1. Explained: History and politics of caste census in Bihar READ MORE
2. Societal reform is vital for bridging the gender gap in labour market READ MORE
3. Policy makers need to take mental health more seriously READ MORE

1. India intensified crackdown on activists, media in 2022: Human Rights Watch report READ MORE
2. Capital stalemate: On the conflict between the Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor in Delhi READ MORE
3. Why Governor R N Ravi’s actions are inimical to, expose bad faith in, BJP outreach to Tamils READ MORE
4. Governors are necessary. But as recent controversies like those in Tamil Nadu demonstrate, they must be made accountable to not just the Union but the state and Rajya Sabha as well READ MORE
5. It’s really basic: VP’s right on judiciary’s overreach but SC’s basic structure doctrine must stay, it’s good for robust democracy READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. V-P Jagdeep Dhankhar sparks debate with remarks on Basic Structure of Constitution; what is it? READ MORE  
2. CMPDIL Invents New Dust Control Technology READ MORE
3. 13th Ministerial-level meeting of the India-United States Trade Policy Forum (TPF) in Washington, DC READ MORE
4. First time in India, FSSAI notifies comprehensive regulatory standards for Basmati Rice; Will be enforced from 1st August, 2023 READ MORE
5. Under Constitution, law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all READ MORE
6. Notification of minorities | Centre submits views of 24 States to Supreme Court READ MORE
7. 80% shortfall of specialist doctors in CHCs: Health Ministry report READ MORE
8. Clean Ganga? 29 sewage treatment plants in UP not complying with standards, shows report READ MORE
9. Money laundering an independent offence, says HC READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Stop all hydroelectric projects in Himalayan region to avoid a Joshimath repeat: Experts READ MORE
2. Why a new study claims logged tropical forests can emit carbon into the atmosphere READ MORE
3. Explained: History and politics of caste census in Bihar READ MORE
4. Societal reform is vital for bridging the gender gap in labour market READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. India intensified crackdown on activists, media in 2022: Human Rights Watch report READ MORE
2. Capital stalemate: On the conflict between the Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor in Delhi READ MORE
3. Why Governor R N Ravi’s actions are inimical to, expose bad faith in, BJP outreach to Tamils READ MORE
4. Governors are necessary. But as recent controversies like those in Tamil Nadu demonstrate, they must be made accountable to not just the Union but the state and Rajya Sabha as well READ MORE
5. It’s really basic: VP’s right on judiciary’s overreach but SC’s basic structure doctrine must stay, it’s good for robust democracy READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Policy makers need to take mental health more seriously READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Peru in peril: On the political crisis in the South American country READ MORE
2. Entering a year of uncertainty: For India, the altered shape of the international order leaves little room for comfort READ MORE
3. India is the voice of the global south READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Will the Budget be populist or fiscally responsible? READ MORE
2. Budget must address falling incomes READ MORE
3. Push for broad-based growth to curb unemployment READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. A step towards fighting corruption READ MORE
2. Public servants can be found guilty of graft on circumstantial proof: Supreme Court READ MORE
3. Approach truth directly, not via intermediaries READ MORE
4. Swami Vivekananda: true icon for youths READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The “stink of corruption” has a “pervasive impact” on the efficient administration and governance of the country. Examine how corrupt officials have a demoralising effect on honest public servants and how Corruption by public servants has become a “gigantic problem”?
2. ‘Governors are necessary but recent controversies demonstrate that they must be made accountable to not just the Union but the state and Rajya Sabha as well’. How far do you agree with this statement? Analyse your view.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The current economic model is inequality by design.
• The “stink of corruption” has a “pervasive impact” on the efficient administration and governance of the country. Corrupt officials have a demoralising effect on honest public servants. Corruption by public servants has become a “gigantic problem”.
• There are some serious social and cultural hurdles for working women.
• Swami Vivekananda’s concept of potential divinity of the soul, principle of morality and ethics, and being a bridge between the East and the West, and sense of unity, pride in the past, and the sense of mission are real assets for us.
• As a divine soul, Swami Vivekananda visualized the role of science and technology in improving the life of human beings.
• China is bogged down by its domestic issues and slowing economy and therefore can’t be seen as the biggest bully in the world. As of now it would like to continue a neutral path with India. This is the opportunity; the breathing space India needs to push its global leadership across various engagement platforms.
• The judiciary, the executive, and the legislature should confine themselves to their respective domains and conform to the highest standards of propriety and decorum. That indeed is the sine qua non of a healthy democracy.
• Deep-rooted reforms at the societal level in redefining the age-old gender roles are the only way to curb the persistent gender gap in the labour market.
• Governors are necessary. But as recent controversies like those in Tamil Nadu demonstrate, they must be made accountable to the Union and the state and Rajya Sabha.
• The criminal justice system, marked by bias against the underprivileged and violation of prisoners’ rights, must be overhauled.

50-WORD TALK

• The unresolved issue with the NRIs is that the Indian government does not know what to do with them. The government wants their money, no doubt, and they are indeed sending money home, which accounts for 3% of India’s GDP, according to the World Bank. The BJP’s foreign policy notion that the NRIs are its soldiers abroad to spread national glory is at best a delusion. Most NRIs have no interest in Indian politics nor are they motivated to push India’s case worldwide.
• The eight ministerial sessions focussing on financing people-centric development, balancing growth and environment-friendly lifestyles, energy security and development, cooperation to build resilient healthcare systems, human resource development and capacity building, developing synergies in technology, trade, tourism and resources and suggestions for India’s G20 presidency, were all opportunities to hear out a vast bunch of common issues affecting global south countries.

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 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 404]

[WpProQuiz 403]

THE CONTEXT: There have been multiple allegations  against the Central Investigative Agencies from various quarters that  the Government of India is misusing them for political motives. One view is  that to prevent their misuse, more autonomy and independence should be provided to  these institutions. However, the Government claims that these institutions inherently have autonomy and independence as per their mandate. This article examines these issues in detail from the UPSC perspective.

AGENCIES IN THE NEWS

When any institution becomes a law unto itself, it becomes imperative to ensure that it is made answerable and accountable to society at large, and not just to the government. Over the years, disconcerting questions have arisen regarding the functioning of the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, and National Investigation Agency. For Instance- Recent questioning of AAM Aadmi Party leader- Manish Sisodia by the CBI. Thereby stating that this misuse is affecting the Federal structure of India, where the government in power infringes upon the rights of the state. The same is the case with ED and NIA. We will be analyzing the working of these three important agencies: CBI, ED, and the NIA which reflect the problems with other agencies as well.

MANDATE OF CBI, ED, AND NIA

CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (CBI)

• It is the premier investigating police agency in India that functions under the superintendence of the Ministry of Personnel, Pension and Public Grievances, Government of India, which falls under the prime minister’s office.
• Thereby, CBI is not a statutory body but derives its power to investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, of 1946.
• It handles cases like:

1. Anti-Corruption Crimes under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988.
2. Economic Crimes like fake Indian Currency Notes, Bank Frauds, Import Export, and Foreign Exchange violations.
3. Other cases-Special Crimes, Suo Moto Cases, etc.

ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE(ED)

• The Directorate of Enforcement is a multi-disciplinary organization mandated with an investigation of offenses of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws.
• The statutory functions of the Directorate include the enforcement of the following Acts:

1. 1. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
   2. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA)
   3. The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA)

NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY(NIA)

• NIA is the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency of India mandated to investigate all the offenses affecting the sovereignty, security, and integrity of India.
• The Central Government for the trial of Scheduled Offenses constitutes one or more Special Courts under Section 11 and 22 of the NIA Act 2008.
• The scheduled offenses under NIA include the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, etc.

CONCERNS RELATED TO THE WORKING OF INVESTIGATION AGENCIES

When any institution becomes a law unto itself, it becomes imperative to ensure that it is made answerable and accountable to the society at large, and not just to the government. Over the years, disconcerting questions have arisen regarding the functioning of Investigation agencies-

1. NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY (NIA)

The recent amendment in NIA has empowered the agency to investigate offenses related to-

●  human trafficking

●  offenses related to counterfeit currency or banknotes

●  manufacture or sale of prohibited arms

●  Cyber-terrorism

●  offenses under the Explosive Substances Act, of 1908

Now the Central Government can ensure that offenses under these headings are no longer investigated by the respective state’s police but by the NIA, which is seen as larger encroachment on federalism.

    2. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

POLITICIZATION OF INSTITUTION

• A bench headed by Justice R M Lodha described the CBI as a “caged parrot speaking in its master’s voice”
• Repeated transfers of officers led to a change in the direction of the investigation.
• In 2019, then CJI Ranjan Gogoi questioned the role of the CBI in “politically sensitive” cases, and said that it reflected “a deep mismatch between institutional aspirations” and “governing politics”.

STRUCTURAL ISSUES-

• CBI has been stymied both by the legal structure within which it functions and by the changes made by governments in the rules governing it. For instance-
• To prosecute any MLA, state minister, or MP, the CBI needs sanction from the Speaker of the state Assembly (in case of MLAs) or the Governor (for state ministers). In the case of an MP, a sanction is sought from the Speaker of Lok Sabha or Vice Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Since all these sanctioning authorities have links to the ruling dispensation, Opposition parties feel they are unfairly targeted.

FACE OFF WITH STATE POLICE-

• CBI enjoys the concurrent powers of investigation and prosecution for offenses that sometimes lead to duplication and overlapping of cases with state police forces.

LOOPHOLES IN INVESTIGATION-

• According to the latest annual report of the Central Vigilance Commission, nearly 6700 cases probed by the CBI were pending in different courts, 275 cases of them pending more than 20 years.
• The federal agency is normally required to complete an investigation in a year.

DEPENDENCY ON OTHER INSTITUTIONS-

• CBI depends on the Ministry of Home Affairs for staffing since many of its investigators come from the Indian Police Service.
• It depends on the Ministry of law and justice for lawyers.
• It depends on the Ministry of Finance for financial needs.
• It depends on State governments for invoking their authority to investigate cases in a State.

POLITICAL TUG-OF-WAR

• The mandate of agency has been constrained by the increasingly hostile relations between the Centre and the state governments. As many as nine states have withdrawn general consent to the CBI as they allege that the CBI is being used by the Centre to target the Opposition.
• Withdrawal of consent means CBI cannot investigate even a central government employee stationed in a state without the consent of the state government.

    3. ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE

POLITICIZATION

• The ED is alleged to be targeting those political leaders who do not belong to the ruling party/parties at the Centre. Even the past cases of these leaders have been reopened in order to pressurise them either to change parties or to curb dissent.

VIOLATING FEDERAL PRINCIPLES

• The division of power under the Schedule 7 of the Constitution places the responsibility for police and public order in the State List. But the power of ED to investigate cases without the state’s consent, especially in ordinary crimes, is against federal principles.

VIOLATION OF RULE OF LAW

• ED can carry out the pre-trial attachment of property and funds just on basis of reasons to believe the investigative authority and not concrete facts. So even without an investigation is complete, a person can be charged, and the property can be attached just because a complaint/investigation exists against him.
• It effectively means that though a citizen is presumed not guilty, he is deprived of control over his property, when the prosecution believes that it comes from tainted money, effectively destroying lives, families, and businesses, just on the basis of the investigator’s reason to believe and not on evidence.

IS AUTONOMISATION THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE CIAS?

• Dissent and criticism are welcome in a democracy even if they are not fair at times. But when the opposition does nothing else but oppose and criticize, then it tends to become counterproductive and points toward the bankruptcy of intelligentsia within the opposition ranks. The opposition invariably charges these institutions of being under government control and thereby not being fair or unbiased in their functioning.
• If these institutions have come under greater scrutiny in the last few years, it is because of the high-decibel and unbridled political rhetoric practiced by the opposition against the government.
• The fact that these institutions are organs of the government of the day is an axiomatic truth. No government department can ever be totally and unquestionably independent in its work. It has to be remembered that these departments come into action on orders of the government and therefore they will also have to report back to the government periodically.
• The government of the day does not just exercise control, it is also responsible to the nation for the working of these departments. Till about two decades ago, these departments were not in the public eye to the same extent as they are today. The excessive debate over their work today is a result of the overflow of true and false information through all kinds of media, the right of Right to Information, and the regular press briefings of the department itself. Thus, today these institutions are under greater public scrutiny in whatever they do.
• There are no two views on the fact that these institutions must be afforded maximum autonomy for the best results. The onus for that lies with the government of the day. It should only exercise administrative control that does not interfere with its professional functioning. The expertise of such institutions should not be wasted on frivolous cases that can easily be resolved by local police authorities.
• Political leadership’s decisions may be influenced by political considerations at times. This is part of a democracy and will have to be accepted as long as it is in good faith and not against the interests of the nation.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM ED

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has a set of powers that the CBI or other investigative agencies don’t have, making it the feared agency. These powers are

1. Under PMLA which ED deals with, a statement recorded before an investigation officer (IO) is admissible in court as evidence.

• Statements to police are otherwise not admissible in court. Only statements recorded before a magistrate are admissible.

2. All offenses under PMLA are non-bailable.
3. Unlike CBI or state police forces, the ED does not have its own lock-ups, so there are no special cells with ED for VIPs in its custody. People in ED custody go to the lock-up of the nearest police station, irrespective of their status. This means that VIPs being chased by ED don’t have a shred of comfort when in custody.
4. The burden of proof is on the accused. Unlike regular criminal law, it is the accused, not the prosecutor, that has to furnish the proof under PMLA which ED deals with.

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION(FBI), USA

The FBI is the lead investigating agency in the USA, which sets an example for the whole world as to maintain transparency and accountability.

THE WAY FORWARD

• A high-level governing board should be set up for the CBI in which, apart from the prime minister and union home minister, four-five chief ministers of states may be appointed, by turn, to give broad guidelines and keep a watch over the working of the CBI. This will instill a sense of confidence in the states and help in building consensus in favor of a Central law for the CBI.
• In the Vineet Narain case, 1997 The Supreme Court laid down guidelines to ensure the independence and autonomy of the CBI and ordered that the CBI be placed under the supervision of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), an independent governmental agency intended to be free from executive control or interference.
• A comprehensive new central law should govern the working of the institutions. The law should specifically provide for the appointment of a special public prosecutor who will have full independence to deal with politically and nationally sensitive cases and take a stand in safeguarding the public interest.
• The Central Investigative Agencies should be brought fully under the Right to Information law, with a stipulation that no information pertaining to any ongoing investigation can be made available, but that all information pertaining to cases that were withdrawn, cases that were closed, or were dismissed by the court would be made available to the people. Such a social audit will go a long way in making both these institutions fully accountable.
• The selection of the directors of Central Investigative Agencies these institutions should be made by a committee presided over by the prime minister and comprise the home minister, the Lok Sabha speaker, the Rajya Sabha chairman, judges of supreme court and Leader of opposition.

THE CONCLUSION: What is at stake is more than just the image and credibility of the CBI. India’s image as a country committed to the rule of law itself needs to be refurbished nationally and internationally. The Central government can send a powerful message by setting the ball rolling without the loss of any further time.

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.1 ‘Whether the allegations of misuse of Central Investigative Agencies can be tackled by their Autonomisation?’ Discuss.

Q.2 Discuss the loopholes in the institutional structure of Central Investigative Agencies in India. Suggest reforms to bridge the loopholes.

Q.3 Enforcement Directorate has a set of powers that make it a feared agency. Discuss.

1. WHAT IS A COLD WAVE?

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-I- GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT: In the month of January 2023, Delhi and other parts of northwest India have been reeling under a cold wave.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Delhi recorded cold wave conditions for five consecutive days so far this (Jan) month, making it the longest such spell in a decade. The lowest minimum temperature recorded this month was 1.9 degrees Celsius on January 8, 2023 the second-lowest minimum temperature in January in 15 years.
• While lower-than-normal temperatures were recorded over parts of Northwest India from the December 2022 , these conditions intensified in the first week of January. Fog and low cloud coverage brought severe cold day conditions to the region, when temperatures remained below normal over parts of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

What is a cold wave?

• The IMD marks a cold wave in terms of minimum temperatures – when the minimum temperature in the plains is 4 degrees or less or when the minimum temperature is less than 10 degrees and 4.5 to 6.4 degrees below the normal.
• According to scientist, one of the major factors contributing to colder than normal temperatures over north India this month is the large-scale fog cover. “While westerly and north-westerly winds of around 5 to 10 kmph in the afternoon have also been contributing to the dip in temperature, an important factor this month is fog, which has been lasting for longer durations, preventing sunlight from reaching the surface and affecting the radiation balance.
• There is no heating in the day time, and then there is the impact of the night. Foggy or cloudy nights are usually associated with warmer nights, but if the fog remains for two or three days, cooling begins even at night”.

2. LAND SUBSIDENCE

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-I- GEOGRAPHY- GEOMORPHOLOGY

THE CONTEXT:The exact reason behind Joshimath land subsidence is still unknown but experts cite unplanned construction, over-population, obstruction of the natural flow of water, and hydel power activities as possible causes.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Land Subsidence?

• According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA), subsidence is the sinking of the ground because of underground material movement.
• It can happen for a host of reasons, man-made or natural, such as the removal of water, oil, or natural resources, along with mining activities. Earthquakes, soil erosion, and soil compaction are also some of the well-known causes of subsidence.
• The subsidence can happen over very large areas like whole states or provinces, or very small areas like the corner of your yard.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), subsidence is the sinking of the ground because of underground material movement.

Reasons can be manmade or natural:

• removal of water, oil, or natural resources, along with mining activities
• Earthquakes
• Soil erosion and
• Soil compaction

Reasons behind Joshimath subsidence:

• unplanned construction,
• over-population,
• obstruction of the natural flow of water and hydel power activities.
• the area is a seismic zone, which makes it prone to frequent earthquakes.
• the subsidence in Joshimath might have been triggered by the reactivation of a geographic fault —
• defined as a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock — where the Indian Plate has pushed under the Eurasian Plate along the Himalayas.

3. OZONE HOLE

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: According to a new assessment says the ozone layer will recover to 1980 values by 2066 over Antarctica; in Artic by 2045. Success of Montreal Protocol is noteworthy, but phasing out greenhouse gases is more difficult.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The ozone ‘hole’, once considered to be the gravest danger to planetary life, is now expected to be completely repaired by 2066, a scientific assessment has suggested. In fact, it is only the ozone layer over Antarctica — where the hole is the most prominent — which will take a long time to heal completely. Over the rest of the world, the ozone layer is expected to be back to where it was in 1980 by 2040 itself, a UN-backed scientific panel has reported.
• The recovery of the ozone layer has been made possible by the successful elimination of some harmful industrial chemicals, together referred to as Ozone Depleting Substances or ODSs, through the implementation of the 1989 Montreal Protocol. The assessment has reported that nearly 99 per cent of the substances banned by the Montreal Protocol have now been eliminated from use, resulting in a slow but definite recovery of the ozone layer.

Damage to the ozone layer

• The depletion of the ozone layer, first noticed in the early 1980s, used to be the biggest environmental threat before climate change came along. Ozone (chemically, a molecule having three Oxygen atoms, or O3) is found mainly in the upper atmosphere, an area called stratosphere, between 10 and 50 km from the Earth’s surface. It is critical for planetary life, since it absorbs ultraviolet rays coming from the Sun.
• UV rays are known to cause skin cancer and many other diseases and deformities in plants and animals.
• Though the problem is commonly referred to as the emergence of a ‘hole’ in the ozone layer, it is actually just a reduction in concentration of the ozone molecules. Even in the normal state, ozone is present in extremely low concentrations in the stratosphere. Where the ‘layer’ is supposed to be the thickest, there are no more than a few molecules of ozone for every million air molecules.

Improvement in the situation

• The ozone hole has been steadily improving since 2000, thanks to the effective implementation of the Montreal Protocol.
• The latest scientific assessment has said that if current policies continued to be implemented, the ozone layer was expected to recover to 1980 values by 2066 over Antarctica, by 2045 over the Arctic, and by 2040 for the rest of the world.
• The elimination of ozone-depleting substances has an important climate change co-benefit as well. These substances also happen to be powerful greenhouse gases, several of them hundreds or even thousands of times more dangerous than carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas and the main driver of global warming.

Connect the dots:

• Montreal Protocol
• Paris Agreement
• Ozone Depleting Substances or ODS’s.

4. SC DEMONETISATION VERDICT: WHAT IS DELEGATED LEGISLATION

TAGS:GS-II- POLITY

THE CONTEXT:In upholding the Centre’s 2016 decision on demonetisation, one of the key questions to decide for the Supreme Court was whether Parliament gave excessive powers to the Centre under the law to demonetise currency.

THE EXPLANATION:

While the majority ruling upheld the validity of the delegated legislation, the dissenting verdict noted that excessive delegation of power is arbitrary.

What is delegated legislation?

Parliament routinely delegates certain functions to authorities established by law since every aspect cannot be dealt with directly by the law makers themselves. This delegation of powers is noted in statutes, which are commonly referred to as delegated legislations.

• The delegated legislation would specify operational details, giving power to those executing the details. Regulations and by-laws under legislations are classic examples of delegated legislation.
• A 1973 Supreme Court ruling explains the concept as: “The practice of empowering the Executive to make subordinate legislation within a prescribed sphere has evolved out of practical necessity and pragmatic needs of a modern welfare State.
• At the same time it has to be borne in mind that our Constitution-makers have entrusted the power of legislation to the representatives of the people, so that the said power may be exercised not only in the name of the people but also by the people speaking through their representatives. The role against excessive delegation of legislative authority flows from and is a necessary postulate of the sovereignty of the people.”

What was the delegation of power in the demonetisation case?

• Section 26(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 essentially gives powers to the Centre to notify that a particular denomination of currency ceases to be legal tender.
• The provision reads: “On recommendation of the Central Board the Central Government may, by notification in the Gazette of India, declare that, with effect from such date as may be specified in the notification, any series of bank notes of any denomination shall cease to be legal tender.”

Why is excessive delegation power an issue?

• A 1959 landmark ruling in Hamdard Dawakhana v Union of India, the Supreme Court had struck down delegation of powers on the grounds that it was vague. A Constitution Bench considered the validity of certain provisions of the Drug and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act that prohibited advertisements of certain drugs for treatment of certain diseases and dealt with the powers of search, seizure and entry.
• The Court held that the central government’s power of specifying diseases and conditions as given in Section 3(d) is ‘uncanalised’, ‘uncontrolled’, and going beyond the permissible boundaries of valid delegation. Hence, the same was deemed unconstitutional.

5. INDIAN BLACKBUCK

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT:A new study conducted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has shed light on how blackbuck in India have fared in the face of natural and human-induced challenges to their survival.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The blackbuck is found only on the Indian subcontinent. While males have corkscrew-shaped horns and black-to-dark brown coats, the females are fawn-coloured. The animals are mainly seen in three broad clusters across India that pertain to the northern, the southern, and the eastern regions.
• This geographic separation as well as dense human habitation between the clusters would be expected to make it difficult for them to move from one location to another.

Genetic profiling

• The researchers tracked the animals on foot and in vehicles from a distance to collect the samples. In the lab, they extracted and sequenced the DNA from the faecal samples to study the genetic makeup of blackbuck, and deployed computational tools to map the geographic locations with the genetic data. The team also used simulations to trace how the three present-day clusters may have evolved from their common ancestor.
• What they found was that an ancestral blackbuck population first split into two groups: the northern and the southern cluster. The eastern cluster seems to have emerged from the southern cluster.
• Next, the team found that despite all odds, male blackbuck appear to disperse more than expected, thus contributing to gene flow in this species. Females, on the other hand, appear to stay largely within their native population ranges, which the researchers inferred from unique mitochondrial signatures in each population. The data also showed an increasing trend in blackbuck population numbers as compared to the recent past.

VALUE ADDITION:

• Indian Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is an antelope and is the only living species of the genus Antilope.
• It is considered to be the fastest animal in the world next to Cheetah.
• The horns of the blackbuck are ringed with one to four spiral turns and the female is usually hornless.

• Habitat: 
  • Blackbuck inhabits grassy plains and slightly forested areas.
  • Due to its regular need of water, it prefers areas where water is perennially available.
  • It is found in Central- Western India (MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Odisha) and Southern India (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu).
• Protection Status: 
  • Hunting of blackbuck is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
  • It has been categorised least concerned in IUCN Red Data Book.
• The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is known worldwide for their conservation efforts to blackbuck and Chinkara.

1. Courage to take independent and firm decisions READ MORE
2. Well-being and ill-being READ MORE
3. Let’s rediscover Vivekananda READ MORE

1. What is a cold wave, why northwest India is shivering READ MORE
2. Ozone hole, filling up now READ MORE
3. A mountain reeling under human aggression READ MORE

Tracking learning outcomes: ASER’s work through the pandemic READ MORE

1. Bad and ugly: On the Tamil Nadu Governor’s walkout from the Assembly READ MORE
2. Indian campuses of foreign universities are a win-win for students and institutes READ MORE
3. Why we need to look beyond GST while regulating online gaming READ MORE
4. The guvs are off: Governors in some opposition-ruled states are keeping bills pending for long, violating constitutional spirit READ MORE
5. An opportunity to redesign draft data protection law READ MORE
6. Joshimath a policy disaster: Bigger projects being allowed with little regard for  environmental fallout READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. New PLI scheme for IT server, hardware to offer more sops for IP designed in India READ MORE  
2. Supreme Court Collegium recommends judicial appointments to five High Courts READ MORE
3. Minimal improvement in air quality in cities under National Clean Air Programme READ MORE
4. U.S. fund to help restore Paigah Tombs in Hyderabad READ MORE
5. SC to decide validity of Section 6A of Citizenship Act READ MORE
6. Micro-seismic observatories to be set up in Joshimath this week: Union minister Jitendra Singh READ MORE
7. New reactor powered by sun can convert plastic, CO2 into fuel READ MORE
8. SC demonetisation verdict: What is delegated legislation READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. What is a cold wave, why northwest India is shivering READ MORE
2. Ozone hole, filling up now READ MORE
3. A mountain reeling under human aggression READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Bad and ugly: On the Tamil Nadu Governor’s walkout from the Assembly READ MORE
2. Indian campuses of foreign universities are a win-win for students and institutes READ MORE
3. Why we need to look beyond GST while regulating online gaming READ MORE
4. The guvs are off: Governors in some opposition-ruled states are keeping bills pending for long, violating constitutional spirit READ MORE
5. An opportunity to redesign draft data protection law READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Tracking learning outcomes: ASER’s work through the pandemic READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Lessons from Russia’s Ukraine war READ MORE
2. India’s G20 — Focus must be on emerging as a bridge between the developing and developed world READ MORE
3. Time to rebuild relations with Egypt READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. How inflation surge could help Govt balance its fiscal math READ MORE
2. It is wrong to penalise CCI appeals READ MORE
3. Green hydrogen mission: A boost for clean energy READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Draconian, Toothless~II READ MORE
2. How increasing tourism in Antarctica threatens its unique ecosystems READ MORE

SECURITY

1. China cyberwar: Beijing’s dominance in IoT & smart technology & vulnerabilities for India READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Joshimath and the need to regulate economic activity in hills more sensibly READ MORE
2. BL Explainer: What led to the sinking of Joshimath READ MORE
3. Joshimath a policy disaster: Bigger projects being allowed with little regard for  environmental fallout READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Courage to take independent and firm decisions READ MORE
2. Well-being and ill-being READ MORE
3. Let’s rediscover Vivekananda READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Hosting G20 summit is an opportunity for India to be emerged as a bridge between the developing and developed world’. Critically examine.
2. ‘A flawed process led to erroneous policy which is counterproductive and which resulted in not only damage to democracy but to huge adverse impact on the public, especially the poor’. Critically analyse the statement in the light of recent judgement on demonetization.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The first law of ecology is that everything is related to everything else.
• The Census alone can provide population data for every village and town, data for the delimitation of constituencies and for determining the quantum of reservation, and validate or reject estimates.
• The first Census after 2026 would be used for delimitation of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies and for apportionment of parliamentary seats among the States. Due to the disparity in growth rates between the States, there could be changes in the distribution of seats in Parliament.
• Anti-microbial resistance is an impending health catastrophe and requires a multi-disciplinary approach and investment in R&D.
• India’s fundamentals continue to remain strong even in times when the world is facing economic turbulence caused by a devastating public health crisis and geopolitical complexities.
• Data localisation calls for building a demanding infrastructure, rather than mandating a requirement to store data locally.
• A nation that wants to emerge as an economic power and a political force on the world stage ought to have a more responsive and imaginative administration.
• The industry, with the motive of cashing in on its profits the maximum, wants the Government to bear the expenses that it should ideally have done itself
• A lot of challenges might make diversity a difficult task to include in clinical trials, but there are many ways through which diversity can be promoted and provide benefits to all sections of society.
• Diversity is necessary for clinical research, because it secures the results that constitute all the groups of people in the world. The generalisation of the result is important, and ethical, and should be able to find the different ways in which treatment might affect the people of all groups.
• Greater ambition in terms of fiscal consolidation will pay dividends in the medium-term future. It will reduce inflationary pressure, increase the space for private investment, and induce economic growth dynamism. Policymakers in the finance ministry should not miss this opportunity.
• Global efforts must counter such regressive trends in policy framework and implementation process by involving multiple actors from community leaders and civil society to governments.
• Even as democratic Europe confronts the strategic fallout and human distress caused by Russia’s warmongering, it should step up its economic contribution to the well-being of Asia – and the rest of the developing world.
• A flawed process led to erroneous policy which is counterproductive and which resulted in not only damage to democracy but to huge adverse impact on the public, especially the poor.

50-WORD TALK

• Bombay HC’s sharp words against CBI for flouting criminal procedural law in arresting Chanda Kochhar is a reminder to probe agencies to desist from arbitrary detentions and arrests. Investigations mustn’t become a tool for harassment. Judiciary guarding personal liberty is laudable. It must punish investigators showing wanton disregard for it.
• Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi is showing an uncanny penchant for controversies. Proclaiming himself Tamizhaga governor, dropping state emblem from Pongal invitations and changing government-approved assembly speech were unwarranted and provocative. Raj Bhawans in non-NDA-ruled states have made a charade of PM Modi’s cooperative federalism talks. Blame is on him.

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 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.

THE CONTEXT: In September 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its front organisations as an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and banned the organisation and eight other organisations for five years. Against this backdrop, we analyse the procedure of declaring any association or organisation as unlawful, its impact on constitutional freedoms and the effectiveness of banning.

ABOUT POPULAR FRONT OF INDIA (PFI)

The PFI projects itself as an organisation that fights for the rights of minorities, Dalits, and marginalised communities. It was created in 2007 through the merger of three organisations: The National Democratic Front in Kerala; The Karnataka Forum for Dignity and The Manitha Needhi Pasarai in Tamil Nadu. In 2009, a political outfit named Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) evolved out of the PFI, with the stated goal of “advancement and uniform development of all the citizenry including Muslims, Dalits, Backward Classes and Adivasis” and to “share power fairly among all the citizens”.

Instances when PFI was at odds with the law:

• The court convicted the association members for the attack on a college professor in Kerala in 2010 for the alleged derogatory questions asked by the professor about the Prophet Muhammad.
• More recently, members from the group were also linked to the beheading of a Hindu man in the western state of Rajasthan in June 2022.
• In Karnataka, the government has often cited murders of workers of right-wing groups by alleged PFI cadre to seek a ban on the PFI. However, in more than 310 cases registered against the PFI in Karnataka since 2007, there have been convictions in only five.
• In Feb 2018, the then state government in Jharkhand banned PFI alleging that some of its members were internally influenced by ISIS. The state government imposed the ban under Section 16 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1908. But in August 2018, the Jharkhand High Court revoked the ban, noting that the State had not followed due procedure before announcing the ban.

REASONS CITED BY THE CENTRE FOR THE CURRENT BAN

The Union government has listed reasons to ban the group, such as:

1. The PFI and its cadre repeatedly engage in violent and subversive acts, including involvement in several criminal and terror cases, disrespect towards constitutional authority, receiving funds from abroad through hawala and using them in suspicious ways, and posing a major threat to national security.
2. Having linkages with ISIS and the Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh.
3. Not functioning according to its stated objectives, and its sources of funds were not supported by the financial profile of account holders; and
4. States of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Gujarat had recommended a ban on the PFI.

LEGAL PROVISIONS UNDER UAPA FOR DECLARING ANY ASSOCIATION AS UNLAWFUL

According to legal scholars, the declaration of an outfit/association as unlawful can be made in two ways under the UAPA:

1. Under section 3 of the UAPA: declaring the organisation “unlawful” via an official notification in The Gazette of India.
2. Under section 35 of the UAPA: by amending the act and adding the organization to a list of 42 terrorist organizations.

The PFI ban came under the first method, with the Ministry of Home Affairs issuing a notification declaring PFI unlawful in September 2022

• The ban extends to other associated bodies as well, including the Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.
• The political arm of the PFI, the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SPPI), has not been included in the list of banned outfits.

PROCESS OF BANNING AN ASSOCIATION/ORGANISATION

1. Before issuing a notification under Section 3 of the UAPA, the government analyses threat perception to peace in the country, secession activities, territorial safety, terrorism etc. The recommendations and complaints by a state government can also be considered based on FIRs filed or incidents in the state.
2. Section 3 also allows the government to implement an “immediate ban” on an organisation by issuing a Gazette notification and is also required to give reasons and allegations against the organisation and its members.
3. Within 30 days of the notification, the government has to set up a tribunal, headed by a sitting Judge of a High Court, to consider the evidence and allegations. The tribunal has the power to consider the evidence, hear the objections from the organisation or its members/supporters and then take a decision to confirm or deny the ban. The Tribunal has six months under the law to conduct proceedings and either accept or reject the proposed ban.
4. If the tribunal upholds the ban, the organisation can also move an appeal before the concerned High Court in case it can show “patent error” or “perversity” in the tribunal order and show that the tribunal ignored vital evidence.

POSSIBLE IMPACT OF DECLARING ANY ASSOCIATION AS UNLAWFUL UNDER UAPA

SECTION 7

• The Central government can identify people who are in possession of money that is used or handled for the purposes of the unlawful association and serve prohibitory orders on them to stop them from using, managing or handling any funds for the activities of the unlawful association.

SECTION 8

• The Centre can notify any properties it identifies as being used by or for unlawful associations and initiate action to prohibit gatherings or entry at the property.

SECTION 10

• Any person who attends the meetings of the PFI, contributes money to the outfit, or solicits contributions for the PFI, can face a prison sentence of up to two years under the UAPA.
  o This will include any members of the PFI, anyone campaigning for funds or even donating/contributing money to the PFI, or anyone assisting with the operations of the outfit.
  o Anyone organizing activities or events and those attending the said events could all face arrest and fines under this provision.
• Members of the PFI or anyone who voluntarily aids the PFI, who also owns a weapon, explosive, or means of mass destruction, and commits any act that causes significant loss to property or life, or grievous injury, can face a minimum of five years in prison, which can extend to life imprisonment, and a fine.
• NOTE: Anyone arrested before the notification was issued cannot be charged under these sections of the UAPA for involvement with unlawful associations; however, they can still be charged with terror activities.

SECTION 11

• Anyone who handles, transfers, or manages the funds of the organisation, including “moneys, securities or credits”, can face up to three years imprisonment and a fine. The Centre can also order recovery of the money/funds from the person.

SECTION 13

• Anyone who incites, aids, or abets the commission of unlawful activity can face imprisonment of up to seven years.
• It also provides for up to five years imprisonment for assisting in the commission of any unlawful activities.

EXAMPLES OF BANNED ORGANISATIONS IN INDIA

• As of October 2022, there are 42 organisations termed as terrorist organisations and are included in the first schedule of UAPA (1967), such as Babbar Khalsa International, Lashkar-E-Taiba, United National Liberation Front, Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), all its formations and Front Organisations etc. however there are over 15 organisations/associations termed as Unlawful Associations under Section 3 Of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 such as Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) etc.

INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY

• Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution of India provides all citizens with the right to form associations, unions or co-operatives. It also includes the right to form political parties, societies, clubs, organisations etc. however, these rights are not absolute, and the state can impose reasonable restrictions on the exercise of this right on the grounds of sovereignty and integrity of the country, public order and morality only as mentioned under Article 19(4).
• Associations/Organisations play a significant part in determining the perception of an individual and persuading him to have a broader vision and a widened approach towards everything happening in society. The Constitution ensures that no citizen residing within the territorial jurisdiction of the country is deprived of this right granted under Art 19(1)(c). But at the same time, the citizens must ensure that in due course of the formation of a particular association as well as during the period of the membership, harmony, discipline, and order continues to persist in the society.
• The legislature also has powers to make laws for imposing reasonable restrictions; however, the provisions under UAPA are stringent and are prone to be misused by the government, so much so that it allows the government to declare unilaterally any association as unlawful. Such powers contradict constitutional schemes and more so in the context of national security. The opportunity for the association to present their side is given only when the decision is made by the government and the members can only contest that decision in the tribunal, which also goes against the philosophy of natural justice. However, in light of contemporary security challenges, such power given to the government under the UAPA becomes imperative.

WHETHER THE BAN ON ASSOCIATIONS UNDER UAPA IS AN EFFECTIVE METHOD TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF NATIONAL SECURITY

ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR 

• The law has a legal mandate as it is enacted by the Parliament after deliberations and discussions and shows the wisdom of the Parliament that after intense discussion and deliberations it came to a conclusion that, banning an association can be an effective method to deal against unlawful associations.
• There are various examples in the past when the banning of an organisation has helped in curbing the antisocial and secessionist voices.
• Banning the association is not a knee-jerk reaction. The government has had multiple scrutinises and evaluations over a period of time and then reached the decision.
• The present case is not a one-off incident in the country. We have seen associations being banned in the past across the globe for various reasons, be it their political ideologies or religious inclinations.

COUNTER ARGUMENTS

• The banning of an association might not be of much utility against the challenges of radicalisation and national security as the party can reincarnate with a changed form or name. It has also been alleged that the members of the banned SIMI are the founding members of the PFI.
• Banning an association is superficial as it may not address the underlying issues such as lack of proper implementation of laws, administrative inefficiency, social dissonance among the community members etc.
• Various scholars have also pointed out that the assertive majoritarian politics have also led to the sprouting of such associations, which also garner social acceptance at times.

NEED FOR REFORMS IN THE PROCEDURES UNDER UAPA TO BAN AN ASSOCIATION

The UAPA is a stringent law and overrides the usual safeguards provided under the Indian Penal Code. Though the statute was brought in with an objective contrary to what we see today, the general perception of the UAPA is that over the years it has degenerated into a lethal weapon to quell dissent, and has been used by successive governments to legitimise sinister motives.
Powers extended to the government under UAPA are also very wide, as the government can unilaterally declare an organisation/association as unlawful without giving an opportunity to the members of the concerned organisation. There is a likelihood of misuse of this power.
The process of setting up a Tribunal and its functioning are also not transparent and it is perceived that its decisions lean towards favouring the government.
In light of the progressive jurisprudence and increasing democratisation of society, it is held that some of the provisions of UAPA are not conforming to the modern liberal democratic principles, and it is imperative to make reforms in the law to make it more relevant to contemporary times.

THE WAY FORWARD:

1. In contemporary times the threats to national security have multiplied and have also become more complex in the present era of cyber terrorism and narco-terrorism, which makes it imperative to have some extraordinary measures to deal against them and maintain the unity and integrity of the country.
2. India being a democratic country, makes constitutional provisions for the Fundamental Rights to every citizen, which are also promoted by the government. Still, such unilateral banning of the associations should also maintain the rights of the individuals and the organisation.
3. As jurists have pointed out, there is a need to review various provisions of UAPA, not only dealing with the provisions concerned with the associations but UAPA as a whole. As per the NCRB data, the conviction rate under the UAPA law is low (2.4 % is 2018, 1.7 % in 2019 and 6% in 2020), hence it is imperative for the government to use the law wisely and sparingly and/or needed reforms in the law shall be made to keep it relevant in contemporary times.
4. Banning the organisation may help the government in achieving the short-term objectives, but the ideology behind the organisation might stay alive for a longer time as they have roots in socio-economic issues; the more comprehensive and multi pronged approach of Winning Hearts and Minds (WHAM) shall be applied by the government to address these fundamental challenges of national security.
5. The constitutionality of the UAPA Law is sub judice, and given the nature of the challenge and past criticisms of the legislation, the apex court can read down some of the stringent provisions of the law, even if not scrapping it completely to make it more relevant and in consonance with the modern democratic ethos.

THE CONCLUSION: Although the government is well within its legal and moral mandate to ban the organisation as unlawful and achieve the objective of national security, law and order might not be the only issue underlying national security and dealing with a coercive force. It is essential for the government to maintain a balance between scaring and caring. Scaring or coercive action by the government might not always be the best approach for dealing with the issues. Along with the force of law, the government shall also use a benevolent approach to address the problems of national security and devise a multipronged strategy which cuts across the rule of law, welfare, development and good governance.

Mains Practice Questions:

1. The important criticism of UAPA is that it is antithetical to constitutional freedoms. Do you agree? Justify your view.
2. Critically analyse whether merely banning an organisation as “unlawful” will provide an effective firewall against national security challenges?
3. While the politico-legal action of banning and cracking down on a radical outfit is very much needed to curb violent activities, the solution to radicalism lies in investing at the social level. Analyse the statement.

[WpProQuiz 402]

GOVERNANCE

1. NHA INITIATIVE TO GRADE HOSPITALS

TAGS: GS-II- GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: The National Health Authority (NHA) in India is introducing a new system to measure and grade hospital performance under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) scheme, with the goal of shifting the focus of hospital performance measurement from the volume of services provided to the value of healthcare services.

THE EXPLANATION:

The new initiative will introduce the concept of “value-based care,” where payment will be outcome-based and providers will be rewarded based on the quality of treatment they deliver.

Shift from Quantity to Quality

• Traditionally, the healthcare model has been focused on the quantity of services delivered, with case-based bundled payments made on the basis of the number of services provided.
• Under the new value-based care model, providers will be rewarded for helping patients improve their health, which will ultimately reduce the effects of disease in the population in the long term.
• This shift promises significant increases in overall health gains and is expected to benefit all stakeholders, from patients to healthcare providers, payers, and suppliers.

Measures Taken by NHA to Ensure Quality Care

• To ensure that PM-JAY beneficiaries receive both cashless healthcare benefits and high-quality care at every empaneled hospital, the NHA has implemented various measures.
• These measures include standardizing the cost of treatment under the scheme and adding new and advanced treatment procedures. Additionally, the NHA has made provisions to incentivize the best performing hospitals that provide quality care to patients.

Performance Indicators and Public Dashboard

• Under the value-based care system, the performance of AB PM-JAY empaneled hospitals will be measured based on five performance indicators:

1. Beneficiary Satisfaction;
2. Hospital Readmission Rate;
3. Out-of-Pocket Expenditure;
4. Confirmed Grievances; and
5. Improvement in Patient’s Health-Related Quality of Life.

• The performance of hospitals based on these indicators will also be made available on a public dashboard, allowing beneficiaries to make informed decisions about their healthcare. This will not only determine the financial incentives of hospitals, but also create a demand for quality treatment among PMJAY beneficiaries.

Connect the dots:

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)
• NATIONAL HEALTH MISSION

HEALTH ISSUES

2. AFRICAN SWINE FLU

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-II-HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT:Amid the outbreak of African swine fever in wild boars in Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu) and Bandipur (Karnataka) Tiger Reserves, the sale of pork has been banned in the picturesque Nilgiris, a hill district in western Tamil Nadu.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The authorities have imposed a ban on transportation of animals or meat outside the Nilgiris, which boasts scenic tourist destinations including Ooty (Udhagamandalam), Coonoor and Gudalur.
• The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the district is contiguous with the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in neighbouring Karnataka.

What is African swine fever?

• African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, whose mortality rate can reach 100%.
• It is not a danger to human health, but it has devastating effects on pig populations and the farming economy. There is currently no effective vaccine against ASF.
• The virus is highly resistant in the environment, meaning that it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials. It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages or bacon. Therefore, human behaviours can play an important role in spreading this pig disease across borders if adequate measures are not taken.

African swine fever: a socio-economic burden and a threat to food security and biodiversity

• Pigs are a primary source of household income in many countries. The spread of ASF across the world has devastated family-run pig farms, often the mainstay of people’s livelihoods and a driver of upward mobility. It has also reduced opportunities to access healthcare and education.
• Moreover, pork meat is one of the primary sources of animal proteins, accounting for more than 35% of the global meat intake. Hence, this disease poses a serious problem for food security worldwide.
• This disease is also a concern for biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems, as it affects not only domestic farmed pigs, but also wild boars, including native breeds.

ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

3. BHITARKANIKA NATIONAL PARK

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT:According to the Odisha forest department, the Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha has seen an increase in its bird population in 2023.

THE EXPLANATION:

• In a clear indication that the Bhitarkanika National Park is a congenial spot for attracting birds, the Odisha forest department informed that the number of birds in the national park has increased this year. The staff of the forest department counted 1,39,959 birds this year compared to 1,38,107 last year.
• While the number of bird count increased, the diversity of species has decreased compared to last year. This year the Bhitarkanika National Park saw 140 species of birds compared to 144 last year, however, many rare and endangered species were spotted this time.
• Bhitarkanika National Park is a prime location for birds of different species and is located 130 km from Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar. The Chilka and Bhitarkanika wetland spots in Odisha are some of the favoured destinations for migratory birds during winter.

VALUE ADDITION:

Bhitarkanika Mangroves Conservation Area

• Bhitarkanika — a notified Ramsar wetland — is spread over 195 sq. km and is home to 62 mangrove species. Besides, 1,600 salt water crocodiles crawl on the mudflats of the Bhitarkanika mangrove forest.
• Bhitarkanika is a unique habitat of Mangrove Forests criss-crossed with numerous creeks and mud flats located in Kendrapara district of Orissa.
• It is one of the largest Mangrove Eco systems in India,Bhitarkanika is home to diverse flora and fauna.
• The Bhitarkanika mangrove conservation area comprises of Bhitarkanika National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary approximating around 3000 km2 area of which around 4.8% (145 km2 ) area has mangrove cover.
• Mangroves grow in brackish water. Proportionate fresh water flow from the Brahmani river basin and the Kharasrota river keep the salinity level of the water along the shore down. The brackish water becomes ideal for the mangroves to grow and stay healthy.
• The Bhitarkanika National Park, famous for the endangered saltwater crocodiles, has seen an increase of the rare species to 1,671, an annual census conducted by the Forest Department this year has found.

SECURITY AFFAIRS

4. GOVT DESIGNATES CANADA-BASED AARSHDEEP SINGH GILL AS TERRORIST

TAGS: GS-III-INTERNAL SECURITY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, a 26-year old resident from Punjab, presently based in Canada has been designated as an “individual terrorist” by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under the anti-terror law UAPA.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Arshdeep Singh Gill, a resident of Moga in Punjab is associated with Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), is a banned terrorist organisation.
• MHA said that Gill alias ArshDala is very close to Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and runs terror modules on the matter’s behalf.
• In a notification, MHA said that Gill is involved in heinous crimes such as murder, extortion and targeted killings besides terror activities, terror financing, cross border smuggling of drugs or weapons in large scale. It added that Gill is accused in various cases registered and investigated by the National Investigation Agency including targeted killing, extorting money for terror funding, attempt to murder, disturbing communal harmony and creating terror among the people in the state of Punjab.

VALUE ADDITION:

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019

The Act provides special procedures to deal with terrorist activities, among other things.

• Who may commit terrorism: Under the Act, the central government may designate an organisation as a terrorist organisation if it: (i) commits or participates in acts of terrorism, (ii) prepares for terrorism, (iii) promotes terrorism, or (iv) is otherwise involved in terrorism.  The Act additionally empowers the government to designate individuals as terrorists on the same grounds.
• Approval for the seizure of property by NIA: Under the Act, an investigating officer is required to obtain the prior approval of the Director-General of Police to seize properties that may be connected with terrorism.  The Act adds that if the investigation is conducted by an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the approval of the Director-General of NIA would be required for the seizure of such property.
• An investigation by NIA: Under the Act, investigation of cases may be conducted by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above.  The Act additionally empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases.
• Insertion to schedule of treaties: The Act defines terrorist acts to include acts committed within the scope of any of the treaties listed in a schedule to the Act.  The Schedule lists nine treaties, including the Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (1997), and the Convention against Taking of Hostages (1979).  The Bill adds another treaty to the list.  This is the International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005).

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. GLASS FROGS

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Recently scientists gleaned insight into how glassfrogs –a species known for this ability – are able to achieve such transparency.

THE CONTEXT:

THE EXPLANATION:

• Glass frogs live in the American tropics and are nocturnal amphibians that spend their days sleeping upside down on translucent leaves that match the colour of their backs — a common camouflage tactic.
• Their translucent skin and muscle allow their bones and organs to be visible – hence the name.
• Recent research has proposed that this adaptation masks the frogs’ outlines on their leafy perches, making them harder for predators to spot.

How do some animals become transparent?

• Transparency is a common form of camouflage among animals that live in water, but rare on land.
• In vertebrates, attaining transparency is difficult because their circulatory system is full of red blood cells that interact with light. Studies have shown that ice fish and larval eels achieve transparency by not producing haemoglobin and red blood cells.
• Glass frogs use an alternative strategy. Resting glass frogs increase transparency two- to threefold by removing nearly 90 percent of their red blood cells from circulation and packing them within their liver, which contains reflective guanine crystals.
• Whenever the frogs need to become active again, they bring the red blood cells back into the blood, which gives the frogs the ability to move around — at which point, light absorption from these cells breaks transparency.

THE CONTEXT: On August 15,the Gujarat government released 11 convicts who were sentenced to life imprisonment for the heinous murder and gang rape of women during the Gujarat communal riots of 2002.The action by the government has received heavy criticism from all sections of society with more than 130 former civil servants writing an open letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) against the action and asking for its revocation.In this article, we will analyze this issue in detail.

THE BASIC CONCEPT OF REMISSION AND LAWS GOVERNING IT

WHAT IS REMISSION?

• Remission is the complete ending of a sentence at a reduced point. Remission is distinct from both furlough and parole in that it is a reduction in sentence as opposed to a break from prison life.
• In remission, the nature of the sentence remains untouched, while the duration is reduced i.e., the rest of the sentence need not be undergone.
• The effect of the remission is that the prisoner is given a certain date on which he shall be released and in the eyes of the law he would be a free man.
• However, in case of breach of any of the conditions of remission, it will be cancelled, and the offender has to serve the entire term for which he was originally sentenced.

REMISSION POWER OF THE PRESIDENT

• Article 72 deals with the clemency power of the President of India. This power extends to:
  o in all cases where the punishment or sentence is by a Court Martial;
  o in all cases where the punishment or sentence is for an offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the Union extends;
  o in all cases where the sentence is a sentence of death.
• This power should be exercised on the advice tendered by the executive to the President, who, subject to the provisions of Article 74(1) must act in accordance with such advice.

REMISSION POWER OF THE GOVERNOR

• Under Article 161, the Governor has the power to grant clemency to anyone convicted under any law on a matter which comes under the State’s executive power.
• This power is to be exercised by the Governor as per the advice of the CoM.
• The power to pardon in all cases where the sentence is death, the power lies within President as per Art 72.
• The Supreme Court has held in Maru Ram and Kehar Singh that the power under Articles 72 and 161 of the Constitution are to be exercised by the Central and the State Governments and not by the President or Governor on their own.

REMISSION POWER OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT

• The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) provides for remission of prison sentences, which means the whole or a part of the sentence may be cancelled.
• Under Section 432, the ‘appropriate government’ may suspend or remit a sentence, in whole or in part, with or without conditions.
• This power is available to State governments so that they may order the release of prisoners before they complete their prison terms.
• Under Section 433, any sentence may be commuted to a lesser one by the appropriate government.

REMISSION POWER OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

• Section 435 says that if the prisoner had been sentenced in a case investigated by the CBI, or any agency that probed the offence under a Central Act, the State government can order such release only in consultation with the Central government.
• The power of remission under the CrPC is different from the constitutional power enjoyed by the President and the Governor. Under the CrPC, the government acts by itself.
• Under Article 72 and Article 161, the respective governments advise the President/Governor to suspend, remit or commute sentences. Despite the fact that it is ultimately the decision of the government in either case, the Supreme Court has made it clear that the two are different sources of power.

KEY TERMS-AN EXPLAINER

• Pardon: It absolves the convict of all sentences, punishments, and disqualifications by removing both the sentence and the conviction. A pardon may be absolute or conditional. It may be exercised at any time, either before legal proceedings are taken or during their pendency or after conviction. The rejection of one clemency petition does not exhaust the pardoning power of the President.
• Parole: It is a system of releasing a prisoner with suspension of the sentence. The release is conditional, usually subject to behaviour, and requires periodic reporting to the authorities for a set period of time.Parole is not a right, and is given to a prisoner for a specific reason, such as a death in the family or a wedding of a blood relative.It may be denied to a prisoner even when he makes out a sufficient case, if the competent authority is satisfied that releasing the convict would not be in the interest of society.
• Commutation: The substitution of one form of punishment for a less severe form. A death sentence, for example, may be commuted to rigorous imprisonment, which may then be commuted to simple imprisonment.
• Furlough: It is similar to parole, but with some significant differences. It is given in cases of long-term imprisonment. The period of furlough granted to a prisoner is treated as remission of his sentence.Unlike parole, furlough is seen as a matter of right for a prisoner, to be granted periodically irrespective of any reason, and merely to enable the prisoner to retain family and social ties, and to counter the ill-effects of prolonged time spent in prison.
• Respite: It refers to the imposition of a lesser sentence in place of one that was originally imposed due to a unique circumstance, such as a convict’s physical disability or a woman offender’s pregnancy.
• Reprieve:It denotes a temporary stay of execution of a sentence (especially one of death). Its purpose is to give the convict enough time to petition the President for a pardon or commutation.

ABOUT THE BILKIS BANO CASE

• Bilkis Bano and her family were attacked on March 3 2002 during the Gujarat Riots. She was gangraped and seven of her family members were murdered.
• The Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe into the incident and arrests were made in 2004. In 2008, the Special CBI Court in Mumbai sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment on the charges of conspiring to rape a pregnant woman, murder and unlawful assembly under the Indian Penal Code.
• One of the convicts had approached the Supreme Court for the remission of his sentence. This plea led to the remission of the sentences of the 11 convicts.
• The apex court directed the Gujarat government to look into the issue of remission, following which the government formed a committee. Following the recommendation of the committee, the government decided to release the convicts.

THE CONTROVERSY OVER RECENT GRANT OF REMISSION TO CONVICTS IN GUJARAT

RECENT AFFIDAVIT FILED BY THE GUJARAT GOVERNMENT

• In an recent affidavit filed by the Gujarat government had stated that it decided to release the 11 convicts since they had “completed 14 years and above in prison and their behaviour was found to be good”, and that the Centre had also “conveyed (its) concurrence/approval”.
• Earlier the “Superintendent of Police, CBI, Special Crime Branch, Mumbai” and the “Special Civil Judge (CBI), City Civil and Sessions Court, Greater Bombay”, had opposed the early release.
• The state government cited a “unanimous” recommendation of the Jail Advisory Committee to grant them remission on grounds of “good behaviour”.
• Since then, the apex court has issued notices to the state government on two petitions challenging their release The petitioners have contended that the remission was granted without the Centre’s sanction.
• In their plea, the petitioners stated that the case was investigated by CBI and “accordingly, grant of remission solely by the competent authority of a state government/ state of Gujarat without any consultation with the Central government is impermissible in terms of the mandate of Section 435 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973”.
• Also,the recent point of concern is according to the Gujarat government’s affidavit, the 11 convicted men were out of jail for an average of 1,176 days each before each of them was released.

NOT FOLLOWED THE LATEST POLICY

Critics have pointed out that the convicts were not eligible for remission of sentence under the Gujarat government’s latest 2014 policy, but were released under the old 1992 policy instead.

OPINION OF THE JUDGE NOT TAKEN

The opinion of the judge who conducted the trial or in charge of the district should be taken too. But in this case, it was not taken.

SAY OF THE MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT

Section 432(7) of the CrPC says the appropriate government will be “the State within which the offender is sentenced or the said order is passed”. Thus, in this case, it should be Maharashtra Government.

CAN STATE GOVERNMENT GIVE REMISSION TO ANY PRISONER?

• Union may frame guidelines but States are not bound to follow. As 7TH Schedule Prison is a ‘State Subject’.
• If CBI had investigated the case the State must consult the Union government.
• In ‘Laxman Naskar v. Union of India’ (2000) the SC laid down five grounds on which remission is considered:
  1. Whether the offence is an individual act of crime that does not affect the society.
  2. Whether there is a chance of the crime being repeated in future.
  3. Whether the convict has lost the potentiality to commit crime.
  4. Whether any purpose is being served in keeping the convict in prison.
  5. Socio-economic conditions of the convict’s family.
• Also, convicts serving life sentences are entitled to seek remission after serving a minimum of 14 years in prison.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE ISSUE?

ON THE VICTIM RELATED TO THE CASE

• The victim (in this case) Bilkis Bano, has not only suffered the assault of rape but also the loss of her child. It may shake her faith in justice, and the ripple effect may set in motion affecting other women who are struggling in courts for justice.
• Her safety and well-being may get compromised due to the release of the convicts.

ON CONVICTS

• The 11 people who got released by the Government may transfer a wrong message to society and can create further hatred against the minority communities.

IN SOCIETY AT LARGE

• Society will affect the most by the incident, as the rights and sex-based violence in the country may be provoked further.
• It is possible that, technically, the government is within its rights to release murderers and rapists, but it goes against the spirit of the Centre’s current guidelines

THE WAY-FORWARD

THE ROLE OF APEX COURT

The Supreme Court should constitute a Bench:

• To reconsider judgments that allow the remission policy obtaining on the date of conviction, instead of the policy currently in force.
• To address whether the ‘appropriate government’ should be the one in the State where the crime took place, or the State to which the trial was transferred on judicial orders should be responsible for remission.
• To formulate a rational remission policy that will be based on humanitarian considerations and have the scope for reform of the offenders and their sense of remorse.

REFORMATION OF CRIMINALS

• The supreme aim of our prison discipline should be the reformation of criminals, and that there must be in every prison a well-devised and skilfully applied system of rewards for good conduct of prisoners.

POLITICIZATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

• The human rights of individuals should not be made to suffer at the altar of political manipulations and machinations.

JUSTICE TO VICTIMS OF CRIME

• The Malimath Committee made a series of recommendations to ensure justice to the victims:
  1. The victim should be allowed to participate in cases involving serious crimes and also be given adequate compensation.
  2. If the victim is dead, the legal representative shall have the right to implead himself or herself as a party, in case of serious offences.
  3. The State should provide an advocate of victim’s choice to plead on his/her behalf and the cost has to be borne by the State if the victim can’t afford it.
  4. Victim compensation is a State obligation in all serious crimes, whether the offender is apprehended or not, convicted or acquitted. This is to be organised in a separate legislation.
  5. A Victim Compensation Fund can be created under the victim compensation law and the assets confiscated in organised crimes can be made part of the fund.

THE CONCLUSION: It is an event of concern for India’s democracy and it also questions equal and fair Justice to all, as the release of convicts challenges the rights of minorities, promotes Gender-related crimes, and even against the fundamental Rights of an individual.

QUESTION FOR MAINS EXAMINATION:

Q1. Critically analyse the remission policy in India. Do you think that the policy is used for political milage in recent times?
Q2. Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future. In the light of this statement discuss whether the remission should be granted to prisoners of serious crimes like rape and murder?
Q3.”Seriousness of the crime, the status of the co-accused and conduct in jail should be the factors considered for granting remission”.Elucidate.

[WpProQuiz 401]

HEALTH ISSUES

1. LECANEMAB APPROVED FOR ALZHEIMER’S TREATMENT

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-II- HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved lecanemab, a monoclonal antibody developed by Eisai and Biogen, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Lecanemab is the second drug to receive approval for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and the first to slow cognitive decline in a clinical trial. However, the approval process has been controversial, with patient deaths and accusations that the FDA acted improperly when approving the first such drug, aducanumab.

Alzheimer’s Disease

• Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta protein in the brain, leading to the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
• These abnormalities cause damage and death to brain cells, leading to memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, and treatment options are limited to therapies that aim to slow the progression of the disease and improve symptoms.

Lecanemab

• Lecanemab is a monoclonal antibody that targets amyloid beta protein. By binding to and neutralizing this protein, lecanemab aims to reduce the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. In a clinical trial involving 1,800 patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s, lecanemab slowed cognitive decline by 27% over 18 months of treatment.
• The drug is administered intravenously and is intended to be used in the early stages of Alzheimer’s to allow individuals to “have more time to participate in daily life and live independently,” according to Joanne Pike, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association in Washington DC.

Approval Process

• Lecanemab received approval through the FDA’s “accelerated approval” pathway, which is reserved for therapies for diseases with few treatment options and does not require phase III clinical trial data.
• However, lecanemab was granted approval on the basis of phase II data, rather than the more comprehensive phase III data, which were published in November 2021. The phase III data showed that lecanemab slowed cognitive decline by 27% in a clinical trial involving 1,800 patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s. The phase II data showed that lecanemab reduced plaques in the brains of 856 patients, but did not assess the effect on cognitive abilities.

Controversy

• The approval of lecanemab has been controversial, with some questioning the decision to grant approval on the basis of phase II data and concerns about patient deaths. Three patients enrolled in the lecanemab phase III trial died during the extended phase of the trial, when patients receiving placebo can ask to be given the drug.
• The deaths were attributed to complications involving brain bleeding and seizures, and researchers suspect that the antibody may have weakened blood vessels in the brain as it attacked amyloid plaques. All of the patients were taking anticoagulant drugs at the time of their deaths, and the FDA has stated that lecanemab should not be used in patients taking these medications.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

2. NEW UMBRELLA ENTITY (NUE) NETWORK

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III- BANKING

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is said to have put on hold licensing of the New Umbrella Entity (NUE) network, a fintech institution planned as a rival to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

THE EXPLANATION:

Six groupings, which included Facebook, Google, Amazon, Flipkart and others, had applied for NUE licences and all of them have fallen short of the RBI’s expectations.

What is New Umbrella Entity (NUE)?

• As envisaged by the RBI, an NUE will be a non-profit entity that will set up, manage and operate new payment systems, especially in the retail space such as ATMs, white-label PoS; Aadhaar-based payments and remittance services.
• The entity formed shall be a company incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 2013. Currently, the umbrella entity for providing retail payments systems is NPCI, which is a non-profit entity, owned by banks.
• Promoters: A promoter will hold at least 25% and up to 40% of the operator. Only those entities that are owned and controlled by Indian citizens with at least three years of experience in the payments segment can become promoters of NUEs.
• Foreign investment: Foreign companies can own a maximum of 25%, so are teaming up with local players.
• Capital required: According to the RBI guidelines, the entity will have minimum paid-up capital of Rs 500 crore, with no single promoter group holding over 40 per cent investment in the capital.
• Governance structure: The new entity will have to abide by corporate governance norms and the ‘fit and proper’ criteria for persons to be appointed to the board.

ENVIRONMENT- INFRASTRUCTURE

3. FLOATOVOLTAICS

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III-ENVIRONMENT- ENERGY RESOURCES

THE CONTEXT: Covering 10% of the world’s hydropower reservoirs with ‘floatovoltaics’ would install electrical capacity equivalent to that provided by all electricity-generating fossil fuel plants in operation worldwide.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Floatovoltaics, floating solar plants, or FSPV (floating solar photovoltaic) are panel structures that are installed on water bodies like lakes, basins, and reservoirs instead of on solid structures like a roof or terraces.
• The biggest impetus behind the rise of large-scale FSPV has been that it doesn’t take up any land space, which could be then used for construction and agriculture.

The world’s first large-scale FSPV system was installed in 2011, in Napa Valley, California.

India:

• In recent years, floating solar power plants have become part of India’s plans of solar expansion.
• According to a 2020 study by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) reservoirs cover 18000 square Kilometer in India and can generate 280 GW through floating solar panels.
• Currently less than 1% of solar installations are floating.
• The largest floating solar power plant in India is currently the Ramagundam in Peddapalli district of Telangana, with a capacity of 100 MW.
• Currently a plant is being built on the Narmada’ Omkareshwar Dam in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh is being built with a capacity of 600 MW, which will soon be the largest floating solar power plant in the world.

What are the benefits of floating solar panels?

• The water’s cooling effect makes them more efficient than land-based ones;
• They don’t interfere with desert ecosystems; and
• They keep precious water from evaporating.
• Even though reservoirs are artificial ecosystems, they provide habitats for wildlife.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES IN NEWS

4. ‘SPRINT’ INITIATIVE

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Navy has recently announced a collaboration with Sagar Defence Engineering Private Limited for the development of armed autonomous boat swarms as part of the “SPRINT” initiative.

THE EXPLANATION:

• It was launched by Prime Minister in July 2022, SPRINT (Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence) aims to promote the development and usage of indigenous defense technologies by domestic companies. The task of developing this technology is one of the 75 challenges introduced by the Indian Navy under the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations.

India’s First Armed Autonomous Unmanned Boat

• Sagar Defence Engineering has stated that it possesses the know-how to develop India’s first armed autonomous unmanned boat with swarming capabilities. According to the company, the platform will be able to conduct a variety of navy and security tasks, including high-speed interdiction, surveillance, constabulary operations, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Indian Navy Plans to Order 12 Systems

• The collaboration with Sagar Defence Engineering is the 50th contract signed under the SPRINT initiative, and the Indian Navy plans to place an order for 12 systems once the construction of the weaponized autonomous unmanned boat is completed. The agreement is part of the Defense India Start-up Challenge (DISC 7) SPRINT initiative.

SPRINT Initiative Aims to Induct 75 New Technologies by 2023

• As part of the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations and in an effort to achieve self-reliance in defense, the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) aims to induct at least 75 new indigenous technologies/products into the Indian Navy through the SPRINT initiative.
• In March 2022, the Indian Navy also signed a memorandum of understanding for a knowledge partnership with BharatShakti.in and the Society for Indigenous Defence Manufacturing (SIDM) as a step towards encouraging innovation and self-reliance in defense in the country.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. PARSHURAM KUND FESTIVAL

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Arunachal Pradesh government informed that Parshuram Kund Festival (PKF), is to be celebrated from 12 to 16 January 2023.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Parshuram Kund Festival:

• It is a Hindu pilgrimage site situated on the Brahmaputra plateau in the lower reaches of the Lohit River and 21 km north of Tezu in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh, India.
• Devotees and sadhus take a holy dip in its water each year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, in January.
• It is also known as the Kumbh of the Northeast.
• Religious significance: It is dedicated to a mythological figure sage Parshuram. This popular festival attracts pilgrims from Nepal, from across India, and from nearby states of Manipur and Assam.
• The project “Development of Parasuram Kund is sanctioned under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive’ (PRASHAD) Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.

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1. That sinking feeling: Politicians & people ignored geological facts of Joshimath, and now it is fire-fighting mode READ MORE
2. Draconian, Toothless~II READ MORE
3. How increasing tourism in Antarctica threatens its unique ecosystems READ MORE

1. Avoid further delay in conducting the Census READ MORE
2. Gender equitable world by 2030 is a distant dream READ MORE

1. UGC guidelines on foreign universities: The University Gimmicks Commission READ MORE
2. The superbugs are here – and they are resistant to antibiotics READ MORE
3. Driving to despair: Poor maintenance, poor policing, poor traffic rules enforcement, too much wrong with India’s roads READ MORE
4. Store data responsibly, not necessarily locally READ MORE
5. Democracy not synonymous with `reasonable nexus’ or `good intentions’ READ MORE
6. Dissecting the demonetisation verdict READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. World’s longest river cruise ‘Ganga Vilas’ to unlock River Cruise tourism in India: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal READ MORE  
2. IISER Pune’s new material removes pollutants from water READ MORE
3. Bird species count up in Deepor Beel, Assam’s lone Ramsar site READ MORE
4. Indian Navy signs contract for autonomous armed boat swarms under SPRINT scheme READ MORE
5. Roots connect a Meghalaya village READ MORE
6. Green Bonds out Jan 25: What they are, what they mean for investors, environment READ MORE
7. What should the government do to correct the worsening nutrient imbalance from over-application of urea and DAP READ MORE
8. New investment proposals up 71% in 2022 as economy strengthens READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. That sinking feeling: Politicians & people ignored geological facts of Joshimath, and now it is fire-fighting mode READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. UGC guidelines on foreign universities: The University Gimmicks Commission READ MORE
2. The superbugs are here – and they are resistant to antibiotics READ MORE
3. Driving to despair: Poor maintenance, poor policing, poor traffic rules enforcement, too much wrong with India’s roads READ MORE
4. Store data responsibly, not necessarily locally READ MORE
5. Democracy not synonymous with `reasonable nexus’ or `good intentions’ READ MORE
6. Dissecting the demonetisation verdict READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Avoid further delay in conducting the Census READ MORE
2. Gender equitable world by 2030 is a distant dream READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Explained | The escalation on the India-China border READ MORE
2. G20 & the politics of optics READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Gig jobs, green jobs … How output and employment are bucking the global contraction in India READ MORE
2. RBI’s compliance audit of NBFCs will be challenging READ MORE
3. Fiscal focus: Govt must aim for faster consolidation READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Draconian, Toothless~II READ MORE
2. How increasing tourism in Antarctica threatens its unique ecosystems READ MORE

SECURITY

1. China cyberwar: Beijing’s dominance in IoT & smart technology & vulnerabilities for India READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Freedom of speech misused to peddle hate READ MORE
2. Aggregative, derivative, creative: Generative AI and human creativity READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘A nation that wants to emerge as an economic power and a political force on the world stage ought to have a more responsive and imaginative administration’. Comment on the statement in light of the recent sinking crisis in Joshimath.
2. ‘A flawed process led to an erroneous policy which is counterproductive and which resulted in not only damage to democracy but to huge adverse impact on the public, especially the poor’. Critically analyse the statement in light of recent judgement on demonetization.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Attitude is greatly shaped by influence and association.
• The Census alone can provide population data for every village and town, data for the delimitation of constituencies and for determining the quantum of reservation, and validate or reject estimates.
• The first Census after 2026 would be used for delimitation of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies and for apportionment of parliamentary seats among the States. Due to the disparity in growth rates between the States, there could be changes in the distribution of seats in Parliament.
• Anti-microbial resistance is an impending health catastrophe and requires a multi-disciplinary approach and investment in R&D.
• India’s fundamentals remain strong even when the world is facing economic turbulence caused by a devastating public health crisis and geopolitical complexities.
• Data localisation calls for building a demanding infrastructure, rather than mandating a requirement to store data locally.
• A nation that wants to emerge as an economic power and a political force on the world stage ought to have a more responsive and imaginative administration.
• The industry, with the motive of cashing in on its profits the maximum, wants the Government to bear the expenses that it should ideally have done itself
• A lot of challenges might make diversity a difficult task to include in clinical trials, but there are many ways through which diversity can be promoted and provide benefits to all sections of society.
• Diversity is necessary for clinical research, because it secures the results that constitute all the groups of people in the world. The generalisation of the result is important, and ethical, and should be able to find the different ways in which treatment might affect the people of all groups.
• Greater ambition in terms of fiscal consolidation will pay dividends in the medium-term future. It will reduce inflationary pressure, increase the space for private investment, and induce economic growth dynamism. Policymakers in the finance ministry should not miss this opportunity.
• Global efforts must counter such regressive trends in policy framework and implementation process by involving multiple actors from community leaders and civil society to governments.
• Even as democratic Europe confronts the strategic fallout and human distress caused by Russia’s warmongering, it should step up its economic contribution to the well-being of Asia – and the rest of the developing world.
• A flawed process led to erroneous policy which is counterproductive and which resulted in not only damage to democracy but to huge adverse impact on the public, especially the poor.

50-WORD TALK

• Ministers are not ordinary citizens; people elect them to unimaginable and uncontrollable power; they dominate our collective lives and manipulate multitudes. As far as the holders of a public office are concerned, there is no right to privacy. One call to violence in the public domain by someone who belongs to the ruling party wipes out scores of lives. We saw this happen in February 2020 when communal riots shook northeast Delhi.

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 the news, you should do map work (marking those areas in 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.