Rau's JANUARY Magazine - 2022 Final

CONTENTS
Part One RUPEE: WORST PERFORMING CURRENCY IN ASIA

#External Sector 22
Current Affairs Analysis INDIA LOSES WTO CASE OVER SUGAR SUBSIDIES
#External Sector 23
02 PRACTICE QUESTIONS 24
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 26
# G S P a p e r ( P r e l i m s ) & G S P a p e r I I I ( Ma i n )
INLAND WATERWAYS- OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND
CONSTITUTION, POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
STRATEGIES #Infrastructure 02 # G S P a p e r ( P r e l i m s ) & G S P a p e r I I ( Ma i n )
PRICE SUPPORT VS INCOME SUPPORT: WAY FORWARD FOR LINKING ELECTORAL ROLL WITH AADHAAR
AGRICULTURE? #Agriculture 04 #Electoral Reforms #Aadhaar #Electoral Roll 26
MILLET REVOLUTION - PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES AND HUNDRED YEARS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
STRATEGIES #Agriculture 06 #Public Accounts Committee #Parliament 27
ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING (ZBNF): A GAME CAG FLAGS DELAY IN GOVERNMENT-OWNED,
CHANGER FOR DOUBLING FARMERS’ INCOME? CONTRACTOR-OPERATE
#Agriculture 08 #CAG #Audit 29
SCHEDULED BANK STATUS FOR PAYTM DIFFERENT KINDS OF BAIL
#Banking 09 #Statutory Bail #Anticipatory Bail 31
NEW SCHEME FOR MDR OVER SIX LAKH INDIANS DENOUNCE CITIZENSHIP
#Banking 11 #Citizenship #Citizenship Act 33
SCALE BASED REGULATION OF NBFCs EXTENDING TENURE OF CBI & ED CHIEFS
#Banking 12 #Tenure #Independence #CBI #ED 35
PCA FRAMEWORK FOR NBFCs PMO TAKES NOTE OF CHAKMA-HAJONG CENSUS
#Banking 14 #Refugee #Citizenship #Chakma #Hajong 36
TOKENIZATION OF PAYMENTS CENTRE DOES NOT AGREE WITH WORLD PRESS FREEDOM
#Banking 15 INDEX #Press Freedom #Governance 39
DEPOSIT INSURANCE COVERAGE SUSTAINED ATTACK ON INDIAN FEDERALISM
#Banking 16 #Federalism #Governance 40
RBI’S MONETARY POLICY LADAKH DEMANDS INCLUSION IN SIXTH SCHEDULE
#Banking 16 #Sixth Schedule #Autonomous District Council 42
NEW WAREHOUSING POLICY SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY
#Banking 17 #Democracy 43
DEFENCE MANUFACTURING: INITIATIVES, CHALLENGES AND AMENDMENT TO THE SUPREME COURT JUDGES (SALARIES
STRATEGIES #Manufacturing 18 AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE) ACT, 1958 #Judiciary 44
WORLD INEQUALITY REPORT GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM

#Inequality 20 #Governance 45
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 47
74
49 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity &

Disaster Management
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & Security # GS Paper (Prelims) and GS Paper I & III
# GS Paper (Prelims) & ( Ma i n )
GS Paper II & III (Main) DAM SAFETY BILL, 2021
INDIA - MYANMAR #Environment 74
#Neighbourhood 49 LOOKING BEYOND THE FOREST RIGHTS ACT
INDIA – CENTRAL ASIA #Forest Rights 76
#Neighbourhood 51 UNSC DRAFT ON CLIMATE CHANGE
EU – CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM #Climate change 77
#Geopolitics 54 DRAFT REGULATIONS EXTENDED PRODUCERS’
INDIA – RUSSIA RESPONSIBILITY #Pollution 78
#Bilateral 56 RISING MAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT
NAGA ISSUE #Wildlife 79
#Security 57 INDIAN DESERT CAT
ARMED FORCES SPECIAL POWERS ACT – AFSPA #Wildlife 80
#Security 59 PHYSELLA ACUTA
ASSAM RIFLES - DUAL CONTROL STRUCTURE #Wildlife 81
#Security 61 KYHYTYSUKA SACHICARUM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 62 # Wildlife 81
‘SAVE CHAMUNDI HILL’ CAMPAIGN

#Location 83
64 BUXA TIGER RESERVE CONFIRMS PRESENCE OF BIG CAT
#Protected Areas 83
SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES
# GS Paper I & GS Paper II (Main)
# Biodiversity 84
INCREASING AGE OF MARRIAGE
NAZUL LANDS
#Women Issues 64
#Government Policy 85
ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY (REGULATION) ACT,
GLOBAL METHANE INITIATIVE
2021 #Women Issues 66
#Climate change 86
THE SURROGACY (REGULATION) ACT, 2021
MISSION COKING COAL
#Women Issues 67
#Resources 86
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
#Women Issues 68
STATE HEALTH INDEX

#Health 69 89
STATE OF FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY IN
INDIA #Education 70 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 72 # G S P a p e r ( P r e l i m s ) & G S P a p e r I I I ( Ma i n )
JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
#Space #Physics 89
GAGANYAAN ST. GEORGE ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH
#Space 91 #Art and culture #architecture 106
SEMICONDUCTORS AND DISPLAY MANUFACTURING PAIKA REBELLION

#Science #Technology #Policy 92 #Modern History #Movements 106
INDIA A TECH-LEADER JNANPITH AWARD

#Science #Technology #Policy 93 #literature #current affairs 107
AUTOMATIC FACIAL RECOGNITION SYSTEM PRACTICE QUESTIONS 107

#ICT #Artificial Intelligence 94
NEUTRINOS DETECTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT LARGE

HADRON COLLIDER (LHC) #Physics 95 Part TWO
NATIONAL STRATEGY ON BLOCKCHAIN
#Physics 96
Ethics, Integrity and
UV INDEX
#Health #Science 96
Aptitude
CANINE PARVOVIRUS
#Health #Science #Biotech 97
109
AGNI-P MISSILE RULE OF LAW
#Defence #Technology 97 #Ethics #Integrity #Aptitude 110
ARMS RACE FOR HYPERSONIC WEAPONS CASE STUDIES for Practice
#Physics 98 MAINS GS PAPER IV 112
RUSTOM 2 UAV
#Defence Technology #Drones 98
Part Three
Essays of the month
101
114
HISTORY, HERITAGE & CULTURE
I MEASURE THE PROGRESS OF A COMMUNITY BY THE
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper I (Main) DEGREE OF PROGRESS WHICH WOMEN HAVE ACHIEVED
DESMOND TUTU AND (APARTHEID TO DEMOCRACY) # Women Issues
#World History 101 SUBMITTED BY: VAISHALI CHAUHAN 115
THE LIBERATION OF BANGLADESH AND INDIA’S ROLE DIGITAL EDUCATION: THE FUTURE OF LEARNING
#post-independence 102 # Education
SARDAR VALLABH BHAI PATEL SUBMITTED BY: MUSKAN ARYA 117
#Modern History #Personalities 103 "IS INDIA'S DESTINY CASTE IN STONE?"
DURGA PUJA IN UNESCO’S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL # SOCIAL ISSUES
HERITAGE SUBMITTED BY: NIHAR RAJVANSHI 119
#UNESCO heritage sites #art and culture 104
KODAVALI BUDDHIST SITE

#art & culture #buddhism 106
Part ONE
Current
affairs
analysis
logical .simple .targeted
analysis & explanation
of all relevant news of the month
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)
Lead Article
5. Environment friendly:
INLAND WATERWAYS- • Fifty percent lower carbon dioxide emissions in
OPPORTUNITIES, comparison to Roads.
• Negligible land requirement.
CHALLENGES AND • Safe mode for hazardous cargo.
STRATEGIES 6. Streamline Infrastructure:

• Reduces pressure on Roads and Railways.
#Infrastructure
• Provide for carriage of vehicles in the form of roll-on-
roll-off mode.
• Easy integration of the IWT with the sea transport.
India has approximately 14,500 km of navigable waterways • Safe and less risky in comparison to other modes.
which comprise of rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc.
7. Socio-economic development: IWT provides benefits
Navigable waterways are a fuel-efficient, environment
in terms of trade and access to markets, enhance local
friendly and cost-effective mode of transport. Despite the
community’s economic engagement, promote eco-
inherent advantages, the share of Inland waterway
tourism and boost employment opportunities. Example,
transport (IWT) in India is currently estimated to be only
Arth Ganga has potential to promote sustainable
around 2% in comparison to 35% in Bangladesh and 20% in
development with a focus on economic activities along
Germany.
river Ganga.
BENEFITS OF INLAND WATERWAYS
INITIATIVES FOR BOOSTING INLAND WATERWAYS
1. Reduce Logistics cost: According to World Bank, the
1. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI):
cost of transporting one tonne freight over 1 km by
Statutory authority created under the Inland
waterway is Rs 1.19 compared with Rs 2.28 and Rs
Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) Act, 1985 for
1.41 by road and rail, respectively. The inland
regulation and development of Inland Waterways.
waterways can reduce the logistics cost (12-14% of
GDP) and bring it on par with the global standards (8- 2. National Inland Navigation Institute (NINI): Setup
10% of GDP). by IWAI to develop human resources for Inland Water
Transport sector
2. Lower Investment: Development cost of inland
waterway is only 5-10% in comparison to road and 3. National Waterways Act, 2016: Under this act,
railways. Parliament has declared 111 National Waterways
which cover a total length of 20300 Kms and spread
3. Greater fuel efficiency: One litre of fuel moves 24
across 24 States.
tonne - km on road, 95 tonne-km on rail and 215
tonne-km on IWT. 4. Sagarmala Program: Promote port-led development
through 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways
4. Low maintenance cost: 30% lower than the railways
and 60% lower than road. 5. Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP): Capacity
augmentation of navigation on National Waterway-1
FOCUS | JANUARY 2022 | RAU’S IAS 2

Economic Development
with the technical and financial assistance of the cent) continue to be the year-round navigation:
World Bank. dominant mode of Efforts should be made to
6. Arth Ganga for holistic and sustainable development transporting cargo, followed develop deeper stretches
of National Waterways-1 for freight, passenger by rail (33 per cent). of the river, i.e., at least 2.5
movement and recreation purpose. Transportation of cargo m to 3 m.
through waterways - Open India's dredging
7. Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF): Set
shipping and inland water - market: At present, the
up under the CRIF Act, 2000 and administered by
accounts for a minuscule Dredging Corporation of
Finance Ministry. The money for this fund is raised
modal share (6 per cent) India (DCI) and a limited set
through the cess on petrol and high-speed diesel. The
despite it being the most of private vendors serve
fund can be used for various social and physical
cost effective and efficient the Indian dredging
infrastructure projects, including inland water
mode. market, limiting
transport.
Inadequate discharges in competition. Enhance last
8. Inland Vessels Act, 2021: Replace separate rules
the rivers during lean mile connectivity to
framed by states with a uniform regulatory framework
season resulting in inland waterways:
for inland vessel navigation. It calls for maintaining
inadequate fairway with • IWT should be
centralised record of data on inland vessels, which will
depth and width required integrated to
include all information about registration of vessels,
for round the year operation multimodal/ intermodal
vessel crew and certificates issued.
of 1WT vessels of connectivity.
9. Promoting private participation in terminal reasonable size • Promote industrial
operations and maintenance. Draught levels: Most Indian corridors along
10. International Cooperation such as Kaladan Multi- container handling Ports riverbanks and foster
modal Transit Transport Project, Treaty of Transit lack the capability to handle waterways-based
between India and Nepal, agreement between India large container vessels due industrialisation.
and Bangladesh for use Chaogram and Mongla Ports to inadequate depth; a
Facilitate access to
for transit movement of Indian Goods. minimum draft depth of 18
capital for inland vessels:
CONSTRAINTS AND STRATEGIES metres is needed to enable
Financing for inland vessels
mother vessels to dock at
India has increased the modal share of cargo from 0.5% could be made part of
ports.
to 2% and has witnessed 20% year-on-year growth in priority sector lending by
cargo volumes over the last 5 years. However, the share Connectivity to ports: banks. Incentivising cargo
of IWT has remained quite lower at 2% in comparison to Weak hinterland transport through inland
35% in Bangladesh and 20% in Germany. connectivity between waterways:
production centers and • Offer incentives such as
gateway ports subsidies for
Technical issues in inland transporting cargo
waterways: The varying through IWT.
and limited depths due to • Public sector entities
the meandering of alluvial such as Food
rivers and the erosion of Corporation of India,
their banks causing power plants and
excessive siltation, lack of refineries can be used to
cargo earmarked for IWT, use IWT.
non-mechanized navigation
• Higher road taxes can
Strategies (NIT Aayog's lock systems and insufficient
be levied on
lndia@75 Strategy unloading facility at
Challenges transportation of coal
Document) terminals hinder the use of
and inflammable
Modal mix: Roads (54 per Develop measures for IWT by shippers.
material over longer

Other constraints include distances. The inland waterways are cost-effective, fuel-efficient,
lack of adequate terminal Promoting passenger and safe and secure mode of transportation for goods
facilities, shortage of IWT transportation and and passenger. Going forward, Government's initiatives
vessels, bridges with low tourism: Promotion of must be implemented efficiently to realise full potential
vertical clearance, lack of River Cruise Tourism on of Inland water transport.
level playing field with River Ganga, Brahmaputra,
Railways in terms of Goa & Kerala waterways.
Tariffs.
Agriculture
PRICE SUPPORT VS
benefits transfer if they sell agricultural produce below the
MSP. This is like Price deficiency Payment system (PDPS)
INCOME SUPPORT: WAY which is a component of PM-AASHA scheme. On the other

hand, certain economists have highlighted that Price
FORWARD FOR Deficiency payment mechanism has number of inherent

flaws and instead adopt income support mechanism such as
AGRICULTURE? PM-KISAN.
#Agriculture In this regard, we will focus on the following on the following

dimensions:
1. Critical Analysis of PM-AASHA- Features, Benefits and
The recent demand of farmers for the legalization of MSP Challenges
has been turned down on account of being financially
2. Challenges with Price Deficiency Payment mechanism
imprudent and hurting the long-term interests of the
farmers and Indian agriculture. In this regard, different 3. Way forward
alternatives have been proposed, which mainly center ABOUT PM-AASHA SCHEME
around either Price Deficiency payment mechanism or The PM-AASHA scheme aims to incentivize the farmers to
Income support mechanism. produce oilseeds, pulses, and Copra by offering them
Some of the economists have highlighted that the remunerative prices on these crops.
Government can compensate the farmers through direct

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF PM-AASHA stockist scheme (PPPS) ropes Procurement by Private

PM-AASHA in the private sector for Sector remained low due
undertaking procurement to lack of enthusiasm to
Benefits Challenges
and hence reduces the undertake the
Address the flaws in MSP Inadequate marketing burden on the government. procurement.
Regime: The MSP regime infrastructure: Presently, Doubling of Farmers'
has been criticized on farmers are forced to sell Income: By offering
account of poor coverage in agricultural produce within guaranteed MSP, the PM-
terms of crops, farmers and the villages itself as the AASHA would be able to
geography. The success of APMCs are located far improve the income levels of
PM-AASHA would ensure away. An Average APMC the people and help achieve
higher procurement of serves an area of 450 sq. us in doubling their income
Pulses and oilseeds leading km against the levels by the end of 2022.
to improvement in coverage requirement of 80 Sq. km.
IS IT FEASIBLE TO PROVIDE FOR PRICE DEFICIENCY
of crops. This would also (Swaminathan Committee)
benefit even the small and Issues with the Price PAYMENT SYSTEM (PDPS) IN PLACE OF LEGALIZATION
marginal farmers. Lastly, the deficiency Payment OF MSP?

PM-AASHA would benefit all System (PDPS): The PDPS Price Deficiency Payment System (PDPS) can address
the states leading to is based upon the Madhya some of the distortions created by the MSP regime.
improvement in the Pradesh Government’s Some of the benefits include:
coverage of the states. Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana
• Encourage farmers to undertake agricultural
Self-Sufficiency in Pulses which had to be scrapped
diversification towards other crops such as Oilseeds
and Oilseeds: Despite being in 2018 owing to number
and Pulses.
one of the largest producers of challenges:
• Benefit even the small and marginal farmers
of Food grains, India has • Low Registration of
become one of the major Farmers due to the throughout India
importers of Pulses and need to furnish • Reduce the need to undertake physical procurement
Oilseeds. Hence, by Aadhaar, Bank Accounts and hence reduce transportation and storage costs.
incentivizing the farmers to etc.
• Reduce burgeoning food subsidy bill.
cultivate pulses and oilseeds, • Delays in Transfer of
Because of these benefits, the NITI Aayog's 3-year
the PM-AASHA would be able money.
Action Agenda (2017-2020) argued in favour of PDPS.
to achieve self-sufficiency in • Exclusionary: Farmers
However, PDPS would face number of constraints and
these 2 crops. selling outside APMCs
challenges:
Reduce the need for did not get benefit of
Physical procurement: The deficiency payments. Does not address the core problem of mismatch
price Deficiency
Payment • Unfair Collusion between MSP and Market Price: Presently, the MSP is
scheme (PDSP) would reduce between between determined based upon factors of production i.e. A2 + FL
the need for the physical traders and farmers approach. This approach considers various input costs
procurement of the wherein the traders such as Seeds, fertilizers, Labour etc. as well as implied
commodities. At the same asked the farmers to cost of family labour. However, the market price of the
time, it would compensate sell the agricultural commodities is based upon the demand and supply.
the farmers for any losses produce below the Because of this, there is mismatch between MSP and
suffered. MSP. The compensation
Market prices.
Reduces the burden on the amount was then
shared between the Issue in Price Deficiency Payment System (PDPS): As
Government: The Pilot of
traders and farmers. seen, such a scheme has already failed in MP on account
Private procurement and

of low registration of farmers, delays in transfer of ABOUT MILLETS/NUTRI-CEREALS

money and unfair collusion between farmers and • Millets are group of small, grained cereal food crops
traders. Several economists have highlighted that such a which are highly tolerant to drought and other
mechanism would end up benefitting the traders more
extreme weather conditions and are grown with low
than the farmers.
chemical inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides.
Financial Burden: According to a study conducted by
• Most millet crops are native to India and are popularly
ICRIER in 2018, implementation of PDPS at national level
known as Nutri-cereals as they provide most of the
would need around Rs 1.6 lakh crores on an annual
nutrients required for normal functioning of human
basis.
body.
Does not address structural problems of Indian
• Millets are classified into Major Millets (Jowar, Bajra
Agriculture i.e., poor marketing infrastructure.
and Ragi) and Minor Millets (Foxtail, Proso millet,
Violation of WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA):
Kodo Millet) based on their grain size.
PDPS would further violate the limit on the subsidies
IMPORTANCE OF MILLETS
under Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and it can be
challenged by other countries. India's quest for Millets such as Jowar, Bajra, Ragi etc. are dual purpose,
Permanent solution on public stockholding could be in nutrient dense, hardy and low input intensive crops that
jeopardy. have potential to address malnutrition and climate
change, while promoting sustainable agriculture.
WAY FORWARD
Health benefits
Indian agriculture needs income support rather than
price support. Price support to the farmers in the form of • Millets are three to five times more nutritious than
MSP ends up distorting the market. Hence, the rice and wheat in terms of proteins, minerals and
Government should focus on providing higher income vitamins. Millets are rich in B vitamins, calcium, iron,
support to the farmers in the form of PM-KISAN Scheme. potassium, magnesium, zinc, apart from being gluten-
The higher income support would help us reduce the free, and low in glycaemic index (GI). These are more
input costs in agriculture, enhance productivity and suitable for people with gluten allergies or high blood
hence double farmers' income. sugar levels.
• Reduction in Cholesterol, Sugar
MILLET REVOLUTION - • FAO has recognised importance of Millets for

meeting SDGs- 2, 3, 12 and 13.
PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES Climate Resilience
• Abiotic (drought, temperature and salinity) and Biotic

AND STRATEGIES (pest and disease) stress tolerant
• Integral part of Conservation agriculture

#Agriculture
• Climate change mitigation by carbon sequestration
Sustainable Production system

Recently, both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have decided
• 2.5 times lesser water requirement than rice
to incentivise the farmers to shift from paddy to alternative
• Natural soil conditioner due to powerful root systems
crops such as millets. These states have decided to set up
• Multi-purpose: Food, Feed, Fodder, Biofuels and
Millets Board and facilitate establishment of processing
Brewing
units to encourage the cultivation of millet in the State.
• Potential to enhance income in rainfed areas

TRENDS IN PRODUCTION OF MILLETS IN INDIA
Global Production: India is the world's largest producer Declaration of higher MSP for the millets such as Jowar,
of millets. India, Niger, and China account for more than Bajra and Ragi
55% of global production. Inclusion of Millets in the Public Distribution System
Domestic Production: (PDS)
• Absolute Area under Nutri-Cereals: Decline in area Declaration of 2023 as international year of Millets.
under cultivation from 28 m ha in 2007-08 to 25 m ha STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE NUTRI-CEREALS
in 2017-18. 1. Special Agribusiness Zones (SABZ) for millets:
• Percentage of area under Nutri-Cereals: Decline in Focus on development of millets which is popularly
percentage of area under Nutri-Cereals from 15% in cultivated in the local areas. Examples: Sorghum in
2007-08 to 12% in 2019-20. Telangana, finger millet in Karnataka, pearl millet in
• Production of Nutri-Cereals: Increase in total Gujarat, and small millets in Madhya Pradesh. These
production from 40 million tonnes in 2007-08 to SABZs can develop around FPOs, farm gate level
almost around 45 million tonnes in 2017-18 mainly on primary processing facilities, ware housing units and
account of increase in productivity. value-added food products.
• Largest Producers: More than 90% of coarse cereals 2. Promoting Organic Millets to cater to increased
are grown in the states of Rajasthan, Karnataka, demand of the consumers.
Maharashtra, MP etc. 3. Explore Trade opportunities: The export of Indian
millets has not been up to the mark as compared to
• Major Millets: The three major millet crops currently
other cereal grains due to poor quality; farmers need
growing in India are jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl
to be educated about quality concerns at all stages of
millet) and ragi (finger millet).
production and harvesting
INITIATIVES FOR BOOSTING PRODUCTION OF NUTRI-
4. Federating millets farmers as Farmer Producer
CEREALS
Organizations (FPOs)
National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Targets to
5. Expanding the coverage of small millets under MSP.
achieve thirteen million tonnes of additional food grains
production comprising of rice-5 MT, wheat- 3 MT, pulses- 6. Efficient implementation of PM-AASHA to
3 MT and Nutri-cum-coarse cereals-2 MT by 2019- 20 undertake higher procurement of Millets
with an additional objective to enhance post-harvest 7. Promotion of Contract farming for millets.
value addition for better price realization to farmers. Thus, we need to focus on supply side factors (incentive to
Special Action Plan for better production of Nutri farmers, high yielding crops) and demand side factors
Cereals (Millets): Focus on increasing production and (value addition, labelling, awareness generation,
productivity of Nutri Cereals in certain states. inclusion under ICDS, MDM etc.) to ensure success of Millet
Revolution.

ZERO BUDGET NATURAL

Recently, PM Modi addressed the session of the National
Summit on Agro and Food Processing in which he
FARMING (ZBNF): A GAME highlighted the importance of Zero Budget Natural Farming
(ZBNF) in doubling farmers' income.
CHANGER FOR DOUBLING BASIC PREMISE AND PILLARS OF ZNBF
FARMERS’ INCOME?
The ZBNF, put forward by Subhash Palekar, focusses on
Farming without credit (Zero Budget) and Farming with
#Agriculture Nature without using Chemicals (Natural Farming).
Soil has all the necessary nutrients which could be made • Acchadana: Mulching: Less Tilling; Covering soil
available through the intermediation of microorganisms; surface with Crop residue
Against chemical fertilizers; low cost, low level of inputs • Whapasa (Moisture): It challenges the basic notion
and limited reliance on externally purchased inputs. that plants need more amount of water and instead
FOUR PILLARS OF ZBNF focuses on conservation of soil moisture and
• Jivamrita/jeevamrutha: Fermented microbial culture promoting less irrigation.
prepared using cow dung and urine to provides • Other important pillars are- Intercropping,
nutrients to the soil, acts as a catalytic agent to Rainwater harvesting, Revival of the soils through
promote the activity of microorganisms in the soil. earthworms etc.
• Bijamrita/beejamrutha: Protection of the young
roots from various diseases through cow dung and
urine.
Organic Farming Natural Farming
Philosophy Using naturally available resources optimally Limited human intervention and leaving
to enhance productivity leaving things to nature to manage.
Against use of Chemical

Fertilizers and Yes. Yes.
Pesticides?

No usage of External Organic manure.

Organic manures like compost,
Use of External Organic Decomposition of organic matter by
vermicompost, cow dung manure, etc. are
Fertilizers microbes and earthworms is encouraged
added to farmlands from external sources
right on the soil surface
Less efforts as there is no ploughing, tilling,

More efforts required in mixing of manure,
Efforts needed weeding etc. (Just the way it would be in
ploughing, tilling, weeding etc.
natural systems)
Against Vermicompost as it encourages the

Approach to
Organic farming is in favour of vermicompost decomposition of organic matter by
vermicompost
earthworms right on soil surface.
Expensive due to requirement of bulk

Cost involved Low-cost farming method
manures.
GOVERNMENT'S INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE ZBNF • Lack of Empirical Evidence: Lack of independent and
Under the RKVY-RAFTAAR and Paramparagat Krishi scientific studies to validate the claim that the yields
Vikas Yojana, States have been allowed to use certain through the ZBNF are much higher.
percentage of funds to promote the ZBNF. • Based on Unscientific Premise (a) Against High
BENEFITS OF ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING yielding Seed Varieties (B) Assumes that the soils
have all the necessary ingredients and (b) Cow dung
• Reduce the input costs responsible for present
and Urine can provide necessary nutrients.
agrarian distress.
• One-Size fits all approach: In some regions of the
• Reduce the dependence of the farmers on the credit
country, the soils are either acidic or saline and, in
responsible for the debt trap.
some regions, the fertility of the soil has reduced due
• Enhancement in the soil fertility. to heavy metal pollution.
• Optimum utilization of water and reduce water • Previous Experiences: Farmers in Sikkim switching
consumption (85%) back to Conventional Farming as the yield in the initial
• Promote diversification of the agriculture- towards years is lower; Recent Experience of Sri Lanka of
other crops and towards livestock rearing. This can promoting Organic Farming which led to Food crisis.
also lead to reduction in the risks and enhance non- According to experts, replacing all farming with ZBNF could
farm income. decrease crop production by 50% and thus severely affect
• Enhance the farmers’ income in the long term. both food security as well as income of farmers. Hence, the
CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS Government must adopt evidence-based approach and
must not hastily promote ZBNF without multi-agroclimatic
A group of agricultural experts from the National
location studies, and scientific validation of long-term
Academy of agricultural sciences (NAAS) have questioned
impact and viability of ZBNF.
ZBNF on multiple grounds.
• Low Awareness among Farmers: ZBNF is knowledge
intensive and hence requires training.
Banking
SCHEDULED BANK STATUS
The RBI has recently decided to give status of Scheduled
FOR PAYTM Bank to Paytm payment bank. With the Scheduled Bank
#Banking

status, Paytm payment bank would be allowed to directly • Has a paid-up capital of not less than 5 lakhs.
borrow money from the RBI. • Satisfies that its affairs are not being conducted in a
DEFINITION OF SCHEDULED BANK manner which is detrimental to the interests of the
Definition of the Scheduled Bank has been provided depositors.
under the RBI Act, 1934. According to RBI act, a It includes different categories such as Scheduled
scheduled Bank is one which is: commercial Banks, Public Sector Banks, Cooperative
• Included in the second schedule of the RBI Act. Banks, Regional Rural Banks etc.
Criteria Scheduled Banks Non-Scheduled Banks
Listed under RBI

Yes. Under II Schedule No.
Act, 1934?
Borrowing from RBI Yes. Usually not allowed. May be allowed under
allowed exceptional circumstances.
Requirement of CRR Yes. Must Compulsorily maintain

Yes. May Maintain with themselves or with the RBI.
with the RBI.
Requirement of SLR Yes. Yes.
Examples • Commercial Banks

• Scheduled Urban Cooperative Banks • Local Area Banks
• RRBs • Non-Scheduled Urban Cooperative Banks, State
• Scheduled Payment banks such as Cooperative Banks and District Cooperative Banks
Paytm, IPPB, Fino etc. • Non-Scheduled Small Finance Banks and Payment
• Scheduled Small Finance banks such Banks
as Ujjivan
Note: The RBI usually comes out with detailed policy running its business for at least 10 years. These
requirements are in addition to the requirements
guidelines for the issuance of Banking Licenses. For
mentioned in the RBI Act, 1934.
example, the RBI has stipulated the minimum capital
requirement of Rs 500 crores for the issuance of new Based upon fulfilment of these requirements, in 2016,
banking licenses. Further, to be eligible to get a Banking the RBI had given approval for 2 new Banks- IDFC and
license, an entity should have successful track record of Bandhan Bank.
Differentiated Banks in India
Criteria Payment Banks Small Finance Banks
Registration and Licensing Registered under Companies Act, 2013 Registered under Companies Act,
Licensed under Banking Regulation Act, 1949 2013
Licensed under Banking Regulation
Act, 1949
Eligibility Pre-paid Payment Instrument (PPI) Providers, Resident Indians, Private Companies,
Resident individuals; NBFCs; Telecom Companies, Societies, NBFCs, MFIs, Local Area
super-market chains, public sector entities etc. Banks
Min. Capital Requirements Rs 100 crores Rs 100 crores. (To be increased to Rs

200 crores within 5 years)
FDI allowed? Yes. Up to 74% Yes. Up to 74%
Accept Deposits Only Demand Deposits. No Fixed Deposits and NRI Yes.
Deposits
Restrictions on Deposits Up to Rs 2 Lakhs No Restrictions
Deposit Insurance Yes Yes

Available?
Can Lend Loans No Yes. At least 50 per cent of its loan

portfolio should constitute loans and
advances of up to Rs 25 lakh
Issue Debit/Credit Card Only Debit Card. No Credit Card Both can be issued
Set up based upon Nachiket Mor Committee Nachiket Mor Committee

recommendations of
Committee to evaluate Nachiket Mor Committee Usha Thorat Committee

applications for License
SLR and CRR applicable CRR Applicable; SLR: 75% of Deposits. CRR and SLR Applicable
BASEL Norms applicable Yes. 15% of RWAs Yes. 15% of RWAs
PSL Norms applicable No. Can’t lend Loans Yes. Target: 75%.
Examples Airtel, India Posts Payment Bank, Paytm, FINO etc. Ujjivan, Utkarsh, Jana, Au etc.
NEW SCHEME FOR MDR

PRESENT MDR CHARGES
Merchant Discount Rate
#Banking (MDR) for debit card
Sr. Merchant transactions (as a % of
No Category transaction value)
The Union Cabinet has recently approved an incentive
Physical POS Digital POS
scheme to promote RuPay Debit cards and low-value BHIM- infrastructure
UPI transactions in the country. Under the scheme, the Not
Small Not exceeding
Banks would be compensated for the zero Merchant 1. exceeding
merchants 0.40%
Discount Rate (MDR) charges on the RuPay Debit Cards and 0.30%
Not
UPI transactions. Special category Not exceeding
2. exceeding
of merchants 0.40%
MERCHANT DISCOUNT RATE (MDR) 0.30%
MDR is a fee charged from the merchants by the bank All other
category of Not
for accepting payments from customers through Not exceeding
3. merchants exceeding
credit/debit cards/QR Code in their establishments. The 0.95%
(other than 0.85%
merchant discount rate is expressed in percentage. This Government)
charge is in turn distributed among three stakeholders— • Flat fee of INR 5 for
customer's bank, merchant's bank and payment system Government transaction value INR 1 to
4.
Transactions lNR1000
operator (Visa, Mastercard, NPCI- RuPay or BharatQR).
• Flat fee of INR 10 for

transaction value INR 1001 to

INR 2000
• MDR not exceeding 0.50% for
transaction value above INR
2001 with cap of INR 250 per
transaction
GOVERNMENT'S INITIATIVE: In December 2019, the Zero MDR charges would thus prevent growth of
Government decided to waive off MDR charges on Fintech companies which eventually could hurt the
transactions done through RuPay and BHIM-UPI digital payments ecosystem.
payments to push digital payments. This came into effect DETAILS ABOUT THE NEW SCHEME
from Jan 1, 2020.
Rationale: Compensate the Banks for the loss of Zero
IMPACT OF ZERO MDR ON RUPAY AND BHIM-UPI MDR on RuPay and BHIM-UPI.
PAYMENTS
Applicability: RuPay Debit cards and low value [up to Rs.
Positives: Bring down cost of digital payments done 2,000) BHIM-UPI transactions.
through RuPay and BHIM-UPI; Encourage adoption of
Benefit: Incentivise the Banks to build robust
indigenously developed payment tools; Promote
infrastructure for Digital payments
Cashless economy; Nudge other payment operators such
as Visa, Mastercard to bringdown their commission etc.
Negatives: SCALE BASED REGULATION
• Loss to NPCI which has developed RuPay and BHIM-
UPI
OF NBFCs
#Banking
• Banks lose out on MDR on RuPay and BHIM-UPI
transactions and hence shift to other payment service
providers such as Visa, Mastercard to earn The NBFC sector plays a key role in supplementing credit
commission on digital payments. creation along with the Banks. Over the years, the NBFC
sector has undergone considerable evolution in terms of
• Number of fintech companies such as Paytm,
size, complexity, and interconnectedness within the financial
Googlepay etc. have integrated UPI into their apps for
sector. Recent crisis such as IL&FS and DHL have highlighted
facilitating digital payments. The waiver on MDR
the need to strengthen the regulatory framework for NBFCs.
charges through UPI would lead to reduced profits,
In this regard, the RBI has recently unveiled Scale based
discourage innovation and hurt the fintech sector.
Regulation (SBR) for the NBFCs.

• NBFC-Infrastructure Finance Company (NBFC-IFC):

Difference between Banks and NBFCs
Provision of infrastructure loans.
Characteristics Bank NBFCs • NBFC-Systemically Important Core Investment
Accepts all Company (CIC-ND-SI): Investment in equity shares,
Cannot accept preference shares, debt or loans in group companies.
Deposits types of
demand deposits
deposits • NBFC-Infrastructure Debt Fund (NBFC-IDF):
Facilitation of flow of long-term debt into
Applicable
Deposit insurance infrastructure projects.
(up to Rs.5 Non-Applicable
of DICGC • NBFC-Micro Finance Institution (NBFC-MFI): Credit
lakh)
to economically disadvantaged groups.
Payment and Supports Not supported.
• NBFC-Factor: extending loans against the security
Settlement RTGS, NEFT Cannot issue their
interest of the receivables at a discount
system of the RBI etc., own cheque books.
• NBFC-Non-Operative Financial Holding Company
Foreign (NBFC-NOFHC): Facilitation of promoters/ promoter
Up to 74% Up to 100%
investment groups in setting up new banks.
Cash Reserve • Mortgage Guarantee Company (MGC): Undertaking

Applicable Not Applicable
Requirement of mortgage guarantee business.
• NBFC-Account Aggregator (NBFC-AA): Collecting and
Applicable only to
providing information about a customer’s financial
Deposit-taking NBFCs
Capital Adequacy assets in a consolidated, organised and retrievable
Applicable and Systematically
Norms manner to the customer.
Important NBFCs
• NBFC–Peer to Peer Lending Platform (NBFC-P2P):
(CRAR - 15%)
online platform to bring lenders and borrowers
Applicable only to together to help mobilise funds.
SLR Applicable Deposit-taking NBFCs
• Housing Finance Companies (HFC): Financing for
(SLR - 15%) housing (Earlier, the Housing Finance Companies (HFCs)
Incorporated under were regulated by NHB)
Banking Companies Act and Note: In 2018-19, three categories of NBFCs namely,
Incorporated
Regulation regulated by various asset finance companies (AFCs), loan companies (LCs)
under
Act, 1949 bodies depending on and investment companies (ICs) were merged into a new
category. category called investment and credit companies (ICCs).
In 2019-20, the p
TYPES OF NBFCs
Other Categories of NBFCs
Based on Asset-Liability Structures: Deposit-taking
• Venture Capital Fund/Merchant Banking
NBFCs (NBFCs-D) and non-deposit taking NBFCs (NBFCs-
companies/Stock broking companies are registered
ND).
with SEBI.
Based on Systemic Importance: Among non-deposit
• The Insurance Companies are regulated by IRDA
taking NBFCs, those with asset size of Rs 500 crore or
• Chit Fund Companies are regulated by the respective
more are classified as non-deposit taking systemically
State Governments
important NBFCs (NBFCs-ND-SI).
• Nidhi Companies are regulated by Ministry of
Based on Activities:
Corporate Affairs, Government of India
NBFCs regulated by RBI
NEED FOR EFFECTIVE REGULATION OF NBFCs
• Investment and Credit Company (ICC): Lending and
Increased lending by NBFCs: The share of credit given
Investment.
by NBFCs increased from 8.5 % (2012-13) to 11.5 %

(2019-20). However, bank credit as a proportion of GDP RBI'S SCALE BASED REGULATION (SBR) OF NBFCs
declined from 52% to 50% during the same period. Regulatory structure for NBFCs shall comprise of four
Interconnectedness: NBFCs mobilise more than 50% of layers based on their size, activity, and perceived
funds by borrowing from Banks. This interconnectedness riskiness. NBFCs in the lowest layer shall be known as
between Banks and NBFCs has systemic implications. NBFC - Base Layer (NBFC-BL).
Failure of large NBFCs such as IL&FS could have adverse NBFCs in middle layer and upper layer shall be known as
implications on the financial health of the Banks. NBFC - Middle Layer (NBFC-ML) and NBFC - Upper Layer
Recent failure of large NBFCs such as IL&FS, Dewan (NBFC-UL) respectively. The Top Layer is ideally expected
Housing Finance etc. has also highlighted the need for to be empty and will be known as NBFC - Top Layer
strengthening supervisory tools for NBFCs. (NBFC-TL).
KEY REGULATORY CHANGES UNDER THE SBR Overall, the RBI has looked to plug the loopholes in the
FRAMEWORK regulation of NBFCs and ensure that they are well-
Applicability: Any regulatory stipulation applicable to a funded, efficiently managed, and insulated against
lower layer under the new NBFC categorisation will various risks. The SBR Framework will bring about much
automatically apply to a higher layer, unless otherwise needed accountability in the NBFC sector.
notified by the RBI.
Increase in Net owned Fund (NOF) requirement: The
RBI has increased the minimum net owned fund (NOF) PCA FRAMEWORK FOR
requirement for NBFC-ICC from Rs 2 crores to Rs 10
crores. For NBFC-MFI and NBFC-Factor, the NOF
NBFCs
requirement has been increased from Rs 5 crores to Rs #Banking
10 crores.
Changes to NPA classification norms: Presently, all
The NBFCs have been growing and have substantial
NBFCs other than NBFC-MFIs classify loans as NPA if it is
interconnectedness with other segments of the financial
due for more than 180 days. The RBI has prescribed a
uniform overdue period of more than 90 days for system. Accordingly, RBI has now been decided to put in
classification of loans as NPA for all categories of NBFCs. place PCA Framework for NBFCs. The PCA Framework for
Hence, going forward, the NPA classification NBFCs comes into effect from October 1, 2022.
requirements for banks and NBFCs would be aligned.

DETAILS OF THE PCA FRAMEWORK FOR THE NBFCs remember your card details each time. You can simply
Applicability: complete the transaction each time by entering the CVV
number and OTP.
• All Deposit Taking NBFCs
Challenges: Presently, card details get stored with
• All Non-Deposit Taking NBFCs in Middle, Upper and
merchants such as Flipkart, Amazon, Bookmyshow etc. In
Top Layers
event of hacking of these websites, the card details could
Note: The Government companies, NBFCs below Rs be leaked and misused.
1,000 crore in size, and Housing Finance Companies
How would Tokenization solve the problem?
(HFCs) will not be brought under ambit of PCA.
Tokenization is the process of replacing the customer's
Indicators used:
account number with a unique alphanumeric token
• Capital to Risk weighted Asset Ratio (CRAR) which can then be used for transactions. The token
• Tier-1 Capital Ratio. will act as the card at point of sale (POS) terminals,
• Net Non-Performing Assets (NPA) instead of the card’s details. The token allows payments
When does it get triggered: When the above 3 to be processed without exposing actual account details.
Hence, the online portals would not be allowed to store
Indicators breach the threshold target. (Example: If Net
card details.
NPA Is greater than or equal to 6%)
What happens if a NBFC is placed under PCA How Tokenisation Works?
framework? • Before shopping online or booking tickets, customers

enter card details and opt for tokenisation with the
RBI can take certain mandatory and discretionary actions
which can include merchant (say, Amazon, Flipkart etc.)
• The merchant forwards it to the respective Bank and
• Halting branch expansion
Card networks (VISA, Mastercard, RuPay etc.) and
• Stopping dividend payment
requests for token
• Undertake special audit, restructuring operations and
• Token gets generated and is sent back to the
activation of recovery plan.
merchant. Merchant would be allowed to save only
• NBFCs' promoters can be asked to bring in new the token and not the card details.
management.
• Customer can complete the transaction using the CVV
• RBI can also supersede the NBFC's board. and OTP.
• Next time, the customer need not enter the card
TOKENIZATION OF details. The Customer needs to select the saved token

with the merchant to complete the transaction.
PAYMENTS Note: One token is limited to just one card and one
merchant (online portal). For instance, if you have, say,
#Banking
an ICICI credit card tokenized on Amazon, then, this
token will be applicable only on Amazon. You would have
In 2019, the RBI had released guidelines on tokenisation for to generate different token for the same card on Flipkart.
debit and credit card transactions to enhance the safety and Benefits of Tokenisation
security of the payment systems in the country. Taking this
• Tokenisation provides added layer of security and
forward, In September 2021, the RBI prohibited merchants
convenience for the customers.
from storing customer card details on their servers with
effect from January 01, 2022. The RBI has recently decided to • It eliminates the need to enter the account
number multiple times when shopping on a
extend the deadline for card tokenisation to June 30, 2022.
smartphone or tablet.
TOKENISATION OF CARDS
• Less risk in storing tokens online. Even if it is
Present Status: When you shop online or book tickets
hacked, it would not be possible for the fraudsters to
online, you tend to save your credit card/debit card
decrypt the account details.
details in those websites. So, you don’t have to

DEPOSIT INSURANCE
• Timeline for payment: New Amendment enables the
depositors to withdraw up to Rs 5 lakh within 90 days
COVERAGE upon placing a Bank under moratorium.

• Premium paid by banks to the DICGC: Under the
#Banking Act, insured banks are required to pay a premium to
the DICGC on their deposits. The rate of premium for
a bank is notified by the DICGC with the prior approval
Recently, Prime Minister Modi addressed a function on of RBI. The Act limits the rate of premium (per
“Depositors First: Guaranteed Time-bound Deposit Insurance
annum) for a bank at 0.15% of its total outstanding
Payment up to Rs. 5 Lakh” in New Delhi. In his speech, PM
deposits. The act has now allowed the DICGC to
Modi focussed on the recent reforms in the Deposit increase this maximum limit with the prior approval of
Insurance Coverage
RBI.
INSURANCE OF THE BANK'S DEPOSITS
• Repayment by the bank to the Corporation: Under
Currently, the Deposit Insurance and Credit the Act, once the DICGC makes payment to the
Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) provide for insurance depositors, the insured bank becomes liable to repay
cover of Rs 5 lakh per depositor for deposits. In case of the same amount to the Corporation. Presently, the
Bank failure, depositors can get back a maximum of Rs 5 bank is required to repay within such time as
lakh per account even if their deposits may far exceed Rs prescribed by the Board of Directors of the DICGC.
5 lakh. The new amendment provides that the Corporation
Coverage of Banks: Commercial banks, Regional rural may change this time limit for such period and on
banks, Local area banks (LABs), Payment Banks, Small such terms as prescribed by the Board through
Finance Banks, and Cooperative banks. regulations. These regulations must also provide for:
Deposits Covered: Savings, Fixed, Current and Recurring (i) prudential principles to assess the capability of the
Deposits. bank to repay the Corporation, and (ii) prohibition on
the bank to discharge other specified liabilities until
Deposits not Covered: Deposits of Central/State
repayment.
Governments; Inter-Bank Deposits.
ABOUT DEPOSIT INSURANCE AND CREDIT GUARANTEE
Premium: Paid by the banks and hence the cost is not
directly borne by the deposit holder. CORPORATION (DICGC)
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS • Statutory body under the DICGC Act, 1961.
Union Budget 2020-21 decided to increase the Deposit • The authorized capital of the Corporation is fifty
Insurance Coverage from 1 Lakh to Rs 5 Lakhs. crores, which is fully issued and subscribed by the RBI.
However, there was no timeline fixed for the depositors • The management of the Corporation vests with its
to avail this insurance. Board of Directors, of which a Deputy Governor of the
Banks under Moratorium: Under Section 45 of Banking RBI is the Chairperson.
Regulation Act, the RBI has been empowered to make an
application before the Central Government to put a Bank
RBI’S MONETARY POLICY
under the Moratorium. Based upon such an application,
the Government can place a bank under moratorium.
#Banking
Presently, the depositors of Banks placed under
moratorium cannot avail deposit insurance. They would RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to
have to wait until these Banks get rescued. keep the policy rates unchanged and continue with the
accommodative policy stance to kick start the Indian
August 2021: Parliament passed the Deposit Insurance
economy. Apart from that, the MPC has taken a number of
and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill
policy decisions to enhance liquidity in the economy and
2021. Salient Features:
deepen the financial sector.

POLICY RATES OF RBI New Announcement: Earlier, in 2016, the NPCI had
Policy Repo Rate : 4.00% launched the National Unified USSD platform (NUUP)
which enables banking related transactions on feature
Reverse Repo Rate : 3.35% phones without internet connection. Feature phone
users can avail various services by dialling *99#.
Marginal Standing Facility Rate : 4.25%
However, NUUP has not been very successful. Hence, to
Bank Rate : 4.25% deepen financial penetration, RBI has proposed to
launch UPI-based payment for feature phone users.
PAYMENT AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS
INCREASE IN UPI TRANSACTION LIMIT FOR SPECIFIED
UPI for Feature Phone Users
CATEGORIES
Background: India has a large mobile phone consumer
Present Status: The NPCI has set an upper limit on the
base of about 118 crore mobile users (TRAI). Out of
UPI transactions. Presently, the upper limit is Rs 1 lakh
which, even today, around 37% of users still use basic
per transaction in most of the cases. However, in certain
phones. Feature phone users have limited access to
specific cases such as investment in capital market
innovative payment products such as UPI, BHIM App etc.
through Initial public offer (IPO), the upper limit is Rs 2
Present Status: The Unified Payment Interface (UPI)
lakh per transaction.
launched by National Payment Corporation of India
New announcement: The RBI has proposed increasing
(NPCI) has been able to increase digital payments in
the transaction limit for payments made through UPI for
India. However, the UPI requires smart phone and
the Retail Direct Scheme and initial public offering (IPO)
internet connectivity. Hence, the users of basic phones
applications to Rs 5 lakh from present Rs 2 lakh.
are not able to get benefitted from these innovative
products.
Industrial Policy and LPG

NEW WAREHOUSING The higher logistics cost (14% of GDP) in India is the biggest
constraints in improving competitiveness of Indian Economy
POLICY and ensuring Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. Hence, to reduce
logistics cost to 8-10% of GDP in line with the global
#Banking benchmarks, the Government has proposed a new
warehousing policy.
WAREHOUSING IN INDIA- STATUS AND CHALLENGES from storage to value-added services such as sorting,
Meaning of Warehousing: Warehousing primarily refers packing, blending and processing.
to the storage of goods, which is to be transported, Importance of Warehousing: Warehousing constitutes
whether inbound or outbound. Warehousing has evolved only 15%-35% of the total logistics costs but its

DEFENCE
importance is significant with respect to the role it plays
in the smooth functioning of supply chain networks.
CONCERNS WITH WAREHOUSING IN INDIA: MANUFACTURING:
• Small & Highly Fragmented Warehouses: Domestic
warehousing market is highly fragmented with most
INITIATIVES, CHALLENGES
of the warehouses having an area less than 10,000 AND STRATEGIES
sq. ft.
#Manufacturing
• Dominance of unorganised players: Approximately
90% of the warehousing space in the country is
controlled by unorganized players, which manage According to the latest report by Stockholm Institute Peace
small-sized warehouses. Research Institute (SIPRI), India’s defence exports have
increased from Rs 1,500 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 8,000
• Limited mechanisation in warehouses: Higher
crore in 2020-21. Three Indian companies also figure
dependence on manual loading and unloading of
among the top 100 defence companies- Hindustan
cargo. Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Ordnance Factory Board and
• Lower adoption of IT infrastructure for tracking of Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL). In this regard, let us look into
cargo. important aspects of Defence Manufacturing.
• Higher storage costs and handling losses. PRESENT STATUS OF DEFENCE MANUFACTURING IN
INDIA
• Lack of cold chain infrastructure
Total Size (2019-20): Rs 80,000 crores (Public Sector-
• Under-developed Third-party logistics (3PL
80%; Private Sector- 20%)
Market): 3PL is a concept where a single logistics
Import Dependence: 2nd Largest Importer after Saudi
service provider manages the entire logistics function
Arabia; 65-70% of Defence Goods imported (SIPRI)
for a company. There are only few third-party logistics
providers in India. Exports from India:
• Increased from Rs 1500 crores (2016-17) to Rs 8500
BROAD CONTOURS OF NEW WAREHOUSING POLICY
crores (2020-21)
Strategy: Develop Warehousing zones outside the
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Ordnance
major cities by using the land Banks with the NHAI.
Factory Board and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL)- Top
The Government will invite private entities to develop
100 Defence Companies.
Warehousing zones in PPP mode on the identified land.
HIGHLIGHTS OF SIPRI YEARBOOK 2021
OBJECTIVES OF THE NEW WAREHOUSING POLICY
• Largest Arms Importers: Saudi Arabia, India and
• Reduce the Logistics boost to 8-10% of the GDP. Egypt.
• Improve Supply chain management • Largest Arms Exporters: USA, Russia and France
• De-congest cities as the large trucks carrying the • Countries with highest defence Expenditure (2020):
cargo do not need to enter the city to unload their USA ($770bn), China ($ 250bn) and India ($70bn)
goods. OBJECTIVES OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION & EXPORT
• Curbing air pollution and traffic congestion in PROMOTION POLICY (DPEPP) 2020
major cities. • Achieve a turnover of Rs 1,75,000 Crores (US$ 25Bn)
• Fuel efficiency: Boost bulk carrying capacity and save including export of Rs 35,000 Crore (US$ 5 Bn) in
Aerospace and Defence goods and services by 2025.
fuel.
• To reduce dependence on imports and take forward
• Implementation Agency: National Highway Authority
"Make in India" initiatives through domestic design
of India (NHAI).
and development.

STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO BOOST establishment of Board of Ordinance in 1775 in Fort
INDIGENIZATION OF DEFENCE INDUSTRY William, Kolkata.
1. Liberalized FDI Regime: FDI up to 74% (Automatic • Rationale for Dissolution: Since it was a government
Route); Beyond 74% and up to 100% (Automatic department directly managed by the Government, it
Route) faced number of problems such as Lack of functional
2. Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP): A new and operational flexibility, Bureaucratic delays and
category of capital procurement ‘Buy Indian-IDDM' red-tapism, Low capacity to innovate, Restrictions on
(Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured entering joint venture partnerships with private
has been introduced in Defence Procurement sector entities etc. In this regard, Nair Committee
Procedure (DPP) to promote indigenous design and (2000), Kelkar Committee (2005) recommended for
development of defence equipment. Under this, corporatisation of corporatisation of OFB to do away
highest priority would be given to procurement of with the above-mentioned problems.
Defence Goods which are indigenously designed, • Recent Decision: In Sep 2021, the Government
developed and manufactured within India. decided to split OFB into seven new defence PSUs
3. Defence Offset Policy: It has been introduced with specialised expertise. The dismantling of OFB into
through the Defence Procurement Policy and smaller companies will bring in better autonomy,
Procedure (2005) to encourage foreign vendors to efficiency, and accountability in ordnance supplies.
outsource orders, transfer technologies to Indian 5. Import Bans: Under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat,’ a list of
companies and invest in India. Under this policy, 101 items has been prepared for which there would
foreign vendors can fulfil offset obligations through: be an embargo on the import.
• Direct purchase of defence products manufactured by 6. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX): foster
Indian enterprises innovation and technology development in Defence
• Foreign Direct Investment in joint ventures with Indian and Aerospace by engaging Industries including
enterprises MSMEs and Start-ups.
• Transfer of technology (TOT) to Indian enterprises, 7. Strategic Partnership Model (2017): Envisages
including DRDO. establishment of long-term strategic partnerships
between Indian companies and global Original
According to DAP 2020, all other international defence
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) wherein Indian
deals will have a 30% offset clause and will be
companies can seek technology transfers to set up
applicable to defence deals of above Rs 2000 crores.
domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply
However, the offset clause will not be applicable if the
chains.
procurement is either through Inter-Governmental
Agreements (IGAs) between Indian and Foreign 8. Defence Corridors: In Feb 2018, Government decided
Government, or through single-vendor deal. to establish two defence industrial corridors (One in
UP and another in Tamil Nadu) to promote growth of
4. Dissolution of 250 years old Ordnance Factory
defence industrial base in India.
Board (OFB):
9. Public Procurement Order: Department of Defence
• Establishment and Role: The Ordnance Factory
Production has notified list of 24 items for which there
Board (OFB) was a subordinate/attached office of the
is local capacity and completion, and procurement of
Department of Defence Production and had 41
these items shall be done from local suppliers only
ordnance factories. It was established in 1979,
irrespective of the purchase value.
however its genesis can be traced back to the
Defence Manufacturing
Challenges Strategies
Slow pace of modernisation due to declining defence budget Support private sector: To build a defence industrial
towards long term investments and inefficiencies in domestic base, the government should support the private

production by defence PSUs. sector with bigger and stable defence contracts.
Budgetary Constraints: Even though the Defence Expenditure Set up Project Management Unit (PMU) that should
has been increasing year-on-year, more amount of money is be able to provide clear picture of future requirements
spent on revenue expenditure (60%) such as salaries and of Armed Forces to Industries. It should also support
pensions leading to lower allocation for capital expenditure.
the acquisition process and facilitate management of
Production and Time Delays: According Parliamentary the contracts.
Committee on Estimates (2018), Defence PSUs such as DRDO, Need to move away from licensed production to
HAL etc. fail to meet timelines for delivery of defence goods, Design, Develop and produce wherein the India should
thereby severely affecting Defence Modernisation. For example, own the Design Rights and Intellectual property rights.
there has been delays of more than 33 years in Tejas Aircraft Need to have a distinct budget head for domestic
programme. capital procurement.
Higher Preference to Defence PSUs: The Government gives List of Defence Goods whose import is banned
higher preference to Defence PSUs which in turn constraints should be reviewed and updated regularly.
the growth of Private sector. Hence, due to lack of level playing
Procurement of indigenously developed
field between Defence PSUs and Private sector, manufacturing
products/systems involves conducting several tests
by private sector has failed to pick up.
and trials and consumes a considerable amount of
Failure in Defence Offset Policy wherein the CAG has recently time because of which placement of orders is delayed.
highlighted that most of the time foreign vendors give This needs to be streamlined and expedited.
commitment for offsets to win the tender, but later do not fulfil
Set up Indigenisation portal to provide necessary
their commitments.
support to MSMEs/ Start-ups for import substitution.
Lack of Investment in R&D which is around 0.7% of India's
Enhance Investment in R&D and convert the
GDP. Further, only 4% of our Defence Budget (2020-21) was
prototypes into commercially useful products.
allocated for R&D. It is significantly lower in comparison to
China (20%) and USA (12%). Promote export of domestically manufactured
defence products through Govt-to-Govt agreements
Failure to attract FDI in Defence manufacturing due to Poor
and Lines of Credit/Funding.
Ease of Doing Business etc.
Bureaucratic inefficiencies and Red-Tapism: Decision making
on defence procurement has been slow and inefficient due to
hierarchical complexities.
Inclusive growth
WORLD INEQUALITY
REPORT
#Inequality
According to the latest World Inequality Report 2022,

published by Paris-based World Inequality Lab, India
stands out as "very poor and unequal country, with an
affluent elite".

SALIENT FINDINGS OF WORLD INEQUALITY REPORT The welfare approach focusses on outcomes (Income
ON INDIA redistribution) through tax policies and enhanced
1. Status of Inequality in India: India stands out as a expenditure for welfare of poor people. However,
poor and very unequal country, with an affluent elite. Inclusive growth focusses on outcomes (Income
redistribution) as well as process (creating opportunities
2. Income Inequality in India
through job creation, human capital formation etc.)
• Average income of Indian - Rs 2 lakh.
Hence, inclusive growth incorporates sector-specific,
• Average annual income of the top 10% (Rs 11 lakhs) is people-specific, gender-specific, region-specific policies
20 times more than the bottom 50% (Rs 50,000).
to ensure that poor people participate in the growth and
• Top 10% earned 57% of the country’s total national get equitably benefit from it.
income, while the bottom 50% made just 13% in 2021.
3. Wealth Distribution
• Average household wealth in India is equal to Rs
983,010.
• Bottom 50% own just 6% of the wealth and top 10%
own 65% of wealth.
4. Gender Inequality: The share of income earned by
women is hardly around 18%, which is much lower than
the average in Asia (21%).
5. Carbon Inequality: REASONS FOR LACK OF INCLUSIVE GROWTH
• Average per capita consumption of greenhouse gas is Problems with Poverty Eradication Programmes such
equal to just over two tonnes of carbon dioxide. Much as poor identification of beneficiaries, poor allocation
lower than carbon footprints in sub-Saharan African of finances, lack of transparency etc. For instance, 46%
countries. of food grains do not reach beneficiaries under PDS
• Per-capita consumption of bottom 50% is one tonne (Shanta Kumar Committee).
of carbon dioxide while that of top 10% is 9 tonnes of Low Employment elasticity (0.1) due to problem of
carbon dioxide. missing middle, regulatory cholesterol due to labour
6. Trends in Inequality laws etc.
• Indian income inequality was very high under British Lower expenditure on human capital formation -
colonial rule (1858-1947), with a top 10% income share Education (3%) and Health (1.5%).
around 50%. After independence, socialist-inspired Inequitable Income distribution: Top 10% of
five-year plans contributed to reducing this share to population holds 77% of the total national wealth (Oxfam
35-40%. International)
• Since the mid-1980s, deregulation and liberalization Decline in female LFPR from 45% (1990s) to 25% (2017-
policies have led to one of the most extreme increases 18) due to socio-cultural factors.
in income and wealth inequality observed in the
Inter-state and Intra-state disparities due to top-
world. While the top 1% has largely benefited from
down planning, lack of decentralization etc.
economic reforms, growth among low- and middle-
Disparity between different sectors:
income groups has been relatively slow leading to
increase in inequality. • Low growth rate of agriculture which employs 45% of
workforce
INCLUSIVE GROWTH IN INDIA
Inclusive growth is defined as “process and outcome • Stagnation in share of manufacturing to GDP (17%)
and Employment (12%) since 1991
where all groups of people have participated in growth
and have benefited equitably from it” (UNDP). Inclusive Environmental Destruction has led to higher impact on
growth has much wider scope than welfare approach. vulnerable sections.

Hence, the Government should focus on inclusiveness putting the last man first should be the guiding light for
and sustainability together while minimizing downside the government's policies.
effects of growth. Ultimately, Gandhi's philosophy of
External Sector
RUPEE: WORST The Indian rupee is set to end the year as Asia’s worst-
performing currency due to rapid outflow of FPIs from

PERFORMING CURRENCY Indian Economy. Depreciation is said to be a double-edged
IN ASIA sword. On one hand, it can boost our exports. While, on the
#External Sector other hand, it can make our imports costly and lead to
imported inflation.
BACK TO BASICS - EXCHANGE RATE MANAGEMENT
Value of Example When does it How does it happen? How does it impact the
Currency happen? economy?
• Increase in Imports
• Decrease in Exports Short term: Exports from India
• Decrease in FDI, FPI increase. Imports become Costly.
Earlier $ 1= Rs Demand for Dollar
• Decrease in Remittances Long term (In case of India where
60 increases Supply of
Rupee etc. lmports > Exports)
Dollar reduces.
Depreciation Dollar Outflows > Dollar Outflow of dollars due to costly
Now (Shortage of
$ 1 = Rs 70 Dollars) Inflows  Shortage of imports higher than Dollar inflows
Dollars  Dollar value due to increase in Exports  Rupee
Increases  Rupee value Depreciation
Reduces
• Decrease in Imports
• Increase in Exports
Short Term
Earlier $ 1= Rs Demand for Dollar • Increase in FDI, FPI
Exports become uncompetitive
60 reduces • Increase in Remittances
Rupee Imports become cheaper.
Supply of Dollar etc.
Appreciation Long Term
Now Increases Dollar Outflows < Dollar
$ 1 = Rs 50 (Surplus Dollars) Inflows  Surplus Dollars  Cheaper Imports  Hurt Domestic
Dollar value reduces  Manufacturing
Rupee value Increases
IMPACT OF RUPEE DEPRECIATION ON ECONOMY • To import goods worth $1, importers would be
required to pay Rs 5 more. Similarly, on exporting
Impact on Imports and Exports
goods worth $1, exporters would earn Rs 5 more.
• In the event of Rupee Depreciation, the imports • Hence, Rupee depreciation adversely affects the
become costly while exports become competitive. importers while it benefits the exporters.
• For example, earlier $1 = Rs 65 and now $1 = Rs 70 Impact on Balance of Trade and Current Account:
India is majorly an import-dependant country. Hence,

costlier imports adversely affect the trade balance and • Export Subsidies: Government incentivizes the sugar
hence it leads to the widening of Current Account mills to export the surplus sugar stock by providing for
Deficit. It is to be noted that even though exports from expenses on handling, transportation, and freight
India may increase during Rupee depreciation, it has charges on export.
limited impact on Indian Economy since the imports are • Production Assistance Scheme: The Government
much higher than exports. provides an incentive of around Rs 5 per quintal of
Impact on Inflation Rate: The higher value of imported cane crushed by sugar mills. This incentive is available
goods drives up the rate of Inflation in India leading to only when the sugar mills export sugar.
import-led inflation. According to RBI’s Report, 5% • Buffer Stock Scheme: Government reimburses
depreciation of the currency would add about fifteen certain amount of money spent by the sugar mills for
basis points to domestic inflation. maintaining buffer stock.
Impact on Forex Reserves: RBI intervenes in the forex UNDERSTANDING THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE
market to reduce volatility in the exchange rate. The RBI
Agreement on Agriculture (AoA)
sells dollars from forex reserves to check Rupee
depreciation. Hence, this leads to decrease in volume of Violation by India as per
Provisions
forex reserves. WTO Dispute Panel
Amber Box Subsidies: Between 2014-15 to 2018-19,
Impact on External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs):
India cannot give Product FRP has exceeded the
Depreciating rupee poses risk to external commercial
Specific subsidies of more permitted level of 10% of the
borrowing (ECB) as the cost of borrowing goes up.
than 10% of the total value total value of sugarcane
of production of the production.
INDIA LOSES WTO CASE product in 1986-88.

Export Subsidies: • Production Assistance
OVER SUGAR SUBSIDIES • Subsidies cannot be Scheme and Buffer Stock
contingent on export Scheme is contingent on
#External Sector export performance i.e.,
performance.
• Member countries are benefits under these
India has recently lost the WTO dispute over sugar subsidies. not allowed to provide schemes is available only
The Dispute settlement panel has acted based upon the subsidies for reducing when sugar mills export
complaint filed by Brazil, Argentina, and Guatemala. the cost of exports. sugar.
• Support by the Indian
GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT TO SUGARCANE SECTOR
Government for
Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for farmers:
handling, transportation
Presently, the Government announces FRP for the
and reducing the freight
sugarcane farmers. The FRP is the price which is to be
charges on export
paid by the sugar mills to the farmers. The FRP enjoys
constitute export
statutory backing under Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966,
subsidies.
which is issued under the Essential Commodities Act
(ECA), 1955.
Note: To know about the Agreement on Agriculture, go
Support for Sugarcane Industries: Presently, the
through the October 2021 Edition of the Focus Magazine
Sugarcane Industry is facing the problem of higher
Ruling of the WTO Dispute Panel: The WTO Dispute
buffer stock and low domestic prices of sugar. Because
Panel has ruled in favour of Brazil, Australia, and
of this, the financial position of sugarcane Industries is
Guatemala. It has asked India to withdraw the subsidies
quite poor, which in turn has reduced their ability to
within 120 days from the adoption of its report.
clear sugarcane dues of the farmers. Hence, to improve
their financial position, the Government has come up India's stand: The Government has rejected the finding
with the following initiatives: of the Dispute panel. India believes that its measures are

consistent with its obligations under the WTO Dispute Settlement Body must accept or reject the
agreements. appeals report and rejection is only possible by
Future Course of Action: India is set to file an appeal consensus.
before the Appellate Body (AB) of WTO's Dispute
BREAKDOWN IN THE WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
Settlement Mechanism. However, as of now, the MECHANISM
Appellate Body is defunct and hence the ruling is unlikely
The sanctioned strength of the Appellate Body (AB) is
to come into effect.
seven members, and these members are appointed
WTO'S DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MECHANISM through consensus among the member countries. The
Settling disputes is the responsibility of the Dispute AB must have quorum of 3 judges to hear a particular
Settlement Body (DSB) which consists of all WTO case. The US Government has blocked the appointment
members. of Judges to the appellate body on the grounds that it is
First stage: Consultation (up to 60 days) to settle the biased and unfair to USA.
trade disputes through conciliation. Presently, it has less than 3 Judges and quorum to hear a
Second stage (up to 1 year): Failure of consultations particular case is 3 judges. Hence, the WTO appellate
leads to formation of Dispute Panel by the DSB. The body has become dysfunctional.
report of the panel can be rejected only through
consensus among the members of the DSB.
Appeal Stage: Either side can appeal a panel’s ruling.
Each appeal is heard by three members of a permanent
seven-member Appellate Body set up by the Dispute
Settlement Body. The members of the Appellate Body
have four-year terms. The appeal can uphold, modify, or
reverse the panel’s legal findings and conclusions. The
Practice questions
MCQs
Q1. With reference to Merchant Discount Rate 1. Pulses
(MDR), consider the following statements: 2. Oilseeds
1. The MDR is expressed in terms of percentage of 3. Fruits and Vegetables.
the value of the transaction which is done through Select the correct answer using the code given below:
credit/debit cards/QR Code. (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only
2. Presently, the MDR is completely market- (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1 and 3 only
determined.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q3. With reference to Payment Banks, consider
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only the following statements:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. The Payment Banks can accept deposits of only
up to Rs 1 Lakh.
Q2. Which among the following agricultural 2. The Deposits with the Payment Banks are insured
commodities are covered under PM AASHA by DICGC.
Scheme? Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q5. With respect to Defence Offset Policy, consider
Q4. With respect to Central Road and the following statements:
Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), Consider the 1. This policy has been introduced under the
following statements: Defence Procurement Policy and Procedure.
1. The money for this fund is raised through the cess 2. The offset obligations are applicable to all the
on petrol and high-speed diesel. defence deals of above Rs 200 crores.
2. The fund can be used for both social Which among the statements given above is/are correct?
Infrastructure and physical infrastructure. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
descriptive Questions
Q1. Inspite of huge potential, India has failed to optimally utilise Inland waterways. In the light of this statement,
discuss constraints and challenges before the Inland waterways. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
Q2. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime has to be substituted with Direct Income Support that will be less
distortionary for Indian agriculture. Argue. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
Answers: 1-a, 2-b, 3-b, 4-c, 5-a

CONSTITUTION, POLITY AND
GOVERNANCE
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II (Main)
LINKING ELECTORAL ROLL

2. Qualifying date for enrolment in electoral roll
st
• RPA 1950 prescribes 1 January of the year in which
WITH AADHAAR the roll is prepared or revised as the qualifying date.
This makes it difficult for new voters turning 18 as they
#Electoral Reforms #Aadhaar #Electoral have to wait out for another year or the year in which
Roll electoral roll are prepared.
• The Bill provides four qualifying dates for registration
of name in the electoral rolls in a calendar year, which
will be the first day of January, April, July and October.
Union government has introduced the Election Laws 3. Requisitioning of premises for election purposes
(Amendment), Bill 2021 as part of electoral reforms to link • RPA, 1951 permits the state government to requisition
electoral rolls with Aadhaar ecosystem to authenticate premises needed or likely to be needed for being used
voters. The Bill amends both Representation of People Act as polling stations, or for storing ballot boxes after a
1950 and 1951. However, the Bill has been opposed on poll has been conducted.
concerns of violation of right to privacy and • The Bill expands the purposes for which such premises
disenfranchisement of voters. can be requisitioned including using the premises for
CHANGES INTRODUCED IN THE ELECTION LAWS counting, storage of voting machines and poll-related
(AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021 material, and accommodation of security forces and
1. Empowering Electoral Registration Officer polling personnel.
• Section 23 of Representation of People Act, 1950 4. Gender Neutral Provisions

provides that a person may apply to the electoral • As per RPA, 1950, Wives of persons holding service
registration officer for inclusion of their name in the qualifications are also deemed to be ordinarily residing
electoral roll of a constituency. in the same constituency of their husband.
• According to the new Bill, the Electoral Registration • The 1951 Act enables the wife of a person holding a
Officer may ask for Aadhaar Number of a person - service qualification to vote either in person or by
o To verify and establish the identity of the person postal ballot.
o To authenticate entry in electoral roll and • The Bill replaces the term ‘wife’ with ‘spouse’ in both
the Acts.
o To weed out multiple enrolment of the same person
in same or different constituencies. Linking of Aadhaar with Voter ID
• Note: Application for inclusion of name in the electoral
Merits Concerns
roll shall not be denied or name from the electoral roll
shall not be deleted if an individual does not furnish • Curb the menace of • In absence of data
Aadhaar Number but furnishes other details as multiple enrolment protection law, such
prescribed by Election Commission. of same person in integration can undermine

Constituti0n, Polity and
Governance
HUNDRED YEARS OF
different places. integrity of electoral roll.
• It helps in checking • Possibility of
the entry of repeat, disenfranchisement of PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
multiple, illegal, voters due to integration
invalid or false leading to violation of COMMITTEE
voters. universal suffrage under
• Reducing voting Article 326 – as was #Public Accounts Committee #Parliament
fraud – check on witnessed in Andhra and
duplication Telangana.
On completion of hundred years of Public Accounts
• Improved • Use of demographic Committee (PAC), Vice-President of India has called for wider
accessibility of information by the debate on harmonizing the expenditure on freebies under
voting - Improve government for targeted welfare obligations of the governments with developmental
Voter Participation – advertising or possible needs. Vice-President also suggested to re-designate PAC as
migrant workers. deletion from electoral rolls. Public Accounts and Audit Committee as audit review is also
• Makes it easier • Given the reported scope for PAC’s core function.
for new voters fraud with Aadhaar, this HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF PAC
as it provides for process could undermine
• Public Accounts Committee was first set up in 1921 in
four qualifying the sanctity of the voter roll.
the wake of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms. W.
dates within a • Linking of Aadhaar must also M. Hailey was its first president, and Bhupendra
year. pass the test of right to Nath Mitra was its first Indian president. The last
privacy under Article 21 of president before Independence was Liaquat Ali Khan.
the Indian Constitution.
• The Committee on Public Accounts underwent a
• Synchronization of Aadhaar radical change with the coming into force of the
(Residents) with EPIC Constitution of India on 26 January 1950, when the
(Citizens) - may allow voting Committee became a Parliamentary Committee
rights to non-citizens. functioning under the control of the Speaker with a
• Challenge to counter non-official Chairman appointed by the Speaker from
Proportionality for EC - A among the Members of Lok Sabha elected to the
law can be considered Committee. The Minister of Finance ceased to be a
proportional only if there are Member of the Committee.
no other less restrictive and CONSTITUTION OF PAC
equally effective alternatives
• PAC is constituted by Parliament every year for
or it does not have a
examination of accounts showing the appropriation of
disproportionate impact on
sums granted by Parliament for expenditure of
the rights holder.
Government of India, the annual Finance Accounts of
• Thus, any Government of India, and such other Accounts laid
disenfranchisement caused before Parliament as the Committee may deem fit.
by the linking of Aadhaar Other accounts include accounts of autonomous and
and Voter IDs would be semi-autonomous bodies (except those of Public
legally impermissible (not Undertakings and Government Companies which
allowed under Article 326 come under the purview of the Committee on Public
and RPAs), and particularly Undertakings).
detrimental to those from
• Constitution of PAC: PAC consists of not more than
marginalised communities
22 members of which 15 members are elected from
and vulnerable sections.
Lok Sabha every year from amongst its members
according to the principle of proportional

Governance
representation by means of single transferable vote. Departments of Government and accounts of
Not more than 7 members of Rajya Sabha are elected autonomous bodies.
by that House in like manner. • Examine Loopholes in Tax Administration - While
• Chairperson appointed by Speaker: The Chairperson scrutinising the Reports of CAG on revenue receipts,
is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha from PAC examines various aspects of Government’s tax
amongst its members. The Speaker, for the first time, administration. PAC examines cases involving under-
appointed a member of the Opposition as the assessments, tax-evasion, non-levy of duties,
Chairman of the Committee for 1967-68. This practice misclassifications etc., identifies the loopholes in the
has been continued since then. taxation laws and procedures and makes
• A Minister in the government is not eligible to be recommendations to check leakage of revenue.
elected as a member of PAC. • PAC does not examine the accounts relating to
FUNCTIONS OF PAC such public undertakings as such accounts are
allotted to the Committee on Public Undertakings.
• Consider the Demands for Grants of various
Ministries/Departments of Government of India and • PAC cannot question policies of the government - It
make reports to the Houses. Thus, PAC ascertains that only concerns itself with the execution of policy on its
money granted by Parliament has been spent by the financial aspects.
government “within the scope of the demand”. • Summoning by PAC - The representatives of the
• Brings extravagant expenditure into notice of Ministries appear before the Committee while
Parliament: PAC not only ensures that ministries examining the Accounts and Audit Reports relating to
spend money in accordance with parliamentary grants, their Ministries. A Minister is not called before the
but also brings to the notice of the Parliament Committee either to give evidence or for consultation
instances of extravagance, loss, in fructuous in connection with the examination of Accounts by the
expenditure and lack of financial integrity in public Committee.
services. REPORT OF PAC PRESENTED IN LOK SABHA & RAJYA
• Examine Bills referred to the Committee by the SABHA
Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha and • After conclusion and adoption of Report by PAC, the
make reports thereon. Report is presented by the Chairperson to the Lok
• Consider Annual Reports of Sabha and a copy of the Report is also laid on the
Ministries/departments, Policy Documents and Table of Rajya Sabha. The Reports of the Committee
make suitable reports. are adopted by consensus among members.
• Examine Report of CAG of accounts of the Union • After presentation to the Lok Sabha, copies of the
Government submitted by CAG to the President. Report are forwarded to the Ministry or Department
Article 151 of the Indian constitution requires the concerned which is required to act on the
President to lay this report before each House of the recommendations and observations contained in the
Parliament. Report and furnish action taken notes thereon within
six months from the date of presentation of the
• In examining the report of the CAG, the committee
Report.
has to satisfy itself that –
• Action taken by Ministry or Department is taken note
(a) the expenditures made by the government, were
of and report of actions taken by the concerned
authorized by the Parliament, and
ministry or department on suggestions of PAC is laid
(b) that the expenditures under any head has not on the table of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
crossed the limits of parliamentary authorization.
• Replies received from Government in respect of
• Examine Accounts & Audit Reports - The Committee recommendations contained in the Action Taken
is assisted by the Comptroller and Auditor General in Reports after approval by the Chairperson are also laid
the examination of Accounts and Audit Reports on on the Table of Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha in the form of
revenue receipts, expenditure by various Ministries/
Statements.

Governance
IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS OF VICE-PRESIDENT
• Stressed on wise, faithful, and economical
utilization of monies granted by Parliament to realise Indian Army implemented Government-owned, contractor-
the stated socio-economic outcomes. operated (GOCO) model for modernisation of the Army
Base Workshops (ABWs) where it hired private contractors to
• Need of wider debate on freebies by harmonizing
repair vehicles, tanks, and weapons to replace the old army
the welfare and development objectives.
base workshops. However, Comptroller and Auditor General
• PAC must examine balancing of short-term and (CAG) in its report have highlighted delays and operational
long-term development objectives – effective use of
risks in the functioning of GOCO Model for modernisation.
resource for socio-economic outcomes.
GOCO MODEL
• Fear of scrutiny prevent wasteful expenditure -
• The GOCO Model was meant to modernise the
PAC’s constant pursuit of action taken by the
workshops as well free up Army personnel from
Government creates the ‘fear of scrutiny’ among all the
maintenance work.
concerned and this results in systemic improvement
and prevention of ‘financial murders’ - large scale • CAG in its report mentioned that 385 out of 1077
irregularities and wasteful expenditure. affected civilian manpower of closed station/static
workshops were lying idle and the same situation may
• Enhance Trust of People & Investors - PAC’s effective
arise in ABWs if these issues are not addressed while
functioning ensuring financial accountability of the
implementing the GOCO Model.
Executive enhances people’ trust in the ‘oversight’
function of the Parliament and management of public • CAG further highlighted that the modernisation of
finances. Accountability and transparency in public ABWs was plagued by administrative inefficiency and
spending improves the confidence of investors as well. delays in deciding on the mode of its execution.
• Need for PAC to reinvent itself - considering increase • The audit recommended that the Ministry of Defence
in government budgetary expenditure over the last formulate a strategy to mitigate all risks, including the
100 years from a mere Rs.197 crore in the first Budget deployment of existing manpower, relating to GOCO
to Rs.35 lakh crores in the present. Given the enormity implementation and to ensure implementation of
and complexity of the work, PAC must inculcate GOCO and/or modernisation of workshops without
financial discipline in government’s expense which further delay.
must be based on needs. COMPTROLLER & AUDITOR GENERAL OF INDIA
• The Vice-President also stressed on improving the • Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is the
functioning of Committees of Parliament as they Supreme Audit Institution of India (SAI) appointed by
enable bi-partisan discussions rising above the political the President under Article 148.
divide. • As a constitutional body, CAG by auditing the accounts
• The Vice-President also called for a minimum of and related activities of the government and its
100 sittings of Parliament every year and an institutions acts as the guardian of public purse.
adequate number of sittings of State Assemblies to • The CAG’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of
enable detailed discussions on a range of issues. Service) Act, 1971 (enacted as per Article 149)
provides for duties and powers to compile and audit
accounts. The Act broadly categories the duties of CAG
CAG FLAGS DELAY IN into two heads –
GOVERNMENT-OWNED, (i) Compilation and Keeping of Accounts; &

(ii) Audit
CONTRACTOR-OPERATE • The CAG is also the head of the Indian Audit and
Accounts Department, the affairs of which are
#CAG #Audit managed by officers of Indian Audit and Accounts
Service.

Governance
FUNCTIONS OF CAG (iii) Propriety audit: Propriety audit is directed
• Audit all Receipts and Expenditure of Union and States towards examining the propriety of executive
which are payable into the Consolidated Fund of India action beyond the formality of expenditure to its
and of each State and of each Union territory having a wisdom, faithfulness and economy, and bringing
Legislative Assembly and ensure that rules and to notice cases of waste, losses and extravagant
procedures are followed. expenditure.
• Ascertain legal sanctity for amounts disbursed by (iv) Efficiency-cum-performance or value for
Parliament and State Assemblies. money audit is a comprehensive appraisal of the
progress and efficiency of the execution of
• Audit all transactions of the Union and of the States
development and other programs and schemes
relating to Contingency Funds and Public Accounts.
wherein an assessment is made as to whether
• Audit all trading, manufacturing, profit and loss these are executed economically and whether
accounts and balance-sheets and other subsidiary they are producing the results expected of them.
accounts kept in any department of the Union or of a
(v) Systems audit: organization and systems
State - and report on the expenditure, transactions or
governing authorization, recording, accounting
accounts so audited.
and internal controls are analyzed and
• Audit of receipts and expenditure of bodies or performance evaluated with reference to
authorities substantially financed from Union or State standards of quality.
Revenues including government companies and
AUDIT OF COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS
corporations.
• The fundamental objectives of audit of accounts of
• Scrutinise the procedure under which loan is granted
companies/corporations are to ascertain whether the
to any authority or body.
Financial Statements:
• Inspect any office of accounts under the control of the
(a) present true and fair view of the entity’s financial
union or of a State, including treasuries, and such
position.
offices responsible for the keeping of initial or
subsidiary accounts. (b) are prepared in accordance with the IndAS
Standards and Companies Act, 2013 and laws
AUDIT AS PER CAG’S (DUTIES, POWERS AND
governing the entities.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE) ACT, 1971
(c) are presented with due consideration to the
• The completeness and accuracy of accounts is
circumstances of the audited entity.
examined in audit to verify that there is proper
voucher or proof of payment. (d) contain sufficient disclosures about their various
elements, including any unusual items; and
• Section 13 of the Act enjoins on the Comptroller and
Auditor General the duty to audit all expenditure from (e) various elements thereof are properly evaluated,
the Consolidated Fund of India, of each State and each measured and presented.
Union Territory having a Legislative Assembly. • The detailed audit of accounts of Government
• The audit of expenditure is comprehensive and Companies and deemed Government Companies is
includes: conducted by statutory auditors appointed under the
Companies Act by the CAG. He can also issue
(i) Audit against provisions of funds: Audit against
directions to the statutory auditors for conduct of
provision of funds is aimed at ascertaining
audit, authorized their reports.
whether the moneys shown in the accounts as
having been disbursed, were legally available for AUDIT MANDATE - PSUS
and applicable to the service or purpose to which • Public Sector Undertakings which function on
they had been applied or charged. commercial lines and whose commercial accounts
(ii) Regulatory audit: The objective of regulatory come under the audit of the Comptroller & Auditor
audit is to see whether the expenditure conforms General can be broadly grouped into the following
to the authority, which governs it. four categories:

Governance
(i) Government companies, i.e., companies in which borrowings based upon loan repayment guarantee by
the Central and/or State Governments own not the Government.
less than 51 per cent of the paid-up share capital.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF BAIL

(ii) Deemed Government companies under the
Companies Act, 2013.
(iii) Statutory bodies wholly or mainly financed by #Statutory Bail #Anticipatory Bail
Government and set up under Acts of Parliament
and/or State or Union Territory Legislature; and
(iv) Government commercial and quasi-commercial Bombay High Court ordered National Investigative Agency
departmental undertakings, that are managed (NIA) to grant bail to lawyer and activists Sudha Bharadwaj
departmentally. and decide conditions of her release. NIA has approached
Supreme Court against the decision of Bombay High Court.
SCRUTINY OF FUNCTIONS OF CAG BY PUBLIC
ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE UNDERSTANDING BAIL
• As per parliamentary rules, the CAG’s reports are • Bail, in law, means procurement of release from prison
examined by the PAC, except for the ones prepared on of a person awaiting trial or an appeal, by the deposit
commercial undertakings, which are examined by the of security to ensure his submission at the required
Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU). Over time, time to legal authority.
a convention also developed that the CAG would assist • The monetary value of the security, known also as the
the Estimates Committee whenever required. bail, or, more accurately, the bail bond, is set by the
• The Committee on Public Accounts court having jurisdiction over the prisoner.
scrutinizes Appropriation Accounts of the Government • The security may be cash, the papers giving title to
of India and the reports of the Comptroller and property, or the bond of private persons of means or
Auditor General of India presented to President of of a professional bondsman or bonding company.
India under Article 151. • Failure of the person released on bail to surrender
• While scrutinizing the Reports of the CAG on Revenues himself/herself at the appointed time results in
Receipts, the Committee examines various aspects of forfeiture of the security.
Government’s tax administration such as cases • Courts have greater discretion to grant or deny bail in
involving under-assessments, tax-evasion, non-levy of the case of persons under criminal arrest.
duties, misclassifications etc.
KINDS OF BAIL
• PAC thus, identifies the loopholes in the taxation laws
and procedures and makes recommendations to 1. Bail for Bailable Offence
check leakage of revenue. • According to Criminal Procedure Code, if the offence
CONCERNS – FUNCTIONING OF CAG alleged is bailable, then the accused is entitled for bail
as a matter of rights either before the police or when
• Appointment of CAG by the Executive reflects bias –
presented before the Magistrate Court.
despite PAC’s recommendation of appointment by a
Select Committee. • In bailable offences bail is a right and not a favour. In
such offences there is no question of any discretion in
• Over-centralisation of functions of audit of expense
granting bail.
and revenue of Union and State government – impacts
quality of audit • Bail can be claimed as of right and there is a statutory
duty imposed upon the Police Officer as well as the
• Disciplinary control and regulation over officers
Court to release a person on bail if he is prepared to
belonging to first and second line of financial control in
give bail.
public works – also leads to corruption in
• It is only where the accused is unable to furnish bail
• Reduced financial oversight due to off-budget
then he should be kept in detention.
financing undertaken by PSUs through market

Governance
2. Bail for Non-bailable Offence 4. The name of the accused is not mentioned in the
• Criminal Procedure Code empowers two authorities to FIR.
consider the question of bail, namely (1) a court and (2) 5. The applicant satisfies the Court that he is from a
an officer-in-charge of the police station who has respectable family, has deep roots in society, and is
arrested or detained without warrant a person not likely to abscond from or avoid the Court's
accused or suspected of the commission of a non- proceedings or to hinder the investigation in any
bailable offence. way.
• The power of police officer-in-charge of the police 6. A plaintiff is an influential individual against the
station to grant bail is permissive and not obligatory. defendant who is a weak person or if a case is
Hence, it must be exercised with great caution because brought against a political rival.
of the risk and stakes involved. Ground for refusing anticipatory bill:
• Before exercising his power, a station officer should 1. The risk of the applicant absconding if cognizance
satisfy himself that release on bail of such accused is taken by the trial court or the trial court has
would not prejudice the prosecution or affect issued a warrant of arrest.
investigation in any manner.
2. The applicant has previously been imprisoned for
• For bail in non-bailable offence, the Legislature has any cognizable offense on conviction.
classified them under two heads:
3. Where the applicant can influence the investigation
1. Offence which are punishable with death or to his advantage.
imprisonment for life
4. When the evidence produced suggests that the
2. Offence which are not punishable with death or accused is guilty of crime or wrong doings.
imprisonment for life
4. Mandatory Bail or Statutory Bail
• In case of an offence punishable with death or
• Under Section 167, magistrate can either allow for
imprisonment for life, station police officer cannot
police custody or judicial custody.
release a person on bail, if there appears reasonable
grounds for believing that he has been guilty of such • Magistrate may allow for police custody for a period of
offence. 15 days.
• If it appears to the Court that that there are not • However, the accused can also be sent to judicial
custody for a period of 90 days or 60 days.
reasonable grounds for believing that the accused has
committed a non-bailable offence, but that there are • Crime for which an accused can be sent to judicial
sufficient grounds for further inquiry into his guilt, custody of 90 days - crime which entails a
then the accused (pending enquiry) can be released on punishment of death, life imprisonment or period of
bail. imprisonment exceeding 10 years and 60 days
3. Anticipatory Bail • Crime for which an accused can be sent to judicial
custody of 60 days - all other crimes
• Anticipatory Bail granted to a person in anticipation
and apprehending arrest. It may be granted under a • Section 167(2) further provides that if at the end of the
few circumstances: period (60 or 90 days) of judicial custody, if the
investigation is not completed by the police, the
1. A special case is made out that would suggest that
there are ample grounds to assume that the court shall release the person “if he fulfill bail
applicant may be detained for unreasonable conditions”.
grounds. • Thus, a magistrate according to law or a statute

2. The allegations were made with a false intent or to (section 167 of CRPC) cannot authorise a person’s
cause the claimant to be injured/humiliated and judicial remand beyond the 60-or 90-day limit.
arrested. • The stipulated period within which the charge sheet
3. The arguments against the claimant are has to be filed begins from the day the accused is
remanded for the first time. It includes days
ambiguous or generic.

Governance
undergone in both police and judicial custody, but not Indian citizenship as the Indian Government does not permit
days spent in house-arrest. dual nationality to Indian citizens.
MAXIMUM PERIOD OF JUDICIAL CUSTODY MAY DIFFER MEANING OF CITIZENSHIP

FOR DIFFERENT LAWS • Citizenship has been defined as full and equal
• The 60- or 90-day limit for judicial custody is only for membership of a political community where an
ordinary penal law as special enactments allow greater individual share a relationship with a state or country
latitude to the police for completing the probe. to which the individual owes its allegiance and in turn
is entitled to the state’s protection.
Under NDPS Act
• Equality of rights and status which is one of the basic
• In the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
rights of citizenship was won after a continuous
Act, the maximum period of judicial custody is 180
struggle for independence.
days.
• In most democratic countries, an individual who has
• Further, in cases involving substances in commercial
been guaranteed citizenship by its country is also
quantity, the period may be extended up to one year.
bestowed with political rights like the right to vote, civil
• This extension beyond 180 days can be granted only rights like the freedom of speech or belief and some
on a report by the Public Prosecutor indicating the socio-economic rights which could include the right to
progress made in the investigation and giving reasons a minimum wage, or the right to education.
to keep the accused in continued detention.
• Apart from relationship of the citizen with the state,
Under UAPA citizenship is also about citizen-citizen relations and
• In the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the default involves certain obligations of citizens to each other
limit for completing police investigation is 90 days and to the society.
only. • These would include not just the legal obligations
• However, the court may grant an extension of another imposed by states but also a moral obligation to
90 days provided that the court is satisfied with the participate in, and contribute to, the shared life of the
report of the public prosecutor. community.
• The report should indicate the progress of the • Citizens are also considered to be the inheritors and
investigation and the specific reasons for the detention trustees of the culture and natural resources of the
of the accused beyond the said period of 90 days. country.
• These provisions show that the extension of time is IMPORTANCE OF CITIZENSHIP
not automatic but requires a judicial order. • The Indian Constitution accommodates a very diverse
society and integrates the notion of nationalism by
providing each member full and equal citizenship,
OVER SIX LAKH INDIANS bestowed Indian citizens with fundamental rights
DENOUNCE CITIZENSHIP including right to life, liberty, speech and equality

(which cannot be unreasonably taken away by state
#Citizenship #Citizenship Act without procedure established by law) and provided
each citizen who has attained the age of 18 years the
right to vote.
• There is also a provision that the state should not
Union Minister of State for Home has informed the discriminate against citizens on grounds only of
Parliament that over six lakh Indians have given up their religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, or any of them.
The rights of religious and linguistic minorities are also
citizenship over the last five years as per the data available
with Ministry of External Affairs. According to Citizenship protected.
Rules 2009, Indian nationals living abroad who intend to • Granting of Indian citizenship to a diverse population
acquire a foreign citizenship are required to renounce their is not based on any conditions whereby the person

Governance
th
has to give up their caste, religion, culture, tradition or (c) For persons migrated on or after 19 July 1948, he
practices. must be registered as citizens of India.
• The provisions about citizenship in the Constitution • However, no person shall be registered as Indian
can be found in Part Two and in subsequent laws citizen, unless he has been resident in the territory of
passed by Parliament namely the Citizenship Act, 1955. India for at least six months immediately preceding
• The Constitution adopted an essentially democratic the date of his application.
and inclusive notion of citizenship as citizenship can be Citizenship by Registration – Migrants & Persons of
acquired by birth, descent, registration, naturalisation, Indian origin residing outside India
or inclusion of territory. The rights and obligations of • Article 7 allows citizenship by registration to such
citizens are listed in the Constitution. st
migrants who had after 1 March 1947 (during
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO partition) migrated to Pakistan but returned to India
CITIZENSHIP under a permit for resettlement or permanent return
issued by or under the authority of any law.
Part II of the Indian Constitution from Article 5 to 11 deals
with Citizenship and provides three modes of acquiring • Article 8 provides for acquiring Indian Citizenship by
Indian Citizenship: Registration for persons of Indian origin residing
outside.
1. By Domicile
• Such persons of Indian Origin can register themselves
2. Cases of Migration
with the diplomatic or consular representative of India
3. Process of Registration in the country where he is for the time being residing.
Citizenship by Domicile
Dual or Multiple Citizenship Prohibited
• Article 5 mentions of acquiring Indian Citizenship • According to Article 9, no person shall be a citizen of
through domicile. Article 5 mentions that at the
India by virtue of article 5, Article 6 or Article 8, if he
commencement of this Constitution, every person has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of any foreign
shall be a citizen of India who has his domicile in the State.
territory of India and
Rights of Citizenship can be Regulated by Law Made
(a) who was born in the territory of India. by Parliament
(b) either of whose parents was born in the territory of
• Article 10: Every Citizen of India by virtue of this
India; or
constitution shall continue to be Indian citizen subject
(c) who has been ordinarily resident in the territory of to the provisions of any law that may be made by
India for not less than five years immediately Parliament.
preceding the commencement of the Constitution.
• Article 11: Parliament has power to make any
Citizenship by Migration provision with respect to the acquisition and
• Article 6 mentions about rights of citizenship of termination of citizenship and all other matters
certain persons who have migrated to India from relating to citizenship.
Pakistan.
• A person who has migrated to India from the territory CITIZENSHIP ACT, 1955
now included in Pakistan shall be deemed to be a
Parliament in its exercise of power under Article 11
citizen of India at the commencement of this
enacted the Citizenship Act, 1955 which regulates modes
Constitution if –
of acquiring and terminating Indian Citizenship.
(a) He or either of his parents or any of his grandparents
1. Acquiring Citizenship
was born in India as defined in the Government of
India Act, 1935. • The Citizenship Act, 1955 provides for acquiring
th citizenship of India through the following ways:
(b) If such person has migrated from Pakistan before 19
July 1948, he has been ordinarily resident in the o Citizenship by birth
territory of India since the date of his migration, or o Citizenship by descent

Governance
o Citizenship by registration disloyalty or disaffection towards the Constitution
o Citizenship by naturalisation of India.
o Special provisions as to citizenship of persons o During any war, such citizen helped the enemy
covered by Assam Accord country through unlawful trade or communication.
o Citizenship by incorporation of territory o The citizen within five years of naturalisation or

registration has been sentenced to imprisonment in
2. Terminating Citizenship
another country for a term of not less than 2 years.
• The Citizenship Act, 1955 terminates Indian Citizenship
o If such citizen has not registered annually at an
through Renunciation, Termination and
Indian consulate with an intention to retain Indian
Deprivation.
citizenship.
3. Renunciation of Citizenship
• Indian citizens including Persons of Indian Origin and
Overseas Citizen of India must surrender Indian
Passport immediately after they gain nationality of
EXTENDING TENURE OF
the other country.
CBI & ED CHIEFS
• When a person ceases to be citizen of India, every
minor child of that person also ceases to be citizen of #Tenure #Independence #CBI #ED
India. However, such minor children within one year of
attaining full age (18 years) can resume their Indian
citizenship. The Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill,
2021 and the Delhi Special Police Establishment
• According to official gazette of 2015, all existing
(Amendment) Bill, 2021 respectively has extended the
Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card holder registered
tenure of Director of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and
as such under new PIO Card scheme 2002 shall be
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) one year at a time,
deemed to be Overseas Citizens of India Cardholder.
maximum up to five years. The Bills replaces the ordinance
4. Termination of Citizenship different from
issued by the central government in November 2021.
Renunciation
Central Vigilance
• Any citizen of India: Central Vigilance Act,
Commission
o Who by naturalisation, registration or otherwise 2003
(Amendment) Bill, 2021
voluntary acquires citizenship of another country or
o Has at any time between 26
th
January 1950 and • Under Section 25 of the • The Amendment
commencement of Citizenship Act 1955 had Act, the Director of provides that in public
voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another Enforcement is interest, the tenure of
country appointed by the Director of ED can be
central government, on extended up to one
shall cease to be citizen of India upon acquisition
the recommendation of year at a time on the
of foreign citizenship.
a Committee chaired by recommendation of
• Termination of citizenship operates as per law because the Central Vigilance the Committee in
Indian Constitution does not allow for dual citizenship. Commissioner. writing.
5. Deprivation of Citizenship • Other Members of the • The bill extends the
• If any person has acquired citizenship of India by Selection Committee tenure up to a maximum
fraudulent means, then the government of India is includes other Vigilance period of 5 years in total
empowered to deprive the person of Indian citizenship Commissioners, including the period
if: Secretaries from the mentioned in the initial
o Registration or naturalisation certificate was Ministries of Home appointment.
obtained by fraud. Affairs, Personnel, and • This means that the
the Revenue Director apart from his
o Citizen through his act or speech has shown

Governance
Department. fixed tenure of two- • Continuous use of offices of CBI and ED to serve
• Section 25(d) – Director years, can get three political ends.
of ED shall hold office extensions of 1 year • Against Supreme Court judgment in Vineet Narain
for a period of not less each by the central which held that the CBI and the ED chiefs should have
than two years from government. a minimum tenure of two years.
the date. • Supreme Court recently held that any extension of
tenure granted to Director of Enforcement after
attaining the age of superannuation should be for a
The Delhi Police Delhi Special Police short period. So, effectively, the amendment overrides
Establishment Act, 1946 Establishment the Supreme Court Judgment.
(Amendment) Bill, 2021
• Public interest is not clearly defined.
• Under section 4A, the • The Amendment
Director of CBI is provides that in public
appointed by a interest, the tenure of PMO TAKES NOTE OF
CHAKMA-HAJONG CENSUS
selection committee Director of CBI can be
chaired by the Prime extended up to 1 year at
Minister. a time on the
#Refugee #Citizenship #Chakma #Hajong
• Other Members of the recommendation of the
Selection Committee Committee in writing.
includes Leader of • The amendment extends The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has registered a complaint
Opposition, where the tenure up to a filed by the Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI)
there is no such Leader maximum period of 5 against racial profiling of Chakmas and Hajongs in
of Opposition, then the years in total including Arunachal Pradesh through an exclusive census of both the
Leader of the single the period mentioned in communities from December 11-31.
largest Opposition the initial appointment.
COMPLAINT BY CDFI
Party in that House and • This means that the
Chief Justice of India • Deputy Commissioner of Arunachal Pradesh’s
Director of CBI apart
(CJI) or Judge of the Changlang district had notified the “census of
from his fixed tenure of
Supreme nominated by Chakmas and Hajongs 2021”, which according to CDFI
two-years, can get three
the CJI. extensions of 1 year each was in clear violation of their right to life including the
• The Director of shall by the central right to privacy (Article 21) and the right to equality
continue to hold office government. (Article 14).
for a period of not less • Earlier, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh had
than two years from mentioned about relocating Chakmas and Hajongs
the date on which he outside the state of Arunachal Pradesh. This statement
assumes office. was opposed by the CDFI.
CONCERNS • As per 2011 census, there are 47,471 Chakmas and
• Impacts independent functioning of CBI and Hajongs in Arunachal Pradesh of which nearly 90%
Enforcement Directorate. have got citizenship by birth under Section 3 of the
Citizenship Act, 1955.
• Control of Executive over independent institutions.
• Impacts the outcome of sensitive and critical cases. • However, according to CDFI, there are about 65,000
Chakmas and Hajongs in the State. About 4,500 are
• The aspect of public interest is not defined in the
migrants from 1964 to 1969 and the rest are
amendment for which the extension is permitted.
descendants and citizens by birth under Section 3 of
• Use of ordinance to extend the tenure of Directors of
the Citizenship Act of 1955.
CBI & ED.

Governance
CITIZENSHIP ACT, 1955 • Earlier, locals of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram were
protesting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019
Section 3 – Citizenship by Birth
(CAA) as according to the locals, it would serve as a
(1) Every person born in India – legal basis for legitimizing the claims of Chakma and
th st
(a) On or after 26 January 1950 but before 1 July Hajong refugees as the indigenous people of the state.
1987
st
Salient features of Citizenship (Amendment) Act,
(b) On or after 1 July, 1987 but before the 2019
commencement of Citizenship Amendment Act,
• Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 has changed the
2003 and either of whose parents is a citizen of
definition of illegal migrant.
India at the time of his birth.
• According to the amendment, if any person
(c) On or after the commencement of Citizenship
belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or
Amendment Act, 2003 where –
Christian community from Afghanistan,
(i) Both of his parents are citizens of India Bangladesh or Pakistan,
(ii) One of whose parents is a citizen of India
o who entered India on or before the 31st day of
and the other is not an illegal migrant at December 2014 and
the time of his birth
o who has been exempted by the Central
Shall be a citizen of India by birth.
Government under
(2) A person shall not be citizen of India by virtue of  Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or
this section if at the time of his birth -
 from the application of the provisions of the
(a) Either his father or mother possesses such
Foreigners Act, 1946 or any rule or order
immunity from suits and legal process as is made under the Foreigners Act, 1946, Shall
accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign
not be treated as illegal migrant for the
power accredited to the President of India and purposes of Citizenship Act.
he or she is not a citizen of India; or
• However, the provisions of CAA shall not apply to
(b) his father or mother is an enemy alien and the
tribal area of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or
birth occurs in a place then under occupation Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule to the
by the enemy. Constitution and the area covered under "The
ABOUT CHAKMAS AND HAJONGS Inner Line" notified under the Bengal Eastern
Frontier Regulation, 1873.
• Chakmas and Hajongs, originally residents of the
Chittagong Hill Tracts of the former East Pakistan, SUPREME COURT JUDGMENTS
had to flee when their land was submerged by the
• January 1996: Supreme Court in directed the Central
Kaptai dam project in the 1960s. Government to grant citizenship to Chakma and
• The Chakmas are Buddhist by faith, faced religious Hajongs as per provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1995.
persecution in East Pakistan along with the
• September 2015: Supreme Court directed the Centre
Hajongs, who are Hindus. to process the pending citizenship applications of
• Out of those who reached India, most were Chakmas 4,627 Chakma and Hajongs within three months.
and only 2,000 were Hajong. The groups entered India DEMAND OF CHAKMA & HAJONG COMMUNITY –
through what was then the Lushai Hills district of POLITICAL RIGHTS
Assam (today’s Mizoram).
• Implementation of Supreme Court Judgment in
• While some stayed back with Chakmas already living in NHRC vs State of Arunachal Pradesh by Centre and
the Lushai Hills, the Indian government moved most of States where direction was issued for processing of
the refugees to present-day Arunachal Pradesh.
citizenship applications of the Chakmas and Hajongs.
Locals against granting citizenship to Chakma &
• Extend all economic and social welfare programs -
Hajongs of the Centre and State government for Chakma and
Hajong communities without any discrimination.

Governance
• Enrolment in Voters’ List - of all eligible Chakmas and • However, India became a signatory to the New York
Hajongs without discrimination. Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, which was
• Ensure Fundamental Rights - Central Government, adopted in 2016. This declaration is Not Legally
State government of Arunachal Pradesh and the Binding on the signatories. It has a compact under it -
constitutional authorities must abide by the o Global compact for Migration - It calls for shared
constitution, particularly Article 14 (equality before international responsibilities in dealing with
law) and Article 15 (prohibition of discrimination by the protracted refugee situations by supporting
state on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of countries that shelter them (since only few
birth) and must deal with the situation of the Chakmas developing countries are bearing the refugee
and Hajongs with compassion and sensitivity. burden)
• Participative and Inclusive Development of o The Global Compact affirms the sovereign right of
Chakmas & Hajongs – Centre and State should create States to determine their national migration policy.
conducive environment for development of the o It is a non-binding document that respects states’
Chakmas and Hajongs wish to live peacefully with sovereign right to determine who enters and stays
other communities with mutual respect and dignity in their territory
and contribute to the overall progress of the state as
responsible citizens. REFUGEE VS ILLEGAL MIGRANT
• Understanding on the implementation of CAA: • According to UN Convention on Refugees (1951),

According to the Chakmas and Hajongs, the provisions ‘Refugee’ pertains to any person who is outside their
of CAA does not apply to them as they are not “illegal country of origin and unable or unwilling to return
migrant”, and CAA is meant to recognize the illegal owing to well-founded fear of persecution for reasons
migrants who came to India as on 31 December 2014. of race, religion, nationality, membership of a
particular social group or political opinion
UN REFUGEE CONVENTION, 1951 & 1967 PROTOCOL
• Being a non-signatory of this convention, India’s
• The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees options are open regarding the question of ‘Refugee’. It
and its 1967 Protocol together are the most can declare any set of refugees as Illegal Migrants and
comprehensive instruments which have been adopted deport them under Foreigners Act, 1946.
to date on a universal level to safeguard the
• India does not have any Refugee law or policy.
fundamental rights of refugees and to regulate their
status in countries of asylum. LEGAL AMBIGUITY ON REFUGEE IN INDIA
• India is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention • Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 relaxes the
or its 1967 Protocol and does not have a national conditions for illegal migrants from Afghanistan,
refugee protection framework. Bangladesh or Pakistan belonging to Hindu, Sikh,
Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community to get
• Definition of Refugee - As a result of events occurring
Indian citizenship. This has been done by amending
before 1 January 1951 and owing to well-founded fear of
the definition of illegal migrant under Citizenship Act,
being persecuted for reasons of race, religion,
1955. However, Citizenship Act, 1955 does not
nationality, membership of a particular social group
define the term “refugee”.
or political opinion, is outside the country of his
nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is o Foreigners Act, 1946 defines “foreigner” as a
unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that person who is not a citizen of India. This Act is
country; or who, not having a nationality and being also silent on migrant and refugee.
outside the country of his former habitual residence as a o So, presently India does not have a legislation to
result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is deal with the issue of refugee and India sees them
unwilling to return to it. as a foreigner who is not a citizen of India.
• India is not a signatory because, borders in South • India is also not a party to the 1951 UN Refugee
Asia are extremely porous and any conflict can result Convention and its 1967 Protocol. The absence of such
in a mass movement of people. a legal framework also leads to policy ambiguity

Governance
whereby India’s refugee policy is guided mostly by • India has often highlighted that the definition of
India’s national interest. refugees in the 1951 convention only pertains to the
• India’s national interest allows the government to pick violation of civil and political rights, but not economic
and choose ‘what kind’ of refugees it wants to admit rights of individuals.
(for political, geopolitical or other reasons), and what • India should argue that their accession is conditional
kind of refugees it wants to avoid giving shelter for on the Western States rolling back the non-entrée (no
similar political, geopolitical or other reasons. entry) regime they have established over the past two
• However, the absence of a legal framework increases decades.
the possibility of domestic politicization of refugee • The Non-entrée Regime is constituted by a range of
protection and complicates its geopolitical fault lines. legal and administrative measures that include visa
• The absence of a clearly laid down domestic refugee restrictions, carrier sanctions, interdictions, third safe-
protection law also opens door for geopolitical country rule, restrictive interpretations of the
manoeuvring. This allows space to the government definition of ‘refugee’, withdrawal of social welfare
either to allow or disallow any illegal migrant or benefits to asylum seekers, and widespread practices
refugee from other countries. of detention.”
NEED FOR A DOMESTIC LAW ON REFUGEES IN INDIA

• Government of India should legislate a new law
clearly defining and differentiating about refugees,
CENTRE DOES NOT AGREE
illegal migrants and even temporary workers.
WITH WORLD PRESS
• The new refugee law should allow for temporary
shelter and work permit for refugees. This is crucial FREEDOM INDEX
because in the absence of proper legal measures
including refugee documentation and work permit,
#Press Freedom #Governance
refugees may end up becoming illegal immigrants
using illicit means.
Centre does not agree with India’s 2021 ranking of 142/180
• As of now, the absence of a domestic refugee law countries released by World Press Freedom Index which is
incentivizes illegal immigration which will be published by Reporters Without Borders. The government
checked and regulated in case a new law is framed by asserted that it is committed to ensure right to freedom of
the government.
speech and expression enshrined under Article 19(1)(a).
• A new law is also needed because CAA does not According to the Report, four journalists were killed in 2021
address the issue of refugees and illegal migrants which makes India one of the world’s most dangerous
from all countries and rather puts a restriction countries for journalists to do their job properly.
through specific countries and religions. PRESS FREEDOM MAP
SHOULD INDIA ACCEDE TO UN REFUGEE
• The press freedom map, which is distributed in print
CONVEENTION 1951 & 1967 PROTOCOL?
and digital versions, offers a visual overview of the
• Generally, the terms “illegal migrants” and “refugees” situation in each country and region in the Index.
are often used inter-changeably. So, in the absence of
• The colour categories are assigned as follows: good
a law of refugees, there is lack of clarity on dealing
(white), fairly good (yellow), problematic (orange),
with and providing remedies for issues of refugees
bad (red) and very bad (black).
and illegal migrants.
• India, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar among
• Considering India’s disturbed neighbourhood including
vulnerable geopolitical and socio-economic situation others have been categorized under “Bad” category
and less-than-perfect western practice of refugee whereas China has been categorized under “Very Bad”
protection, India need not accede to the convention category.
and the protocol in the way they currently stand. KEY FACTS

Governance
• Published by a foreign non-government organization, Reporters without Borders.
Ranking since 2013
Year Ranking Year Ranking
2020 142/180 ↓ 2015 136/180 ↑

2019 140/180 ↓ 2014 140/180 =
2018 138/180 ↓ 2013 140/180 =
2017 136/180 ↓
2016 133/180 ↑
• A questionnaire is used to calculate scores on six #Federalism #Governance

parameters in the index –
• Pluralism
Constitution of India establishes a dual polity at the Centre
• Media independence
and States with division of powers and functions through
• Media environment and self-censorship
Article 246. Fabric of Indian Federalism stands on three
• Legislative framework pillars namely strong central government, flexible federal
• Transparency system and co-operative federalism. However, recent
• Quality of infrastructure that support production actions of the Central Government exhibit a centralizing
of news and information. tendency of the Union over the powers and functions of
states.
REASONS GIVEN BY CENTRE FOR NOT AGREEING WITH
THE INDEX CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS ON INDIAN
FEDERALISM
• Limited sample size of respondents.
• Article 1: Mentions that India that is Bharat shall be
• Methodology used to publish the report is
a Union of States. It means that states do not have
"questionable and non-transparent"
power or right to secede away from the Union of
• Little or no weightage to fundamentals of democracy India. Also, unlike USA, in India, different states have
• Lack of clear definition of Press Freedom not formed because of an agreement among the
• Opaqueness of the survey states.
• Question-wise or category-wise scores used in • Article 3: Empowers Parliament to create new

computing scores for the six States. It allows the federation to evolve, grow and
parameters are not made public respond to regional aspirations as we have witnessed
in the past.
• Clearly defined, credible sources are not available for
quantitative data on abuse and violence against • Formation of new State: When a new state is formed,
journalists. Schedule I and Schedule IV of the Constitution are
amended:
• Data not authenticated with government sources or
data o Schedule I: Contains list of States and Union
Territories.
o Schedule IV: Provides for allocation of seats in
SUSTAINED ATTACK ON Rajya Sabha. The allocation of seats in Rajya Sabha

is made based on the population of each State.
INDIAN FEDERALISM • Distribution of Legislative, Administrative &
Financial Powers: Constitution has demarcated each

Governance
level of government by devising an elaborate scheme • Interference in Delhi Administration by legislating
of distribution of legislative, administrative and “The Government of National Capital Territory of
financial powers between the Centre and the States. Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021.
• Article 246 of the Indian Constitution: Clearly • Interferences in Public Health – Public Health is a
enumerates the Federal character of the Indian state subject (State List – Entry 6) but Disaster
Constitution. It empowers: Management Act was used to impose National
o Parliament to make law under Union List Lockdown due to medical emergency. There was also
lack of co-ordination with states on important
o States to make law under State List and
decisions related to health facilities of state and on
o both the Parliament and States to make law under
vaccine policy.
Concurrent List.
• Electricity Amendment Bill 2021 – allows greater
• Finance Commission constituted under Article 280: private players’ participation in electricity distribution,
Evaluates finances of the Union and State selection committee for central and state electricity
Governments, recommend sharing of taxes between
regulatory commission. States argue that this will allow
them, lay down the principles determining the cherry picking by corporates and leave loss making
distribution of these taxes among States. Thus, areas for state DISCOMS. This will further increase
Finance Commission is a constitutionally mandated
losses and debts for state DISCOMS.
body that is at the Centre of fiscal federalism.
• Use of Institutions and Legislations to Suppress
• Settling Inter-state River water disputes under Dissent and Criticism - CBI, NIA, Income Tax
Article 262: For this purpose, the Parliament has
Authorities, use of Sedition law and UAPA against
enacted The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, dissenters.
1956.
• Legislations on Farm Laws through concurrent List:
• Inter-state Council (Article 263): Inquires into and Even though “agriculture” is provided under State List.
advise upon disputes which may have arisen between This impedes rights of state governments.
States.
FINANCIAL ISSUES
• GST Council (Article 279A): Makes recommendations
• Limited borrowing powers of state from outside
to the Union and State Government on issues related
India under Article 293.
to Goods and Service Tax. The GST Council is chaired
by the Union Finance Minister and other members are • Higher Share of Cess and Surcharge collected by
the Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance and Centre (A-271) is not distributed among the States –
Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all the Agri Infrastructure Cess.
States. • Delays in paying GST compensation cess to States
However, it has been observed that conflict between due to fall in revenue because of COVID.
Centre and States has increased in the past few years due • Sharing of finance by states in Centrally Sponsored
to the over centralizing tendency of the Union Schemes (CSS) is also a burden on states
Government. In this regard, let us go through the three • Lack of Operational & Financial Autonomy to
key areas of conflict between the Centre and States. Implement CSS by States.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES • Reducing number of Left Wing Affected Districts
• Increasing Centralisation (recent report) impacts central assistance to such
o Converting Bills into Money Bill. districts.
o Excessive use of ordinance. • Fiscal Deficit of State cannot exceed 3% of State’s

GDP as per FRBM Act.
o Lack of debates in Parliament on key issues.
• Increased FRBM borrowing limits of states from 3%
o Passing of Bills without sending to Parliamentary
to 5% has been linked to the performance of States
Committees.
in fulfilling certain conditions — implementation of
o Converting State into Union Territory.
the One Nation, One Ration policy, ease of doing

Governance
business reforms, urban local body/utility reforms and o The Council can further have expert advisory bodies
power sector reforms. Such conditions at times or administrative tribunals with quasi-judicial
becomes difficult to fulfill. authority to give recommendations to the Council
• Centre’s Permission on future Borrowings through when needed.
recently launched 50-year interest free loan for states. o Commission must be granted autonomy necessary
• Suspension of MPLADS during COVID & transfer of to for functioning as a Constitutional body
funds to Consolidated Fund of India. independent of the Union and the States and must
be staffed accordingly.
• CM Disaster Relief Funds not considered part of
CSR whereas PM-CARES Fund is under CSR Exemption.
ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES LADAKH DEMANDS
• Discretionary powers of Governor are often
misused. INCLUSION IN SIXTH
• Reserving Bills of States for President – Article 201.
SCHEDULE
• Use of Article 356 to dismiss government.
• Increasing interference of Governors & LG in daily
#Sixth Schedule #Autonomous District
administration – ignores elected government Council
• Special Powers of Governors under Fifth and Sixth
Schedule Member of Parliament from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering
• Constitutional Asymmetry – Special Provisions – Namgyal has demanded inclusion of Union Territory of
Article 371A-J Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule as it will allow constituting
• Lack of co-ordination with states on issues of Autonomous District Council which is elected for a period
health facilities – state list. of five years.
• Concerns & Challenges in working of– Inter-state REASONS FOR THE DEMAND
Council, Zonal Council, Northeast Council. • The demand has been made keeping in view of
• Creation of Ministry of Cooperation (SC Judgment previous demand of statehood for Ladakh.
declaring part of Constitution 97th Amendment as • The government in August 2019 made Ladakh a Union
invalid - PART IXB - State Cooperatives - Entry 32) Territory without a legislative assembly of its own. This
WAY FORWARD further alienated the local population from
participative democracy at ground level as
• Constitute another State-centric committee like the
administration is mostly run by bureaucrats.
Rajamannar Committee to study Union-State relations.
• Changed domicile policy in UT oof J&K has raised fears
• Constitute formal institutional framework to
in the region about its own land, employment,
mandate and facilitate consultation between the
demography, and cultural identity.
Union and the States in the areas of legislation
under the Concurrent List as per the suggestions of • UT of Ladakh has two Hill councils in Leh and Kargil,
National Commission to Review the Working of the but neither is under the Sixth Schedule. Their powers
Constitution (NCRWC). are limited to collection of some local taxes such as
parking fees and allotment and use of land vested by
• Implement Recommendations of Punchhi
the Centre.
Commission for Inter-State Council
CHALLENGES TO INCLUDE LADAKH UNDER SIXTH
o Larger role for the Inter-State Council in
SCHEDULE
management of matters in the concurrent or
overlapping jurisdiction of the Union and States. • Schedule VI of the Indian Constitution provides for the
SCHEDULED AND TRIBAL AREAS. Article 244(2) under
o Strengthening and mainstreaming of the Inter-State
PART X provides that the provisions of Sixth Schedule
Council to make it a vibrant forum for all the tasks
shall apply to the administration of the tribal areas
contemplated in Clauses (a) to (c) of Article 263.

Governance
in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and o Any other matter relating to village or town
Mizoram. administration, including village or town police and
• Thus, for inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule, a public health and sanitation.
constitutional amendment would be needed. o Appointment or succession of Chiefs or Headmen.
However, the Home Ministry has promised “Sixth o Inheritance of property
Schedule-like” protections to the UT of Ladakh without
o Marriage and divorce
promising for its inclusion under Sixth Schedule.
o Social Customs
SIXTH SCHEDULE UNDER THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION
o Establish, construct, or manage primary schools,
• Autonomous districts - The tribal areas in the states
dispensaries, markets, cattle pounds], ferries,
of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram shall be
fisheries, roads, road transport and waterways in
declared as Autonomous districts.
the district.
• Autonomous Regions If there are different Scheduled
o Make regulations for the control of moneylending
Tribes in an autonomous district, the Governor may,
and trading by non-tribals.
by public notification, divide the area or areas
inhabited by them into autonomous regions.
• District Council - There shall be a District Council for SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY
each autonomous district consisting of not more than
thirty members, of whom not more than four persons #Democracy
shall be nominated by the Governor and the rest 36
shall be elected based on adult suffrage.
President of United States Joe Biden held the first Summit for
• Regional Council - There shall be a separate Regional
Democracy which brought together leaders from
Council for each area constituted an autonomous
government, civil society and the private sector. President
region.
Biden promised to gather world’s democracies for a major
• Powers of District Council - In an autonomous
summit against a rising tide of authoritarianism as part of
district with Regional Councils, the District Council shall
his foreign policy platform for the 2020 presidential
have only such powers with respect to the areas under
campaign. The Summit brought together representing
the authority of the Regional Council as may be
delegated to it by the Regional Council in addition to governments, multilateral institutions, activists, journalists,
the powers conferred on it by this Schedule. parliamentarians, human rights defenders, mayors, business
• Tenure of DC - The elected members of the District and labour leader and other actors essential to accountable,
Council shall hold office for a term of five years from inclusive, and transparent governance and the rule of law.
the date appointed for the first meeting of the Council IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS
after the general elections to the Council.
• Leaders from 100 governments announced a wide
• Powers of the District Councils and Regional range of commitments and pledges in support of
Councils to make laws for
democratic renewal centred on the Summit’s three
o Allotment, occupation or use, or the setting apart, of themes of:
land, other than any land which is a reserved forest.
1. Strengthening democracy and defending against
o Management of any forest not being a reserved
authoritarianism.
forest.
2. Fighting corruption; and
o Use of any canal or watercourse for the purpose of
agriculture. 3. Promoting respect for human rights
o Regulation of the practice of jhum or other forms of STEPS TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY IDENTIFIED BY
shifting cultivation. THE SUMMIT
o Establishment of village or town committees or • Counter efforts to combat disinformation
councils and their powers.
• Strengthen electoral integrity

Governance
• Promoting human rights of activists, women and girls,
youth, LGBTQI+ persons, persons with disabilities, and
marginalized populations Parliament enacted the Amendment to the Supreme Court
Judges (salaries and conditions of service) act, 1958 to make
• Address drivers of inequality and inequity
it clear that a retired judge of Supreme Court shall be eligible
• Strengthen enforcement of financial disclosures and
close other vulnerabilities in the financial system for additional quantum of family pension rom the first day
vulnerable to exploitation. of the month in which he completes the age specified in the
• Invest in the development, use and governance of first column of the scale and not from the first day of his
technology that advances democracy and human entering the age specified therein as so interpreted by the
rights. High Courts.
• Non-governmental participants implored participating UNDERSTANDING THE COMPENSATION OF HIGHER
governments to stand up to authoritarianism, JUDICIARY
kleptocracy and repression.
For ensuring the independence of Judiciary the
PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE FOR DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL
Constitution has provided elaborate mechanisms.
• As part of U.S. Government’s commitment to advance
Salaries, pensions and other allowances of higher
the Summit’s goals, President Biden announced the
judiciary is an essential component of ensuring that
establishment of Presidential Initiative for
Democratic Renewal, a landmark set of new policy judges act independently.
initiatives and foreign assistance programs that build 1. Compensation of Supreme Court Judge:
upon the U.S. government’s ongoing work to bolster
According to Article 125, Judges of Supreme Court
democracy, fight corruption, and defend human rights
shall be paid such salaries, pensions and allowances
worldwide.
which will be determined by Parliament by law.
• US government has committed to provide $424 million
Allowances of a Judge, his leaves and pensions cannot
toward the Presidential Initiative in the coming year to
be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
defend, sustain, and strengthen democracy around
the world. In line with the Summit’s themes, these According to Article 112
efforts will centre on five areas of work: a. Salary of Supreme Court Judge is charged on the
1. Supporting a free and independent media Consolidated Fund of India.
2. Fighting corruption b. Pension and other allowances of Judges of Supreme

3. Bolstering democratic reformers Court is also charged on the Consolidated Fund of
India.
4. Advancing technology for democracy &
5. Defending free and fair elections and political 2. Compensation of High Court Judge:
processes According to Article 221, Judges of each High Court

shall be paid such salaries, pensions and allowances
which will be determined by Parliament by law.
AMENDMENT TO THE Allowances of a Judge, his leaves and pensions cannot
SUPREME COURT JUDGES be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment.
a. According to Article 112, Pensions payable to judges

(SALARIES AND of High Court are charged on Consolidated Fund of
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE) India.
b. According to Article 202, expenditure in respect of

ACT, 1958 salaries and allowances of High Court Judges are
#Judiciary charged on the Consolidated Fund of each State.

Governance
GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL
• An officer of Joint Secretary rank is required to be
designated as Director of Grievances of the
MECHANISM Organisation.
• Directors of Grievances are empowered to call for
#Governance files/reports and take decisions or review decisions
already taken, in consultation with Secretary/HOD
even in those areas which do not fall within his/her
Recently, the Department Related Parliamentary Standing
domain/charge.
Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice
brought a report on 'Strengthening of Grievance • Functioning of Public Grievance Redress Machineries
Redressal Mechanism of Government of India'. This has in various Ministries/Departments/Organisations is
brought to light the present grievance redressal mechanism regularly reviewed by a Standing Committee of
Secretaries under the Chairmanship of Cabinet
of government.
Secretary with Additional Secretary of DARPG as
Grievance has been defined as indignation or resentment
member-secretary.
arising out of a feeling of being wronged. A grievance is
2. Department of Administrative Reforms and Public
thus any sort of dissatisfaction, which needs to be
Grievances (DARPG) under Ministry of Personnel,
redressed. It can be real or imaginary, legitimate or
Public Grievances and Pensions
ridiculous, rated, or unvoiced, written, or oral; it must,
• Nodal agency in respect of policy initiatives on public
however, find expression in some form or the other.
grievances redress mechanism and citizen centric
IMPORTANCE OF GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL
initiatives.
MECHANISMS
• Role of DARPG consists primarily of to undertake such
1. Grievance Redressal Mechanism of an organisation is
citizen-centric initiatives in the fields of administration
an instrument to measure its efficiency and reforms and public grievances in the Government to
effectiveness. enable the Government machinery to deliver quality
2. Provides important feedback on the working of the public services to the citizen in a hassle-free manner
organisation. and eliminate causes of grievance.
3. An educated citizenry which is much more conscious 3. Directorate of Public Grievances (DPG) under the
about its rights. Cabinet Secretariat:
PRESENT GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM • Based on the review of public grievance redress
ARCHITECTURE OF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA machinery, this body was set up in 1988.
The Public Grievance Redress Mechanism functions in the • This Directorate investigates individual complaints
pertaining to 16 Central Government Departments
Government of India in a decentralised basis.
which are more prone to public complaints.
Grievances of public are received at various points in the
Government of India. There are primarily two designated • DPG was envisaged as an appellate body investigating
nodal agencies in the Central Government handling these grievances selectively and particularly those where the
grievances. These agencies are: complainant had failed to get redress at the hands of
internal machinery and the hierarchical authorities.
1. Departmental / Ministerial Level Grievance
• Unlike the DARPG, DPG has been empowered to call
Redressal
for the files and officers for discussion to see that
• The Central Government Ministries/Departments and
grievance handling has been done in a fair, objective
bodies have their respective grievance redress
and just manner. If the DPG believes that the
machinery.
grievance has not been dealt in such a manner, it

Governance
makes suitable recommendations for consideration 3. Considerable variation across organisations in
and adoption by the concerned Department/Ministry respect of number of grievances recorded, disposed
to be implemented within a period of one month. of and pending as also the institutionalisation of the
CENTRALISED PUBLIC GRIEVANCE REDRESS AND redress process.
MONITORING SYSTEM (CPGRAMS) 4. Ministries have not established social audit panels
Allocation of Business Rules, 1961, allocates to DARPG for examining areas of public interface.
the responsibility for policy, coordination and monitoring 5. Public Grievance Cells suffer from shortage of staff
of issues relating to and resources.
(a) Redress of Public Grievances in general 6. Ministries/Departments do not detect or not
(b) Grievances pertaining to Central Government public grievances appearing in newspapers for
Agencies in particular. Suo-moto redressal.
• Towards this end, DARPG has established the 7. No efforts are made to hold satisfaction surveys to
CPGRAMS portal. ascertain outcome of measures to redress grievances.
• CPGRAMS in an online portal available to public 24X7 8. CPGRAMS has not been uniformly operationalised
to lodge their grievances against the authorities. in all organisations.
• Public grievance mechanism of Prime Minister's Office 9. Federal challenges: Many grievances received on
(PMO), the Presidents' Secretariat, the DPG (Cabinet CPGRAMS are related to State governments.
Secretariat), DARPG and that of Department of 10. Bureaucratic apathy and high handedness
Pensioners' portal, have been duly integrated through towards citizens and their grievances.
CPGRAMS, enabling grievances lodged to any of these 11. Lack of statutory backing towards citizen
entities to be transferred to the Central grievance redressal.
Ministries/Departments and State Governments online
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING OF
through CPGRAMS.
GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL SYSTEM
• All grievance officers have role-based login access to
1. Effective internal grievance redressal set up: There
CPGRAMS.
is a need for a strong and effective internal grievance
• Facilitates tracking grievances through a system redressal mechanism in each organisation with
generated unique registration number. adequate manpower.
• Enables Ministries/Departments to take appropriate 2. Timely Grievance Redressal: All grievance petitions
action and upload the Action Taken Report (ATR) on received should be satisfactorily disposed of by these
the system officers within thirty days. Non-adherence to the time
ISSUES IN PRESENT GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL limit should invite financial penalties.
MECHANISM 3. Appeals against non-redressal: Each organization
1. Cosmetic redressal of grievances: In their eagerness should designate an appellate authority and devolve
to comply with established instructions, grievances adequate powers upon them including the power to
are increasingly being disposed of by some impose fines on the defaulting officers.
organisations simply with the suggestion to another
4. Analysis of Grievance Prone Areas and Analysis:
agency or transferred to other agency. Often
Government organizations should analyse the
grievances are closed without giving proper reasons.
complaints received and identify the areas wherein
2. Lack of Awareness among people: Generally, people interventions would be required to eliminate the
are not aware that a system of redressal exists in
underlying causes that lead to public grievances. is
many of the Government departments and its
exercise should be carried out at regular intervals.
subordinate offices where they are required to visit.

Governance
Undertaking Grievance Analysis Studies at regular 9. Bureaucratic Attitude Change: there is a need to
intervals: bring about a total change in the attitude/behaviour of
5. Dashboard for Realtime tracking: DARPG to create a public servants or in other words, the mind set
dashboard on the website pertaining to grievance towards redressal of public grievances at all levels and
redressal comprising performance indicators such as to pinpoint responsibility for action against grievances
average complaints per day, disposal rate, average of the people. Acts of omission on part of civil servants
disposal time, excellent/satisfactory feedback, should be considered corrupt acts.
complaint shared from different channels. CONCLUSION
6. Take up Suo-Moto grievances: DARPG needs to A citizen-friendly Government should give high priority to
impress upon Ministries/Departments to undertake a redressal of public grievances since the Government
regular review of grievances, which are raised in print being a service provider, it is bound to meet people’s
and electronic media. needs and aspirations. To achieve this objective, our
7. Federal issues: State governments agencies to be country needs a public service, which is capable,
sensitised towards handling grievances raised in innovative and forward looking. Th e traditional role of
CPGRAMS portal. civil service which was of administrator, service provider

and controller of development activities must make way
8. Statutory basis to Grievance Redressal: Public
for the new roles of facilitator and regulator to create
Grievance Redressal Mechanism should be given a
best environment and conditions in the country for
statutory basis which would make it mandatory to
building a nation of excellence.
pursue the grievance till their final disposal.
practice questions
MCQs
Q1. Election Laws (Amendment Bill) 2021 has 2. The members are elected every two years.
provided for which of the following? 3. Chairperson of PAC is appointed by the Speaker of
1. Prevent duplicity of voting by same individual by Lok Sabha from amongst its members.
linking Aadhaar with Voter ID. Which of the statements given above are incorrect?
2. Empowering Electoral Registration Officer to (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 3 only
authenticate Aadhaar with electoral roll. (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
3. Providing two qualifying dates every year in
January and June for new voters to get enrolled.
Q3. Consider the following statements:
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
1. All the members of district council under sixth
(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only schedule are nominated by the governor.
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) None of the above 2. District Council under Sixth Schedule can make
laws on management of any forest including
Q2. Consider the following statements about Public reserved forest.
Accounts Committee (PAC): Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. The members are elected from Lok Sabha only. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only

Governance
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Consider the following statements:
1. Part I of the Indian Constitution from Article 5 to 11 Q5. World Press Freedom Index is released by
deals with Citizenship. (a) UNESCO
2. Indian Constitution provides three modes of (b) Reporters without Borders
acquiring Indian Citizenship by Domicile, Migration (c) Economist Intelligence Unit
and Registration.
(d) World Justice Project
3. Citizenship Act, 1955 provides for termination,
renunciation and deprivation of Indian Citizenship.
Descriptive Questions
Q1. Enumerate the ways in which Indian citizenship is both acquired and terminated under the Indian laws? Is the
government empowered to restrict citizenship rights of an individual in India?
Q2. Seeding of electoral roll with Aadhaar is fraught with potential danger despite the intended benefits. Critically
Examine.
Answers: 1 (b), 2 (c), 3 (d), 4(a), 5(b)
FOCUS | January 2022 | RAU’S IAS 48

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS &
Security
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II & III (Main)
INDIA - MYANMAR MILITARY COUP IN MYANMAR

Military coup in Myanmar had set off civil unrest and
#Neighbourhood protests. India had criticised the violence, while following
a policy of non-interference on the matter of the coup
Recently, India’s Foreign Secretary visited Myanmar. Foreign keeping in mind the strategic importance of Myanmar to
Secretary emphasized on India’s interest in seeing India, which is - a bridge to Southeast Asia and ASEAN;
Myanmar’s return to democracy at the earliest; release important for security in Northeast; crucial for
of detainees and prisoners; resolution of issues through Neighbourhood first and the Act East Policy.
dialogue; and complete cessation of all violence. INDIA’S APPROACH TOWARDS MILITARY COUP
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE VISIT • Calibrated approach of India: India has followed a
• Foreign Secretary reaffirmed India’s strong and calibrated approach since the military coup. Initially it
consistent support to the ASEAN initiative and followed a wait and watch approach, only now has
expressed hope that progress would be made in a called for a return to democracy. It is reflective of the
pragmatic and constructive manner, based on the regional realities. It is different from the West’s
five-point consensus. approach of condemnation, threats and sanctions.
• Handed over one million doses of "Made in India” • China which had close relations with the Su Kyi
vaccines to the Myanmar Red Cross Society. government has tried to expand its cooperation with
ASEAN – FIVE POINT CONSENSUS FORMULA the Junta.
The ASEAN five-point consensus states that there shall • Myanmar has refused to cooperate with the ASEAN
be an five-point formula.
1. Immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and all • India has assisted Myanmar through capacity-building
parties shall exercise utmost restraint. programmes for strengthening the transition to
2. Constructive dialogue among all parties concerned democracy. However, it is not an offer of mediation by
shall commence to seek a peaceful solution in the India in the military-NLD conflict.
interests of the people. • Myanmar has renewed the previous pledge that its
3. A special envoy of the ASEAN Chair shall facilitate nation’s territory would not be allowed to be used for
mediation of the dialogue process, with assistance of any activities inimical to India.
the Secretary General of ASEAN. • Foreign secretary was received by Senior General Min
4. ASEAN shall provide humanitarian assistance Aung Hlaing (who is Chairman of the SAC and Prime
through the AHA Centre. Minister) which is departure from the past visits of
5. Special Envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to foreign secretaries from India. Such special gesture
meet with all parties concerned. clearly shows that China is not the only Friend of
6. Junta has refused to cooperate with this formula. Myanmar.

International Relations & Security
IMPLICATIONS OF MYANMAR’S MILITARY COUP and Development Party or the pro-democracy

1. Border security: National League for Democracy.
• Refugees fleeing the military crackdown are entering 2. Engagement rather than criticising: India is
Mizoram. This has led to disagreement between cognizant of the geopolitical dimension of Myanmar’s
centre and Mizoram which supports refugees. democratization. For Delhi, engaging rather than
criticizing is the most practical approach to finding
• Centre’s instruction of sealing border with Myanmar
a solution.
has irked ethnically and culturally connected
communities on both sides. Ex – Chin community. 3. Balancing influence of China
2. Strategic concern: India cannot upset the Myanmar • There was inauguration of liaison office of the
junta by providing refuge to the officials fleeing Embassy of India in Naypyidaw recently. This is
military crackdown. significant as only a few countries have set up such
office in Myanmar. Interestingly, China was the first
3. Containing China: Myanmar being crucial in
country to establish a liaison office in 2017.
containing China, India will have to take a calculated
steps to not push Myanmar closer to China. • Myanmar's growing closeness with China and the
China Myanmar Economic Corridor is a cause of
4. Insurgency: Several ethnic armed organisations
concern for India amidst growing India-China tension.
(EAOs) are active within Myanmar. Being opposed to
Junta, EAOs can lead to escalation in violence across • India also has taken significant step towards
the border. establishing its embassy in Nay Pyi Taw. India has its
embassy in Yangon, the former capital.
5. Indian Investments: Instability would threaten India’s
investments in Myanmar. Ex – Kaladan Project, 4. Strategic Infrastructure development
Sittwe port, IMT trilateral Highway, Special • India has also proposed to build a petroleum
economic zone in Rakhine. refinery in Myanmar that would involve an
6. Opportunity to reduce influence of China: The investment of $6 billion. It shows India’s competitive
Myanmar army has enjoyed a relatively strong dynamic with China.
relationship with India. It played a key role in • Commitment has been made to operationalise of the
handling the insurgency and Hot Pursuits of India. Su crucial Sittwe port in Myanmar’s Rakhine state by
Kyi led democratic government was closer to China. March 2021.
China supported it on Rohingya crisis. • The two sides are collaborating on the ongoing Indian-
INDIA'S MYANMAR POLICY assisted infrastructure projects such as the India-
1. Non-interference in internal politics: Since 1990s, Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and the
India has supported democratization of Myanmar, Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project.
driven from within the country. This has allowed The project will link Kolkata to Sittwe in Myanmar and
Delhi to engage both with the military and the party in then from Myanmar’s Kaladan river to India’s north-
power, whether the military-backed Union Solidarity east.

INDIA – CENTRAL ASIA

5. Border security and development: Both countries
believe in mutual commitment not to allow respective
territories to be used for activities inimical to each #Neighbourhood
other. Both have been collaborating in the development
of border areas with the understanding that it is the best
guarantee to secure their borders. Recently, India-Central Asia Dialogue was held in the context
of emerging geo-political situation in the region. This
IMPORTANCE OF MYANMAR FOR INDIA
assumes importance in the wake of the Great Game that is
• Myanmar is key link between South Asia to
unfolding, Taliban in Afghanistan besides the importance
Southeast Asia. It is a member of both ASEAN as
that India attaches to this region strategically. A month
well as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-
earlier India’s national security dialogue convened “Regional
Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
Security dialogue” with the Central Asia counterparts on
(BIMSTEC) which bridges South and South-East Asia.
Afghanistan. Further India has invited the heads of 5Central
• Myanmar stands at the confluence of India’s Asian Republics to the republic day celebrations.
Neighbourhood First and Act East Policy and India-
INDIA – CENTRAL ASIA DIALOGUE
Myanmar partnership is at the heart of India’s vision
to create a connected and cooperative • Highlighted the need to work on 4Cs- Commerce,
neighbourhood. Capacity enhancement, Connectivity and
Contacts.
• Connectivity projects through Myanmar help India
overcome its Chicken-neck dilemma (Siliguri • Both stated a “broad regional consensus” on
Corridor). Myanmar is also necessary for the Afghanistan
development of North-Eastern India. • Agreed to further increase engagement on the
• Good relations with Myanmar are central to keep connectivity Projects including INSTC, TAPI pipeline
the North-eastern states peaceful. etc.
• Myanmar is important for both Neighbourhood • Agreed to enhance economic cooperation.

first and the Act east Policy.
• Vital Trade Partner

ABOUT CENTRAL ASIA COUNTRIES Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,

Central Asian countries are a group of five countries and Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan (largest), Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, • The geopolitical scenario is undergoing a sea change
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. All these countries were in the last few years in Central Asia. These radical
earlier part of the USSR and became independent transformations in the geopolitical front of Central
sovereigns after the fall of USSR. Some features of these Asia are taking place largely due to the interplay of
countries are: both global and regional forces and their
• Doubly Landlocked: All five countries are doubly subsequent impact on the region.
landlocked because their neighbours are also land • Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has renewed focus
locked. For these countries to integrate substantively on these republics to tackle the new challenges of
with the world economy and develop fruitful rising extremism in the region.
economic relations with the outside world, they need • US hopes to use Central Asia as an important
to have access to warm-water seas. region in its Indo-pacific strategy to counter Russia
• Mineral rich region: All five countries are richly and China.
endowed with natural and mineral resources. These • Russia considers this region to be its backyard and
countries have vast stretches of unexplored minerals has considerable leverage given the Soviet past of
including uranium, oil and gas making it an these countries.
important region for India's economic interest.
• CARs are crucial for China given the high level of
• Political stability: All five republics have been by and economic engagement and the BRI which passes
large peaceful and stable throughout the 25 years of through this region.
their independent existence.
INDIA - CENTRAL ASIA RELATIONS
• Extremism: Although terrorist groups like Islamic
• Historical & cultural relations: India has several
Movement of Uzbekistan, Hizb-ut-Tahrir and others
millennia old historical, cultural and civilisational links
are present in the Ferghana valley, they have not been with Central Asia. The region related to India through
very active or effective in creating disturbances. This the silk road through which Buddhism spread in the
could however change if violence due to the Taliban's region and economic and cultural ties bloomed. India
resurgence in Afghanistan increases and spreads to enjoys good reputation and soft power in these
other countries in the region. The five republics have countries. Bollywood movies and songs are
been largely secular and liberal so far. Religious particularly popular in the region. Also, many Indian
extremism, fundamentalism and terrorism pose students go to these countries to pursue higher
challenges to all these societies and to regional education.
stability. • Strategic Importance: The region is considered to be
• Drug trade and Great Game: CARs face serious extended neighbourhood of India. The countries are
threat from illegal drug trade emanating from centrally located in India's continental neighbourhood.
Afghanistan. Traditionally, Central Asia has been an • Geopolitics: Geopolitically the region is important for
arena of ‘’great game’’. The modern version is being India to counter the increasing Chinese influence with
played out even today. Russia, China, US, Turkey, Iran, its Belt Road Initiative in India's continental
Europe, EU, Japan, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan have neighbourhood. With Taliban's takeover of
substantial security and economic stakes in the Afghanistan, Central Asia can play a crucial role in
region. India's strategic calculations in the region.
GREAT GAME IN CENTRAL ASIA • Energy needs: India is an energy deficit country. This
region is extremely well endowed with hydrocarbon
• Central Asian region stretches from the Caspian Sea in
resources and other mineral and natural
the West to China and Mongolia in the East, and
resources. These countries are also rich in strategic
from Afghanistan and Iran in the South to Russia in
minerals such as Uranium.
the North, including the former Soviet republics of

• Connectivity: Because of presence of Pakistan and transport corridors, including the International
China on the norther borders and hostile Taliban in North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
Afghanistan, India does not have direct access to 3. Economic and Humanitarian engagement:
these Central Asian republics.
• First meeting of India-Central Asia Dialogue was
• Trade: Despite enormous potential, India's trade with held in 2019 in Samarkand (Uzbekistan) which
this region has been minimal because of lack of direct established a platform for strengthening cooperation
connectivity. Largest trading partners of this region between India and the Central Asian countries
are still Russia and China owing to geographical
• India has provided humanitarian medical
proximity.
assistance to these countries for COVID-19 relief.
INITIATIVES TAKEN BY INDIA TO STRENGTHEN
• India has provided US$ 1 billion Line of Credit for
RELATIONS WITH CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS
priority developmental projects in fields such as
1. Connect Central Asia Strategy connectivity, energy, IT, healthcare, education,
• India's 'Connect Central Asia' Policy is a broad-based agriculture in the region.
approach, including political, security, economic • India-Central Asia Business Council (ICABC) has
and cultural connections. also been launched for boosting business to business
• India is stepping up multilateral engagement with engagement.
Central Asian partners using the synergy of joint 4. Other areas of cooperation
efforts through existing fora like the Shanghai
• The joint statements on the India-Central Asian
Cooperation Organisation, Eurasian Economic
dialogue also focused on the need to combat
Community (EEC) and the Custom Union. India has
terrorism by destroying safe havens,
become a member of the SCO of which majority of the
infrastructure, networks, and funding channels.
central Asian countries are members.
• Connections between our peoples are the most vital
• India looks to Central Asia as a long-term partner in
linkages to sustain our deep engagement.
energy and natural resources. Central Asia
possesses large cultivable tracts of land, and it sees • India already has a robust exchange of students. India
will encourage regular exchanges of scholars,
potential for India to cooperate in production of
profitable crops with value addition. academics, civil society and youth delegations to gain
deeper insights into each other’s cultures.
• India is setting up a Central Asian e-network with its
CHALLENGES IN INDIA'S OUTREACH TO CENTRAL ASIA
hub in India, to deliver, tele-education and tele-
medicine connectivity, linking all the five Central Asian Strategic concerns:
States. • India has no direct connectivity with this region.
2. Connectivity • The takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban has
• As for land connectivity, India has reactivated severely altered India's strategic calculations in
the International North-South Transport the region. However, India can leverage its
Corridor (INSTC). relationship with the CARs to engage with Taliban.
• India is modernizing the infrastructure of the • China’s open-handed outreach to the region in the
Chabahar port in Iran, which could become an form of big-ticket connectivity projects under the Belt
important link in trade and transport communications and Road Initiative, reduces space available for
between the markets of Central and South Asia. India.
• India recently joined the Ashgabat Agreement, which • China has been expanding its regional presence, as
was instituted in April 2011 to establish an seen in the ‘5+1 format’ launched in 2020 to further
international multimodal transport and transit its influence. Its advances are causing concerns of
corridor between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. Its ‘debt-trap diplomacy’ given the economic situation
objective is to enhance connectivity within the of Central Asian countries. This provides India with an
Eurasian region and synchronize it with other regional opportunity to leverage its good relations to
counter the fears of 'Chinese Debt diplomacy'.

• Being part of the erstwhile USSR, Russia still has • Regular meetings with the leaders of the region at
considerable influence on these countries. However, highest political level.
to counter the Chinese influence, Russia has been • Quick and effective operationalisation of connectivity
promoting its own Eurasian Economic Union projects such as Chabahar Port, INSTC agreement and
(EAEU) to pursue regional and economic Ashgabat Agreement to give connectivity a push.
integration.
• Coordination with the region in especially checking
Connectivity projects not materialising: rising extremism and terrorist groups. This is
• US sanctions on Iran and increasing Chinese presence especially important in the wake of rise of Taliban in
has caused delay in operationalising the Chabahar Afghanistan.
port fully.
• INSTC project has witnessed slow growth due to a
combination of factors including low trade volumes,
EU – CONNECTIVITY
incomplete infrastructure, and sanctions.
PROGRAM
• India must redouble its efforts connectivity to further
its regional presence. This becomes more important in
#Geopolitics
the context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, with
two of its six corridors running through Central Asia. European Union has unveiled its connectivity program,
Limited Economic Partnership: known as the Golden Gateway, to counter the Chinese
Belt Road Initiative. In this backdrop let us understand the
• India has been a latecomer and has turned its
key aspects of the program, India--EU connectivity initiative
attention to the region only in recent years.
and likely challenges for these connectivity programs.
• India’s trade with the region amounts to US$ 2
GLOBAL GATEWAY PROGRAM – EUROPEAN UNION
billion, owing to limited connectivity and low
economic engagement with the region. This • EU has unveiled its €300 billion ($340 billion) Golden
amount is less than 0.5 percent of India’s total trade, Gateway Program which is an alternative to
whereas the region’s trade with China amounts to US$ China's Belt and Road initiative.
100 billion. • The program aims to help underpin the global
WAY FORWARD recovery by mobilizing investments in digital, clean
energy and transport networks, as well as boosting
• India needs to direct investment to the region to
health, education and research systems across the
reap the economic benefits of the strategic
world.
location of Central Asia that puts it at the crossroads
of key trade and commerce routes. • It aims at creating strong and sustainable links, not
dependencies (a reference to Debt Trap of Chinese
• India must increase its developmental and
BRI projects), between Europe and the world and
humanitarian aid to the region and promote closer
build a new future.
people-to-people ties through education, knowledge
transfer, medicine and health, culture, cuisine, and NEED FOR CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM
tourism. • China has been accused of Debt trap Diplomacy via
• Multilateral organisations like SCO, EAEU, and its Infrastructure development under the BRI.
CICA can serve as platforms for sustained • Addressing Infrastructure investment gap: Low
engagement and regular exchange of ideas. and middle-income countries were already facing a
• The SCO is a crucial grouping that provides India a $2.7 trillion infrastructure investment gap before the
strategic convergence with Russia and China on pandemic, according to World Bank estimates.
addressing new security challenges, enhancing • It will be financed by a mix of €18 billion ($20 billion) in
infrastructural development projects, and creating a grants and €280 billion ($317 billion) in investments
network of regional oil and gas pipelines for the larger from member states, their development banks, the
benefit of the Central and South Asian region.

private sector and EU financing bodies, including the people connectivity.

European Investment Bank. • Financing: Financing is expected to partially originate
FOCUS AREAS OF GOLDEN GATEWAY PROGRAM from European and Indian public agencies, but
significant emphasis is put on the essential role that
1. Digitalization: European Union will invest in fibre
the private sector is poised to play, to ensure diversity
optic cables between countries, satellite communications
in investment streams and achieve mutually beneficial
and cloud infrastructure to better facilitate global
gains. EU has created a financing instrument for
cooperation, data sharing and AI development.
external action into one budgetary mechanism known
2. Clean energy as the “Neighborhood, Development and
• Integrate EU’s energy systems, transition to International Cooperation Instrument” (NDICI).
renewables and partner with other countries to boost • Implications: It can change the dynamics in the
renewable hydrogen production. Indian Ocean region by establishing fairer, and more
• It will also work to eliminate barriers to the transparent framework of infrastructural investment.
international trade of hydrogen. India - EU closeness can provide alternative third
3. Transport: In the most direct challenge to China's pole to the US-China binary.
initiative, European Union will invest in transport
CHALLENGES TO THE PROGRAM
infrastructure — railways, roads, ports, airports and
• Such initiatives will be difficult to implement
border crossings — to help develop countries and
because of the bureaucratic overgrowth that has
diversify their supply chains.
stifled EU global action so far.
4. Health: In response to the pandemic, the new EU plan
aims to help countries develop local vaccine • Over-reliance on involving Private sector and
manufacturing capacity and diversify their financial institutions as a form of financing is going
pharmaceutical supply chains. to lead to the EU losing control of their connectivity
initiatives to their partners on the ground. Such
5. Education and research: European Union wants to
further invest in education globally, including the financing would also impact political visibility of
expansion of online learning. such projects specially when it comes to countering
Chinese BRI.
• Internal divergences among the EU members will
INDIA - EU CONNECTIVITY PARTNERSHIP further slow down decision-making and
The partnership has been built upon EU-India Strategic implementation.
Partnership: A Roadmap for 2025, and ties into the • China is becoming assertive with its BRI initiatives,
larger European pivot towards Asia, conceptualised in which will be difficult for EU to counter. Chinese
the EU Indo-Pacific strategy released in 2021. projects move faster, due to a general lack of due
OBJECTIVES OF INDIA-EU CONNECTIVITY process in the bidding phase, they are backed by
PARTNERSHIP readily available loans, and they do not entail the kind
• EU-India cooperation on connectivity is based on of conditionalities that EU would apply.
shared values of “democracy, freedom, rule of law, • The notion of sustainability, comprehensiveness,
and respect for human rights” and operational transparency, and fairness—could be perceived
principles of transparency, viability, inclusivity,
as additional costs or impossibly high standards by
and sustainability.
developing countries. It can lead to unnecessary
• Strengthening and expanding the existing network Global competition.
of economic, social, and political bonds that tie the
• Originate projects that respond to macro-level
two regions together, as well as bringing in third-
strategic considerations rather than on the
party countries, through a combination of soft and
ground connectivity needs.
hard connectivity initiatives.
• Focus Areas: Digital, transport, energy, and people-to-

INDIA – RUSSIA
• Permanent consultative mechanism on
Afghanistan between the NSAs of both countries,
#Bilateral and a Roadmap of cooperation on Afghanistan
• Welcomed the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue of
NSAs, held by NSA Doval.
Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India and
initiated the first ever 2+2 dialogue between the foreign DEFENCE COOPERATION AND ISSUES
and the defence ministers between the two countries. • Defence Mechanism - Inter-Governmental
28 agreements were signed, however some important Commission on Military Technical Cooperation
agreements like RELOS were not finalised. Also, there was (IRIGC-MTC).
a shadow of increasing closeness between Russia and China • The relation has Evolved from “a purely buyer-seller
and increasing closeness between India and the USA in the relationship to joint research, design development
Indo-Pacific region. and production of state-of-the-art military
KEY OUTCOMES OF THE VISIT platforms”. Example: Joint development of Brahmos
• It was only the second foreign visit of Russian missile.
president since the Pandemic started. He called India • Both are also involved in indigenous production and
as a “Great power” highlighting the prominent development of tanks and fighter jets, along with
position India has in the Global geo-politics. the upgrade of existing systems.
• The two sides met for the first time in the 2+2 • S-400 Triumph Air Defence Missile System, Four
format- with External Affairs Defence Minister from Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, manufacture of Ka-
both sides. 226T helicopters in India.
• Renewal of military and defence partnership for ISSUES IN DEFENCE COOPERATION
10 years to 2031, broadening the defence • Russia still commands 58 percent of total arms
cooperation. imports by India, followed by Israel and the US at 15
• Cleared a deal to manufacture Russian AK-203 and 12 percent, respectively. This figure, however, is a
rifles in Uttar Pradesh in a joint venture, which will step down from 2010-14 when Russia had a share
see technology transferred by Russia to India. of 70 percent of the Indian defence market.
• 28 agreements on everything ranging from Oil and • India desires to diversify its defence imports and
Energy to intellectual property rights and Culture were therefore a heightened competition for Russia with
signed. other suppliers.
• Delivery of S-400 missile defence system has • Dissatisfaction in India with post-sales services
already started. and maintenance being offered by Russia.
• Joint projects in third countries of Asia – Both • Cost escalation because of the delays in supply is
already have a joint nuclear power project in another concern.
Bangladesh’s Rooppur • High cost and low quality of spare parts for
• Important agreements like bilateral logistics support weaponry imported from Russia.
deal Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement • Threat of US’ CAATSA law sanctions also pose a
(RELOS), as well as a Navy-to-Navy cooperation concern.
MoU were discussed but weren’t announced.
ECONOMIC RELATIONS
ON AFGHANISTAN
• Economic Mechanism - Inter-Governmental
• Support for a peaceful Afghanistan, non- Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific,
interference in internal affairs, and humanitarian Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-
assistance. TEC)
• Afghanistan must not be used for terror groups- • Bilateral trade is not much significant - from April
mentioned LeT along with ISIS and Al Qaeda. 2020-March 2021 amounted USD 8.1 billion. Indian

exports amounted USD 2.6 billion while imports from oil & gas. This has deepened economic relations
Russia amounted USD 5.48 billion. between both.
ISSUES IN ECONOMIC RELATIONS • Arctic Geo-politics: Cooperation on the Arctic where
• There is deficit in trade in favour of Russia. both Russia and China seek to develop sea lines for
shorter trade routes. China is particularly interested in
• Reason for lack of growth of trade relations:
this as it will reduce its vulnerability on Strait of
o Lack of involvement of the private sector
Malacca.
o Absence of logistics
• Deepening of Russia & Pakistan Relations: It is
o Poor connectivity facilitated by China-Pak axis, Russia sees Pakistan as a
o stalling of the International North-South Economic zipper state, cooperation is increasing on energy
Corridor, resulting in higher costs. sector and on Afghanistan issue.
• Indo-Russia energy sector has in recent years seen WAY FORWARD

increased cooperation through two-way investment. • Russian preoccupation with Russia’s ‘status’ rivalry
However, difficulties involved in direct supply with the U.S has largely impacted Russia's view of
through pipelines remain. India-China relations.
• Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation • India should pursue the normalisation of relations
of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field. between US and Russia, while diminishing Russia's
• The two-way investment target set at $50 billion by propensity to coordinate its South Asian policies
2025. with China.
• Looking for alternative routes to deal with the • Russia might not always be the most powerful player,
logistics issue, India has indicated its intent to but it retains significant capacity to act both as a
establish a shipping corridor from Chennai to spoiler and a facilitator in Eurasia and has seen a
Vladivostok, which would reduce the time for goods resurgence of influence in West Asia.
to be shipped to the Russian Far East. • India and Russia will continue to pursue their
CHANGING GEO – POLITICS – ITS IMPACT ON respective trajectories in world affairs, coordination
RELATIONSHIP on mutually beneficial issues will be vital in this period
of flux in the global system.
• India’s increasing alignment with the US: India is
aligning with US in the Quad in the Indo-Pacific • After Taliban’s takeover, leveraging relations with
strategy. Russia is increasingly wary of NATO’s Russia can be a key strategy for India in
eastward extension till its borders. Afghanistan. Example: NSA talks between India,
Russia, Central Asian republics etc.
• Russia’ view of Quad: Russia views Quad as an
‘Asian NATO’ and has compared it with ‘Cold War’ era • There is a need for improving Economic cooperation
tactics. Russia thinks that Quad and Indo – Pacific – Improving logistics – FTA with EAEU etc.
conception is primarily an American initiative • Besides defence cooperation should be nurtured on
designed to contain both China and Russia. the lines of joint development and technology
• Russia – China bonhomie: Russia and China have transfer and indigenisation.
convergence over anti-American foreign policy and
share a vision for a multi-polar world. Russia’s
economy critically depends on oil & gas exports. China NAGA ISSUE
being the largest importer of oil & gas is a big market
#Security
for Russia’s exports. Russia supports Belt & Road
initiative.
• Defence and energy exports to China: Close to 77% The recent killings of civilians in the Nagaland by the Assam
of China’s arms imports came from Russia during Rifles in a botched operation has cast shadows on the Naga
2016- 20. China is a major and large buyer of Russia’s Peace process. This has brought the Naga issue at the
forefront and has raised questions about the abuse of

powers under the AFSPA act. In this backdrop let us

understand the Naga Issue in detail.
ORIGIN OF THE NAGA ISSUE
• British annexed Assam in 1826 and 1881 and Naga

hills became a part of British India.
• In 1918, Naga Club was formed - opposed the Simon

Commission.
• 1946 - Naga National Council (NNC) under the

leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo, declared Nagaland
an independent state on August 14, 1947.
• NNC resolved to establish a “sovereign Naga state”

and conducted a “referendum” in 1951, in which “99
per cent” supported an “independent” Nagaland.
• In 1952 - underground Naga Federal Government

(NFG) and the Naga Federal Army (NFA) was
formed.
• The Government of India sent in the Army to crush the

insurgency and, in 1958, enacted the Armed Forces
(Special Powers) Act.
Peace efforts
• In 1964 a peace mission was formed and the NNC

signed an agreement to suspend operations.
• But the NNC/NFG/NFA continued to indulge in NSCN (IM) – DEMANDS

violence, and after six rounds of talks, the Peace • A “Greater Nagalim” comprising “all contiguous
Mission was abandoned in 1967, and a massive Naga-inhabited areas” along with Nagaland. It
counter-insurgency operation launched included several districts of Assam, Arunachal and
Manipur, and a large tract of Myanmar.
• Shillong Accord 1975 - Under this section of NNC and
• Governments of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal
NFG agreed to give up arms.
Pradesh have resented these claims.
NSCN - NATIONAL SOCIALIST COUNCIL OF NAGALAND
• After negotiations by one government after the other
• A group of NAGA leaders led by Thuingaleng Muivah, at the Centre, Government of India signed a
who were in China, refused to accept the Shillong ceasefire agreement with NSCN (IM) on July 25,
Accord and formed the NSCN in 1980. 1997, which came into effect on August 1, 1997.
2015– FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT WITH NSCN – IM AND
• In 1988, the NSCN split into NSCN (Isak Muivah)
THE STALEMATE
and NSCN (Khaplang) after a violent clash
It was signed by the interlocutor for Naga peace talks,
• With the formation of NSCN, the NNC began to fade
R.N. Ravi on behalf of the Centre with National Socialist
away. Phizo the leader of NNC died in London in 1991, Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and seven Naga
the NSCN (IM) came to be seen as the “mother of all National Political Groups (NNPGs) to find a solution to
insurgencies” in the region. the Naga political issue.

DISAGREEMENT OVER SEPARATE CONSTITUTION AND ORGANISED ARMED GANGS

FLAG • Interlocutor had warned Nagaland government that
• While NNPG groups agree with the 2015 agreement, half a dozen organized armed gangs were brazenly
the NSCN - IM has said that an accord cannot running their respective ‘so called governments’
happen until the Centre accepts Naga people’s challenging the legitimacy of the State
demand for a separate constitution and flag. Government.”
• Centre has refused to accept the demands of a • He resigned as interlocutor following the stalemate.
separate constitution and flag leading to a RECENT CIVILIAN KILLINGS AND THE NAGA PEACE
stalemate in the peace talks. TALKS
• Centre has suggested alternatives - such as • It has the potential to revive the narrative of India
cultural flag instead of a national flag and dealing versus the Naga people.
with issues of a constitution after signing the
• The killings could be exploited by certain insurgent
agreement.
groups to recruit and even strengthen the hands of
CHANGE IN SITUATION POST ABROGATION OF the NSCN(I-M). Seven NNPG groups which support
ARTICLE 370 early conclusion of peace talks will be hesitant to
• When Naga Framework Agreement was signed in come to table in the backdrop of the public anger.
2015 the provision of Separate flag and • All the groups have criticised the AFSPA act and have
constitution were acceptable given the existence made the finalisation of talks contingent upon
of a state with similar arrangement in the form of repeal of the AFSPA law.
erstwhile state of J&K.
• However, post 2019 with the abrogation of Article 370,
the government is not willing to provide these ARMED FORCES SPECIAL
concessions to
calculations.
the Nagas due to political
POWERS ACT – AFSPA
AMBIGUOUS WORDING OF THE FRAMEWORK #Security
AGREEMENT
• Talks broke down in 2020 and NSCN – IM revealed The recent killings of civilians in the Nagaland by the Assam
the details of the Agreement. Rifles in a botched operation has raised questions about the
• NSCN – IM has accused the interlocutor of High abuse of powers under the AFSPA act. There have been calls
Handedness: It has accused the interlocutor of of repeal of the AFSPA act by the Naga groups as well as the
deleting a key word from the original document CMs of Nagaland and Meghalaya.
and sharing the modified version with other Naga ABOUT THE ARMED FORCES SPECIAL POWERS ACT,
groups. 1958 (AFSPA)
• The Group has raised the deletion of word “New” • AFSPA is an act of the Parliament of India that grants
from the original phrase used in the agreement - special powers to the Indian Armed Forces to
“enduring inclusive new relationship of peaceful maintain public order in "disturbed areas".
co-existence of the two entities.”
• Currently, AFSPA is applicable to the seven states of
• The NSCN(I-M) says the word ‘new’ is politically
the North-East, i.e., Assam, Manipur, Mizoram,
sensitive as it goes to define the meaning of peaceful
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Tripura. It was
co-existence of the two entities (two sovereign
brought for J&K in 1990.
powers).
• It was applied to Punjab in 1983 and later repealed.
• Phrases such as “unique history and position”,
“sovereignty lies with the people”, “sharing CURRENT STATUS IN THE NORTHEAST STATES
sovereign power”, and “peaceful coexistence of • AFSPA, was removed from entire Tripura in 2015 and
the two entities” were open to interpretation by both from Meghalaya in 2018.
sides.

• AFSPA continues to be in force in Assam, Manipur, ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF AFSPA

Nagaland and three districts of Arunachal Pradesh. • Needed to maintain morale of the force.
OBJECTIVE OF ENACTMENT OF AFSPA • Insurgents will gain upper hand in absence of it.
Keeping in view the duty of the Union under Article • Troops need such powers because the army is only
355 of the Constitution, interalia, to protect every State deployed when national security is at serious risk from
against internal disturbance, it is considered desirable armed combatants.
that the Central government should also have power to
• Provides legal backing for the Armed Forces to act in
declare areas as 'disturbed', to enable its armed forces to
domestic civilian areas. Currently, the armed forces
exercise the special powers.
act enables them to only act against enemies.
Powers of the central and the State Government –
ARGUMENTS AGAINST AFSPA
Section 3
• Provision for immunity of security forces urges them
AFSPA empowers the governor of the state as well as
to act more brutally.
the central government to declare any part of the
state as a 'disturbed area', if in its opinion there exists • AFSPA is seen as one of the major reasons for
a dangerous situation in the said area which makes it increasing radicalization in insurgency ridden
necessary to deploy armed forces in the region. areas because of the little accountability for the
excesses committed in discharge of power given by
Powers provided to Army officers under the AFSPA –
the act.
Section 4
• Instances of abuse and extra-judicial killings in
• After giving due warning, fire upon or use other kinds
Manipur have been upheld by even Supreme court in
of force even if it causes death.
2016. The Supreme Court in this case ruled that the
• Destroy any arms dump, hide-outs, prepared or armed forces cannot escape investigation for excesses
fortified position or shelter or training camp. during the discharge of their duty even in “disturbed
• To arrest without a warrant anyone who has areas”.
committed cognizable offences or is suspected of
• Though there are many violent insurrections in India
having done so and may use force if needed for the
which must be handled militarily but in the short run.
arrest.
Even after so many years, if the situation in these
• To enter and search any premise to make such states has not changed, this points to some flaws
arrests, or to recover any person wrongfully in the law itself.
restrained or any arms, ammunition or explosive
CHECKS AND BALANCES TO STOP MISUSE OF AFSPA
substances and seize it.
1. Supreme court in 1998 on constitutionality of
• Stop and search any vehicle or vessel suspected to be
AFSPA
carrying such person or weapons.
• Upheld the constitutional Validity of AFSPA.
• Any person arrested and taken into custody under this
act shall be made present over to the officer in charge • Declaration of disturbed areas:
of the nearest police station with least delay, together o A Suo-motto declaration can be made by the
with a report of the circumstances occasioning the Central Government; however, it is desirable that
arrest. the state government should be consulted by
• Army officers have legal immunity for their actions. the Central Government before making the
• There can be no prosecution, suit or any other legal declaration.
proceeding against anyone acting under that law. o AFSPA does not confer arbitrary powers to
• Protection of persons acting in good faith under this declare an area as a 'disturbed area.
act from prosecution, suit or other legal proceedings, o Declaration must be for a limited duration and
except with the sanction of the Central Government, there should be a periodic review of the
in exercise of the powers conferred by this act. declaration 6 months have expired.

• While exercising the powers conferred upon him by and bringing the violators to speedy justice. Exemplary
AFSPA, the authorised officer should use minimal punishment must be meted out where the charges are
force necessary for effective action. proved.
• The authorised officer should strictly follow the 'Dos
and Don'ts' issued by the army.
2. Santosh Hegde commission on Manipur encounter ASSAM RIFLES - DUAL
deaths
• AFSPA was an impediment to achieving peace in
CONTROL STRUCTURE
regions such as J&K and the Northeast. #Security
• The law needs to be reviewed every six months to
see whether its implementation is necessary in states Assam rifles has come at the centre of the controversy
where it is being enforced. following a botched-up operations that led to the killing of
• AFSPA does not provide blanket Immunity to the 13 civilians in Nagaland.
officers. Suggested fixing a period of three months ABOUT ASSAM RIFLES
for the central government to decide whether to
• Assam Rifles is one of the six central armed police
prosecute security personnel engaged in
forces (CAPFs) under the administrative control of the
extrajudicial killings or unruly behaviour in insurgency-
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
hit regions.
• The other forces being the Central Reserve Police
• Action can be taken but with prior sanction of the
Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF), the Indo-
Central Government.
Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Central Industrial
3. BP Jeevan Reddy Commission in 2004 Security Force (CISF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal
• AFSPA should be repealed, and appropriate (SSB).
provisions should be inserted in the Unlawful • It is tasked with the maintenance of law and order in
Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. the Northeast along with the Indian Army and guards
• Unlawful Activities (UAPA) Act should be modified the Indo-Myanmar border in the region.
to clearly specify the powers of the armed forces Dual control Structure of Assam Rifles
and paramilitary forces.
• Assam Rifles is the only paramilitary force with a dual
• Grievance redressal cells should be set up in each control structure.
district where the armed forces are deployed.
• While the administrative control of the force is
4. Second Administrative Reforms Commission with the MHA, its operational control is with the
• Recommended to repeal of Armed Forces Special Indian Army, which is under the Ministry of
Powers Act, 1958. Its scrapping would remove Defence (MoD).
sentiments of discrimination and alienation among • Salaries and infrastructure for the force is
the people of the Northeast India. provided by the MHA, but the deployment,
posting, the Army decides transfer and deputation
• Amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,
of the personnel of Army in the Assam Rifles.
1967 inserting a new chapter to deploy the armed
• All its senior ranks, from DG to IG and sector
forces of the Union in the North-eastern States.
headquarters are staffed by officers from the
• It supported a new doctrine of policing and criminal Army.
justice inherent in an inclusive approach to • Lieutenant General from the Indian Army command
governance. the force.
WAY FORWARD • For other Central Armed Police Force under MHA,
their recruitment, rewards, promotion of its personnel
The army must be completely transparent in
and retirement policies are governed according to the
investigating allegations of violations of human rights
rules framed by the MHA for CAPFs.

DEMAND FOR A SINGLE CONTROL STRUCTURE Further Assam Rifles continues to function on the
• It created two sets of demands from both within the pattern set during the 1960s and the MHA would want
Assam Rifles and by MoD and MHA for singular to make guarding of the Indo-Myanmar border on the
control over the force by one ministry. lines of other CAPFs.
• A large section within the force wants to be under • Ministry of Defence’s Arguments: The Army has
the administrative control of the MoD, as that been arguing that there is no need to fix what is not
would mean better rewards and retirement benefits broken. The Army is of the opinion that the Assam
which are far higher compared to CAPFs under MHA. Rifles has worked well in coordination with Army
and frees up the armed forces from many of its
• However, Army personnel retire early, at 35, while the
responsibilities to focus on its core strengths.
retirement age in CAPF is 60 years.
Assam Rifles was always a military force and not a
• CAPF officers have recently been granted non- police force and has been built like that. Giving the
functional financial upgradation (NFFU) to address control of force to MHA or merging it with any
the issue of stagnation at least financially in their
other CAPF will confuse the force and jeopardise
careers due to lack of avenues for promotion. national security.
• However, Army personnel also get one rank one • Indian Army has been pushing for not only total
pension which is not available to CAPFs.
control of Assam Rifles but also operational
Both MHA and Mod have demanded single control control over ITBP, which guards the Sino-Indian
• Ministry of Home Affairs Arguments: MHA has border and is currently engaged in a standoff with the
argued that all border guarding forces are under Chinese PLA in eastern Ladakh.
the operational control of the ministry and so • There have also been petitions filed in courts about
Assam Rifles coming under MHA will give border who should control the Assam Rifles.
guarding a comprehensive and integrated approach.
practice questions
MCQ’s
Q1. “Global gateway program” sometimes seen in 2. Kazakhstan
the news is related to which of the following? 3. Tajikistan
a) USA b) ASEAN Select the correct answer using the code given below:
c) QUAD d) European Union a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3
Q2. “RELOS - Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics
Agreement” sometimes seen in the news is Q4. Which of the following countries share border
being negotiated between India and which of with the Caspian Sea?
the following countries? 1. Uzbekistan
a) USA b) Japan 2. Kazakhstan
c) Australia d) Russia 3. Turkmenistan
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Q3. Which of the following central Asian republics a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only
share border with Afghanistan? c) 1 and 3 only d) 1,2 and 3
1. Uzbekistan

Q5. Which of the following states does not share a a) Nagaland b) Manipur
border with Myanmar? c) Mizoram d) Tripura
descriptive Questions
Q1. “Concerns have been raised against AFSPA act 1958 not just because of the misuse of powers by security agencies
but also because of the widespread alienation of the people leading to derailment of Peace talks in the North-East
states”. Discuss.
Q2. India Russia relations are witnessing a transformation in the emerging geo-political scenario. Discuss.
Answers: 1-d, 2-d, 3-c, 4-b, 5-d

SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
# GS Paper I & GS Paper II (Main)
INCREASING AGE OF
marriage). A child marriage may be annulled by the
party who is a child. However, earlier this option was
MARRIAGE available for two years after the child attains maturity.
However, this option is now available for 5 years,
#Women Issues after the child ceases to be a child.
• Two years cooling off period: The amendment will
come into force after two years from the date of
Union cabinet has approved the proposal to raise the age of enactment of the act.
marriage for women to 21 from 18 years by amending the RATIONALE BEHIND RAISING THE MINIMUM AGE OF
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. MARRIAGE FOR WOMEN
LAWS THAT PRESCRIBE MINIMUM AGE FOR • Breaking the intergenerational cycle of
MARRIAGE IN INDIA Malnutrition: Incidence of early marriage and
• Hindu Marriage act (1955), Indian Christian childbearing are amongst the important causes of
Marriages act (1872) and Special Marriages act undernutrition in India. Children born to teenage
(1954) prescribed the minimum age of marriage as 18 mothers are more likely to be undernourished than
years for the bride and 21 years for the groom. children of adult mothers. India is home to more
• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) stunted children than any other country and is one of
prohibits marriage below 18 years for women and 21 the ten countries with the largest burden of teenage
years for men. pregnancy.
SALIENT FEATURES OF PROHIBITION OF CHILD • Population control: Age of marriage of females is a

MARRIAGE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021 key factor that influences fertility. Demographic
studies have revealed the apparent link between early
• Increasing the age of child for marriage till 21
marriage and increasing fertility rates. World Bank
years of age: Currently under the PCMA defines a
estimated that developing countries like India can
child as someone who is less than 21 years of age for
save billions of dollars if marriage before the age of
males and less than 18 years of age for females. The
18 was eliminated due to reductions in fertility and
Proposed bill makes the age of child for the purpose
consequent reductions in public health investments
of marriage to be uniform between both sexes. Thus,
due to fewer births.
both male and female will be considered as child for
the purpose of marriage. Hence, minimum age of • Increases Female labour force participation: Early
marriage for both males and females will be 21 years marriage often reduces the women labour force
of age. participation and increasing the legal limit of
• Religion and community neutral: The minimum age minimum age will give more chance for women to
of marriage of 21 will be applicable to all communities work.
Christians, Muslims, Parsis, Hindus or any other • Early marriages reinforce patriarchy: Early
custom or usage or practice in relation to marriage.
marriages reduces the educational and employment
• Time period for filing petition to annul child
opportunities for women and make them financially
marriage: Under the PCMA, a child marriage is one
dependent on men, which eventually results in
where either of the parties to the marriage is a child
skewed division of labour in domestic sphere.
(i.e., their age is less than the minimum age of

Society and Social Justice
• Gender neutral: Equal ages for marriage for male • Ensuring a safe environment to women free from the
and females make minimum age of marriage gender constant threat of rape and sexual assault which is
neutral. why girls are married off early.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST RAISING THE AGE OF • Promoting awareness of community about ills of early
MARRIAGE FOR WOMEN child marriage.
• Restriction on choice of marriage: It can be used by • Focus on creation of economic opportunities for
parents to punish their daughters who marry against females and increasing their labour force
their wishes or elope to evade forced marriages, participation rate.
domestic abuse and housework. • There should wide ranging social consultations before
• Legal limits are not successful: According to NFHS-5 the enactment of the act. As use of legislation,
(2019-2021), 23.3% of women aged 20-24 years without changing the social conscience has limited
married before the age of 18, which shows that the effect.
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, has
CHILD MARRIAGES
not been successful in preventing child marriages.
Child marriage refers to a marriage to which either of
• Depriving legal protection: Increasing the legal age
the contracting parties is a child (if a male, has not
at marriage for girls will expand the number of
completed 21 years of age, and if a female, has not
persons deemed underage and render them without
completed 18 years of age). In India, it is estimated that
legal protection.
there are over 24 million child brides. According to the
• Declining fertility rates: India’s fertility rates have National Family Health Survey, 40% of the World’s 60
already been declining to well below replacement million child marriages take place in India. According to
levels in many States, including those with higher NFHS-5 data, the share of women aged 20-24 who
levels of child marriage. married before turning 18 is around 23%. Child marriage
• Poverty is the underlying reason: Poverty and lack is far more prevalent amongst girls and this highlighted
of higher education are major underlying reasons for the gender dimension of the problem.
early marriages. According to an analysis of NFHS-4 Causes:
(2015-2016) data, 56% girls were married below the
• Poverty: Poor often resort to child marriages to avoid
age of 21 and this figure was as high as 75% among
all sorts of burden of a female childlike expenditure
the poorest category of population.
on education, dowry etc.
• Does not void child marriage ab-initio: PCMA act
• Patriarchy: Girl child in our patriarchal(patrilocal) set
does not voids child marriages ab-initio. Child
up is believed to be somebody’s property and are a
Marriages can only be annulled under the Act, if the
liability as they are not seen as individuals who can
one of the parties who is a child at the time of
contribute productively to the family. These beliefs
marriage, challenges the marriage.
lead parents to marry the girl child.
• Interference with social customs: Since the
• Social mobility: The institution of marriage is often
Amendment is applicable in all communities and has
used to strengthen economic and social ties between
an over-riding effect on social customs, it goes against
different families and a young girl may be offered to a
the time-tested principle of legal pluralism. It is being
family to improve the financial and social standing of
seen by critics as a first step towards uniform civil
the girl’s family.
code, which particularly worrying for minority
communities. • Insecurity: To secure from offences like assaults, eve
teasing against unmarried girls, their parents are in a
WAY FORWARD
hurry to marry their daughters soon after she attains
Instead of focusing on age of marriage, following steps puberty or even before that.
may eventually reduce the age of marriage
• Avoiding share in ancestral property: Early
• Conditional cash transfer schemes to improve the marriage is a way of denying share of ancestral
attendance of girls in schools and skill training. property to females.
• Providing increased access to contraceptives.

• Dropout of school: Dropout of teenage girls from oocyte outside the human body and transferring the
school due to lack of basic amenities like toilets or for gamete or the embryo into the reproductive tract of a
helping in the household work when both the parents woman.
go out for work, is one of the reasons for early Following services are included in ART services
marriage of girls.
1. Ovarian stimulation.
• Legal conundrum: Prohibition of child marriage act
2. Egg Retrieval
prohibits marriage of any women before the age of 18
3. Invitro Fertilisation (IVF)
but Muslim personal law mentions puberty or age of
15 years as minimum age of marriage for women. 4. Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI)
5. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
6. Embryo transfer
ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE 7. Gamete Intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)
TECHNOLOGY 8. Zygote Intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)

9. Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA)
(REGULATION) ACT, 2021 10. Testicular sperm extraction (TESE)
#Women Issues 11. Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA)

12. Cryopreservation of gametes and embryo
ART PROCEDURES COULD BE EXPLOITED IN THE
During the recent winter session, Parliament passed a bill to
FOLLOWING WAYS
regulate assisted reproductive technology (ART) services
such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) centres, sperm or egg 1. Negligence in performing surgical procedure of
banks and curb unethical practices related to issues such as harvesting eggs from a woman’s body.
sex selection. 2. Egg retrieval is done from young unmarried girls in
NEED FOR THE AMENDMENT many regions.
• India has become one of the major centres of 3. Unethical preservation of ovum and sperm in ART
global fertility industry over the years due to banks.
revolutions in Assisted reproductive technologies. The 4. Sex selection in procedures of ART clinics
reproductive segment of the Indian medical tourism 5. Multiple embryo implantation
market is valued at more than $450 million a year.
6. ART banks advertising for Caucasian donor gamete.
• Though Assisted Reproductive Technologies have
7. Mixing of sperms samples by banks
given hope to many persons suffering from infertility,
8. Commercialisation of ovum and sperm donation.
but it also has introduced a plethora of legal, ethical
and social issues. Despite this, there are only SALIENT FEATURES OF ART (REGULATION) ACT, 2021
guidelines, and no law exists to regulate ART in • Definition: The act defines ART to include all
India. techniques that seek to obtain a pregnancy by
• Select Committee on the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, handling the sperm or the oocyte (immature egg cell)
2019, has recommended that ART Bill should be outside the human body and transferring the gamete
brought before the Surrogacy (Regulation) or the embryo into the reproductive system of a
Bill,2019, so that all the highly technical and medical woman. Ex: gamete (sperm or oocyte) donation, in-
aspects could be addressed adequately in the vitro-fertilisation and gestational surrogacy.
Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019. • Regulation of ART clinics and banks: Every ART
ABOUT ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY clinic and bank must be registered under the National
SERVICES Registry of Banks and Clinics of India. The registration
will be valid for 5 years and can be renewed for a
These technologies refer to all techniques that attempt
to obtain a pregnancy by handling the sperm or the

further five years and it can be cancelled if the entity SALIENT FEATURES
contravenes the provisions of the act. • Definition: The act defines surrogacy as a practice
• Conditions for offering ART services: where a woman gives birth to a child for an intending
o Age requirement for gamete donor- for male (21 to couple with the intention to hand over the child after
55 years) and for female (23-35 years) the birth to the intending couple.
o A woman can donate egg only once in her lifetime • Regulation of surrogacy: The act allows only
and should be a married having at least one alive altruistic surrogacy, which involves no monetary
child of her own. compensation to the surrogate mother other than the
medical expenses and insurance coverage during the
• Conditions for seeking ART services:
pregnancy.
o Only infertile married couple or single women
• Eligibility criteria for intending couple: Surrogacy is
(Indian or foreign) can seek ART services.
permitted only for those intending married Indian
o The party seeking ART services will be required to
couples who suffer from proven infertility.
provide insurance coverage in the favour of the
• Eligibility criteria for surrogate mother:
egg donor.
o surrogate mother must be a close relative of the
o Mandatory checking for genetic diseases before
intending couple
the embryo implantation.
o can surrogate only once in her lifetime
• Offences:
o surrogate mother cannot provide her own gametes
o Selling or purchasing of gametes
for surrogacy
o Abandoning children born through ART
• Parentage and abortion of surrogate child:
CONCERNS WITH THE ACT
o A child born out of a surrogacy procedure will be
• The act excludes same-sex couples, live-in couples deemed to be the biological child of the intending
and individuals belonging from the LGBTQ+
couple.
community from accessing ARTs.
o An abortion of the surrogate child requires the
• Eligibility criteria of egg donors is very restrictive. written consent of the surrogate mother and the
• The act requires ART clinics and banks to share authorisation of the appropriate authority.
information about the commissioning parties and • Regulation of surrogacy clinics: Surrogacy clinics
donors with the National Registry. Sharing of this are mandated to get registered by the appropriate
information may violate the right to privacy of parties.
authority. The central and the state governments
• The acts, ART act and surrogacy, contain different shall constitute the National Surrogacy Board (NSB)
provisions on regulation of clinics based on whether and the State Surrogacy Boards (SSB), respectively to
they provide surrogacy or other ART procedures. This advice govt on policy matters relating to surrogacy
leads to overlap in the regulation of surrogacy and laying down code of conduct for surrogacy clinics.
services and other ART services.
CONCERNS
• Deny this opportunity to LGBTQ+ persons, live-in
THE SURROGACY couples and single parents.
• Altruistic surrogacy is paternalistic and doesn’t
(REGULATION) ACT, 2021 respect the bodily autonomy of women. It expects a
woman to go through the physical and emotional tolls
#Women Issues
of surrogacy free of cost and only out of ‘compassion’.
• Blanket ban on commercial surrogacy may lead to
Parliament has passed the surrogacy (Regulation) act, 2021 creation of unregulated, exploitative
during the recent winter session, to regulate unethical underground/black markets.
surrogacy practices in India. • The act didn’t define ‘close relative’, which is a
condition to be fulfilled by the surrogate mother.

• Restricting surrogacy option to intending couple access to finance was one of the major challenges to
denies reproductive liberty to them. women taking up entrepreneurship.
• Intending couple don’t have final say in the consent to • Gender gaps in property ownership: Despite
abort a surrogate child, even if the child being born advancements in inheritance laws, women own only
out of surrogacy arrangement is at the risk of physical 12.8% of land holdings. only 12.9% (as per agricultural
or mental abnormalities. census 2015-16).
• Lack of support mechanism: Most of the female
WOMEN workforce in India does not have access to maternity

benefits and childcare facilities due to the informality
ENTREPRENEURSHIP of the industries they generally work in, and women

entrepreneurs even more so.
#Women Issues GOVERNMENT SCHEMES TO PROMOTE WOMEN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Women entrepreneurship is an important aspect to make • Stand-up India scheme facilitates bank loans from
India self-reliant. It not only benefits the economy by INR 10 lakh to 1 crore to at least one woman per bank
creating jobs, but also benefits women in terms of social branch in the country to support entrepreneurship
and political transformation. among women, SC and ST communities in enterprises
in manufacturing, services and trade.
SIGNIFICANCE OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
• The Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance
• Increase in female labour force participation rate:
and Development (TREAD) scheme for women
Increase in female entrepreneurship could be one of
assists in the form of grants up to 30 per cent of total
the mechanisms to bring women back into the labour
project cost, while the remaining 70 per cent is
force. women’s enterprises have the potential to
financed by a lending agency as a loan for
create jobs for women as female leaders tend to
undertaking activities as envisaged in an
recruit more women.
entrepreneurial venture. The grant is utilised for
• Narrowing gender gap: Increasing women training, counselling and tie-ups for marketing, over
entrepreneurship will narrow gender gap in income and above capacity building for women.
levels and ownership of assets.
• The Rashtriya Mahila Kosh gives out multiple loans
• Safe working place: Women led workplaces tend to of up to INR 10 lakh under various schemes to help
be more sensitive to safety issues of women. women from new and smaller organisations to ‘start-
th
According to 6 economic census, women comprise of up’.
13.7% of total entrepreneurs in India. • PM MUDRA yojana for the purpose of refinancing
CHALLENGES small businesses, including start-ups, by providing
• Social barriers: Existing social norms still expect funding to the informal, small business sector via
women to be solely responsible for the household, loans
with Indian women spending significantly more time • The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) by
than men on housework and caregiving. NITI Aayog has been created to accelerate female- led
• Education barriers: Education plays a very important tech ventures by Zone Start-ups India to provide them
role in promoting entrepreneurship. Low literacy with dedicated support. It helps aspiring women to
levels of women is barrier. The 5 states with the connect with relevant people in their industry and
highest percentage of female entrepreneurs (Tamil fosters networking amongst female entrepreneurs
Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and themselves.
Maharashtra) also have comparably higher literacy • Start-up India has launched a nation-wide
rates. women’s entrepreneurship programme (WING)
• Lack of access to credit: 79% of women-owned which organises workshops for aspiring innovators
establishments were self-financed. This indicates that focusing on knowledge sharing and how to kick start

entrepreneurial aspirations with capacity building for Mizoram and Tripura among the ‘Smaller States’,
female entrepreneurs. and DH&DD and Chandigarh among the UTs.
Any positive change in the state of women • Uttar Pradesh with the lowest Overall Reference
entrepreneurship requires focus on both demand side Year (2019-20) Index Score ranked at the bottom
issues like discrimination, legal disparities, confidence in (Rank 19) in Overall Performance, however, UP
female credit risk and skill development and supply side ranked at the top in terms of Incremental
issues such as women’s attitude towards owning, Performance by registering the highest
operating and scaling business. incremental change from the Base Year (2018-19)
to Reference Year (2019-20).
STATE HEALTH INDEX Health Outcomes

• In majority of the states, progress was observed and
#Health NMR, U5MR and MMR. All the Larger States recorded
a reduction in U5MR between 2014 and 2018, a
critical indicator for child survival.
NITI Aayog released the 4th edition of the State Health Index
for 2019–20. The report, titled “Healthy States, • Some states like Himachal Pradesh, Kerala,
Progressive India”, ranks states and Union Territories on Maharashtra, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have achieved
their year-on-year incremental performance in health the 2030 SDG Target for U5MR, i.e., 25 child deaths
outcomes as well as their overall status. under 5 years per 1000 live births.
ABOUT STATE HEALTH INDEX • The SRB (Sex ratio at birth) varied widely between 840
• The State Health Index assesses the performance of girls per 1000 boys in Uttarakhand to 974 girls per
states and UTs in the domains of ‘Health Outcomes’, 1000 boys in Kerala in the Year 2018. Between 2014
‘Governance and Information’, and ‘Key and 2018, the SRB (number of girls born for every
Inputs/Processes’. 1000 boys) improved only in five Larger States
Health Governance Key (Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Punjab and Uttar
outcomes and inputs/Processes Pradesh), while remaining 14 states registered a
Information decline.
Neonatal Average Proportion of state Governance and Information
mortality rate occupancy of government health
• The average occupancy of key administrative
Under 5 key posts of expenditure to total
positions at the state level and district level was about
mortality rate state govt for state expenditure
last 3 years. 14-15 months over a 36-month period (2017-20).
Sex ratio at Proportion of
birth (Mission health care • In half of the Larger States, the average occupancy of
Maternal Director and providers against state level 3 key positions was 12 months or less.
mortality ratio Director Health required number of • A stable tenure of key administrative positions at the
(MMR) etc. Services at the health care
state and district level is essential for good health
state level and providers in public
governance.
Chief medical health facilities etc.
officer at the • According to the report, there is clearly room for
district level several states to decrease the frequency of transfer of
etc.) administrators at the state and district level to ensure
continuity, improved accountability, and
effectiveness.
KEY FINDINGS OF THE REPORT
Key Inputs/Processes
• On overall ranking based on the composite index
score in 2019–20, the top-ranking states were • All Larger States had shortage of required Specialists
Kerala and Tamil Nadu among the ‘Larger States’, at the district hospitals.

• Majority of the states have either not yet started or Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
have only a small proportion of public health facilities o Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres
with quality accreditation. (AB-HWCs)
• Half the states registered a decline in state o National Health Mission
government health expenditure to total state
o Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)
expenditure from 2015-16 to 2016-17.
o Emergency & disaster preparedness and responses
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STATE HEALTH INDEX
during health emergencies
• The Health Index has been a useful tool to track
overall performance and incremental performance of
states and UTs and incentivising states/UTs to focus
on outputs and outcomes rather than inputs and
STATE OF FOUNDATIONAL
budget spends. LITERACY AND NUMERACY
• The MoHFW’s decision to link the Index to incentives
under the NHM (National Health Mission) has further IN INDIA
incentivised the states to shifting the focus from #Education
budget spends, inputs and outputs to outcomes by
shining the light on states/UTs that have shown most
improvement. The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
• Since most of the states are lagging in Health (EAC-PM) released the report on the State of
outcomes (only 5 states achieved SDG target of U5 Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in India. The report
mortality rate), the immediate policy consequence for prepared by the Institute for Competitiveness highlights the
the govt is to roll out PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat importance of early education years in the overall
Yojana on a priority basis and utilise funds from development of a child.
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi to improve INDEX ON FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND
Health infrastructure in low-ranking states. NUMERACY
PM ATMANIRBHAR SWASTH BHARAT YOJANA The Report has developed the Index on Foundational
Literacy and Numeracy for understanding the overall
• Union government, in the budget 2021-22, has
state of Foundational Learning across children aged
launched this scheme.
below 10 years in Indian States and UTs. The Index
• The objective of the scheme is to develop capacities
includes 5 pillars comprising of 41 indicators. The five
of primary, secondary, and tertiary care health
pillars are:
systems, strengthen existing national institutions,
• Educational infrastructure
and create new institutions, to cater to detection
and cure of new and emerging diseases. • Access to education
• Basic Health
• Learning outcomes
PRADHAN MANTRI SWASTHYA SURAKSHA NIDHI
• Governance
• A single non-lapsable reserve fund for share of Health
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
from the proceeds of Health and Education Cess
levied. 1. Some states may serve as role models for others
in certain aspects, but they too need to learn from
• Proceeds of share of health in the Health and
other states while addressing their
Education Cess will be credited into PMSSN.
challenges. This holds true not only for high
• Accruals into the PMSSN will be utilized for the performers but also for low performing states. For
flagship schemes of the Ministry of Health & Family instance, while Kerala has the best performance in
Welfare namely, the small state, it can also learn from some lower-
o Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya scoring regions, such as Andhra Pradesh (38.50),

which outperforms Kerala (36.55) with respect to • Inadequate budget: The National Education Policy of
access to education. 1968 recommended that India spend 6% of its GDP
2. States have performed particularly worse in the on education. However, even today, as per the
Governance pillar because over half of the states Economic Survey (2019--20), India 20), India spends
have a score that is below the national average, only 3.1% of its GDP on education.
i.e., 28.05, the lowest across all pillars. These pillar- • Inadequate infrastructure: Though RTE act (2009)
wise analyses help states assess the state of the mandated basic infrastructure in schools like toilets,
budgetary measures and steps needed to improve safe drinking water, playground etc, data shows that
the state of education and identify existing gaps that the basics are yet to be ensured in all the schools.
obstruct their growth. • Low pupil to teacher ratio: As per the Right to
3. The issue of Access to Education is one that demands Education Act (RTE, 2009) the desired Teacher Pupil
prompt action on the part of the States. The ratio (TPR) has been set to 1:35. But, according to
performance of Large States such as Rajasthan NEUPA report, around 42% of government
(25.67), Gujarat (22.28), and Bihar (18.23) is noticeably elementary schools have only one or two teachers for
below average. Whereas the North-eastern states all the elementary grades.
have the highest scores because of their superior • Nonalignment within departments: The preschool
performance. currently is under the Ministry of Women and Child
FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY Development (MWCD) while formal schooling is under
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) refers to the ambit of the Ministry of Education (MoE). At
basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. It is present, there exists no alignment within these
the ability to read and understand a basic text and departments.
perform simple mathematical calculations by end of • Linguistic issues: The medium of instruction is often
grade 3. Strong literacy and numeracy help children to different from the mother tongue of children. It
learn, experiment, reason and create, to be active and negatively impacts the child’s motivation to engage in
informed citizens, and to contribute socially, culturally classroom processes.
and economically. National Education Policy (2020)
IMPACT OF COVID ON LEARNING OUTCOMES
accords the highest importance to the achievement of
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy. The COVID pandemic has exacerbated the existing crisis
of poor learning outcomes in the primary schools due
CHALLENGES IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF
to:
FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY
• Massive learning loss due to long term school due to
• Lack of Early childcare and education: Over 85% of
long term school closures.
a child’s cumulative brain development occurs prior
to the age of 6. Presently, quality ECCE is not available • Digital divide at the household and school level
to crores of young children, particularly children from • Diversion of state funds to covid has resulted in
socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. limited education funds as well.
• Poor status of Anganwadis: The Anganwadi workers • Given the challenges families faced due to the
(AWW) are overworked, with duties and pandemic, teachers and children might come back to
responsibilities that centre around her being a school with severe mental health issues.
teacher, a nurse and a social service provider. AWW
WAY FORWARD
are not equipped with the necessary tools to be able
• Increase budget allocation, with focused investment
to engage children in learning experiences.
on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy.
• Nutritional deficiencies among children: The
• Alignment of synergies between Ministry of
relationship between nutrition, health and learning is
Women and Child Development and Ministry of
undeniably strong. But, as per GHI 2020, India has the
Education.
highest child wasting rate (17.3%) of all the countries.
• Focus on Anganwadis: Since nutrition and education
are both equally important and require significant

time and effort, it may be worthwhile to consider stages.

having two AWWs per anganwadi. • Activity based learning and conducive learning
• Provision of Primary education in Mother tongue. environment will improve quality of education.
• Ensure minimum instruction time in schools and • Innovative pedagogies such as toy-based and
learning at home. The Right to Education Act (2009) experiential learning will be used in classroom
requires that children from grade I-V spend 200 days transaction thereby making learning a joyful and
involving 800 instruction hours in school. Currently, engaging activity.
different states are seen allocating the different • Intensive capacity building of teachers will make them
amount of time for literacy instruction, which ranges empowered and provide greater autonomy for
from 35 min in some states to about 90 minutes in choosing the pedagogy.
some others. There needs to be a standard block of
• Holistic development of the child by focusing on
time across all the states.
different domains of development like physical and
NIPUN BHARAT PROGRAM motor development, socio-emotional development,
Ministry of Education has launched a National Initiative literacy and numeracy development, cognitive
for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and development, life skills etc. which are interrelated and
Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat), for ensuring that every child interdependent, which will be reflected in a Holistic
in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy Progress Card.
and numeracy (FLN) by the end of Grade 3, by 2026-27. • Children to achieve steeper learning trajectory which
Following outcomes have been envisaged from may have positive impacts on later life outcomes and
implementation of the goals and objectives of NIPUN employment.
Bharat Mission: • Since almost every child attends early grades,
• Foundational skills enable to keep children in class therefore, focus on that stage will also benefit the
thereby reducing the dropouts and improve transition socio-economic disadvantageous group thus ensuring
rate from primary to upper primary and secondary access to equitable and inclusive quality education.
practice questions
MCQs
Q.1) Consider the following statements: Q.2) Consider the following statements about
1. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi is Prevention of Child marriages act, 2006
sourced from the Proceeds of share of health in 1. The act has prescribed the minimum age of
the Health and Education Cess. marriage which is 18 for girls and 21 for boys.
2. Cash incentives under Pradhan Mantri Matru 2. The act invalidates the Child marriages
Vandana Yojana are paid through this fund. automatically.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Which of the statements given above 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

Q.3) Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. NIPUN Bharat programme was launched to (a) 1 only
achieve 100% GER in the country by 2026-27 (b) 2 only
2. NISHTHA is an initiative to build capacities of (c) Both 1 and 2
teachers and school principals at the elementary (d) Neither 1 nor 2
stage
Q.5) Consider the following statements about the
(a) 1 only Surrogacy (Regulation) act, 2021
(b) 2 only 1. Only married infertile couple of India can avail the
(c) Both 1 and 2 surrogate services
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. A women can surrogate only once in her lifetime
Q.4) Consider the following statements: (a) 1 only
1. Rasthriya mahila kosh is a non-lapsable corpus (b) 2 only
fund for safety and security of women (c) Both 1 and 2
2. ‘Mission Shakti’ is an umbrella scheme for safety, (d) Neither 1 nor 2
security and empowerment of women
Descriptive Question
Q1. Securing Reproductive rights of women is key to ensure Gender justice. Comment
Q2. Account for the reasons for poor state of foundational literary and numeracy in India and suggest some
measures in this regard.
Answers: 1-a, 2-a, 3-b, 4-b, 5-c

Geography, Environment,
Biodiversity & Disaster
Management
# GS Paper (Prelims) and GS Paper I & III (Main)
DAM SAFETY BILL, 2021

CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR DAM
SAFETY
#Environment • Central Dam Safety Organisation, under the Central
Water Commission (CWC), provides technical
assistance to dam owners, and maintains data on
Dams are artificial barriers on rivers which store water and
dams.
help in irrigation, power generation, flood moderation, and
water supply. Though dams have been labelled as temples • National Committee on Dam Safety devises dam
of modern India. Increasingly, safety of dams as a concern safety policies and regulations.
has come up. The issue of Mullaperiyar Dam between Tamil • Currently, 18 states and four dam owning
Nadu and Kerala is important in this regard. To address the organisations have their own Dam Safety
issue of Dam Safety in a comprehensive manner, The Dam Organisations.
Safety Bill has passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in • CWC provides that each dam owner should carry
the recent Parliamentary Session. out pre and post monsoon inspections (covering
NEED FOR A LEGISLATION FOR DAM SAFETY site conditions, dam operations) every year. However,
• Dams with a height of more than 15 metres or as per a CAG report on flood forecasting, from 2008 to
between 10 and 15 metres that meet certain extra 2016, of the 17 states studied, only two had carried
design criteria are referred to as huge dams in India. out such inspections.
India has 5,745 big dams as of 2019. (Includes dams KEY FEATURES OF THE BILL
under construction). • Applies to all specified dams in the country: These
• Of these, 5,675 large dams are operated by states, 40 are dams with: (i) height more than 15 metres, or (ii)
by central public sector undertakings, and five by height between 10 metres to 15 metres and satisfying
private agencies. Over 75% of large dams are more certain additional design conditions such as, reservoir
than 20 years old and about 220 dams are more capacity of at least one million cubic meter, and
than 100 years old. Most of these large dams are in length of top of the dam at least 500 metres.
Maharashtra (2394), Madhya Pradesh (906), and • Obligation of dam owners: Dam owners will be
Gujarat (632). responsible for the safe construction, operation,
• As a large amount of water may be stored in a dam’s maintenance and supervision of a dam. They must
reservoir, its failure can cause large scale damage to provide a dam safety unit in each dam.
life and property. Therefore, monitoring dam safety is • This unit will inspect the dams:
essential.
(i) before and after monsoon season

Geography, Environment, Biodiversity & Disaster Management
(ii) during and after every earthquake, flood, calamity, o The Bill applies to all specified dams in the country.
or any sign of distress. These are dams with:
Other Functions of dam owners include:  Height more than 15 metres,
(i) preparing an emergency action plan.  Height between 10 to 15 metres, subject to
(ii) carrying out risk assessment studies at specified certain design and structural conditions.
regular intervals.  This includes dams on both inter and intra-state
(iii) preparing a comprehensive dam safety evaluation rivers. The question is whether Parliament has
through a panel of experts. the jurisdiction to frame a law on intra-state
• Dam safety authorities and delegated legislation: dams.
The Bill provides for dam safety regulatory and o As per Entry 17 of the State List, states can make
monitoring authorities at the national and state level. laws on water supply, irrigation and canals,
The functions of the national bodies and the State drainage and embankments, water storage and
Committees on Dam Safety have been provided in waterpower, subject to Entry 56 of the Union List.
Schedules to the Bill. The central government can Entry 56 of the Union List allows Parliament to
amend these Schedules through a notification. make laws on the regulation of inter-state rivers
• At the national level, it constitutes and river valleys if it declares such regulation to be
1. National Committee on Dam Safety, whose expedient in public interest.
functions include evolving policies and o The Bill declares it expedient in public interest for
recommending regulations regarding dam safety, the Union to regulate on a uniform dam safety
2. National Dam Safety Authority, whose functions procedure for all specified dams. However, given
include implementing policies of the National Entry 17, it is unclear how Parliament would have
Committee, and resolving matters between State the jurisdiction to frame a law for dams on rivers
Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), or between a where the river and its valley are entirely within a
SDSO and any dam owner in that state. state.
• At the state level, it constitutes the Note that, the Dam Safety Bill, 2010 was introduced in
1. State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), whose Lok Sabha under Article 252. This Article allows
functions include keeping perpetual surveillance, Parliament to make laws on subjects in the State List if
inspecting, and monitoring dams. two or more states pass resolutions requiring such law,
and the law applies only to those states. Other states
2. State Committee on Dam Safety which will
may adopt the law by passing resolutions. Andhra
supervise state dam rehabilitation programs,
Pradesh and West Bengal had passed resolutions
review the work of the SDSO, and review the
requiring a law on dam safety. The Preamble of the 2010
progress on measures recommended in relation
Bill stated that Parliament has no powers to make laws
to dam safety, among others. State governments
for states with respect to providing uniform dam safety
may notify the qualifications, and functions of
procedure.
officers of the State Dam Safety Organisations.
3. They may also notify dam safety measures to be • Functions of authorities may be changed through
undertaken by owners of non-specified dams. notification
• Offences and penalties: Anyone obstructing a o The functions of the National Committee on Dam
person in the discharge of his functions under the Bill Safety, the National Dam Safety Authority, and the
or refusing to comply with directions may be State Committee on Dam Safety are provided in
imprisoned for a year. In case of loss of life, the Schedules to the Bill.
person may be imprisoned for two years. o Their functions include:
ISSUES WITH THE LEGISLATION  Resolving issues between State Dam Safety
• Jurisdiction of Parliament to frame a law on intra- Organisations (SDSOs), or between a SDSO and a
state river dams: dam owner.

 Assessing potential impact of dam failure and agriculture but also pushed tribal settlements out of
coordinating mitigation measures with affected the core forest areas.
states. • Apart from these laws, developmental activities and
 Supervising dam rehabilitation programmes. Intrusion of money lenders resulted in land alienation.
o These Schedules can be amended through • Thus, Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 was enacted to
notification. This implies that the core functions of recognizes the rights of the forest dwelling tribal
these bodies can be changed by the government communities and other traditional forest dwellers to
through notification without prior amendment of forest resources, on which these communities were
the Act by Parliament. The question is whether the dependent for a variety of needs, including livelihood,
Bill should require an amendment by Parliament to habitation and other socio-cultural needs.
change the core functions of such bodies. MAJOR FEATURES OF THE ACT
o In various laws such as the Aadhaar Act, 2016, and • Intended beneficiaries: Forest Dwelling Scheduled
the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the Tribes (FDST) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers
functions of the regulatory body are specified in the (OTFD) who have been residing in such forests for
Act with a provision to expand the functions generations.
through notification. Note that the functions
• Land rights: It gives FDST and OTFD the right to
mentioned in these Acts cannot be curtailed except
ownership to land farmed by tribals or forest dwellers
through an Amendment Act passed by Parliament.
subject to a maximum of 4 hectares. Ownership is
only for land that is being cultivated by the concerned
LOOKING BEYOND THE

family and no new lands will be granted.
• Usage rights: The rights of the dwellers extend to
FOREST RIGHTS ACT extracting Minor Forest Produce, grazing areas, to
pastoralist routes, etc
#Forest Rights
• Conservation rights: The act provides for rights and
power for the conservation and protection of the
NEED FOR FOREST RIGHTS ACT, 2006 community forests. (Which was earlier the sole
Traditionally the tribes shared a symbiotic relationship responsibility of the forest departments)
with the forests since time immemorial. They not only • Relief and development rights: To rehabilitation in
depend on forests for their livelihoods (food, fuel, fodder case of illegal eviction or forced displacement and to
and fibre) but they also conserved them as they share basic amenities, subject to restrictions for forest
religious and cultural sentiments with the forests (ex: protection.
sacred groves). However, this symbiotic relation was
PROCEDURE TO RECOGNISE RIGHTS
broken with multiple laws starting with policies of
colonial government.
• India Forests Act (1927) gave the state jurisdiction
over forests and facilitates extraction of forest
produce for profit. This act prohibited grazing, tree
felling and hunting activities.
• Forest Conservation Act (1980) was enacted for the
purpose of conserving forests, but it barred
converting forest lands for non-forest purpose
including traditional agricultural practices of tribes.
• Wildlife Protection Act (1972) created protected
networks for the conservation of biodiversity, which
not only restricted activities like grazing and

HOWEVER, FRA COULDN’T SECURE THE LIVELIHOODS FRA is not a panacea to address all the livelihood issues
OF THE TRIBES FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS of tribes. It is also important to provide alternative
• Faulty implementation of the law: employment opportunities and capacity building
o High rate of rejection of the claims made by the • Promote horticulture: Livelihoods of the locals
gram Sabha. would improve if horticulture practices were
promoted in addition to bamboo and aloe vera
o Avoiding Gram Sabha: FRA requires constitution
plantations with an assured market.
of a Forest Rights Committee comprising members
from within the village by conducting a Gram Sabha • Medical and ecotourism will help in providing
with two-thirds of the members present at the sustainable employment opportunities.
meeting. But these committees were mostly • Providing skill-based education with assured jobs
constituted by the Panchayat Secretaries without on a large scale in proportion to the demand.
the presence of Gram Sabha members. • Compulsory implementation of rural development
o Lack of technical know-how of the Gram Sabha programmes: All rural development schemes that are
to conduct a scientific survey of their individual and available to the farmers belonging to the revenue
community land claims. villages should also be extended to the tribals living in
o Lack of awareness due to poor literacy levels of the forest villages.
tribes resulted in forest bureaucracy • Compulsory provision of primary education in
misinterpreting the FRA as an instrument to mother tongue to increase literacy levels
regularize encroachment instead of a welfare
measure for tribals.
o Reluctance of forest bureaucracy to give up
UNSC DRAFT ON CLIMATE
control: The forest bureaucracy fears that it will
lose the enormous power over land and people
CHANGE
that it currently enjoys, while the corporates fear #Climate change
they may lose the cheap access to valuable natural
resources. India joined Russia in opposing a draft proposal at the
• Uneconomic land holdings: The extent of land that United Nations Security Council which would effectively
was awarded was far smaller than what was claimed bring climate change in the Security Council’s purview,
within the ceiling. The land parcels are often of poor allowing it to enforce and hold countries accountable for
quality (located on hilly slopes) and are not very fertile. their promises to mitigate global warming. The proposal was
• Lack of Market Integration and exploitation by sponsored by Niger and Ireland, who claimed that 113
middlemen in selling MFP. countries, which included permanent Security Council
members U.S., the U.K., and France, backed their view to
• Lack of coverage of government welfare schemes:
integrate climate-related security risks into the UNSC’s
Various welfare and developmental schemes of the
conflict prevention mandate.
Rural Department like MGNREGA, Deendayal Gram
Jyoti yojana, were not extended everywhere to the REASON BEHIND SUCH A RESOLUTION
tribal people who received documents of land • According to SIPRI, 10 of 21 ongoing UN
possession under the FRA despite the directives peacekeeping operations are in countries ranked
issued by the Ministry to treat them on a par with as most exposed to climate change.
others. • People in countries most vulnerable to climate
• Lack of alternate employment opportunities due change are also most vulnerable to terror groups
to low literacy levels. According to 2011 census, and violence, which is UNSC’s mandate on
literacy rate of STs is around 59% which is way below peacekeeping.
the literacy rate of total population (73%). • Increasing Climate-related conflicts over arable
WAY FORWARD land, food security, desertification and forced
migration, the increase in climate refugees due to

global warming would eventually lead to conflicts that the global peacekeeping body does not overstep its
UNSC needs to weigh in on. mandate as one of the most populous countries in the
REASONS FOR INDIA’S VOTE AGAINST THE UNSC now and representing a region that is itself
RESOLUTION highly exposed to the risks of climate change.
• India’s stand on the proposal is consistent with a

desire not to allow the UNSC too broad a mandate
to “intervene” and overreach on sovereign issues.
DRAFT REGULATIONS
• While the UN Framework Convention on Climate EXTENDED PRODUCERS’
RESPONSIBILITY
Change (UNFCCC), which held the CoP conference in
Glasgow last month collates the voluntary
contributions of countries to battle climate change #Pollution
and promote sustainability, India believes these are
not issues where the UNSC should interfere.
In October, the Environment Ministry published draft
• India is “second to none” on keeping its climate regulations on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), set to
commitments and fighting for climate justice, it would come into effect by the end of this year. The draft however
be “misleading” to view conflicts through the prism of
has missed out on several important issues.
climate change worldwide.
ABOUT EXTENDED PRODUCERS’ RESPONSIBILITY (EPR)
• India even suggested that it would support a more
limited draft that focused exclusively on the Sahel • It is a policy approach under which producers are
region of North Africa, where desertification of arid given a significant responsibility – financial and/or
areas is directly sparking water-related conflict, but physical – for the treatment or disposal of post-
this was not considered, and India then recorded its consumer products.
first negative vote in this term at the UNSC.
• Assigning such responsibility could in principle provide
• The Chinese representative, also said that UNSC incentives to prevent wastes at the source, promote
should only consider security risks driven by climate
product design for the environment and support the
change, based on “country-by-country or situation-by-
achievement of public recycling and materials
situation” analysis.
management goals.
ANALYSIS
• In essence, EPR requires the manufacturer of a
• Given the strong support which the proposal has
product, or the party that introduces the product into
received and the small opposition from Russia and
India, the issue is unlikely to go away. It is only a the community, to take responsibility for its life
matter of time before American, European, African, cycle.
and Latin American countries band together with • For example: An FMCG company should not only
another proposal to include climate change in the account for the costs of making, packing and
Security Council's mandate.
distributing a packet of chips, but also for the
• True goal of the proposal is to guarantee that the UN collection and recycling/reuse of the packet.
Security Council evaluates the effect of climate change
BENEFITS OF EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY
alongside other causes of war that it is considering.
• Those opposed to it argue that bringing climate EPR leads to:
change into an already polarised Security Council, • Integration of environmental costs
which is split between the United States, the United
• Improved waste management
Kingdom, and France versus Russia and China, will
only deepen schisms over an issue that affects the • Reduction of disposal
entire world and necessitates a united approach. • Reduction of burden on municipalities
• India's voice will be important in deciding the debate • Design of environmentally sound products
between securitizing climate change and ensuring

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DRAFT EPR POLICY The death of five elephants caused by trains colliding with
• Brand owners and e-commerce players have been them, and all within a week, has again highlighted the gaps
brought under the ambit of EPR. in efforts to reduce man-animal conflicts in the country.
• EPR is now applicable to both pre-consumer and post- ABOUT ELEPHANT HUMAN CONFLICT
consumer plastic packaging waste. • Elephant-human conflict poses a grave threat to their
• Producers and brand owners (PIBO) have finally been continued existence.
assigned targets for collection of plastic waste that • Studies have identified crop raiding as the main
they put out in the market. form of human-elephant conflict wherein an
• Provisions and targets for collection, re-use (by brand elephant raids a farmland in search of food.
owners), recycling (by PBOs) and use of recycled
• Elephant-human conflict is a result of habitat loss
plastic (by PIBOs) have been laid out.
and fragmentation. When elephants and humans
• Bi-annual plastic characterisation studies.
interact, there is conflict from crop raiding, injuries
ISSUES WITH THE EPR GUIDELINES and deaths to humans caused by elephants, and
• Plastic waste reduction/minimisation, which is the elephants are killed by humans for reasons other than
first principle of waste management in the EPR ivory and habitat degradation. Elephants cause
mandate has not been included in the draft. damage amounting from a few thousand dollars to
• Compostable and biodegradable plastics should millions of dollars. Every year, 100 humans and 40-50
have an EPR mandate of collection and processing as elephants are killed during crop raiding in India.
it is important to channelise them to relevant facilities
• Lethal retaliation against elephants: Such
(industrial composting units) for proper treatment and
encounters foster resentment against the elephants
processing.
amongst the human population and this can result in
• Ambiguity around the action plan to be submitted
elephants being viewed as a nuisance and killed.
by Producers and Brand owners (PBO): It is
mandatory for PBOs to submit an action plan, • Human-elephant conflict can take their toll both on
according to the draft EPR policy. The template for the human lives and property as well as elephant
action plan, however, is not discussed or provided populations. Ways of reducing or resolving such
anywhere. The “must, should and could” elements conflicts are vital for the viable conservation of Asian
have not been talked about. elephants.
• Lack of Transparency as the centralised portal • Elephants across Asia live in a variety of habitats
developed by CPCB is a closed-door portal, which can and landscapes. These include large contiguous
only be accessed by the PBO’s, plastic waste areas surrounded by crop fields, or in highly degraded
processors / recyclers, SPCBs / PCCBs and CPCB. areas with other agricultural encroachments and they
• Non-Inclusion of the informal sector in the draft are also found in fragmented landscapes with a
EPR as they turn waste into usable and tradable mosaic of crop fields, plantations and patches of
goods. Hence, the informal sector should be included forest.
in the draft EPR policy as most of the plastics in India
REASONS FOR HUMAN ELEPHANT CONFLICT
are channelised by the informal sector.
• Loss of natural habitat.
• Lack of availability of food and water bodies.
RISING MAN-ELEPHANT • Fragmentation of habitat.
CONFLICT • Encroachment of forest land for agriculture and

related activities.
#Wildlife
• Transportation lines passing through the elephant
corridors.

o Rail Fence
o Bio Fence
o Chilly Fence
• Habitat Improvement Activities
o Bamboo planting/re-stocking
o Intensive soil working
• Monitoring of the elephants
o Radio Collar
o Drones
o Watch Tower Monitoring
• Strengthening the elephant corridor
o Relocation of villages
o Securing elephant corridors
INDIAN DESERT CAT

#Wildlife
An Indian desert cat has been spotted for the first time in
Madhya Pradesh’s Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR).
ABOUT INDIAN DESERT CAT
• Also known as the Asiatic Wildcat or Asian Steppe
Wildcat.
SUGGESTED MEASURES FOR REDUCING HUMAN- • The species is highly adaptable and can be found in
ELEPHANT CONFLICT forests as well as arid and semi-arid regions (low
• Habitat Management Activities vegetation, high temperatures and water scarcity).
o Development and maintenance of perennial water • It has also been sighted in Sariska Tiger Reserve of
bodies in elephant habitats. Rajasthan and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary of
Madhya Pradesh.
o Creation of fodder plantation.
• It preys on small rodents and reptiles and is mostly a
o Fire management for reducing HEC.
nocturnal creature.
o Using solar panels to avoid electrocution.
• The toes of the species have cushion like hair which
o Collection of grass seeds & grassland management. help it balance the fluctuating desert temperatures.
o Vayal & Wattle Management.
o Elevated wildlife crossings or eco-bridges and
underpasses for the safe passage of animals.
• Restricting elephants in their natural habitat
o Elephant proof trenches
o Hanging Fences
o Rubble wall
o Solar powered fence
o Bee-Hive Fence

CONSERVATION INVASIVE SPECIES

• The animal is in the ‘Least Concern’ category of • Invasive species are animals or plants from another
the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
region of the world that don’t belong in their new
• It is listed under Schedule 1 of the wildlife protection environment.
act 1972.
• Invasive species can harm both the natural resources
• It is also listed in CITES appendix-II. in an ecosystem as well as threaten human use of
these resources.
PHYSELLA ACUTA • An invasive species can be introduced to a new area

via the ballast water of ocean-going ships, intentional
#Wildlife and accidental releases of aquaculture species,
aquarium specimens or bait, and other means.
A tiny snail with a striking, pellucid golden-yellow shell found • Invasive species can cause extinctions of native plants
in the Edappally canal in Kochi has been flagged as an and animals, reducing biodiversity, competing with
invasive species that could play havoc with native native organisms for limited resources, and altering
ecosystems. habitats.
ABOUT PHYSELLA ACUTA
• Some ornamental plants can escape into the wild and
• It is considered native to North America but is now become invasive.
found in all continents except Antarctica.
BIO-ACCUMULATION
• Globally branded as highly invasive.
• Bioaccumulation is the gradual build up over time of a
• This is the first time that this snail has been reported
chemical in a living organism. This occurs either
in Kerala.
because the chemical is taken up faster than it can be
• It plays host to worms that can cause food-borne used, or because the chemical cannot be broken
diseases and skin itches in humans. down for use by the organism (that is, the chemical
• Its rapid growth rate, air-breathing capability, and cannot be metabolized).
tolerance to pollution makes it a potential competitor
to native fauna.
• It is believed to have reached Kerala through KYHYTYSUKA
aquarium trade, a major vector for invasive
species.
SACHICARUM
• In the Edappally canal, the snail had made its home in # Wildlife
a highly polluted reach plagued by high
sedimentation, untreated sewage, commercial
An international team of researchers has discovered a new
effluents, construction wastes and a thick growth of
marine reptile. The specimen, a metre-long skull, has been
invasive aquatic weeds.
named Kyhytysuka sachicarum.
• The species in known for Bioaccumulation.
ABOUT KYHYTYSUKA SACHICARUM
• Currently, they are extinct species. It was discovered
from fossils found in central Columbia.
• The new species has been named Kyhytysuka
sachicarum to honour the Muisca culture of central
Columbia. The Muisca are also called Chibcha.
• Kyhytysuka means “the one that cuts with something
sharp”. The word belongs to the indigenous language
of central Columbia.

• The fossil is a stunningly preserved meter-long skull. • They had a wide geographic distribution.
• It is one of the last surviving ichthyosaurs – ancient • The species come from an important transitional
animals that look like living swordfish. time during the Early Cretaceous period when the
ABOUT ICHTHYOSAUR Earth was coming out of a relatively cool period, had
rising sea levels, and the supercontinent Pangea was
• They are members of an extinct group of aquatic
splitting into northern and southern landmasses.
reptiles, most of which were very similar to
porpoises.

‘SAVE CHAMUNDI HILL’

• Main rivers flowing across the Tiger Reserve
are Sankosh, Raidak, Jayanti, Churnia, Turturi,
CAMPAIGN Phashkhawa, Dima and Nonani.

• Flora: The forests of the reserve can be broadly
#Location classified as the ‘Moist Tropical Forest’.
• Fauna:
The series of landslips due to heavy rains has given fresh o Main carnivores include Indian Tiger, Leopard,
impetus to concerned citizens of Mysuru to rally around to Clouded Leopard, Hog badger, Jungle Cat, Leopard
save Chamundi Hills from environmental degradation as a Cat, Fishing Cat, Civet Cat, Hyaena. Marbled Cat and
fallout of development projects taken up by the authorities the Golden Cat were reported earlier but have not
in the recent years. been sighted in the recent past.
ABOUT CHAMUNDI HILLS o Herbivores include elephant, gaur, sambar, spotted
• Located 13 km east of Mysuru, is a storehouse of deer, barking deer and hog deer. Besides, there are
environmental biodiversity. other faunal species like: wild pig, porcupine,
rhesus macaque, common pangolin and the
• The reserved forest in the region is spread across an
Chinese pangolin.
area of 17 sq. km.
o The numerous rivers and streams in the habitat
• It is home to scores of medicinal plants, flowering
contain a variety of fishes including the Mahseer.
plants and about 150 species of birds.
o Historically, tigers were distributed throughout the
• Many consider Chamundi Hills as Mysuru's crown that
reserve including the southernmost ranges and
contributes to the well-being of citizens.
fringe areas. However, the reserve has a low tiger
density at present.
BUXA TIGER RESERVE o Rajabhatkhawa Vulture Breeding Centre at Buxa

Tiger Reserve for the breeding and conservation of
CONFIRMS PRESENCE OF endangered Indian vultures was established as the
second such centre after the Jatayu Conservation
BIG CAT Breeding Centre, Pinjore, Haryana.
• The core area of Buxa is devoid of human settlements.
#Protected Areas However, the enclaved villages of buffer and
surrounding tea gardens exert considerable biotic
Royal Bengal tigers, one of the biggest cats alive today, have pressure.
returned to North Bengal’s Alipurduar district forest reserve • Corridor: The reserve has corridor connectivity across
that was once its original habitat with an increase in prey the border with the forests of Bhutan in the North, on
base. Big cat was sighted after 23 years in Buxa reserve. the East it has linkages with the Kochugaon forests,
ABOUT BUXA TIGER RESERVE Manas Tiger Reserve and on the West with the
• Buxa tiger reserve is in the Dooars of West Bengal. Jaldapara National Park. There are crucial linkages for

the dispersal of tigers to various protected areas like, the St. Petersburg Declaration on tiger
Buxa, Manas Tiger Reserve, Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary conservation.
in Bhutan and Jaldapara National Park. • India’s strategy of tiger conservation attaches topmost
• Conservation Issues: Buxa Tiger Reserve has a low importance to involving local communities.
density owing to changes in the habitat over many • Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
decades due to increasing anthropogenic pressure.
• IUCN Red List: Endangered.
Thus, reduction of biotic pressure by providing
ecologically sustainable livelihood options to local • CITES: Appendix I.
people, addressing human-wildlife interface, stepped Tiger Conservation Projects in India:
up protection and monitoring of wild animals are • Project Tiger 1973: Project Tiger is a Centrally
important. Besides, retrofitting safeguards are Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment,
required to prevent train hits of elephants along with Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched in
good practices of wildlife protection, monitoring 1973. It provides havens for tigers in the country’s
protocol, sharing revenue for community national parks.
development, 24X7 surveillance in check posts and
• National Tiger Conservation Authority: It is a
initiatives to elicit public support.
statutory body created under the Wildlife Protection
STEPS TAKEN TO BRING TIGERS TO BUXA Act. It functions under the MoEFCC and was
• Introduction of prey base like deer invited the Tigers established in 2005 following the recommendations of
from nearby areas. the Tiger Task Force.
• Forest conservation practices further provided them
with natural habitat.
OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES
# Biodiversity
Researchers of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) are

carrying out tagging of Olive Ridley turtles at three mass
nesting sites – Gahirmatha, Devi River mouth and
Rushikulya. The exercise was undertaken in Odisha in
January 2021 after a span of about 25 years and 1,556
turtles had been tagged
ABOUT OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES
The olive ridley sea turtle also known commonly as the

Pacific ridley sea turtle.
TIGERS IN INDIA
RANGE
• India is home to over 70% of the tiger population
globally. • It is found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in
• India is home to 51 tiger reserves. the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but also in the warm
waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Two more tiger reserves (i) Ramgarh Vishdhari
Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan (ii) Guru Ghasidas Tiger • The olive ridley turtle has a circumtropical
Reserve in Chhattisgarh have been recently given distribution, living in tropical and warm waters of the
permitted by NTCA. Once, notified India will have 53 Pacific and Indian Oceans from India, Arabia, Japan,
tiger reserves.
and Micronesia south to southern Africa, Australia,
• India achieved the target of doubling the tiger and New Zealand.
population four years ahead of schedule (2022) of

water by vultures, frigate birds, crabs, raccoons,

coyotes, iguanas, and snakes.
• Anthropogenic: Other major threats include mortality
associated with boat collisions, and incidental takes in
fisheries. Trawling, gill nets, ghost nests, longline
fishing, and pot fishing have significantly affected olive
ridley populations, as well as other species of marine
turtles. Light Pollution close to the beaches also
confuses the new hatchlings to travel landward.
• The olive ridley turtles turn up in millions for mass

nesting along the Odisha coast every year namely at
three river mouths: Dhamra, Devi and Rushikulya.
• Gahirmatha beach off Bay of Bengal coast in
Kendrapara district is acclaimed as the world’s
largest nesting ground of these turtles.
• It extends from Dhamra River mouth in the north to
MASS NESTING PHENOMENON Brahmani River mouth in the south.
• Olive ridley turtles are best known for their behaviour • The wetland is represented by 3 Protected Areas, the
of synchronized nesting in mass numbers, termed Bhitarkanika National Park, the Bhitarkanika Wildlife
arribadas. Sanctuary and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
• Females return to the same beach from where they

hatched, to lay their eggs.
• They lay their eggs in conical nests about one and a
half feet deep, which they laboriously dig with their
hind flippers.
• In the Indian Ocean, most of the olive ridleys nest in
two or three large groups near Gahirmatha in Odisha.
• The coast of Odisha in India is one the largest
mass nesting site for the olive ridley, along with
the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica.
CONSERVATION STATUS
• IUCN: Classified as vulnerable according to IUCN.
• CITES: It is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
• India: It is also enlisted in schedule 1 of Wildlife
protection Act, 1972 which giver this species highest
level of protection in India.
THREATS
• Predators of eggs: Known predators of olive ridley
eggs include raccoons, coyotes, feral dogs and pigs,
NAZUL LANDS
opossums, coatimundi, caimans, ghost crabs, and the #Government Policy
sunbeam snake.
• Predators of Hatchlings: Known predators are
Recently, CAG brough out a report on the Administration of
preyed upon as they travel across the beach to the Nazul lands, which is administered by Land and

Development Office under the Ministry of Housing and a cooking fuel, used to generate electricity, and
Urban Affairs. captured on-site to provide heat and power.
The Land and Development Office, an attached office of • Methane emissions from Coal Mines Sector: Removing
the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is responsible fugitive methane gas from underground coal mines
for administration of leasehold properties of the and using it in profitable and practical ways can
Government of India. The properties administered by improve worker safety, enhance mine productivity,
L&DO fall into two broad categories: increase revenues, and reduce greenhouse gas
1. Nazul lands, which were acquired in the year 1911 emissions.
for the formation of the capital of India at Delhi. • Membership: GMI Partner Countries account for
2. Rehabilitation lands, which were acquired by the approximately 70% of global manmade methane
Government of India for the speedy rehabilitation of emissions. India is a member of this organisation.
displaced persons from Pakistan. • Through these efforts, GMI aims to:
These properties were given on leases for residential, a. Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions
commercial and institutional purposes. b. Improving human health
c. Increasing worker safety
GLOBAL METHANE d. Improving air and water quality

e. Enhancing energy security
INITIATIVE f. Expanding economic growth.
ABOUT METHANE
#Climate change
• Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Over its 12-year
lifeline in the atmosphere, it traps 28 times more heat
• It is an international public private partnership than cardon di oxide, resulting in a stronger influence
focused on reducing barriers to the recovery and use on warming.
of methane as a valuable energy source. • Methane's short atmospheric lifetime also means that
• GMI provides technical support to deploy methane to reductions today can make an immediate impact to
energy projects around the world that enable Partner slow warming. A variety of technologies are available
Countries to launch methane recovery and use to capture methane and convert it to useful energy.
projects. GMI support has enabled Partner Countries
to launch hundreds of methane recovery and use
projects, with millions of tonnes of carbon di oxide MISSION COKING COAL
equivalent emission reduction.
• GMI advances methane mitigation in 3 key sectors: Oil
#Resources
& Gas, Biogas (including agriculture, municipal solid
waste, and wastewater) and Coal Mines. Mission Coking Coal aims to evolve a road map for
increasing production and utilisation of domestic coking
• Methane emissions from Oil & Gas Sector: Methane
coal. It aims to prepare an action plan to reduce import of
emissions from oil and natural gas systems result
coking coal which includes exploration, enhanced R&D
from both normal operations and system disruptions.
activities and improvement of quality parameters. It is a
These emissions can be cost-effectively reduced by
proposed mission under the Ministry of Coal.
upgrading technologies or equipment, and by
improving operations. ABOUT COKING COAL
• Methane emissions from Biogas Sector: Biogas • Coking coal is mainly used in manufacturing of steel
produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic through blast furnace route.
material or emitted directly from landfills can be • Domestic coking coal is high ash coal (mostly 18%-
treated to create pipeline-quality natural gas, used as 49%) and is not suitable for direct use in the blast
furnace. Therefore, coking coal is washed to reduce

the ash percentage and is blended with imported 4. Suggested formulating import parity-based pricing
coking coal (<9% ash) before utilisation in the blast mechanism for domestic coking coal factoring the
furnace. quality parameters.
• India imports about 50 MT coking coal annually, which 5. Suggested having an incentive-based framework to
amounts to more than 45,000 crores. encourage steel sector for utilisation of stamp
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOOSTING DOMESTIC charging technology and invest into R&D initiatives for
COKING COAL PRODUCTION ARE redesigning blast furnaces for utilisation of domestic
coking coal.
1. Identification of additional coking coal blocks for
production by Coal India Limited and private sector 6. Recommended that CIL should publish mine-
and auction of CBM overlap coking coal blocks. wise/seam wise details of coking properties of coal on
its website and purchaser may be allowed to choose
2. Adopting existing advance technology for
from specific source.
beneficiation of coking coal, developing policy
framework for disposal of washery rejects and 7. Tax incentives may be provided to the entities for
middlings may be reviewed and made more manufacturing of underground mining machinery
elaborate. and entities in underground mining.
3. Allocation of coking coal linkages by CIL to private

washeries, setting up of coking coal factoring the
quality parameters.
practice questions
MCQs
Q1. “Kyhytysuka Sachicarum” seen recently in (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
news is related to: (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) An invasive species which has created havoc in the
native ecosystems in Kochi. Q3. The Hills were recently in news due heavy
(b) One of the last surviving ichthyosaurs – ancient protests against developmental projects. A
animals that look eerily like living swordfish. series of landslips due to heavy rains further
(c) One of the costliest herbs found in Himalayas gave a fresh impetus to concerned citizens of
having huge medicinal significance. that area to rally around to save those Hills
(d) The highest illegally traded wildlife species in from environmental degradation. The hills are
Africa. also called as “Mysuru’s crown”. The above
lines describe which of the following hills?
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding (a) Agasthyamalai hills

Olive Ridley turtles: (b) Cardomom Hills
1. They are known for their mass nesting practices (c) Palakonda Hills
known as Arribadas. (d) Chamundi Hills
2. They are categorised as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN
red list. Q4. Consider the following statements regarding
Select the correct statements out of the options given “Buxa Tiger Reserve”:
below:

1. In addition to Royal Bengal Tigers, it also supports (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Clouded Leopard, Hog badger, Jungle Cat and
Great Indian Bustard. Q5. Which of the following statements is/are
2. Broadly it has a natural vegetation of the type incorrect regarding Indian Desert Cat:
“Moist Tropical Forests”. 1. They are mostly found in Semi-Arid environment.
3. The major rivers flowing through it are Sankosh, 2. Recently they have been spotted in Panna Tiger
Raidak, Jayanti, Churnia and Turtur. Reserve.
Select the correct statements out of the given code Select the correct options out of the given code below:
below:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only
Q1. The Dam Safety Bill is an important step in making our dams safe. However, some concerns have been raised
against it. Highlight the salient features of the act along with concerns raised against it.
Q2. The recent attempt at securitizing climate change will dilute the pursuit of climate justice at UNFCCC. Comment.
Answers: 1-b, 2-a, 3-d, 4-c, 5-d

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)
JAMES WEBB SPACE

• It will be launched on an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from
French Guiana in South America.
TELESCOPE GOALS OF JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

• Search for the first galaxies that formed after the Big
#Space #Physics Bang.
• Determine how galaxies evolved from their earlier
The European Ariane 5 rocket launched NASA's James Webb formation until now.
Space Telescope (JWST), the biggest and most powerful space • Observe the formation of stars from the first stages to
telescope yet constructed, from French Guiana, on the the formation of planetary systems.
northeast coast of South America.
• Measure the physical and chemical properties of
FEATURES OF JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE planetary systems and investigate the potential for life
• Successor of the Hubble Telescope. in such systems.
• Most powerful infrared telescope of National REASONS FOR INFRARED WAVELENGTH
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). • Can see beyond dust clouds: Unlike the short, tight
• A product of collaboration among NASA, the wavelengths of visible light, longer wavelengths of
European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian infrared light slip past dust more easily. Thus, the
Space Agency. universe of star and planet formation ‘hidden’ behind
• It is expected to reveal new and unexpected clouds of dust comes into clear view for Webb’s
discoveries, and help humanity understand the origins infrared instruments.
of the universe and our place in it. Webb will gaze into • Allows study of early universe: Through a process
the epoch when the very first stars and galaxies called cosmological red shifting, light is stretched as
formed, over 13.5 billion years ago. the universe expands, so light from stars that is
• It is designed to explore a period known as the Epoch emitted in shorter ultraviolet and visible wavelengths
of Reionization, which came after the dark ages that in stretched to the longer wavelengths of infrared
followed the big bang. During the dark ages, the light.
universe was cast in a gaseous fog of neutral ORBIT OF JAMES WEB SPACE TELESCOPE:
hydrogen and helium, making it opaque to some • JWST will be finally placed in second Lagrange Point
types of light. As the first luminous objects formed (L2). Webb’s orbit is a halo orbit around the L2
and evolved, the high-energy light they emitted locations.
ionized the gas through which it propagated, making it
• Webb’s orbit follows a special path around L2 that
more transparent.
allows it to stay on Earth’s night side (directly
• The telescope will study the atmospheres of a wide ‘behind’ the Earth as viewed from the Sun) and
diversity of exoplanets. track along with Earth while moving around the Sun.
• It will also search for atmospheres like Earth’s, and for • As an infrared observatory, Webb must be protected
the signatures of key substances such as methane, from all bright, hot sources to see the faint heat
water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and complex organic signals of distant objects in the universe. Because
molecules, in hopes of finding the building blocks of Webb will always stay on Earth’s night side as it moves
life. around the Sun, its orbit ensures that one side of its

Science & Technology
sunshield will continuously face the Sun, Earth and

ENGINEERING MARVEL
Moon to block their view from the telescope’s optics.
• While looking away from the Sun, JWST features one
• Webb will always be at the same general location
huge mirror with a diameter of 21 feet (the height of a
relative to Earth, allowing it to stay in contact through
standard two-story structure) that will collect infrared
the NASA’s Deep Space Network.
light flowing in from the deep space.
• The location will allow to be perpetually bathed in
• It will be protected by a five-layer, tennis court-sized,
sunlight to generate power via the solar array while
kite-shaped sunscreen that will block the sun's heat
providing an unobstructed view of deep space.
and maintain the exceptionally cold temperatures that
• Webb can only point to roughly half the sky at any the sensors are meant to work at.
given moment. However, as Webb rotates around the
• Temperatures on the sun-facing side may reach
sun, Webb can access entire sky over a year.
110°C, while the temperature on the opposite side is
• About Lagrange Points: There are 5 Lagrange Points kept at –200° to –230°C.
in the Sun-Earth Systems. These are positions in space
• To detect the exceedingly weak heat signals from
where the gravity of the Sun and Earth balances the
faraway galaxies, extremely low temperatures are
centripetal force required for a spacecraft to move
required.
with them. This makes Lagrange points useful for
reducing the amount of fuel it takes for a spacecraft to • The mirror, as well as the sunscreen, are much too
remain in orbit. huge to fit inside any rocket. They were designed to be
collapsible and would be unfolded in space.
HUBBLE TELESCOPE
• It was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990.
• The Hubble Space Telescope has made more than 1.4
million observations, including tracking interstellar
objects, capturing a comet colliding with Jupiter, and
discovering moons around Pluto.
• Hubble has captured galaxies merging, probed
supermassive black holes and has helped us
understand the history of our universe.
WEBB VS HUBBLE TELESCOPE

• The JWST will observe primarily in the Recently, the Union Minister of Atomic Energy and Space
infrared range and provide coverage informed that the crewed Gaganyaan mission will finally
from 0.6 to 28 microns. be launched in 2023. The country's first space station is
likely to come up by 2030.
• The instruments on Hubble see mainly
in the ultraviolet and visible part of the • ISRO is working in mission mode for 2 important
spectrum. It could observe only a small space missions including Gaganyaan and
Wavelength Chandrayaan-3.
range in the infrared from 0.8 to 2.5
microns. • Besides, ISRO has also finalized Thoothukudi district in
• The infrared region of the TN for its second launch port after Sriharikota.
electromagnetic spectrum covers the ABOUT GAGANYAAN
wavelength range from approximately • Recently the Union Cabinet approved Rs 10,000 crore
0.7 to a few 100 microns. for India’s 1st Human spaceflight programme,
• Webb’s primary mirror has a diameter Gaganyaan to be launched by 2022.
of 6.5 metres while Hubble’s mirror was • The Gaganyaan programme will include two
much smaller – 2.4 metres in diameter. unmanned flights and one human space flight.
Size
• So, Webb will have a larger field of view • India’s first human spaceflight will carry 3 astronauts
compared to the camera on Hubble. to a low earth orbit of 300 to 400 kilometres on board
• Webb also carries a large sun shield. GSLV Mark III vehicle, for at least 7 days.
• ISRO is also launching test flights with humanoids by
• Webb’s near- and mid-infrared
end of this year to conduct micro-gravity experiments.
instruments will help study the first
formed galaxies, exoplanets and birth • If successful, India would be the 4th country to send
manned mission after Russia, USA, and China.
of stars.
Distance COMPONENTS OF GAGANYAAN
• Hubble can see the equivalent of
“toddler galaxies” while Webb The most critical elements of the human mission are:
Telescope will be able to see “baby 1. Rocket: GSLV Mk-III
galaxies”.
• GSLV Mk-III with an indigenous cryogenic engine can
deliver heavier payloads deeper into space.
OTHER MAJOR INFRARED TELESCOPE • The rocket will take the crew to the low-earth orbit
• Herschel Space Observatory Telescope: It is an (300-400 km)
infrared telescope, launched in 2009 by the European 2. Crew Module
Space Agency. • A crew module carrying three Indians will be attached
• It also orbits the Sun like how Webb would. The with a service module.
primary difference between Webb and Herschel is the • These two modules will be integrated with an
wavelength range: Webb goes from 0.6 to 28 microns, advanced GSLV Mk III rocket.
while Herschel covers 60 to 500 microns.
• The crew members will be selected by the IAF and ISR.
• Herschel’s mirror is smaller than Webb’s. It is 3.5
• The crew will perform micro-gravity and other
metres in diameter, while Webb’s primary mirror has
scientific experiments for a week.
a diameter of 6.5 metres.
3. Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry technology
(CARE)
GAGANYAAN • Satellites that are launched for communication or

remote sensing are meant to remain in space.
#Space • However, a manned spacecraft needs to come back.
While re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft

needs to withstand very high temperatures created

due to friction.
A 76,000-crore programme to increase semiconductor and
• A prior critical experiment was carried out in 2014
display production in the nation has been approved by the
along with GSLV MK-III when the CARE (Crew Module
Union Cabinet.
Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment) capsule
successfully demonstrated that it could survive ABOUT THE PROGRAM
atmospheric re-entry. • The program would cover up to 50% of the cost of
4. Crew Escape System (PAT) putting up semiconductor and display manufacturing
equipment.
• The Crew Escape System is an emergency accident-
avoidance measure designed to quickly get astronauts • According to the announcement, the initiative aspired
and their spacecraft away from the launch vehicle if a to make India a worldwide center for electrical system
malfunction occurs during the initial stage of the design and manufacture.
launch. • Furthermore, the Centre would collaborate with states
• In July 2018, ISRO completed the first successful flight to establish high-tech clusters with the appropriate
‘pad abort test’ or Crew Escape System. infrastructure, such as land and semiconductor-grade
water.
5. Environmental Control & Life Support System
(ECLSS) COMPONENTS OF THE MISSION
• The crew module carrying human beings must have • Semiconductor Fabs and Display Fabs: This will
conditions inside suitable for humans to live provide qualifying applicants with financial assistance
comfortably. of up to 50% of the project cost. The union
government will cooperate closely with the states to
• ECLSS will
construct High-Tech Clusters with the necessary land,
o Maintain steady cabin pressure and air semiconductor-grade water, high-quality electricity,
composition logistics, and research infrastructure.
o Remove carbon dioxide and other harmful gases • Semi-conductor Laboratory (SCL): Ministry of
o Control temperature and humidity Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) will
o Manage parameters like fire detection and take the necessary efforts to modernise and
suppression commercialise the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL).
MeitY will look at the prospect of a SCL-commercial
• The layout, design and configuration of ECLSS inside
fab partner forming a joint venture to upgrade the
the crew module have been finalised.
brownfield fab plant.
ABOUT CHANDRAYAAN-3
• Semiconductor Design Companies: For the next five
• ISRO has also announced Chandrayaan-3, a soft-
years, the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme will
landing mission, after the failure of Vikram Lander
provide a product design related incentive of up to
under Chandrayaan 2.
50% of qualifying spending and a product deployment
• While the Orbiter of Chandrayaan 2 is in the lunar linked incentive of 6%–4% on net sales. 100 domestic
orbit, the Lander and Rover failed after the lander semiconductor design businesses will get support for
crash-landed on lunar surface. Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips
• ISRO’s moon Lander will be the first to land in (SoCs), Systems, and IP Cores.
southern hemisphere of moon surface. • India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): A dedicated and
independent ISM will be established to push long-
SEMICONDUCTORS AND term plans for building sustainable semiconductors

and display ecosystems. The ISM will be guided by
DISPLAY MANUFACTURING semiconductor and display industry specialists from

across the world. It will serve as a focal point for the
#Science #Technology #Policy

efficient and seamless deployment of the riskier stages of the study, which a risk-averse private
semiconductor and display ecosystem strategies. sector would have avoided.
• Chips to start-ups Program: This initiative will • China's Situation: The government's role in
produce 85,000 well-trained engineers. determining China's economic development has
Semiconductor designers would be able to create become even more significant. It has been successful
their own businesses. Under the design-linked because it has combined the qualities of the public
incentive plan, the government would cover half of sector, markets, and globalisation. China's state-
the cost. owned businesses (SOEs) were seen as inefficient and
• A total of 35,000 high-quality direct jobs and 1 lakh bureaucratic, but instead of privatising or weakening
indirect jobs will be created because of the initiative. them, China reformed them. The government left
domains like light manufacturing and export-oriented
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SCHEME
sectors free to the private sector while bolstering its
• Trusted suppliers of semiconductors and displays are presence in vital sectors (petrochemicals,
important to the security of vital information
telecommunication, electronics etc).
infrastructure in the present geopolitical environment.
• India's First Attempts at a Technological
• To safeguard India's digital sovereignty, the Revolution: In the early 1950s, India's attempts at
authorized initiative would spur innovation and
planning and industrialization were arguably the most
strengthen indigenous capabilities. ambitious of such projects in the developing world.
• It will also provide highly skilled job opportunities to The construction of institutions like as the IITs, as well
capitalise on the country's demographic dividend. as public sector sponsorship of the newest technology
• With greater integration into the global value chain, of the day, such as space and atomic research, were
the development of the semiconductor and display among the highlights of that initiative. Bengaluru and
ecosystem will have a multiplier impact across other Hyderabad have had the most rapid expansion in the
sectors of the economy. IT and pharmaceutical sectors.
• India’s STEM Education Achievements: India has
favourable supply and demand characteristics that
INDIA A TECH-LEADER may catapult it to the forefront of technology. Except
for China, the number of people enrolled in tertiary
#Science #Technology #Policy
education in India (35.2 million in 2019) is much more
than in any other country. According to UNESCO, India
Every time a major behemoth picks an India-born techie as has one of the highest rates of STEM graduates (as a
its CEO, there is understandable pride, but also sadness in percentage of all graduates) in 2019, at 32.2 percent.
the nation. Despite, possessing a plethora of well-known
ISSUES AFFECTING INDIA'S TECHNOLOGICAL
technologists, India is still a minor participant in the field of
DEVELOPMENT
technology. Lower government expenditure, increased
• Brain-Drain: India's shortcomings are connected to
imports, and talent drain are all factors contributing to this
its inability to capitalise on market-driven economic
failure.
prospects, causing intelligent individuals to migrate to
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN GLOBAL TECH LEADERS
nations like the United States in search of work. As of
• United States as a Global Technology Leader: 2019, there were 2.7 million Indian immigrants in the
United States accomplishments in the field of United States, making them one of the country's most
technology cannot be entirely attribute to Private educated and professionally successful populations.
Sector. The government's invisible hand was also
• Gradual Decline in R&D Spending: India should have
present. For ex. The algorithm that led to Google's
redoubled its efforts to develop its technical skills in
success was created using public funds. It also aided
1991, when it embraced markets and globalisation.
in the discovery of molecular antibodies, which laid
However, India's research and development
the groundwork for biotechnology. Government
investment as a percentage of GDP has decreased
agencies were proactive in identifying and funding the
(0.85 percent in 1990-91 to 0.65 percent in 2018). In

China and South Korea, on the other hand, this share • Harnessing Diaspora: The Indian diaspora, largely
has risen steadily over the years, reaching 2.1 percent based in Silicon Valley, has played a vital role in
and 4.5 percent, respectively, in 2018. bridging the gap between Indian capabilities and
• Reduced Government Spending on Tertiary American technological needs. They have the
Education: In India, private colleges and universities expertise and knowledge of what sophisticated
enrol most tertiary students. According to OECD, 60 technology and other developed nations seek and
percent of individuals enrolling in a bachelor's degree may function as mentors to the emerging talents.
programme in 2017 were female, compared to 33 • Partnership in Technology: US firms covet India's
percent for G20 nations. data, skills, and customers. Assisting the US in the
• Electronics Imports are High: India has a vast Indo-US technological collaboration decade. India and
market for all types of modern technology. The the US can work together to develop the next
domestic industry, on the other hand, has yet to reap generation of quantum computers, advance AI, and
the rewards. Electronic products and components are make genome sequencing and analysis cheaper. A
the second biggest item in India's import bill after oil, technological alliance can jumpstart India's future
indicating that the nation is far from reaching its full development. The solid bilateral connections between
potential in this sector. In the technology sector, India and nations like Japan and Israel may also be
India's imports would be over five times its exports by used.
2020-21.
WAY FORWARD
AUTOMATIC FACIAL
• Project India as an IT Hub: The government must
play a major role in promoting India as the world's IT RECOGNITION SYSTEM
hub. It should operate as a catalyst, bringing together #ICT #Artificial Intelligence
private sector synergies to innovate for India and the
globe. Ideally, private entrepreneurs should produce
After a delay of three years, passengers will be able to use a
products, with the government serving as a facilitator.
face scan as their boarding pass at four airports (Varanasi,
• More Public Education Spending: The ‘Make in
Pune, Kolkata and Vijayawada) in the country from 2022.
India' strategy must go beyond facilitating private
ABOUT FACIAL RECOGNITION
sector enterprise. India's industry must improve its
• It is a biometric technology that uses distinctive
technical prowess. This can only happen if the
features of the face to identify and distinguish an
country's universities and public institutions are
individual.
reinforced and encouraged to pursue technological
development sectors where the private sector lacks • It has evolved in many ways- from looking at 3D
resources and patience. contours of a face to recognizing skin patterns.
• In the Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS),
• Boosting the Public Sector: A stronger public sector
the large database (containing photos and videos
will expand private sector possibilities and the
of peoples’ faces) is used to match and identify the
entrepreneurial base. In addition to increased access
person.
to bank financing and other types of support, small
and medium-sized businesses will grow. • Image of an unidentified person, taken from CCTV
footage, is compared to the existing database
• Maximising the ‘Techade': Technology and decade
using Artificial Intelligence technology, for pattern-
combine to form “techade”. In the next two decades,
finding and matching.
technology will dominate the global economy. To fully
WORKING OF AUTOMATED FACIAL RECOGNITION
use the techade, India must actively participate in the
SYSTEM
development of global norms in areas like as privacy,
• The facial recognition system works primarily by
data localisation, taxation, monopoly definition, cyber
capturing the face & its features through the
security, immigration, and regulatory predictability.

camera and then using various kinds of software to trial, the reliability and the admissibility of the data
reconstruct those features. along with standards and procedure followed would
• The captured face along with its features is stored be taken into consideration.
into a database, which can be integrated with any 4. Absence of Data Protection Law: FRT systems in
kind of software that may be used for security the absence of data protection laws that would
purposes, banking services, etc. mandate necessary safeguards in the collection and
storage of user data is also a point of concern.
5. Inherent Challenges: Over time, the face may
have different-different facets is also a point of
concern.
WAY FORWARD
• In this digital age, data is a valuable resource that
should not be left unregulated. In this context, the
time is ripe for India to have a robust data protection
regime.
• It is time that requisite changes are made in the
Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019. It needs to
be reformulated to ensure that it focuses on user
rights with an emphasis on user privacy. A privacy
commission would have to be established to enforce
NEED FOR AUTOMATED FACIAL RECOGNITION SYSTEM these rights.
• Authentication: It is used for identification and • The government would also have to respect the
authentication purposes with a success rate of privacy of the citizens while strengthening the right
almost 75%. to information. Additionally, the technological leaps
• Force Multiplier: In India, where there are just 144 made in the last two to three years also need to be
constables per 1 lakh citizens, this can act as a force addressed knowing that they have the capacity of
multiplier. It neither requires too much manpower nor making the law redundant.
regular upgradation. Hence, this technology coupled
NEUTRINOS DETECTED FOR

with the present manpower in place can act as a
game-changer.
CHALLENGES IN EXECUTION OF AFRS SYSTEMS THE FIRST TIME AT LARGE
1. Infrastructural Costs:
• Technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Big Data HADRON COLLIDER (LHC)
are costly to implement. #Physics
• The size of stored information is extremely large and
requires huge network & data storage facilities,
which are currently not available in India. • Neutrinos are tiny, neutral, elementary particles
which interact with matter via the weak force.
2. Violation to Privacy: Government although plans to
address the question of privacy through the legal • The weakness of this force gives neutrinos the
framework like data privacy regime but keeping in property that matter is almost transparent to
mind the objectives it aims to achieve with the use them.
of such technology, it comes into conflict with one • Neutrinos belong to the lepton family.
another. • They come in three types, one associated with
3. Reliability & Authenticity: As the data collected electrons and the others with muon and Tau.
may be used in the court of law during a criminal

• Sun, and all other stars, produce neutrinos copiously • Important National Level Services will be
due to nuclear fusion and decay processes within Integrated to Blockchain such as eSign, ePramaan
their core. and Digi locker.
• Since they rarely interact, these neutrinos pass • Multi-institutional approach for the NBF will be
through the Sun, and even the Earth, unhindered. followed which includes C-DAC for research and
• Significance of Neutrino detection development of the framework, NIC and NICSI for
hosting the national-level blockchain infrastructure
o Neutrinos hold the key to several questions on the
and offering blockchain as a service.
origin of Universe and the energy production in
stars. ABOUT BLOCKCHAIN
o Detailed investigation of the structure of the Earth A blockchain is essentially a digital ledger of transactions
from core onwards. (DLT) that is duplicated and distributed across the entire
network of computer systems on the blockchain.
• Dark Photons: Researchers at LHC are also hoping to
detect dark photons, which are now hypothetical.
Dark photons would help to investigate how dark
matter interacts with normal atoms and the other
UV INDEX
matter in the universe. #Health #Science
• Recently, India also proposed to set up Neutrino
Observatory at Bodi West Hills, in Theni district, Tamil For Europe, August 2021 weather was near the 1991-2020
Nadu. average, but with contrasting conditions across the
continent. These included record-breaking maximum
temperatures in Mediterranean countries, warmer-than-
NATIONAL STRATEGY ON average temperatures in the east and generally below-
BLOCKCHAIN average temperatures in the north.

ABOUT UN INDEX
#Physics • The UV index indicates how much ultraviolet
radiation is present at ground level on a particular
The Ministry of Information and Technology released this day, as well as the risk of skin damage.
strategy with an aim to evolve a trusted digital platform for • UV radiation is a short-term component of sunlight
providing e-governance services. that causes tanning and sunburn.
KEY POINTS FROM THE FRAMEWORK • Long-term UV exposure may lead to cataracts and
• Creation of a National Blockchain Framework skin cancer.
(NBF) as a geographically distributed national level • The index combines multiple variables into a single
shared infrastructure to enable citizen services at value that indicates how cautious we should be in the
large scale and enable cross domain application sun.
development. • A score of 1 or 2 indicates a low score, 3 to 5 indicates
• Creation of Blockchain-as-a-Service: Large-scale a moderate score, 6 or 7 indicates a high score, 8 to 10
hosting of Blockchain applications will be done on the indicates a very high score, and 11 and beyond
NBF, thus creating Blockchain-as-a-Service. Ex. indicates an extreme score.
Blockchain applications for electronic health records, • World Health Organisation devised the UV index to
education certificate chain etc. make people around the world more aware of the
risks in 2002.
• A Blockchain Advisory Council with representatives
from central Government, states, academia and • The UV index is produced at the Australian Radiation
industry shall be constituted under chairmanship of Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).
Minister of Electronics and IT. • Skin cancer is one of the most common malignancies
in Australia, accounting for around 80% of all cancers

diagnosed each year. Most skin cancers are caused by • It affects the gastrointestinal system of dogs, with
UV radiation from the sun. pups being particularly vulnerable to it.
CALCULATION OF UV INDEX • Some of the symptoms include bloody diarrhea,
• The UV index considers how much UV light of various vomiting, severe weight loss, dehydration, and
wavelengths is present, as well as how each tiredness, among others.
wavelength affects skin. • According to the virus's claimed fatality rate, it is 90
• This information is integrated with additional details percent.
such as location, cloud cover, and atmospheric • People who handle sick dogs may get the disease by
conditions to create UV index maps and predictions direct touch with the animal or through indirect
for the whole nation. contact with a contaminated item, such as their hands
• The index is greater towards the equator and at or clothes.
higher elevations because sunlight needs to travel • Every time a dog sniffs, licks, or consumes
through less air before reaching the earth. contaminated feces, it increases their risk of
ABOUT UV RADIATION contracting the parvovirus.
• The Sun's radiation is made up of a wide range of • Indirect transmission happens when a puppy meets a
wavelengths, each of which has a somewhat distinct human who has recently been exposed to an infected
impact on human skin. dog, or when a puppy meets a contaminated item
such as a food or water dish, collars, or leashes.
• UV radiation (light with wavelengths too short for
human eyes to perceive, ranging from 400 • Because parvovirus is a very resistant virus, it can
nanometers to 10 nanometers is an essential readily live in the environment, and it may infect
portion of the spectrum. anything, even leaves and grass, if exposed to it.
• UV-A, with wavelengths ranging from 400 to 315 • When it comes to parvovirus, there is no treatment,
nanometers, and UV-B, with wavelengths ranging but vaccinating puppies and dogs provides them the
from 315 to 280 nanometers, are the two main types best chance of surviving the illness.
of UV radiation. Shorter wavelengths are referred to • The first dosage is given when the child is 45 days old,
as UV-C, although they are mostly blocked by the and the second dose is administered 21 days
ozone layer in the atmosphere. following the first dose.
• Both UV-A and UV-B rays cause skin damage, ageing, • Vaccination of dogs should begin as early as possible,
and skin cancer. UV-B, on the other hand, is the during their puppyhood, and should be repeated at
most hazardous of the two. It is the leading cause of least once a year afterwards to provide adequate
sunburn, cataracts, and skin cancer. protection.
CANINE PARVOVIRUS AGNI-P MISSILE

#Health #Science #Biotech #Defence #Technology
Nearly 2,000 pet and stray dogs in Amravati city were From Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha, the
affected by canine parvovirus virus last month with DRDO successfully tested the next generation nuclear-
veterinarians cautioning pet owners against a severe capable ballistic missile 'Agni P.'
outbreak. ABOUT AGNI-P
ABOUT CANINE PARVOVIRUS • The Agni-P is a two-stage solid-propellant missile
• Canine parvovirus (also known as canine parvovirus 2, with a dual redundant navigation and guiding system.
canine parvovirus, or parvo) is a highly infectious • It has been dubbed a new generation enhanced form
viral illness that may be fatal in puppies and dogs. It of the Agni missile class with better features like as
is also known as canine parvovirus 2. maneuverability and accuracy.

• Missile Canisterization decreases the time it takes • On the contrary, Ballistic missiles, though much faster,
to launch a missile while also improving storage and follow a fixed trajectory and travel outside the
handling. atmosphere to re-enter only near impact.
• The range of the surface-to-surface ballistic missile COUNTRIES HAVING HYPERSONIC WEAPONS
is 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers. 1. China tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile.
AGNI MISSILES 2. Russia announced that it had successfully test
• The Agni family of missiles, which also includes the launched a Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile.
Prithvi short-range ballistic missiles, submarine- 3. U.S. has active hypersonic development programs; it
launched ballistic missiles, and fighter planes, form was lagging because most U.S. hypersonic weapons
the backbone of India's nuclear launch capabilities. are not being designed for use with a nuclear
• Agni-V, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with warhead.
a range of over 5,000 kilometres, has been tested and 4. India operates approximately twelve hypersonic wind
certified for induction many times. tunnels and is capable of testing speeds of up to
Mach 13. India is also developing an indigenous, dual-
• The Agni-P and Agni-5 ballistic missiles were
capable hypersonic cruise missile as part of its
developed as part of the Integrated Guided Missile
Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle
Development Program (IGMDP) in the early 1980s,
(HSTDV) program. India is also developing an
which was led by former DRDO chief and former
indigenous, dual-capable hypersonic cruise
Indian president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
missile as part of its Hypersonic Technology
Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) program and
ARMS RACE FOR successfully tested a Mach 6 scramjet in 2019 and

2020.
HYPERSONIC WEAPONS 5. Given the rising tensions between the U.S., China and
Russia as also the worsening geopolitical situation
#Physics
worldwide, the focus for hypersonic weapons is only
set to accelerate more countries to invest significant
resources in their design and development.
Countries across the globe are developing hypersonic
weapon systems. This has started a new arms race.
ABOUT HYPERSONIC WEAPONS RUSTOM 2 UAV
• Hypersonic weapons are manoeuvrable weapons #Defence Technology #Drones
that can fly at speeds more than Mach 5, five times
the speed of sound.
The indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE)
• They travel within the atmosphere and can
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) development program by
manoeuvre midway which combined with their high
the DRDO has crossed a milestone by reaching an altitude of
speeds makes their detection and interception
25,000 feet and an endurance of 10 hours.
extremely difficult. This means that radars and air
SIGNIFICANCE OF UAVS IN ARMED FORCES
defences cannot detect them till they are very close
and little time to react. • UAVs can carry a diverse array of payloads for
reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence gathering
• There are two classes of hypersonic weapons,
and target acquisition.
hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV) and hypersonic
cruise missiles (HCM). HGVs are launched from a • Help in Border Surveillance, Track Movement of
Terrorists and Insurgents, Launch attacks etc.
rocket before gliding to a target while HCMs are
powered by high-speed, air-breathing engines, or TYPES OF UAVS IN ARMED FORCES
scramjets, after acquiring their target. • Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs: Fly
between 25,000 feet to 28,000 Feet

• High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAVs: Fly • Reached a new milestone by reaching an altitude of
above 28,000 Feet 25,000 feet and an endurance of 10 hours.
ABOUT RUSTOM 2 OTHER UAVS USED BY INDIAN DEFENCE FORCES
• Rustom 2 drone is a medium-altitude, long-endurance • Israel- Heron
unmanned aerial vehicle. • Indigenously developed- Lakshya; Nishant; Daksh;
• Developed by DRDO. Netra
• Advanced capabilities and meets the requirements of • GHATAK: India’s First stealth unmanned combat
the three Services. aerial vehicle
practice questions
MCQs
Q.1) India-based Neutrino Observatory is included 1. The Lagrange Points are positions where the
by the Planning Commission as a mega science gravitational pull of two large masses precisely
th
project under the 11 Five Year Plan. In this equals the centripetal force required for a small
context, consider the following statements: object to move with them.
1. Neutrinos are chargeless elementary particles 2. James Webb Space Telescope will be placed
that travel close to the speed of light. around the second Lagrange Point.
2. Neutrinos are created in nuclear reactions of beta 3. James Webb Space Telescope is the result of an
decay. international collaboration between NASA, ESA
3. Neutrinos have a negligible, but nonzero mass. & JAXA.
4. Trillions of Neutrinos pass through human body Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
every second. (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only
Which of the statements given above are correct? (c) 2 and 3 only (d) None of the above
(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q.4) Consider the following statements with
respect to Gaganyaan Mission:
Q.2) Consider the following statements: 1. It is India’s spaceflight mission to send humans to
1. Unmanned aerial vehicles requires line of sight an orbit 700-800 Km above the surface of the
communication signals. earth.
2. Rustom is India’s defence UAVs used for 2. Vyom Mitra is a humanoid that is part of the
surveillance. mission that is planned to be sent before sending
astronauts to orbit.
3. UAVs in India are regulated by Ministry of Science
and Technology Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect? a) 1 only b) 2 only
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q.5) Consider the following statements about
Hypersonic Weapons:
Q.3) Consider the following statements:
1. They have speeds more than ballistic missiles.

2. They are difficult to detect compared to ballistic (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
missiles. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q1. The India Semiconductor Mission recognizes the strategic importance of integrated circuits in contemporary
economies. Discuss (250 words)
Q2. Write a short note about James Webb Telescope and how would it change the field of Astrophysics?
Answers: 1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-b, 5-b

History, HERITAGE & Culture
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper I (Main)
DESMOND TUTU AND

• He supported Hindu to be the National Language.
• He played a key role in ensuring protection for the
(APARTHEID TO minorities in India and for the right to practice and
propagate one’s faith as fundamental right.
DEMOCRACY) • He is believed to be Indian equivalent of Desmond
#World History Tutu.
APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA
Recently Desmond Tutu who played a central role in In 1910, the Union of South Africa was formed after
eradication of discriminatory Apartheid regime in South joining Transvaal, Orange Free State, Cape Colony and
Africa passed away. Natal. Its composition included:
ABOUT DESMOND TUTU • 70% black Africans, known as Bantus.
• He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 • 18% whites of European origin; of these about 60%
and then Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to were Dutch, the rest British.
1996, in both cases being the first black African to hold • 9% of mixed race, known as ‘coloureds’.
the position. • 3% Asians.
• Theologically, he sought to fuse ideas from black DISCRIMINATION TOWARDS BLACKS
theology with African theology.
• Whites dominated politics and the economic life of the
• His objective was to create ‘a democratic and just new state, and blacks were not allowed to vote.
society without racial divisions’ and took up the
• Black people had to do most of the manual work in
cause for (a) Equal civil rights for all (b) Abolition of
factories, in the gold mines and on farms; the men
South Africa’s Passport Laws (c) A common system of
mostly lived in barracks
education (d) Cessation of forced deportation from
South Africa to the so called ‘homelands’. • They were expected to live in areas reserved for them
away from white residential areas.
• He was popular among South Africa's black majority
and was internationally praised for his anti-apartheid • Government controlled the movement of blacks by a
activism, receiving a range of awards, including system of pass laws.
the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. He also compiled • Black workers were forbidden to strike and were
several books of his speeches and sermons. barred from holding skilled jobs.
REVEREND JEROME D’SOUZA • Natives’ Land Act of 1913 severely restricted the
ownership of land by blacks; at that stage natives
• He was a member of constituent assembly elected
controlled only 7% of the country.
from the Madras Presidency.
APARTHEID
• He was a Jesuit priest, writer and educationist.
• Apartheid was a discriminatory policy that governed
• C. Rajagopalachari proposed his name to the Madras
relations between South Africa’s white minority and
Legislative Assembly.
non-white majority for much of the latter half of the
• In 1946, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly 20th century, sanctioning racial segregation and
where he made interventions on the issues of national political and economic discrimination against non-
language and separate electorates for minorities. whites. Although the legislation that formed the

History, Heritage & Culture
foundation of apartheid had been repealed by the Nelson Mandela was a prominent member.
early 1990s, the social and economic repercussions of Government arrested most of the black leaders,
the discriminatory policy persisted into the 21st including Mandela, who was sentenced to life
century. imprisonment on Robben Island.
• Prime Minister of South Africa, Malan (1948-54), a new • At the 1961 Commonwealth Conference, criticism of
officially structured policy called apartheid South Africa was intense, and many thought the
(separateness) was introduced. This tightened up country would be expelled.
control over blacks still further.
• Discontent and protest increased again in the 1970s
• Dutch origin were against racial equality, but the most because the wage of Africans failed to keep pace with
extreme were the Afrikaner Nationalist Party led by Dr inflation.
Malan. They claimed that whites were a master race,
• In 1976, Transvaal authority announced that Afrikaans
and that non-whites were inferior beings.
(the language spoken by whites of Dutch descent) was
• Population Registration Act of 1950 formalised racial
to be used in black African school, massive
classification and introduced an identity card for all
demonstrations took place near Johannesburg where
persons over the age of 18, specifying their racial
over 500 people were brutally killed.
group. Group Areas Act of 1950 put an end to diverse
areas and determined where one lived according to END OF LEGALISED APARTHEID
race. • In a more fundamental shift of policy, however, the
MAIN FEATURES OF APARTHEID government of South African Pres. F.W. de Klerk in
• Blacks had to live in special reserves in urban areas 1990–91 repealed most of the social legislation that
they had separate townships built at suitable provided the legal basis for apartheid, including the
distances from the white residential areas. Population Registration Act.
• There were separate buses, coaches, trains, cafes, • A new constitution that enfranchised Blacks and other
toilets, parks benches, hospitals, beaches, picnic racial groups was adopted in 1993 and took effect in
areas, sports and even churches. 1994. All-race national elections, also in 1994,
• Black children went to separate schools and were produced a coalition government with a Black majority
given a much inferior education. led by antiapartheid activist Nelson Mandela, the
• Marriage and sexual relations between whites and country’s first Black president. These developments
non-whites were forbidden. marked the end of legislated apartheid but not the
• Police spied on anybody suspected of breaking the end of its entrenched social and economic effects.
rules.
ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT (IMPORTANT EVENTS)
THE LIBERATION OF
• Inside South Africa, opposition to the system was
difficult. Anyone who objected – including whites – or BANGLADESH AND INDIA’S
broke the apartheid laws, was accused of being a
communist and was severely punished under ROLE
the Suppression of Communism Act.
#post-independence
• Chief Albert Luthuli, the ANC leader, organized a
protest campaign in which black Africans stopped
BACKGROUND
work on certain days.
• Pakistan consisted of two divisions (between 1947-
• In 1955, African National congress (ANC) passed
1971), West Pakistan and East Pakistan. East
Freedom Charter and made demands like right to
Pakistanis were popularly known as "Pakistani
equality, right to vote, free medical aid etc.
Bengalis"; to distinguish this region from India's state
• A small action group of the ANC, known as Umkhonto,
West Bengal (which is also known as "Indian Bengal").
we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), or MK, was launched;

• Bengalis (East Pakistan) were under-represented in Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the President of
the government of Pakistan and ethnic tensions Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on 2nd July 1972 signed the
between both groups were said to exist. Shimla Agreement to withdraw soldiers.
• There were demands to designate Bengali as an They decided to abjure conflict and confrontation that
official language, along with Urdu. Meanwhile, had in the past marred relationships and to work
Bengali nationalist leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, towards the establishment of permanent peace,
announced his six-point program for regional friendship, and cooperation.
autonomy for East Pakistan and won landslide It was a comprehensive blueprint for good neighbourly
victory in 1970 elections. relations between India and Pakistan.
• He was not allowed to form the government; military IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
was ordered to suppress dissenters in East Pakistan.
• Relations between the two countries shall be
This was followed by a violent crackdown was
regulated by the principles and purposes of the
launched in March 1971 by West Pakistan, led
by Tikka Khan. United Nations Charter.
• Awami leaders fled to India to seek safety and there • Commitment by both countries to peaceful
was a major influx of refugees to India. coexistence, respect for each other's territorial
integrity and sovereignty, and non-interference in
• Indira Gandhi was vocal and appealed to the
each other's internal affairs, based on equality and
international community for assistance in the crisis.
India sponsored the Mukti Bahini and provided mutual gain, is the precondition for reconciliation,
training in refugee camps to East Pakistani Bengali good neighbourliness, and lasting peace between
nationals. them.
REASONS FOR INDIA’S INTERVENTION • Bilateralism: A mutual commitment to the peaceful

resolution of all issues through direct bilateral
1. Enemy nation on two frontier was against India’s
strategic interest. approaches.
2. Major waves of refugees in Northeast of India was • Salience of Line of Control: To uphold the
creating socio-economic-ethnic issues. inviolability of the Line of Control in Jammu and
Kashmir, which is a most important CBM between
3. Poor connectivity, having a hostile East Pakistan
India and Pakistan, and a key to durable peace.
hindered the growth of the north-eastern part of the
country. • To build the foundations of a cooperative relationship
4. Humanitarian factors with special focus on people-to-people contacts.
5. East Pakistan was platform for harbouring insurgent
SARDAR VALLABH BHAI

movements in India’s North-East.
CONSEQUENCE OF 1971 WAR
• Pakistan suffered a defeat and it lost half of its PATEL
deprived region.
#Modern History #Personalities
• Bangladesh, the new nation, was created. Mujibur,
who became the first President of Bangladesh, was
liberated by Pakistan. CONTRIBUTIONS IN FREEDOM STRUGGLE
• In 1972, the Shimla Agreement between India and • A graduate law course in 1913, Patel returned to India
Pakistan was signed, acknowledging the and then established his practice at Godhra.
independence of Bangladesh.
• After coming in contact to Mahatma Gandhi, he
• Ninety-three thousand troops of Pakistan Army become his ardent follower.
surrendered.
• Soon, he became the secretary of the Gujarat wing of
ABOUT SHIMLA AGREEMENT the Congress Party and later participated in the

Kheda campaign against taxation of peasants, and contribution to the regional integration of the
soon became a prominent leader. independent India. He along with his able Secretary,
• Kheda campaign (1918): Patel and his associated V. P. Menon, integrated more than 600 princely states
persuaded the peasants to refuse to pay taxes until in the Indian Union and prevented an imminent threat
the government met their demands. Patel raised an of Balkanisation of the country.
army of volunteers who helped the villagers in this • Contribution in Constituent Assembly: As a
work. As a result, the government agreed to talk with member of Constituent Assembly, he was in-charge
Patel and suspended taxes for a year. of the Provincial Constitution Committee and the
• In 1920, he was elected the president of the Gujarat Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights,
Pradesh Congress Committee. Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas, in
the Constituent Assembly of India.
• Patel supported Gandhiji in Non-cooperation
movement and worked tirelessly organising it. He also • Foundation of White Revolution: He encouraged
supported Gandhi when on his decision to suspend farmers from Gujarat to sell their produce of milk by
the movement in the wake of the Chauri Chaura forming a cooperative, which will free the farmers
(1922). from the grip of intermediaries and lead to better
realisation and higher incomes. Farmers formed the
• Flag Satyagrah: He led satyagrah in Nagpur in 1923
Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union
against a law banning the raising of Indian flag.
Limited, which later went on to become Amul under
• Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): Patel persuaded farmers the guidance of Varghese Kurian.
to refuse to pay taxes in the wake of floods and
• Father of All India Services: For his role in setting up
famines in the area, and a steep hike in taxes by the
the modern civil services of India, he is also referred to
government. The title ‘Sardar’ was bestowed on him
as the ‘patron saint’ of the civil services. He
by his colleagues after the success of this movement.
famously called the services the ‘steel frame’ of the
• President of Congress in Karachi Session (1931): On country’s government machinery.
his participation in salt march, Patel was
• He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in
arrested (1930). After release and following the
1991. His birth anniversary is observed as Rashtriya
Gandhi-Irwin Pact, he got elected the President of
Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) since 2014.
the INC in its Karachi session in 1931. During the
Karachi Session, a resolution on ‘Fundamental Rights
and Economic Policy’ was passed.
DURGA PUJA IN UNESCO’S
• He was INC’s chief fundraiser and organiser especially
in selecting candidates for the central and provincial INTANGIBLE CULTURAL
assemblies.
• He also supported the Quit India Movement and
HERITAGE
inspired people to fight by an emotional speech made #UNESCO heritage sites #art and culture
on 7 August 1942.
• He represented India on the Partition Council where
UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the
the division of public assets between the two new
Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has put
nations was overseen. “Durga Puja in Kolkata” on the Representative List of the
• After partition he called the South Indian regiments of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
the Indian Army to restore order in the affected areas ABOUT DURGA PUJA
knowing well that the police force of Punjab and Delhi,
• Durga Puja is celebrated during the autumn. It is the
who were too close to the tragedy, could not be relied
most important socio-cultural and religious event in
upon.
the Bengali festival calendar.
POST-INDEPENDENCE CONTRIBUTIONS • Area of influence: West Bengal, Bihar (Biharis), Odisha
• Contribution in National Integration: Patel is often (Oriyas) and Assam (Ahomiyas) as well as in other
compared to Bismarck of Germany for his stellar

states of India where Bengali community reside. This festive events, knowledge and practices concerning
festival is also celebrated by Bengali Diaspora outside nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to
India. produce traditional crafts.
• Objective: To propitiate the Goddess Durga for her • While fragile, intangible cultural heritage is an
blessings as also celebrate her victory over the demon important factor in maintaining cultural diversity in
Mahishasur. the face of growing globalization. An understanding of
• Durga Puja is a ten-day festival, usually in October, the intangible cultural heritage of different
which starts from Mahalaya, the inaugural day of communities helps with inter-cultural dialogue and
the event. Mahalaya is celebrated by Agomoni or encourages mutual respect for other ways of life.
songs of welcome. • The importance of intangible cultural heritage lies in
• On the tenth day, or Bijoya Dashami, the Goddess is the wealth of knowledge and skills that is transmitted
borne away to the sounds of the dhak, or traditional across generations.
drum for immersion in nearby rivers or water bodies. • The social and economic value of this transmission
• The makeshift structures, as well as the image of the of knowledge is relevant for minority groups and for
Goddess are adorned with meticulous artwork and mainstream social groups within a State and is as
stylistic themes made with local craft materials such important for developing States as for developed
as shola or pith, coloured jute, woven brocades, ones.
imitation jewellery, clay and terracotta ornamentation. SALIENT FEATURES OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL
• Durga Puja is seen as the best instance of the public HERITAGE
performance of religion and art, and as a thriving • Traditional, contemporary and living at the same
ground for collaborative artists and designers. time: intangible cultural heritage does not only
ABOUT INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE represent inherited traditions from the past but also
• According to UNESCO, “cultural heritage does not end contemporary rural and urban practices in which
at monuments and collections of objects”, but “also diverse cultural groups take part.
includes traditions or living expressions inherited from • Inclusive, Social Cohesion & Identity: Intangible
our ancestors and passed on to our descendants,
Cultural Heritage have been passed from one
such as oral traditions, performing arts, social
generation to another, have evolved in response to
practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and
their environments and contribute to giving us a sense
practices concerning nature and the universe or the
of identity and continuity, providing a link from our
knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts”.
past, through the present, and into our future. It
• Intangible cultural heritage, according to UNESCO, is
contributes to social cohesion, encouraging a sense of
“traditional, contemporary and living at the same
time”, “inclusive”, “representative”, and “community- identity and responsibility which helps individuals to
based”. It is “an important factor in maintaining feel part of one or different communities within the
cultural diversity in the face of growing globalisation” society.
— and “an understanding of the intangible cultural • Representative: intangible cultural heritage is not
heritage of different communities helps with merely valued as a cultural good, on a comparative
intercultural dialogue and encourages mutual respect basis, for its exclusivity or its exceptional value. It
for other ways of life”.
thrives on its basis in communities and depends on
IMPORTANCE OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE those whose knowledge of traditions, skills and
• The term ‘cultural heritage’ has changed content customs are passed on to the rest of the community,
considerably in recent decades, partially owing to the from generation to generation, or to other
instruments developed by UNESCO. communities.
• Cultural heritage does not end at monuments and
• Community-based: intangible cultural heritage can
collections of objects and includes traditions or living
only be heritage when it is recognized as such by the
expressions inherited from our ancestors and
communities, groups or individuals that create,
passed on to our descendants, such as oral
maintain and transmit it. Without their recognition,
traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals,

nobody else can decide for them that a given • About the inscription: The inscription has a
expression or practice is their heritage. reference to a local king called Chandasati who
offered gifts to the monastery and constructed wells
CULTURAL ELEMENTS FROM INDIA INCLUDED IN
for the monks.
UNESCO’S INTANGIBLE HERITAGE LIST
1. Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre
2. The tradition of Vedic chanting
3. Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana
4. Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the
Garhwal Himalayas, India
5. Chhau dance
6. Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan
7. Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
8. Durga Puja in Kolkata
Image of Kodavali Buddhist site in Andhra Pradesh.
9. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred
Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region,
Jammu and Kashmir, India ST. GEORGE ORTHODOX
10. Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of
Manipur SYRIAN CHURCH
11. Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making #Art and culture #architecture
among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, India
12. Nowroz
13. Yoga • This church of Kollam (Kerala) is known for unique
14. Kumbh Mela tradition to sing Christmas Carol in front of
Temple gates based on local tradition.
15. Durga Puja
• Temple committee welcomes the carol service with
nilavilakku (traditional lamps), nirapara (heaped
KODAVALI BUDDHIST SITE paddy) and firecrackers, the parish priest offers a
prayer of blessing.
#art & culture #buddhism • When the rasa (procession) from the church passes
through, the temple committee accords a reception at
the junction.
2,300 years old Buddhist site in AP's Kodavali under threat
• Note: Such topics could well be used for mains
from mining.
answer writing on topics like secularism, religious
• Kodavali Buddhist site comes from the golden era of tolerance, unity aspect of society etc.
Buddhism in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
• Kodavali is one of the 50 sites so far discovered in the

erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.
PAIKA REBELLION
• Historian Robert Sewell and archaeologist Alexander
#Modern History #Movements
Rea are credited with discovering the site at Kodavali
in the 1880s. Considering Paika rebellion as a beginning of a popular
• Unique feature: One of the first Buddhist rock edict uprising against the British, it would be included as a case
in Brahmi script was also found (dated to the 2nd study in the Class 8 National Council of Educational
Century CE). Research and Training (NCERT) history textbook.

ABOUT PAIKA REBELLION led his army of Paikas forcing the British East India
• The Paika rebellion (Paika Bidroha) predates the first Company forces to retreat. Thus, the rebellion came
war of independence in 1857 but did not get similar to be known as Paika Bidroh.
recognition.
• This rebellion briefly shook the foundations of British
rule in the eastern part of India (Odisha).
JNANPITH AWARD
• It took place when the British East India company #literature #current affairs
wrested the rent-free land that had been given to the
Paiks for their military service to the Kingdom of
Khurda. Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan Jr won the 56th Jnanpith
Award and Konkani novelist Damodar Mauzo won the 57th
• Rulers of Khurda were traditionally the custodians of
Jnanpith Award.
Jagannath Temple and ruled as the deputy of Lord
Jagannath on Earth. They symbolised the political and ABOUT JNANPITH AWARD
cultural freedom of the people of Odisha. • India’s highest literary award bestowed on writers
ABOUT PAIKAS for “their outstanding contribution to literature.
Paikas were essentially the peasant militias who • English along with other Indian languages is
rendered military service to the king during times of war considered for the Award.
while taking up cultivation during times of peace. • It is given only to Indian citizens annually.
BRITISH INTERFERENCE • The prize carries a cash award of Rs. 11 lakhs, a
• The British, having established their sway over Bengal citation, and a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Saraswati),
Province and Madras Province, occupied this part of the goddess of learning.
India (Orissa) in 1803. • Award is sponsored by the cultural
• After that, British started tinkering with the revenue organization Bharatiya Jnanpith.
system of that area. Therefore, the farming • In 2019, author Amitav Ghosh was felicitated with
th
community of Odisha rose in rebellion. 54 Jnanpith Award. He became the first English
• Leadership In this rebellion, Bakshi Jagabandhu language writer to become a Jnanpith laureate.
Bidyadhar, the military chief of the King of Khurda,
practice questions
MCQs
Q.1) Consider the following statements with Q.2) Consider the following statements with
reference to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel: reference to Jnanpith award:
1. He leaded the Bardoli Satyagraha to liberate village 1. This award is given for only languages included in
people of excessive tax regime. the in all eighth schedule of the Constitution.
2. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna award in 1948 2. This award is given to Indian citizens only.
for his contribution in unification of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q.3) This is a site in the state of Andhra Pradesh (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
known for old Buddhist structural arts and one (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
of the oldest evidence of rock edict written
Brahmi script. Identify the site from the given Q.5) Consider the following pairs
options:
Intangible cultural Region associated
(a) Viratnagar (b) Papikonda
heritage of India
(c) Bagh caves (d) Kodavali
1. Durga Puja West Bengal
2. Mudiyettu Kerala
Q.4) Consider the following statements
3. Ramman Uttarakhand
1. Paikas were the peasant militias who provided
military services to the rulers. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
2. They protested the denial of land revenue rights in (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only
the Bengal province. (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
1. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel contributed immensely to India’s freedom struggle and in the post-Independence
period. Highlight these contributions.
2. The Apartheid regime in South Africa was blot in the name of human rights. Highlight the salient features of
Apartheid regime in South Africa and how it ended.
Answers to above MCQs: 1(a), 2(b), 3(d), 4(c), 5(d)

Part TWO
Ethics, Integrity
& Aptitude
Coverage from varied sources
Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
RULE OF LAW
#Ethics #Integrity #Aptitude
“Be you never so high, the law is above you” 2. Irrespective of the superior’s directive, the official
– Lord Justice Denning can stick to the law which can be later justified in the
court or inquiries. Public representatives may give
Rule of law implies that government powers are effectively
orders to officials which creates ethical dilemmas
limited by the legislature, judiciary, independent auditing
whether to follow the representative’s order or the
and review.
public interest.
The doctrine of rule of law has its origin in England and is
3. Following rule of law will help in overcoming the
given by A.V. Dicey. According to Dicey, there are 3
same and help civil servants to function without fear
fundamental principles of Rule of Law:
or favour.
• Absence of arbitrary power: No man is punished
4. Following rule of law help resolve dilemma of
except for a breach of law.
‘Secrecy vs Transparency’. For instance, denial of
• Equality before the law: Equal subjection of all information under RTI. Following rule of law will help
citizens (rich or poor, high or low, official or non- the government in proactive disclosure of
official) to the ordinary law of the land administered information vital for the public, but at the same time
by the ordinary law courts. withholding the information vital for national
• Primacy of the rights of individual: The security.
constitution is the result of the rights of the 5. Equality, though a basic virtue to be followed, equity
individual as defined and enforced by courts of law, is necessary. Even the constitution provides for
rather than constitution being the source of the differential treatment and upholding it will help in
individual rights overcoming the sense of discrimination created by
According to Plato, the meaning of rule of law is that Law differential treatment.
is supreme in nature, and nobody is above the law. 6. In some situations, it might seem ethically right to
According to Aristotle, law should be the final sovereign circumvent rule of law. Example: Encountering a
of the state. child rapist or terrorist and so on. But Rule of law
help in overcoming emotional ambiguities. Example:
According to Sir Edward Coke, “Rule of Law” means the Even the terrorist Kasab was prosecuted as per Rule
absence of arbitrary power on the part of Government. of law.
Rule of law enabling ethical dilemmas Significance of Rule of Law
resolution
• Experience of liberty – shield against
Ethical dilemma refers to a situation where one must majoritarianism (Navtej Singh Johar case)
choose between competing principles, both being right
• Success of social contract.
in their own way. Rule of law helps to make decisions in
such situations: • Separation of power as per theory of Montesquieu.
1. Rule of law gives a definitive path to follow • Good and stable governance
irrespective of the situations and provide certainty of
o Rule of law and public order is the science of
actions to be followed by the government. Example:
administration – Kautilya in Arthashastra
Demolition of a slum/ roadside vendors create a
dilemma but is necessary. o Contract enforcement - stable investment

o If I have to give one reason for fall of Roman empire, • Judicial judgement in crucial cases – Indira Gandhi Vs
it was absence of rule of law - Edward Gibbon Raj Narayan case
• Fundamental rights are secured • Bengaluru Mayor pays fine for use of plastic
o Lunching Challenge to rule of law

o Custodial death • Uncertainty in laws – frequent amendments.
o Honour killing • Politico - bureaucratic-corporate nexus.
• Regulatory enforcement • Cases pertaining to politicians take too long for
o MCC rules are defined but not justiciable. disposal.
o Regulation on plastic waste by CBPC not followed • Haryana - Members of local bodies have minimum
by state. qualification, but not MLA’s and MP’s.
• Civil and criminal justice are accessible and • Power abuse – ICICI – Chanda Kochhar.
affordable – PIL • Politicians living in government bungalows do not
• Order and stability – If I have to give one reason for vacate on time, despite their term ending.
fall of Roman empire, it was absence of rule of law - There is a crucial difference between "rule by law" and
Edward Gibbon "rule of law." In many countries, laws and legal
• Openness in governance – Right to information, institutions are being manipulated to undermine rather
civil society participation etc. than uphold the rule of law, even as governments wrap
their actions in "rule of law" rhetoric.
• Thus, overall rule of law helps create a trust-
based society and generates social capital. • Coastal regulation zone amendment.
• Relaxation of “Restricted Area Permit.”

Rule of Law in India context
• Cancellation of coal (nationalization) act to increase
“Rule of law and public order is the science of
private investment in mining.
administration” – Kautilya in Arthashastra
Supreme court has observed that the public officials are
• Lokpal act – PM too is covered under this act.
answerable to law and law alone. Objectivity, impartiality,
• Arrest of executives - Bihar chief minister in fodder transparency and other values which are the
scam. foundational values of civil services hinges on the
• Many prominent leaders arrested under 2G scam implementation of Rule of Law. Thus, Rule of law helps
etc. as a directing light to the government and civil servants
in fulfilling their duty.
• Air travel ban on abusive MP
• Swift action in Chandigarh stalking case involving

powerful parties.

CASE STUDIES for Practice

MAINS GS PAPER IV
Case 1. Last year, Delhi witnessed an unprecedented 2. Long term measures:
clash between police personnel and lawyers, following an a) Institutionalizing ethical training to encourage self-
argument over parking at the Tis Hazari Court complex. introspection, self-awareness, and self-regulation.
In the aftermath, the blockade of the Delhi police b) Better work culture and attitude formation at
headquarters by its personnel and the disruption of workplace by having democratic institutional values.
courts almost led to a governance breakdown in the c) Revising code of conduct to put requirement of strict
national capital. It also led to violence in which people moral behaviour by public servants.
from both sides were injured and public property was
d) Institutionalizing dialogue between police and
damaged. Such kind of ego clashes and emotional bursts
lawyers at regular intervals.
are usually not expected from the professionals. What in
your opinion are the major causes behind this incident? Rule of law must be enforced in public discourse.
Suppose you are the Commissioner of Delhi police. What Democracy cannot be allowed to supersede by
steps you can take so that such incident is not repeated? mobocracy. Public servant must not take the law in hand.
We must create a democracy where Thomas Fuller's
The case highlights the poor state of moral conduct in
words, “Be you ever so high but the law is always above
important public institutions. It also shows the increased
you”, comes true.
use and acceptance of violence in public discourse.
Major causes behind this incident
a) Negative emotion of anger drives irrational Case 2. Divorce rates have spiked recently in India.
behaviour. Gandhiji said that anger is the enemy of Though, they are still low in comparison to many other
correct thinking. countries, yet they have become a matter of concern for
Indian society. Divorce petitions have gone up manifold
b) Lack of fully developed conscience – professionals
and most are being sought over spur-of-the-moment
fail to realise the importance of moral conduct in
emotion outburst, and in some cases over trivial, issues.
public.
Reasons for divorce have also changed from the past.
c) Professionals may think that mob violence will
Such negative developments are deteriorating the basic
protect individuals from punishment.
fiber of the social institution of marriage.
d) Negative attitude of lack of respect for law and
Analyse this problem in detail from different
institutions.
perspectives and indicate various social, psychological
e) Absence of ethical ecosystem. and economic factors responsible for this problem? Also,
f) Poor implementation of laws distinctly bring out –
Steps to be taken to stop such incidents a) Why divorce rates are high, especially in urban areas,
1. Immediate measures: when compared to rural areas.
a) A fact-finding team must be constituted, and strict b) Why divorce rate is high even in the cases of love
action must be taken on gross violators and marriages.
destroyer of public properties. c) What steps can be taken to stop couples from taking
b) CCTV camera must be installed at important public such strong decisions.
places. Marriage in India has the sanctity attached to it - an
c) Appeal must be made to stop the inter-institutional element of divinity in it. However, now the institution of
friction to ensure efficient public service. marriage is undergoing change:

• Individualistic, materialistic and self-oriented goals • Transparency and trust development.

over family well-being. • Spending quality time together.
• Tolerance threshold seems to have moved down • Sorting out differences, by making slight
while the egos of individuals have risen remarkably. adjustments in thinking and lifestyle.
• The societal stigma attached to divorce is also However, despite the new strains on the marriage and
diminishing. the increasing number of divorces, the faith in marriage
• Priority of job over relationship as an institution remains unshaken in our society.
• Psychological tiredness - Couples are now getting
mentally fed up with their spouse.
(a) Some of the major reasons for increasing rate of
divorce in urban areas, as compared to rural
areas are:
• Fast paced lifestyle of couple leading to less
development of understanding and hence
incompatibility issues.
• Economic independence of urban women allows
them to move out of abusive marriages.
• The traditional counselling support to couples is
missing in nuclear families.
• Work stress leads to frequent fights at home.
• Changing gender roles in cities leads to frequent
fights.
(b) The divorce rate is high even in case of love
marriage, because of the following reasons:
• Expectations Vs reality: When couples are in love,
lots of positive attitude develops towards marriage.
But, after marriage they realize the hard truth of
relationship. Arranged marriages have much lower
expectation, so they tend to survive.
• Arranged marriages have a firm root in society and
culture. Couples get family support. But in love
marriage this is missing.
• Unrest and inner dissonance are high as many a
times such marriages are done against the wishes of
family.
(c) Some of the steps which can be taken to prevent
couples from taking such strong decisions are:
• Understanding balance between work life, social life
and personal life.
• Formal and informal counselling professional expert
counsellors and family members of the couple.
• Bridging communication gap.

Part Three
Essays
of
the month
Selected essays from Rau’s GSI students
Essays OF THE MONTH
I measure the progress of a community by the

degree of progress which women have achieved
#Women Issues
SUBMITTED BY: VAISHALI CHAUHAN
Disclaimer: The viewpoints in the topic are to the degradation of women's status in society. And
strictly personal of the writer above. The that is why, it became one of the major reasons in the
role of Rau’s IAS Study Circle is to present burning of Manu by smriti Dr Ambedkar in front of the
the write-up in its original form, hence the public.
study circle neither endorses nor rejects any viewpoint in
Patriarchy is a major reason for the degraded status of
the submission. The purpose is only to showcase the
manner of writing. women in society. It refers to the social, economic and
political power in hands of man. It is one of the
Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to use
instruments to restrict the potential of women to grow.
his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints.
Patriarchy is deeply rooted in the society, but it is least
Dr. BR Ambedkar had emphasized on the progress of noticed as it has become a daily way of life. Even women
women as a measure of development of society. It is the support patriarchy unknowingly as they are trained in
true measure of how a society treats its vulnerable such an environment since their birth. 'A grandmother
people. Access of opportunities and choices for women aspiring for a grandson' is a clear testimony of
not only lead to development of women themselves but patriarchal mindset prevailing even in women thoughts.
also helps in the development of society as well as Due to such institution, women are restricted to fully
Nation as a whole. This is one of the reasons why utilise their potential. The society acts as a moral
American and European countries are politically, guardian at every stage of women right since their birth
socially, economically and technologically developed. In to end of their lives.
these countries, women enjoy freedom, liberty and have
In the development course of India, empowering
access to rights. Renaissance and Enlightenment in
women through implementation of various kinds of
developed countries brought new modern ideas in
programs and policies has been a prime focus of
socio-cultural realm.
government. Even in pre independence era, efforts by
The American and French Revolution gave birth to the various social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy,
ideas of democracy, liberty, equality and fraternity. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai
These developments in the West led to the genesis of a Phule led women to realise their worth and helped in
new age for women, an age where women have liberty attacking social evils like Sati, window plight, child
and equality; an age where women have access to marriages and lack of access to education to women.
resources and opportunities; an age where women can Post-independence India has also seen various acts,
take decisions for their own destiny. policies and programs for the emancipation of women
But the condition in Indian society is diagonally and improving their quality of life like Dowry Act, 1962;
Equal Remuneration Act, 1976; Right to Education (Beti
opposite. Here women enjoyed equal rights like that of
men in the early Vedic age, but their status gradually Bachao, Beti Padhao); PCPNDT Act, POCSO
Act, Integrated Child Development Scheme, PM Matratva
degraded during the later Vedic age. Since then, women
gradually lost all their rights and became a second-grade Vandana Yojana to name a few.
human being. Moreover, religious scriptures like Unfortunately, still after 75 years of independence,
Manusmriti and other literature contributed significantly women face discrimination in every sphere of life be it

Essays OF THE MONTH
social, economic or political. Still, women are considered rights on the reproductive decision as well as the right of
as one who only have the responsibility of household integrity of body.
chores, giving birth to new lives, nurturing children and
A woman should be given all possible opportunities so
following the instruction given by the male members of
that she could also contribute to the economic growth
society. Still, women face crimes, be it like domestic
of the nation. As quoted by Gandhiji: - "Woman is a
violence, rapes, sexual harassment at workplace, acid
companion of man, gifted with similar mental capacity".
attacks and many more. The literacy level among
women in India is still low as compared to men. Girls are If women are given access to resources and
dropped out from school and forced to marry. Child opportunities to explore their capabilities but having no
marriages are still prevalent in society and according to access to the agency to apply their capability, they are
NFHS-5, it is 23% in 2019-21. not truly empowered. They should have representation
in political structures of the society to participate in the
A woman should be educated and have choices to what
decision making and policy making processes. As
she wants to pursue in education and career. It is rightly
women have different interest as compared to men,
said that "teaching a woman leads to generation
they will have different priorities, and this will lead to
educated". Educating women not only develops herself
better governance and implementation system.
but also her entire family. Also, there is an established
positive correlation between educating women and In India, reservation of 33% seats should be given to
decline in fertility rate of society which in turn leads to women in Parliament so that women related issues can
controlling expanding population. be tabled effectively in policy making process. Political
rights are key to ensure effective realisation of other
Like literacy, health is also a crucial factor which enables
socio-economic rights. Also in infrastructural projects,
a person to develop oneself. Women in India as well as
women participation is essential as it is seen that in
in many parts of world are suffering from malnutrition
formulating water related projects and in sanitation, the
and anaemic conditions. These conditions are not
participation of local women lead to sustainable and
conducive for a woman to explore herself and this
efficient projects.
condition leads women to be dominated by males in
terms of fulfilling their basic needs, security, etc. Also, if Therefore, empowerment and progress of women ends
a malnourished mother gives birth to a baby, he/she will up in development and prosperity of nation, they should
not only be physically weak but with a compromised have equal rights, equal chances and opportunities to
learning capability. This in turn adversely affects the show who they are? And what they can do?
overall human resources of a society. Unfortunately, this is not clearly visible in Indian society.
According to Global Gender Gap index published by
If we see on the perspective of economic development
World Economic Forum, India has slipped to 140th rank
of women in India; the female labour participation is
out of 156 countries, which depicts a very gloomy
continuously declining. There can be many factors
picture in terms of gender parity even after so many
behind trend like equal-wages, unsecure and unsafe
efforts done by government. This clearly shows that
workplace, no maternity leaves, lack of infrastructure
there is something which is lagging in implementation of
like toilets etc. in informal sectors, whereas in private
various efforts.
sectors, males are preferred over females due to diverse
types of acts in favour of females like maternity leaves Therefore, the need of the hour is not to bring a new bill,
act, etc. There is also a concept of 'feminization of but a political will, and administrative skill and unitedly
poverty' and 'feminization of agriculture' which is related to go for the kill against various social evils, so that we
to the migration of males outside the villages in search can achieve a healthy, happy and prosperous society.
of new job opportunities. This creates burden on left
over females in the rural areas to manage overall
household jobs as well as to work on fields. Females
who depend on their husbands economically lose their

Essays OF THE MONTH
Digital Education: The Future of Learning

#Education
SUBMITTED BY: MUSKAN ARYA
Disclaimer: The viewpoints in the topic are sustainable development goals. This can also help us
strictly personal of the writer above. The fulfil the dream of Right to Education (Article 2A) of the
role of Rau’s IAS Study Circle is to present nation. In earlier times, education was considered as a
the write-up in its original form, hence the privilege of few, especially in India. Only brahmins and
study circle neither endorses nor rejects any viewpoint in kshatriyas were allowed to get access. This manifested in
the submission. The purpose is only to showcase the serious social inequalities which we experience even
manner of writing. today. With digital learning even the most vulnerable
Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to use section, Schedule Castes, Scheduled Tribes, girls
his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints. especially from economically weak background,
transgenders, elderly, migrant worker children, children
Paragi, school topper in class XII was upset about her
in urban slums and rural areas can get an opportunity to
chance to study abroad due to pandemic induced
learn. This will not only improve their chances of social
lockdown and restrictions. But she not only applied but
mobility and better job prospects but will also make India
successfully pursued her higher education in a
more literate.
prestigious college due to online education. Sanjay, who
studied only till class 10 due to poor economic condition The NCRB data over the years has highlighted the issue
of his family now completed his graduation through of increased student suicides in India. The reasons are
distance learning. Similarly, hundreds of tribal students varied: from parents pressurising their wards, lack of
from a sleepy Hamlet in Odisha passed class XII board self-paced learning, low scores, lack of securing
examination with flying colours, all thanks to NGO aided admission in good college etc. Digital education with the
digital classes. Digital Education has truly been the supplement of artificial intelligence can help the students
future of learning by combining the best of both worlds: in self-paced learning. Quality assignments and
knowledge and technology. continuous comprehensive tests can be conducted to
make students aware about where they stand. Further,
Digital education implies the delivery of education
these applications provide an idea about areas of
through Internet and digital aided systems. The courses
strength and improvement which can be utilised by a
can be pursued in live online manner and even provide
student to prepare smartly. Further, students can be
the flexibility of recorded lectures for self-paced learning.
provided enrichment of the explanation through use of
This revolutionary turn in the field of learning offers
immersive technologies. Videos of the method of
varied advantages overcoming the human potential of
working aided by sound improve cognitive ability of the
reaching at a particular place. It not only offers students
child to retain better.
to build their careers but also aid the professionals with
mid-term training, workshops and help them fulfil their Digital education also provides an opportunity for
dream of adding additional qualification. meaningful collaboration with schools and institutions:
regionally, nationally, and internationally. We all are
Internet has revolutionized the way we shop, buy, sell,
aware of the scarcity of well qualified teachers at all the
entertain ourselves and interact with fellow beings. This
levels of education system. Digitally connecting the
one click away technology now aids the potential of
classrooms will help the knowledge and method of the
making education more accessible. Digital education can
well qualified teacher reach hundreds of students.
truly be seen as a way of making education more
Further, prominent technology, medical and
inclusive and thereby supplementing the fulfilment of

Essays OF THE MONTH
management institutes can reach out to students who hospitality, etc. as these require hands-on learning and
cannot economically afford to stay on campus or pay practice. The outcome of learning can also be questioned
fees. as being separated by a screen makes students often
disinterested and open opportunities to duplicate/cheat
Government's vision of improving the quality rankings of
in examination.
Indian universities so that they find the place in top 50
and 100 institutions of the world can be fulfilled by Digital education not only impacts the students but also
learning best practices from their institutions (top 100 the educators/teachers in several ways. Firstly, the
global universities). teachers had to themselves learn about using online
learning and lecture application. Some of them were
India can surely take a step forward and invite students
literally pushed into the framework and given no prior
from neighbouring countries, poor countries from Africa
training. This not only impacts the teaching but also
and Latin America to get education digitally from
reduces the confidence of the faculty. Further, many
renowned Indian institutions. This will surely make a
teachers are at the receiving end from the parents of
huge impact and reassert India's soft power influence.
children who attend classes with them and interrupt in
Furthermore, India can strengthen its image globally and
the pedagogy in several ways. Teachers are stopped
shape its idea of knowledge economy.
from delivering lectures due to parental influence where
However, looking at the other side, the concept of digital they correct them even for slightest of error. Further,
education is a tightrope to walk on. The idea though managing home with school has been a daunting task for
promising and revolutionary is marred with challenges many. Our teachers mostly females have been doubly
the most basic one being providing infrastructure. Digital burdened by household duties along with online
education can only be effective if- electricity, internet and lectures. Students often play pranks, disrupting the
gadgets are present. The NFHS 2014- 15 the survey has classes instead of helping the teachers with technology.
highlighted the dismal picture where less than 20% of
Even though, digital education poses several challenges,
rural households own a device specially computer
but they can be effectively tackled through societal and
compared to 75%+ proportion of households in urban
political will. Government needs to increase its
areas. ASER 2020 reports highlight that only 33% of
expenditure on education to 6% from current 4% and
students in India could have access to digital learning;
provide the required infrastructure and training to the
11% off which only could attend live classes. Rural
stakeholders. Further, CSR funding can be utilised to
electrification is still a dream, forget about a stable
provide required devices to students along with internet
internet connection. Further, we have only seen gender
connection. Bharatnet project needs to be completed on
inequality angle thereby male own smartphones in a
war footing so that villages are covered effectively.
greater proportion as compared to females. Also, a
Further, economically well-endowed educational
family having a single phone- then the male child is given
institutions should voluntarily come forward to
preference.
collaborate with other less well-endowed schools and
Another grave concern which doctors and child colleges. This will help us to curb the problem in areas
psychologist have highlighted is the issue of addiction. where schools have to shut due to faculty availability.
Students must spend hours before a gadget exposing
Furthermore, as Einstein emphasized that education
them to radiation, stress on eyes and almost negligible
should teach children about how to think rather than
physical activity. Being given the screens have become a
what to think, should be adopted. Education has the
new normal and nowadays youngsters refuse to just take
power to change the world and therefore the curriculum
efforts. This causes mental stress and chances of
and execution should be well planned. A hybrid form of
increase in obesity among students. Digital learning is
learning can be adopted as the rich and lifelong lessons
also limited in its application, there is still no method as
in a classroom cannot be negated. Social interactions
to how students would learn practical subjects like
teach students a teamwork, tolerance, ability to disagree
chemistry, fashion technology, beauty and wellness,
but be respectful, embracing the diversity, gender

Essays OF THE MONTH
sensitivity and parity. Social interaction opens our mind for differentiator. A more inclusive and educated society
and are stress busters in many ways. Further, the bond would help us fulfil our social and economic justice aims
between the teacher and disciple gets strengthened in as enshrined in the Preamble. Educated population is a
classroom setting. As Aristotle said, education of mind key human resource which can be effectively used for
without education of heart is no education at all. Atmanirbhar Bharat and in becoming a true democracy.
Digital education though disruptive offers numerous

opportunities. It depends on a nation to make it a leveller
"IS INDIA'S DESTINY CASTE IN STONE?"

#SOCIAL ISSUES
SUBMITTED BY: NIHAR RAJVANSHI
Disclaimer: The viewpoints in the topic are these forces us to questions, "Is India's destiny Caste in
strictly personal of the writer above. The stone?"
role of Rau’s IAS Study Circle is to present
Origins of Caste System
the write-up in its original form, hence the
study circle neither endorses nor rejects any viewpoint in The ancient Indian society, from the times of the Indus
the submission. The purpose is only to showcase the valley civilization to the Rig Vedic Aryans was a large
manner of writing. extent, egalitarian. Over time, with greater intermingling
Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of the reader to use of the native people with the foreigners, there came to
his/her intellect to check the veracity of viewpoints. be identified a distinction based on the complexion of
the groups. The Aryans, coming in from Central Asia
It was a rainy night in a distant village in U.P. While the
were fairer, and the natives of India, darker in skin tones.
villagers were rejoicing the first spell of rains of the
The term ' varna’ arose, meaning colour of the skin. As
season, merrily singing their folk songs, a tragedy was
the natives were darker in complexion, they were
unfolding at a distance. In a moving bus, three Dalit girls
referred as Shyam Varna meaning dark in colour.
from a village were being brutally raped by their upper
caste employers. When the bus stopped, one of the girls With furthering of religious knowledge by the groups
managed a miraculous escape, the other two were who deemed themselves as superior, the Purusha sukta
mercilessly hung from a tree, left to die a painful death. came into being, which for the first time delineated the
four castes emerging from different body parts of the
This tragic incident is based on true events, on which the
creator. The distinction was made according to the
movie ‘Article 15’ is based. In the words of perpetrators
occupation the groups were engaged in, but this was to
of this inhumane act, this treatment was meted out to
become a rigid division, perpetuating through
the girls, to remind the Dalits of 'their position' in the
centuries. The most disadvantaged however, were the
society. The 'fault' of the girls here had been, that they
groups who were so lowly that they could not even
demanded a wage hike of three rupees.
feature in this fourfold classification. They were the
It is most unfortunate that such a reality exists even after 'avana' (without caste), also refer to the untouchables.
almost 75 years of our independence. Our founding
fathers had given to us one of the world's finest Propagation of Caste System
Constitution, with so much promise, hoping that we Through hegemony of the dominant castes, by exercising
would create an egalitarian society. Yet incidents like their control over education, both religious as well as

Essays OF THE MONTH
secular, the vicious cycle of subjugation of the lower education, despite this the fact that caste boundaries
castes has continued for hundreds of years. continue to exist is truly noteworthy.
By deeming this social division as the ordain of God, the The cleavage is visible in incidents where children from
lower castes were made to believe that it is their duty to the upper caste refuse to eat meals cooked (under mid-
undergo the exploitation - that it was the result of their day meal scheme) by a dalit cook, as seen frequently
previous birth. Such was the indoctrination, that they did across States. Further, though primary education has
not see their circumstances as exploitation, it was only seen great equality across various castes, higher
destiny for them. education is still dominated by the upper castes (over
60%).
Further, by restricting secular education, the upper
castes withheld a spirit of enquiry from the lower On the level of economy, though it is seen that the
castes. By having no exposure to new knowledge, nor formal sector is open to all without caste restrictions, the
being skilled in other areas, they remained restricted to lower caste groups are seen to dominant in unskilled
the inhumane works, often unfit for human dignity such workforce of the informal sector. Due to historic lack of
as manual scavenging. Thus, the distinction between opportunities, the lower caste workers still form most of
purity and pollution propagated over centuries, almost the sweepers and manual scavengers.
as if caste was cast in stone.
Rapid urbanization has led to greater anonymity, where
Change begins caste differences have seemingly lost relevance. The
urban workforce works together in offices, travels
During the freedom movement, with the simultaneous
together in metro trains and buses, and live together in
speed of modem values, there arose our cultural
apartments. Yet, there are hidden fault lines, with caste-
consciousness about the historic wrong being meted out
based segregation in terms of distinct table in the
to a large section of society. The French Revolution
cafeterias, and ghettoization of living spaces.
strengthened the values of Liberty, Equality and
Fraternity, which found meaning in the hearts of Indians Though there has been seen a growing acceptance of
as well. inter caste marriages. Search ties are rising across
Indian cities, with some state governments ever
With initiatives of Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule in
promoting them with financial incentives (example
the west, and Periyar in the south, there finally emerged
Jharkhand). Yet, the paradox is visible in matrimony
a rise of the lower castes. Dr. BR Ambedkar took the
websites segregating matches through caste even today,
movement to greater heights, with his quest for
and occasional instances of honour killings in the rural
annihilation of caste. Enshrining the ideal for an equal
hinterland reflects that how caste continues to be
and just society in the Constitution, he gave the road
relevant.
map for a truly egalitarian society.
Our founding fathers had conceptualised affirmative
The dichotomy today
action in terms of caste-based reservation, to give the
Today, the Indian society is in still in a state of flux. While historically disadvantaged communities a chance to gain
on one hand, our laws promote equality of all, and there upward social mobility by reservation in educational
is influence of liberal values from the west, at the same institutions and government employment. It was
time there exists a traditional Indian society, with its envisaged that with these policies that the gap between
orthodox belief systems. This manifests itself in two the forward and backward groups would be quickly
versions of India coexisting. bridged, leading to a fair and just society. Yet, through
th the decades, the temporary system of reservation has
The 86 Constitutional Amendment act promised free
become permanent, having been politicised. Instead of
and compulsory education to all children in India. The
leading to a caste free society, the present system
fundamental right to education has consequently led to a
furthers caste identity, with many groups claiming
high gross enrolment of children (over 95%) in primary

Essays OF THE MONTH
backwardness to be able to derive reservation benefits Appropriate changes in the legislations to ensure
(e.g.: Jats in Haryana and Patidar protests in Gujarat). equitable access to reservation benefits, as well as fixing
certainty of punishment under the Scheduled Caste and
The road ahead
Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) act must be
The cracks in the caste system are clearly visible ensured.
today. Are deep rooted system, an intrinsic part of our
The dream of an Indian society unshackled by the ills of
society for hundreds of years has been challenged, and
caste system is surely not distant. This will ensure that on
in a matter of decades, tangible changes are evident.
the next rainy night, all villagers, despite and beyond
What we require is greater state support to ensure caste differences sing and dance together, welcoming
robust social infrastructure, promising good quality the first spell of rains. By upholding our constitutional
education and health care across to all at the ideals, under article 15 and all others as well, we would
grassroots. Through initiatives like skill India, there must bring forth a just and humane society, fulfilling the vision
be greater employment creation, to realise the dignity of of our founding fathers.
human labour.

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CONTENTS

Part One RUPEE: WORST PERFORMING CURRENCY IN ASIA

WORLD INEQUALITY REPORT GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM

49 Geography, Environment, Biodiversity &

#Bilateral 56 RISING MAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT

NAGA ISSUE #Wildlife 79

#Security 57 INDIAN DESERT CAT

ARMED FORCES SPECIAL POWERS ACT – AFSPA #Wildlife 80

#Security 59 PHYSELLA ACUTA

ASSAM RIFLES - DUAL CONTROL STRUCTURE #Wildlife 81

#Security 61 KYHYTYSUKA SACHICARUM

PRACTICE QUESTIONS 62 # Wildlife 81

‘SAVE CHAMUNDI HILL’ CAMPAIGN

STATE HEALTH INDEX

SEMICONDUCTORS AND DISPLAY MANUFACTURING PAIKA REBELLION

INDIA A TECH-LEADER JNANPITH AWARD

AUTOMATIC FACIAL RECOGNITION SYSTEM PRACTICE QUESTIONS 107

NEUTRINOS DETECTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT LARGE

#Defence #Technology 97 #Ethics #Integrity #Aptitude 110

ARMS RACE FOR HYPERSONIC WEAPONS CASE STUDIES for Practice

#Physics 98 MAINS GS PAPER IV 112

KODAVALI BUDDHIST SITE

STRATEGIES 6. Streamline Infrastructure:

FOCUS | JANUARY 2022 | RAU’S IAS 2

FOCUS | JANUARY 2022 | RAU’S IAS 3

INCOME SUPPORT: WAY which is a component of PM-AASHA scheme. On the other

FORWARD FOR Deficiency payment mechanism has number of inherent

#Agriculture In this regard, we will focus on the following on the following

FOCUS | JANUARY 2022 | RAU’S IAS 4

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF PM-AASHA stockist scheme (PPPS) ropes Procurement by Private

marginal farmers. Lastly, the deficiency Payment OF MSP?

FOCUS | JANUARY 2022 | RAU’S IAS 5

of low registration of farmers, delays in transfer of ABOUT MILLETS/NUTRI-CEREALS

• Reduction in Cholesterol, Sugar

MILLET REVOLUTION - • FAO has recognised importance of Millets for

PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES Climate Resilience

• Abiotic (drought, temperature and salinity) and Biotic

• Integral part of Conservation agriculture

Sustainable Production system

FOCUS | JANUARY 2022 | RAU’S IAS 6

TRENDS IN PRODUCTION OF MILLETS IN INDIA

FOCUS | JANUARY 2022 | RAU’S IAS 7

ZERO BUDGET NATURAL

CHANGER FOR DOUBLING BASIC PREMISE AND PILLARS OF ZNBF

Organic Farming Natural Farming

Against use of Chemical

FOCUS | JANUARY 2022 | RAU’S IAS 8

No usage of External Organic manure.

Less efforts as there is no ploughing, tilling,

Against Vermicompost as it encourages the

Expensive due to requirement of bulk

FOCUS | JANUARY 2022 | RAU’S IAS 9

Criteria Scheduled Banks Non-Scheduled Banks

Listed under RBI

Requirement of CRR Yes. Must Compulsorily maintain

Requirement of SLR Yes. Yes.

Examples • Commercial Banks

Differentiated Banks in India

Criteria Payment Banks Small Finance Banks