THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. THE RUSSIAN INVASION ON UKRAINE

THE CONTEXT: The Russian President approves ‘special military operation’ as Russia launches an invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea. Also, the Russian actions have been widely condemned and raise several questions concerning violation of international law.

THE EXPLANATION:

Russia launched a full-scale invasion on Ukraine. Missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders into the eastern Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, and landing by sea at the cities of Odesa and Mariupol in the south.

Russian troops attacked Ukraine from Belarus as well as Russia with Belarusian support, and an attack was also being launched from annexed Crimea, Ukraine’s border.

How is Russia violating the UN Charter?

The principle of non-intervention is enshrined in article 2(4) of the UN Charter. It requires states to refrain from using force or threat of using force against territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The Russian attack on Ukraine is violative of this principle, and amounts to aggression under international law. Russia’s desire to keep Ukraine out of NATO is a prime reason for its use of force against Ukraine.

• Russia has claimed it is acting in self-defence as Ukraine could acquire nuclear weapons with the help of its western allies. However, the International Court of Justice in the Legality of Threat of Nuclear Weapons case held that mere possession of nuclear weapons does not constitute a threat. Further, mere membership in a defence alliance like NATO can also not be considered a threat of aggression.
• The UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974) defines aggression as the use of armed force by a state against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of another state. Additionally, allowing one’s territory to be used by another state for aggression against a third state, also qualifies as an act of aggression.
• Accordingly, Belarus can also be held responsible for aggression as it has allowed its territory to be used by Russia for attacking Ukraine. Aggression is also considered an international crime under customary international law and the Rome statute establishing the International Criminal Court.

Russia’s and the West’s interests in Ukraine:

• Ukraine and Russia share hundreds of years of cultural, linguistic and familial links. As part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was the second-most powerful Soviet republic after Russia, and was crucial strategically, economically and culturally. Ever since Ukraine split from the Soviet Union, both Russia and the West have vied for greater influence in the country in order to keep the balance of power in the region in their favour.
• For the United States and the European Union, Ukraine is a crucial buffer between Russia and the West. As tensions with Russia rise, the US and the EU are increasingly determined to keep Ukraine away from Russian control.
• Efforts to induct Ukraine into NATO have been ongoing for many years and seems to have picked up pace recently. Russia has declared such a move a “red line”, with Moscow worried about the consequences of the US-led military alliances expanding right up to its doorstep.

What about the principle of self-defence?

In face of the use of force by Russia, Ukraine has the right to self-defence under international law. The UN Charter under article 51 authorisesa state to resort to individual or collective self-defence, until the Security Council take steps to ensure international peace and security. In this case, it seems implausible for the UNSC to arrive at a decision as Russia is a permanent member and has veto power. However, Ukraine has a right under international law to request assistance from other states in form of military assistance, supply of weapons etc.

On the other hand, Russia has also claimed that it is acting in self-defence. This claim is questionable, as there has been no use of force, or such threats against Russia by Ukraine. It has been claimed by Russia that Ukraine may acquire nuclear weapons with the help of western allies. However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Legality of Threat of Nuclear Weapons case held that mere possession of nuclear weapons does not necessarily constitute a threat.

Thus, even if Ukraine has, or were to acquire nuclear weapons in the future, it does not become a ground for invoking self-defence by Russia. Further, mere membership in a defence alliance such as NATO cannot necessarily be considered as a threat of aggression against Russia. Thus, here too Russia cannot invoke self-defence.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. PLEA AGAINST KERALA IN ENDOSULFAN CASE

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court issued notice on a petition seeking contempt action against Kerala for not disbursing ₹5 lakh each as compensation to the victims of endosulfan pesticide exposure.

THE EXPLANATION:

The bench stated that the State had not acted despite orders from the apex court in January 2017 and July 2019. The counsel for the petitioner said the State had taken “no steps for compliance”.

In January 2019, Kerala government had claimed that it had earmarked over ₹180 crore for payment of compensation to victims, some of whom were terminally-ill from the effects of the pesticide which was being aerially sprayed on cashew plantations adjoining habitats where the victims lived.

BACKGROUND:THE ENDOSULFAN TRAGEDY IN KERALA

What is Endosulfan?

• It is an organochlorine insecticide- a Persistent Organic Pollutant.
• It is used in Cashewnut, Coconut, Rubber Plantation (Bioaccumulant).

Endosulfan is a pesticide developed in 1954. People extensively used it in farming with high consumption in the 1980s and 1990s. Later, it was highly toxic to human health and the environment. It poisoned entire populations of useful and necessary insects. The Endosulfan tragedy also caused many ailments. These ailments included skin irritations, destruction of nerve tissues and reproductive and developmental damage in human beings and animals.

For over 20 years, cashew plantations in Kasargod district in Kerala used Endosulfan as a pesticide. Tea plantations, paddy and fruit orchards in other areas of Kerala also used this pesticide administered via aerial spraying or manual pumps. Prone to long-range atmospheric transport, Endosulfan linked to serious health disorders in the citizens residing in these areas.

The Ban of Endosulfan

The Kerala Government banned the use of Endosulfan in 2005. However, neighboring States still used them. In 2011, the seventh meeting of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP’s) placed a global ban on the manufacture and use of Endosulfan. In the same year, the Supreme Court of India banned the use, manufacture and distribution of the pesticide. A Supreme Court-appointed panel recommended phasing out the use of Endosulfan across a period of two years to avoid the high cost of incinerating.

Relief and Remediation Program

Furthermore, in 2017, the Supreme Court of India directed the Kerala Government to pay Rupees 500 Crores to over 5,000 victims of the Endosulfan tragedy. It also directed it to set up a medical facility to treat ailments resulting from exposure to Endosulfan. Relief and remediation plans focus on health, socio-economic welfare, rehabilitation and empowerment as well as a periodic assessment of environmental effects.

3. CLIMATE CHANGE FAVOUR SOIL-BORNE PLANT PATHOGENS

THE CONTEXT: Indian Scientists have identified that high-temperature drought conditions and low soil moisture content are favourable conditions for dry root rot (DRR), a disease that damages the roots or girdles the trunk in chickpea. This work will be useful for the development of resistant lines and better management strategies.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The team which closely monitored the disease identified that high temperatures ranging between 30 to 35 degrees, drought conditions, and less than 60% soil moisture content are favorable conditions for dry root rot (DRR).
• The scientists explained that Macrophomina (soil-borne fungus) survives in a wide range of environmental conditions, even at extremes of temperature, soil pH, and moistures. In chickpea, DRR is highly prevalent during the flowering and podding stages coinciding with high temperature and drought conditions. They scientists are exploring ways to use the study for development of resistant lines and better management strategies.
• The team is also trying to address the disease favourable conditions identified from a molecular perspective. In a recent breakthrough in gene expression studies, scientists have identified a few promising chickpea genes encoding for enzymes like chitinase and endochitinase, which can provide some degree of defense against DRR infection.
• The team at ICRISAT, in collaboration with ICAR research institutes, has also adopted several multi-pronged approaches, including continuous surveillance, better detection techniques, development of forecast models, screening assays, etc., to fight against such deadly plant diseases.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/INITIATIVES IN NEWS

4. PM KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI YOJANA: CELEBRATION OF 3^RD ANNIVERSARY

THE CONTEXT: PM-KISAN is a central sector scheme launched on 24^thFebruary, 2019 to supplement financial needs of land holding farmers. Financial benefit of Rs 6000/- per year in three equal installments, every four month is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

THE EXPLANATION:

The scheme was initially meant for small and marginal farmers (SMFs) having landholding upto 2 hectares but scope of the scheme was extended to cover all landholding farmers.

As of now, the benefits under PM Kisan scheme have been provided to about 11.78 Crore farmers and funds amounting to Rs1.82 lakh crore in various instalments have been released to the eligible beneficiaries of this scheme across India. Out of which Rs. 1.29 lakh crore has been released during the current Covid 19 pandemic period.

VALUE ADDITION:

ABOUT PM-KISAN SCHEME

• PM Kisan is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India.
• Under the scheme an income support of 6,000/- per year in three equal installments will be provided to all land holding farmer families.
• State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines.
• The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
• There are various Exclusion Categories for the scheme.

Scheme Exclusion

The following categories of beneificiaries of higher economic status shall not be ligible for benefit under the scheme.

1. All Institutional Land holders.
2. Farmer families which belong to one or more of the following categories:

• Former and present holders of constitutional posts.
• Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers and former/present Members of LokSabha/ RajyaSabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councils,former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
• All serving or retired officers and employees of Central/ State Government Ministries /Offices/Departments and its field units Central or State PSEs and Attached offices /Autonomous Institutions under Government as well as regular employees of the Local Bodies (Excluding Multi Tasking Staff /Class IV/Group D employees).
• All superannuated/retired pensioners whose monthly pension is Rs.10,000/-or more (Excluding Multi Tasking Staff / Class IV/Group D employees) of above category.
• All Persons who paid Income Tax in last assessment year.
• Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practices.

5. ASI’S UNDERWATER EXPLORATIONS IN FOUR STATES

THE CONTEXT: According to the Ministry of Culture,the underwater wing of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is being revived for explorations in four states with a significant coastline.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the officials, Over the next few months, several projects will be readied for excavations in0020Dwarka (Gujarat), several mythological sites in the Cauvery delta (Tamil Nadu), and sites along the coast in Maharashtra and Odisha.

Even as the ASI had established its underwater wing in 2001, it has remained defunct for more than a decade, mostly owing to lack of experts at the helm. In fact, several underwater excavations had to be abandoned in the past, including an offshore exploration in Tamil Nadu’s Poompuhar between 1981 and early 2000s to unravel the 2000-year-old port of Kaveripattinam. According to officials further surveys could reveal more facts about the ancient port city, which reportedly had trade links with the Roman empire and China.

Value Addition:

About Archaeological Survey of India

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an attached office in the Ministry of Culture. It was set up in 1861 with the primary object of surveying antiquarian remains in this country and their study. ASI’s function is to “explore, excavate, conserve, preserve and protect the monuments and sites of National & International Importance.”

Its main functions are:

• preservation, conservation and environmental development of centrally protected monuments and sites, including World Heritage Monuments and antiquities
• maintenance of gardens & development of new gardens surrounding centrally protected monuments and sites
• exploration and excavation of ancient sites
• specialized study of inscription and various phases of Indian architecture
• maintenance of Archaeological site Museums
• Operation of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act
• Research and Training in different areas of Archaeology

THE PT PERSPECTIVE

6.“EXERCISE MILAN 2022”

THE CONTEXT: The Navy’s Milan 2022 will begin in Vishakhapatnam, the largest-ever edition of the exercise that will see the participation of 40 countries, including all major navies of the world.

THE EXPLANATION:

• This year theme is ‘Camaraderie – Cohesion – Collaboration’ which “aims to project India as a responsible maritime power to the world at large”.
• The aim of the exercise is to hone operational skills, imbibe best practices and procedures, and enable doctrinal learning in the maritime domain, through professional interaction between friendly navies. The exercise would be larger in “scope and complexity” with a focus on “exercises at sea including exercises in surface, sub-surface and air domains and weapon firing.
• The biennial exercise, being conducted after four years, will last nine days with the harbour phase starting and the sea phase on March 1, 2022.The 2020 edition of the exercise had been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background:

A multilateral exercise, Milan began in 1995 with the participation of only four countries – Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Until now, it was held at the Andaman and Nicobar Command, but given the large number of participants this time, it was shifted to the Eastern Naval Command, which offers larger sea room.

7. MAYURBHANJ CHHAU DANCE: ODISHA

• There are three recognized styles of Chhau: Seraikella from the state of Jharkhand, Purulia from West Bengal, and Mayurbhanj from Odisha. It is a semi-classical Indian dance with martial, tribal, and folk traditions, with origins in one belt of eastern India.
• The one stark difference being that Mayurbhanj does not use the elaborate masks adorned by dances from Seraikella and Purulia. The dance ranges from celebrating martial arts, acrobatics, and athletics performed in festive themes of folk dance, to a structured dance with religious themes found in Shaivism, Shaktism, and Vaishnavism such as the characters portrayed in the dance are of Gods and Goddesses and sometimes animals.
• The dance technique is based on chaalis and topkas—stylised walks choreographed after a keen observation of nature, e.g.baaghchaali (tiger walk), mayoorchaali (peacock walk), khel—variations of swordplay, and ufli—thirty-six movements describing everyday activities.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 25^th FEBRUARY 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about Chhau dance form:

1. It is popular in Chota Nagpur Plateau region.
2. Mask is defining feature of Chhau dance.
3. Only male members participate in Chhau dance.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2

c) 2 and 3

d) All of them

 ANSWER FOR 24^th FEBRUARY 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

Please refer to the given map-

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. SC issues notice on plea against Kerala in endosulfan case READ MORE
2. Mayurbhanj Chhau’s fight to stay alive READ MORE
3. Explained: What are MSPs, and how are they decided? READ MORE
4. Oil at $100 threatens world economy inflation shock, Ukraine crisis may fuel inflation READ MORE
5. RBI amends payments systems rules READ MORE
6. Two New Prehistoric Bird Species Identified in China READ MORE
7. New Species of Large-Sized Pterosaur Unearthed in Scotland READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. India’s married women are still far from bodily agency READ MORE
2. Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill: A positive move READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Why forced recusals of judges harm the independence of the judiciary READ MORE
2. Humane law: A Delhi district judge has shown sensitivity that needs to be emulated while handling rape cases READ MORE
3. The real cost of data: India needs a privacy law before data use policy READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUE

1. Hungry Indian READ MORE
2. Hunger Watch Survey: With Income Loss and Food Insecurity, India’s Poor Struggle to Cope READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Russia’s NATO problem: Putin seems unwilling to engage to address Russian security concerns READ MORE
2. Understanding the Indus Waters Treaty READ MORE
3. Need to Connect with neighbours READ MORE
4. 50 yrs ago Nixon’s visit to China changed geopolitics. Now Russia is in the building READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Ploughing a new channel for India’s food systems: The siloed approach of ‘agriculture’ serving ‘food security’ needs to give way to a science-society-policy interface READ MORE
2. Explained: Economy in time of war READ MORE
3. Education must match needs of the economy READ MORE
4. Does the move to tax virtual digital assets signal the advent of cryptocurrency regulation in India? READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Ganga erosion READ MORE
2. Rethinking the wildlife protection strategy READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. India’s Investments in Early Warning Systems Have Unintended Benefits for Women READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Speak lovingly, think lovingly, act lovingly READ MORE
2. Rebalancing ecology, economics & ethics READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘It is imperative that to achieve sustainable development, the broken harmony between economy, ecology and ethics be restored’. Comment.
2. The absence of regulations for virtual digital assets has hampered the growth of the sector and India needs to regulate them. Analyse the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• It is better to deserve honours and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.
• The siloed approach of ‘agriculture’ serving ‘food security’ needs to give way to a science-society-policy interface.
• An agro-climatic approach to agricultural development is important for sustainability and better nutrition.
• Strengthening and shortening food supply chains, reinforcing regional food systems, food processing, agricultural resilience and sustainability in a climate-changing world will require prioritising research and investments along these lines.
• There is a massive rise in allocation for infrastructure projects, with huge environmental implications, and little set aside for sustainable development.
• Our new policy is expected to reduce costs and aid exports but further measures could put us on an accelerated path to success.
• If judges step aside on apprehensions of a possible backlash on account of their verdicts, it may start a disturbing trend of forced and unconscionable recusals, which is detrimental to a democracy.
• The aim for India is to truly start engaging with its neighborhood to reinstate its position as a close trustworthy partner as opposed to dominance by stealth and compromising schemes such as the loans for building critical infrastructure coming from China.
• The five pillars of advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, building connections with the region and beyond, driving regional prosperity, enhancing the security shield in and for the region and building a regional resilience to threats are all achievable.
• We need policy instruments and intervention strategies for behavioural change such as educational programmes and incentives for conservation.
• It is imperative that to achieve sustainable development, the broken harmony between economy, ecology and ethics be restored.
• Due to the unplanned growth of higher education, there is a shortage of qualified people in the frontier areas of knowledge and technology.

50-WORD TALK

• Europeans complaining that New Delhi hasn’t condemned Russia over Ukraine forget their countries didn’t line up against China after Galwan, nor backed India on Kashmir. Long coddled by American security guarantees, Europe’s entitled nations — bar France — contribute little to global order. Europe needs to learn to fight its own battles.
• The principle President Vladimir Putin asserts in Ukraine is this: Great Powers are entitled to subservience from weaker ones, and to use force at will. It’s an idea China has eagerly embraced. In its own interest, India ought stop equivocating, and support the global effort to punish Russia’s military aggression.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the main point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. Speak lovingly, think lovingly, act lovingly READ MORE
2. Rebalancing ecology, economics & ethics READ MORE

1. Ganga erosion READ MORE
2. Rethinking the wildlife protection strategy READ MORE

1. India’s married women are still far from bodily agency READ MORE
2. Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill: A positive move READ MORE
3. Hungry Indian READ MORE
4. Hunger Watch Survey: With Income Loss and Food Insecurity, India’s Poor Struggle to Cope READ MORE

1. Why forced recusals of judges harm the independence of the judiciary READ MORE
2. Humane law: A Delhi district judge has shown sensitivity that needs to be emulated while handling rape cases READ MORE
3. The real cost of data: India needs a privacy law before data use policy READ MORE

[WpProQuiz 167]

THE CONTEXT: The new currency driving governance today is data. Whether it is the debate on the hunger index or the arguments regarding the caste census, data is at the centre of these controversies: how it is coll­ected, interpreted, and constructed into an index is being vociferously debated by everyone, including those who have only a rudimentary understanding of data. The pandemic management that relies heavily on numbers in terms of testing, vaccinating or tracking recoveries and deaths has only heightened this fascination with data.

EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY

• The reason for this obsession with data is because evidence-based policy (EBP) making or data-based governance has been touted as a rational form of governance that bases its decisions not on populist pressures but on objective data.
• This requires evidence-based data at all stages of policymaking. EBP is viewed as especially important for deve­loping countries where public resources are often scarce or limited. It requires both data and the process of data collection to be scientific, rigorous and validated both in the process of the collection as well as analysis. However, the entire process of data collection and its interpretation often tends to be imbued with political economy issues in deve­loping countries.

DATA TO DATA POLITICS

• Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have had a defining impact on how data is currently viewed as “it rec­onfigures relationships between states, subjects, and citizens”.
• Today, big data, machine learning and algorithms are the frameworks within which citizens operate—oblivious to the manner in which this digital interface is converting them into data to be used by unknown entities.
• In this age of data politics, new players like transnational corporations that control ICTs and social media domains are becoming more important forces than the state.
• This is alarming as, unlike the checks and bala­nces that limit the state’s influence, these large, transnational corporations are not constrained or held accountable by any such mechanisms. This merits a deeper inquiry.

DATA-BASED GOVERNANCE

• Amassing large, granular data about the citizens by the state through census, periodic surveys, etc. Now through digital convergence has continued unabated and gained further traction in the context of EBP.
• Data-based governance aims to facilitate the use of research and evidence to inform programmatic funding decisions.
• The goal is to further ­invest in what works to improve outcomes for citizens based on prior evidence. In general, data-based governance assumes the existence of a system of reliable, rigorous and validated data with associated infrastructure.
• However, in reality, the governance process is often messy and riddled with political compulsions as governance involves both formal and informal dom­ains, rules and actors.
• This makes governance outcomes even more challenging to measure.
• This is especially because governance outcomes combine tangible outputs and intangible processes.
• Measuring only tangible outputs without capturing the intangible processes is likely to provide misleading inferences. For example, if one is trying to assess women’s participation in a gram sabha, the number of women participants (outcome) needs to be captured and the nature of participation (process) should be documented.
• Often, quantitative data collections focus only on quantifiable measures, thus omitting qualitative processes that give mea­ning to those numbers.

WHY DATA CENTRIC GOVERNANCE (EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY MAKING) IS IMPERATIVE FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS

Evidence from randomised evaluations can yield insights and conclusions into questions at the heart of controversial policy debates. Since the past decade or so, evidence-based policy-making has gained traction, with some governments and NGOs having institutionalised processes for rigorously evaluating innovations and incorporating evidence into decision-making.

CASE STUDY

• The seminal and pioneering work of Noble Prize winner of Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer in development economics using randomised evaluations to test the effectiveness of social programmes and policies with the objective of reducing poverty marks a definite shift in discerning development from an entirely theoretical perspective.
• The path-breaking approach that they follow is popularly known as randomised control trial (RCT), which is used to test the effect of small interventions on individual behaviour. The lab has transformed the field of development economics from being mainly theoretical to empirical with high-quality evidence that has influenced piloting, testing, and scaling of effective policies around the globe. For example, with support from Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), the Ministry of Education in Peru formed a dedicated unit to identify, test and scale low-cost interventions to improve educational outcomes.
• J-PAL is promoting the scale-up and replication of effective programmes. Randomised evaluations allow researchers to learn not only about the impact of a particular programme but also to draw out the mechanisms behind its success to help derive general lessons that can be applied in the same context.

IMPACT OF THE STUDY

• From randomised evaluations in India, Ghana and Kenya, researchers learnt why children are behind in school and thereby built a range of cost-effective strategies based on the insight of regrouping students by their current learning level rather than by their age group.
• On the other hand, the Government of Zambia has been able to apply the general idea of “Teaching at the Right Level” (TaRL, an approach developed by Indian NGO Pratham) to inform the design of its own remedial programs. This has significantly improved the learning opportunities in both India and Africa.

IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

Cases that highlight the value of EBP in developing nations: one where evidence-based policies transformed lives and the other where the lack of an evidence-based response has caused widespread death.

• First, the Government of Tanzania has implemented various health service reforms informed by the results of household disease surveys. This EBP contributed to over 40% reductions in infant mortality in two pilot districts.
• Second, the AIDS/HIV crisis has aggravated in some countries because respective governments have ignored the evidence of what causes the disease and how to prevent it from spreading further.

EXAMPLES OF EVIDENCE POLICYMAKING IN INDIA

• CENSUS BY MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
• SWACHCH SARVEKSHAD BY MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
• NATIONAL FAMILY HEALTH SURVEY BY MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
• MULTI-DYNAMIC POVERTY INDEX BY NITI AAYOG
• SDG RANING OF STATES BY NITI AAYOG
• ASER REPORT BY PRATHAM NGO

CHALLENGES OF POLICYMAKING

• States routinely gather vast quantities of administrative data. However, large proportions of these data remain unutilised or are unusable as ­often these administrative data are not validated or updated.
• At times, the same data is collected by different agencies with different identifiers making integration or consolidation of data difficult. To avert duplication of data, which is costly both in terms of human as well as financial resources, it is essential to standardise data collection across departments.
• Data starts to become scarce and variable at lower tiers of governance, for instance, the devolution of funds at the sub-block level is often opaque and self-reported without external validation. This makes matching of funds, particularly untied grants with specific functions at the sub-block level challenging as funds are often fungible.
• Administrative data is generally inaccessible to the public and researchers for scrutiny or analysis. Citing the example of Denmark, where opening up of administrative data on tax collection gave significant insights that led to key tax reforms, advocate encouraging and incentivising governments to share the administrative data, especially in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Measuring governance is a challenging proposition. This is particularly true in the domain of law and order, which is an essential aspect of governance. Two studies aiming to measure governance across states in India by developing a composite governance index lay bare the challenges of choosing appropriate indicators and their measurement and interpretations.

WHY DATA-CENTRIC GOVERNANCE IS THE RIGHT STEP TO CHOOSE AND HOW INDIA CAN ACHIEVE IT?

• India is mired in a data-driven world. Governance is increasingly being pushed to become data-centric.
• Data-centric governance or policymaking is a step in the right direction. However, the paradox of data-centric governance in India right now is that it is caught between two countervailing forces—a rel­entless churning of digital and other forms of data that are often unreliable and/or prone to errors on the one hand and a steady erosion of credible, scientific sources of data on the other.
• If governance decisions are to be data-centric, there is a need to ensure a good, robust and reliable database system. With several national statistical bases, such as the National Sample Surveys, that provide an interim glimpse into the trajectory of the economy in between the decadal census counts, getting eroded either through delays or data suppression, the danger of a “statistical vacuum” has been raised by some scholars (like Drèze) and others who have advocated a decentralised system of data collection process where states take the lead in building their own bottom-up databases.
• This requires individual states to invest heavily in both human and technical infrastructure with built-in quality control measures to ensure those policy decisions are based on robust and rigorous data.
• Finally, it is equally essential to ack­nowledge that policymaking is a contested space that is interactive, discursive and, therefore, a negotiated process.
• In the global South, the rigorous, constant implementation of data-based governance or policymaking is likely to be challenging. The government often discretionary policy decisions need to be taken by the government by prioritising one group over the other to redress historical inequalities.
• Thus, data-based governance req­uires not just validated and scientific data but also requires the policymakers to use it wisely by contextualising it to ensure equality and equity.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• Data-driven governance is being touted globally as a new approach to governance, one where data is used to drive policy decisions, set goals, measure performance, and increase government transparency.
• Evidence-based policymaking (EBP) assists in making decisions about projects, programmes and policies by placing the best available evidence from research conducted at the heart of policy development and implementation. It also makes explicit what is known through scientific evidence.
• In contrast to opinion-based policymaking, evidence-based policymaking needs an evidence base at all stages in the policy cycle to define issues, shape agendas, make active choices, identify options, deliver them, and monitor their impact and outcomes. Basically, it is a set of methods that informs the policy process, rather than aiming to directly affect the eventual objectives of the policy directly. Thereby, EBP advocates a more systematic, rational and rigorous approach to produce better outcomes.
• The pre-requisite for evidence-based policy is that the data must be trustworthy, and it depends upon the quality of the data and the quality of the professional statisticians.
• Credible statistics is important for good governance and decision-making in all sectors of society. Therefore, policy-makers are more likely to use evidence in decision-making if that evidence is unbiased, rigorous, substantive, relevant, timely, actionable, easy to understand, cumulative and easy to explain to constituents. EBP approaches can dramatically help reduce poverty and improve economic performance in developing nations.
• Impact evaluations of social programmes have emerged as an important tool to guide social policy in developing polities as they allow for accurate measurement and attribution of impact can help policy-makers identify programmes that work and those that do not work so that effective and performing programmes can be promoted and ineffective ones can be discontinued.

THE CONCLUSION: The EBP has the potential for high impact change that India shouldn’t ignore. Thereby, systemic institutionalisation of EBP is the way forward in eradicating poverty and improving economic performance, education, health care, and social assistance for millions of people. But, if governance decisions are to be data-centric, there is a need to ensure a decentralised, robust, reliable database system. Data-based governance requires not just validated and scientific data but also requires the policymakers to use it wisely by contextualising it to ensure equality and equity.