indicate existence of
• M
inister of State for Culture and Tourism has opened Chalcolithic culture in the valley as attested by the
the entry for Nila Gumbad at Humayun Tomb presence of mud structural remains, large quantity
of potsherds, ground and polished stone tools, bone
Complex for general public during his visit.
tools, beads of semi-precious stones, terracotta
6. Prachi River Valley Civilisation objects, huge quantity of faunal remains and
carbonized grains.
Context
• T he inhabitants practiced agriculture and animal
• A team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) husbandry as attested by the findings of domesticated
was camping at Bharatihuda variety of rice and jute and evidence of domesticated
• T hey had discovered ancient artefacts and grain cattle among the faunal remains as well as terracotta
during excavations in Cuttack district in Odisha in bull figurine.
2018
7. Relics found by ASI in Maharastra’s Phupgaon
• T he age of the settlement was arrived at after
radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples found at the Context
site by the Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) • T he recent excavation carried out by Archaeological
in New Delhi using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Survey of India (ASI) at Maharashtra’s Phupgaon has
(AMS). revealed evidence of an Iron Age settlement in the
Prachi River Valley Civilization Vidarbha region.
• It flourished 3000 to 4000 years ago at Bharatihuda in About the site
the state of Odisha. Prachi Valley is believed to be the • T he site is situated in the vast meander of the river
birth place of Vaishnavism in Odisha. Purna, a major tributary of Tapi, which used to be a
• E very civilization we know sustained lived flourished perennial river, but at present is completely dried-up
around a river the prachi valley civilization too due to the dam construction in the upper stream.
prospered around the river Prachi. • T he site is situated about 20 m away from the river
bed and its one-third portion has been subjected to
frequent erosion during the heavy water current in
the earlier times.

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AUGUST-2019 97

• The river Purna, a major tributary of the river Tapi, has

witnessed several archaeological sites on its either
side of the banks.
• A
number of cultural remains in the form of various
antiquities and pottery have unraveled the nature of
those settlements ranging from Paleolithic to the late
medieval period.
Significance
• The excavation is significant as it indicates the
presence of sedentary (permanent) settlement,
belonging to the Iron Age of Vidarbha.
• T he settlement comes under the category of a
small village with evidence of a small agro-pastoral
community with evidence of craftsmanship in the
form of beads of agate-carnelian, jasper, quartz and
also usage of other artifacts like hopscotch, wheel,
and barrel-shaped beads.
• T he finding from Phupgaon indicates its
contemporaneity with other Iron Age settlements of
Vidarbha like Naikund, Mahurjhari, Bhagimori, and
Thakalkat.

8. Shyamoli
• ‘ Shyamoli’ is an experimental mud-house built at
Santiniketan in 1935.
• I t is the heritage house of Rabindranath Tagore that
has been recently renovated by the Archaeological
Survey of India as a deposit work and is a property of
Visva-Bharati at present.
• R
abindranath, out of a traumatic and claustrophobic
childhood-experience of his own education at school
within the boundaries of four walls, set up a school for
children at Santiniketan in 1901.
• H
e then built 5 new houses at the Northern corner
of the Santiniketan ashram which is now known
as Uttarayana and named them Konark, Udayan,
Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi.
• H
istory says that Shri. Rabindranath Tagore stayed in
these houses at various points of time and took special
interest in the planning of the houses according to his
requirements.
• H
e hoped that Shyamali would encourage poverty-
stricken families of rural Bengal to have earthen roofs
instead of thatched roofs prone to be destroyed in fire.
Large and empty earthen vessels were intentionally
placed inside the thick mud walls and roof of one of
the rooms of Shyamali for the purpose of introducing
a natural cooling system.
• R
abindranath immortalised this house by publishing
a book of Poems entitled ‘Shyamali’ in 1936.

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AUGUST-2019 98

GEOGRAPHY

1. Gj 357 d • The temperate region has the next highest abundance

followed by the tropical regions.
• It is super-Earth planet discovered by NASA’s Transiting
Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Soil Worms in Indian soils:
• T he exoplanet orbits a diminutive dwarf star and is • S oils from Western and Eastern Ghats of India and the
22% larger than the Earth. Himalayas were used for the study.
• There are two other exoplanets in the system. • M
any nematicides (a substance used to kill nematode
worms) have been indiscriminately used in our
• T he super-Earth has a thick atmosphere and may
agricultural fields, posing a major threat to their
possess water. survival.
2. Kajin Sara Lake • B
iological control methods can be used to save these
Context important organisms.

• A
newly-discovered lake named as Kajin Sara in Ecological Importance of Soil Worms:
Manang district in Nepal located at an altitude of • N
ematodes play a crucial role in the environment as
5,200 meters is likely to set a new world record of they are responsible for production of about 19% of
being the world’s highest lake. ammonia of the soil.
Details • T hey are also important bio indicators of soil
• I t is located at Singarkharka area of Chame rural ecosystem health.
municipality. • N
ematodes are responsible for around 2.2% of the
• C
urrently, Tilicho lake in Nepal, which is situated at total carbon emission from soils.
an altitude of 4,919 metres in the Himalayan nation, • P
redicting climate change requires that we
holds the title. understand global carbon and nutrient cycles.
• I mproving our understanding of these organisms at
3. Mapping of Soil Worms
a global level is critical if we are going to understand
Context and address climate change.
• A team of over 50 researchers collected over 6,500
soil samples from all seven continents of the world 4. Perseid Meteor Shower
and found that there are about 57 billion nematodes Meteoroid
for every human being on Earth.
• T he small pieces of rocks which move around the sun
Soil Worms: are called meteoroids. A meteoroid is a small rock or
• S oil worms (nematodes) are roundworms and their particle of debris in our solar system.
size can vary from a tiny 0.2 millimetre to a few metres. Meteor
• T here are 57 billion nematodes for every human • A
meteor is the streak of light that you see in the
being on Earth. sky when a small piece of cometary or asteroidal
• T heir total biomass comes to around 300 million material enters the atmosphere at high speed and
tonnes which is about 80% of the combined weight burns up because of the frictional heating from the
of Earth’s humans. piece’s collision with the atoms and molecules in the
atmosphere.
Details of the Mapping:
• A
meteoroid that burns up as it passes through the
• The study was done only on the top 15 cm of soil. Earth’s atmosphere is known as a meteor.
• A
t 38% of the total, sub-Arctic regions have the • A
meteor is popularly termed a ‘shooting star’ or
highest abundance of nematodes. ‘falling star’.
• S oil organic matter content is the key driver for Meteorite
nematode abundance.
• T he part of a meteoroid or asteroid that survives the
• T he low temperature and high moisture in the sub- passage through our atmosphere and reaches the
Arctic regions reduce the decomposition rate of Earth’s surface.
organic matter.
• T his leads to accumulation of organic matter and the
nematodes happily thrive on them

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AUGUST-2019 99

• L argest Meteor Crater: A meteor crater in Arizona

(USA) is 4,200 ft (1,300 m) deep is the largest meteor
crater in the world. It was formed over 10,000 years
ago.
Meteor Shower
• W
ell, comets, like Earth and the other planets, also
orbit the sun.
• U
nlike the nearly circular orbits of the planets, the
orbits of comets are usually quite lop-sided.
• A
s a comet gets closer to the sun, some of its icy
surface boils off, releasing lots of particles of dust and
rock.
• A
meteor shower happens when Earth passes through
the path of a comet.
• W
hen this happens, the bits of comet debris, most no
larger than a grain of sand, create streaks of light in
the night sky as they burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
• O
n any night, there are several small meteors which
shoot across the sky. However, during a meteor
shower, tens to hundreds of meteors can be seen
each hour
Perseid Meteor Shower
• M
eteor showers are generally named after the
constellation in which they appear to originate; thus
the Perseids appear to originate in the constellation
Perseus and the Leonids in the constellation Leo.
• T he Perseids occur as the Earth runs into pieces of
cosmic debris left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle.
• M
eteors are best seen on a cloudless night, when
the entire sky is visible, and when the Moon is not
extremely bright. Chances of a successful viewing are
higher from locations far away from the lights of cities.
Pollution and monsoon clouds make the Perseids
difficult to view from India.
Context
• S everal meteor showers can be seen around the year.
Among the brightest and best known of them is the
Perseid Meteor Shower, which has been active from
July 17 onward, and can be seen until August 26.
• A
ccording to the International Meteor Organisation,
the Perseid Showers will be followed in 2019 by
* t he Orionids (between October 2 and November
7, peaking around October 21-22),
* t he Leonids (from November 6-30, peaking
around November 16-17),
* t he Geminids (from December 4-17, peaking
around December 13-14), and
* T he Ursids (from December 17-26, peaking
around December 21-22).

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AUGUST-2019 100

EDUCATION

1. NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads and About the drive
Teachers Holistic Advancement) • I t is a time bound campaign with a mission mode
Context approach.

• U
nion HRD Minister launches NISHTHA to build • T his concept of water conservation is essential for
capacities of government teachers across the country students so that they can understand the importance
of water and how it is shaping their lives meaningfully,
Details thereby enabling them to participate in water
• I t is a training programme which will motivate and conservation activities in their day to day lives.
equip teachers to encourage and foster critical • M
HRD has launched the ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal
thinking in students Suraksha’ drive to promote water conservation
• S tandardized training modules are developed at activities for School Students, so that they can
national level for all States and UTs. become competent, conscientious and committed
water citizens of our nation
* H
owever, States and UTs can contextualize the
training modules and use their own material and Five Major Objectives:
resource persons also, keeping in view the core • To educate students learn about conservation of
topics and expected outcomes of NISHTHA. water
• The training Modules for NISHTHA have been • T o sensitize Students about the impact of scarcity of
developed through a consultative process involving water
the suggestions from the States and UTs and CBSE,
KVS, NVS, School Principals and Non-Governmental • T o empower Students to learn to protect the natural
Organizations, such as Kaivalya Foundation, Tata Trust, sources of water
Azim Premji Foundation and Aurobindo Society. • T o help every Student to save at least one litre of water
• T his mega capacity building programme has been per day
integrated with technology to ensure smooth • T o encourage Students towards judicious use and
facilitation, availability of digital content and minimum wastage of water at home and school level
technology enabled teaching methods to support
the teachers. 3. Shagun
* A Mobile App and Learning Management System Context
(LMS) based on MOODLE (Modular Object-
• U
nion Human Resource Development Minister
Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) have
launched one of world’s largest Integrated Online
been developed by NCERT
Junction for – School Education ‘Shagun’
• I n order to ensure sustainable impact on classroom
About the initiative
transactions, this integrated training programme is
embedded with post training interventions including • S chool Education Shagun (URL: htpp://shagun.govt.
provision of mentoring. in/) is an over-arching initiative to improve school
education system
Impact
• T his is done by creating a junction for all online
• T his integrated programme aims to build the
portals and websites relating to various activities of
capacities of around 42 lakh participants covering
the Department of School Education and Literacy
all teachers and Heads of Schools at the elementary
in the Government of India and all States and Union
level in all Government schools, faculty members of
Territories.
State Councils of Educational Research and Training
(SCERTs), District Institutes of Education and Training • S hagun is coined from two different words- ‘Shala’
(DIETs) as well as Block Resource Coordinators and meaning Schools and ‘Gunvatta’ meaning Quality.
Cluster Resource Coordinators in all States and UTs. • T his online junction of different websites and portals
into a single platform will enhance the accessibility
2. ‘Samagra Shiksha-Jal Suraksha’ Drive of information relating to schools and will ensure a
Context holistic approach to transform education sector.
• U
nion HRD Minister will launch ‘Samagra Shiksha- • The portal seeks to connect approximately 92 lakh
Jal Suraksha’ drive to create awareness about Water teachers and 26 crore students.
Conservation among all school students in the
country.

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AUGUST-2019 101

Major focus of the portal • The scheme focusses on a viable industry-academic

collaboration where industry shares a part of the cost
• R
einforcing and cleaning the data of the Integrated
Online Junction through feedback from Stakeholders of research.
• E nsuring full inter-operability among the websites, 5. Urkund
portals and applications which are already hosted in
• U
RKUND is a completely automated system against
the junction
plagiarism (Anti-plagiarism software)
• C
reating high quality e-contents, including quizzes
• U
RKUND’s system checks all documents against three
and puzzles to enhance learning and also for teachers
central source areas:
in aiding classroom transactions
* The Internet
• U
sing artificial intelligence and deep machine
learning in a variety of ways to enhance the quality of * Published material such as Journals, Books etc.
school education including for designing evidence- * P
reviously submitted student material (e.g.
based inventions. memoranda, case studies and examination
4. TechEx works)
Context
• U
nion Human Resource Development Minister
inaugurated the TechEx – technology exhibition at IIT
Delhi
About TechEx
• T echEx was organized to demonstrate products
and prototypes developed under the two flagship
schemes of the Ministry of Human Resource
Development (MHRD) namely IMPacting Research,
INnovation and Technology (IMPRINT) and Uchhatar
Avishkar Yojana (UAY).
• T echEx is a unique effort, which offers an excellent
platform to the researchers to showcase their work
and inspire them to do their best in their respective
domains.
• S ome prominent among the exhibits were non-
invasive and low-cost rapid TB diagnostics, artificial
pancreas for closed loop blood glucose control of
type-I diabetic patients, affordable cancer diagnosis/
treatment, electric vehicle charger, etc.
IMPRINT scheme
• I t was launched in November, 2015 with a view to
providing solutions to the most relevant engineering
challenges by translating knowledge into viable
technology (products or processes) in 10 selected
technology domains.
• T he domains are namely health care, energy,
sustainable habitat, nano-technology hardware,
water resources and river systems, advanced
materials, Information and Communication
Technology, manufacturing, security and defence,
and environmental science and climate change.
UchhatarAvishkar Yojana (UAY)
• U
chhatarAvishkar Yojana (UAY) was announced in
2015 with a view to promoting innovation of a higher
order that directly impacts the needs of the Industry
and thereby improves the competitive edge of Indian
manufacturing.
• U
AY projects are funded jointly by MHRD, participating
Ministries and the Industry

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AUGUST-2019 102

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) 2. Kerala Landslides

• I t is a global partnership of national governments, Context
United Nations Agencies, multilateral development • L andslides caused by heavy rain wreaked havoc in
banks, the private sector and academic institutions Kerala claiming human lives and destroying vast
that aims to promote resilience of infrastructure tracks of agricultural lands
systems to climate and disaster risks.
Natural Causes
• T he CDRI will serve as a platform where knowledge
is generated and exchanged on different aspects of • R
ising ocean temperatures are resulting in large
climate and disaster resilience of infrastructure. fluctuations in the monsoon winds, so it occasionally
ends up in surges of moisture from the Arabian Sea
• T he CDRI will focus on resilient economic infrastructure being dumped over peninsular India.
(like transport, telecom, energy, and water), social
infrastructure (like health and education) and * The rise in extreme rainfall events over India from
ecological infrastructure, with a particular focus on 1950 to 2018 is about threefold.
meeting the needs of the most vulnerable. • M
eteorological data indicate that Malappuram
The CDRI will be developed around following thematic received 512% and 248% excess rainfall on August 7
areas: and 8, respectively.
• risk governance and policy; * In Wayanad, the rain was beyond normal by
312% and 867%, respectively, on the same days.
• risk identification and estimation;
• Extreme rain events caused by climate change and
• standards and regulation; inadequate early warning measures have made
• institutional mechanisms for capacity development; matters worse.
• application of emerging technologies; Reasons for Landslide- Anthropological causes
• recovery and reconstruction; • T here is rampant exploitation of the Western Ghats by
the various quarrying and construction companies for
• Social and community capacities.
extracting minerals.
Major Impact:
* The two factors that lead to landslides are
• I t will create a mechanism to assist countries to triggering factors and the co-operative factors
upgrade their capacities and practices, with regard to
* T he triggering factor in this case is obviously the
infrastructure development in accordance with their
heavy rainfall and one of the major co-operative
risk context and economic needs.
factors that lead to the landslides is quarrying
• T his initiative will benefit all sections of society. and Quarrying causes rapid landscape changes.
Economically weaker sections of society, women
• I n a research conducted by Kerala Forest Research
and children, are the most vulnerable to the impacts
Institute (KFRI), it was found that 25 out of the 31
of disasters and hence, will be benefitted from the
locations which experienced landslides came under
improvement of knowledge and practice in creating
the Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ), identified by
disaster resilient infrastructure.
the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) in
• I t will also benefit all areas with high disaster risk. In 2011.
India, the north-eastern and Himalayan regions are
* The Gadgil report, as it is popularly known as,
prone to earthquakes, coastal areas to cyclones and
recommended strict regulation on development
tsunamis and central peninsular region to droughts.
activities including quarrying, mining and
Context infrastructure projects such as roads, railways
• T he Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri lines.
Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval for • P
ost-Disaster Needs Assessment conducted by the
the Establishment of an International Coalition for United Nations Development Programme in the wake
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) along with its of the 2018 floods and the draft Rebuild Kerala road
supporting Secretariat Office in New Delhi. map have made it clear that current land use pattern,
changes in land cover, blocking of natural drains by
way of constructions and poor agricultural practices
including monocropping have all exacerbated the
risk of landslides.

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AUGUST-2019 103

• At Puthumala, unscientific constructions that • Scientists believe that micro-level mapping

interrupted natural drains played a role in multiplying of landslide prone areas and efficient disaster
the magnitude of minor slides that generally occur in management system in a people-oriented manner
forest areas are the need of the hour.
• M
ost regions with a slope of more than 20 degrees
are prone to landslides. Eight per cent of Kerala is
classified as a critical zone for mass movements.
* Further, since the 19th century, over 50% of
land with tropical forests and grasslands has
been converted to monoculture plantations and
agricultural fields.
* T his has made the terrain much more vulnerable
to landslides
• Construction of resorts and high rises has increased in
landslide-prone areas.
Environmental norms for mining diluted
• I n 2017, Kerala Govt brought in a major amendment
to the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession (KMMC)
Rules, 2015, as far as permissible limits for quarrying
operations were concerned.
* The new amendment brought in made no
distinction between quarrying using explosives
and quarrying without using explosives.
• I t further reduced the minimum permissible distance
limit from 100 metres to 50 metres from residential
buildings, reservoirs, tanks, canals, rivers, bridges, and
other public works.
• I n February 2018, the state government brought in
another amendment to KMMC Rules, 2015.
* This time it scrapped the No Objection
Certification (NOC) required from the District
Collector for the mining of sand and clay, thereby
easing the rules for acquiring licenses.
Impact on the agricultural Sector
• L andslides have affected large plantation areas
forcing companies to close down estates
• T ea plantations in Munnar covering seven estates— is
anticipating 20-25 per cent crop loss due to the 18-19-
inch downpour.
• I nundation in several low-lying areas has affected the
cardamom crop
• R
ubber Board officials said that the heavy rains have
hampered tapping in many plantations
Way forward
• A
n improvement in weather forecast models and early
warning systems would reduce the human losses.
• A
ll activities that trigger landslides should be
regulated strictly, Institutions and bureaucrats who
grant permission for these projects with absence of
due process should be held accountable for the loss
of human lives and property.
• A
multisector approach should be envisaged to
formulate a comprehensive land use policy

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AUGUST-2019 104

MISCELLANEOUS

1. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award • This conference was organized with the aim to impart
critical competencies (i.e. empathy, compassion,
• These awards are given to recognize the achievements
mindfulness, and critical inquiry) in global youth
of persons in the fields of adventure. The awardees
to inspire, empower and enable them to transform
will be facilitated by President Ram Nath Kovind at the
themselves and build long-lasting peace in their
Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29.
communities.
• T hey will receive statuettes, certificates and award
• Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, the conference
money of Rs 5 lakh each.
aimed to provide global youth and policymakers an
• T he award is given in four categories namely, land, innovative, engaging and inspiring platform to come
water, air adventure and lifetime achievement. together and discover ground-breaking pathways to
* T his year, National Selection Committee was achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development
constituted under the chairpersonship of Youth Goals (SDGs).
Affairs Secretary. • T heme of the conference – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam:
• T he awards are given to encourage young people Gandhi for the Contemporary World: Celebrating the
to develop the spirit of endurance, risk-taking, 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’.
cooperative teamwork and quick, ready and effective Context:
reflexes in challenging situations and to provide
an incentive to them for getting exposed to the • The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind,
adventure activities. inaugurated the first World Youth Conference on
Kindness
Context
• The names of the winners of the Tenzing Norgay
National Adventure Awards were announced by the
government

2. Underground Bunker Museum

• T he bunker was created in the 19th century which
dates back to the pre-World War I era
• I t was used to fire cannons at approaching enemy
ships
Current Status
• T he 15,000 square feet underground bunker museum
has virtual reality booths in which visitors can “time
travel” to the 19th century
• T he bunker resembles a fort and is made up of 13
rooms, which can be accessed by passing through a
20-foot-tall gate
• The underground passage has a proper drainage
system and inlets for fresh air and light.
Context
• President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the
underground Bunker Museum at Raj Bhavan in
Mumbai.

3. World Youth Conference on Kindness

• The first World Youth Conference on Kindness is being
organized by the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute
of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development,
Ministry of Human Resource Development

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AUGUST-2019 105

PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Consider the following statements: A. 1 only
1. CAG can be removed by the President in the manner, B. 2 only
same as removal of a Supreme Court Judge. C. Both 1 and 2
2. CAG is eligible to hold any office, under the D. Neither 1 nor 2
Government of India or of any state, once he retires/
resigns as a CAG. 6. Consider the following statements:
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? 1. ICRA is a professional investment information and
credit rating agency established by the Government of
A. 1 only India.
B. 2 only 2. ICRA credit ratings are assigned on an Indian
C. Both 1 and 2 credit rating scale for Indian Rupee dominated debt
obligations.
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
2. As per the recent Tiger Census report, which of the
following states has the highest number of tigers? A. 1 only
A. West Bengal B. 2 only
B. Karnataka C. Both 1 and 2
C. Uttarakhand D. Neither 1 nor 2
D. Madhya Pradesh 7. Consider the following statements:
3. Consider the following statements with respect to 1. Equalisation levy is a direct tax.
River Godavari:
2. This new tax is levied on non-resident digital
1. It flows through Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra advertising companies
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
2. Manjra is a right bank tributary of River Godavari. A. 1 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? B. 2 only
A. 1 only C. Both 1 and 2
B. 2 only D. Neither 1 nor 2
C. Both 1 and 2 8. The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution deals
D. Neither 1 nor 2 with the administration and control of Scheduled
Areas and Scheduled Tribes in the states of:
4. Consider the following statements:
A. Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura
1. El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual
warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific B. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh
Ocean C. Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
2. During the Positive IOD, the eastern equatorial Indian D. Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram
Ocean off Sumatra in Indonesia becomes colder than
normal . 9. Consider the following statements:
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? 1. Deepor Beel is a wetland on the western edge of
Guwahati..
A. 1 only
2. It is listed as a Ramsar Site.
B. 2 only
Which of the given statement is/are correct?
C. Both 1 and 2
A. 1 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2
B. 2 only
5. Consider the following statements:
C. Both 1and 2
1. Komodo dragon is the world’s largest lizard species.
D. Neither 1 nor 2
2. It is classified as Extinct in the IUCN Red List.
10. Consider the following statements
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
1. Anandamath is a novel by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
2. It is based on Faraizi Revolt.

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AUGUST-2019 106

Which of the given statement is/are correct? 15. What are the expected benefits of the Recapitalization
scheme announced for Public Sector Banks?
A. 1 only
1. Increasing lending to MSMEs through time-bound
B. 2 only
automated processing and transparent status-tracking.
C. Both 1and 2
2. Meet the production credit requirements of the
D. Neither 1 nor 2 farmers
11. The oath of office to the Governor is administered by: 3. Increasing access to banking services from home
A. The President of India and mobile through digital banking and enhanced
customer ease.
B. The Chief Justice of the concerned state high court
Which of the given statement is/are correct?
C. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
A. 1 only
D. None of the above
B. 1 and 2 only
12. Which of the following is/are correct about
earthquakes? C. 1 and 3 only

1. An earthquake’s point of initial rupture is called its D. All statements are correct
focus or hypocenter. 16. With reference to the Madras Mahajana Sabha formed
2. The epicenter is the point at ground level directly in 1884, who were the founding members?
above the hypocenter. 1. Ramaswami Mudhaliyar
Which of the given statement is/are correct? 2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty
A. 1 only 3. Anandacharlu
B. 2 only Choose the correct option?
C. Both 1and 2 A. 1 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2 B. 1 and 3 only
13. In the context of international trade, consider the C. 2 only
statements about INSTEX mechanism.
D. 1, 2 and 3 only
1. It is a payment channel with Iran to circumvent US
17. Which of the following countries are members of the
sanctions.
European Union at present?
2. It is an initiative formulated by the ASEAN countries.
1. Belarus
3. India is also a signatory to the mechanism.
2. Iceland
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
3. Greece
A. 1 only
Options:
B. 1 and 2 only
A. 1 only
C. 1 and 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
D. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
14. With reference to the The Right Of Children To Free
And Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2019, D. 3 only
Consider the following statements 18. Which rebellion was led by the two brothers, Sidhu
1. There will not be any regular examination till eighth and Kanhu?
standard. A. Santhal Rebellion
2. Holding back of students in the same class will not be B. Kuka Rebellion
permitted till eighth standard.
C. Mappila Rebellion
3. No child shall be expelled from a school till the
completion of elementary education. D. Ramosi Rebellion
Which of the given statement is/are correct? 19. With reference to Walvis Bay, which of the following
statements are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
1. It is located on the west coast of the African continent.
B. 1 and 3 only
2. Recently, China opened a port terminal near the Bay.
C. 3 only
3. The Bay is located near Mali.
D. 1, 2 and 3

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AUGUST-2019 107

Options: 24. The concept of Tirthankaras is related with which of

the following philosophies?
A. 1 only
A. Buddhism
B. 1 and 2 only
B. Jainism
C. 1 and 3 only
C. Sikhism
D. 1, 2 and 3
D. Bhakti Movement
20. Which of the following organizations published the
‘Global Risks Report, 2019’? 25. Consider the statements about Reserve Bank of India:
A. International Monetary Fund 1. The Reserve Bank of India was established in the year
1857.
B. United Nations Environment Program
2. The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially
C. World Economic Forum
established in Calcutta but was permanently moved to
D. World Bank Mumbai.
21. Consider the statements about the World Trade 3. Though originally privately owned, since
Organization: nationalization in 1949, the Reserve Bank is fully owned
1. It is the only global international organization dealing by the Government of India.
with the rules of trade between nations. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
2. WTO agreements negotiated and signed by the A. 1 only
bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their
B. 1 and 2 only
parliaments.
C. 1 and 3 only
3. The primary purpose of the WTO is to open trade for
the benefit of all. D. 2 and 3 only
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 26. Which of the following sites in India have been
recognized as Wetlands of International Importance
A. 1 only
by the Ramsar convention?
B. 1 and 2 only
1. Bhitakarnika
C. 1 and 3 only
2. Rudrasagar
D. 1, 2 and 3
3. Sundarban
22. Which of the following languages have been
Options:
recognized as classical languages by the Government
of India? A. 1 Only
1. Tamil B. 1 and 2 only
2. Odiya C. 1, 2 and 3
3. Braj bhasha D. 1 and 3 only
Options: 27. Which of the following states in India shares boundary
with only one more Indian state?
A. 1 only
1. Sikkim
B. 1 and 2 only
2. Tripura
C. 1, 2 and 3
3. Meghalaya
D. 1 and 3 only
Options:
23. Which of the following were founded by Raja Ram
Mohan Roy? A. 1 only
1. Brahmo Samaj B. 1 and 2 only
2. Tattwabodhini Sabha C. 1, 2 and 3
3. Atmiya Sabha D. 1 and 3 only
Options: 28. What is the similarity shared by between Ammu
Swaminathan, Sucheta Kriplani and Hansa Mehta?
A. 1 only
A. Presidents of the Indian National Congress
B. 1 and 2 only
B. Members of the Constituent Assembly
C. 1, 2 and 3
C. Delegates of the Round Table Conferences.
D. 1 and 3 only
D. Signatories to the Lahore Pact

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AUGUST-2019 108

29. Arrange the following National Parks in India from 34. Consider the following statements:
north to south: 1. The “Apex Body for Disaster Management” in India is
1. Valley of Flowers the National Disaster Response Force
2. Bandipur 2. NDRF is a specialised force constituted under the
Disaster Management Act, 2005.
3. Velavadar
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
4. Sariska
A. 1 only
Options:
B. 2 only
A. 1-2-4-3
C. Both 1 and 2
B. 4-2-1-3
D. Neither 1 nor 2
C. 1-4-2-3
35. Consider the following statements:
D. 1-4-3-2
1. CITES is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered
30. Which of the following languages in India have been
animals only.
included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution?
2. CITES is legally binding on the Parties.
1. Bodo
Which of the given statement/s is/are incorrect?
2. Sindhi
A. 1 only
3. Maithili
B. 2 only
Options:
C. Both 1 and 2
A. 1 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2
B. 1 and 2 only
36. Consider the following statements:
C. 1, 2 and 3
1. Bills introduced by Ministers are referred to as
D. 1 and 3 only
government bills.
31. Which of the following books were NOT authored by
2. Government bills are backed by the government.
Jawaharlal Nehru?
Which of the given statement/s is/are incorrect?
1. The Discovery of India
A. 1 only
2. Glimpses of World History
B. 2 only
3. Hind Swaraj
C. Both 1 and 2
Options:
D. Neither 1 nor 2
A. 3 only
37. “Tanyeishang”, recently seen in news is:
B. 1 and 2 only
A. A traditional way of salt making practiced in
C. 1, 2 and 3
Nagaland
D. 1 and 3 only
B. A traditional timekeeping method followed by the
32. Dampa Tiger Reserve is located in which state? Manipuri rulers
A. Nagaland C. A traditional form of painting practiced by tribes in
B. Assam Assam

C. Meghalaya D. None of the above

D. Mizoram 38. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve includes which of the

following National Parks?
33. Consider the following statements:
1. Nagarhole national park
1. Godavari is India’s second largest river
2. Bandipur national park
2. It originates near Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra
3. Silent Valley national park
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
Choose the correct option:
A. 1 only
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
C. 2 and 3 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2
D. 1, 2 and 3

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AUGUST-2019 109

39. Consider the following statements: A. 3 only

1. The source of Krishna River is at Mahabaleshwar in B. 1 and 2 only
Maharashtra. C. 1, 2 and 3
2. The river empties into the Arabian Sea. D. 1 and 3 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are incorrect? 44. Consider the following statements:
A. 1 only 1. Soil worms (nematodes) are roundworms and their
B. 2 only size can vary from a tiny 0.2 millimetre to a few metres.
C. Both 1 and 2 2. Nematodes are responsible for around 2.2% of the
total carbon emission from soils.
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
40. Consider the following statements:
A. 1 only is correct
1. Rotavirus disease is caused by a virus that is highly
contagious. B. 2 only is correct
2. Rotavirus damages the cells that line the small C. Both 1 and 2 are correct
intestine and causes gastroenteritis D. Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? 45. Consider the following statements:
A. 1 only 1. ‘Operation Sagar Rani’ was launched to create
B. 2 only awareness and find evidence of formalin adulteration
in fishes.
C. Both 1 and 2
2. It was launched in the state of Goa.
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
41. What is the importance of ‘Falaq’ in international
security? A. 1 only
A. It is a nuclear powered sub marine commissioned B. 2 only
by India C. Both 1 and 2
B. It is an anti-satellite system developed by Israel. D. Neither 1 nor 2
C. It is a locally upgraded radar system developed by 46. Consider the following statements:
Iran.
1. Formaldehyde is highly reactive and flammable gas.
D. It is a missile developed by North Korea.
2. Formaldehyde occurs naturally in plants and animals
42. With reference to the Food Safety and Standards as a result of their own metabolism.
Authority of India (FSSAI), consider the following
statements: Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
1. FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the A. 1 only
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare B. 2 only
2. The authority consists of a Chairperson and twenty- C. Both 1 and 2
two members out of which 50% shall be women.
D. Neither 1 nor 2
3. It has published ‘The Pink Book: Your Guide for Safe
and Nutritious Food at Home’. 47. Consider the following statements:

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? 1. Uranium is a radioactive chemical element.

A. 1 only 2. Largest viable deposits of Uranium are found in India.

B. 1 and 2 only Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

C. 2 and 3 only A. 1 only

D. 1 and 3 only B. 2 only

43. The Kanchenjunga landscape is shared by which of C. Both 1 and 2

the following countries? D. Neither 1 nor 2
1. India 48. Ambubachi Mela is
2. Nepal A. an annual festival held on Makar Sankranti in Kerala,
3. Bhutan at the shrine of Sabarimala.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? B. an annual chariot festival popular in the state of
Odisha

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AUGUST-2019 110

C. a festival of the Jaintia tribe, celebrated in the 54. Green Mahanadi Mission has been launched in
month of July for good health, property and A. Odisha
bumper harvest
B. Chattisgarh
D. a festival to mark the annual menstruation of the
goddess at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati C. West Bengal
49. Consider the following statements: D. Andhra Pradesh
1. Agenda 21 is an action plan of the United Nations 55. “Rama Chiluka” is the state bird of
with regard to sustainable development. A. Tamil Nadu
2. It is a non-binding action plan. B. Andhra Pradesh
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? C. Karnataka
A. 1 only D. Kerala
B. 2 only 56. Consider the following statements:
C. Both 1 and 2 1. Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan was initiated as part of
D. Neither 1 nor 2 the Forest Interventions in Ganga (FIG) component of
Namami Gange Programme.
50. Basel Convention deals with:
2. Under the program, plantation activities are being
A. Sustainable Development carried out, all along the banks of the River Ganga with
B. Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes participation of local people.
and their Disposal 3. It is being organised in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,
C. Ozone layer depletion Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
D. Trans-boundary Movements of Genetically Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
Modified Organisms A. 1 and 2 only
51. Consider the following statements: B. 2 and 3 only
1. The Liaquat–Nehru Pact was a bilateral treaty between C. 1 only
India and Pakistan.
D. 1, 2 and 3
2. The pact agreed to guarantee full right to the
minorities and to accord them the status of citizens. 57. With reference to the importance of ‘kolam’ in the
cultural landscape of India, consider the following
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? statements.
A. 1 only 1. It is a traditional way of drawing practiced across the
B. 2 only North Eastern states.
C. Both 1 and 2 2. It is believed to bring prosperity to homes.
D. Neither 1 nor 2 3. It is made using rice flour.
52. Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. Chattisgarh A. 1 only
B. Odisha B. 1 and 2 only
C. Maharashtra C. 2 and 3 only
D. Assam D. 1, 2 and 3 only
53. Consider the following statements: 58. With reference to the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood
and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, consider
1. Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram is an initiative targeting
the following statements:
livelihood generation for tribal population by
harnessing the wealth of forest. 1. KALIA is a Central Sector Scheme
2. Van Dhan Kendras are the implementing agencies of 2. The scheme was launched to accelerate agricultural
Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram. prosperity and eliminate poverty.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? 3. Under the scheme, both landed and landless farmers
will be assisted with financial aid
A. 1 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are NOT correct?
B. 2 only
A. 1 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2 B. 1 and 2 only

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AUGUST-2019 111

C. 2 and 3 only C. An Executive Council only

D. 1 and 3 only D. The President and the Chief Justice of India
59. A population of Tiwa tribe inhabit which among the 64. Which of the following products of Tamil Nadu have
following states of India? been awarded with a GI tag?
A. Tamil Nadu 1. Palani Panchamirtham
B. Assam 2. Toda Embroidery
C. Punjab 3. Kolhapur Jaggery
D. Madhya Pradesh Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
60. Consider the following statements: A. 1 only
1. Kondapalli toys are made in Odisha. B. 2 only
2. Thanjavur dolls are made in Tamil Nadu. C. 1 and 2 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? D. 1 and 3 only
A. 1 only is correct 65. Which of the following states in India share
international border with Bhutan?
B. 2 only is correct
1. Assam
C. Both 1 and 2 are correct
2. Arunachal Pradesh
D. Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
3. West Bengal
61. With reference to the Santhal Rebellion, consider the
following statements: Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
1. The Santhals, led by the brothers, Sidhu and Kanhu A. 1 and 2 only
Murmu started a rebellion against the British in 1855- B. 1 and 3 only
56.
C. 2 and 3 only
2. Santhals are a tribal group concentrated in the state
of Gujarat. D. 1, 2 and 3 only
3. They engaged in guerrilla warfare. 66. Consider the following statements about the visible
spectrum of light.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
1. The Red colour has the highest wavelength.
A. 1 only
2. The Violet colour has the highest frequency.
B. 1 and 2 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
C. 1 and 3 only
A. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 2 only
62. With reference to the e-Court Mission Mode Project
(MMP), consider the following statements: C. Both 1 and 2
1. It was conceptualized with a vision to transform the D. Neither 1 nor 2
Indian judiciary by making use of technology. 67. With reference to the festival of Navroz, consider the
2. The services offered by e-Courts include automation following statements:
of Case Management Processes and creation of National 1. It is a festival followed by the Jain community.
Judicial Data Grid agencies.
2. It is celebrated on the birthday of the first Thirtankara.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. 1 only
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
63. Which of the following authorities comprise the
Nuclear Command Authority of India? 68. The four holy places, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri
and Yamunotri, known as Char Dham are situated in
A. A Political Council and an Executive Council which state of India?
B. A Political Council only A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Haryana

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AUGUST-2019 112

C. Uttarakhand B. 2 only
D. Uttar Pradesh C. 1 and 2 only
69. Consider the following statements: D. 1, 2 and 3
1. Lake Chilka is the largest brackish water lagoon in the 74. Consider the following statements:
world. 1. UDAN Scheme is a part of the National Civil Aviation
2. It was the first lake from India to be designated as a Policy (NCAP).
wetland of international importance under the Ramsar 2. It is funded jointly by the GoI and the state
Convention. governments.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. 1 only A. 1 only
B. 2 only B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2 C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
70. Consider the following statements: 75. Consider the following statements:
1. Loktak lake is the largest fresh water lake in North 1. The Moplah Rebellion of 1921 erupted in the Malabar
Eastern India. region of present-day Kerala.
2. It has the only floating national park in the world. 2. The Khilafat Movement meetings in Malabar incited
Which of the following statement/s is/are correct? communal feelings among the Moplahs.
A. 1 only 3. The rebellion was aimed against the British as well as
the Hindu landlords of Malabar.
B. 2 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
C. Both 1 and 2
A. 1 and 2 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2
B. 2 and 3 only
71. Consider the following pairs:
C. 1 only
A. Palani Panchamritam : Tamil Nadu
D. 1, 2 and 3
B. Tawlhlohpuan: Assam
76. Consider the following statements:
C. Mizo Puanchei : Mizoram
1. Koodiyattam is a classical dance of India
D. Tirur betel: Kerala
2. It is a combination of ancient Sanskrit theatre with
72. Consider the following statements:
elements of Koothu a Tamil/Malayalam performing art
1. ‘Shyamoli’ is an experimental mud-house built at
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
Santiniketan in 1935.
A. 1 only
2. It is the heritage house of Rabindranath Tagore.
B. 2 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
C. Both 1 and 2
A. 1 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2
B. 2 only
77. Consider the following statements:
C. Both 1 and 2
1. Radcliffe Line was revealed on the 15th of August
D. Neither 1 nor 2
1947.
73. Consider the following statements:
2. The Radcliffe Line was the boundary demarcation
1. Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is a defence contractor line between the Indian and Pakistani portions of the
owned by the Indian government. Punjab and Bengal provinces of British India.
2. It is called the Fourth Arm of Defence. Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
3. It is the largest defence equipment manufacturer in A. 1 Only
India.
B. 2 Only
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
C. Both 1 and 2
A. 1 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2

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AUGUST-2019 113

78. Consider the following statements: 83. Consider the following statements with reference to
Guru Ravidas:
1. Jagoi is an Indian classical dance form.
1. Guru Ravidas was born in the 6th century in present-
2. Its region of origin is Manipur. day Tamil Nadu.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? 2. He was a social reformer and a part of the Bhakti
A. 1 only movement.
B. 2 only Which of the statement/s is/are correct?
C. Both 1 and 2 A. 1 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2 B. 2 only
79. Which of the following constitutes restructured C. Both 1 and 2
assets/loans? D. Neither 1 nor 2
A. Loans with extended repayment period 84. With reference to Greenland, consider the following
B. Loans with reduced interest rate statements:
C. Converting a part of the loan into equity 1. Greenland is the world’s largest island.
D. All of the above 2. It is an autonomous territory of the United Kingdom.
80. Consider the following statements: 3. The U.S. has a military base on the island.
1. SCO is a European political, economic, and military Which of the statement/s is/are correct?
organisation. A. 1 only
2. The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is B. 2 only
a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO). C. 1 and 3 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? D. 1 and 2 only
A. 1 only 85. Consider the following statements about Kutch
region in Gujarat:
B. 2 only
1. Kutch is the largest district in India.
C. Both 1 and 2
2. Rann Utsav is an annual festival held in the region.
D. Neither 1 nor 2
3. Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary is located in the Kutch
81. Consider the following statements: region.
1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total market Which of the statement/s is/are correct?
value of all the finished goods and services produced
within a country’s borders in a specific time period. A. 2 only
2. Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for the B. 1 and 2 only
compilation of GDP. C. 1 and 3 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? D. 1, 2 and 3 only
A. 1 only 86. Consider the following statements:
B. 2 only 1. CPEC is a joint project between Pakistan and China
C. Both 1 and 2 involving a network of highways, railways and oil and
gas pipelines and fiber optic cables from China to the
D. Neither 1 nor 2 Pakistani coast.
82. What is the importance of NISHTHA programme in 2. The CPEC is part of China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’
India’s education sector? initiative’.
A. It is a scheme to promote sports education in Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
schools.
A. 1 only
B. It is a financial inclusion programme to bring
every student in Indian Universities under B. 2 only
institutionalised banking systems. C. Both 1 and 2
C. It is an initiative by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs D. Neither 1 nor 2
to educate children of inaccessible tribal hamlets
across India.
D. It is an initiative to train more than 42 lakh
teachers and principals of primary and elementary
government schools across the country.

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AUGUST-2019 114
87. The National Health Mission comprises which of the 2. India and Pakistan are the members of Asia Pacific
following components? Group.
1. National Rural Health Mission 3. The APG directly assists its members in introducing
2. National Urban Health Mission Anti Money Laundering legislation.

3. Tertiary Care Programmes Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

4. Human Resources for Health and Medical Education A. 1 only

Choose the correct option: B. 1 and 2 only

A. 1 and 2 only C. 1 and 3 only

B. 3 and 4 only D. 1, 2 and 3

C. 1, 2 and 3 only 92. Consider the following statements:

D. 1, 2, 3 and 4 1. The Mogao Caves also known as Caves of the

Thousand Buddhas is located in Maharashtra.
88. Consider the following statements:
2. The caves are included in the UNESCO World Heritage
1. Financial Action Task Force is an organ of the United List.
Nations.
Which of the given statement/s is/are incorrect?
2. It is headquartered in Paris.
A. 1 only
3. It is involved in developing policies to combat money
laundering and terror financing. B. 2 only

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? C. Both 1 and 2

A. 1 only D. Neither 1 nor 2

B. 1 and 2 only 93. Consider the following statements:

C. 2 and 3 only 1. The Sea of Azov is the shallowest sea in the world.

D. 1, 2 and 3 2. There is a constant outflow of water from the Sea of

Azov to the Black Sea.
89. Consider the following statements:
3. The Sea of Azov is linked by the narrow Strait of Kerch
1. Oxytocin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary to the Black Sea.
glands.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
2. It acts as both, a hormone as well as a brain
neurotransmitter. A. 1 only

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? B. 1 and 2 only

A. 1 only C. 1 and 3 only

B. 2 only D. 1, 2 and 3

C. Both 1 and 2 94. Consider the following statements with reference to

the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE):
D. Neither 1 nor 2
1. NCTE is a statutory body.
90. Consider the following statements:
2. NCTE has decided to conduct the first-ever
1. Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) is performance appraisals of the 19,000 teacher education
released by NITI Aayog. institutions.
2. Gujarat has topped the rankings for two years in a Which of the statement/s is/are correct?
row.
A. 1 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
B. 2 only
A. 1 only
C. Both 1 and 2
B. 2 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2
C. Both 1 and 2
95. Consider the following statements about Clouded
D. Neither 1 nor 2 Leopard:
91. Consider the following statements: 1. Clouded leopard is an endemic species of India.
1. Asia Pacific Group is an inter-governmental 2. It is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red
organization working to implement international List.
standards for the prevention of money laundering and
terrorist financing in the Asia Pacific region. 3. They are found in the Dampa tiger reserve in Mizoram.
Which of the statement/s is/are correct?

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AUGUST-2019 115

A. 2 only 100. Consider the following statements with respect to

Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS):
B. 2 and 3 only
1. The SDDS is a global benchmark for disseminating
C. 3 only
macroeconomic statistics to the public.
D. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. The practice is mandatory for all IMF members.
96. What is the importance of ‘Robonaut 2’ programme?
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. It is a child friendly interactive robot for teaching
A. 1 only
fundamental school subjects.
B. 2 only
B. It is a model developed for firefighting and other
rescue operations. C. Both 1 and 2
C. It is a humanoid robot sent to the space by NASA. D. Neither 1 nor 2
D. None of the above are correct. 101. As per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species,
Blue Whales are classified as:
97. In the interest of which of the following, the
Constitution of India provides for a reasonable A. Vulnerable
restriction against the right to freedom of Speech and B. Near Threatened
expression?
C. Critically Endangered
1. Friendly relations with foreign States.
D. Endangered
2. Public order.
102. Consider the following statements:
3. Sovereignty and integrity of India.
1. Bioplastics are plastic materials produced from
Which of the statement/s is/are correct? renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and
A. 2 only oils, corn starch.
B. 3 only 2. All bioplastics are biodegradable.
C. 2 and 3 only Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
D. 1, 2 and 3 A. 1 Only
98. Consider the following statements: B. 2 only
1. Central Vigilance Commission is a constitutional body. C. Both 1 and 2
2. The body was created on the recommendations of D. Neither 1 nor 2
the Santhanam Committee. 103. Consider the following statements:
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? 1. The Press Council of India is a statutory body that
A. 1 only governs the conduct of the print media.
B. 2 only 2. It is a quasi-judicial body.
C. Both 1 and 2 Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
D. Neither 1 nor 2 A. 1 only
99. Consider the following statements: B. 2 only
1. Advisory Board for Banking Frauds is the first C. Both 1 and 2
level of examination of all large fraud cases before D. Neither 1 nor 2
recommendations are made to the investigative
agencies by the public sector banks. 104. Consider the following statements with respect
to Article 352:
2. Advisory Board for Banking Frauds is set up by the
Reserve Bank of India. 1. It can be proclaimed only when the security of India
or a part of it is threatened by war, external aggression
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? or armed rebellion.
A. 1 only 2. It can have no effect on the Fundamental Rights of
B. 2 only the citizen.
C. Both 1 and 2 Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
D. Neither 1 nor 2 A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

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AUGUST-2019 116

105. Which of the following commissions 110. IUCN Red List of Threatened species lists the
was constituted to examine the Centre State Grizzled Giant Squirrel under which of the following
Relationship? category?
A. Narendran Commission A. Near Threatened
B. Sarkaria Commission B. Endangered
C. Kothari Commission C. Critically Endangered
D. Mandal Commission D. Least Concern
106. Consider the following statements about Mitra: 111. Consider the following statements:
1. Mitra is a lunar impact crater. 1. Gooty Tarantulas are biological pest controllers.
2. It is on the edge of another crater called Mach. 2. The International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) has categorised it as Critically Endangered.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. 1 only
A. 1 Only
B. 2 only.
B. 2 Only
C. Both 1and 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
107. Consider the following statements about Congo
Fever: 112. Consider the following statements:
1. Congo fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever. 1. TRAFFIC is a wildlife trade monitoring network.
2. Ticks of the genus Hyalomma are the principal vector 2. It is a joint program of WWF and IUCN.
of Congo fever. 3. TRAFFI Censures that trade in wild plants and animals
3. Human-to-human transmission can also occur. is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. 1 Only A. 1 only
B. 2 Only B. 1 and 3 only
C. 1 and 2 only C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3 D. 1, 2 and 3
108. Consider the following statements: 113. Consider the following statements:
1. BS-VI emission norms are equivalent to Euro VI 1. Ain-i-Akbari was written by Abul Fazl in the Persian
emission standards. language.
2. India decided to transition from BS V norms to BS VI 2. It is a detailed document about the life and ancestors
norms with effect from April 1, 2020. of the Mughal emperor Akbar.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. 1 Only A. 1 only
B. 2 Only B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2 C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
109. Consider the following statements: 114. Consider the following statements:
1. Bimal Jalan Committee was constituted by the 1. The Sports Day of India marks the birth anniversary of
government of India to review of the Reserve Banks the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
Economic Capital Framework (ECF) and propose a 2. On Sports Day, the President of India honours eminent
suitable profits distribution policy. sports personalities with awards including Khel Ratna,
2. The committee’s recommendations are binding on Arjuna Awards, Dronacharya Awards and Dhyan Chand
RBI. Award.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. 1 only A. 1 Only
B. 2 only B. 2 Only
C. Both 1and 2 C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2

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AUGUST-2019 117

115. Consider the following statements: 120. Consider the following statements with respect
to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
1. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(SAARC)
(IPCC) is an intergovernmental body of the United
Nations. 1. SAARC comprises of eight Member States
2. Its membership is restricted to the members UN 2. Maldives was the last country to join SAARC
alone. 3. The Secretariat of SAARC is in Kathmandu
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. 1 Only A. 1 only
B. 2 Only B. 1 and 3 only
C. Both 1 and 2 C. 2 and 3 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2 D. 1, 2 and 3
116. Consider the following statements: 121. Consider the following statements:
1. CAMPA funds are kept in interest bearing non- 1. The Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) is triggered by
lapsable Public Account. RBI when banks breach certain regulatory requirements
2. CAMPA funds cannot be used for payment of salary, like minimum capital, return on asset and quantum of
travelling allowances, medical expenses, etc. non-performing assets..
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct? 2. PCA is taken, so as to restore the financial health of
banks .
A. 1 only
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
B. 2 only
A. 1 Only
C. Both 1 and 2
B. 2 only
D. Neither 1 nor 2
C. Both 1 and 2
117. Consider the following statements with respect
to Kandangi sarees: D. Neither 1 nor 2
1. The Kandangi sarees are manufactured in the state of
Andhra Pradesh.
2. It has been given a Geographical Indication Tag.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. 1 Only
B. 2 Only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
118. Which of the following states was the first to
introduce a law against “Mob Lynching”?
A. Manipur
B. Madhya Pradesh
C. West Bengal
D. Rajasthan
119. Consider the following statements:
1. Nominal GDP is GDP evaluated at current market
prices.
2. Nominal GDP is called inflation-adjusted GDP.
Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

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AUGUST-2019

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MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. The Dam Safety Bill is a conflict between bringing about uniformity in operational safety across India and Central encroachment
upon the sovereignty of the states. Discuss.

2. With almost every international company and a few domestic ones expressing concerns over the government’s insistence on
requiring the personal data of Indian residents to be processed only within the country it seems that India’s approach of requiring
data localization by default is faulty. Critically Analyse.

3. India’s many conflictual pasts should teach people understanding and appreciation, rather than revenge or retribution. Examine
the statement in reference to Tipu Sultan on his achievements and his excesses.

4. Criminalisation is a key deterrent against triple talaq. Social reform must follow legal change. Critically Analyse.

5. The deployment of troops in the state of Jammu and Kashmir to stop any activity which can disturb peace is a good move
and needs to be appreciated but any changes per se on the constitutional aspect will require a multi stakeholder approach and
consensus. Analyse the statement and suggest way forward.

6. The spice industries in India will be adversely affected if India opens the gates to Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Critically analyse.

7. Rural Tourism is an under explored sector in India, despite the vast and diverse opportunities. Discuss.

8. Organic Farming in India is an ancient practice. But its ability to redress the grievances of farmers is limited. Critically analyse.

9. What are the salient features of ‘Sustainable Development’? Analyze the ‘United Nations Sustainable Development Goals’ and
suggest measures for the sooner achievement of those goals.

10. What are Genetically Modified (GM) organisms and GM foods? What are the main issues of concern for human health and the
environment?

11. The performance of Parliament has witnessed a decline in terms of the number of bills passed and the overall time utilized for
discussing the bills. Does it mean that democracy is under risk? Critically analyse.

12. India’s federal character is enriched and not betrayed by the special status provided to some States in the Constitution.
Critically analyse.

13. The social structure of India does not permit women to rise to leadership roles, particularly in the field of Politics. Discuss.

14. India’s hope for a permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council can be realised only by recognizing itself as
a champion of the demands of the global south. Discuss.

15. River water linking project will help reduce inter-state water disputes, but at the cost of degrading the environment. Discuss.

16. National Commission for Scheduled Castes may have helped the Scheduled Caste community from many difficulties. But the
mitigation of the social stigma associated with the discriminatory practices needs a much wider effort. Discuss.

17. Discuss the contributions of Indian handicrafts to Indian economy. What are the challenges they face?

18. India’s medical faculty has expressed strong disapproval against licensed community health providers being permitted
to independently prescribe specific medicines for primary and preventive healthcare. Do you think that National Medical
Commission Act, 2019 would encourage quackery? Discuss.
19. What is the Green New Deal proposal? Would it be instrumental in bringing about a qualitative difference to the ailing Indian
economy? Evaluate the prospects.
20. Discuss the objectives of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)? What is India’s role in GFDRR?

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AUGUST-2019 122

21. Coverage of irrigation is an important factor impacting the socio-economic conditions of Indian states. Critically analyse.

22. The neighbourhood countries have started to recognize India as a benevolent elder brother rather than an aggressive big
brother. Discuss.

23. What are the adverse effects of formalin used in fish? Discuss the measures taken and the need for complete ban.

24. The growing e-commerce sector in India demands for policy reforms for it to flourish. Analyse and suggest the way forward.

25. Deterrence has its own limitations and it has to be supplemented by exhaustive measures that include an overhaul of the
criminal justice administration. With respect to the recently passed POCSO bill 2019, evaluate the probable ramifications of ‘death
penalty’ provision in the Act.

26. With the frequency of disasters on the rise, localized management plans need to be drawn out for mobilizing resources to
tackle disasters, natural or otherwise. Discuss the steps taken by the government and suggest the way ahead.

27. The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019 dilutes National Human Rights Commission’s Autonomy. Critically
examine.

28. Comment on the significance of Rural Tourism in Indian Economy and discuss the government initiatives in the rural tourism
sector.

29. In modern India, poverty, insufficiency and class conflicts are slowly giving way to a confident, inclusive, empowered nation.
Discuss.

30. Globalisation affects different countries differently. Do you agree with the statement? Justify your answer with reference to
India.

31. A sense of impunity associated with illegal stone quarrying and wetland encroachment often lead to disasters such as
landslides and floods. Suggest measures to regulate such activities.

32. The achievements of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is comparable with those of the space agencies of the
most developed countries. Discuss.

33. Artificial Intelligence (A.I) is a huge leap forward in the world of technology. What are the prospects for India’s leadership in
the sector of A.I?

34. Indian martial arts like Gatka, Lathi Khela and Kalari Payattu need to be revived with a perspective of fitness as well as
preservation of our tradition. Discuss.

35. With rapid industrialization and exponential population growth, there has been a crunch for farmland in India. The proposition
of organic farming in India’s Rural Economy has the potential to arrest the problem. Discuss.

36. Appointment of a Chief of Defence staff is the most significant defence policy reform in decades. Comment.

37. The Jal Jeevan Mission would provide employment to millions of people and may kick-start the investment cycle. Explain. Also
analyse the implementation challenges.

38. To rescue India from a structural slowdown, issues like human development, state capacity and the reform of factor markets
must be addressed. Elucidate.

39. In the backdrop of RBI imposing fines on banks and financial institutions for a lack of compliance culture, discuss the importance
of a culture of compliance for financial institutions and banks, in addition to the technology to support it in order to avoid risks.

40. Critically comment on the consequences of linking Aadhaar to social media accounts. Suggest measures to strike a balance
between the right to privacy and rising concerns about spreading fake news and cybercrimes.

41. Special status given to some states have helped in the reduction of secessionist demands of ethnic groups. Critically Analyse.

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AUGUST-2019 123

42 What are the likelihoods of India gaining a permanent seat in the UNSC? Suggest measures to expedite the UNSC reforms in
favour of India.

43. An outright ban of Oxytocin is not the solution to its misuse in the dairy sector. Discuss the implications of such a ban.

44. Big data innovations, using large data sets from mobile phone tracking to satellite platforms reveal patterns, trends, and
associations of disaster risks. Discuss the importance of Big Data in confronting complex disasters.

45. Throw light upon the significance that Amazon rainforests hold for the health of the world environment and discuss the
impact of the fires in the Amazon rainforest on the environment and its wild life.

46. What are the steps involved in Money Laundering? Discuss the need to bring about amendments to the Prevention of Money
Laundering Act.

47. Diversification of jobs from agriculture to other sectors is inevitable for the stability of rural economy in India. Discuss.

48 Quality of teachers play a huge role in reducing the rate of dropouts from schools. Suggest measures to reform the teacher
education sector in India.

49. The National Medical Commission (NMC) Act 2019 aims to improve access to quality and affordable medical education, and
ensure availability of adequate medical professionals in all parts of the country, but remains silent a number of crucial issues.
Discuss.

50. Discuss the role and contribution of Differential Voting Rights in the growth of Start-up ecosystem in India.

51. A repeat of the shocking train of intense floods, landslides, financial losses and manifold human tragedies in Kerala has
brought focus on the bottom-up democratic process with the full involvement of local communities for deciding on safeguarding
this global biodiversity hotspot, as recommended by the Gadgil Committee. Elucidate.

52 It is the responsibility of the government to closely scrutinise the interplay of technological advances and the right to privacy
in the present digital age. Critically Examine.

53. Illiteracy and misinformation are the core problems coming in the way of successful implementation of PM Ujjwala Yojana.
Discuss and suggest measures overcome the issues.

54 What are development banks? Can development banks re-industrialize India and de-stress the banking sector? Discuss.

55. Discuss the need for a comprehensive law in India, prohibiting interference in matrimonial choice of individuals and to curb
killings in the name of honour.

56. In Indian society, that is highly diverse, yet unequal, society, with multitude of regional variations, ensuring social justice has
proven to be an unsurmountable challenge. The social justice project in India needs to transform and move beyond reservations.
Comment.

57. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy capping the investment in digital media at 26% would adversely impact both existing
digital platforms as also affect new platforms that may be looking to expand. Critically comment.

58 What is GI Tag? Instances show that GIs are certainly valuable for India but the various other initiatives must go hand in hand
to save the vanishing Indian GI products. Discuss with examples.

59. On the wider regional role on interstate conflicts that threatens regional peace and security, the inability of SAARC to play any
role beyond issuing a cautionary statement tells a lot about the low level of SAARC as an actor in promoting peace and preventing
conflict. Examine

60. What are Non-Banking Financial Companies? Discuss the issues currently being faced by the NBFCs in India.

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AUGUST-2019 124

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Name: Keerthi Vasan V

AIR: 29 (CSE 2017)

Chairperson: Air Marshal Ajit Bhonsle sir

Duration: 20 – 25 minutes

Hometown: Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu

Keerthi Vasan V

Optional Subject: Political Science and International Relations

Work Experience: No work experience

Education: B.Tech in Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology

Hobbies: Digital Poster designing, Watching English web series

Air Marshal Ajit Bhonsle sir

Service: Air Marshal, Indian Air Force

• Prior to joining UPSC, he held the Office of Chief of HQ, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and also as Deputy Chief of Joint
Operations, Doctrines, Organization & Training

• Air Marshal Ajit Bhonsle has participated in the Sri Lanka Indian Peace Keeping Force Operations, Siachin operations and Kargil
operations and has 5200 hours of flying experience.

• Air Marshal Ajit Bhonsle is an avid traveller and takes keen interest in performing arts, culture and culinary. An animal lover, he is
fond of golf, swimming and equestrian sports Educational Background

Education Background

• An alumnus of Bhonsala Military School, National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, College of Defence
Management and National Institute of Defence Studies, Japan. post graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from IIMC,
Delhi.

• M.Sc. Defence Studies from University of Madras, Masters in Business Management from IGNOU and Osmania University and
M.Phil from Tokyo.

Interview

Chairman gives few instructions: That this interview is to determine your functional suitability for the services. He also asks the
candidate to use paper and the pencil kept on the table to note down the points before answering.

Educational background and skillset

• Chairman: I have seen pictures of 10 pointers (Class X CGPA) only in flex boards of various institutes. This is the first time I am
meeting one in person. Does any institute have your photograph printed on a flex board? (Keerthi Vasan got 10.00/10.00 (CGPA)
in 10th Standard)

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AUGUST-2019 125

• People who are good in academics are generally ‘dull’ when it comes to social or administrative responsibilities. What about
you?

• The training process would make you a good administrator. But, what qualities of a good administrator do you think that you
already have?

• What do you mean by ‘Objective Decision Making’? (Follow up question from the previous answer)

Questions based on DAF and follow-up questions

• What was your contribution in Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan? (DAF based)

• What is Kanchipuram famous for?

• What are the issues with respect to the saree weavers in Kanchipuram?

• How can you utilise Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan to address these issues?

Follow-up questions (International Relations)

• You studied in Maharishi International School. What is ‘International’ about this school?

• What was the proportion of Foreign students in your class?

• How has India-Nepal relations evolved in the recent past?

• There was a News in today’s paper with respect to Nepal. Did you read the news? What was it about?

• Don’t you think China would overshadow India in such a economic grouping?

• Is the current Nepal PM pro-China or pro-India?

• Do you think morality is relevant in domestic as well as international administration?

About State Government, schemes and governance

• Most of the states perform well at the level of policy formulation, but fail at policy implementation. But in TN we are able to see
good performance at both levels. What could be the reasons behind this?

• Can you name a few schemes where implementation has been good?

• The TN farmers protest in Delhi was unique in its own way. What made it unique?

• Why do you think that they approached the central government? Don’t we see a dichotomy here compared to the earlier
observation? (Of better policy implementation)

• Why do you think the Indian government had to interfere in the domestic issue of Sri Lanka during the civil war?

• Was there any pressure from the state government?

Questions based on Hobby

• What is this ‘web series’? Is it different from any other regular series? (DAF based)

• What is your favorite genre?

• Which one is your favorite series? (Answer was GoT)

• So you want to know who finally gets the throne?

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Economy related questions

• What are the major functions of the RBI?

• The RBI governor was summoned recently by the PSC. Why?

• Is the monetary policy committee’s mandate implementable in the longer run?

• Don’t you think government appointees to MPC affects it’s independence?

• Is the RBI really independent today?

Chairman: Thank you Mr. Keerthi. Your interview is over. What other plans do you have for the day?

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