THE HEALTH ISSUES

1.INDIA’S FIRST HPV VACCINE COULD MEAN FOR FIGHT AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER

THE CONTEXT:The Serum Institute of India (SII)’s vaccine Cervavac recently received the Drugs Controller General of India’s (DGCI) approval for market authorisation. Cervavac is India’s first quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV) and intended to protect women against cervical cancer.

THE EXPLANATION:

Experts see this as a real opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer and have expressed the hope that it will be rolled out in national HPV vaccination strategies and be available a cost more affordable than existing vaccines.

The disease

• Cervical cancer is preventable but kills one woman every eight minutes in the country, according to reports. It is preventable as long as it is detected early and managed effectively.
• Cervical cancer is a common sexually transmitted infection. Long-lasting infection with certain types of HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer.
• Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer type and the second most common cause of cancer death in women of reproductive age (15–44). India accounts for about a fifth of the global burden, with 1.23 lakh cases and around 67,000 deaths per year according to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO).
• “Screening and vaccination are two powerful tools that are available for preventive cervical cancer. Still there is little awareness among women for prevention of this cancer and less than 10% of Indian women get screened. All women aged 30-49 must get screened for cervical cancer even if they have no symptoms and get their adolescent daughters vaccinated with HPV vaccine”.

Existing vaccines

• Two vaccines licensed globally are available in India — a quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil, from Merck) and a bivalent vaccine (Cervarix, from GlaxoSmithKline). Each dose costs Rs 2,800 per dose (Gradasil) or Rs 3,299 (Cervarix).Although HPV vaccination was introduced in 2008, it has yet to be included in the national immunisation programme.
• According to a report in the Indian Journal of Gynaecologic Oncology (December 2021), a vaccine delivery and demonstration project led by international non-profit organisation PATH was started in 2009 in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat but had to be suspended in 2010 as a result of public concern allegedly arising from the deaths of seven girls who received the vaccine.
• In 2016, a multidisciplinary expert group of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reviewed available evidence globally regarding immunogenicity and efficacy, adverse effects and cost effectiveness of HPV vaccines, and recommended that adolescent girls should be vaccinated with two doses.

The new vaccine

• The vaccine is based on VLP (virus like particles), similar to the hepatitis B vaccine, and provides protection by generating antibodies against the HPV virus’s L1 protein.
• Experts have expressed hope that the DGCI approval will allow the government to procure enough HPV vaccines at a special price to vaccinate nearly 50 million girls aged 9–14 years in India who are waiting to receive the vaccine. This will be a huge step to accelerate cervical cancer elimination in India and globally, a statement from IARC.

THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

2.THE GLOBAL GENDER GAP INDEX 2022

THE CONTEXT:The Global Gender Gap Index for 2022 was released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and it ranks India at 135 out of 146 countries. In 2021, India was ranked 140 out of 156 countries.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is the Global Gender Gap Index?

• The Global Gender Gap index “benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions(Economic Participation and Opportunity,Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment)”. According to the WEF it is the longest-standing index, which tracks progress towards closing these gaps over time since its inception in 2006.
• On each of the four sub-indices as well as on the overall index the GGG index provides scores between 0 and 1, where 1 shows full gender parity and 0 is complete imparity. “The cross-country comparisons aim to support the identification of the most effective policies to close gender gaps,” states the report.
• 

How has India fared on different sub-indices?

• India has approximately 662 million (or 66.2 crore) women. In 2022, India’s overall score has improved from 0.625 (in 2021) to 0.629. “India’s (135th) global gender gap score has oscillated between 0.593 and 0.683 since the index was first compiled. In 2022, India scored 0.629, which is its seventh-highest score in the last 16 years,” states the report.
• The report notes that India’s score of 0.629 was its seventh-highest score in the last 16 years. India also “recovered” ground since 2021 in economic participation and opportunity though the report goes on to add that the labour force participation shrunk for both men (by -9.5 percentage points) and women (-3 percentage points).
• The gender parity score for estimated earned income improved because even though the values for both men and women diminished, the decline was more for men. India recorded a declining score on political empowerment due to the diminishing share of years women have served as head of state for the past 50 years.

VALUE ADDITION:

ABOUT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM:

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Swiss nonprofit foundation established in 1971, based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is recognised by the Swiss authorities as an international institution for public-private cooperation

What is the mission of WEF?

WEF is committed to improving the situation of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.

Some of the major reports published by WEF are:

• Energy Transition Index,
• Global Competitiveness Report,
• Global IT Report (WEF along with INSEAD, and Cornell University publishes this report),
• Global Gender Gap Report,
• Global Risk Report
• Global Travel and Tourism Report

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3.EXPLAINED: WHAT IS I2U2 THAT IS HOLDING ITS FIRST-EVER LEADER’S SUMMIT

THE CONTEXT:Prime Minister will participate in the first-ever I2U2 Virtual Summit along with the heads of state of Israel, the UAE, and the US according to a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

THE EXPLANATION:

What does I2U2 stand for?

• I2U2 stands for India, Israel, the UAE, and the US, and was also referred to as the ‘West Asian Quad’. Back in October 2021, a meeting of the foreign ministers of the four countries had taken place when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was visiting Israel. At that time, the grouping was called the ‘International Forum for Economic Cooperation’.
• The MEA said in its press release that the countries have had sherpa-level interactions regularly to discuss the possible areas of cooperation.

What is the aim of I2U2 grouping?

• Its stated aim is to discuss “common areas of mutual interest, to strengthen the economic partnership in trade and investment in our respective regions and beyond”.
• Six areas of cooperation have been identified by the countries mutually, and the aim is to encourage joint investments in water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security. The press release added that with the help of “private sector capital and expertise”, the countries will look to modernise infrastructure, explore low carbon development avenues for industries, improve public health, and promote the development of critical emerging and green technologies.

Significance of the initiative

• I2U2 seeks to empower the partners and encourages them to collaborate more closely, resulting in a more stable region.
• India is seen as a large consumer market as well as a large producer of high-tech and highly sought-after items in the United States.
• This has led India to enhance its relationship with Israel without jeopardising its ties with the UAE and other Arab states.

VALUE ADDITION:

ABRAHAM ACCORDS

• The Israel–UAE normalization agreement is officially called the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement.
• It was initially agreed to in a joint statement by the United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 13, 2020.
• The UAE thus became the third Arab country, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, to agree to formally normalize its relationship with Israel as well as the first Persian Gulf country to do so.
• Concurrently, Israel agreed to suspend plans for annexing parts of the West Bank. The agreement normalized what had long been informal but robust foreign relations between the two countries.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

4.CAQM FORMULATES COMPREHENSIVE POLICY TO ABATE THE MENACE OF AIR POLLUTION IN DELHI-NCR

THE CONTEXT:The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has formulated a Comprehensive Policy to abate the menace of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, in a crucial step towards overall amelioration of the air quality of the National Capital Region (NCR) through differentiated geographical approach and timelines of action.

THE EXPLANATION:

• This policy contains sector-wise recommendations for Agencies and Departments of Central Government, NCR State Governments and GNCTD along with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR to prevent, control and abate air pollution in the NCR including industries, vehicles/ transport, construction and demolition (C&D), dust from roads and open areas, municipal solid waste burning, crop residue burning etc.
• The policy framed by CAQM also deals with thermal power plants (TPPs), clean fuels & electric mobility, public transportation, road traffic management, diesel generators (DGs), bursting of firecrackers and abating air pollution through greening and plantation.

The scope of this comprehensive plan by CAQM is to abate air pollution primarily in Delhi and NCR. Owing to a deficit in infrastructure and systems across sub-regions of the NCR, wide variations in baseline actions, and varying levels of urbanization, a differentiated approach and timelines have been suggested for various sub-regions. These sub-regions include:

WHAT IS THE NEW POLICY?

• According to the policy, all thermal power plants located within 300 kilometer radius of Delhi will have to ensure compliance with emission standards as per the deadline set by the Union environment ministry.
• The policy talks about phasing out diesel-run auto-rickshaws in Gurugram, Faridabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad by December 31, 2024 and the remaining districts in the National Capital Region (NCR) by December 31, 2026.
• Only Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric autos will be registered in NCR from January 1, 2023.
• Fuels pumps in Delhi-NCR will not give fuel to vehicles not having a valid pollution-under-check certificate from January 1, 2023.
• State governments have been asked to implement scrappage policy for the end-of-life vehicles that cannot be used any more.
• Delhi and all NCR states will have to develop a plan to create a CNG and LNG fuelling network in NCR and on highways to shift long-haul trucking and other commercial vehicles to gas.
• The use of coal in industrial application will be banned from January 1, 2023.
• To prevent stubble burning, Punjab and Haryana will have to utilise 6 million tonnes and 2 million tonnes of paddy straw industrial applications, respectively as well as thermal power plants, biomass power and production of bio-fuels by December 31, 2026.
• The policy also stressed the need to upscale the application of bio-decomposer solution, which decomposes paddy straw, in the harvest season this year.
• For effective traffic management, the policy mandates the development of early warning systems to inform commuters and plan route diversions in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad districts.
• It also focuses on strengthening the quality of air pollution data and filling gaps through sensor-based monitoring to cover rural and peri-urban areas.

VALUE ADDITION:

Why Delhi air pollution rises in October?

Natural factors

• Northwesterly Winds: Month of October marks the withdrawal of Monsoon winds (South-West) from North India, leading to the arrival of North-Easterly winds.
  • Monsoon winds carry Moisture and rainfall all over the country, whereas northwesterly winds carry dust from dust storms originating in Rajasthan and sometimes Pakistan and Afghanistan.
  • As per the study conducted by scientists at the National Physical Laboratory, 72 per cent of Delhi’s wind in winters comes from the northwest, while the remaining 28 per cent comes from the Indo-Gangetic plains.
  • One of such examples is a storm of 2017, originated from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait that led to a drastic dip in Delhi’s air quality in a couple of days.
• Low-level inversion: Another factor is the temperature dip in the month of October. Low-temperature results in low-level inversion i.e. the layer that stops the upward movement of air from the layers below. It leads to the concentration of pollutants in the air at the lower heights.
• Wind speed: High wind speed in summers facilitates the faster movement of particulate matters in the air. As the wind speed decreases in winters, the air is not able to draw the pollutant away from a region.
• Landlocked Geography of Delhi: Geography of Delhi and the region around in the northern plains is landlocked. On the one hand source wind from North-West is already having pollutants, on the other, the Himalayas obstruct the escape route of air. Moreover, large buildings and other structures in Delhi also reduce airspeed.
  • It is the reason that Chennai with the third-highest number of automobiles in India faces far less pollution in the city in comparison as coastal reason provides air with an effective route to enter and exit.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

5.EXPLAINED: WHAT IS FCRA, THE LAW RELATED TO NGO FUNDING?

THE CONTEXT:The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has removed some crucial data from the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) website.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The information removed includes the annual returns of NGOs and a list of NGOs whose licences have been cancelled.
• The FCRA website used to maintain detailed data on NGOs granted licences; NGOs granted prior permission for receiving foreign contribution; NGOs whose licences have been cancelled, and the ones whose licences are deemed to have expired. It also had the annual returns of NGOs.

FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION (REGULATION) ACT:

• It is an act of Parliament enacted in 1976 and amended in 2010. It was to regulate foreign donations and to ensure that such contributions do not adversely affect internal security.
• Coverage: It is applicable to all associations, groups, and NGOs which intend to receive foreign donations.
• Registration: It is mandatory for all such NGOs to register themselves under the FCRA. The registration is initially valid for five years. Further, it can be renewed subsequently if they comply with all norms.
• Registered NGOs can receive foreign contributions for five purposes — social, educational, religious, economic, and cultural. There are 22,591 FCRA registered NGOs.

For how long is approval granted?

• Once granted, FCRA registration is valid for five years. NGOs are expected to apply for renewal within six months of the date of expiry of registration. In case of failure to apply for renewal, the registration is deemed to have expired, and the NGO is no longer entitled to receive foreign funds or utilise its existing funds without permission from the ministry.
• The FCRA registration of close to 5,900 NGOs, including Oxfam India Trust and Indian Medical Association, lapsed on December 31 last year. According to sources, the registration of as many as 5,789 NGOs had lapsed after they failed to apply for renewal before the due date. The rest, who had applied for renewal, were refused as the MHA found their operations or accounts to be in violation of the FCRA, sources had said at the time.
• According to the MHA, NGOs failing to apply before the due date can petition the ministry with cogent reasons within four months of the expiry of registration, following which their applications can be reconsidered.

On what basis is approval cancelled?

• The government reserves the right to cancel the FCRA registration of any NGO if it finds it to be in violation of the Act.
• Registration can be cancelled if an inquiry finds a false statement in the application; if the NGO is found to have violated any of the terms and conditions of the certificate or renewal; if it has not been engaged in any reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of society for two consecutive years; or if it has become defunct.
• It can also be cancelled if “in the opinion of the Central Government, it is necessary in the public interest to cancel the certificate,” the FCRA says.
• Registrations are also cancelled when an audit finds irregularities in the finances of an NGO in terms of misutilisation of foreign funds.

FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATION (AMENDMENT) RULES 2020: New rules require any organization that wants to register itself under the FCRA to have existed for at least three years. Further, it should have spent a minimum of Rs. 15 lakh on its core activities during the last three financial years for the benefit of society. Office bearers of the NGOs seeking registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act must submit a specific commitment letter from the donor. It should indicate the amount of foreign contribution and the purpose for which it is proposed to be given. Any NGO or person making an application for obtaining prior permission to receive foreign funds shall have an FCRA Account.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6.THE DHAMMACAKKA DAY 2022-13^TH JULY 2022

THE CONTEXT:The President of India, addressed the Dhammacakka Day 2022 celebrations at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Dhammacakka Day 2022, Ashaḍha Purṇima is the second most important sacred day of observance for Buddhists after Vaishakha Buddha Purṇima.
• It commemorates Buddha’s First Sermon or the First Turning of the Wheel of Dhamma, when he taught the Dhammacakka-pavattana Sutta (Pāli) or Dharmacakra pravartana Sūtra (Sanskrit).”
• “Seven weeks after his enlightenment, he gave this discourse to pancavargiya – the first five ascetic disciples- at the ‘Deer Park’, Ṛṣipatana Mrigadaya in the current day Sarnath, which is in Varanasi. It is here that the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Paths and the Middle Path: avoiding the two extremes, i.e., life of extreme indulgence and the life of extreme penance”.

VALUE ADDITION:

First Buddhist Council

• Venue: In Sattaparnaguha Cave situated outside Rajgriha (the modern city of Rajgir).
• Year: 486 BC.
• King: Ajatasatru, son of King Bimbisara (Haryanka Dynasty).
• Presiding Priest: Venerable Maha Kasyapa with 500 monks.

Resulted in:

• Vinaya Pitaka which mainly contains the rules of the Buddhist order. This was recited by Upali.
• Suttapitaka was recited by Ananda. It contains the great collections of Buddha’s sermons on matters of doctrine and ethical beliefs.

Second Buddhist Council

• Venue: Vaishali.
• Year: 386 BC
• King: Kalasoka (Shisunaga Dynasty).
• Presiding Priest: Sabakami.

Resulted in:

• The split of the Buddhist order into Sthaviravadinis(Theravada) and Mahasanghikas. The split was over small points of monastic discipline.
• The Second Buddhist Council made the unanimous decision not to relax any of the rules and censured the behaviour of the monks who were accused of violating the ten points.

Third Buddhist Council

• Venue: Pataliputra (today’s Patna).
• Year: 250 BC.
• King: Ashoka (Maurya Dynasty).
• Presiding priest: Mogaliputta Tissa (Upagupta).
• Its objective was to reconcile the different schools of Buddhism and to purify the Buddhist movement, particularly from opportunistic factions which had been attracted by the royal patronage.
• The responses to doctrinal questions and disputes formulated at the Third Council were recorded by Moggaliputta Tissa in the Kathavatthu, one of the books of the Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Resulted in:

• Made Sthaviravada School as an orthodox school – believed that the past, present, and future are all simultaneous. They may have contributed some formative influence to Mahayana.
• Codification of Abhidhamma Pitaka, dealing with Buddhist philosophy written in Pali.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Q.Consider the following statements in the context of World Economic Forum:

1. It is an intergovernmental organization based in Geneva.
2. Global Gender Gap Report released by World Economic Forum.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

a)1 only

b)2 only

c)Both 1 and 2

d)Neither 1 nor 2

 

ANSWER FOR 13^TH JULY 2022

ANSWER: D

EXPLANATION:

• All the Statements are Correct

 

 Types of Bail in India

Depending upon the sage of the criminal matter, there are commonly three types of bail in India:

Regular bail- A regular bail is generally granted to a person who has been arrested or is in

1. police custody. A bail application can be filed for the regular bail under sections 437 and 439 of CrPC.
2. Interim bail– This type of bail is granted for a short period of time and it is granted before the hearing for the grant of regular bail or anticipatory bail.
3. Anticipatory bail– Anticipatory bail is granted under section 438 of CrPC either by session court or High Court. An application for the grant of anticipatory bail can be filed by the person who discerns that he may be arrested by the police for a non-bailable offence.

What is default bail?

• Also known as statutory bail, this is a right to bail that accrues when the police fail to complete the investigation within a specified period in respect of a person in judicial custody. This is enshrined in Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure where it is not possible for the police to complete an investigation in 24 hours, the police produce the suspect in court and seek orders for either police or judicial custody. This section concerns the total period up to which a person may be remanded in custody prior to the filing of the charge sheet.

THE CONTEXT:On January 12, 2022, the Union government sent out a ‘Proposal for Amendments in IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954’, to the state governments. As per this, an IAS officer whom the Union wishes to place on deputation would “stand relieved” from their respective cadre, irrespective of the state government’s consent. These proposed amendments have created a controversy that many states have termed them anti-federal while the Centre has rejected such a claim. This write-up examines these issues in detail.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT IAS (CADRE RULES) DEALING WITH CENTRAL DEPUTATION?

RULE-6 of IAS (cadre) Rules, 1954• To ensure the service of IAS officers at the Centre, suitable provisions have been made under the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954.
• Central deputation in the Indian Administrative Service is covered under Rule-6 (1) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules-1954.

MANNER OF DEPUTATION UNDER RULE-6• A cadre officer may, with the concurrence of the State Governments concerned and the Central Government, be deputed for service under the Central Government or another State Government.
• In case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the Central Government and the State Government or State Governments concerned shall give effect to the decision of the Central Government.

ROLE OF THE IAS OFFICER  .Rule 6(2) states that “no cadre officer shall be deputed to certain kinds of organization or body except with his/her consent.

CENTRAL DEPUTATION RESERVE• The Indian Administrative Service regulations provide for Central Deputation Reserve (CDR) not exceeding 40 per cent of the Sanctioned Duty Posts (SDP) of a cadre/joint cadre.
• The Central Deputation quota fixes the share of the Government of India out of the State cadre.

HEALTHY CONVENTIONS IN THE PAST• In the past, certain healthy conventions were generally followed. No officer was sent on central deputation against his/her own will. Every year, the States would prepare an “offer list” of officers who had opted for central deputation without arbitrarily withholding any names.
• The Centre would choose officers only from among those “on offer” from the States. The States would relieve the officers picked up by the Centre at the earliest.

UNDERSTANDING THE PROPOSED IAS CADRE (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2022

WHAT IS THE AMENDMENT?

• The proposal amends Rule 6 of the 1954 Rules.
• It says that in case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the Centre and the State Government or State Governments concerned shall give effect to the decision of the Central Government as the case earlier but adds:within a specified time.
• If the State government delays posting a State cadre officer to the Centre and does not give effect to the Central government’s decision within the specified time, “the officer shall stand relieved from cadre from the date as specified by the Central government”.
• In specific situations (national security, major disasters, domain expertise) where the services of cadre officers are required by the Central government in “public interest”, the State shall give effect to its decisions within a specified time.
• Additionally, from now on, the centre itself would decide the number of officers required to be deputed and the states would have to ensure this number.

WHY THE AMENDMENT?

• As per the Union, various state/joint cadres are not sponsoring an adequate number of officers for central deputation, as part of the Central Deputation Reserve (CDR).

• As a result of this, the number of officers available for central deputation is not sufficient to meet the requirement at the Centre.
• The number of IAS officers on CDR has gone down from 309 in 2011 to 223 as of date.
• The number of such officers on central deputation has gone down from 117 to 114 during the period in spite of an increase in the number of IAS officers at the deputy secretary/director level from 621 in 2014 to 1,130 in 2021.
• Only 10% of mid-level IAS officers were posted with the Union government in 2021, a sharp fall from 19% in 2014.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE OF THE STATES REGARDING THE PROPOSALS?

MAJOR OPPOSITION• The proposed changes in the rules have been opposed by eight states as per the RTI reply by the Union government.
• As expected, states ruled by the ruling party at the Centre have responded positively while others took strong objections to the proposed amendments.

CONTRARY TO COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM• The problem with the proposed amendments is that they would hamper the existing fabric of cooperative federalism.
• The state governments would be under compulsion to send officers on deputations against the wishes of the officers themselves.
• The existing deputation rules are already tilted towards the centre, such amendments would only introduce further stringency in cadre deputation.

PROBLEM OF ADMINISTRATIVE ANARCHY• Based on experiences in the recent past, State governments have a justified apprehension that this proviso may be misused for political considerations.
• States say, what if the Centre unilaterally places at its disposal the services of the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and other key officers of a State ruled by a rival party or deputes them to other States.
• This will create administrative anarchy in states.

POOR STATE CONTROL OVER BUREAUCRACY• The proposed amendments to the IAS (Cadre) Rules would allow the Union government larger control over the deputation of IAS officials vis a vis the states.
• This will in turn reduce the control over the personnel management practices of IAS officers by the state government.
• If the proposed amendments come into effect, then the state governments lose their autonomy as they would have to make a said number of AIS officers available for deputation as would be prescribed under the Central Deputation Reserve (CDR).
• The lack of effective government control over the bureaucracy is antithetical to the democratic form of government.

REDUCED INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, AND THE OVERALL MORALE• The amended rules may put officials posted in states in a dilemma while discharging their duties, and this may lead to a situation of instability.
• The Officers career growth prospects may suffer due to the Centre-State tussle. It may also undermine the principle of political neutrality of the civil services.

LONG TERM DAMAGES• If States begin to doubt the loyalty of IAS officers, they are likely to reduce the number of IAS cadre posts and also their annual intake of IAS officers.
• They may prefer officers of the State Civil Services to handle as many posts as possible.
• In course of time, the IAS will lose its sheen, and the best and the brightest candidates will no longer opt for the IAS as a career. Short-sighted decisions can do long-term damage to the polity.

REASONS FOR THE FALL IN THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS FOR CENTRAL DEPUTATION

POLITICAL CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE CENTRE AND THE STATES• Both the Centre and the States have at times flouted the healthy conventions in deputation for political considerations.
• In July 2001, the Centre unilaterally “placed at its disposal” the services of three IPS officers of the Tamil Nadu cadre.
• In December 2020, the Centre did the same in respect of three IPS officers of the West Bengal cadre.
• In May 2021, the Centre unilaterally issued orders for the central deputation of the Chief Secretary of West Bengal just before his last day in service.
• In all these cases, the States concerned refused to relieve the officers.

QUESTIONABLE ROLE OF STATES• Some States used to vindictively withhold the names of some of the officers who had opted for central deputation or delayed their relief after they were picked up by the Centre.
• An example was that of a senior IPS officer who was not allowed to join the Central Bureau of Investigation despite earlier clearance and was suspended by the Government of Tamil Nadu in May 2014 when she relieved herself from the State pursuant to the Centre’s direction.
• States are also not sponsoring enough officers which also is another reason as recently indicated by reports related to Andhra Pradesh.

STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS• Poor working conditions in junior-level posts, an opaque and arbitrary system of empanelment for senior-level posts, and lack of security of tenure at all levels also are reasons for the shortage of IAS officers.

PERSONAL CHOICE OF OFFICERS• Many are not opting for Central deputation because they also see better career growth in the State.
• There is also a sense of uncertainty regarding how many actually make it to the top ranks at the Centre and who will be unceremoniously repatriated if they don’t find a way with the political setup.

HOW DOES THIS MOVE ADD ANOTHER ATTEMPT TOWARDS CENTRALISATION OF POLITY?

There has been a tendency towards increasing the unitisation of Indian polity recently. It is held that the Union government has been encroaching upon the legislative, policy, and administrative domains of the states. Many states have argued that this centralizing approach has disturbed the federal nature of Indian governance and is making states “glorified municipalities”! They provide a few examples of this alleged encroachment which are briefly discussed below:

FARM LAWS•Agriculture, Agri trade and market, etc are state subjects. But the union brought crucial laws through the colourable exercise of power.(Repealed later)

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY • States have not been consulted at all in its formulation and the governance structure proposed has no role for states.

15TH FINANCE COMMISSION•The terms of reference to the commission like whether revenue deficit grants are to be provided to states, making grants conditional on implementing the pet schemes of the centre, etc have been criticized by states.

GST COMPENSATION•States argue that despite the pandemic hitting their revenue badly, the centre has not fulfilled the commitment to compensate the states under GST.

ELECTRICITY ACT•The act mandated states to privatize their DISCOMs, remove subsidies and provide for DBT and Vest the tariff deciding power with a central body etc

NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY ACT•The NIA act has been challenged by the Chhattisgarh government in the SC alleging that the act encroaches into the “policing” function. Police is an exclusive state subject and the NIA exercising the power of a police force is contrary to the federal division of subjects in Schedule 7.

DOWNGRADING A STATE INTO A UT•After the repeal of Art 370 and 35A, through the Jammu Kashmir reorganization act, the state of J&K has been downgraded into a UT.

MISUSE OF INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES•The Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, the CBI and the Income Tax dept etc. have been more enthusiastic to go after the opposition-ruled states and their prominent functionaries.

ROLE OF GOVERNORS•Self-Explanatory.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE WAY FORWARD?

EXPANDING THE POOL OF INTAKE• With the Government of India itself enthusiastically promoting lateral entry to posts in the Centre and providing an increased share of central deputation posts to the central services, there is no need to push unwilling IAS officers on central deputation.

STREAMLINING CENTRAL STAFFING SCHEME• Officers of the level of deputy secretary/director and above are usually appointed in central government ministries/departments (i.e. on central deputation) under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS).
• The CSS needs to be streamlined with timely cadre review, selection and appointment and timely repatriation etc.

COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM• Non-availability of a sufficient number of officers at the Centre is affecting the functioning of the Central government since New Delhi needs the services of these officers to obtain fresh inputs in policy formulation and programme implementation. Similarly, states also benefit from the policy-level exposure of the officers which can improve state-level governance
• Thus, better consultation and coordination between the Union and states are needed for ensuring a win-win situation for both.

GREATER DECENTRALISATION• There should be greater decentralisation within the elected organs of the state, like the Panchayati Raj system. Greater control should be bestowed on people themselves.
• More decentralization must be accompanied by restructuring and rationalizing the government machinery at the Centre and states and giving control to local governments.

INTROSPECTION BY THE CENTRE• The centre should introspect and find out the reasons for the perceptible decline, over a couple of the last few years, in the number of officers opting to go on Central Deputation.
• The empanelment process based on 360n degree appraisal is one such issue that needs reforms.

DE CADRE POSTS• Many posts are manned by IAS and other AIS officers are strictly not cadred posts.
• So, such officers need to be relieved which will free up these officers for deputation.

THE CONCLUSION: As per the union government, a final view on the proposed amendment has not been taken. It is in the interest of the union, states and the officers to have wider consultation before finalizing the changes. Also, the larger issues related to cadre management, personal administration, centre-state relations and autonomy of civil services need to be addressed as a priority.
Questions:
1. The proposed IAS cadre(amendment) rules, 2022 addresses the problem of shortage of officers in the ministries and departments of the union government. Examine.
2. How far do you think the proposed IAS cadre(amendment) rules, 2022 is another instance centralization of Indian polity?
3. Political control of administration is the necessary concomitant of democratic accountability. Analyze the statement in the context of the proposed IAS cadre(amendment) rules, 2022.
4. Although the All India Services are the manifestations of the unitary features of Indian polity, their management should be governed by federal principles. Elucidate.

1. Four aims of life READ MORE
2. The fallacy of success: In this essay, the writer highlights the silly glorification of success and wealth READ MORE

1. Land Degradation Over More than a Quarter of Indias Area READ MORE
2. What We Really Lose When We Lose Our Environmental Protection Laws READ MORE

1. What a burgeoning population entails READ MORE
2. Healthier India~II READ MORE

1. The President is not a mere rubber stamp: It is possible for a President to intervene on behalf of the citizenry against the tyranny of the executive READ MORE
2. Bail legislation: SC’s call for framing new law merits serious consideration READ MORE
3. Roe v Wade saga shows India must reform its health data policy. Protection, and privacy not the same READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. What India’s first HPV vaccine could mean for the fight against cervical cancer READ MORE
2. Record surge in India’s imports from China in the first half of 2022 READ MORE
3. Birth certificates of children born after August 2015 will be available on DigiLocker READ MORE
4. India to achieve 50% clean energy target before deadline READ MORE
5. I2U2 can become a regional feature like the Quad: Jake Sullivan READ MORE
6. India Ranks 135th Out of 146 Countries for Gender Parity, Worst for ‘Health and Survival’: Report READ MORE
7. Taking off from CoP26: Is Green Grids Initiative the way forward for India? READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. What a burgeoning population entails READ MORE
2. Land Degradation Over More than a Quarter of Indias Area READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The President is not a mere rubber stamp: It is possible for a President to intervene on behalf of the citizenry against the tyranny of the executive READ MORE
2. Bail legislation: SC’s call for framing new law merits serious consideration READ MORE
3. Roe v Wade saga shows India must reform its health data policy. Protection, and privacy not the same READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Healthier India~II READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Scale up the India-South Korea bilateral partnership READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Staying watchful: Inflation risks undermining growth and macroeconomic stability READ MORE
2. The free fall of the rupee: Depreciation is because of the headwinds from the global economy READ MORE
3. A Critical Review Of The Green Revolution In India READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. What We Really Lose When We Lose Our Environmental Protection Laws READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1.  Disasters in India: Flood Management READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Four aims of life READ MORE
2. The fallacy of success: In this essay, the writer highlights the silly glorification of success and wealth READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘India needs Presidents, not presidential office holders’. In the light of the statement discuss how and why President can intervene on behalf of the citizenry against the tyranny of the executive?
2. ‘At a time when the international rules-based order is getting increasingly contested, the options available to governments in the foreign, economic, and security policy areas are under serious stress’. In the light of the statement discuss India can be a big player in South-East Asia.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• All money is a matter of belief.
• There is much potential for Seoul to become the fourth pillar in New Delhi’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
• It is possible for a President to intervene on behalf of the citizenry against the tyranny of the executive.
• Indo-Pacific turbulence has reached an all-time high, to the point where it rivals the diverse foreign policy challenges across the United States and Europe.
• At a time when the international rules-based order is getting increasingly contested, the options available to governments in the foreign, economic, and security policy areas, are under serious stress.
• South Korea could be the fourth pillar in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy along with Japan, Australia, and Vietnam. This can bring about a paradigm shift in India’s position and influence in the region.
• Bilateral agreements for settlement of trade in rupee should be signed with major trading partners.
• To take advantage of India’s demographic dividend, the State must invest in employment, education, health care, nutrition, and housing.
• Raising our public hospitals’ standards to those levels will need extraordinary focus, efforts and financing.
• India’s health data policies assume that enabling data sharing and interoperability will lead to desirable outcomes. But this approach comes with its own risks.

50 WORD TALK

• The Reserve Bank of India’s permission to Indian importers and exporters to settle their transactions in the rupee is a significant step toward reducing India’s dollar dependence and diversifying its foreign currency reserves. While this will immediately make the processing of trade transactions with Russia easier, the benefits which are likely to accrue over the long term are more significant.

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 on maps and 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 mains 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.

[WpProQuiz 286]