IAS Prayojan Magazine April 2019

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IAS
PRAYOJAN
Monthly current affairs
APRIL 2019
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TABLE OF CONTENT
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ..................................... 3 4. DEFENCE AND SECURITY ....................................... 58
1.1 ELECTION ISSUES ................................................... 3 4.1 NAXALISM AND TERRORISM............................... 58
1.2 TRAVELLING ABROAD IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT . 6 4.2 INDIAN COAST GUARD VESSEL C-441 ................. 61
1.3 LT. GOVERNORS OF DELHI VS PUDUCHERRY ........ 7 4.3 MH-60R HELICOPTERS ........................................ 62
1.4 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL 4.4 ANTI-SATELLITE WEAPON ................................... 62
OFFENCES (POCSO) ACT 2012 ..................................... 8 4.5 ARMED FORCES SPECIAL POWERS ACT (AFSPA). 64
1.5 INDIA’S FAST TRACK COURTS .............................. 11 4.6 GENEVA CONVENTION ....................................... 65
1.6 REDACTIVE PRICING AUDIT ................................. 13 5. ENVIRONMENT .................................................... 66
1.7 THE FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION (REGULATION) ACT, 5.1 PLAN BEE............................................................. 66
2010 .......................................................................... 15
5.2 U.N. ENVIRONMENT FINANCE INITIATIVE .......... 66
1.8 INDIA CUTS OFF UN PANEL AFTER JAMMU &
KASHMIR REPORT ..................................................... 16 5.3 CYCLONES ........................................................... 67
1.9 NITI AAYOG ......................................................... 17 5.4 GLOBAL ASSESSMENT REPORT ........................... 68
1.10 COLLEGIUM SYSTEM OF SUPREME COURT....... 19 5.5 GREATER ONE–HORNED RHINOS (INDIAN RHINO)
.................................................................................. 69
1.11 CABINET COMMITTEES ..................................... 21
5.6 CORINGA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY ........................ 69
1.12 GENERAL CONSENT ........................................... 22
5.7 KOUNDINYA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY ................... 71
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ................................. 23
5.8 URBAN FLOODING .............................................. 71
2.1 CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO....................................... 23
5.9 IMPRESSED TORTOISE/ MANOURIA IMPRESSA .. 72
2.2 KILOGRAM ........................................................... 27
5.10 RAJAJI TIGER RESERVE ...................................... 72
2.3 HONG KONG’S EXTRADITION BILL ...................... 28
5.11 GRIZZLED GIANT SQUIRREL .............................. 73
2.4 INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE (ISA) ............. 30
5.12 BIOLOGICAL CONTROL ...................................... 74
2.5 WEST ASIA POLITICS ............................................ 31
5.13 FOREST FIRE ...................................................... 74
2.6 EBOLA .................................................................. 36
5.14 ENVIRONMENTAL MIGRANTS .......................... 76
3. ECONOMY ............................................................ 37
6. SOCIAL ISSUES ...................................................... 77
3.1 INDIAN GDP CALCULATION ................................. 37
6.1 ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS SYNDROME (AES) ............ 77
3.2 NPA ISSUE IN INDIA ............................................. 39
6.2 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE .......................................... 79
3.3 BASE EROSION AND PROFIT SHIFTING ................ 45
6.3 ALZHEIMER’S....................................................... 83
3.4 DISINVESTMENT .................................................. 46
6.4 ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) .................. 84
3.5 GOVERNMENT E-MARKETPLACE (GEM) ............. 48
6.5 FEMALE FOETICIDE ............................................. 86
3.6 WHAT IS AN 'INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING - IPO' .... 49
6.6 MONKEYPOX ....................................................... 88
3.7 BANK MERGER .................................................... 50
6.7 UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND ............... 88
3.8 PRADHAN MANTRI LAGHU VYAPARI MAAN-DHAN
YOJANA ..................................................................... 51 6.8 UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION (UGC) ......... 89
3.9 SILK SAMAGRA .................................................... 52 6.9 ROLE OF LEGISLATIONS IN BEHAVIOURAL

CHANGE .................................................................... 89
3.10 TURNOVER RATIO ............................................. 52
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY .................................. 90
3.11 INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR .................. 52
7.1 BT BRINJAL .......................................................... 90
3.12 INDIA’S CHEMICAL INDUSTRY ........................... 56
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7.2 BLACK HOLE......................................................... 94 8.27 SHAHEEN II...................................................... 105

7.3 YOUNG SCIENTIST PROGRAMME (YUVIKA) ........ 95 8.28 VARUNASTRA .................................................. 105
7.4 WHAT IS PACEMAKER? ....................................... 96 8.29 MIZO RAIN SNAKE........................................... 106
7.5 MANAV: HUMAN ATLAS INITIATIVE.................... 97 8.30 DHRUPAD ........................................................ 106
7.6 RISAT-2B .............................................................. 97 8.31 CHAVANG KUT ................................................ 106
7.7 WHAT IS A GENE?................................................ 98 8.32 MOUNT AGUNG/ GUNUNG AGUNG............... 106
7.8 SCIENTIFIC TEMPER ............................................. 99 8.33 MAHABODHI TEMPLE ..................................... 106
8. MISCELLANEOUS ................................................ 101 8.34 KURUVAI PADDY ............................................. 106
8.1 PAKISTAN’S BLASPHEMY LAW .......................... 101 8.35 ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (ASI) ....... 107
8.2 ‘ZERO CHANCE’ ................................................. 101 8.36 KALI SINDH RIVER ........................................... 107
8.3 ‘CHRISTCHURCH CALL TO ACTION’ ................... 101 8.37 SAPTAMARIKA CULT ....................................... 107
8.4 ENDOBOT .......................................................... 101 8.38 GOVERNMENT E-MARKETPLACE SAMVAAD .. 107
8.5 YETI.................................................................... 101 8.39 CONJUGAL VISITS IN PRISON .......................... 107
8.6 SANAULI ............................................................ 102 8.40 GOVERNMENT INSTANT MESSAGING SYSTEM
8.7 TRAIN 18............................................................ 102 (GIMS) ..................................................................... 108
8.8 FC-5 ................................................................... 102 8.41 JAGA MISSION................................................. 108
8.9 PIT VIPER ........................................................... 102 8.42 MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD? .............................. 108
8.10 PERJURY .......................................................... 102 8.43 NIGHTINGALE.................................................. 108
8.11 YUMTHANG VALLEY ........................................ 103 8.44 MI-24 HELICOPTERS: ....................................... 108
8.12 BALUKHAND-KONARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY 103 8.45 HOPE PROBE PROJECT .................................... 109
8.13 INSTRUMENT IN SUPPORT OF TRADE 8.46 STRONGROOM ................................................ 109

EXCHANGES (INSTEX) .............................................. 103 8.47 ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON .......................... 109
8.14 WHAT IS ZERO SHADOW DAY? ....................... 103 8.48 SACCHARINE ................................................... 109
8.15 FARMER’S PARLIAMENT.................................. 103 8.49 SARASWATI SAMMAN .................................... 109
8.16 EUROPEAN ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE AND NATIONS 8.50 THE KAFALA SYSTEM....................................... 109
................................................................................ 103 8.51 CHILLI MEAL .................................................... 110
8.17 LIBRA- CRYPTOCURRENCY............................... 104 8.52 GOLD-COATED FUNGI ..................................... 110
8.18 C-ATFM SYSTEM .............................................. 104 8.53 COMET 2I/BORISOV ........................................ 110
8.19 WORLD’S LARGEST PLANE .............................. 104 8.54 ILKAL SAREE .................................................... 110
8.20 RAAVANA-1 ..................................................... 104 8.55 AJIT.................................................................. 111
8.21 PUERTO WILLIAMS, CHILE ............................... 104 8.56 KONYAK TRIBE ................................................ 111
8.22 NANDANKANAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK .............. 104 8.57 KOYNA DAM.................................................... 111
8.23 MULA RIVER .................................................... 104 8.58 BHARATI SCRIPT .............................................. 111
8.24 FIRST RESILIENT KERALA PROGRAM ............... 105 8.59 HONEYPOT ...................................................... 111
8.25 ALBINO PANDA................................................ 105 8.60 KOLAM TRIBE .................................................. 112
8.26 HONEY BEE ...................................................... 105

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1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1.1 ELECTION ISSUES
ELECTORAL BOND SCHEME
>The ‘electoral bonds’ were introduced by the Finance Act, 2017 Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
and scheme was subsequently notified in 2018. • Article 324 of the Constitution mandates
>Electoral bonds are bearer instruments like promissory notes i.e. the Commission to hold free and fair
in effect these are similar to a bank note that is payable to the elections to the Parliament and the State
bearer on demand and free of interest. Legislatures.
>The bonds can be purchased by an Indian citizen or a body • The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the
incorporated in the country. Election Commission to regulate political
parties and candidates prior to elections, to
>The bonds will not bear the name of the donor but the buyers of
ensure free and fair elections.
the bonds have to submit full KYC details at the time of buying.
• The MCC is operational from the date that
>One can purchase bonds of various denominations from a the election schedule is announced till the
designated bank (not all banks) within the 10-day window in every date that results are announced.
quarter of the financial. • A form of the MCC was first introduced in
>The purchasers of these bonds need to present these to the the state assembly elections in Kerala in
political parties of their choice, and the parties have to redeem 1960.
them within 15 days. • In the 1962 general elections to the Lok
>Every registered political party that has secured at least one per Sabha, the MCC was circulated to recognised
cent of the votes polled in the most recent Lok Sabha or State parties.
election will be allotted a verified account by the Election • The MCC contains eight provisions dealing
with general conduct, meetings, processions,
Commission. Electoral bond transactions can be made only via this
polling day, polling booths, observers, party
account.
in power, and election manifestos.
>A donor will get a deduction and the recipient, i.e. the political • The MCC is not enforceable by law.
party, will get tax exemption. However, certain provisions of the MCC may
be enforced through invoking corresponding
Issues Involved provisions in other statutes such as the Indian
>The Electoral Bonds Scheme is alleged to have opened the Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal
floodgates to unlimited corporate and anonymous financing to Procedure, 1973, and Representation of the
People Act, 1951.
political parties.
• The MCC is not a part of the Representation
>The removal of cap on donations by companies and the of the People Act, 1951.
legalisation of anonymity pose a danger to the autonomy of
electoral process and can encourage corrupt practices in politics, and the unholy nexus between politics and
corporate houses.
>Ordinary citizens will not be able to know who is donating how much money to which political party and thus
adversely impact the ability to vote with an informed decision making.
>Nevertheless, the scheme has brought in a shift from the old electoral system in which massive amounts of
political donations were being made in cash, and identity of the donors was not known as the system was wholly
opaque and ensured complete anonymity.
>On the contrary, the electoral bonds are purchased only by means of a demand draft, cheque or through
Electronic Clearing System; no black money can, therefore, be used for the purchase of these bonds.
>The non-disclosure of the identity of the donor has the objective to safeguard the donor from political
victimisation, in case they turn out to have supported the losing party.
>Moreover, the KYC details are always available in the banking channel and can be retrieved as and when
required by enforcement agencies.
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Way Forward RELATED INFORMATION

>Given that political funding used to be a way to whitewash black >Donations to political parties below ₹2,000
money, the switch to a mechanism that operates through the can be made in cash. Thus, cash donations are
banking system is undoubtedly a step forward in ensuring clean not entirely ruled out.
political funding. >The Finance Act 2017 amended Income Tax
>As a step towards transparency, the company should disclose in Act giving the donors freedom with respect to
providing names, address or PAN if the
its yearly balance sheet the donations made by it so that the
contribution is less than Rs. 20,000.
electors and company shareholders know how a party is being >The Finance Act 2017 amended
financed. Representation of People Act (RPA), 1951
>The political class needs to debate more on the long pending issue allowing political parties to skip recording
of political funding in order to resolve the anonymity vs donations received by them through
transparency impasse. electoral bonds in their contributory reports
to EC.
M1, M2 AND M3 EVMS >The amendment to the Companies Act in
2017 lifted the cap on the amount corporates
• M1 EVMs
can contribute to political parties. Thus, any
* Manufactured: 1989-2006
company can donate any amount of money
* Last used: 2014 general elections to any political party.
* Not compatible with VVPAT >The Finance Act 2016 amended Foreign
• M2 EVMs Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) allowing
* Manufactured: 2006-2012 donations from foreign companies having
* EVMs can cater to a maximum of 64 candidates including NOTA majority stake in Indian companies. Thus,
by linking four balloting units. political parties can now receive foreign
• M3 EVMs funds.
* Manufactured: 2013
* EVMs can cater to a maximum of 384 candidates including NOTA by connecting 24 Balloting Units.
The new M3 EVM produced after 2013 have additional features like Tamper Detection and Self Diagnostics.
• The Tamper Detection Feature makes an EVM inoperative the moment anyone tries to open the machine.
• The Self Diagnostic Feature checks the EVM fully every time it is RULE 49-MA OF THE CONDUCT OF
switched on. Any change in its hardware or software will be ELECTIONS RULES:
detected. It was inserted to prescribe the procedure to
be followed in case of complaint made by the
TWO VOTER ID’S elector about alleged wrong particulars of a
• Section 17 in the Representation of the People Act, 1950 candidate, symbol on paper slip generated by
the printer on casting votes using the EVM.
No person shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll for
• Any person making a claim about the
more than one constituency
malfunction after casting his vote has to
• Section 18 in the Representation of the People Act, 1950 make a declaration, after which the person is
No person shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll for allowed to cast a “test” vote.
any constituency more than once. • If the allegation is found true, the presiding
• Section 31- Making false declarations.—If any person makes in officer shall report the facts immediately to
connection with— the returning officer, stop further recording
* the preparation, revision or correction of an electoral roll, or of votes in that voting machine and act as per
* the inclusion or exclusion of any entry in or from an electoral roll, the direction that may be given by the
Returning Officer.
* a statement or declaration in writing which is false and which he • If the allegation is false, a case under
either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, Section 177 of the IPC is made out.
he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may • It prescribes simple imprisonment for a
extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.” term extending to six months, or with fine of
Rs.1,000, or both.

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• In the case of Keshav Lal Thakur v. State of Bihar, (1996), the Supreme Court has clearly held that offence
under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, is a non-cognizable offence.
NAMO TV
The new channel NaMo TV has been at the centre of controversy during the poll season, with the Aam Aadmi
Party and the Congress submitting complaints against it with the Election Commission.
How is this channel allowed, then?
• As per the Constitution, legislative & executive power over ‘Posts and telegraphs; telephones, wireless,
broadcasting, and other like forms of communication’ vests with the Union.
• I&B Ministry has apparently told the Election Commission that NaMo TV is a ‘platform service’. For such
services, I&B permission is not necessary.
what is a Platform Service?
• There are several ways that viewers can receive a channel on their TV — cable TV services that can be received
through Multi-System Operators and/ or Local Cable Operators, DTH services, Internet Protocol Television
services, Headend-in-the-Sky, and terrestrial TV services in smaller geographic regions. Together they are called
Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs).
• Platform services are certain channels that are provided by local cable operators and DTH operators,
exclusively to their own viewers.
* These are not offered by broadcasters (those that run satellite-based channels) and are outside the purview
of regulations currently.
* On the other hand, satellite-based channels can only be broadcast if they are registered with the Government
of India, which means these have I&B permissions.
• Platform services were defined by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India during a consultation on them in
2014 as: “Platform services (PS) are programs transmitted by Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) exclusively
to their own subscribers and does not include Doordarshan channels and registered TV channels.
• PS shall not include foreign TV channels that are not registered in India.
There are four types of channels on TV:
• Private satellite channels, which are broadcast through satellites and need I&B permissions;
• Doordarshan channels run by public broadcaster Prasar Bharati;
• Platform Services Channels, which are owned and operated by the DPOs and distributed exclusively to their
own subscribers;
• Ground-Based Channels that come with a strong local focus and are referred to as “local channels”, usually an
integral part of most cable TV networks.
What can come under such services?
• Local cable operators often use such channels to show content relevant to their geographical area, and which
includes local news.
• DTH operators, however, have used such platform services to offer subscribers access to content ‘on demand’,
like movies-on-demand, video-on-demand, pay-per-view, and interactive services such as games, education,
etc., which are paid for by the subscribers.
Are such services not regulated at all?
• Since these services do not require permissions from I&B Ministry, they cannot be punished by that Ministry,
which can take action only against conventional channels listed with it.
• However, regardless of who owns the service, two laws are still applicable: restrictions on free speech
mentioned in Article 19 of the Constitution would come into play about what is being shown on such platform
services, regardless of whether it is registered with the I&B Ministry or not; and
• The content on such services has to comply with the Advertisement and the Programme Codes of the Cable
TV Act, 1994.

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Issue Area
• NaMo TV is violating the ‘election silence’ as provided under Section 126 of Representation of the People (RP)
Act, 1951.
* Section 126 of the Act “prohibits” display of “any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or
other similar apparatus” in the 48- hour period before polling concludes in an area.
• As the identity of the channel and the owner remains mysterious, NaMo TV’s presence raises questions not
only about a ruling party’s exertions of power in the media space Section 77 in the Representation of the
but also the possibility of violating the model code of conduct People Act, 1951
Account of election expenses and maximum
STAR CAMPAIGNERS thereof-
• The ECI has given directive that the expenditure on travel (1) Every candidate at an election shall, either
expenses of Star Campaigners, as per the provisions of by himself or by his election agent, keep a
Representation of Peoples Act 1951, incurred by the leaders of a separate and correct account of all
political party on account of travel by air or by any other means expenditure in connection with the election
shall not be deemed to be expenditure in connection with the incurred or authorised by him or by his
election incurred or authorized by a candidate. election agent between 2[the date on which
he has been nominated] and the date of
• Political parties are entitled to nominate “Star Campaigners”
declaration of the result thereof, both dates
during General Elections. A recognized National or State party can inclusive.
have a maximum of 40 “Star campaigners” and a registered un- (a) The expenditure incurred by leaders of a
recognised party can nominate a maximum of 20 ‘Star political party on account of travel by air or by
Campaigners”. any other means of transport for propagating
• The travel expenses of star campaigners are not to be accounted programme of the political party shall not be
for in the election expense accounts of candidates of their party. deemed to be the expenditure in connection
• In the event of public rally or meeting by the star campaigner’s, if with the election incurred or authorised by a
there is more than one contestants, sharing the dais besides candidate of that political party or his
displaying banners or posters with their names in rally/meeting, election agent for the purposes If leaders of a
then the expenses on such rally/meeting would be equally divided political party pay for their use of helicopters
and chartered planes, the candidate need not
among all such contestants, stated the ECI directive mentioning the
declare them as part of his poll expenses to
returning officer (RO) of the constituency would have to pass on the the Election Commission.
information about the presence of other contestants in the rally to • Concerning to expenses incurred on
the respective ROS for making necessary entry of expenditure in Helicopter or Aircrafts, the ECI directed that if
the Shadow Observation Register (SOR) of the contestants. the name of star campaigner of the political
• If the candidate’s is/are sharing the transport facility with the star party has been intimated to the ECI and chief
campaigner, then 50% of the expenditure and if more than one election official (CEO) within seven-days of
candidate(s) is sharing the facilities then 50% of the travel the notification of election, then the travel
expenditure is to be apportioned among the contestants, stated expense of the Star campaigner will not be
the ECI directive. added to the expenditure of the candidate.
1.2 TRAVELLING ABROAD IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT

Recently, the Supreme Court has ruled that the right to travel abroad is an important basic human right.
>The Court was hearing the plea of an IPS Officer who was denied permission to go abroad as he is facing
departmental proceedings.
>SC observed that the pendency of departmental proceedings cannot be a ground to prevent the officer from
travelling abroad.
>The Court observed that the right to travel abroad is an important basic human right for it nourishes
independent and self-determining creative character of the individual, not only by extending his freedom of
action but also by extending the scope of his experience.

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Background
>Freedom of movement is one of the six freedoms under Article 19(1) of the Constitution i.e. freedom -of speech
and expression;
-to assemble peaceably and without arms;
-to form associations or unions;
-to move freely throughout the territory of India;
-to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and
-to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.
>The freedom of movement has two dimensions, viz, internal (right to move inside the country) and external
(right to move out of the country and the right to come back to the country).
>Article 19 protects only the first dimension. The second dimension is dealt with by Article 21 (right to life and
personal liberty).
>In Menaka Gandhi case (1978), the Supreme Court took a wider interpretation of Article 21. The court held
that the ‘right to life’ is not merely confined to animal existence or survival but it includes within its ambit the
right to live with human dignity and all those aspects of life which make a man’s life meaningful, complete and
worth living.
>It also ruled that the expression ‘personal liberty’ in Article 21 is of the widest amplitude and it covers a variety
of rights that go to constitute the personal liberty of a man.
1.3 LT. GOVERNORS OF DELHI VS PUDUCHERRY

• The Madras High Court pointed out the significant differences in
Note
the powers conferred on the legislatures of Puducherry and Delhi The Chief Ministers of both Delhi and
under Articles 239A and 239AA of the Constitution. Puducherry are appointed by the President
Analysis (and not by the Lt. Governors) and the other
• The Madras High Court noted though Article 239AA imposes ministers shall be appointed by the President
several restrictions on the legislature of Delhi, no such restrictions on the advice of the Chief Minister.
had been imposed explicitly in the case of Puducherry under • The LG of Delhi also enjoys greater powers
Article 239A. than the LG of Puducherry.
o Article 239A symbolises the supremacy of the Legislature above • Sub-section (4) of Article 239AA mandates
the Administrator in case of the Union Territory of Puducherry. that a Council of Ministers shall aid and
• The legislative assembly of Puducherry can make any law on any advice the LG in his functions regarding laws
made by the Legislative Assembly.
subject of the State List and the Concurrent List.
• Article 239AA (4) also states that in case of
o On the other hand, the legislative assembly of Delhi can make a difference of opinion between the LG and
any law on any subject of the State List (except public order, police the Council of Ministers, the former has to
and land) and the Concurrent List. refer the issue to the President.
• While the LG of Delhi is guided by the Government of National • In the meanwhile, while that decision is
Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Transaction of pending before the President, the LG, if the
Business of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi matter is urgent, can use his discretion to
Rules, 1993, the LG of Puducherry is guided mostly by the take immediate action.
Government of Union Territories Act, 1963.
• The Madras High Court ruled that the Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) of Puducherry could not interfere with the
day-to-day administration of the Union Territory when an elected government was in place.
• Referring to the provisions of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the judge said Section 44 of the
Act states that there shall be a Council of Ministers in each Union Territory to aid and advice the Administrator
who shall act in his/her discretion only in so far as any special responsibilities were concerned.
o However, since the Act does not specify the ‘special responsibilities’ in relation to which the L-G could apply
his/her discretion, “it is the bounden duty of the Administrator and the Council of Ministers to avoid logjam and
facilitate the smooth functioning of the government in public interest, leaving the political differences apart.
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1.4 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES (POCSO) ACT 2012

Recently, an alleged child victim in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual assault case has turned hostile before
a Delhi court.
Provisions of the POCSO Act DEFINITION OF CHILD UNDER DIFFERENT
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act ACTS-
2012 was formulated in order to effectively address sexual abuse • POCSO Act: Less than 18
and sexual exploitation of children through legal provisions. • Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation)
• India being a party to the ‘UN Convention on the Rights of the Act, 1986: Less than 14
Child’ is also under legal obligation to protect its children from all • The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. Children) Act 2015: Less than 16
• Factories Act, 1948: Less than 15
• The act defines a child, (irrespective of gender) as a person under
Globally laws on age of consent
the age of 18 years, which prevents the “inducement or coercion • Many countries have 16 years or below that
of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity”. as the age of consent.
• It mandates the Central and State governments to take all • Most of the American states, Europe, Japan,
measures to ensure publicity to the provisions of the Act and Canada, Australia, China and Russia fall into
obliges government officials to be trained in how to implement the this category.
Act.
• It also seeks to establish Special Courts for speedy trial of such offences. The Act stipulates that a case of Child
Sexual Abuse must be disposed of within one year from the date the offence is reported.
• It is gender neutral law, wherein the law takes cognizance of sexual crimes committed against both girls and
boys under the age of 18 years.
• The law protects children from both contact and non-contact sexual abuse.
• It addresses a wide range of sexual offences which include anything from complete and partial penetration,
non-penetrative sexual assault, stalking of a child, showing children pornography, using the child for
pornography and exhibitionism.
• It places the burden of proof on the accused and ensures punishment for all perpetrators irrespective of age
and gender.
THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE
• It does not recognize consensual sexual acts among children or PROTECTION OF CHILD RIGHTS
between a child and an adult. It prosecutes any person (including > NCPCR was established in March 2007 as a
a child) for engaging in a sexual act with a child irrespective of statutory body under the Commission for
whether the latter consented to it. Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
• It introduces child friendly measures and defines the role of the > It was set up to protect, promote and
police as a child protector and pronounces the importance of defend child rights in the country.
mandatory reporting of sexual offences. Functions of NCPCR under POCSO Act
> To monitor the implementation of the
provisions of the POCSO Act.
KEY TERMS UNDER POCSO ACT, 2012
> Monitor the designation of Special Courts
>Penetrative sexual assault: Under the Act, a person commits by state governments.
“penetrative sexual assault” if he: > Monitor the appointment of Public
•penetrates his penis into the vagina, mouth, urethra or anus of a Prosecutors by state governments.
child, or > Monitor formulation of the guidelines
•makes a child do the same, or described in the Act by the state government.
•inserts any other object into the child’s body, or
•applies his mouth to a child’s body parts.
>Aggravated penetrative sexual assault: The Act defines certain actions as “aggravated penetrative sexual
assault”.
•These include cases when a police officer, a member of the armed forces, or a public servant commits
penetrative sexual assault on a child.

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•It also covers cases where the offender is a relative of the child, or if the assault injures the sexual organs of
the child or the child becomes pregnant, among others.
>Aggravated sexual assault: Under the Act, “sexual assault” includes actions where a person touches the vagina,
penis, anus or breast of a child with sexual intent without penetration. “Aggravated sexual assault” includes
cases where the offender is a relative of the child, or if the assault injures the sexual organs of the child, among
others.
WHY REDUCTION IN THE AGE UNDER POCSO?

• Considering the innovation in digital technology, the children are exposed to so much of information that they
get matured much earlier and thus are in a position to give consent for any relationship even at the age of 16.
• Many of the cases of sexual assault reported to the police (under the POCSO Act and other laws) dealing with
the 16-18 years-old children are consensual in nature and are generally reported at the behest of girl’s parents
who disapprove of the teenagers’ conduct.
• It will also reduce significant number of criminal cases pending in various courts, where the provisions of the
Act are grossly misused as even when a girl in the intermediate age of 16-18 gives consent, it is treated as invalid
in view of the provisions of the POCSO Act.
• Where two minors engage in a consensual sexual relationship, in Pendency in POCSO Cases
a paradox, they stand both as victims and perpetrators vis-à-vis > Nearly 1.5 lakh cases under POCSO Act are
each other, although ground-level reality results in boys being pending.
overwhelmingly treated as perpetrators and girls as victims. > Uttar Pradesh has the most cases pending
• Read together with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of (over 44,000) followed by Maharashtra (over
Children) Act, 2015, which allows the trial of 16 and 17-year-old 19,000 cases).
children as adults in respect of heinous offences, a child above 16 > According to National Crime Records
Bureau around 89% (in 2016) of the total
years can now be prosecuted and punished for engaging in
cases before the courts are pending trial
consensual sex with a minor and be punished for a minimum 10 while the pendency rate at the police
years in jail, which can extend to life imprisonment. investigation stage is 31%.
• The act mandates doctors to reveal the identities of their
patients who are under the age of 18. This deters the patients under 18 years with accidental pregnancies and
infections to approach doctors.
CHILD PROTECTION IN INDIA

> According to the country’s Ministry of Women and Child Development, 242,938 children disappeared between
2012 and 2017. But according to TrackChild, a government database, nearly 237,040 went missing between
2012 and 2014 alone.
> Rapid pace of unplanned urbanization in the developing countries has resulted in a large proportion of children
becoming homeless, leading to multiple children living on the streets.
> These factorial pointers are indicated towards growing indifferent attitude towards children’ safety.
> This is unacceptable affairs of state - not just on ‘demographic dividend norms’ but also on moral factors.
> Looks like acts such as POCSO are lacking teeth and rigorous implementation will .
What is Child Protection?
> UNICEF considers child protection as the prevention of or responding to the incidence of abuse, exploitation,
violence and neglect of children. This includes commercial sexual exploitation, trafficking, child labour and
harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation/cutting and child marriage.
> Protection also allows children to have access to their other rights of survival, development, growth and
participation.
> According to the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) Child Protection is about keeping children safe
from a risk or perceived risk to their lives or childhood.

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> It is about recognizing that children are vulnerable and hence reducing their vulnerability by protecting them
from harm and harmful situations.
> According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children – that India ratified in 1992 – all
children are born with fundamental rights.
- Right to Survival – to life, health, nutrition, name, nationality
- Right to Development – to education, care, leisure, recreation, cultural activities
- Right to Protection – from exploitation, abuse, neglect
- Right to Participation – to expression, information, thought, religion
A PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL CHILDREN

> This protective environment rests in 2 strategic pillars: Constitutional Safeguards for Children
strengthening of national systems and social change, which > Article-15 & 15(1): The State shall prohibit
discrimination against any citizen on the
translate into the following 8 key strategies:
grounds of religion, race, caste, sex. Nothing
> Governmental commitment to fulfilling protection rights: in this article prevents the State from making
includes social welfare policies, adequate budgets, public any special provision for women and
acknowledgement and ratification of international instruments. children.
> Legislation and enforcement: includes an adequate legislative > Article -21 A: The State shall provide free
framework, its consistent implementation, accountability and a and compulsory education to all children of
lack of impunity. the age 6- 14years in such manner as the
> Attitudes, traditions, customs, behavior and practices: includes State may, by law determine.
social norms and traditions that condemn injurious practices and > Article-24: No child below the age of
support those that are protective. 14years shall be employed to work in any
> Open discussion, including the engagement of media and civil factory or mine or engaged in any other
hazardous employment.
society: acknowledges silence as a major impediment to securing
> Article-39(f): Enjoins the State to ensure
government commitment, supporting positive practices and that children are given opportunities and
ensuring the involvement of children and families. facilities to develop in a healthy manner and
> Children’s life skills, knowledge and participation: includes in conditions of freedom and dignity and that
children, both girls and boys, as actors in their own protection the childhood and youth are protected
through use of knowledge of their protection rights and ways of against exploitation and against moral and
avoiding and responding to risks. material abandonment.
> Capacity of those in contact with the child: includes the > Article-45: The State shall endeavor to
knowledge, motivation and support needed by families and by provide early childhood care and education
community members, teachers, health and social workers and for all children until they complete the age of
police, in order to protect children. six years.
> Article-243 G: Provides for
> Basic and Targeted Services: includes the basic social services,
institutionalization of child care by seeking to
health and education to which children have the right, without entrust programmes of women and child
discrimination, and also specific services that help to prevent development to Panchayat (item 25 of
violence and exploitation, and provide care, support and Schedule 11).
reintegration assistance in situations of violence, abuse and
separation.
> Monitoring and oversight: includes effective systems of monitoring such as data collection, and oversight of
trends and responses.
> Keeping in view the problems and challenges faced by children, laws have been introduced and various policies
and programmes are being implemented for the welfare of children in India.
LEGISLATIONS RELATED TO CHILDREN

> The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 codifies laws for adoption and maintenance of both boys
and girls and declares that the sons and daughters are treated equally in the matter of succession.
10 | April 2019 © IAS Prayojan Education Nagpur
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> The Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act,

Institutional Frameworks for Child Welfare
1994 regulates the use of prenatal sex determination techniques. > The National Commission for Protection of
Though it permits the use of prenatal sex determination Child Rights (NCPCR) was set up as a statutory
techniques for detecting chromosomal or sex linked disorders only body under Ministry of Women and Child
by the registered institutions but strictly prohibits determination Development in 2007 under the Commission
of sex of foetus and killing of female child in the mother’s womb for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Act
not only by the medical practitioners, gynecologists or 2005 to protect, promote and defend child
pediatricians’ but also by any genetic laboratory, counseling centre rights in the country.
or clinic. > The Central Adoption Resource Authority
> The Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act (ITPA), 1956 prohibits (CARA) is an autonomous body under
Ministry of Women and Child Development,
commercial sexual exploitation and all cases relating to
Government of India. CARA which primarily
prostitution registered under the Act. This Act defines a minor as
deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned
a person between 16 to 18 years of age. and surrendered children through recognized
> The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 prohibits agencies.
the engagement of children in certain employments and regulates > As per the provisions of Hague Convention
the conditions of work of children in certain other employments. on Inter-country Adoptions, 1993, CARA is
> The Juvenile Justice Act formulates laws relating to juveniles in designated as the Central Authority to deal
conflict with law (juvenile who is alleged to have committed an with in-country and inter-country adoption of
offence) and provide proper care and protection for children in children.
need. The Act adopts child-friendly approach by catering to the development needs of the children and their
rehabilitation in institutions established under law.
1.5 INDIA’S FAST TRACK COURTS

> As per the National Judicial Data Grid, more than 3 crore civil and criminal cases are pending (as of Feb 2019)
in the courts across the country. This is because of several factors like low per capita number of judges, lack of
basic infrastructure for judges, complex appeal mechanism etc. This delayed delivery of justice, especially in
sexual assault cases leads to frequent large scale protests, by various groups demanding stricter punishment
and speedier trial in such cases.
> In this backdrop, the Fast Track Courts (FTCs) were established in India in the year 2000 with an aim to clear
the long pending Sessions and other lower judicial cases.
> A total of 1734 FTCs were approved in 2000 following the report of the 11th Finance Commission. Out of this,
only 1562 were functional by 2005. The central government in 2005, decided to continue its support for the
1562 functional FTCs for the next 6 years (till 2011). By the end of 2011, only 1192 FTCs were functional.
> Then, the central government constituted Justice Verma Views of Legal luminaries
Commission in 2012 to suggest possible amendments in the • Former Supreme Court chief justice KG
criminal law to ensure speedier disposal of cases relating to sexual Balakrishnan has said the fast track courts
assault. were quite successful in reducing the backlog
> Finally, after the Nirbhaya Case, the Delhi High Court directed the of cases
state government to establish five more Fast Track Courts (FTCs) • Leading lawyer and rights activist Colin
for the expeditious adjudication of cases relating to sexual assault. Gonsalves says fast-track courts have not
> According to a recently released report by the Ministry of Law turned out to be a “very satisfactory system
and Justice in June 2019, currently, there are 581 fast track courts of delivering justice”.
• India’s Law Commission sums up the
in the country that are functional.
paradox: “Justice delayed is justice denied
Has increase in Judges let to reduction in Pendency of cases?
and at the same time justice hurried is justice
While the Centre is promising to set up FTCs across the country, buried.”
the moot question is: will a mere increase in the number of judges
lead to a direct reduction in pendency of cases?

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• Data collated from the Supreme Court’s ‘Court News’ between 2010 and 2017 show otherwise. For instance,
in Karnataka, the number of working judges increased between 2012 and 2017 (with occasional dips in certain
years) but pendency did not reduce.
• Similarly, in other States, such as Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi and
Recent Developments to address the issues
West Bengal, increase or decrease in the number of judges did not faced by Judiciary
affect pendency of cases. Hence, there are several other factors > All India Judicial Services – The government
that have an impact on disposal of cases. has officially initiated the setting up of All
Why FTC have not met intended objective? India Judicial Services which will bring much
• The original concept of fast-track courts envisaged the hiring of more professional judicial officers and it will
additional judges and new infrastructure, including courtrooms, help in reducing the deficiency of number of
technological facilities and libraries, this has not happened and judges in Indian Courts.
fast-track courts now function with existing infrastructure and no > NALSA - Financial Assistance provided by
additional judges. the government to NALSA has been increased
• Several FTCs lacked technological resources to conduct audio by 165%. Also, the disposal of cases in Lok
Adalats have seen an increase of 670% in
and video recordings of the victims
2017-18 from 2013-14.
* Designated Vulnerable Victims Deposition Complexes, where > Nyaya Vikas Mobile App and Web Portal
testimonies can be conducted, are set up only in few court – This initiative is aimed for strengthening of
complexes. Since a different level of sensitivity is required to hear infrastructure facilities in Judiciary. This app
and handle such cases, such designated rooms provide a helps in monitoring the ongoing
conducive atmosphere and great comfort to vulnerable victims to infrastructure projects.
share their thoughts in a free manner. The mobile application allows the surveyor at
* It is of utmost concern that witnesses are sometimes threatened the ground level to capture images and enter
by the system and so do not appear before the courts. This shows details of the project which can be later
that the way the system treats victims who seek legal redress has reviewed by the moderator.
> e-Courts Project – Through this project,
to be readdressed.
case information is available to litigants,
• Inadequate staff and IT infrastructure, frivolous adjournments
advocates and judges through web and email.
and over-listing of cases in the cause list are some of the variables. Also, a Justice Clock setup on top performing
* In addition, designated staff working solely in a FTC is not always district courts provides information about
present. Sometimes, staff from other (regular) courts end up other schemes to the public.
working in FTCs as well. Staff working in some FTCs are on > Tele Law Services – This portal helps in
contractual appointments; so they can leave at any time mainstreaming Legal Aid to the Marginalised
• In the police part of the system, there are no designated Sections of the society.
investigating officers who only investigate cases filed in FTCs. > Alternative Dispute Redressal Mechanism –
* Investigating officers also do normal policing duties, so their Amendment to The Arbitration and
time is shared. Additionally, if an accused is in custody (rather Conciliation Act, 1996 by the Arbitration and
Conciliation (Amendment) Act 2015 to
than on bail), then police tend to work faster.
expedite the speedy resolution of disputes by
* Further if offences take place in different parts of the country,
prescribing timelines.
then also it takes more time. > Rationalization of Tribunals – 36 identified
• The forensic science laboratories, which are crucial to the Tribunals have been rationalized to 18.
working of FTCs, are highly understaffed and not well-equipped. > Improving Litigation – Litigant Legal
* They deal with reports relating to both regular courts and FTCs. Information Management & Briefing System
* This leads to delay in submitting expert reports to courts. (LIMBS) is web portal on which, the
• Furthermore, given the vacancies in subordinate courts across Government uploads the details of cases
the country, it also needs to be seen whether States will hire which are pending in various courts and the
additional judges or appoint FTCs from the current pool of judges. status of these cases. This helps in effective
For instance, in the case of commercial courts, several States monitoring of court cases.
designate special judges from the current pool of judges.

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* Such a move could prove to be problematic as it would increase substantially the workload of the remaining
judges.
• In the United Kingdom, where the concept was first experimented with, the courts are backed by special laws.
The system is time-bound and gives a definite time to file pleadings, evidence, and dispose of the case.
Steps to be taken by the Govt:
For the FTCs to become successful, States will need to take stock of the issues at the ground level.
• It is important that States engage with the principal and senior district judges to get a sense of issues the
courts are facing in various districts. Equal attention must be paid to both the metropolitan and far-flung non-
metropolitan areas.
• Critical issues such as inadequate court staff, improper physical and IT infrastructure and understaffed forensic
labs, which affect the day-to-day functioning of the FTCs, must be comprehensively addressed.
• For wholesome effectiveness, even the corresponding parts of the system, such as the investigation, filing of
charge sheet, the forensic reports and appeals must also be fast-tracked
Conclusion
• Merely increasing the number of FTCs to overcome their shortage is not the answer. The need is to revamp
the system based on micro-level studies with the stakeholders.
• The FTCs cannot be allowed to routinely function like ordinary courts. Further both internal as well as external
factors affecting FTCs should be considered while deciding the issue of delay in justice.
Analysis
> Non-Uniformity in Type of Cases: In a survey of FTCs conducted by National Law University Delhi, it was
observed that there is a huge variation in the kinds of cases handled by these courts across States, with certain
States primarily allocating rape and sexual offence cases to them and other States allocating various other
matters.
> Infrastructural Issues: Most FTCs were not set up with different infrastructure or facilities, but were often
housed in an existing court. Moreover, several States appoint FTCs special judges from the current pool of
judges. This substantially increases the workload of the remaining judges.
> Technological Barrier: Several FTCs lacked technological resources to conduct audio and video recordings of
the victims and many of them did not have regular staff.
> Ad-hoc-ism: Setting up of FTCs was not based on actual problems of pendency, but was often in response to
specific incidents such as securities scams, rape cases and sexual harassment of children.
> Lack of Coordination: In India, tribunals are managed by different ministries, and fast-track courts and special
courts are administered under different judicial bodies, with little coordination or uniformity among them.
> Other Issues: There are delays in getting reports from the understaffed forensic science laboratories, judges
make frivolous adjournments and inadequate staff adversely affect the efficiency of the fast track courts.
1.6 REDACTIVE PRICING AUDIT

In an unprecedented move, the CAG in the preface of its ‘Performance Audit Report of the Comptroller and
Auditor General of India on Capital Acquisition in Indian Air Force, stated that redactive pricing had been done
but it had to be accepted due to the Ministry’s insistence citing security concerns.
• Redaction is the selection or adaption by ‘obscuring or removing sensitive information’ from a document prior
to publication. Consequently, the full commercial details were withheld and the figures on the procurement
deal were blackened in the report.
• Hence, it was unprecedented that an audit report submitted by the CAG to the President under Article 151 of
the Constitution suppressed relevant information.
IMPLICATIONS OF REDACTIVE PRICING IN THE AUDIT:
• Defeats the rationale of audit- A performance audit is done to establish whether the procurement activity was
executed keeping in mind economy, efficiency, effectiveness, ethics and equity. Only a thorough pricing audit
can bring out the credibility and integrity of a purchase decision.
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o Whereas under redactive pricing, critical details have been left out. E.g. in the Rafale deal, details like the
reduction in the original requirement to 36 aircrafts; a waiver of the earlier decision to involve Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited; observations of the Indian Negotiating Team; cost escalation due to inclusion of bank
guarantee and performance guarantee were not compared properly to arrive at the audit conclusion.
• Lack of further scrutiny to uphold accountability- e.g. in the Rafale deal, the Parliament, its committees, the
media and other stakeholders of the CAG’s reports cannot obtain complete, accurate and reliable information
due to redactive pricing.
• Could become a loophole in anti-corruption efforts- as CAG reports are often the source of further
investigation by anti-corruption bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission, Central Bureau of Investigation.
• Impacts the governance of state- CAG plays a vital role to help deter, detect, and take remedial and preventive
action to provide good governance. While performing the mandated duties, the CAG highlights deficiencies in
internal controls, segregation of powers, defective planning, implementation and inadequate monitoring.
• Not used in contemporary audit institutions of other countries- such as the National Audit Office, the
Government Accountability Office etc.
CAG constitutional provisions
The constitutional provisions relating to the
FUNCTIONS OF CAG: CAG are mentioned in four Articles —148 to
• In the Indian system of governance, policies and programmes are 151.
translated into outcomes and implemented by various • Article 148 deals with the appointment of
departments of the government to be achieved through public CAG by the President and safeguards his
spending. position and service conditions by stating
• For this, the Parliament sanctions the budget which prescribes that ‘he shall only be removed from office in
how Government will collect money through taxes and how much like manner and on like grounds as a Judge of
and for which purposes it shall spend. the Supreme Court’.
• There are financial rules which the Government departments and * His salary and other conditions of service
shall be determined by Parliament and shall
other public bodies must follow when they receive and spend
be protected.
public money. The spending departments are accountable to the * It is explicitly stated that the CAG ‘shall not
Parliament for both the quantity and quality of their expenditure. be eligible for further office either under the
• Article 148 to 151 of the Constitution prescribe a unique role for Government of India or under the
the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in assisting the Government of any State after he has ceased
Parliament to enforce the said accountability of the Government to hold his office’.
departments.
• The CAG’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971 with amendments 1976, 1984, 1987 and 1994
specify the CAG’s duties and powers pertaining to government accounts, audit of receipts and expenditures of
three tiers of the governments at the union, states and urban and rural local bodies.
• CAG duties include audit of public companies, autonomous bodies, regulatory bodies and other public entities,
where there is a specific legislative provision to make CAG audit mandatory in the acts by which these bodies
were created.
• Therefore, While performing his duties, the CAG acts as the financial ‘watchdog’ and exercises oversight
functions over the receipts and expenditure to and from the public exchequer.
* The main objective of the CAG reports is to truthfully report to the legislature to help it exercise effective
parliamentary oversight and control over the executive’s accountability and use of resources as per the laws
and rules of the land.
* CAG is mandated to report to the legislature to ensure that tax payers’ money voted by Parliament is spent as
per financial rules and the standards of financial propriety.

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1.7 THE FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION (REGULATION) ACT, 2010

• It extends to the whole of India, and it shall also apply to— Regulation of NGO
(a) citizens of India outside India; and Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)
(b) associate branches or subsidiaries, outside India, of companies It was introduced in 2010, to consolidate the
or bodies corporate, registered or incorporated in India. law to regulate the acceptance and utilization
• Every person who has been granted a certificate or given prior of foreign contribution by individuals or
permission shall receive foreign contribution in a single account associations and to prohibit acceptance and
only through such one of the branches of a bank. utilization of foreign contribution or foreign
• No funds other than foreign contribution shall be received or hospitality for any activities detrimental to
national interest and for matters connected
deposited in such account or accounts.
therewith or incidental.
• However, such person may open one or more accounts in one or
• It required all NGOs to apply for a license to
more banks for utilising the foreign contribution received by him. receive foreign funding.
Who can accept Foreign Contribution? o NGO must be in existence for at least 3
• Organizations working for definite cultural, social, economic, years and spending at least Rs 1,000,000 over
educational or religious programs can accept foreign contribution 3 years preceding the date of its application
but first, they’ve to get permission from the Ministry of Home on its activities
Affairs. o It must have undertaken reasonable activity
• They also have to maintain a separate account book listing the in its field for which the foreign contribution
donation received from foreigners and get it audited by a is proposed to be utilised.
Chartered Accountant and submit it to Home Ministry every year. o NGO with permanent FCRA licenses now
have to get these renewed every five years.
o NGO shall not spend more than 50% of
Prohibition to accept foreign contribution.
Foreign Contribution received in a Financial
• No foreign contribution shall be accepted by any— Year to meet administrative expenses
o (a) candidate for election; without prior approval of Central
o (b) correspondent, columnist, cartoonist, editor, owner, printer Government.
or publisher of a registered newspaper;
o (c) Judge, Government servant or employee of any corporation Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA)
or any other body controlled or owned by the Government; • It was introduced to consolidate and amend
o (d) member of any Legislature; the law relating to foreign exchange with the
o (e) political party or office-bearer thereof; objective of facilitating external trade and
o (f) organisation of a political nature; payments.
• Certain NGOs are also registered under
o (g) association or company engaged in the production or
FEMA come under Ministry of Finance.
broadcast of audio news or audio visual news or current affairs Other regulations
programmes through any electronic mode; • Labour Laws: Any NGO employing more
• No person who receives foreign contribution as per provisions of than 20 employees must comply with the
this Act, shall transfer to other person unless that person is also Employees’ Provident Fund (compliance is
authorized to receive foreign contribution as per rules made by the voluntary if an NGO has less than 20
Central Government. employees).
• Foreign contribution shall be utilized for the purpose for which it • GST laws: It would apply if turnover of
has been received and such contribution can be used for goods or commercial services exceeds a sum
administrative expenses up to 50% of such contribution received in of two million Indian rupees in any fiscal year.
• Accreditation: Recently, New accreditation
a financial year.
guidelines for NGOs had been formed on the
• However, administrative expenses exceeding fifty per cent of the
basis of recommendations of Vijay Kumar
contribution to be defrayed with the prior approval of the Central Committee
Government. o NITI Aayog has been appointed as the nodal
Why is FCRN Act in news in the recent past? agency for the purpose of registration and
• The original provision in the FCRA declared that any company with accreditation of NGOs seeking funding from
over 50% FDI was a foreign entity. Government.
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• And, the Representation of the People Act and the FCRA bar political parties from receiving foreign funds.
• The government has amended (retrospectively) the FCRA, allowing foreign-origin companies to finance non-
governmental organisations and thus political parties by changing the definition of “foreign companies”.
1.8 INDIA CUTS OFF UN PANEL AFTER JAMMU & KASHMIR REPORT
Recently, India reacted angrily to a submission of report from the Geneva-based Human Rights Council (HRC)
on the alleged violations of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir.
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
• The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for
strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of
human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
• It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout
the year.
• The Human Rights Council was established in 2006 by a Resolution as a subsidiary body to the UN General
Assembly.
o It replaced the former Commission on Human Rights, which operated from 1946 to 2006.
Membership of the Human Rights Council

• The Council is made of 47 Member States, which are elected by the majority of members of the General
Assembly of the United Nations through direct and secret ballot.
• The General Assembly takes into account the candidate States' contribution to the promotion and protection
of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard.
• The Council's Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution. Seats are distributed as follows:
1. African States: 13 seats
2. Asia-Pacific States: 13 seats
3. Latin American and Caribbean States: 8 seats
4. Western European and other States: 7 seats
5. Eastern European States: 6 seats
• Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after
serving two consecutive terms.
o At present India is also its member. Sessions
o Iceland was elected in July 2018 to serve as a member from 13 • The Council conducts its substantive work
July 2018 to 31 December 2019 to replace the vacancy left by the primarily in Regular Sessions and Special
United States following its decision to withdraw its membership. Sessions.
• Regular Sessions are held no fewer than
three times a year, usually in March, June,
Functions
and September.
• The Human Rights Council has created or renewed the mandates
of various “special procedures.” Presidency And Bureau
• The special procedures are experts appointed to monitor human • The Bureau of the Council consists of five
rights around priority themes or in specific countries with serious people - one President and four Vice-
human rights problems. presidents - representing the five regional
• The special procedures may be individual experts (“special groups.
rapporteurs” or “independent experts”) or working groups. • They serve for a year, in accordance with
• The Council also manages the Universal Periodic Review, a the Council's annual cycle.
process through which each UN Member State’s overall human
rights record is reviewed.

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1.9 NITI AAYOG

> The National Institution for Transforming India or NITI Aayog was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet
on January 1, 2015.
> It is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the GOI, providing both directional and policy inputs. While designing
strategic and long term policies and programmes for the GOI, it also provides relevant technical advice to the
Centre and States.
> NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission instituted in 1950. This was done in order to better serve the
needs and aspirations of the people of India.
> An important evolutionary change from the past, NITI Aayog acts as the quintessential platform of the GOI to
bring States to act together in national interest, and thereby fosters Cooperative Federalism.
Functions of NITI Aayog
> To evolve a shared vision of national development priorities sectors and strategies with the active involvement
of States in the light of national objectives.
> To foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a
continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation.
> To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these progressively at
higher levels of government.
> To pay special attention to the sections of our society that may be at risk of not benefiting adequately from
economic progress.
> To design strategic and long term policy and programme frameworks and initiatives, and monitor their
progress and their efficacy.
> To provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international like-
minded Think tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions.
> To create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of
national and international experts, practitioners.
> To actively monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes and initiatives, including the
identification of the needed resources so as to strengthen the probability of success and scope of delivery.
> To focus on technology up gradation and capacity building for implementation of programmes and initiatives.
Composition of NITI Aayog
> The full-time organizational framework will comprise of, in addition to the Prime Minister as the Chairperson.
> Vice-Chairperson: To be appointed by the Prime Minister.
> Members: Full-time
> Part-time members: Maximum of 2 from leading universities research organizations and other relevant
institutions in an ex-officio capacity. Part time members will be on a rotational basis.
> Ex Officio members: Maximum of 4 members of the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime
Minister.
> Chief Executive Officer: To be appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure, in the rank of Secretary to
the Government of India.
Concerns with NITI Aayog
• Biasness towards government & private sector: While generating new ideas, NITI Aayog should maintain a
respectable intellectual distance from the government of the day. However, concerns have been regarding NITI
Aayog’s offering rather uncritical praise of governments projects. o Concerns have also been raised regarding
NITI Aayog’s treatment of public sector while advocating private sector in almost every sphere as the savior of
Indian economy.
• Financial constraint: NITI Aayog has no powers in granting discretionary funds to states, which renders it
toothless to undertake a “transformational” intervention. o While during the Planning Commission days, it was
easy for the commission to give to shape the idea as it had the control over funds and hence over an agenda.

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• Only recommendatory body: It acts as advisory body only which advices the government on various issues
without ensuring enforceability of its ideas.
• Lack of decentralization power: One of the envisaged goals of the NITI Aayog was to develop mechanisms to
formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these progressively at the higher level. Very little of
this cherished goal has indeed been accomplished.
• Missed opportunities for transformative change – The body has missed some opportunities to make
qualitative difference.
o For instance, CSS had to be reformed in the light of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission.
Instead of reforms in design and implementation of the Schemes that was promised when the Planning
Commission was wound up, changes were made only to shift greater responsibility onto States in terms of
financing.
o A second opportunity arose when the distinction between Plan and non-Plan was removed. At that point, the
organization had an opportunity to insist on taking a sector-wise comprehensive view of capital and revenue
expenditures. However, that has not been done.
• Not supporting states enough – The major complaints of States in regard to the functioning of the Planning
Commission remain unaddressed. The complaints have largely been on the perception that the Centre is
encroaching upon States’ responsibilities and is continuing to advocate a one-size-fits-all approach in
administration. o It is difficult to find evidence that policies and programmes initiated in the recent past evolved
out of consultations between Union and the States. NITI Aayog was supposed to co-opt States as partners while
preparing a development agenda.
How can it be further strengthened?
• Balancing with finance commission: NITI Aayog should be given a funding role so that it can help deal with the
development experience between states.
o Another possibility is to convert the Finance Commission into a permanent body that can oversee fiscal
transfer mechanisms rather than just give a tax sharing formula every five years.
o Federal balance needs an institutional mechanism that entails either a more effective NITI Aayog or a
permanent Finance Commission.
• Increasing accountability: Bureaucracy will need to change from generalist to specialist, and its accountability
will have to be based on outcomes achieved, not inputs or funds spent. NITI Aayog should spell out how these
reforms will be implemented.
• More funds: Towards the task of cooperative federalism, NITI Aayog 2.0 should receive significant resources
(say 1% to 2% of the GDP) to promote accelerated growth in States that are lagging, and overcome their
historically conditioned infrastructure deficit, thus reducing the developmental imbalance.
• More stakeholder involvement: It should instead invite, through expert members, research inputs on
identified areas and should synthesise recommendations based on empirical weight of the research. This will
cut time, cost and effort and will increase timely policy inputs for the government.
Performance of NITI Aayog
• Launching of various initiatives and programmes o Measuring performance and ranking States on outcomes
in critical sectors
o Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital (SATH)
o Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat
o Development Support Services to States (DSSS) for Development of Infrastructure
o Resolution of pending issues of States with Central Ministries
o ‘Aspirational District Programme (ADP)’: to realise the vision of ‘SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas’, and ensure that
India’s growth process remains inclusive
• Enabling evidence-based policy making and enhancing productive efficiency with long-term vision
o Three Year National Action Agenda and the Strategy for New India @75 which allows better alignment of the
development strategy with the changed reality of India.

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o Reform of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)

✓ Development support to the North East
✓ NITI Forum for North East
o Health & Nutrition Sector Reforms
✓ Launch of the POSHAN Abhiyaan
o In energy sector
✓ NITI has prepared and launched a report on ‘India’s Renewable Electricity Roadmap 2030.’
• Promoting adoption of frontier technology like Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, Methanol economy etc.
• Partnerships with National and International Organisations and Promote Stakeholder Consultation in Policy
Making
• Promote entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem
o Atal Innovation Mission, which established Atal Tinkering Labs in India, has already done commendable work
in improving the innovation ecosystem in India.
o Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017: Women First: Prosperity for All
o Women Entrepreneurship Platform
1.10 COLLEGIUM SYSTEM OF SUPREME COURT
> Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are appointed by the President under Articles 124(2) and 217 of
the Constitution.
> The chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with such judges of the Supreme Court and
high courts as he deems necessary. The other judges are appointed by president after consultation with the
chief justice and such other judges of the Supreme Court and the high court’s as he deems necessary. The
consultation with the chief justice is obligatory in the case of appointment of a judge other than Chief justice.
> The collegium system has its genesis in a series of judgments called “Judges Cases”.
The collegium came into being through interpretations of pertinent constitutional provisions by the Supreme
Court in the Judges Cases.
 In the First Judges case (1982), the Court held that consultation does not mean concurrence and it only
implies exchange of views.
 But, in the Second Judges case (1993), the Court reversed its earlier ruling and changed the meaning of
the word consultation to concurrence. Hence, it ruled that the advice tendered by the Chief Justice of
India is binding on the President in the matters of appointment of the judges of the Supreme Court. But,
the Chief Justice would tender his advice on the matter after consulting two of his seniormost colleagues.
 Similarly, in the Third Judges case (1998), the Court opined that the consultation process to be adopted
by the Chief justice of India requires ‘consultation of plurality judges. The sole opinion of the chief justice
of India does not constitute the consultation process. He should consult a collegium of four seniormost
judges of the Supreme Court and even if two judges give an adverse opinion, he should not send the
recommendation to the government.
COLLEGIUM SYSTEM
> It is the system of appointment and transfer of judges that has evolved through judgments of the Supreme
Court, and not by an Act of Parliament or by a provision of the Constitution.
> The Supreme Court collegium is headed by the Chief Justice of India and comprises four other seniormost
judges of the court.
> A High Court collegium is led by its Chief Justice and four other seniormost judges of that court.
> Names recommended for appointment by a High Court collegium reaches the government only after approval
by the CJI and the Supreme Court collegium.
> Judges of the higher judiciary are appointed only through the collegium system — and the government has a
role only after names have been decided by the collegium.




ADMIN1: ADMIN2:
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> The government’s role is limited to getting an inquiry conducted by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) if a lawyer is
to be elevated as a judge in a High Court or the Supreme Court. It can also raise objections and seek clarifications
regarding the collegium’s choices, but if the collegium reiterates the same names, the government is bound,
under Constitution Bench judgments, to appoint them as judges. CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
WHY THE JUDGES SHOULD ACCEPT POST RETIREMENT JOBS? The Supreme Court of India was inaugurated on
> Legal knowledge: The valuable experience and insights that January 28, 1950. It succeeded the Federal Court
judges acquire during their period of service cannot be wasted after of India, established under the Government of India
Act of 1935.
retirement. Organisation of Supreme Court
> No bar: Constitution doesn’t bar them from accepting post > Originally the Supreme Court (Number of Judges)
retirement posts. Act, 1956 provided for a maximum of 10 judges
> Statues lay down conditions: These posts are generally (excluding the CJI).
constitutional or of quasi-judicial bodies, whose laws more often > The Parliament then increased this number
progressively to 13 in 1960, 17 in 1977 and 26 in
than not mandate that only retired judges can occupy them.
1988.
WHY JUDGES SHOULD NOT ACCEPT? > Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment
> Separation of powers and judicial independence: Justice should Act, 2009 further augmented the strength of the
not only be done, but seen to be done. Here, accepting and offering court to 31, including the CJI, which is the current
strength.
post retirement jobs bridges the constitutional distance which
Appointment of Judges
executive and judiciary needs to have, creating the perception of The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the
bias. This hampers judicial independence when positions are taken Supreme Court are appointed by the President
within a short time of retirement or accepted before retirement. under Article 124 of the Constitution.
> Conflict of interest- Positions at tribunals and constitutional > The judges of the Supreme Court are appointed
bodies create a conflict as Government itself is a litigant and by the president.
appointment authority at the same time. The first Law Commission, > The chief justice is appointed by the president
after consultation with such judges of the Supreme
headed by M C Setalvad, had recommended that judges of the Court and high courts as he deems necessary.
higher judiciary should not accept any government job after > The other judges are appointed by president
retirement. after consultation with the chief justice and such
> Politicisation of judiciary: The acceptance of post-retirement jobs other judges of the Supreme Court and the high
leaves newly retired judges open to political criticism from the courts as he deems necessary.
opposition, who use it to cast aspersions on the Court, the Judicial Qualifications of Judges
A person to be appointed as a judge of the
system, and the judgments and orders passed by these judges while
Supreme Court should have the following
in office. qualifications:
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STRIKE A BALANCE? > He should be a citizen of India.
> Cooling off period: Many have suggested that there should be a > (a) He should have been a judge of a High Court
minimum cooling-off period of 2 years post retirement. (or high courts in succession) for 5 years; or (b) He
should have been an advocate of a High Court (or
> Increase age of retirement: Unlike in many other countries, a
High Courts in succession) for 10 years; or (c) He
judge of the higher judiciary in India retires at a comparatively should be a distinguished jurist in the opinion of
young age and is capable of many more years of productive work. the president.
> Enact a law: to set up a commission made up of a majority, if not
exclusively, of retired judges to make appointments of competent retired judges to tribunals and judicial bodies.
> Amend existing laws: which mandate the appointment of retired Practices Worldwide
judges in tribunals and other quasi-judicial bodies e.g. NHRC, NGT USA: No Supreme Court judge retires lifelong.
etc. Done to prevent conflict of interest
> Envisioning a transparent process: Former Chief Justice R M UK: Supreme Court judges retire at the age of
Lodha, had suggested that before a judge retires, the government 70. No law stopping judges from taking post-
should provide option of either being a pensioner or continue to retirement jobs but no judge has taken such
draw existing salary. If they opt for pension, government jobs are a post.
out but if they opted for full salary, that name should be put in a panel. When a vacancy arises, these persons
can be considered and the process becomes devoid of allegations of appeasement, favouritism etc.
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1.11 CABINET COMMITTEES

Central government is planning to reconstituted eight key cabinet committees including creation of two new
committees, one on investment and growth and another on employment and skill development.
• The committees that have been reconstituted are:
o Appointments Committee of the Cabinet: It decides all higher-level appointments in the Central Secretariat,
Public Enterprises, Banks, the three service chiefs etc. It also decides on the transfer of officers serving on Central
deputation.
o Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs: It reviews economic trends, problems and prospects for evolving a
consistent and integrated economic policy.
✓ It also deals with fixation of prices of agricultural produce and prices of essential commodities.
✓ It deals with industrial licensing policies and review rural development and the Public Distribution System.
✓ It considers proposals for investment of more than Rs 1,000 crores.
o Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs: It draws the schedule for Parliament sessions and monitors the
progress of government business in Parliament.
✓ It scrutinises non-government business and decides which official Bills and resolutions are to be presented.
o Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs: deals with all policy matters pertaining to domestic and foreign affairs.
o Cabinet Committee on Security: It deals with issues relating to law and order, internal security and policy
matters concerning foreign affairs with internal or external security implications.
✓ It also looks into economic and political issues related to national security. It considers all cases involving
capital defence expenditure more than Rs 1,000 crore. Cabinet Committees
✓ It considers issues related to the Department of Defence > The Cabinet Committees are extra-
Production and the Department of Defence Research and constitutional in emergence. However, the
Development, Services Capital Acquisition plans and schemes for Rules of Business provide for their
procurement of security-related equipment. establishment.
o Cabinet Committee on Accommodation: It determines the > There are two types of Cabinet Committees
guidelines or rules with regard to the allotment of government – Standing and Ad-hoc.
Standing cabinet committees are permanent
accommodation, including that to Members of Parliament.
whereas ad-hoc cabinet committees are
✓ It will identify key projects required to be implemented on a temporary and deal with special issues.
time-bound basis, involving investments of Rs 1,000 crore or more, > The membership varies from three to eight.
or any other critical projects, as may be specified by it, with regard Usually, only Cabinet Ministers are the
to infrastructure and manufacturing. members of these committees. But,
✓ It will prescribe time limits for giving requisite approvals and sometimes non-cabinet ministers may also
be a member or may be special invitees to the
clearances by the ministries concerned in identified sectors. It will
committee.
also monitor the progress of such projects. > The Prime Minister constitutes Standing
o Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development: Committees of the Cabinet and sets out the
✓ It is supposed to provide direction to all policies, programmes, specific functions assigned to them. He can
schemes and initiatives for skill development aimed at increasing add or reduce the number of committees.
> The executive in India works under the
the employability of the workforce for effectively meeting the Government of India (Transaction of
emerging requirements of the rapidly growing economy and Business) Rules, 1961.
mapping the benefits of demographic dividend. Note: All committees except Cabinet
Committee on Accommodation and Cabinet
✓ It is required to enhance workforce participation, foster Committee on Parliamentary Affairs are
employment growth and identification, and work towards removal headed by Prime Minister.
of gaps between requirement and availability of skills in various
sectors.

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1.12 GENERAL CONSENT

What is General Consent?
• The CBI is governed by the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act that makes consent of a state government
mandatory for conducting investigation in that state.
• The general consent is routinely given by State governments for periods ranging from six months to a year to
the CBI and all agencies under the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.
• The consent is necessary as the jurisdiction of these agencies is confined to Delhi and Union Territories under
this Act.
• There are two kinds of consent: case-specific and general. Given that the CBI has jurisdiction only over central
government departments and employees, it can investigate a case involving state government employees or a
violent crime in a given state only after that state government gives its consent.
• “General consent” is normally given to help the CBI seamlessly conduct its investigation into cases of
corruption against central government employees in the concerned state. Almost all states have given such
consent. Otherwise, the CBI would require consent in every case. CBI
Does withdrawal of General Consent mean that the CBI can no > CBI is the premier investigating agency of
longer probe any case in the two states? India with a scope covering all departments
• The CBI would still have the power to investigate old cases of Central Government, Union Territories,
registered when general consent existed. and states with the consent of respective
• Also, cases registered anywhere else in the country, but involving state governments.
people stationed in state that has withdrawn general consent, It originated in the form of a Special Police
would allow CBI’s jurisdiction to extend to these states. Establishment under Government of India in
1941 to investigate bribery and corruption in
• There is ambiguity on whether the agency can carry out a search
transactions in the War and Supply
in either of the two states in connection with an old case without
Department of India.
the consent of the state government. > In 1946, it was transferred to Ministry of
• However, there are legal remedies to that as well. The CBI can Home Affairs (MHA) through Delhi Special
always get a search warrant from a local court in the state and Police Establishment (DPSE) Act, 1946. DPSE
conduct searches. got it name as CBI in 1963 following
• In case the search requires a surprise element, there is CrPC recommendation of Santhanam Committee
Section 166, which allows a police officer of one jurisdiction to ask and through a resolution of MHA. Thus, CBI is
an officer of another to carry out searches on his behalf. not a statutory body.
• And if the first officer feels that the searches by the latter may > CBI main role concerns with prevention of
lead to loss of evidence, the section allows the first officer to corruption and maintenance of integrity in
the administration, and major crimes in the
conduct searches himself after giving a notice to the latter.
country having National and International
• Withdrawal of consent will only bar the CBI from registering a
ramifications. Major divisions of CBI are: Anti-
case within the jurisdiction of such states. Corruption Division, Special Crimes Division,
Economic Offences Division, etc. among
OTHER ISSUES WITH CBI others.
> Autonomy: Lack of enough financial and administrative > The agency comes under the administrative
autonomy in non-corruption cases has been often cited as major jurisdiction of Ministry of Personnel, Public
roadblocks in independent investigation by CBI. Grievances and Pensions. For corruption
cases under Prevention of Corruption Act,
> Dependence on MHA: For staffing, especially on deputations of
1988, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
IPS officers, which affects its functional autonomy.
has supervisory role over CBI following the
> Constitutional status: CBI enjoys great power over the Vineet Narain judgement of Supreme Court,
investigative machinery of the country, yet it derives its origin from 1997.
DPSE Act, 1946 and the MHA resolution of 1963 which puts its
constitutional status on shaky ground. Guwahati High Court in 2013 termed CBI unconstitutional which was later
stayed by the Supreme Court.

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> Political interference: CBI often handles sensitive cases and those of national importance. However, due to it
being under the control of central government with latter having immense control over its functioning, often
allegations of political misuse of CBI have been there. Misconduct or tardiness in investigation has been alleged
on CBI’s part in cases like Bofor’s scam, Hawala scam, 2G scam case, coalgate scam case, etc. Due to this issue,
SC, while hearing case on coalgate scam in 2013, called CBI a caged parrot.
> Internal faction within CBI and corruption: Recently, the allegation of corruption against each other by the
special director of CBI, Rakesh Asthana, and CBI director, Alok Verma, leading to subsequent ouster of latter by
CVC, brought to the fore the internal division within the ranks of CBI. Supreme Court has ordered CVC enquiry
in the corruption case.
> Police is a State subject under the Indian Constitution and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) which the
CBI has to follow makes it a police agency. Thus, CBI requires consent of the State government in question before
it can make its presence in that State. Section 6A of DPSE Act, which was termed unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court in 2014, also was a roadblock in CBI functioning.
HOW TO MAKE CBI MORE EFFECTIVE?
> Statutory backing: A formal, legal framework for CBI for effective and independent functioning. > Checking
political interference in appointment: The Lokpal Act, 2013 provides for a 3-member selection committee
comprising of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and the Chief Justice of India for appointment
of director of CBI. The procedure must be followed in letter and spirit.
> Accountability to Parliament: Like Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), parliamentary oversight
would ensure better accountability, reduce chances of political misuse, and increase its credibilty.
> Dedicated cadre: Dedicated officers of its own without depending upon deputations. CVC provides for tenurial
stability of 2 years which must be respected for transparent and independent investigations as well.
CONCLUSION
> The CBI has high conviction rate (65-70%) when compared with state police. The needed reforms would make
CBI more autonomous and effective in handling cases. CBI must also take corrective steps to contain internal
rivalries and factions and follow set procedures to work more transparently and effectively to carry out their
mandate and live up to the expectations of the people.
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
2.1 CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO
In a stinging defeat for Britain, the UN General Assembly demanded that London cede to Mauritius the Chagos
Islands. A total of 116 countries voted in favour of a non-binding resolution that urged Britain to “withdraw its
colonial administration” within six months.
Background
• Chagos Island has passed from one colonial power to colonial power –
Holland then France – the islands fell under British control in the early
19th century.
• During this time Britain brought several hundred people from
Mozambique and Madagascar to the islands to work on British-owned
coconut plantations.
• Britain continued its administration of the islands – as part of the
greater colony of Mauritius – until the 1960s, by which time the
decolonisation process had begun to gain momentum.
• With the adoption of the 1960 Colonial Declaration, Britain readied itself for the inevitable independence of
Mauritius.

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How UK took over the Islands?

• In 1964, the UK began to discuss the future of the Chagos Islands with the US, which had expressed an interest
in establishing military facilities on the island of Diego Garcia.
* The Chagos Islands are home to the U.S. military base, under lease from the United Kingdom
• The agreement to allow Britain to administer the Chagos islands came in 1965, three years before Mauritius
gained independence.
* Mauritius achieved independence in 1968
* Mauritius says Britain had made it a pre-condition for independence
* Then using a combination of diplomatic pressure and bullying, Britain convinced the government of Mauritius
to hand the islands over to British control, something the Mauritian government claimed it had “no choice”
over.
• Between 1967 and 1973, the entire population of the Chagos Archipelago was either prevented from returning
or forcibly removed and prevented from returning by the UK.
* the U.K. forcibly moved around 1,500 Chagossians to Mauritius Main land and Seychelles
* The U.K. depopulated Diego Garcia by expelling all its inhabitants, to facilitate the building of the military base,
paying just £4 million as compensation to Mauritius.
• With time UK has refused to return the Chagos archipelago, claiming sovereignty over the islands.
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN).
• It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.
• The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).
• Of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (United States of
America).
o The main organs of the UN are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council,
the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat.
o All were established in 1945 when the UN was founded.
• The Court has a dual role:
o to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and
o to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized
agencies.
• The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations
General Assembly and the Security Council.
• In order to be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes in both bodies (UNSC and
UNGA).
• It is assisted by a Registry, its administrative organ.
• Its official languages are English and French.
• Judges are chosen on the basis of their qualifications, not their nationality, but no two judges can be from the
same nationality.
• The following are the qualifications of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judges:
o A judge should have a high moral character.
o A judge should fit to the qualifications of appointment of highest judicial officers as prescribed by their
respective states or
o A judge should be a jurisconsult of recognized competence in international law.
• Effort is also taken to ensure that the principal legal systems of the world are reflected in the composition of
the court.
• Its judgments have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned.

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• In 2017, India’s nominee to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Dalveer Bhandari was re-elected to the fifth
and the last seat of the world court after Britain withdrew its candidate from the election.
o This was the first time since the ICJ was established in 1945 that there was no British judge in the ICJ.
Who may submit cases to the Court?
• Only States are eligible to appear before the Court in contentious cases. At present, this basically means the
192 United Nations Member States.
• The Court has no jurisdiction to deal with applications from individuals, non-governmental organizations,
corporations or any other private entity. It cannot provide them with legal counselling or help them in their
dealings with the authorities of any State whatever.
• However, a State may take up the case of one of its nationals and invoke against another State the wrongs
which its national claims to have suffered at the hands of the latter; the dispute then becomes one between
States.
• The Court can only hear a dispute when requested to do so by one or more States. It cannot deal with a dispute
of its own motion. It is not permitted, under its Statute, to investigate and rule on acts of sovereign States as it
chooses.
Are decisions of the Court binding?
• Judgments delivered by the Court (or by one of its Chambers) in disputes between States are binding upon
the parties concerned.
• Judgments are final and without appeal.
Importance of ICJ
> Impact on international credibility: Its judgements has a moral pressure on the states because their acceptance
or rejection has a bearing on the State’s reputation regarding the respect for international law.
This in turn affects the state’s credibility when entering into any treaties or agreements. For eg – Pakistan could
not ignore the preliminary order from ICJ preventing it from carrying out the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav.
> Impact on international laws: The advisory function of the court is an effective instrument of preventive
diplomacy and can also make a substantial contribution to resolving existing disputes. For example: the ICJ was
asked to provide an advisory opinion on Restrictions to the Genocide Convention case and the legality of the
threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons case. These opinions have greatly contributed towards international
humanitarian law and international environmental law.
> Contributions to Global Geography and State Sovereignty: Data suggests that States that agree to take their
disputes to ICJ are successful in finding a resolution. While several international courts exist, which deals with
international disputes, none in particular specializes in geography and sovereignty related issues. In this context,
the ICJ through special agreements makes a significant contribution to International law.
> Platform for the Weak: A state that does not have economic and military standing or the capacity to influence
outcomes in the international realm can still gain access to assistance from the ICJ.
Limitations of ICJ
> Court composition: The ICJ has a judicial panel composed of 15 judges, whose distribution is based on regions.
The division of representation for 191 countries amongst fifteen judges is striking. Further, data suggests that
90% of the time judges vote in favour of their own country affecting the impartiality of the court. For e.g.- in the
current Mauritius case, the only dissenting note was of an American judge.
> Jurisdiction: ICJ has limited jurisdiction as it only covers cases by ‘special agreement’ or cases authorised by a
treaty or cases between the states that have declared themselves subject to the compulsory jurisdiction of the
court.
> Lack of Compliance and Enforcement: The court itself does not have any direct powers to ensure
implementation of its judgements. Further, the exclusive power of veto that the UNSC’s permanent five
members have made enforcement of ICJ judgments difficult, and grants some states more influence over
decisions than others. For example: in the case of Nicaragua v.s. The United States of America (1986), the ICJ
decision was vetoed by the USA.

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INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

• It is the first permanent, treaty-based, International criminal court, with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals
for international crimes of genocide, crimes against Humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.
• Established in 2002 and governed by the Rome Statute, which was adopted in 1998.
• It has territorial jurisdiction over nations that are party to the Rome Statute or have accepted the court’s
jurisdiction.
• It is an independent judicial body distinct from the UN.
• It works in cooperation with UN, Reports annually to the UNGA and also hear cases referred to by UNSC.
• It is located in The Hague, The Netherlands.
• India is not a member of ICC (neither signed nor ratified).
Recently, Malaysia signed the Instrument of Accession to the Rome Statute, becoming 123rd member state of
International Criminal Court.
Relevance of ICC
• Serve as catalyst for strengthening domestic legal action in pursuit of justice and accountability for atrocities
and international crimes.
• Act as a court of last resort with the capacity to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity
and war crimes, when national jurisdictions for any reason are unable or unwilling to do so.
• Have made particular advances in combating impunity in relation to crimes against children and women.
Gender crimes were featured in the vast majority of ICC cases to date.
• Creating nexus between justice and development by setting up Trust Fund for Victims, which provides
assistance to victims and their families to rebuild sustainable livelihoods.
What differentiates the International Court of
Criticism against ICC Justice from the International Criminal Court
• The ICC has no police force of its own to track down and arrest and the ad hoc international criminal
suspects. Instead it relies on national police services to make tribunals?
arrests and seek their transfer to The Hague. With member- • The International Court of Justice has no
countries refusing to cooperate in arrests, its efficiency is jurisdiction to try individuals accused of war
crimes or crimes against humanity.
undermined.
• As it is not a criminal court, it does not have
• Flawed structure – ICC can open cases on referral by UNSC. Given a prosecutor able to initiate proceedings.
that three of the five permanent members of UNSC (USA, China and • This task is the preserve of national courts,
Russia) are not members of ICC, yet they have the power to refer the ad hoc criminal tribunals established by
cases from other countries to the very same organisation, shows the United Nations and also of the
International Criminal Court, set up under the
the existence of double standard. Also, the three powers can veto Rome Statute.
an indictment contradictory to the agenda of their nation allowing • The Court is not a supreme court to which
the crime and perpetrator to go unpunished. national courts can turn; it does not act as a
• Financial constraints - Although the Court’s budget has grown in court of last resort for individuals. Nor is it an
appeal court for any international tribunal. It
the last years, it has not grown to the same extent as its workload can, however, rule on the validity of arbitral
impacting its efficiency. The absence of the US in particular makes awards.
funding of the court more expensive for others.
• Limited membership – A number of important Counties like US, Russia, China, India and others has not joined
ICC citing concerns regarding interference in internal affairs, threat to sovereignty and politically motivated or
frivolous prosecutions.
• ICC has been criticised by African Union for its racist agenda and bias against African continent. Since it began
its operations in 2002, the Office of the Prosecutor has brought charges against 31 individuals and all of them
are African.

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2.2 KILOGRAM
Kilogram, the measurement of mass, joined other
standard units of measure such as the second,
metre, ampere, Kelvin, mole and candela that
would no longer be defined by physical objects.
Analysis
• The measures are all now defined on the basis
of unchanging universal, physics constants.
• The kilogram now hinges on the definition of
the Planck Constant, a constant of nature that
relates to how matter releases energy.
• Earlier, the kilogram derived its provenance from the weight of a block of a platinum-iridium alloy, called the
Grand K, housed at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in France.
• Recently, countries also unanimously approved updates to three other key units- the kelvin for temperature,
the ampere for electrical current and the mole for the amount of a substance.
• The CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is India’s official reference keeper of units of measurements.
How does the new system work?
• There is a quantity that relates weight to electrical current, called Planck's constant - named after the German
physicist Max Planck and denoted by the symbol h.
• But h is an incredibly small number and to measure it, the research scientist Dr Bryan Kibble built a super-
accurate set of scales called Kibble balance.
• Kibble balance is an electromechanical weighing machine that can be used to measure the Planck Constant.
• The Kibble balance has an electromagnet that pulls down on one side of the scales and a weight - say, a
kilogram - on the other.
• The electrical current going through the electromagnet is increased until the two sides are perfectly balanced.
• By measuring the current running through the electromagnet to incredible precision, the researchers are able
to calculate h to an accuracy of 0.000001%.
• So, in principle, scientists can define a kilogram, or any other weight, in terms of the amount of electricity
needed to counteract the weight (gravitational force acting on a mass).
• This breakthrough has paved the way for Le Grand K to be deposed by "die kleine h".
Why kill off the kilogram?
• The Grand K has been at the forefront of the international General Conference on Weights and
system of measuring weights since 1889. Measures (CGPM)
Several close replicas were made and distributed around the • CGPM is the highest international body of
the world for accurate and precise
globe.
measurements.
• But the master kilogram and its copies were seen to change - • India became a signatory in 1957.
ever so slightly - as they deteriorated. • The CGPM meets usually once every four
• The new formula-based definition of the kilogramme will have years
multiple advantages over the precision-crafted metal lump that • The International Bureau of Weights and
has set the standard for more than a century. Measures (BIPM), the main executive body of
• Unlike a physical object, the formula cannot pick up particles of CGPM has the responsibility of defining the
dust, decay with time or be dropped and damaged. It also is International System of Units (SI).
expected to be more accurate when measuring very, very small or very, very large masses.
• The updated definition will, in time, spare nations the need to occasionally send their kilos back to France for
calibration against the Grand K. The new system will allow anyone with a Kibble balance to check their weights
anytime and anywhere.

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• In a world where accurate measurement is now critical in many areas, such as in drug development,
nanotechnology and precision engineering - those responsible for maintaining the international system had no
option but to move beyond the Grand K to a more robust definition.
Effects
• An updated kilogram doesn’t mean that weights everywhere will be thrown off balance. For everyday
measurements, consumers wanting to calibrate their instruments — whether it’s for high-precision drug
manufacturing or retail weighing machines — will continue doing it the same way.
BIPM AND CGPM
>The Metre Convention is the treaty that created the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), an
intergovernmental organization under the authority of the General Conference on Weights and Measures
(CGPM) and the supervision of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM).
>The Convention was signed in Paris on 20 May 1875 by representatives of seventeen nations. The Metre
Convention established a permanent organizational structure for member governments to act in common
accord on all matters relating to units of measurement.
>In 1889 the 1st CGPM sanctioned the international prototypes for the metre and the kilogram. Together with
the astronomical second as the unit of time, these units constituted a three-dimensional mechanical unit system
similar to the CGS system (centimetre– gram–second system).
>The 10th CGPM, in 1954, approved the introduction of the ampere, the Kelvin and the candela as base units,
respectively, for electric current, thermodynamic temperature and luminous intensity.
>The name International System of Units, with the abbreviation SI, was given to the system by the 11th CGPM
in 1960.
>At the 14th CGPM in 1971, the current version of the SI was completed by adding the mole as the base unit for
amount of substance, bringing the total number of base units to seven.
>India became a signatory to the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1957.
>As of 7 August 2018, there are 60 Member States of BIPM including India.
2.3 HONG KONG’S EXTRADITION BILL

Historical Background
> Hong Kong was a British colony from 1841, when China ceded the
island to the British after the First Opium War - which had erupted
over British traders smuggling opium into China.
> Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 as a ‘special
administrative region’. The territory has been ruled under the ‘one
country, two systems’ formula agreed by then U.K. and Chinese
leaders. Hong Kong citizens have more autonomy and freedom
than their mainland counterparts, but the elective process is still
partly controlled by China.
> At present, Hong Kong residents can only vote for pre-approved
political candidates under Chinese law, making it impossible for a
critic of Beijing to get on the ballot.
> Immediate Reason - The Extradition Bill proposed by Chief Executive:
> Critics fear bill will compromise Hong Kong’s judicial system and prove the ‘death knell’ of ‘one country, two
systems’.
> Other major belief among the Hong Kongers, behind the protest is that since 1997 (since Hong Kong got the
status status), China is consistently trying to erode the principle of one country, two systems.

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OPIUM WAR 1
• Nineteenth-century Britain had an appetite for Chinese tea, but the Qing Dynasty and its subjects did not want
to buy anything that the British produced and demanded that the British instead pay for its tea habit with silver
or gold.
• The government of Queen Victoria did not want to use up any more of the country’s reserves of gold or silver
to buy tea, and the tea importation tax generated during the transactions was a major percentage of the British
economy.
• Victoria’s government decided to forcibly export opium from the British-colonized Indian subcontinent to
China. There, opium would then be exchanged for tea.
• China’s government, objected to the large-scale importation of narcotics into their country by a foreign power.
At the time, most of Britain didn’t view opium as a particular danger; to them, it was a medicine. China, however,
was experiencing an opium crisis, with its military forces suffering direct impacts from their addictions.
• When they discovered that banning opium imports outright did not work—because British merchants simply
smuggled the drug into China—the Qing government took more direct action. In 1839, Chinese officials
destroyed 20,000 bales of opium. This move provoked Britain to declare war in order to protect its illegal drug-
smuggling operations. Protests from the past
• The First Opium War lasted from 1839 to 1842. Hong Kong has seen several protests since it
• Britain invaded the Chinese mainland and occupied the island of was handed over to China by the British
Hong Kong on Jan. 25, 1841, using it as a military staging point. colonialists in 1997.
China lost the war and had to cede Hong Kong to Britain in the • In 2003, then Chief Executive Tung Chee-
Treaty of Nanking. As a result, Hong Kong became a crown colony hwa’s attempt to pass stringent security
of the British Empire. legislation, which Beijing had pushed for, was
successfully resisted by tens of thousands of
SECOND OPIUM WAR
protesters.
• The Treaty of Nanking did not, however, resolve the opium trade • In 2014, the city saw weeks-long protests
dispute, and the conflict escalated again, into the Second Opium against proposed changes in the electoral
War. system, which came to be known as the
• The settlement of that conflict was the first Convention of Peking, Umbrella Movement.
ratified on Oct. 18, 1860, when Britain acquired the southern part
of the Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Island
• It was further extended when Britain obtained a 99- year lease of the New Territories in 1898.
• The territory was transferred to China in 1997.
• As a special administrative region, Hong Kong maintains separate governing and economic systems from that
of mainland China and its people overwhelmingly identify as Hongkongers rather than Chinese.
Current Bill
• The bill would have allowed the city government to extradite any suspect to places with which Hong Kong
does not have extradition accords.
• When Hong Kong’s extradition agreements were finalised, mainland China and Taiwan were left out because
those regions had fundamentally different criminal justice systems
What was Umbrella Movement?
from that of the city.
> The Umbrella Movement started as a
• This “loophole”, according to the Hong Kong government, allows spontaneous social movement for democratic
suspected criminals to avoid trial elsewhere by taking refuge in the development in Hong Kong in September 2014.
city. It was a large movement in terms of duration,
• It is feared that the bill would cause the city to open up to location and reach and also very much
mainland Chinese law and that people from Hong Kong could empowered by digital media.
> Its name arose from the use of umbrellas as a
become subject to a different legal system.
tool for passive resistance to the Hong Kong
• The extradition plan applies to 37 crimes, including murder, Police during a 79-day occupation of the city.
sexual offences, abduction, drug peddling and corruption, with The umbrellas were used for defence against
police pepper spray.

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retroactive effect. The Chief Executive can decide on extradition requests on a case-by-case basis which would
then be reviewed by the city’s courts.
Concerns
But Beijing has increasingly tried to exert its influence on the city in recent years, raising concerns of the city’s
prodemocracy groups which are largely Beijing-sceptics.
• There have been instances of China critics being abducted from Hong Kong with the city government doing
nothing to resist such actions.
They say the bill is another blow against the rights those in Hong Kong currently enjoy, noting that it would
empower the city government to send critics of Beijing to the mainland where the criminal justice system is
tightly controlled by the establishment. It will practically break the existing legal barriers between Hong Kong
and mainland China that are guaranteed under the “One Country Two Systems” model.
2.4 INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE (ISA)

• The ISA was jointly launched in November 2015 by India and France, on the side lines of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties 21 (CoP21) at Paris, France.
• The ISA is a treaty-based alliance of 122 prospective solar-rich Member Nations situated fully or partially
between the Tropics, and aims at accelerating development and For building the domestic capacity of the ISA
deployment of solar energy globally. member countries, several programmes have
• Most of these countries fall within Asia, Africa and South been initiated:
America. > STAR-C is a Solar Technology Application
• There are three objectives behind the International Solar Resource Centre project.
Alliance. > Infopedia is an online platform dedicated to
o First is to force down prices by driving demand; the dissemination of information, best
o Second is to bring standardisation in solar technologies and practices, and knowledge on Solar Energy.
o Third is to foster research and development. > ISA has significantly extended outreach and
has partnered with over 40 organizations
• The Alliance had already got the required number of ratification
(including the United Nations (UN),
(by 15 countries) to become an international legal entity. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs),
• The Headquarters is in India with its Interim Secretariat being Development Finance Institutions (DFIs),
setup in Gurgaon. etc.).
• It is the India’s first international and inter-governmental
organization to have headquarters in India with United Nations as Strategic Partner.
• Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the ISA as “partner Countries” and enjoy all benefits as
other members, with the exception of voting rights.
o United Nations including its organs can join the ISA as “Strategic partners”. partner Countries, Partner
Organizations, Strategic Partners, and Observers may participate without having the right to vote.
• The ISA has set a target of 1 TW of solar energy by 2030 through mobilisation of more than 1000 Billion US
Dollars of investments. Though there are no targets or legal obligations imposed on member-countries.
• In March 2018, the Prime Minister of India, and the President of France co-hosted the founding conference of
the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi. National Institute of Solar Energy
• The Delhi Solar Agenda, adopted in the Founding Conference of > National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an
the ISA, states that the ISA member States inter-alia have agreed autonomous institution of the Ministry of
to pursue an increased share of solar energy in the final energy New and Renewable (MNRE), is the apex
consumption in respective national energy mix. National R&D institution in the field of Solar
• The first Assembly of the International Solar Alliance was Energy.
> It is located in Gurugram, Haryana.
inaugurated in New Delhi in October 2018.
• At CoP23 Bonn it has been clarified that the efforts and targets set out by the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
are over and above the INDCs.

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o Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) outlines actions on climate change that countries
intend to take in the post 2020 period under the new Paris international climate change agreement.
• Bolivia is the latest country to join this alliance. Till now, 81 countries of the 121 prospective member countries
have signed the Framework Agreement of the ISA. Of these, 58 countries have ratified the same.
2.5 WEST ASIA POLITICS

SIGNIFICANCE OF WEST ASIA
> Strategic location: Geopolitically, West Asia occupies an important position in international relations due to
its geographical location and proximity to continents and countries –
• South Asia, China, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa.
> Trade routes and birthplace of Abrahamic religions: The region is strategically significant due to its enormous
energy resources, trade route links to different parts of the world and for fact that it is the place of origin for
the Abrahamic religions.
> Energy resources: It is the world largest oil producing region accounting for 34% of world production, 45% of
crude oil exports and 48% of oil proven reserves.
• All powers seek a stake in the affairs of the region due to the abundance of natural resources.
> Instability and
conflicts: It is also a
region plagued with
instability largely due
to the involvement of
external forces, and
sometimes due to
internal conflicts.
> Geography: West Asia
is the westernmost sub
region of Asia. It
includes Anatolia, the
Arabian Peninsula, Iran,
the Levant,
Mesopotamia, the Sinai
Peninsula, and
Transcaucasia.
• The region is
considered to be
separated from Africa
by the Isthmus of Suez,
and separated from
Europe by the
waterways of Turkish Straits and the drainage divide of the Caucasus Mountains.
> Population: 20 countries are located fully or partly in Western Asia, out of which 13 are part of the Arab world.
• The most populous countries in Western Asia are Turkey (partly in Southeast Europe), Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia,
and Yemen.
• The total population of Western Asia is estimated to be 300 million (as of 2015).
POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE REGION – A TIME LINE
> McMahon–Hussein Correspondence 1915 –16: Under this correspondence, the Britain offered Arabs across
the Middle East self-rule in exchange for their aid in defeating the Ottoman Empire during the First World War.
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> Sykes-Picot Agreement 1916: Britain and France sign a secret pact outlining their spheres of control in Middle
East after the First World War. Palestine is
designated for international administration
pending consultations with Russia and other
powers. The agreement is seen by Arabs as a
betrayal of the Hussein-McMahon
correspondence.
> Balfour Declaration 1917: It was a public
statement issued by the British government
during the First World War announcing
support for the establishment of a “national
home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, then
an Ottoman region with a small minority
Jewish population.
• Later in the period, many Jews arrived in Palestine.
> Arab-Israeli wars: After the arrival of Jews, many wars took place between the Arab and Israeli coalitions,
in which sides were often changed depending on changing scenarios.
• The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), which would later play a significant role in Arab politics, was
founded in Cairo by the Arab League in 1964.
• In 1967 Israeli strikes against Egypt and Syria launched the Six Day War. Israel has occupied the West
Bank, Arab East Jerusalem, and Syria’s Golan Heights ever since.
• The Yom Kippur War of 1973 was also one of the Arab-Israeli wars.
> Camp David Accord 1979: In 1956, Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal and took control over the Sinai Peninsula.
This led to further confrontation between Egypt and Israel.
• Finally, in 1979, a peace deal was reached between Egypt and Israel through the Camp David Accord. Egypt
became the first Arab country to recognise Israel.
• Following Egypt’s peace agreement with Israel, Arab League suspended Egypt’s membership to the league.
> Iranian Revolution 1979: The Iranian Revolution was a series of events that involved overthrow of the last
monarch of Iran, and replacement of his government with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Rohullah
Khomeini, a leader of one of the factions in the revolt.
• This movement against the United States backed monarchy in Iran was supported by various leftist and Islamist
organizations and student movements.
• Since the establishment of Iran as an Islamic Republic, governments of United States and Iran have been at
odds.
• Iran is also the largest Shia majority country in the Arab region, which often brings it at odds with Saudi Arabia
and other Sunni states in the region.
> First Intifada 1987: The First Intifada (uprising) was a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of West
Bank and Gaza. The uprising lasted from December 1987 until the Madrid Conference in 1991, though some
date its conclusion to 1993, with the signing of the Oslo Accords.
• It is during this time that Hamas was created from the Gaza wing of Muslim Brotherhood.
• Muslim Brotherhood was a Sunni Islamist religious, political, and social movement founded in Egypt in 1928.
> Iraq–Iran war, 1980 – 88: Iraq invaded Iran in 1980 because it was worried that the 1979 Iranian Revolution
would cause Iraq’s Shi’ite majority to rebel against its Ba’athist Sunni government, led by Saddam Hussein. Roots
of the war also lay in a number of territorial and political disputes between Iraq and Iran.
• Iraq wanted to seize control of the oil-rich Iranian border region of Khūzestān.

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• Iraq also wanted to assert its sovereignty over both banks of Shaṭṭ al-Arab (Arvand Rud), which formed a
historical border between the two countries.
• Iraq’s war effort were openly financed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other neighbouring Arab states and was
tacitly supported by US and Soviet Union, while Iran’s only major allies were Syria and Libya.
• Iraq was said to have used Chemical weapons in the war, while Iran counter attacked using revolutionary
militia (Revolutionary Guards).
• Iraq made many attempts to sue for peace, but it was finally in 1988 when Iran accepted the UN-brokered
ceasefire.
> Iraq invades Kuwait 1990: Kuwait became an independent nation in 1961, a move that the Iraqi government
did not support. Iraq claimed that Kuwait was created by British imperialism and it was actually an extension of
Iraq.
• Kuwait financed Iraq’s war on Iran: Fearing Iranian Revolution would move within its borders, Kuwait provided
financial support to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War. Later Iraq was unable to repay Kuwait and asked for loan
forgiveness which the country denied.
• Kuwait did not reduce oil production: Iraq- Kuwait relations were also strained because Kuwait did not comply
with Iraq’s suggestion of reducing its oil production in order to increase prices. Furthermore, Iraq accused Kuwait
of slant-drilling in the Rumaila field in Iraq.
• This finally culminated into Iraq’s attack on Kuwait in 1990.
• Operation Desert Storm, an international coalition, led primarily by US forces, launched air strikes and ground
invasion into Iraq. The Iraqi military was unable to defend itself. US established an air base within the country.
• Conflict ended through a formal resolution passed by the UNSC in 1991. Since then US has maintained a
military presence in Kuwait.
> Middle East peace conference and Oslo Declaration: In 1991, Israeli, Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian and
Palestinian delegations attend the Middle East peace conference, which opens dialogues on Arab-Israeli and
Israeli-Palestinian relations.
• In the Oslo declaration of principles 1993, PLO and Israel agree to recognise each other.
• In 1995, an Interim agreement on the future of Israeli-occupied Gaza and West Bank was signed by Israel and
PLO. This agreement recognised the formation of a Palestinian Interim Self-
Government Authority - an elected council.
> Second Intifada 2000: Over a period of time, many instances happened
that stalled reaching of a “final status” agreement between Israel and
Palestine at the 2000 Camp David Summit of which US was also a part.
• Ariel Sharon’s visit: Finally, Second Intifada began in 2000 when
Palestinians rioted after Ariel Sharon, of the Likud party in Israel, visited the
contended site of Temple Mount (Noble Sanctuary) in Jerusalem.
• In 2005, leaders from Israel, Palestinian Authority (PA), Jordan and Egypt
met in Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss ways towards ending the four years
intifada.
• Fatah and Hamas conflict: 2006 was witness to an inside conflict between the two main Palestinian political
parties, Fatah and Hamas, resulting in split of PA in 2007. The reconciliation process and unification of Hamas
and Fatah administrations remains un-finalized even today.
> Lebanon war 2006: In 2006, Hezbollah conducted a cross-border raid on Israeli border towns. This led to
conflicts between the two nations, with unprecedented Iranian military support to Hezbollah. Later in the year,
a UN-brokered ceasefire was reached.

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ARAB SPRING – ARAB SPRING 2.0

> Tunisian Revolution 2010: Also called the Jasmine Revolution, this was a campaign of civil resistance. It led to
the ousting of long-time president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. It eventually led to a thorough
democratisation of the country.
• The effect of Tunisian Revolution spread strongly to five other countries: Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and
Bahrain; where either the regime was toppled or major uprisings or social violence took place, including riots,
civil wars or insurgencies.
> Egyptian revolution 2011: In 2011, a mass protest
movement took place in Egypt which ultimately forced
long time president Hosni Mubarak from office. After
this a political crisis ensued, with Supreme Council of
the Armed Forces taking control of the country until
after a series of popular elections, Muslim Brotherhood
came to power in 2012.
• However, disputes between elected Islamist
president Mohamed Morsi and secularists continued
until Morsi was overthrown in 2013.
• Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who announced the overthrow of
Morsi, won the 2014 elections with a landslide victory and became the president of Egypt.
> Yemeni crisis: Yemeni Crisis began with the 2011–12 revolution against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had
led Yemen for more than three decades. The opposition groups charged Saleh with financial corruption and
criticized him for being backed by Saudi Arabia and United States. After a mediated agreement between the
Yemeni government and opposition groups, President Saleh left office in 2012, and former vice president,
Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi acquired office.
• However, the new government struggled to unite the fractious political landscape of the country, especially
facing threats from the Houthi rebels.
• Changing stance of Houthi rebels: Houthis were initially one among the many oppositions groups against
President Saleh, but later in 2014-15, with Saleh’s help, Houthis announced the fall of President Hadi’s
government and took control of most northern parts of Yemen. Later Houthis also executed Saleh on charges
of treason.
• Houthis in power but not recognised: Since then, Houthi’s are in power and enjoy support. But they have been
resisting Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen (with intelligence and logistical support of the US), which
doesn’t recognise the Houthi government and seeks to restore previous government to power. Houthis are
supported by Iran in their fight against the Saudi coalition.
• This conflict for power between the two factions has led to the on-going Yemeni civil war.
> Iraqi civil war: In 2014 the Iraqi insurgency escalated into a civil Hezbollah
war. The insurgency was a direct continuation of events following > Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and
the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. At the time of insurgency, Iraq militant group based in Lebanon. It was founded
was led by a Shia-led government which was constantly under in the early 1980s as part of an Iranian effort to
aggregate a variety of militant Lebanese Shia
attack by Sunni militant groups who targeted Iraq’s majority Shia
groups into a unified organization. Hezbollah
population to undermine confidence in the Shia led government. acts as a proxy for Iran in the on-going Iran–
• Yazidi genocide by ISIS: ISIS is also the perpetrator of genocide of Israel proxy conflict. Iran also supported
Yazidis in Iraq. This genocide led to expulsion, flight and effective Hezbollah during the South Lebanon conflict
(1985–2000).
exile of Yazidis from their ancestral lands in Northern Iraq whose
women and girls were forced into sexual slavery by ISIS and whose men were killed by thousands. They were
also subjected to forced conversions.

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• Note: A combined force of troops from US, UK, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq in 2003 with an aim to end
Saddam Hussein’s support for terrorism, whom they claimed, had armed Iraq with chemical weapons of mass
destruction.
> Syrian civil war: The unrest in Syria started as part of a wider wave of the Arab Spring. It began in 2011 out of
discontent with the Syrian Ba’athist government with protests demanding President Bashar al Assad’s removal;
protesters were violently suppressed.
• The on-going conflict in Syria is the second deadliest of the 21st century and widely described as a series of
overlapping proxy wars between the regional and world powers, primarily between US and Russia, as well as
between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The war is fought between several factions.
PROXY WARS BETWEEN REGIONAL HEAVYWEIGHTS
> Saudi Arabia – Iran: Saudi Arabia is the major Sunni power in the region, Iran is the major Shia power, and
both represent a fairly extreme version of their respective sects. While Saudi Arabia is the ultraconservative
Wahhabi monarchy, Iran is a theocratic near-autocracy. Even though they don’t engage in direct conflict, they
fight elsewhere, through supporting opposing sides in nearby conflicts, including the civil wars in Syria, Yemen,
and Iraq.
• Battle for energy resources exacerbates the situation—Saudi Arabia has the largest oil reserves of any nation,
and advocates for moderate prices, while Iran’s economic situation dictates that they pursue higher prices
worldwide for more immediate gain.
• No diplomatic ties: Iranian revolution of 1979 had threatened Saudi’s influence over the region and it later
supported Iraq’s invasion of Iran. A 2016 attack on Saudi embassy in Teheran closed all diplomatic ties.
• United States factor: United States has always been Saudi Arabia’s secure ally, where it also has several military
bases. United States’ concern with Iran is its ability to produce nuclear weapons. But after America’s ‘pivot to
Asia’ policy, its lessening reliance on Saudi oil, and potential rapprochement with Iran, Saudi foreign policy had
become more assertive.
• Isolating Iran: In 2015 Saudi Arabia formed the intergovernmental Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism
(IMAFT) with the stated goal of combating terrorism. But this Yazidis
coalition excluded Shia-led Iran, Iraq, and Syria; mostly seen as > Yazidis are an endogamous, mostly Kurmanji
Saudi effort to isolate Iran. speaking group of predominantly Kurdish
• Isolating nations engaging with Iran: In 2017, Saudi Arabia ethnicity, indigenous to Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.
Yazidi practices have roots tracing back to the
imposed a blockade on Qatar, principally to punish it for its cordial ancient Mesopotamian religions, but it has
relationship with Iran. mixed elements of Christianity (baptism), Islam
• Houthi rebels: Saudi Arabia, US, and Hadi’s Yemeni government (circumcision) and Zoroastrianism (reverence of
have repeatedly accused Iran of supporting Yemen’s Houthi rebels fi re as a manifestation from God). Yazidis have
with money and arms. been denounced as infidels by fundamentalists
• Iran’s Shia crescent: Iran has tried to take advantage of regional like Al-Qaida and ISIS. Despite many years of
oppression and attempts to exterminate them,
instability by expanding its presence in the Shia crescent and Yazidis have kept alive their syncretic religion for
creating a land corridor of influence stretching from Iraq to centuries.
Lebanon, done in part by supporting Shia militias in the war against Houthi Rebels
ISIS. > The Houthi movement is an Islamic, political
> Saudi Arabia – Turkey: Turkey and Saudi Arabia always shared an and armed movement that emerged in 1990s
uneasy relationship. Saudi is wary of was Turkey’s from the Sa’dah region in northern Yemen. The
movement acquired its name because its
constitutionalism and moderate Islam as it directly challenges
founder is from the Houthi tribe. They are of
Saudis’ absolutist Islamism. After recent rise of Saudi’s Crown Zaidi sect, which is a sub-sect under the Shia sect
Prince, Mohammed bin Salman and adoption of aggressive foreign of Islam.
policies flaunting Saudi power, Turkish anxiety is that Saudis intend
to dominate the Arab world to the exclusion not only of Iran but of Turkey as well.

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• Turkey has long conceived itself not just a bridge between Asia and Europe but also a central player in regional
and global affairs.
• Turkey support for Arab Spring: During the 2011 Arab Spring, Turkey enthusiastically welcomed the overthrow
of authoritarian governments, while Saudi regime, feeling vulnerable itself, strongly opposed it.
• Opposing stand in Egypt: During the Egyptian crisis, Turkey has supported President Morsi who belonged to
the Muslim Brotherhood and represented a constitutionalist Islamist model like Turkey. Saudis however,
embraced General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and granted him aid.
• United States factor: United States’ increasing Saudi importance, and its growing differences with Turkey in
the approach towards Syrian Kurds, also sent a signal that Saudi Arabia is the kingpin of America’s policy toward
West Asia.
• Qatar factor: Qatar also has close relations with Turkey and hosts a Turkish military base. The Emir of Qatar
had sent a contingent of soldiers to provide security to Mr. Erdoğan during his failed military coup in 2016. Saudi
Arabia has not well taken this relationship.
• Jamal Khashoggi case: Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul,
Turkey, exposed the brutal nature of Saudi regime. Turkey used the Khashoggi murder to sharpen the battle
lines with Saudi Arabia.
THE ISRAEL FACTOR
> Israel is a Jewish state, and a huge American ally, in the midst of a Muslim region. Israel’s relationship with
any Arab country comes down to whether or not they support the Palestinian independence movements.
• Opposition: Currently, Israel is not even recognized as a country by, and has no official diplomatic relations
with, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the U.A.E.
• Support: Israel has its strongest regional alliance with Egypt. It has a peace treaty and a $500 million natural
gas supply deal with Jordan. It trades with Qatar (even though Qatar has been accused of supporting Hamas).
And it maintains a back-channel relationship with Saudi Arabia.
• POLITICAL ENEMIES: ISRAEL’S PRIMARY POLITICAL ENEMIES ARE GROUPS LIKE HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS.
CONCLUSION
> West Asia politics and conflicts is a complicated and multifaceted affair. The dynamics of West Asia politics
keep changing and must be viewed through an appropriate historical lens. It cannot be viewed independent of
the international players in the region. Presently, the Syrian conflict is the hotspot of West Asia politics.
2.6 EBOLA
• The deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo is now an international
health emergency, the World Health Organization announced,
after the virus spread this week to a city of two million people
(Goma).
• While cases in other areas are reducing, Beni, in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the new hotspot.
• The announcement of the health emergency comes amid
renewed concerns that the virus could spread to other
countries.
• A single imported case of Ebola in Goma, a city in Congo with
two million people and with an international airport bordering
Rwanda, served as a trigger to finally declare a global
emergency.
o Surprisingly, the spread to neighbouring Uganda last month
did not seem to change the way the WHO assessed the
situation.
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o Even when a handful of Ebola cases were confirmed in Uganda, all the infected people had travelled from
Congo and there had been no local transmission or spread within Uganda — one of the criteria used by the
WHO to assess if an outbreak is a global emergency.
• More than 1,600 people have died since August in the second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which is
unfolding in a region described as a war zone.
• This is the fifth time that the WHO has declared a global emergency. The earlier occasions were in February
2016 for Zika outbreaks in the Americas, August 2014 for Ebola outbreaks in western Africa, the spread of polio
in May 2014, and the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in April 2009.
• Declaring an event as a global emergency is meant to stop the spread of the pathogen to other countries and
to ensure a coordinated international response.
• WHO defines a global emergency as an “extraordinary event” which constitutes a risk to other countries and
requires a coordinated international response. Last month this outbreak spilled across the border for the first
time when a family brought the virus into Uganda after attending the burial in Congo of an infected relative.
EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE (EVD)
• Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare and deadly disease in people and non-human primates (monkeys, gorillas,
and chimpanzees).
• The viruses that cause EVD are located mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.
• There is not one but many Ebola virus species.
• There is no approved vaccine or treatment for EVD.
• Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
o Since then, the virus has been infecting people from time to time, leading to outbreaks in several African
countries.
• Scientists do not know where Ebola virus comes from. However, based on the nature of similar viruses, they
believe the virus is animal-borne, with bats being the most likely source.
o The bats carrying the virus can transmit it to other animals, like apes, monkeys, duikers and humans.
• Ebola virus spreads to people through direct contact with bodily fluids of a person who is sick with or has died
from EVD.
• This can occur when a person touches the infected body fluids (or objects that are contaminated with them),
and the virus gets in through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth.
• The virus can also spread to people through direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected
fruit bats or primates.
• People can get the virus through sexual contact as well.
3. ECONOMY
3.1 INDIAN GDP CALCULATION
In 2015, the Central Statistics Office came up with a revised methodology for the calculation of GDP of the
country.
• Change of base year to 2011-12 (from 2004-05) to capture the unorganized sector data from NSSO’s
Employment-Unemployment Survey (EUS) of 2011-12.
• Incorporation of Recommendations of System of National Accounts (SNA), 2008:
o Valuation of Gross Value Added (GVA) & Net Value Added (NVA) at basic prices.
o Considering GDP at market prices as headline GDP instead of GDP at factor cost, to make the new calculation
more consumer-centric.
o Treating unincorporated enterprises maintaining accounts as quasi-corporations.

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• Incorporation of MCA21 database: Ensuring comprehensive • Gross Fiscal Deficit is defined as the excess
coverage of corporate sector in mining, manufacturing & services. of total expenditure of the government over
o Earlier, contribution of enterprises was assessed using Index of the total non-debt creating receipts.
Industrial Production & Annual Survey of Industries. • Net fiscal deficit can be arrived at by
• Broader coverage of financial sector by including stock brokers, deducting net domestic lending from gross
fiscal deficit.
stock exchanges, asset management companies, mutual funds and
• Revenue deficit arises when the
pension funds, as well as regulatory bodies, SEBI, PFRDA and IRDA.
government’s actual net receipts is lower
o Earlier estimates primarily covered commercial banks and NBFCs. than the projected receipts.
• Adopted Effective Labour Input (ELI) Method: Earlier, it was o Revenue deficit signifies that government’s
assumed that all categories of workers contribute equally. New own earning is insufficient to meet normal
method addresses differential labour productivity issue by functioning of government departments and
assigning weights to different categories of workers based on their provision of services.
productivity. o An increase in the ratio of revenue deficit to
• Use of results of recent surveys and censuses: Current data from gross fiscal deficit indicates an increase in the
latest surveys have been incorporated in the GDP calculation. E.g. utilization of borrowed funds for revenue
Agricultural Census 2010-11; All India Livestock Census, 2012; All purposes.
• Trade deficit: A nation has a trade deficit if
India Debt and Investment Survey, 2013 etc.
the total value of goods and services it
imports is greater than the total value of
ISSUES IN GDP ESTIMATION IN INDIA those it exports.
Concerns about the accuracy of India’s new GDP series stems from • Factor income: It is determined by
legacy problems with the national accounts system in the country, subtracting income made by citizens of a
which were either left unaddressed or were aggravated during the country on their foreign investments from
base year change exercise in 2014-15. income earned by foreigners on their
• Volatile Revisions: The revisions (between advance estimates & investments within the country.
revised estimates) in overall GDP numbers tend to have an upward • Financial transfers: They include interest
earnings and foreign remittances.
bias, which raises questions on the credibility of GDP data.
• Current account deficit: trade deficit +
Moreover, volatile revisions create challenges for policymakers
factor income + financial transfers
who make decisions based on initial estimates. • Balance of payments: The balance of
• Overestimation bias in informal sector: The new GDP series payments is the sum of all transactions
assumes that the informal manufacturing (‘quasi-corporations’) between a nation and all of its international
sector grew at the same rate as the formal manufacturing sector, trading partners.
which might have inflated informal sector growth in the new series.
• Use of Deflators:
o Wholesale price index (WPI) as deflator for several sectors of the GDP Deflator
economy (particularly services) is inappropriate. • GDP price deflator is a ratio of price levels
o Currently, in GVA calculation, instead of deflating output and in two different years that accounts for
input with their respective prices, common output deflator is used, inflation in the prices of goods and services.
which assumes that input & output prices move in same direction • GDP Deflator = Nominal GDP at Current
and thus, creates a bias. E.g. When oil prices were low, and input Prices (2018) / Real GDP at Constant Prices
inflation was falling, while output inflation continued to rise, there (Base Year 2011) ×100
had been a tendency of growth overestimation. • Quantitatively, the production may not
• Use of MCA21 database: The use of an untested corporate have improved and the growth rate may
database, MCA-21 and the manner in which it is used in National appear to be high only because of inflation in
the prices.
Accounts for calculation under new GDP series is contentious.
• GDP Deflator enables comparisons of real
o MCA-21 database also lacks state-wise details, which has GDP from one year to another.
distorted state-level GDP. These changes have enormous
implications for the borrowing limits of states (3% of GSDP as mandated by FRBM Act 2003), and on the
devolution of resources to states by the Finance Commission.
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✓ Most of the relatively prosperous states such as Delhi, Kerala and Karnataka saw a further boost to their GSDP,
which allowed them to borrow more. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) vs Gross
✓ Some states like Bihar and West Bengal saw their economies Value Added (GVA)
shrink, forcing them to reduce spending to meet fiscal deficit • Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the
targets. monetary value all final economic goods and
✓ Devolution of funds by Finance Commission will be impacted as services produced in a country during a
formula includes both fiscal performance & income distance. specific period of time.
• Shift from establishment to enterprise approach: The new GVA o Domestic territory means political
methodology shifted data collection from establishments (or frontiers of the country including its
territorial waters, commercial vessels
factories) to enterprises (or firms). All the value added at
operated by country’s residents etc. & also
enterprises classified as "manufacturing firms" goes into the includes country’s embassies & consulates
calculation of manufacturing GVA. But, the activities of firms are located abroad.
much more diverse than factories (e.g. some subsidiaries may only • GVA is measure of value added in goods and
look into services like transportation) and would not qualify as services produced in economy i.e. GVA =
manufacturing. economic output – input.
• Administrative Issues: Lack of transparency and effective audit of • GVA is sector specific while GDP is
the GDP database point to inadequate oversight of the Central calculated by summation of GVA of all sectors
Statistics Office (CSO), which is responsible for the National of economy with taxes added and subsidies
Accounts Statistics. Recent resignation of 2 members of National are deducted.
Statistical Commission (NSC) and non-appointment of new • Central Statistics Office (CSO) in the
Ministry of Statistics and Programme
independent members appointed by the government further
Implementation (MoSPI) is responsible for
indicates lack of autonomy in statistical system in India. the compilation of National Account Statistics
WAY FORWARD including GDP.
• Existing data sources including MCA21 database should be
properly authenticated before plugging it into National Account Statistics.
• New data sources and methodologies can be explored e.g. using transactions-level GST data to estimate
expenditure-based estimates of GDP.
• The shift from establishment approach to enterprise approach will be successful only if all the disaggregated
information in MCA21 database on activities of a firm is classified properly into appropriate sectors.
• Greater transparency on the methodology and better data dissemination standards can help improve the
credibility of the official GDP numbers. The recent merger of Central Statistics Office (CSO) and National Sample
Survey Office (NSSO) can help CSO to adopt transparent data practices of the latter.
Growth rates are critical for internal policy making as it has a bearing on both monetary and fiscal policies. E.g.
If we over-estimate the growth rates, we might keep interest rates too high from a cyclical perspective, which
might prolong growth stagnation. Therefore, it is important to see the broader message behind the concerns
raised and make the process of GDP estimation more robust according.
3.2 NPA ISSUE IN INDIA

NON-PERFORMING ASSET (NPA)
It is a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days or
more. In case of Agriculture/Farm Loans, the NPA varies for short duration crop (interest not paid for 2 crop
seasons) and long duration crops (interest not paid for 1 Crop season).
Banks are required to classify NPAs further into Substandard, Doubtful & Loss assets.
• Substandard assets: Assets which have remained NPA for a period less than or equal to 12 months.
• Doubtful assets: Assets which have remained in the substandard category for a period of 12 months
• Loss assets: It is considered uncollectible and of such little value that its continuance as a bankable asset is not
warranted, although there may be some salvage or recovery value.
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Stressed Assets
It is a broader term and comprises of NPAs, restructured loans and written off assets.
• Restructured Loans: Assets/loans which have been restructured by giving a longer duration for repayment,
lowering interest or by converting them to equity.
• Written off Assets: Assets/loans which aren’t counted as dues, but recovery efforts are continued at branch
level – done by banks to clean up their balance books.
REASONS FOR HIGH NPAS

Borrower’s side
• Domestic economy slowdown - Lack of
demand for their products as foreseen by the
industrialists
• Wilful default
• Diversion of funds by borrowers for purposes
other than mentioned in loan documents.
• Global economy slowdown
• Volatility in prices of raw material and the
shortage in availability of power etc. impacts
the performance of the corporate sector
Bank’s side
• Bad lending practices. Sometimes banks
provide loans to borrowers with bad credit history. There is high probability of default in these cases.
• Inadequate Capacity to evaluate projects – poor credit appraisal system
• Absence of regular industrial visits.
Other external factors:

• Economic condition of a region effected by natural calamities
• Ineffective recovery tribunals
• Change in government policies – For example – any government scheme diverting manpower of PSBs for its
implementation affecting the regular activities of banks.
• Administrative hurdles – delay in getting permits and other clearances affects the cost of project.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 was enacted to provide a time-bound process to resolve insolvency
among companies and individuals.
o Insolvency is a situation where an individual or company is unable to repay their outstanding debt.
• Salient Feature:
a) The Code outlines separate insolvency resolution processes for individuals, companies and partnership firms.
b) The process may be initiated by either the debtor or the creditors.
c) A maximum time limit, for completion of the insolvency resolution process has been set for corporates and
individuals.
d) For companies, the process will have to be completed in 180 days, which may be extended by 90 days, if a
majority of the creditors agree.
e) For start ups (other than partnership firms), small companies and other companies (with asset less than Rs. 1
crore), resolution process would be completed within 90 days of initiation of request which may be extended
by 45 days.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) proposes two separate tribunals to oversee the process of
insolvency resolution, for individuals and companies:
(i) the National Company Law Tribunal for Companies and Limited Liability Partnership firms; and
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(ii) the Debt Recovery Tribunal for individuals and partnerships.

• Under the Code, a financial creditor may file an application before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)
for initiating the insolvency resolution process.
• The NCLT must find the existence of default within 14 days.
• Thereafter, a Committee of Creditors (CoC) consisting of financial creditors will be constituted for taking
decisions regarding insolvency resolution.
• The CoC may either decide to restructure the debtor’s debt by preparing a resolution plan or liquidate the
debtor’s assets.
• The CoC will appoint a resolution professional who will present a resolution plan to the CoC.
• The CoC must approve a resolution plan, and the resolution process must be completed within 180 days.
o This may be extended by a period of up to 90 days if the extension is approved by NCLT.
• If the resolution plan is rejected by the CoC, the debtor will go into liquidation.
• The Code provides an order of priority for the distribution of assets in case of liquidation of the debtor.
o This order places financial creditors ahead of operational creditors (e.g., suppliers).
o In a 2018 Amendment, home-buyers who paid advances to a developer were to be considered as financial
creditors.
o They would be represented by an insolvency professional appointed by NCLT.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code was first amended in 2017.
• The amendments put in place safeguards to prevent unscrupulous, undesirable persons from misusing or
vitiating the provisions of the Code.
• Those being made ineligible (by Section 29A of the Code) include:
o Willful Defaulters,
o Those who have their accounts classified as Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) for one year or more and are unable
to settle their overdue amounts before submission of the Resolution Plan,
o Those who have executed an enforceable guarantee in favour of a creditor, in respect of a
Corporate Debtor undergoing a Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process or Liquidation Process under the Code.
• It also places restrictions for such persons to participate in the resolution or liquidation process.
o Accordingly, companies, promoters and associate companies undergoing insolvency resolution or liquidation
under the Code would not be eligible to bid for the stressed assets.
• The Ordinance provides such checks by specifying that the Committee of Creditors (CoC) ensure the viability
and feasibility of the resolution plan before approving it.
o The CoC is also empowered to reject a resolution plan where the resolution applicant is not eligible under the
new provisions.
o In case there is no other plan available with the CoC, it may invite fresh resolution plans.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy code Amendments, 2018:
• In a major change, homebuyers would now be treated as financial creditors or, in other words, on par with
banks.
• The amendment enables homebuyers (either as an individual or group) to initiate insolvency proceedings
against errant builders.
• Money given to real estate companies by homebuyers gets the commercial effect of a borrowing.
• Being financial creditors, their voting share will be in proportion to the financial debts owed to them.
• Homebuyers shall have the right to be represented in the committee of creditors (CoC), which takes the key
decision regarding revival of the company or its liquidation.
• The amendment has changed the voting share required in CoC meetings.
• For extending the insolvency process beyond 180 days till 270 days and for appointment of the resolution
professional (who oversees the process),
now a voting share of 66% is sufficient, compared with earlier requirement of 75%.

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• Unless a specific approval is required in the Code, all other decisions of the CoC can be taken with 51% voting
share against the earlier norm of 75%.
• Withdrawal from the insolvency process is permitted with the approval of 90% of voting share of the CoC.
Information Utilities
• Information utility is an
information network which
would store financial data
like borrowings, default and
security interests among
others of firms.
• The objective behind
information utilities is to
provide high-quality,
authenticated information
about debts and defaults.
• Information utilities are governed by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy code 2016 and Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Board of India (Information Utilities) Regulations 2017.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) overseas aspects such as registration and cancellation of
these entities, their shareholding and governance among others.
• Recently, IBBI eased norms for information utilities, allowing Indian firms listed on stock exchanges to hold
100% in such firms.
• It also allowed individuals to hold 51% in the utility for a period of three years.
• National e-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL) became India’s first information utility (IU) for bankruptcy cases
under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016.
• National e-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL) is owned by State Bank of India and Life Insurance Corporation Ltd.,
among others.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019

• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by the Parliament.
• The Bill addresses three issues.
o First, it strengthens provisions related to time-limits.
o Second, it specifies the minimum payouts to operational creditors in any resolution plan.
o Third, it specifies the manner in which the representative of a group of financial creditors (such as home-
buyers) should vote.
Resolution plan
• The Code provides that the resolution plan must ensure that the operational creditors receive an amount
which should not be lesser than the amount they would receive in case of liquidation.
• The Bill amends this to provide that the amounts to be paid to the operational creditor should be the higher
of:
(i) amounts receivable under liquidation, and
(ii) the amount receivable under a resolution plan, if such amounts were distributed under the same order of
priority (as for liquidation).
• For example, if the default were for Rs 1,000 crore and the resolution professional recovered Rs 800 crore,
the operational creditor must at least get an amount which they would have received if Rs 800 crore have been
obtained through liquidation proceeds.
• Further, the Bill states that this provision would also apply to insolvency processes:

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(i) that have not been approved or rejected by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), (ii) that have been
appealed to the National Company Appellate Tribunal or Supreme Court, and
(iii) where legal proceedings have been initiated in any court against the decision of the NCLT.
Initiation of resolution process

• As per the Code, the NCLT must determine the existence of default within 14 days of receiving a resolution
application.
• Based on its finding, NCLT may accept or reject the application.
• The Bill states that in case the NCLT does not find the existence of default and has not passed an order within
14 days, it must record its reasons in writing.
Time-limit for resolution process

• The Code states that the insolvency resolution process must be completed within 180 days, extendable by a
period of up to 90 days.
• The Bill adds that the resolution process must be completed within 330 days.
• This includes time for any extension granted and the time taken in legal proceedings in relation to the process.
• On the enactment of the Bill, if any case is pending for over 330 days, the Bill states it must be resolved within
90 days.
Representative of financial creditors

• The Code specifies that, in certain cases, such as when the debt is owed to a class of creditors beyond a
specified number, the financial creditors will be represented on the committee of creditors by an authorised
representative.
• These representatives will vote on behalf of the financial creditors as per instructions received from them.
• The Bill states that such representative will vote on the basis of the decision taken by a majority of the voting
share of the creditors that they represent.
Successes of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code
• Promising start: 1322 cases have been admitted by National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). 4452 cases have
been disposed at pre-admission stage.
• Resolution at pre-admission stage: Once a petition of the creditor is filed before the NCLT, many debtors have
started paying at the pre-admission stage so that the declaration of insolvency does not take place. This
indicates that IBC has pushed successful resolution outside the courts through negotiation, arbitration &
reconciliation, which will lessen the burden of judiciary system.
• Resolution of large accounts: In June 2017, RBI had recommended 12 large accounts (having more than Rs
5000 cr of outstanding loans and accounting for 25% of total NPAs of banks) for immediate resolution under
IBC.
o Successful resolution of Bhusan Steel helped the banks successfully recover almost 75% of the total debt
through 36400 cr transparent bid by Tata Steel.
o Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd. & Essar Steel India Ltd. are in advanced stages of resolution. Lenders are
expecting to recover almost 86% of Rs 49000 cr loan in case of Essar Steel.
• Reduced time for resolution: According to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) data, the average
time for resolution and liquidation outcomes is within the 270-day outer timeline. This is a significant
improvement over World Bank’s estimate in 2015, which stated that average time period for resolution is 4.3
years.
• Reduced loss in recovery: According to IBBI data, the recovery rates for financial creditors have improved on
an absolute basis.
• Impact of the law on credit markets: Operational creditors find the Code an effective tool for realising their
claims. Earlier, operational creditors, comprising largely vendors and employees had no effective remedy for

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recovering their dues, except civil suits and the initiation of winding up proceedings before the court against the
debtor.
• Impact of Section 29(A): After the introduction of Section 29(A), companies are paying up in anticipation of
not crossing red line and being referred to NCLT. This has created a deterrent effect on potential defaulters, as
they fear loss of their position in company’s management if the IBC proceedings are initiated. (Section 29A
prohibits wilful defaulters, promoters/management of company having non-performing debt for over a year or
disqualified directors from participating in the resolution process. Earlier, errant promoters could participate in
the resolution process allowing them to retain control over the company and reducing their debt liability at the
same time.)
• Uniform and universal application: Generic framework of IBC has been universally adopted, as RBI has
withdrawn other resolution schemes such as Strategic Debt Restructuring (SDR) Scheme, Scheme for
Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A) etc. This has provided consistency in the insolvency process
across the country.
• Transparency in real estate: The amendment in 2017 allows home buyers to be treated at par with financial
creditors. It will protect the interests of home buyers, who contribute more capital to builders than financial
institutions, but so far had no say in the resolution plan.
• Focus on Outcome Neutrality: IBC views both revival and liquidation as means of resolving firm stress & leaves
the decision to the commercial judgment of the creditors of the company. It marks fundamental shift from the
thinking that prevailed in the pre-IBC world. Laws like Sick Industrial Companies Act, or Companies Act had a
general aversion to liquidation as an outcome, thereby, increasing delays and pendency.
Challenges
• Infrastructural constraints: With the existing infrastructure & capacity of IBC, it would be difficult to deal with
the volume of case flow, and the quantum of litigation being generated in the timelines that the law prescribes.
• Substantive issues: IBC is a nascent law with evolving jurisprudence, and the initial cases are taking more time
as substantive issues are being settled by courts like validity of Section 29(A).
• Perceived Bias against liquidation: It is based on the belief that the objective of the IBC is to resolve stressed
companies by reviving them, and liquidation represents a failure of the IBC process. The IBC amendment
lowering the vote threshold (from 75% to 66%) required to approve a resolution plan also suggests this bias. In
many of the ongoing cases, the process of submission of resolution plan and their evaluation is continued
beyond stipulated 270 days. This is against the spirit of IBC, which puts liquidation as an outcome for stressed
companies on equal footing, as revival or restructuring.
• Challenges in liquidation process:
o Liquidators under IBC require lenders to relinquish control (right to sell the asset if borrower fails to repay the
loan) over the company’s assets, pledged as collateral for loans. Ensuring compliance in this regard has faced
many legal hurdles.
o The attachment of assets by the probe agencies like enforcement directorate (ED), income tax agency etc. for
past investigations contributes to the delays. An asset entangled with Law Enforcement agencies doesn’t attract
many buyers.
o Complicated land ownership patterns of the corporate debtor further poses challenges to liquidation. In many
cases, liquidation cost is higher than the available assets.
• Sanctification of the small: Promoters of small companies are exempted from disqualification criteria under
Section 29A; otherwise these companies would go directly into liquidation in absence of any bidders. However,
small companies also dominate the list of insolvent companies, despite the public focus on large cases. The
special status given to small companies could be another disincentive against gaining size.
• Lack of clarity on cross-border insolvency law: India has not yet adopted UNCITRAL (United Nations
Commission on International Trade Law) Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency and therefore, requires bilateral
agreements with individual countries to administer cross-border insolvency proceedings.

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o In June 2018, the Government of India released the suggested draft chapter on cross-border insolvency as an
addition to the IBC.
Conclusion
• There is a need to urgently develop a policy framework for distressed asset investors to attract foreign
investors in this space. In absence of competing bidders, valuation of assets will be impacted, causing further
losses to banks and other creditors.
• A well-designed insolvency & bankruptcy law should differentiate between “financially distressed" firms &
“economically distressed” firms.
o When the present value of the expected profits of a company is less than the total value of the assets of the
company, the company is economically distressed. Such a company can be profitably liquidated.
o In contrast, if a company is not economically distressed but is merely unable to service its debts, it is financially
distressed. The assets of such a firm are more valuable if kept together as a functioning unit. Hence, such a unit
must be restructured. With the passing of 2 years, even as it continues to evolve, the IBC has largely emerged
as successful and remains key to solving India’s bad loans problem.
3.3 BASE EROSION AND PROFIT SHIFTING

• It refers to tax avoidance strategies that exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules to artificially shift profits to
low or no tax locations resulting in little or no overall corporate tax being paid.
• The OECD, under the authority of the Group of 20 countries, has considered ways to revise tax treaties, tighten
rules, and to share more government tax information under the BEPS project, and had issued action plans in
2015.
• The BEPS project would:
o increase tax revenues which were earlier lost due to BEPS. BEPS is of major significance for developing
countries due to their heavy reliance on corporate income tax, particularly from multinational enterprises.
o give level playing field for both and domestic and global companies by allowing them to conduct businesses
under similar circumstances. Tax savings from BEPS give multinational companies an edge over domestic
companies, who may lack the wherewithal to employ such strategies.
o prevent double taxation.
• The BEPS refers to corporate tax planning strategies used by multinational companies that artificially shift
profits from higher tax locations to lower ones, eroding the tax base of the higher tax locations.
• The 2016 Union Budget announced an ‘equalisation levy’ of 6 per cent on such transactions.
• Equalisation Levy is a direct tax, which is withheld at the time of payment by the service recipient.
• The two conditions to be met to be liable to equalisation levy:
o The payment should be made to a non-resident service provider; Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
o The annual payment made to one service provider exceeds Rs. Development (OECD)
1,00,000 in one financial year. • It is an intergovernmental economic
• Currently, not all services are covered under the ambit of organisation which aims to promote policies
equalisation Levy. that will improve the economic and social
well-being of people around the world.
• The following services covered:
• It has 36 member countries and was
o Online advertisement;
founded in 1960 by 18 European nations plus
o Any provision for digital advertising space or facilities/service for the United States and Canada.
the purpose of online advertisement. • India is not a member of OECD.
• India is the first country to impose such a levy, post the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD’s) BEPS action plan.
• A tax panel has recommended expanding the ambit of this levy to cover a wide gamut of transactions including
online marketing, cloud computing, website designing, hosting and maintenance, platforms for sale of goods
and services, and online use of or download of software and applications.

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Do you know? TAX INFORMATION EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

• Tax to GDP ratio in India is about 16%, including State taxes, (TIEA)
whereas in many developed countries it is about 35%-40%. • India has notified a tax information
• It is imperative that India’s tax-GDP ratio also climbs exchange agreement (TIEA) with the Marshall
substantially so that our public social investments can rise to the Islands.
• The agreement enables exchange of
levels that are required.
information, including banking and
• It is the expansion of tax base which would enhance the Tax-
ownership information, between the two
GDP ratio, rather than higher rates of taxes. countries for tax purposes.
• It was developed by the OECD Global Forum
MULTILATERAL CONVENTION TO IMPLEMENT TAX TREATY Working Group on Effective Exchange of
RELATED MEASURES Information.
• India has ratified the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax • The agreement also provides for
Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit representatives of one country to undertake
Shifting (MLI). tax examinations in the other country and will
help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.
• MLI will enter into force for India on 01st October, 2019 and its
• TIEAs are not binding instruments and can
provisions will have effect on India’s ‘double taxation avoidance
be terminated as stipulated in the
agreements’ (DTAAs) from FY 2020-21 onwards. agreements.
• The Multilateral Convention/MLI is an outcome of the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) action /G20 Project to tackle Base Erosion
and Profit Shifting (the “BEPS Project”) i.e. tax planning strategies that exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules
to artificially shift profits to low or no-tax locations where there is little or no economic activity, resulting in little
or no overall corporate tax being paid.
• India was part of the Ad Hoc Group of more than 100 countries and jurisdictions from G20, OECD, BEPS
associates and other interested countries, which worked on an equal footing on the finalization of the text of
the Multilateral Convention.
3.4 DISINVESTMENT
• Disinvestment refers to the government selling or liquidating its assets or stakes in PSE (public sector
enterprise).
• The Department for investment and public asset management (DIPAM) under Ministry of finance is the nodal
agency for disinvestment
Department of Investment and Public Asset Management
> The Department of Disinvestment was one of the departments under the Ministry of Finance.
> It was renamed as Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) in 2016.
> The mandate of the department is as follows:
> All matters relating to the management of Central Government investments in equity including disinvestment
of equity in Central Public Sector Undertakings.
> All matters relating to the sale of Central Government equity through offer for sale or private placement or
any other mode in the erstwhile Central Public Sector Undertakings.
Methods of Disinvestment
• Stock market: Initial Public Offering (IPO), Further Public Offering (FPO), and Offer for sale (OFS) offer are such
methods through the stock markets.
• Institutional Placement Program (IPP): only Institutions can participate in the offering.
• Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)- it allows simultaneous sale of government stake in various CPSEs across diverse
sectors through single offering. It provides a mechanism to monetize its shareholding in those CPSEs, which
form part of the ETF basket. Currently, it consists of (i) CPSE-ETF and (ii) Bharat-22 ETF

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• Strategic Disinvestment: Exchange Traded Funds (ETF)

o It is the sale of substantial portion of the Government >ETFs are index funds that are listed and
shareholding of a central public sector enterprise (CPSE) of up to traded onstock exchanges just like regular
50%, or such higher percentage along with transfer of management shares. They are a basket of stocks with
control. assigned weights that reflect the composition
of an index.
o It intended for efficient management of Government investment
>The ETFs trading value is based on the net
in CPSEs. Various programmes like addressing issues such as capital
asset value of the underlying stocks that it
restructuring, dividend, bonus shares, made as part of this policy. represents.
o Progress was made in respect of the 28 cases of Strategic >They enable investors to gain broad
Disinvestment approved by the Government, which are at different exposure to entire stock markets in different
stages, with three companies strategically sold off during FY 2018- countries and specific sectors with relative
19. ease, on a real-time basis and at a lower cost
than many other forms of investing.
Importance of Disinvestment >The ETF is aimed at helping speed up the
The importance of disinvestment by the government lies in government’s disinvestment programme. Ex.
utilisation of funds for: Bharat 22 ETF.
Bharat 22 ETF
> To improve public finances and fund increasing fiscal deficit.
>Bharat 22 ETF comprises of stocks of 22
> Financing large-scale infrastructure development.
Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs),
> For investing in the economy to encourage spending and fund Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Specified
growth. Undertaking of Unit Trust of India (SUUTI).
> For retiring Government debt- since a big part of Centre’s revenue >Bharat 22 ETF is managed by ICICI Prudential
receipts go towards repaying public debt/interest. Mutual Fund.
> For expenditure on social programs like health and education. >The foundation of Bharat 22 ETF was laid by
> To encourage wider share of ownership in an enterprise, and the government in the Union Budget 2017.
reduce monopoly like enterprises.
> To introduce, competition, market discipline and efficiency.
> To depoliticize non-essential services and move out of non-core
businesses, especially ones where private sector has now entered Disinvestment vs. Strategic Disinvestment
in a significant way. If the government is selling minority shares in
a PSE (less than 50%), it will continue to be
> It also sends a positive single to the market and can boost
the owner of the PSE. This is normal
economic activity. disinvestment procedure.
But if the government is selling majority
Arguments against Disinvestment shares (50% or more) of PSE to some other
• It is against the socialist ideology of equal distribution of entity (mostly to a private sector entity), then
resources amongst the population. this method is called strategic disinvestment
• It will lead to monopoly and oligopolistic practices by corporates. or strategic sale). Unlike the simple
• Proceedings of disinvestment had been used to cater the fiscal disinvestment, strategic sale implies some
deficit of the state, which would lead unhealthy fiscal sort of privatization, along with transfer of
consolidation. management control.
• Private ownership does not guarantee the efficiency (Rangarajan PSEs for strategic disinvestment are selected
based on certain criteria.
Committee 1993).
> They may be incurring losses, or
• Disinvestment exercise had been done by undervaluation of > It may be operationally difficult for the
public assets and favouritism bidding, thereby, leading to loss of government to continue with the PSE.
public exchequers.
• Private ownership might overlook developmental region disparity in order to cut the cost of operation.

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3.5 GOVERNMENT E-MARKETPLACE (GEM)

>GeM is an Online Market platform was setup in 2016 to facilitate procurement of goods and services by the
government ministries, departments, public sector undertakings (PSU) etc.
>It has been envisaged as National Procurement Portal of India.
>It has been developed by Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (Ministry of Commerce and Industry)
with technical support of National e-governance Division (Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology).
>It functions under Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
>GeM is a completely paperless, cashless and system driven e-market place that enables procurement of
common use goods and services with minimal human interface.
ADVANTAGES WITH GEM
• Brought a transparent procurement regime- by eliminating human interface in vendor registration, order
placement and payment processing, to a great extent. Being an open platform, GeM offers no entry barriers to
bonafide suppliers who wish to do business with the Government.
o Seamless processes and online time-bound payment has given
confidence to the vendors and reduced their 'administrative' cost New Initiative SWAYATT
The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry
involved in pursuing officers for timely payment.
has launched an initiative termed SWAYATT.
• Reduction in inefficiencies- >SWAYATT is an initiative to promote Start-
o by replacing the archaic DGS&D with a staff of more than 1,800 ups, Women and Youth Advantage through e-
to a lean, tech-led GeM which has just 50 employees. Transactions (SWAYATT) on Government e
o by eliminating multiple levels of manual, sequential verification Marketplace (GeM).
and decision-making, leading to dramatic reductions in lead-time >This will bring together the key stakeholders
in government procurement. It has brought down the delivery within the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem
time from 30-60 days earlier to 10-15 days. to Government
o Vendor registration time has shrunk from 30 days to under 10 e-Marketplace the national procurement
minutes. portal.
• Broadened the scope of procurement- as it has brought a unique >The government also launched GeM Start-
up Runwayan initiative of GeM in association
feature by offering both products and services on GeM. Product
with Start -up India to facilitate Start-ups
categories have multiplied from under 400 in the early months to registered with Start -up India to access the
3,500 now. public procurement market and sell
• Has brought machine-driven, competitive pricing- innovative products and services to
o Instead of procurement rates fixed for one or two years, now it’s government buyers.
dynamic and market-linked. >GeM Start-up Runway seeks to support
o It has led to cheaper procurements. E.g. As a category, technology development, spur research and
automobile has been the biggest hit, with an instant 12 per cent innovation by ensuring a conducive policy
discount. environment for industrial diversification and
o It has led to aggregating purchases. E.g. five states together value addition to commodities.
bought 1 lakh smart phones, which helped the government to >GeM Start-up Runway will address goals and
objectives under United Nations Sustainable
negotiate for bigger discounts.
Development Goal 9: Build resilient
• Has promoted entrepreneurship and created jobs- The vendor infrastructure, promote inclusive and
base has become more diverse and inclusive, with an emphasis on sustainable industrialization and foster
supporting startups and MSMEs. E.g. a small company selling innovation.
patented nasal filters to tackle air pollution got a bulk order from
traffic police in Delhi and Chandigarh, due to GeM.
o It has eliminated intermediaries and guaranteed prompt release of payment.
• Has brought new rating system and comparison-
o Initially, prices on GeM were higher than other e-commerce sites like Flipkart. Now a tool has been introduced,
where prices on GeM could be easily compared with those on other ecommerce sites.

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CHALLENGES WITH GEM

• Implemented in a short time span- the government had to come with various versions like GeM 1.0, GeM 2.0
and GeM 3.0. The resistance to change by various stakeholders was not addressed and the renewal of rate
contracts was stopped arbitrarily.
• Lack of access in remote areas- Although the rates and timelines have come down and the system is stabilising
but in remote areas where order is small, delivery is an issue.
• Platform can be made more user-friendly- The small businesses find it hard to use the platform due to complex
user interface of the portal.
• Issues of counterfeits- as there are instances of fake product delivery. Recently, the government has brought
some provisions where after three such instances those vendors can be banned. But it needs to be streamlined
further.
3.6 WHAT IS AN 'INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING - IPO'

• An initial public offering is when a private company or corporation raises investment capital by offering its
stock to the public for the first time.
What Does Oversubscription Mean?

• In an initial public offer (IPO), there are a limited number of shares up for grabs.
• In every IPO, investor categories are distinguished and a portion is reserved for them.
• The categories defined are: qualified institutional investors, non-institutional investors, retail investors, and
there could be an employees category as well.
• Oversubscription happens when people apply for more shares than what were on offer.
• Though it does imply a high interest, it also means proportionately fewer people are likely to get shares, as
the issue size and proportion for each category is fixed.
How is allotment to retail investors decided?

• If an issue is oversubscribed, allotment happens as per predefined rules.
• According to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) guidelines, every issuer must define a minimum
application amount, between 10,000 and 15,000.
• The total number of shares available for retail investors is divided by the minimum lot size; this
determines the maximum number of applicants who will receive allotment.
• These applicants will receive the minimum lot regardless of how much they applied for.
• If the number of applications received is more than this, then a lottery follows.
• If an issue is oversubscribed many times, most applicants are likely to get nothing.
• So, in such cases it’s best to apply for the minimum bid if the broker feels that the issue is going to be popular.
• Even with that, chances of getting an allotment will reduce as oversubscription increases.
SOCIAL STOCK EXCHANGE (SSE)

• It is an electronic fundraising platform that allows investors to buy shares in a social enterprise that has been
vetted by the exchange. o Social enterprises, volunteer groups and welfare organisations will be listed on this
platform so that they can raise capital.
o Social enterprise is a revenue-generating business whose primary objective is to achieve a social objective, for
example, providing healthcare or clean energy.
• It will act as crowd-sourcing platforms for fund- raising by non-profit entities aimed at impact investment and
transparency.
Benefit of Social Stock Exchange (SSE)
• It is an innovative measure to involve public participation in social causes through the equity route.

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• It can be helpful in bringing in significant additional capital to support entrepreneurs working to improve the
lives of underserved populations, thereby accelerating inclusive growth.
• It will bring together social enterprises and impact investors on a common platform.
• It make the exercise much cheaper for them by standardisation of the process and does away with the need
to engage and negotiate directly.
• For non-profits companies, a SSE can enable fund-raising as well as information on operations and financials
through standardised reporting.
• A fund-raising platform that has regulatory oversight can improve credibility and help ameliorate the
difficulties non-profits face in fund-raising.
Challenges
• Lack of clarity on trading & tax benefit: There is no clarity about trading, tax benefit transferability and
accountability of third parties availing of funds raised from this platform. There is also some confusion on
whether the ‘exchange' will involve trading in securities issued by non-profit bodies.
• No proper records: Most NGOs are not good at keeping records
and maintaining a paper trail. This could affect channelisation and Impact Investment in India
tracking of funds particularly in case of smaller players, who do not • Impact Investment is the investments made
into businesses with the aim to make a
have the resources to manage and keep records.
measurable social, economic and
• No financial returns: Such securities do not offer financial returns
environmental impact while also generating a
apart from the social impact return. In this case, the Return on range of returns, from profit to publicity.
investment (ROI) will most likely be the benefit to the social
welfare objective the investor is contributing towards.
• Limited to registered companies only: Only registered companies can list on stock exchanges. There are other
unregistered entities doing good work in health, education and policy advocacy.
• Accreditation: The biggest issue is still accreditation at all levels— among investors, social businesses, and the
intermediaries that act as vital brokers and valuation experts in the field. Getting enough “genuine” social
impact companies becomes difficult.
3.7 BANK MERGER

ADVANTAGES OF MERGING OF BANKS
> Scale: A bank merger helps the merged entities scale up quickly and gain a large number of new customers
instantly. It also provides a broader geographic footprint to operate.
> Efficiency: Every bank has an infrastructure in place for compliance, risk management, accounting, operations
and IT – and now that two banks have become one, it will be able to more efficiently consolidate and administer
those operational infrastructures.
> Business Gaps Filled: Acquiring a smaller bank that offers a unique revenue model or financial product is
sometimes easier than building that business unit from scratch.
> Synergy: The synergy created by the merger is powerful enough to enhance business performance, financial
gains, and overall shareholders value in long term.
> Cost Efficiency: The merger results in improving the purchasing power of the company which helps in
negotiating the bulk orders and leads to cost efficiency. The reduction in staff reduces the salary costs and
increases the margins of the company. The increase in production volume causes the per unit production cost
resulting in benefits from economies of scale.
> Competitive Edge: The combined talent and resources of the new company helps it gain and maintain a
competitive edge.
> New Markets: The market reach is improved by the merger due to the diversification or the combination of
two businesses. This results in better sales opportunities.

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CHALLENGES IN BANK MERGER

• Overlook regional requirement: Many banks focus on regional banking requirements. With the merger the
very purpose of establishing the bank to cater to regional needs is lost.
• Too big to fail: When a big bank books huge loss or crumbles, there will be a big jolt in the entire banking
industry. Its repercussions will be felt everywhere.
• Job Loss: Mergers will result in immediate job losses on account Merger
of large number of people taking VRS on one side and slow down Two or more companies are combined
or stoppage of further recruitment on the other. together to form either a new company or an
• Cultural clash: Mergers will result in clash of different existing company absorbing the other target
organizational cultures. Conflicts will arise in the area of systems companies. A merger is a process to
consolidate multiple businesses into one
and processes too.
business entity. All the Amalgamations are
• Disruption in services: It may lead to deterioration of services part of the Merger.
and disruption in the near term as the merger process gets under Amalgamation
way. This will lead to a further slowdown in lending for a while. It is a type of merger process in which two or
Steps to be taken more companies combine together to form a
• Standard process: There is no standard procedure to choose the new entity. All the mergers are not
banks for merger. The government should design a standard Amalgamation.
process for merger.
• Consultation with stakeholders: All stakeholders must be taken into confidence, before the merger exercise is
started.
• Reduce the NPA first: The government should clean the bank book first and then consolidate the weak bank
with the strong bank.
• Governance reforms: Along with bank consolidation government should take immediate measures to improve
governance and get desired result.
3.8 PRADHAN MANTRI LAGHU VYAPARI MAAN-DHAN YOJANA

• It is a pension scheme for small traders initiated by labour
Ministry. Pension Amount
• Under the scheme, those who are self-employed and working as • The scheme gives the subscribers ₹3,000 a
month after they turn 60, once they have
shop-owners, retail traders, rice mill owners, oil mill owners,
contributed to the scheme every month from
workshop owners, commission agents, real estate brokers, small the time of enrolment and till that age.
hotel owners, restaurant owners and other small traders will be • The government would match the monthly
eligible for pension. contribution, an amount that would depend
• The operations of such small traders are generally characterised on the age at which the applicant enters the
by family-owned establishments, small scale of operations, labour scheme.
intensive, inadequate financial aid, seasonal in nature and * For example, an 18-year-old would have to
extensive unpaid family labour. pay ₹55 a month, while a 40-year-old would
• Small traders between 18 and 40 years of age, having an annual need to pay ₹200 a month.
turnover of less than ₹1.5 crore would qualify to apply for the • The Life Insurance Corporation of India has
scheme. been chosen as pension fund manager
responsible for managing the pension fund.
• To be eligible, the applicants should not be covered under the
National Pension Scheme, Employees’ State Insurance Scheme and the Employees’ Provident Fund or be an
Income Tax assessee.
• Applicants would be able to apply through the 3.5 lakh common service centres, which were set up for the
government’s other pension schemes including the one for unorganised workers.




ADMIN1: ADMIN2:
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3.9 SILK SAMAGRA

• It is a Central Sector Scheme Silk Samagra as part of Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI)
• It is implemented by Government of India through Central Silk Board (CSB)
• The main aim of “Silk Samagra” Scheme is to empower downtrodden, poor & backward tribal families through
various activities of sericulture in the country including women.
• The main objective of the scheme is to maintain Breeders stock, Breed improvement through R&D Projects,
Development of mechanized practices, Technology translation through Sericulture Information Linkages and
Knowledge System (SILKS) Portal, Mobile Application for Stakeholders and for seed quality monitoring, develop
technology packages, impart training on improved technology programmes to Stakeholders, and transfer
technology to the field through front line demonstration, The scheme comprises four major components viz.
• Research & Development, Training, Transfer of Technology and Information Technology Initiatives,
• Seed Organizations,
• Coordination and Market Development
• Quality Certification Systems (QCS) / Export Brand Promotion and Technology Up-gradation.
3.10 TURNOVER RATIO

• The turnover ratio, which is a universally accepted parameter to gauge trading volumes, is the total value of
the shares traded in a specific period divided by the average market capitalisation of that period.
• Turnover ratios help assess the asset efficiency of a company. They are also known as Activity Ratios and
determine how effectively a firm utilises its assets to generate revenue.
Details
• India’s turnover ratio fell by nearly 60% between 2008 and 2018, as per the World Bank report, the fall had
been the highest among most leading markets of the world, barring the U.S. and the European Union.
• The turnover ratio of China dipped less than 6% in the last 10 years, while Brazil and Korea registered a dip of
12.85% and 31.12%, respectively. Japan and Hong Kong saw the ratio dip between 40-50% between 2008 and
2018, as per the World Bank study.
3.11 INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR

> India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally. Indian pharmaceutical sector industry supplies over 50
per cent of global demand for various vaccines.
> Indian companies received 304 Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) approvals from the US Food and
Drug Administration (USFDA) in 2017.
> Pharmaceutical exports include bulk drugs, intermediates, drug formulations, biologicals, Ayush & herbal
products and surgicals.
> India’s biotechnology industry comprising biopharmaceuticals, bio-services, bio-agriculture, bioindustry and
bioinformatics is expected to grow at an average growth rate of around 30 per cent a year and reach US$ 100
billion by 2025.
PROBLEMS & CHALLENGES
> India is the third largest manufacturer of pharmaceutical products in terms of volume and it is growing steadily.
The market has seen the entry of many foreign players as well as rise of many domestic manufacturers.
However, the industry faces many speed breakers:
> Lack of R&D:
• The Indian pharma industry faces lack of research components and real time good manufacturing practices.
• No doubt investment (as % of sales) in research & development by Indian pharma companies increased from
5.3 per cent in FY12 to 8.5 per cent in FY18 but it is still low as compared to US counterparts that invest in R &
D 15–20% of their sales.

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• China is ascending at a great speed to a leading position worldwide in terms of Research and Development
investment, scientific publications and patents. China is known for its mass production of low-level generic drugs
and as a ‘world factory’ of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). India is importing APIs from china at large
scale.
• Why?
- Simple enough answer, the lower the profits for the companies, the lower the investments. So, the companies
sight that due to the low income they are not able to develop products the way they want.
> Compliance issues and good manufacturing practices:
• This has somehow always been a problem for the Indian companies. The ongoing rumor is that the United
States Food and Drug Administration is trying to block the growth of the companies.
• Why is the approval of USFDA important?
- The approval of USFDA is important because the largest consumer of pharma products is the USA and India is
a major exporter. The opinion of the USFDA is considered to be the standard in the sector as well.
- The companies are trying to improve their standards and this issue can be solved by having officials who are
more stringent and inspections on a regular basis can be done
> Highly fragmented industry
• The Indian pharma industry is highly fragmented. The market is overloaded with generic manufacturers.
• Why is this a problem?
- This is a cause for concern because high fragmentation causes instability, volatility and uncertainty. This is
certainly not a good omen for the pharma sector.
- Pharmaceutical companies can review their strategies to survive in a volatile environment.
- Some of the actions that can be taken by the companies are they can periodically review their product portfolio
and build more customer centric products.
- The companies need to build their organisation in such a way that will enable better operational ability and
agility.
> Low Margins of profits due to government pricing policies – Drug Price Control Order
• Indian pharma companies are not getting proper profits; their earnings are basically very low as compared to
their counterparts in other countries such as the US.
• Their income is not sufficient enough to invest money on research component.
• The companies sight that the reforms of the Government for the essential medicines has caused them to lower
the price of drugs. This has been done by the Government for the betterment of the public. So, the Government
has to think of a way to promote the pharma companies as well.
• Funding for the pharma companies might be a way to move forward.
• National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has recently raised the ceiling prices of 21 essential
medicines by 50% as China has increased the prices of APIs.
> Stronger IP regulations
• IP regulation has always been a thorn in the skin for the companies, especially the foreign companies. The
companies strongly feel that the rules have to be amended and the so called victim of the lax regulations have
been the foreign entrants.
• The solution to this answer might be provided by the IPR Think Tank formed by the Government to draft a
stronger national IP policies.
• The U.S. recognises and encourages secondary patents. India, however, does not. India’s rejection of
secondary patents has kept blockbuster medicines affordable for many.
> Dependency on China
• The pharma industry is dependent on China for the supply of raw material for generic medicines production.
• India’s dependence on Chinese APIs imports makes the former vulnerable to the price mechanisms.
> Lack of Policy Support

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• India needs user friendly government policy for the common man to establish small scale, raw material
manufacturing units/ incubators in all states of the country to improve availability of raw materials to
manufacture generic drugs at affordable rates.
• The government and industry should facilitate the pharmacist community to become entrepreneurs and
promote incubators’ establishment.
> Lack of good quality of indigenously produced Raw Materials
• Raw material produced from small scale units should be properly validated in the testing laboratory of the
state to ascertain their quality specifi cations.
• There is a need for a functional testing laboratory in every state to fasten the work of specifi cation of raw
materials.
• Small scale produces may be re-processed in another industry or via a chain of industry for quality products
that can be used for parenteral/tailor-made formulations.
> Lack of Skilled Labour
• Skilled manpower from academic institutions can be achieved through continuing education programmes.
> Pharmaceutical Marketing Malpractices
• The pharmaceutical industry has been accused of adopting questionable practices in relation to the marketing
of their products. The main focus of attention in this respect has been the suspect interactions between
pharmaceutical companies and healthcare practitioners/ providers (HCPs). The unethical marketing practices
comprises of:
- Claims made during promotional activities that are:
- Misleading and give rise to unjustifiable drug use leading to risks.
- Not capable of substantiation.
- Not in good taste.
- Comparative with another drug, without any substantive basis for such comparison.
- Unqualified in the use of terms such as safe.
- An improper representation of the true nature of the drug.
- Interaction with HCPs comprises of following malpractices
- Free samples of drugs
- Offering of gifts or monetary benefits to HCPs or family members.
- Providing travel or lodging facilities to HCPs in relation to attending seminars, continuing medical education
(CME) programmes.
- Extension of grants or funds for medical research or clinical trials.
SUGGESTIONS
> Research schemes
• Should be initiated by the industry via direct contact with identified researcher/faculty.
• Incentives should be paid to students contributing towards development of any research formula for the
industry.
> Industry-Academia Tie-Up
• Industries should contact Indian academic institutions to get qualified students who have the knowledge and
aptitude for research and development in pharma.
• Industry should explore the availability of qualified students beyond metro cities.
> International Collaborations
• The industry and the government must collaborate with the international research organisations for research
and development to invent new formulas, drugs and treatments.
> Internal Industrial Trainings:
• Every industry has its own protocol to serve the society. Therefore, the pharma industry should train students
as per their need. Only a few industries are thinking in this line.

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• Adoption of user-friendly policies will help establish small scale industry and encourage students and middle
class business owners with ambitions in this line. This will also help overcome the problem of unemployment
for pharmacists and promote entrepreneurship in the nation.
> Setting Up Special Pharma Research Centers
• With changing times, students are getting exposure through internet about research/ technology around
them.
• Indian academic institutions are full of ideas born from the young, creative brains of students.
• Indian pharma industry can explore these ideas for future progress.
• There are ample opportunities for industries to represent their data via academic pharma institutions.
• Pharmacy students are highly qualifi ed persons in handling of instruments with having good knowledge of
data interpretation and data mining. The important part is that there is no signifi cance of instrumental data
without interpretation. Therefore, such knowledge of students can be explored by the industry at the cost of
living wedges.
Steps by Government
> 100% FDI in Pharma Sector
• The Union Cabinet has given its nod for the amendment of the existing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy
in the pharmaceutical sector in order to allow FDI up to 100 per cent under the automatic route for
manufacturing of medical devices subject to certain conditions.
• The drugs and pharmaceuticals sector attracted cumulative FDI inflows worth US$ 15.98 billion between April
2000 and March 2019, according to data released by the Department of Industrial
Policy and Promotion (DIPP).
> Setting Pharma Parks
• In October 2018, the Uttar Pradesh Government announced that it will set up six pharma parks in the state
and has received investment commitments of more than Rs 5,000-6,000 crore (US$ 712-855 million) for the
same.
> National Health Protection Scheme
• The National Health Protection Scheme is largest government funded healthcare programme in the world,
which is expected to benefit 100 million poor families in the country by providing a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh (US$
7,723.2) per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. The programme was announced in
Union Budget 2018-19.
• It has the potential to turn India into the largest pharma manufacturer of the world in about three years.
> Ease of Doing Business
• In March 2018, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) announced its plans to start a single-window facility
to provide consents, approvals and other information. The move is aimed at giving a push to the Make in India
initiative.
> E-Pharmacies
• The Government of India is planning to set up an electronic platform to regulate online pharmacies under a
new policy, in order to stop any misuse due to easy availability.
> Pharma Vision 2020
• The Government of India unveiled ‘Pharma Vision 2020’ aimed at making India a global leader in end-to-end
drug manufacture. Approval time for new facilities has been reduced to boost investments.
> Affordability and Availability of medicines Mechanism
• The government introduced mechanisms such as the Drug Price Control Order and the National
Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority to deal with the issue of affordability and availability of medicines.
CONCLUSION
> Medicine spending in India is projected to grow 9-12 per cent over the next five years, leading India to become
one of the top 10 countries in terms of medicine spending.
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> Going forward, better growth in domestic sales would also depend on the ability of companies to align their
product portfolio towards chronic therapies for diseases such as such as cardiovascular, anti-diabetes, anti-
depressants and anti-cancers that are on the rise.
> The Indian government has taken many steps to reduce costs and bring down healthcare expenses. Speedy
introduction of generic drugs into the market has remained in focus and is expected to benefit the Indian
pharmaceutical companies. In addition, the thrust on rural health programmes, lifesaving drugs and preventive
vaccines also augurs well for the pharmaceutical companies.
3.12 INDIA’S CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

> India’s Chemicals industry is highly diversified, covering more than 80,000 commercial products.
> It is broadly classified into Bulk chemicals, Specialty chemicals, Agrochemicals, Petrochemicals, Polymers and
Fertilizers.
> India is a strong global dye supplier, accounting for approximately 16% of the world production of dyestuff
and dye intermediates.
> In 2017-18, the sector produced 49 million tonnes of chemicals and petrochemicals. Alkaline accounts for 69
per cent of India’s chemical production and polymer accounts for 59 per cent of petrochemical production.
> 100% FDI is allowed under the automatic route in the chemicals sector (except in the case of certain hazardous
chemicals).
IMPORTANCE OF INDIA’S CHEMICAL INDUSTRY:
> Economic growth: The chemical industry’s role as the key enabler of economic growth is well established
worldwide. From the ubiquitous cellphone to solar panels producing carbon-free energy, to LED lights providing
efficient lighting-all are made possible by chemical industry products.
> Improving the standard of life: In India, the chemical industry occupies a pivotal position in meeting basic
needs and improving the quality of life as well.
> A contributor to GDP: The sector overall contributes to about three percent of India’s gross domestic product
(GDP).
> Serving all sectors: The chemical industry is critical for the economic development of any country, providing
key products and enabling technical solutions in virtually all sectors of the economy.
Challenges & Issues:
> Lack of proper knowledge: India does not have an exhaustive inventory on the chemicals being used and their
associated risks. The country does not have proper knowledge of the chemicals being used. So, several chemicals
banned internationally continue to be used in India.
> Major accidents: India, on an average recorded over four major chemical accidents every month in the past
three years (Bhopal Gas Tragedy). The 152 recorded accidents are underestimated as most cases go
unregistered.
> A source of hazardous waste: Besides accidents, the chemical industry is also a major source of hazardous
waste, which, if not handled properly, can lead to widespread contamination. There are around 56,350 industrial
units that produce 7.7 million tonnes of hazardous waste every year, as per the Hazardous Waste Inventory
Report 2016- 17.
> Lack of data: Lack of data is the other big problem. “Many organisations are involved in collecting data — the
database on pesticides, industrial chemicals and chemical wastes is encouraging. However, with respect to
consumer chemicals, attention is needed.
> Lack of coordination: There is no coordination between the customs department and environment ministry to
prevent illegal activities. Due to this, importers constantly violate the Customs Act, 1962. Cargos are given
clearances without being emptied every day. Importers use their own software and provide wrong information
to the department.

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> Poor legal regulation: India has over 15 Acts and 19 rules that govern different aspects of the chemical industry.
Yet none of the acts have been designed exclusively for the industry.
• The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, deals with all aspects of Bhopal Gas Tragedy:
road transportation in general and also specifically addresses > Post-midnight on December 3, 1984,
transportation of hazardous goods, including chemicals. poisonous gas leaked from the factory of
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, currently serves as the Union Carbide in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh,
umbrella act when it comes to the chemical industry, suggests the which killed thousands of people directly.
National Chemical Management Profile for India report, released in > The incident is now known as the Bhopal
2005-06 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change disaster or Bhopal gas tragedy.
(MoEFCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). > About 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC)
gas and other chemicals leaked from the
• The national chemical policy has been pending since 2012.
Union Carbide factory.
> Confusing monitoring: There is no rationale behind having so > Methyl isocyanate is extremely toxic and if
many Union ministries looking after one sector. It leads to over its concentration in the air touches 21ppm
interference and little work. (parts per million), it can cause death within
CHEMICALS TO LOOK FOR: minutes of inhaling the gas. In Bhopal, the
> Organophosphate pesticides: They are a class of neurotoxic level was multiple times higher.
chemicals used as warfare agents in the 1930s. However, today, • Even 35 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy,
they are widely used. They can make their way onto crops that we India has not banned Methyl isocyanate.
use as food sources. Areas that spray pesticides heavily, such as • The government in August 2018 reluctantly
farms, may find higher rates of exposure. banned Carbaryl Sevin, the insecticide the
> Polybrominated diphenyl ethers: They are used as flame Union Carbide plant was manufacturing in
retardants, chemicals that can slow the speed of a flame. They can Bhopal.
• Methyl isocyanate is still legally used in the
be found in televisions, computers, insulation and foam products,
country to make polyurethane, a form of
including children’s toys and baby pillows.
plastic.
> Phthalates: These chemicals soften plastics and help scents and > India took a hard stance against the sector
chemicals bind together. Exposure to phthalates has been after the Bhopal gas tragedy. But it went soft
associated with lower IQ levels. They can be found in shampoos, after economic liberalisation in 1992 to
conditioners, body sprays, hair sprays, perfumes, colognes, soap, attract investment.
nail polish, shower curtains, medical tubing, IV bags, vinyl flooring
and wall coverings, food packaging and coatings on time release pharmaceuticals.
> Polychlorinated biphenyls: Polychlorinated biphenyls are associated with cancer in occupational settings and
has been associated with issues with motor skills and short term memory in children.
> Nonylphenol (NP): NP is a persistent, toxic, bio-accumulative chemical which acts as a hormone disruptor and
can be responsible for a number of human health effects. It is found in detergents.
> Lead: Lead is a naturally occurring metal. It is used in a variety of products like industrial paints, car batteries
and wheel weights. It can also make its way into water, because of corrosion from old water pipes. Lead
exposure has been associated with ADHD, lower IQs and developmental delay.
SUGGESTIVE MEASURES:
> Currently, the weakest factors are inspection, vigilance and public awareness. To correct this, we need
standardised procedures and personnel for inspection and vigilance.
> The European Union has effective regulations like the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction
of Chemicals and India needs similar regulation.
> In order to grow in a sustainable way, the industry need to address matters and activities related to water,
environmental impact, raw materials, and energy use in the Indian chemical industry.
> The Indian chemical industry needs to upgrade its technology to meet world standards and show improved
performance in global trade.
> India urgently needs a National Chemicals Policy, which has been pending since 2008 with few signs of
progression.
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4. DEFENCE AND SECURITY

4.1 NAXALISM AND TERRORISM
NAXALISM
> First phase (1967-72): The movement had strong ideological moorings, receiving guidance from leaders like
Charu Majumdar, Kondapalli Seetharamaiah, Nagabhushan Patnaik and others. Between its first phase and
today’s Maoist movement, vast changes have occurred in the taxonomy of Naxalism.
> Since 2004: In a significant development, the People’s War (then operating in Andhra Pradesh) and the Maoist
Communist Centre of India (then operating in Bihar and adjoining areas) merged to form the CPI (Maoist) Party.
Government approach to left wing extremism:
CPI (Maoist) Party
The GOI’s National Policy and Action Plan emphasises on security It is the major Left Wing Extremist outfit
and development. responsible for majority of incidents of
Security Aspect: violence and killing of civilians and security
> Reports on spread and trends of Left Wing Extremist violence have forces and has been included in the Schedule
highlighted that 90 districts in eleven States have been taken up for of Terrorist Organizations along with all its
special attention with regard to planning, implementation and formations and front organizations under the
monitoring various interventions. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
> The Central Government closely monitors the situation and Its philosophy of armed insurgency to
overthrow the Government is unacceptable
supplements and coordinates their efforts in several ways. These
under the Indian Constitution and the
include:
founding principles of the Indian State.
> providing Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs);
Currently, the central committee of CPI
> sanction of India Reserve (IR) battalions, setting up of Counter (Maoist), the highest decision making body,
Insurgency and Anti Terrorism (CIAT) schools; has instructed the front organizations to
> modernisation and upgradation of the State Police and their intensify their activities and mobilize people
Intelligence apparatus; over issues related to Dalits and minorities.
> re-imbursement of security related expenditure under the > Today, the States of Chhattisgarh,
Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme; Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal,
> providing helicopters for anti-LWE operations, assistance in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra,
training of State Police through the Ministry of Defence, the Central Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are
considered LWE affected, although in varying
Police Organisations and the Bureau of Police Research and
degrees.
Development;
> sharing of Intelligence & facilitating inter- State coordination;
> assistance in community policing and civic action programmes etc.
The underlying philosophy is to enhance the capacity of the State Governments to tackle the Maoist menace in
a concerted manner.
Development:
> Education is progressing through setting up Kendriya Vidyalayas.
> In terms of infrastructure development, about 3,000 kms of road and bridge construction is underway in
Bastar. There is increased road and rail connectivity. Example all villages in Bastar district is electrified.
> Poverty Reduction by help of developed PDS system of states like Chhattisgarh like distributing rice for the
poor at ₹1 per kilo.

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> Improving incomes of local people by help of MSP like farmers

cultivating tendu leaves are being given MSP (minimum support
price) of ₹2,500 per quintal, up from ₹400 per quintal.
> The Chattisgarh government has set up business process
outsourcing units in Bijapur and Dantewada and completed work
at the Nagarnar steel plant.
> Launch of various central schemes, such as the Ujjwala Yojana and
Ayushman Bharat.
Limitations:
> Development Paradigm: It was pointed out by the Expert Group
of the Planning Commission back in 2008 that “the benefits of this
paradigm have been disproportionately cornered by the dominant
section at the expense of the poor, who have borne most of the
costs.”
> Inequality: According to the World Inequality Report, 22 per cent
of India’s national income is cornered by the top one per cent. Such disparities give rise to discontent, which
have the potential to explode into a rebellion.
> Corruption: It is at the root of several factors which cause popular Urban Naxals:
dissatisfaction. This is also supported by Transparency In an intelligence report titled “Urban
International, as shown in the index released by it. India has Naxalism: Growing Menace and Remedies,”
recently slipped by two positions in the ranking of the most corrupt Ministry of Home Affairs described Urban
nations. Naxalism as an old Maoists strategy to focus
> Agrarian unrest: It continues to cause serious concern for on urban centers for leadership, organize
example in March 2018, the farmers undertook a long march from masses in urban areas through democratic
means, build a united front and engage in
Nashik to Mumbai.
military tasks such as providing personnel,
> Spread: There are reports that the Maoists have made a dent in
material and infrastructure.
the Northeast and are also active at the tri-junction of Kerala, > Most of these organizations are led by well-
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. educated intellectuals with a firm belief in the
Ways to curb Naxalism: Maoist insurgency doctrine.
Central and state government should try to bring good governance, > They form propaganda/disinformation
make dialogue with naxal leaders, generate more employment and machinery of the party.
increase wages, prevent environmental degradation to help their > The important functions of these
livelihood and local tourism and make proper rehabilitation and organizations include the recruitment of
resettlement. ‘professional revolutionaries’, raising funds
Implementation of schemes like- for the insurgency, creating urban shelters for
> Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, under which the underground cadres and providing legal
assistance to arrested cadres.
central Govt. reimburses to the State Governments of 11 LWE
affected States SRE of 90 districts relating to training and operational needs of security forces, ex-gratia payment
to the family of civilians/ security forces killed in LWE violence etc.
> Special Infrastructure Scheme, along with Construction of Fortified Police Stations in the LWE affected States.
> Aspirational District: The Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with the monitoring of program in 35 LWE
affected districts.
> LWE Mobile Tower Project
> Media Plan- Under this, activities like Tribal Youth Exchange programs organized by NYKS, radio jingles,
documentaries, pamphlets etc. are being conducted.
Other development initiatives like construct a food processing unit in every district in Chhattisgarh where
farmers can sell their products directly can be helpful in aiding income.

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TERRORISM IN INDIA
Terrorism in India can be classified into 4 categories:
> Jammu and Kashmir militancy: After losing the initial battle in 1947 and later the wars of 1965 and 1971,
Pakistan resorted to the tactics of low intensity warfare as it realised that it could not win over India in a full
scale direct war. It is actively supporting separatists and militant insurgency in Kashmir Valley since late eighties.
> Insurgency in North-East: There are more than 100 tribal groups in the entire north-east region. The policies
of Britishers resulted in their isolation from the rest of India. Currently there are a number of militant outfits
having diverse demands checking illegal immigration from Bangladesh, separate statehood, secession.
> Left Wing extremism (Naxalism): Originated from Naxalbari village in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It has
spread to Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It aims to capture political power through armed
struggle to install the so called people’s government.
> Hinterland terrorism: The terrorist activities that have been taking place all across India. Examples: Militancy
in Punjab in eighties, 1993 Bombay serial blasts, Parliament attack (New Delhi) in 2001, Akshardham Temple
(Gujarat) attack in 2002, Mumbai Attacks in 2008, Pathankot attack (Punjab) in 2016.
Reasons for spread of terrorism:
> Indoctrination: The religious belief has become a key means of indoctrinating and training would be terrorists.
Extremists use websites and social media to recruit and radicalise individuals through videos and propaganda.
Suicide terrorism, self-sacrifice, or martyrdom has been organized and perpetrated by groups with religious
motivations.
> Technology: Sophisticated means of communication- electronic media, print media, social media, and internet
helps in faster promotion of terrorist ideology and hate campaign across international borders. Websites and
social media messages are used to provide advice and instructions on how to plan and prepare for attacks,
acting as a “virtual training camp” or ideas forum. Other technologies available to conduct acts of terror are
mobile phones, satellite phones and GPS systems.
> Feeling of alienation and deprivation among the local people, violation of human rights, abuse of dignity of
life, disconnect with mainstream communities, discontent against government.
> Porosity of border with neighbouring countries- Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal. Some of it is due to
difficult terrain and some are due to bilateral arrangements between the governments.
> Evasion of land ceiling laws, non-regularization of traditional land rights, land acquisition without appropriate
compensation and rehabilitation, disruption of age old tribal-forest relationship.
> Links between terrorism and organised crime to earn easy money.
> Easy availability of arms and ammunition.
> Developmental deficit: Unemployed and poor youths with high aspiration become the victim of trap set by
the terrorist groups who lure them with short term gains of money, food, clothes, shelter and in return ask them
to execute terrorist acts like- suicide car bombing.
Legal framework to tackle terrorism:
> Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act: Commonly known as TADA, was antiterrorism law which
was in force between 1985 and 1995 under the background of the Punjab insurgency and was applied to whole
of India. It came into effect on 23 May 1985. It was renewed in 1989, 1991 and 1993 before being allowed to
lapse in 1995 due to increasing unpopularity after widespread allegations of abuse.
> Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA): It was an Act passed by the Parliament in 2002, with the objective
of strengthening anti-terrorism operations. The Act was enacted due to several terrorist attacks that were being
carried out in India and especially in response to the attack on the Parliament. The Act replaced the Prevention
of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) of 2001 and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. The Act was
repealed in 2004 by government. At present, the legislations in force to check terrorism in India are the National
Security Act, 1980 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

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> National Security Act, 1980: The National Security Act is a Institutional framework to tackle terrorism:
stringent law that allows preventive detention for months, if > National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a
authorities are satisfied that a person is a threat to national security central agency established by Government to
or law and order. combat terror in India. It acts as the Central
The grounds for preventive detention of a person include: Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency.
The agency is empowered to deal with terror
> Acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India, the
related crimes across states without special
relations of India with foreign powers, or the security of India.
permission from the states. It came into
> Regulating the continued presence of any foreigner in India or existence with the enactment of the National
with a view to making arrangements for his expulsion from India. Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the
> Preventing them from acting in any manner prejudicial to the Parliament of India on 31 December 2008.
security of the State or from acting in any manner prejudicial to the NIA was created after the 2008 Mumbai
maintenance of public order or from acting in any manner terror attacks as need for a central agency to
prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies and services essential to combat terrorism was realised.
the community it is necessary so to do. > NATGRID (National Intelligence Grid) is an
> Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967: Aimed at effective intelligence sharing network that collates
prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main data from the standalone databases of the
various agencies and ministries of the
objective is to make powers available for dealing with activities
government. It is a counter terrorism
directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.
measure that collects and collates a host of
WAY FORWARD: information from government databases
A comprehensive approach is needed to tackle the terrorism. It including tax and bank account details, credit
requires effort from all stakeholders government, security card transactions, visa and immigration
agencies, civil society and media. records and itineraries of rail and air travel.
> Political: National interest should be supreme. It should be up and > National Security Guard (NSG) is a Special
above the vote bank politics. All political parties should come Forces unit under the Ministry of Home
forward together to take a call to combat terrorism in all its forms. Affairs (MHA). It was raised in 1984, following
Operation Blue Star and the assassination of
> Legal: we need to have very stringent laws against terrorism and
Indira Gandhi for combating terrorist
fast track courts which can deliver judgement within 3-4 months.
activities with a view to protect states against
> Police: Strengthening the state police by enhancing their training
internal disturbances.
capabilities and providing them with modern equipment for surveillance,
> Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is a special
investigation and operation.
police force raised to combat terror. It is set
> Media: the media often indulges in needless debates on such up in several states - Maharashtra, Gujarat,
issues which are of importance from point of view of national Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar.
security. In a democracy, debate is always welcome but on some
issues, the media should take a more dispassionate view.
> Public: the general public needs to be educated about the evil designs of our neighbouring countries. Both the
majority and minority communities should promote interreligious harmony and work together for peace.
4.2 INDIAN COAST GUARD VESSEL C-441

• The Indian Coast Guard commissioned interceptor vessel named C-441, at the Vizhinjam harbor.
• ICGS C-441 is the seventh interceptor vessel amongst the series built indigenously by L & T Ltd., Surat.
• The 27.8-metre-long vessel displaces 106 tonnes and has a maximum speed of 45 knots (83 km/hr).
• It is equipped with twin diesel engines and water jet propulsion.
• It also has the capability to undertake multifarious tasks such as close coast surveillance, interdiction, search
and rescue and rendering assistance to boats and crafts in distress at sea.
• The ship is fitted with state-of-the art communication, navigational equipment and with light, medium and
heavy automatic machine gun onboard as main armament.

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4.3 MH-60R HELICOPTERS

• M777- USA
• The United States Department of State has approved the sale of
* For procuring M777s, India in 2016 had
24 MH-60R multi-mission helicopters to India under its Foreign entered into a contract with US under the
Military Sales (FMS) program. Foreign Military Sales programme
• The MH-60 ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopters are advanced naval * BAE Systems manufacturers these guns
machines equipped with sophisticated combat systems – sensors, • K9- L&T
missiles and torpedoes – to track and hunt enemy boats. * The 155mm gun, which is a variant of the K9
• They are deployed by the US Navy as its primary antisubmarine Thunder being used by the South Korean
warfare and anti-surface weapons system for Open Ocean and army, is being made in India in a partnership
littoral zones. between Indian engineering conglomerate
• Naval forces of many countries, including the Royal Australian Larsen & Toubro and Hanwha Techwin of
South Korea.
Navy, also deploy these choppers.
• For the Indian Navy, the choppers are set to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and Mark 54 antisubmarine
torpedoes.
• The submarine hunters will have anti-surface warfare capabilities too, which means they will be capable of
detecting surface threats and taking action against enemy ships.
• The choppers are also capable of performing other non-combat maritime roles such as search and rescue,
logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation and surveillance. They will be able to operate from
frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.
4.4 ANTI-SATELLITE WEAPON

• An anti-satellite weapon is anything that destroys or physically damages or incapacitates a satellite for
strategic military purposes. Only the United States, Russia, China, and now India have demonstrated this
capability successfully.
• India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation acknowledged publicly in April 2012 that India
possessed the critical technologies for an ASAT weapon from radars and interceptors developed for Indian
Ballistic Missile Defence Programme.
• Mission Shakti is India’s response to the potent case of future weaponization of space, where enemy nation
can indulge in space war to disrupt critical infrastructure of the nation.
• The DRDO’s Ballistic Missile Defence interceptor was used, which is part of the ongoing ballistic missile defence
programme.
• The test was fully successful and achieved all parameters as per plans. The test required an extremely high
degree of precision and technical capability.
Need for such a mission:
• India’s space programme is a critical backbone of India’s security, economic and social infrastructure. The test
was done to verify that India has the capability to safeguard our space assets.
• The capability achieved through the Anti-Satellite missile test provides credible deterrence against threats to
our growing space-based assets from long-range missiles, and proliferation in the types and numbers of missiles.
• In a 2015 Monograph, "Space, War & Security - A Strategy for India", discussed how A-SAT is a sub-set of a
space military strategy. It would require Space Situational Awareness (SSA), involving ground-based radars,
optical telescopes and satellite constellations. The strategy architecture would also require space-based C4ISR
(Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), Anti-Satellite
(ASAT) and Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capabilities.
Significance of Mission Shakti:
• India’s entry in the elite group- India is only the 4th country to acquire such a specialised and modern
capability. The use of ASAT is seen as crossing new frontier just like India’s 1998 nuclear tests.

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• Entire effort is indigenous- by the Indian scientists in the DRDO. It adds to India’s credentials, given that for
many decades India was kept away from acquiring key technologies, forcing the country to develop its own
space and nuclear capabilities.
• Addressed the concerns of Space Debris- DRDO has said that all debris of India’s ASAT will decay in 45 days.
• Develops credible deterrence- The anti-satellite space technology shows India’s focus on security challenges,
emanating beyond Pakistan. ASATs can be used to intercept and jam communication or military satellites of
enemy countries and stop them from communicating with their soldiers.
• Test done before any kind of international sanctions come in place- as UN General Assembly is trying to bring
about an international legally binding document on the prevention of an arms race in outer space that would
include the prevention of placement of weapons in outer space among other thing (PAROS).
• Did not invite international criticism- as major countries Remove DEBRIS Mission
expressed symbolic concern, without severe criticism. In contrast, The RemoveDEBRIS mission is led by the
the Chinese test in 2007 provoked international ire because it Surrey Space Centre (SSC) at the University Of
destroyed a satellite. The act violated the principles of the Outer Surrey, UK, and is co-funded by the European
Space Treaty. This is not the case with India. Commission and other partners, including
• Won’t impact other strategic interests- e.g. it will not have any prominent European space companies and
effect on India’s status in the MTCR (Missile Technology Control institutions.
Rather than engaging in active debris removal
Regime) or other such treaties.
(ADR) of real space debris, the
SPACE DEBRIS RemoveDEBRIS mission plan is to test the
> Space debris, also called space junk, artificial material that is efficacy of several ADR technologies on mock
orbiting Earth but is no longer functional. targets in low Earth orbit.
> This material can be as large as a discarded rocket stage or as > It showcases four methods of capturing
small as a microscopic chip of paint. artificial debris targets.
> Much of the debris is in low Earth orbit, within 2,000 km (1,200 > The targets are two CubeSats (miniaturized
miles) of Earth’s surface; however, some debris can be found in satellites provided by the SSC) that are
carried inside the main platform.
geostationary orbit 35,786 km (22,236 miles) above the Equator.
> The first demonstration involves a net that
> Kessler syndrome postulates that crashes would first be seen is deployed (net capture) at the target
between fragments and larger objects like satellites and would CubeSat.
eventually be between two fragments. Crashes will continue till the > The second experiment sees the use of a
debris becomes very small. harpoon, which is launched at a target plate
> There is almost 7,000 tons of active space debris—from old made of “representative satellite panel
satellites and spacecraft to lost components and spent rocket materials”. This is a first-of-its-kind harpoon
parts—orbiting Earth at any given moment. While some of the capture in orbit.
space junk in orbit decays with time, debris that is located at a > The third experiment using the other
higher orbit can take years to disintegrate. CubeSat involves vision-based navigation.
International laws Using cameras and LiDAR (light detection and
ranging), the platform sends data about the
> There is no binding international legal rule (yet) which prohibits
debris back to the ground for processing.
the wanton creation of space debris. > The fourth experiment sees the Remove
> 1967 Outer Space Treaty bars states party to the treaty from DEBRIS spacecraft deploy a large drag sail to
placing weapons of mass destruction in Earth orbit. speed up its de-orbiting process. As it enters
> Since 2002, the world’s space powers have complied with an Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft will burn
informal code of conduct to avoid the creation of space junk and up, leaving no debris behind.
the United Nations has endorsed a resolution along those lines.
Removal of debris
There have been several initiatives to remove debris like global mitigation measures by Committee on the
Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC); e-Deorbit mission
of European space agency etc. However, Remove DEBRIS mission launched by European Union is a significant
one.
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OUTER SPACE TREATY Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme

• The Outer Space Treaty, formally the Treaty on Principles • It is an initiative to develop and deploy a
Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of multilayered ballistic missile defence system
Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, is a to protect India from ballistic missile attacks.
treaty that forms the basis of international space law. • It has two broadly defined target tiers,
• It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1963 and entered called endo-atmospheric and exo-
into force in 1967. atmospheric.
• Mission Shakti falls in the exo-atmospheric
• India is a signatory to this treaty, and ratified it in 1982. The Outer
category.
Space Treaty prohibits only weapons of mass destruction in outer
ASAT and Space Debris
space, not ordinary weapons. • Mission Shakti was done in a low orbit of
• It mandates that use of outer space shall be carried out for the less than 300 kilometres and at a particular
benefit and in the interests of all countries and shall be the province angle to ensure that minimal debris were
of all mankind. disbursed above into space to avoid damage
PREVENTION OF AN ARMS RACE IN OUTER SPACE (PAROS) to other satellites or the International Space
• It is a UN resolution that reaffirms the fundamental principles of Station (ISS).
the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and advocates for a ban on the • In contrast, when China tested its ASAT
missile in 2007 destroying one of its own
weaponization of space.
weather satellites, it created close to 2500
• It is currently being discussed in the Conference on Disarmament pieces of space debris.
(CD).
• Till now, the parties have discussed various issues and possible solutions. Some parties like the Russian
federation and Venezuela, have even pledged to not be the first to deploy any type of weapon in outer space.
• It would prevent any nation from gaining a military advantage in outer space.
4.5 ARMED FORCES SPECIAL POWERS ACT (AFSPA)

• Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, enacted in the year 1958, grants extra-ordinary powers and immunity to
the armed forces to bring back order in the “disturbed areas”.
• Areas are considered disturbed “by reason of differences or disputes between members of different religious,
racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities".
• AFSPA empowers the Governor of the State/Union territory to issue an official notification declaring the state
or a region within as a “disturbed area", after which the Centre can decide whether to send in armed forces.
• Some of these extra-ordinary powers include: o Fire upon anyone after giving warning who is acting against
law & order in the disturbed area.
o Arrest anyone without warrant.
o Stop and search any vehicle or vessel.
o Armed forces personnel have legal immunity for their actions.
Which States are, or had come under this Act?
> It is effective in the whole of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur (excluding seven assembly constituencies of Imphal)
and parts of Arunachal Pradesh. The Centre revoked it in Meghalaya on April 1, 2018. Earlier, the AFSPA was
effective in a 20 km area along the Assam-Meghalaya border. In Arunachal Pradesh, the impact of AFSPA was
reduced to eight police stations instead of 16 police stations and in Tirap, Longding and Changlang districts
bordering Assam. Tripura withdrew the AFSPA in 2015. Jammu and Kashmir too has a similar Act.
Rationale behind imposition of AFSPA
• Effective functioning: It is essential for the armed forces to function effectively in insurgency and militancy
affected areas.
• Security of nation: Provisions of this act have played a crucial role in maintaining law and order in disturbed
areas. Thus, protecting sovereignty and security of the nation.

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• Protection of member of armed forces: It is crucial to empower members of armed forces who constantly face
threat to their lives at the hands of insurgents and militants. Its withdrawal would result in poor morale. o Extra-
ordinary powers are also necessary as the armed forces face asymmetric warfare involving raids, ambushes,
mines and explosive devices, sabotage etc.
Arguments against AFSPA What is a “disturbed area” and who has the
• It has been alleged that immunity granted by the act has led the power to declare it?
armed forces to misuse the powers and commit offences like > A disturbed area is one which is declared by
enforced disappearances, fake encounters and sexual assault. notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA. An
• It leads to suspension of fundamental rights and liberties area can be disturbed due to differences or
guaranteed to the citizens by the constitution. Thus, it weakens disputes between members of different
religious, racial, language or regional groups
democracy.
or castes or communities.
• People’s disillusionment with democratic setup is exploited by > The Central Government, or the Governor
secessionists and terror sympathasizers, which leads to more of the State or administrator of the Union
violence & more counter violence creating a vicious cycle. Territory can declare the whole or part of the
• Critics argue that this act has failed in its objective of restoring State or Union Territory as a disturbed area.
normalcy in disturbed areas although being in existence for about A suitable notification would have to be made
50 years. in the Official Gazette. As per Section 3, it can
• Human rights violations in AFSPA areas are not inquired into and be invoked in places where “the use of armed
followed by adequate action. Thus, it is against the principle of forces in aid of the civil power is necessary”.
natural justice. > The Ministry of Home Affairs would usually
• Justice Verma committee (on offenses against women in conflict enforce this Act where necessary, but there
have been exceptions where the Centre
areas) said AFSPA legitimizes impunity for sexual violence E.g.
decided to forego its power and leave the
Kunan Poshpora incident; Thangjam Manorama case in Manipur. decision to the State governments.
• Justice Santosh Hegde Committee to investigate fake encounters
in Manipur described it as a “symbol of oppression”
• Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee recommended removal of absolute immunity under AFSPA.
4.6 GENEVA CONVENTION

•The 1949 Geneva Conventions are a set of international treaties that ensure that warring parties conduct
themselves in a humane way with non-combatants such as civilians and medical personnels, as well as with
combatants who are no longer actively engaged in fighting, such as prisoners of war (POW), and wounded or
sick soldiers.
>What rights is a PoW entitled to?
•Article 14 of the Convention lays down that PoWs are “entitled to in all circumstances to respect for their
persons and their honour”.
•In captivity, a PoW must not be forced to provide information of any kind under “physical or mental torture,
nor any other form of coercion. Refusal to answer questions should not invite punishment. A PoW must be
protected from exposure to fighting.
-Use of PoWs as hostages or human shields is prohibited, and a PoW has to be given the same access to safety
and evacuation facilities as those affiliated to the detaining power.
•Access to health facilities, prayer, recreation, and exercise are also written into the Convention. The detaining
power has to facilitate correspondence between the PoW and his family and must ensure that this is done
without delays. A PoW is also entitled to receive books or care packages from the outside world.
>What do the provisions say about the release of prisoners?
•Parties to the conflict “are bound to send back” or repatriate PoWs, regardless of rank, who are seriously
wounded or sick, after having cared for them until they are fit to travel”. The conflicting parties are expected to
write into any agreement they may reach to end hostilities the expeditious return of PoWs. Parties to the conflict

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can also arrive at special arrangements for the improvement of the conditions of the internment of PoWs, or
for their release and repatriation.
•At the end of the 1971 war, India had more than 80,000 Pakistani troops who had surrendered to the Indian
Army after the liberation of Bangladesh. India agreed to release them under the Shimla Agreement of 1972.
>In such situations, who monitors whether the Geneva Conventions are being followed?
•The Geneva Conventions have a system of “Protecting Powers” who ensure that the provisions of the
conventions are being followed by the parties in a conflict. In theory, each side must designate states that are
not the party to the conflict as their “Protecting Powers”.
• In practice, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) usually plays this role.
•During the Kargil War, Pakistan returned Flt Lt Nachiketa, who was captured after ejecting from his burning
Mi27, after keeping him for eight days. This was after intense diplomatic efforts by India. Another PoW,
Squadron Ldr Ajay Ahuja, was killed in captivity.
5. ENVIRONMENT
5.1 PLAN BEE
• According to the Wildlife Trust of India, train collisions have killed 266 elephants from 1987 to 2017.
• The collisions seem to occur where there is a high elephant habitat, or places termed ‘elephant corridors’.
• There are about 20 spots where the rail track crosses such elephant corridors in India.
To prevent collision of elephants with trains in future, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) adopted ‘Plan Bee’.
• It uses a device costing about Rs 2,000 which will be installed at level crossings at these accident prone areas.
• The device works by loudly broadcasting the buzz of swarming honeybees, audible up to 600 meters, a sound
that would keep the elephants away.
• This is because the elephants have a natural fear of the perilous stings of the insects.
5.2 U.N. ENVIRONMENT FINANCE INITIATIVE (UNEP FI)

• It is a partnership between United Nations Environment and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial
global financial sector created in the wake of the 1992 Earth Disclosures (TFCD)
Summit with a mission to promote sustainable finance. • The TCFD was established by the Financial
• The UNEP FI consists of 215 members from financial institutions, Stability Board in 2015 to develop a set of
banks, investors and insurance companies among others. voluntary, consistent disclosure
• UNEP FI hosts its Global Roundtable every other year and has recommendations for use by companies in
done so since 1994. providing information to investors, lenders
• The UNEP Statement of Commitment by Financial Institutions and insurance underwriters about their
on Sustainable Development represents the backbone of the climate-related financial risks.
Initiative. • The Task Force published its
recommendations in June 2017 after
• It is also a founding member of the United Nations Sustainable
extensive public engagement and
Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative along with the Principles for consultation. Following this, 20 institutional
Responsible Investment (PRI), the United Nations Conference on investors from 11 countries called as Investor
Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the UN Global Compact. Pilot Group, convened by the U.N.
• Recently, a report titled, ‘Changing Course- a comprehensive Environment Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
investor guide to scenario-based methods for climate risk have come up with this report that helps
assessment’ was released in line with the recommendations of the investors understand how to calculate the
FSB’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). risk companies face from climate change.

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5.3 CYCLONES
• The Indian Navy was the first to respond cyclone Idai, a category 4 tropical storm, which hit southern Africa,
is the worst weather-related disaster to hit the southern hemisphere.
> Cyclone ‘IDAI’ made landfall at Beira, Mozambique in early hours of 15 March 2019 causing widespread
damage and loss of human life in the Central and Northern provinces of the country.
> Ships of First Training squadron of Indian Navy, Sujata, Sarathi and Shardul, operating in Southern Indian Ocean
were diverted to Port Beira in Mozambique based on the request of the Government of Mozambique.
• TROPICAL CYCLONES—also called typhoons or hurricanes—are intense water-rotating systems formed by
strong winds around low-pressure areas.
• Conditions required:
o The temperature of the top layer of the sea, up to a depth of about 60 metres, need to be at least 28°C to
support the formation of a cyclone.
o Then, the low level of air above the waters needs to have an ‘anticlockwise’ rotation (in the northern
hemisphere; clockwise in the southern hemisphere).
• This explains why the April-May and October-December periods are conducive for cyclones.
• During these periods, there is a ITCZ in the Bay of Bengal whose southern boundary experiences winds from
west to east, while the northern boundary has winds flowing east to west. This induces the anticlockwise
rotation of air.
• Once formed, cyclones in this area usually move northwest. As it travels over the sea, the cyclone gathers
more moist air from the warm sea, and adds to its heft.
• Cyclones emerging in April-May usually are much weaker than those during October-December.
• The Indian subcontinent experiences cyclones from two basins: the Bay of Bengal basin and the Arabian Sea
basin.
• Of the two, more cyclones are generated in the Bay of Bengal and cyclones here have also been more severe
than the one generated over the Arabian Sea. o The Bay of Bengal receives higher rainfall and constant inflow
of fresh water from the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. This means that the Bay’s surface water keeps getting
refreshed, making it impossible for the warm water to mix with the cooler water below, making it ideal for a
depression.
o On the other hand, the Arabian Sea receives stronger winds that help dissipate the heat, and the lack of
constant fresh water supply helps the warm water mix with the cool water, reducing the temperature.
NAMING OF CYCLONES
> Each Tropical Cyclone basin in the world has its own rotating list of names.
> For cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and
Arabian Sea, the naming system was agreed
by
eight member countries of a group called
WMO/ESCAP and took effect in 2004.
> These eight countries are – Bangladesh,
India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka and Thailand.
> The first cyclone after the list was adopted
was given the name in the first row of the
first column — Onil, proposed by
Bangladesh.
> Subsequent cyclones are being named
sequentially, column-wise, with each

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cyclone given the name immediately below that of the previous cyclone.
> Once the bottom of the column is reached, the sequence moves to the top of the next column.
> So far, the first seven columns have been exhausted, and Fani (again proposed by Bangladesh) is the top name
in the last column.
> The next cyclone will be named Vayu. When all the names in list are exhausted, the eight countries will propose
fresh lists of names.
> The lists for storms in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific basins are, however, rotated when the names in the list
get exhausted. Exception are, however, made in certain cases — if a storm causes excessive death and
destruction, its name is considered for retirement and is not repeated; it is replaced with another name.
Why naming of cyclones is done?
> Appending names to cyclones makes it easier for the media to report on these cyclones, heightens interest in
warnings, and increases community preparedness.
> Names are easier to remember than numbers and technical terms and hence can reach greater masses.
> If public wants to suggest the name of a cyclone to be included in the list, the proposed name must meet some
fundamental criteria. The name should be short and readily understood when broadcast. Further, the names
must not be culturally sensitive and should not convey any unintended and potentially inflammatory meaning.
5.4 GLOBAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

Recently, Global Assessment Report (GAR) was launched by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction (UNDRR).
Findings
• Threat to Asia-Pacific: Asia Pacific region accounts for 40% of the global economic losses due to extreme
climate changes, with the greatest impact in the largest economies of Japan, China, Korea and India.
• Miniscule Investment: About $5.2 billion was spent on reducing disaster risk between 2005 and 2017,
representing just 3.8% of total humanitarian spending - or less than $4 for every $100 spent.
o Economic losses to the extent of 4% of GDP annually are projected if countries don’t invest in DRR.
• Regional Variation: Human losses and asset losses relative to GDP tend to be higher in the countries with the
least capacity to prepare, finance and respond to disasters and climate change.
• Increasing Social Divide: Disasters may exacerbate conflict by placing additional stressors on fatigued
governance systems and fuelling existing divides.
• Spiral Effect: There is a high potential for one type of disaster to produce or exacerbate another. Such as heavy
rains trigger mudslides after wildfires.
• Displacement of People: About 265 million people have been displaced by disasters since 2008, which is more
than three times as many as those forced from their homes by conflicts and violence.
• Impact on SDGs: Failure to act urgently to manage intertwined risks could slow or even reverse progress
towards U.N. sustainable development goals, which include eradicating poverty & hunger and creating wide
disparities among population groups and households.
Recommendations
• Decentralized Decision making at policy level for addressing spatial needs and location specific strategies.
• Enhancing Disaster resilient Investment: It has been estimated that an annual investment of $6 billion in DRR
strategies would generate benefits of up to $360 billion each year.
• Integrated risk assessment and disaggregated data collection for timely interventions to effectively protect
those groups whose vulnerability profiles make them more susceptible to disaster risk.
• Improving human capital to enable risk-informed choices, empowering the vulnerable as the drivers of change.
• Invest in physical infrastructure, especially in the information technology sector, to ensure better online
reporting and loss accounting at all administrative levels while building capacities in cartography and geospatial
data.

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• Break away from the prevailing practice of compartmentalized research and adopt pragmatic, pluralist
approaches that can study risk phenomena at a variety of levels.
• Put Sendai Framework into action by shifting focus from disaster management to reducing risk.
5.5 GREATER ONE –HORNED RHINOS (INDIAN RHINO)

• The great one-horned rhino or Indian Rhino is the largest of the
Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020)
rhino species found commonly in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and India, o Launched in 2005, it is an ambitious effort
with India being home to 2,200 rhinos, or over 85 per cent of the to attain a wild population of at least 3,000
population. greater onehorned rhinos spread over seven
protected areas in the Indian state of Assam
• Rhinos in India today are found in parts of Uttar Pradesh, West
by the year 2020.
Bengal and Assam. o Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India,
• According to World Wildlife fund data of 2012, Assam has 91 holds about 70% of the world population.
percent of total Rhino population of India which is mainly This is worrisome for two reasons
✓ the park may have reached its carrying
concentrated in Kaziranga National Park, and a few in Pobitara
capacity and might not be able to support any
Wildlife Sanctuary. more rhinos;
• It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is protected ✓ the entire species’ population could
under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. It is threatened decimated because by a disease outbreak,
by poaching, habitat destruction, flooding etc. natural disaster, or another acute threat.
o IRV 2020 aims to translocate Rhinos from
• The Indian rhinoceros is also known to help in seed dispersion, Kaziranga National Park and Pabitora Wildlife
moving large tree seeds from forested areas to grasslands through Sanctuary to five other protected areas
excreta. namely Manas, Laokhowa, Buracharpori-
• The Indian Rhino is poached for its horn. Its poaching reached its Kochmora, Dibrusaikhowa and Orang.
o Translocations is done in order to avert the
peak however it has come down due to various efforts by the risks associated with having an entire rhino
government and NGOs. population concentrated in one specific area.
5.6 CORINGA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• It is a wildlife sanctuary and estuary situated in Andhra Pradesh
• It is the second largest stretch of mangrove forests in India
• It is home to the critically endangered white-backed vulture and the long billed vulture
Threats
• Coringa has become one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the State prompting the government to
allocate funds for developing amenities for the domestic and international tourists.
• From construction of the Polavaram irrigation project to the rapid industrialisation along the Kakinada coasts,
the flora and fauna have been facing many challenges.
* Water flowing in the creeks of the mangrove is a perfect mix of the outcomes of the Godavari and the Bay of
Bengal.
* Any change in this balance may alter the water quality, which in turn is going to have a cascading affect on the
flora and fauna.
• Merger of industrial and irrigation effluents into the creek is the major challenge
* Since the agriculture and aqua farmers from the vicinity are using more and more fertilizer and pesticide to
get good yield, water flowing from these fields into the creek is carrying the residues.
• The pesticide content has an adverse impact on honey production
* As the honeybees are known for their relentless travel, they happen to get affected by the pesticides being
used by the farmers.
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In the end of 2019, Uttar Pradesh will get its first conservation centre for endangered vultures.
• The Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre would be set up at Bhari Baisi village in Pharendra tehsil under
the Gorakhpur Forest Division, U.P.
Importance of Vultures Species of Vultures found in India and their

• Vultures are the natural cleaners of the environment. Conservation Status:
• They feed on dead decaying animals thereby enhancing the 01. Bearded Vulture, Near Threatened
process of mineral return to the soil. 02. Cincerous Vulture, Near Threatened
03. Egyptian Vulture, Endangered
• Moreover, by disposing the dead bodies they check the spread of
04. Griffon Vulture, Least Concern
infectious diseases. 05. Himalayan Vulture/Griffon, Near
• In absence of vultures the population of animals like rodents and Threatened
stray dogs tend to increase leading to the spread of rabies. 06. Indian Vulture, Critically Endangered
Threats to the Survival of Vultures in India 07. Indian White-rumped Vulture, Critically
• The main threats to the survival of Vultures in India include Endangered
veterinary use of analgesic diclofenac, habitat destruction, 08. Red-headed Vulture, Critically
pesticide pollution, slow breeding rate, paucity of carcasses, Endangered
feeding of the poisoned carcasses and lack of legal protection. 09. Slender-billed Vulture, Critically
Endangered
• Veterinary use of diclofenac is the main threat to the Vultures in
India.
o Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which is a constituent of almost all gels, creams
and sprays used to alleviate muscle pain.
o The drug is equally effective in cattle as well and when given to working animal it reduces joint pain and so
keeps them working for longer.
o Since kidneys take a lot of time to flush this drug out of the system, hence even after the death it remains in
the body of cattle.
o As Vultures are scavengers and feed on the dead. Once they consume the diclofenac contaminated flesh, their
kidney stop functioning leading to death.
• Habitat destruction is another major threat to Vultures in India.
• Pesticide pollution is also a threat to Vultures in India.
o The chlorinated hydrocarbon D.D.T (Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane) used as pesticide enter the body of
Vultures through food chain where it affects the activity of estrogen hormone, as a result of which the egg shell
is weakened consequently the premature hatching of egg takes place causing the death of the embryo.
• Vultures lay a single egg in a breeding season. Hence their slow breeding rate is also a threat to their survival.
• Use of poisoned carcasses as bait by human beings to kill cattle-marauding carnivores is also a threat to
Vultures in India.
The following are the important steps taken by Government for protection of Vultures in the country:
• Protection status of White backed, Long Billed and Slender Billed Vultures has been upgraded from Schedule
IV to Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• A ‘Vulture Captive Care facility’ has been established at Panchkula.
• The Ministry of Health has prohibited manufacture of Diclofenac for animal use and restricted packaging of
multi-dose vials of Diclofenac to single dose.
o To encourage uptake of a non-toxic alternative medicine (meloxicam), local conservation agencies ran a
medicine-swapping programme where farmers could swap any diclofenac stored before the ban, for an
equivalent amount of meloxicam.
• Government of India has formulated a National Action Plan (2006) on Vulture Conservation.
o The Action Plan provides for strategies, actions for containing the decline of vulture population through ex-
situ, in-situ vulture conservation.

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• Captive breeding centres at Zoos at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Junagarh and Hyderabad have also been set up
through Central Zoo Authority.
• Ministry has also taken initiatives to strengthen the mass education and awareness for vulture conservation.
Conservation breeding centres: Ex-situ conservation initiative
• The vulture research facility at Pinjore, Haryana became Asia’s first Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre in
2005.
• At present, India has four vulture breeding facilities at Rani in Guwahati (Assam), Pinjore (Haryana), Buxa (West
Bengal), and Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). Vulture Safe Zones-In-situ conservation initiative.
• A Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) is a geographical area of at least 100 Km radius, which is designated as natural
habitat of wild vultures and is made free of the presence of the drug diclofenac in animal carcasses.
5.7 KOUNDINYA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• It is a wildlife sanctuary and an elephant reserve situated in Andhra Pradesh Nandankanan Zoological Park
• It is a zoo and botanical garden in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Established in 1960, it became the first zoo in India to join World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)
in 2009.
• It also contains a botanical garden and part of it has been declared a sanctuary. Nandankanan environs of the
Chandaka forest, and includes the 134-acre (54 ha) Kanjia lake.
Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary
• It is located between Bhandara-Gondia district of Maharashtra
Navegaon National Park
• It is a National park located in the Arjuni Morgaon subdivision of Gondia district in Maharashtra
5.8 URBAN FLOODING

Urban flooding is caused when there is intense and/or prolonged rainfall, which overwhelms the capacity of the
drainage system.
o It is significantly different from rural flooding as urbanisation leads to developed catchments which increases
the flood peaks from 1.8 to 8 times and flood volumes by up to 6 times. Consequently, flooding occurs very
quickly due to faster flow times, sometimes in a matter of minutes.
• There has been an increasing trend of urban flood disasters in India in recent years whereby major cities like
Mumbai, Chennai have been severely affected.
• Global climate change is resulting in changed weather patterns and increased episodes of high intensity rainfall
events occurring in shorter periods of time, which has slated as the major reason behind this increasing
frequency of urban flooding.
REASONS BEHIND URBAN FLOODING-
• Environmental Factors
o Heavy and unexpected rainfall. e.g. Srinagar floods.
o Synchronization of runoffs from various parts of watershed.
o Bursting of glacial lakes. E.g. Chorabari Glacier in Uttarakhand.
o Small-scale storms
• Anthropogenic Factors
O Poor Urban Planning- the reluctance of states to enact zoning has led to increase in encroachment on
floodplains, sometimes authorised and duly approved by planning authorities.
✓ Encroachment of floodplains- e.g. Much of the Mumbai’s exurban growth has been in townships along the
River Ulhas, with little regard for the integrity of the river system.
✓ Maharashtra deleted its River Regulation Zone policy in 2015 – a decision now being protested by residents
near the Ulhas River and decided to build a new airport in Navi Mumbai on low-lying land.
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✓ Inefficient management of religious gathering like Kumbh Mela in Nasik. This results in unwanted
concretisation of rivers, which narrows down their channels.
✓ Surface sealing due to urbanization (which increases run-off)
o Deforestation- A March 2015 study prepared for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
(MMRDA) reported that forest cover in the MMR had fallen from about a third of the total area in 1987 to 21%
in 2015.
o Urban Heat Island Effect- Due to which rainfall in and around urban areas has increased.
o Inadequate solid waste management- and its segregation at source. This results in blocking of drains.
o Slow implementation of Flood Management Projects like Narmada River Project which took 56 years to
complete.
MEASURES TO PREVENT URBAN FLOODING:
> Early Warning System and Communication:
Dissemination of flood warnings must be carried out, using a wide Yokohama Strategy
range of latest technologies. This would help in giving real time > The Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World:
data where traditional systems fail. Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention,
> Design and Management of Urban Drainage System: Proper Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of
management of drainage system is necessary to ensure that the Action adopted in 1994 provides landmark
water does not get stored in one place. Solid waste increases guidance on reducing disaster risk and the
impacts of disasters.
hydraulic roughness, causes blockage and generally reduces flow
> The review of progress made in
capacity. These drains need to be cleaned on a regular basis to implementing the Yokohama Strategy
permit free flow of water. identifies major challenges for the coming
> Rainwater Harvesting: Due to urbanisation, groundwater years in ensuring more systematic action to
recharge has decreased and the peak runoff from rainfall and address disaster risks in the context of
consequent flooding has increased. It will serve the twin purposes sustainable development and in building
of lowering the peak runoff and raising the ground water table. resilience through enhanced national and
Many municipal corporations in India have already made rainwater local capabilities to manage and reduce risk.
harvesting compulsory.
> Conservation of Water Bodies: Urban water bodies like lakes, tanks and ponds also play a very important role
in the management of urban flooding by reducing the stormwater run-off by capturing it.
5.9 IMPRESSED TORTOISE/ MANOURIA IMPRESSA

• A tortoise Impressed Tortoise (Manouria impressa) has been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh. • Found in
Myanmar, as well as pockets of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, China and Malaysia, the Impressed Tortoise
is an elusive, medium-sized species that inhabits moist, primary forests of hilly tracts
• IUCN: Vulnerable
• Chelonian is an order of reptile that includes turtles, terrapins and tortoises.
• There are only two species of tortoises under the Manouria
• India was known to be the home of only the Asian Forest Tortoise (Manouria emys) until the discovery of the
Impressed Tortoise.
• The Asian Forest Tortoise, the largest in mainland Asia, is found only in the northeast, as are 20 of the other
28 species of chelonians.
5.10 RAJAJI TIGER RESERVE

Recently, National green Tribunal seeks report on illegal road in Rajaji Tiger Reserve.
Rajaji Tiger Reserve
• It is named after C. Rajagopalachari, lovingly known as Rajaji, the first Governor General of independent India.
• It was the 48th Tiger Reserve of India, and 2nd Tiger Reserve (1st is Jim Corbett) of Uttarakhand State.
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• River Ganga bifurcates the Park into two parts.

• Goral (Mountain Goat) - a characteristic mammals of the lower Himalayas abound in the precipitous slopes of
the Shivalik hills located in the park.
• Great Pied Hornbill occupies a place of pride among the different Hornbills found in the Park.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TIGER RESERVE AND A NATIONAL PARK/WILDLIFE SANCTUARY?
• Sanctuaries and National Parks are notified by State Governments and protected by the Forest Department
under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Hunting of wild animals, encroachment and/or destruction of habitat, construction of tourist lodges and other
such activities are prohibited.
• While most of the provisions are common for Sanctuaries and National Parks, there are three key differences:
o All rights of people within a National Park have to be settled, while in a Sanctuary certain rights can be allowed.
o Livestock grazing is prohibited in a National Park but can be allowed in a regulated manner in Sanctuaries; and
o A Sanctuary can up upgraded to a National Park but a National Park cannot be downgraded as a Sanctuary.
• A National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary that is considered significant for protecting tigers can be additionally
designated as a Tiger Reserve.
• A Tiger Reserve consists of a ‘Core’ or ‘Critical Tiger Habitat’, which is to be managed as an inviolate area, and
a ‘Buffer’ or eripheral area immediately abutting a Core area, which may be accorded a lesser degree of habitat
protection. This is the typical zonation of a Tiger Reserve.
5.11 GRIZZLED GIANT SQUIRREL

For the first time, researchers have sighted nests of the grizzled giant squirrel, an endangered species listed
under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 at Pakkamalai Reserve Forests near Gingee in the Eastern
Ghats. Butterfly Survey
• The grizzled giant squirrel is usually known to nest in the Western The Kerala government in the year end will
Ghats in Southern India ranging from Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary in carry out a butterfly survey in the Wayanad
Kerala to Anamalai Tiger Reserve and Palani hills in Tamil Nadu. Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) and Chinnar
• Owing to habitat loss and poaching, the species has been Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) located in Western
categorised as Near Threatened by the Red List and listed under Ghat region.
Schedule II of CITES. > The survey aims at assessing the butterfly
• The species is endemic to the southern States of Kerala, diversity in the forest areas of the western
ghats region, which is vulnerable to climatic
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
changes.
• The only known population of the squirrel in Kerala is in the
> The survey coincides with the annual
Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary. butterfly migration in south India from the
• The population of the species in the country is estimated to be plains to the Western Ghats areas.
less than 500 mature individuals. > The butterfly is an indicator species thus a
WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY survey will help to study the interrelation and
> It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve along with Mudumalai effects of climate change on ecology.
Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National > An indicator species provides information
on the overall condition of the ecosystem and
Park, Mukurthi National Park, and Silent Valley.
of other species in that ecosystem. They
> Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary is significant because of ecological
reflect the quality and changes in
and geographic continuity with other protected areas such as environmental conditions as well as aspects
Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Nagarhole National Park of Karnataka of community composition.
in the northeastern portion and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve of Tamil
Nadu in the south-east.
> It has the world’s largest recorded population of the Asiatic elephant.

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> Almost the entire Wayanad district is drained by Kabini and its three tributaries, the Panamaram,
Mananthavady and Kalindy rivers.
> The Kabini River, one of the three east flowing rivers of Kerala, is an important tributary of the Kaveri River.
CHINNAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
> Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the 13 sanctuaries in the protected areas of the state of Kerala.
> It is located in the Idduki district of Kerala near the Annamalai hills.
> It comes under the jurisdiction of Eravikulam National Park
5.12 BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

With a thriving rat population playing havoc with the coconut yield in Kavaratti and other islands, the Union
Territory of Lakshadweep is turning to barn owls for help.
Why barn owls?
• The coconut palms here grow so close together that they resemble a jungle.
• The fronds overlap, allowing the rodents to move easily from one tree to another.
• The nocturnal barn owls are natural rat hunters, armed with a powerful auditory mechanism.
• There is also an important environmental angle to Lakshadweep's decision to choose biocontrol. The islands
being a designated organic zone, use of chemicals for pest control is a strict no-no.
Biological control
• Biological control is a component of an integrated pest management strategy.
• It is defined as the reduction of pest populations by natural enemies and typically involves an active human
role.
• A biological control agent is an organism such as a virus, insect or plant disease.
Types
• Biological control agents of plant diseases are most often referred to as antagonists.
• Predators, such as lady beetles and lacewings, are mainly free-living species that consume a large number of
prey during their lifetime.
• Parasitoids are species whose immature stage develops on or within a single insect host, ultimately killing the
host. Many species of wasps and some flies are parasitoids.
• Pathogens are disease-causing organisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. They kill or debilitate their
host and are relatively specific to certain insect groups.
• However, not all natural enemies of insects are beneficial to crop production. For example, hyperparasitoids
are parasitoids of other parasitoids.
5.13 FOREST FIRE

The Forest Survey of India's data on forest fire attribute around 50% of the forest areas as fire prone. However,
only 6.17% of the forests are prone to severe fire damage.
• A large fraction of India's deciduous and semi-deciduous forests is characterized by open and frequently
burned stands.
• To reduce water stress the deciduous trees shed their leaves during the dry season.
• These fuels, together with the grass layer, allow the development of low- and medium-intensity surface fires
almost every year.
• The Himalayan regions and the dry deciduous forests of India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, Assam,
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha are ecologically sensitive areas
and are most affected by these fires.
• India’s monsoons are largely responsible for the seasonal nature of forest fires in the country. For most of
India, forest fires peak during the dry months of March or April before the arrival of the monsoon.

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• Local topography influences the difficulty of fire prevention and suppression and can raise the potential for
out-of-control fires.
• Moving up steep slopes, fires can spread at several times the rate they would on level ground.
• Winds in rugged terrain can change direction quickly or blow harder, and fuels may dry out faster on south-
facing slopes.
• By comparison with dry deciduous forests, there is a greater potential for intense fire behaviour in India’s
subtropical pine forests. Pine needles degrade slowly and have a high resin content.
More specifically the causes of forest fires in India are:
Natural Causes:
• Lightening
• Rubbing of dry sticks
• Friction due to rolling stones
Man- Made Causes:
• Shifting Cultivation
• Covering up Illicit felling of trees
• Clearing path through the forest
• Tribal Traditions
The following are among the advantages of natural forest fires:

• Wildfires are sometimes a natural process, and help forests by promoting flowering, branching and seedling
establishment.
• Fires that are limited to the surface may help in the natural regeneration of forests.
• The heating of the soil may result in helpful microbial activity, and hasten decaying processes that are useful
for the vegetation.
• Fire helps revive dormant seeds of many species.
• Some young woody trees survive ground fires and have higher growth rates immediately post-fire, until they
reach a certain height.
• Fires helps suppressing invasive species.
• Bandipur National Park in Karnataka experienced large scale forest fires recently.
The following are among the disadvantages of forest fires:

• Wildfires release chlorine-containing compounds. Some of these can reach the ozone layer, and cause
photocatalytic ozone depletion.
• Forest fires and volcanic eruptions are the largest producer of dioxins in the world.
• Dioxins are carcinogenic bio-accumulative toxins, that are able to persist in the environment for a prolonged
period of time.
Management of Forest Fires :
• The Forest Alert System is part of the Large Forest Fire Monitoring Programme that was launched by the Forest
Survey of India (FSI) in January 2019 using near real time data from the SNPP-VIIRS satellite.
• The Draft Forest Policy, 2018, does mention forest fires as a threat and has proposed the mapping of
vulnerable areas along with developing and strengthening early warning systems.
• Uncontrolled fires should be treated as disasters so that disaster management authorities can play a major
role in preventing them.
• The National Forest Commission of 2006 too suggested that all fires that burn an area larger than 20 sq km,
should be declared a state disaster.

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5.14 ENVIRONMENTAL MIGRANTS

Recently, various studies have pointed out that disasters due to climate change have been displacing more
people than conflicts.
• According to Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID, 2019), in 2018, of the total new 28 million
internally displaced people in 148 countries, 61% were due to disasters. In comparison, 39% were due to conflict
and violence.
• As per the estimates, climate change resulted in the displacement of 2.7 million Indians in 2019.
Environmental Migrants
• According to International Organization for Migration (IOM), Environmental migrants are persons or groups
of persons who, predominantly for reasons of sudden or progressive change in the environment that adversely
affects their lives or living conditions, are obliged to leave their habitual homes, or choose to do so, either
temporarily or permanently, and who move either within their country or abroad.
• According to Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), every year since 2008, an average of 26.4
million persons around the world have been forcibly displaced by floods, windstorms, earthquakes or droughts.
• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) predicts that in the next 50 years between 250
million and 1 billion humans will leave their homes because of climate change.
o According to an UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (formerly known as UNISDR) report in 2017, India has
been ranked as the world's most disaster-prone country for displacement of residents.
How is climate change expected to affect the movement of people?
• Greater frequency and, potentially, greater intensity of weather-related natural disasters – both sudden- and
slow-onset – may lead to higher risk of humanitarian emergencies and increased population movements.
• The adverse consequences of warming, climate variability and of other effects of climate change on
livelihoods, health, food security and water availability are likely to exacerbate pre-existing vulnerabilities.
o When household income in rural areas decreases, livelihood stress linked to climate change could, in some
places, result in lower levels of outmigration. As migration requires resources, those people wanting to move
but could not due to lack of resources become trapped populations.
• Rising sea levels may make coastal areas and low-lying islands uninhabitable.
• Competition over shrinking natural resources may exacerbate tensions and potentially lead to conflict and, in
turn, to displacement.
Challenges with Environmental/ Climate Migrants and Climate Refugees
Terms such as climate migrant and climate refugees are used interchangeably, however they are not the same.
"Environmental refugee" or "climate change refugee" have no legal basis in international refugee law. These
terms are misleading and could potentially undermine the international legal regime for the protection of
refugees. There are following challenges associated with defining a climate migrant or according climate refugee
status-
• Climate migration is mainly internal: when migration is internal, people moving are under the responsibility of
their own state, they do not cross borders and are not seeking protection from a third country or at the
international level.
• Migration is not necessarily forced, especially for very slow onset processes migration is still a matter of choice,
even if constrained, so countries need to think first migration management and agreements rather than refugee
protection.
• Isolating environment/climatic reasons is difficult, from humanitarian, political, social, conflict or economic
ones. It can sometimes be an impossible task and may lead to long and unrealistic legal procedures.
• Creating a special refugee status for climate change related reasons might unfortunately have the opposite
effects of what is sought as a solution: it can lead to the exclusion of categories of people who are in need of
protection, especially the poorest migrants who move because of a mix of factors and would not be able to
prove the link to climate and environmental factors.

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• Opening the 1951 Refugee Convention might weaken the refugee

International Conventions on Environmental
status which would be tragic given so many people are in need of Migrants
protection because of persecution and ongoing conflicts. • New York Declaration for Refugees and
• Moreover, creating a new convention to recognise the climate Migrants, UNHCR (2016): It seeks to protect
migrants and refugees might be a lengthy political process and the human rights of all refugees and
countries might not be ready for it. migrants, regardless of their status.
Way Forward • The Global Compact on safe, orderly and
• Climate migration discussions should not lose their focus on regular migration,2018: It is the first-ever UN
preventive measures: The key objective is to invest in climate and global agreement on a common approach to
environmental solutions so that people will not have to leave their international migration in all its dimensions.
'Climate refugees', migrants who move due
homes in a forced way in the future. The Paris Agreement offers
to natural disasters and climate change, are
anchorage for climate action that considers human mobility to
now recognised under its Objective.
avert, minimize and address displacement in the context of climate • The Peninsula Principles on Climate
change. Displacement Within States (2013): The
• Full use of all already existing bodies of laws and instruments, Principles provide a comprehensive
both hard and soft law in humanitarian, human rights and refugee normative framework, based on principles of
law, instruments on internal displacement, disaster management, international law, human rights obligations
legal migration and others. Many responses can come from and good practice, within which the rights of
migration management and policy as highlighted already in the climate displaced persons within States can
2011 International Dialogue on Migration and the recently adopted be addressed.
Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. • Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda for
Cross-Border Displaced Persons (2015): It’s a
• Human rights-based approaches are key for addressing climate
state-led consultative process to build
migration: States of origin bear the primary responsibility for their
consensus on a protection agenda addressing
citizens’ protection even if indeed their countries have not been the the needs of people displaced across borders
main contributors to global warming; they should therefore apply in the context of disasters and the effects of
human rights-based approaches for their citizens moving because climate change.
of environmental or climatic drivers. • Platform on Disaster Displacement (2016):
• Regular migration pathways can provide relevant protection for It was launched to implement the
climate migrants and facilitate migration strategies in response to recommendations of the Nansen Initiative
environmental factors. Many migration management solutions can Protection Agenda.
provide a status for people who move in the context of climate • Climate Migrants and Refugees Project: It
change impacts, such as humanitarian visas, temporary protection, aims to spread the word about this challenge,
its potential impacts, and to seek out
authorization to stay, regional and bilateral free movements’
solutions and connections that will help the
agreements, among several others.
people most threatened by climate change
live safe, dignified, and prosperous lives.
6. SOCIAL ISSUES
6.1 ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS SYNDROME (AES) In 2017, an India-U.S. team confirmed the
• AES is a basket term used for referring to children with clinical role of the toxin called Methylene
neurological manifestations which include mental confusion, Cyclopropyl Glycine (MCPG) found in Litchi
disorientation, convulsion, delirium or coma. fruit.
• Meningitis caused by virus or bacteria, encephalitis (mostly • This toxin stops the fatty acid conversion
Japanese encephalitis) caused by virus, encephalopathy, cerebral into glucose midway, and thus amino acids
malaria, and scrub typhus caused by bacteria are collectively are released which are toxic to brain cells.
called acute encephalitis syndrome. • The amino acids cause brain cells to swell
•While, Viruses are the main causative agents in AES cases, resulting in brain oedema. As a result,
children may suffer from convulsions,
although other sources such as bacteria, fungi, parasites,
deepening coma and even death.
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spirochetes, chemicals, toxins, and noninfectious agents have also been reported over the past few decades. It
is not vaccine preventable.
> Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) is the major cause of AES in Encephalitis and Meningitis
India (ranging from 5%-35%). • Encephalitis, caused by a virus infection, is
> Herpes Simplex Virus, Nipah virus, Zika virus, Influenza A virus, the inflammation of the brain, and
West Nile virus, Chandipura virus, mumps, measles, dengue, scrub * Symptoms of encephalitis include fever,
typhus, S.pneumoniae are also found as causative agents for AES. headache, neck pain, drowsiness and nausea.
• While microbes cause all the other conditions, encephalopathy is • Meningitis, caused by bacterial infection, is
the inflammation of the meninges or tissues
biochemical in origin, and hence very different from the rest. There
that surround the brain or spinal cord.
are different types of encephalopathy. In the present case, the
* Those with meningitis will have headache,
encephalopathy is associated with hypoglycaemia and hence called fever, stiff neck, and nausea.
hypoglycaemic encephalopathy. • Nipah-infected patients generally will show
encephalitis symptoms along with
IS ENCEPHALITIS DIFFERENT FROM HYPOGLYCAEMIC disorientation, respiratory issues and a
ENCEPHALOPATHY? confused state of mind.
• The blood sugar level is usually normal in children with
encephalitis
* But is low in children with hypoglycaemic encephalopathy.
• In the case of encephalitis, fever (due to virus infection) for a day or two is followed by the onset of symptoms
caused by the brain getting affected. How is Hypoglycemia linked to AES?
* However, in hypoglycaemic encephalopathy, children go to bed > Hypoglycemia is not a symptom but a sign
without any illness but manifest symptoms such as vomiting, of AES. The combination of AES with
convulsion and semi-consciousness early next morning (between 4 hypoglycaemia is unique to Muzaffarpur
a.m. to 7 a.m.). (Bihar), Vietnam and Bangladesh.
• The most important difference between the two is the presence > In Bihar, convulsions in children (which is
AES) are found in combination with
of White Blood Cells in the cerebrospinal fluid. In encephalitis,
hypoglycemia. This hypoglycemia is caused
there are more white blood cells per unit volume of cerebrospinal by malnourishment and lack of proper diet.
fluid, which is a reflection of inflammation in the brain. > Methylene Cyclopropyl Glycine (MCPG)
* In contrast, no increase in white blood cells is seen in which has been known to be a content of
hypoglycaemic encephalopathy as there is no inflammation in the litchi fruit has been shown to cause
brain. hypoglycemia in experimental animals.
> When litchi harvesting starts in May, it is
What killed so many children in Bihar? common for children to feed on fallen litchis
• In a majority of cases, children died due to hypoglycaemic and sleep without food. The toxin in litchi
encephalopathy. lowers blood sugar level during the night, and
Why has it affected only young children? these children are found unconscious in the
morning.
• It is an observed fact that malnourished children between two to
> The attributing factors to hypoglycaemic
10 years fall ill and die due to hypoglycaemic encephalopathy. AES are malnutrition, heat, lack of rain and
• It is not known why older children or adults do not suffer the entero-virus.
same way. > A team from the Centers for Disease
• This clear discrimination by age is also a reason why the Control, Atlanta, and Christian Medical
underlying cause of the illness cannot be a virus. A virus does not College, Vellore, has concluded that heat,
discriminate by age, and children younger than two years too are humidity, unhygienic conditions and
affected by Japanese encephalitis. malnutrition, unique to these areas, together
• It has also been documented that most of the children falling ill contribute to the rise in AES.
are from families camping in orchards to harvest the fruits. These children tend to collect and eat the fruits that
have fallen on the ground.

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• Hypoglycaemic encephalopathy outbreaks are restricted to April-July, with a peak seen in June. This is because
litchi is harvested during this period.
LYCHEE (LITCHI CHINENSIS SONN)

• It an important sub-tropical evergreen fruit crop belonging to family Sapindaceae, is believed to have
originated in China, where it has been grown in Southern Guangdong State for thousands of years.
• It is highly specific to climatic requirements and probably due to this reason its cultivation is restricted to few
countries in the world.
• In India, lychee was introduced in the 18th century through Burma, and from there, it spread to many
countries.
• India and China account for 91 percent of the world lychee production but it is mainly marketed locally.
• Lychee being exacting in climatic requirement is confined to a few states with 74 percent of production
recorded in Bihar. In this state, lychee is the livelihood for millions of people as it provides both on-farm and off-
farm employment. Small and marginal farmers get additional income from lychee plants in their homesteads.
Thus, lychee cultivation is the livelihood security for a large population, especially in the state of Bihar.
• The second largest lychee producing state is West Bengal followed by Tripura and Assam
6.2 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

• Every third women, since the age of 15, has faced domestic violence of various forms in the country, reported
the National Family Health Survey (NHFS-4).
• According to WHO, worldwide as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by a male intimate
partner.
o In India intimate partner violence is the highest at 37.7% in the WHO South-East Asia region.
• Domestic violence can negatively affect a woman’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health.
• Reasons/Issues Involved:
o Changing socio- economic relations particularly in urban areas such as more income of a working woman than
her partner, abusing and neglecting in-laws, dowry demands etc.
o Violence against young widows especially in rural areas: most often they are cursed for their husband’s death
and are deprived of proper food and clothing without often being given the opportunity for remarriage in most
of the homes. Also, there are cases of molestation and rape attempts by other family members in joint families.
o Orthodox & Patriarchal mindset- male domination and control over women, male privilege and women’s
subordinate status, infertility or desire for male child.
o Women are also more likely to experience intimate partner violence if they have low education, exposure to
mothers being abused by a partner, abuse during childhood, and attitudes accepting violence, male privilege
and women’s subordinate status.
GOVERNMENT STEPS TAKEN TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

There are mainly three laws in India that deal directly with domestic violence:
• The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005:
o The Act expanded the definition of domestic violence to include not just physical, but also verbal, emotional,
sexual and economic violence.
o The law is broad in its definition— “domestic relationship" includes married women, mothers, daughters and
sisters.
o This law not only protects women who are married but also protects women in live-in relationships, as well as
family members including mothers, grandmothers, etc.
o Under this law, women can seek protection against domestic violence, financial compensation and they can
get maintenance from their abuser in case they are living apart.
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o It provides the Right to Secure Housing i.e. right to reside in the matrimonial or shared household, whether or
not she has any title or rights in the household. This right is secured by a residence order, which is passed by a
court.
o A magistrate can pass a protection order under the Act to ensure the abuser doesn't contact or get close to
the survivor.
o It provides for breach of protection order or interim protection order by the respondent as a cognisable and
non-bailable offence punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which may
extend to Rs. 20,000 or with both.
o It provides for appointment of protection officers and NGOs to provide assistance to the woman for medical
examination, legal aid and safe Shelter.
o Punishment of one year maximum imprisonment and Rs. 20,000 each or both to the offenders is mentioned.
o PWDVA enshrines principles of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW), which India ratified in 1993.
• The Dowry Prohibition Act: This is a criminal law that punishes the taking and giving of dowry. Under this law,
if someone takes, gives or even demands dowry, they can be imprisoned for six months or they can be fined up
to Rs 5,000.
• Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code: This is a criminal law, which applies to husbands or relatives of
husbands who are cruel to women. Recently, the Supreme Court restored an immediate arrest provision in the
dreaded Section 498A, IPC.
ISSUES WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT

• Gender biased and not gender neutral: There have been increasing number of false cases. Also, the domestic
violence against men in India is not recognised by the law.
• Excludes abuses pertaining to martial rape.
• Lack of awareness specially in rural areas where there is more need of such Acts.
• Judicial system resorting to mediation and counselling even in cases of extreme abuse. Also, Insensitivity by
male police officers, judicial magistrates during hearings, etc.
• Absence of economic, psychological and support system for victim women.
• Insufficient budgetary allocation to States- the States could not assign ‘Protection Officers’ because of the
already overburdened department.
• Though most of these cases are reported from urban areas, innumerable cases of violence against women go
unreported in India's distant villages.
GENDER RELATED LAWS IN INDIA

• Types of crimes against women: In 2017, according to NCRB report, majority of cases under crimes against
women out of the total IPC crimes against women were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives’
(33.2%), followed by ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (27.3%), ‘Kidnapping & Abduction
of Women’ (21%) and ‘Rape’ (10.3%).
> Types of crimes against women: In 2017, according to NCRB report, majority of cases under crimes against
women out of the total IPC crimes against women were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives’
(33.2%), followed by ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (27.3%), ‘Kidnapping & Abduction
of Women’ (21%) and ‘Rape’ (10.3%).
> Accused is no stranger: Rape by known persons constitutes a large percentage of all the cases reported. The
accused are often reported to be friends, online friends, employers, neighbours, were friends, partners or
separated husbands of the victims.
> Domestic violence: According to a National Family and Health Survey in 2005, total lifetime prevalence of
domestic violence was 33.5% and 8.5% for sexual violence among women aged 15–49.



ADMIN1: ADMIN2:
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> Extent of effect: A 2014 study in The Lancet report 8.5% prevalence of sexual violence in the country affects
27.5 million women in India, given India’s large population. A survey carried out by the Thomson Reuters
Foundation ranked India as the most dangerous country in the world for women.
> Conviction rates: Conviction rate for rape cases in India was 44.3%in 1973 and 37.7% in 1983. It was 26.9% in
2009, and 32.2% in 2017. In metropolitan cities it was 27.2%.
> Most unsafe places: NCRB data reveals that Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal (in this order) is the
most unsafe states for women in India, with the maximum number of crime against women.
> Delhi: Delhi is often called out for being unsafe for women. According to Delhi Police, in 2018, fi ve women
were raped and eight were molested everyday on an average. Constitutional Provisions for protection of women
> Article 14: The Constitution of India guarantees the “right to equality” to women and prohibits unreasonable
discrimination between persons.
> Air India v. Nargesh Meerza case: The Supreme Court struck down regulations of Air India and Indian Airlines
that provided than an airhostess would retire on attaining the age of 35 years, or on the first pregnancy,
whichever was earlier.
> Article 15(1): This article prohibits the state from discriminating on the basis of religion; race, case, sex, or
place of birth. Article 15(3) allows the state to make special provisions for women and children.
> Article 16: It provides equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment
to any office under the State.
> C. B. Muthamma v. Union of India case: The Supreme Court held that provision of service rules requiring a
female employee to obtain permission of the government in writing before getting married, and denying her
the right to be promoted on the ground of her being married, was discriminatory.
> Article 39 (a): Urges the state to provide equal right to adequate means of livelihood to men and women.
Article39 (d) warrants equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
> Article 42: In pursuance of Article 42, the Maternity Benefi t Act was passed in 1961.
> Article 44: Requires the state to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.
> Article 51 A (e): States that it is the duty of the citizens to renounce practices that are derogatory to the dignity
of women.
Constitutional guarantees for participation in local government:

> Article 243-D(3): One-third of total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be
reserved for women.
> Article 243-D(4): One-third of total number of offices of chairpersons in the Panchayats at each level shall be
reserved for women
> Article 243-T(3): One-third of total number of seats to be fi led by direct election in every Municipality shall be
reserved for women
> Article 243-T(4): Offices of chairpersons in Municipalities shall be reserved for women in such manner as the
State Legislature may provide.
Legal provisions for protection of women
> Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005) is a comprehensive legislation. It also covers women
who have been/are in a relationship with the abuser and are subjected to violence of any kind—physical, sexual,
mental, verbal or emotional.
> Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (1956) prevents trafficking in women and girls for the purpose of prostitution
as an organised means of living.
> Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (1986) prohibits indecent representation of women
through advertisements or in publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner.
> Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act (1987) provides for more effective prevention of the commission of sati
and its glorification on women.

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> Dowry Prohibition Act (1961) prohibits the giving or taking of dowry at or before or any time after the
marriage from women.
> Maternity Benefit Act (1961) protects the employment of women during the time of her maternity and
entitles her of a ‘maternity benefit’ – i.e. full paid absence from work – to take care for her child.
> Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (1971) provides for the termination of certain pregnancies by
registered medical practitioners on humanitarian and medical grounds.
> Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act (1994) prohibits sex
selection and prevents the misuse of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for sex determination leading to female
foeticide.
> Equal Remuneration Act (1976) provides for payment of equal remuneration to both men and women workers
for same work or work of a similar nature.
> Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act (1939) grants a Muslim wife the right to seek the dissolution of her
marriage.
> Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act (1986) protects the rights of Muslim women who have
been divorced by or have obtained divorce from their husbands. It makes all declaration of talaq, including in
written or electronic form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and illegal.
> Family Courts Act (1984) provides for establishment of Family Courts for speedy settlement of family disputes.
> Indian Penal Code (1860) contains provisions to protect Indian women from dowry death, rape, kidnapping,
cruelty and other offences.
> Code of Criminal Procedure (1973) has safeguards for women like obligation of a person to maintain his wife,
arrest of woman by female police and so on.
> Indian Christian Marriage Act (1872) contain provisions relating to marriage and divorce among the Christian
community.
> Legal Services Authorities Act (1987) provides for free legal services to Indian women.
> Hindu Marriage Act (1955) introduced monogamy and allowed divorce on certain
specified grounds. It provided equal rights to Indian man and woman in respect of marriage and divorce.
> Hindu Succession Act (1956) recognizes the right of women to inherit parental property equally with men.
> Minimum Wages Act (1948) does not allow discrimination between male and female workers or different
minimum wages for them.
> Mines Act (1952) and Factories Act (1948) prohibits the employment of women between 7 P.M. to 6 A.M. in
mines and factories and provides for their safety and welfare.
> National Commission for Women Act (1990) provides for the establishment of a National Commission for
Women to study and monitor all matters relating to the constitutional and legal rights and safeguards of women.
> Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal). Act (2013) provides
protection to women from sexual harassment at all workplaces both in public and private sector, whether
organised or unorganized.
> The Vishaka Guidelines were a set of procedural guidelines for use in India in cases of sexual harassment.
They were promulgated by the Indian Supreme Court in 1997 and were superseded in 2013 by the Sexual
Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
> The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: This act defines child marriage as a marriage where the groom
or the bride are underage, that is, the bride is under 18 years of age or the boy is younger than 21 years.
> Special Marriage Act, 1954 provides a special form of marriage in certain cases, provide for registration of
certain marriages and, to provide for divorce. When people from different faiths and caste chose to get married
they do it under the Special Marriage Act.
> Indian Divorce Act, 1969: The Indian Divorce Act allows the dissolution of marriage, mutual consent, nullity of
marriage, judicial separation and restitution of conjugal rights.

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MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY (MTP) ACT, 1971

• MTP Act allows women to go through abortions up to 20 weeks. For cases beyond the current time period,
permission of a High Court is required.
• However, courts can make exceptions if abnormalities are detected and if there is a substantial risk to the
mother’s life and health. A pending bill in Parliament proposes to amend the MTP Act to extend it to 24 weeks.
• MTP Act, 1971 is totally silent about termination of pregnancy of unmarried females and widows but it makes
termination of pregnancy as an offence punishable under Indian Penal Code if the same is not done in
accordance with the Act.
Issue:
• Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 completely prohibits termination of pregnancy in case
foetus is suffering from severe abnormality even after a period of 20 weeks.
• The foetal abnormalities are detected appropriately between 18 to 20 weeks and the period of one-two weeks
is too small for the would-be parents to take the difficult call on whether to keep their baby or to abort the
same.
• Even if the foetus is scanned and found positive with serious abnormalities, the woman is forced to carry
pregnancy due to bar provided under MTP Act.
• The abortion beyond a period of 20 weeks is permitted only if continuing the pregnancy poses a substantial
risk to the woman’s life. But the law does not take care the factum of serious abnormalities suffered by the child
in the womb and detected after 20th week.
• The lack of legal approval moves abortion to underground [illegal manner] and they are done in unhygienic
conditions by untrained persons, thus putting thousands of women at risk.
• MTP Act, 1971 is totally silent about termination of pregnancy of unmarried females and widows but it makes
termination of pregnancy as an offence punishable under Indian Penal Code if the same is not done in
accordance with the Act.
6.3 ALZHEIMER’S
> Alzheimer's disease is a neurological disorder which causes brain cells to degenerate and die. This leads to loss
of memory, problems with words in speaking or writing, poor judgment, changes in mood and personality,
confusion with time or place etc.
> At the first stage, these symptoms are mild
but they become more severe with time.
> Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of
dementia among older adults.
> Dementia is a group of brain disorders that
cause the loss of intellectual and social
skills.
> It is caused by the build-up of proteins
known as tangles or plaques within the
brain and is also known as the third type of
diabetes.
> Ageing is the greatest risk factor for
Alzheimer's disease but sometimes
symptoms may occur at the age of 30s or so
because of rare genetic changes in the
people.
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> Alzheimer’s is an incurable disease, as the death of brain cells > Vaccine intervention could rescue memory
cannot be reversed. impairments and prevent neurons from dying
> Women have a higher risk of having Alzheimer’s disease than by reducing tau tangles in parts of the brain
that are critical to memory and learning.
men. > The vaccine uses Virus-Like Particles (VLP)
> According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, that helps mice to develop antibodies to get
nearly twice as many women have Alzheimer’s disease as men. rid of tau tangles in them, which are
Fact and Findings responsible for breeding symptoms of
Alzheimer’s in humans also.
> India houses more than 4 million people suffering from some > Tau is a protein that when it occurs in
form of dementia and this number is set to triple by 2050. tangled formations in the brain of Alzheimer
> Worldwide, at least 44 million people are living with dementia, patients, disrupts the ability of neurons to
making the disease a global health crisis that must be addressed. communicate with one another in the brain.
> Body’s immune system is capable of
> Western countries report a high rate of Alzheimer’s, mainly on generating antibodies that are responsible
account of better diagnosis compared to countries like India where for eliminating tau tangles.
it is often ignored as a natural process of ageing.
6.4 ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR)

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of a microorganism (like bacteria, viruses, and some parasites) to
stop an antimicrobial (such as antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials) from working against it. As a result,
standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others.
• Antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the
process. Poor infection prevention and control further accelerate it.
Interagency Coordination Group on
AWARE- WHO TOOL Antimicrobial Resistance (IACG)
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global • It was convened by the Secretary-General
campaign that urges countries to adopt its new online tool aimed of the United Nations after the UN High-Level
Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance in 2016.
at guiding policy-makers and health workers to use antibiotics
• The IACG brought together partners across
safely and more effectively.
the UN, international organizations and
• Its objective is to limit drugs that are at risk of resistance. individuals with expertise across human,
• The AWaRe tool was developed by the WHO Essential Medicines animal and plant health, as well as the food,
List to contain rising resistance and make antibiotic use safer and animal feed, trade, development and
more effective. environment sectors, to formulate a
• It classifies antibiotics into three groups – Access, Watch and blueprint for the fight against antimicrobial
Reserve – and specifies which antibiotics to use for the most resistance.
common and serious infections, which ones should be available at • The World Health Organization (WHO)
all times in the healthcare system, and those that must be used provided the Secretariat for the IACG, with
sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort. The tool, contributions from the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and
known as ‘AWaRe’, classifies antibiotics into three groups:
the World Organisation for Animal Health
• Access — antibiotics used to treat the most common and serious
(OIE).
infections
• Watch — antibiotics available at all times in the healthcare system
• Reserve — antibiotics to be used sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort
The new campaign aims to increase the proportion of global consumption of antibiotics in the Access group to
at least 60%, and to reduce use of the antibiotics most at risk of resistance from the Watch and Reserve groups.

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FIXED-DOSE COMBINATION (FDC)

> The Union health ministry has banned 80 more Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) drug sunder the Drugs and
Cosmetics Act, 1940 which include antibiotics painkillers, medicines used for treating fungal and bacterial
infections, hypertension drugs like Telipril H and Loram H and anti-anxiety drug Resta (combination of
Paracetamol+ Alprazolam). Total number of banned FDCs now stands at 405.
What is FDC drug?
> A FDC contains two or more drugs combined in a fixed ratio of doses, available as a single dose.
> Logic behind FDC is to improve adherence, simplify therapy and to maximize benefit for the patient courtesy
the added effects of the multiple medicinal products (FDC) given together.
> FDCs are also of use in chronic conditions especially when multiple disorders often co-exist.
What makes FDC so popular?
> Instead of buying two, or more, separate medicines, a patient can buy just one FDC medicine to treat multiple
illness symptoms, which typically reduces out of pocket expenditure (OOPE).
> Pharma companies prefer FDC because it is cheaper and quicker to combine existing active ingredients to
make new products than to discover new medicines and manufacture them separately.
> However, combined medicines can pose adverse effects on health system. Some of the drugs pose dangerous
side-effects and unnecessary use of combination drugs makes the human body resistant to treatment.
Antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s most pressing health problems:
> Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic resistance occurs when
bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines.
> Bacteria, not humans or animals, become antibiotic resistant . These bacteria may infect humans and animals,
and the infections they cause are harder to treat than those caused by non-resistant bacteria.
> Any bacterium that survives an antibiotic treatment can multiply and pass on its resistant properties. Also,
some bacteria can transfer their medication resistant properties to other bacteria — as if passing along a cheat
sheet to help each other survive. >Other factors are inadequate sanitation and
> Antibiotic resistance leads to higher medical costs, prolonged infection control practices in health care
hospital stays, and increased mortality. settings and also in the community.
Why antibiotics are meant to be sold only under a doctor’s > Government of India has launched the
prescription: ‘National Programme on Containment of
> Using antibiotics unnecessarily can expose one to unnecessary Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)’ under the
side effects. 12th Five Year Plan under which a
surveillance lab network of ten labs has been
> Each time instances of overuse/misuse of antibiotics occur,
established to monitor trends of AMR in the
ground for creation of superbugs—bacteria that are able to
country.
survive the antibiotic—also emerge. > The Schedule H1 notification of the
> Over time, the entire population of bacteria is made up only of Government of India as an amendment to the
these superbugs and the existing line of antibiotics would no Drugs and Cosmetics Rules of 1945, came into
longer work. force from Mar 1, 2014 to control the misuse
The overuse (taking antibiotics even when they’re not the of 24 antibiotics (falling under third and
appropriate treatment) and misuse of antibiotics are key factors fourth generation) through over-the-counter
contributing to antibiotic resistance. (OTC) dispensing of antibiotics in India.
> Antibiotics treat bacterial infections but not viral infections. For > The packaging of these drugs will have
example, an antibiotic is an appropriate treatment for strep mandatory Schedule H1 warning printed on
throat, which is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. the label in a box with red border and the Rx
symbol in red. They can be sold by
But it’s not the right treatment for most sore throats, which are
pharmaceutical chemists only on production
caused by viruses. of a valid prescription. Government drug
> Common viral infections that don’t benefit from antibiotic inspectors can conduct surprise checks on
treatment include Cold, Flu (influenza), Bronchitis, most coughs, these registers.
some ear infections, some sinus infections, stomach flu.

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> When infections can no longer be treated by firstline antibiotics, more expensive medicines must be used. A
longer duration of illness and treatment, often in hospitals, increases health care costs as well as the economic
burden on families and societies
> Organ transplantations, chemotherapy and surgeries such as caesarean sections become much more
dangerous without effective antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of infections.
> There is a need to change the way antibiotics are prescribed and used. Even if new medicines are developed,
without behavior change, antibiotic resistance will remain a major threat. Behavior changes must also include
actions to reduce the spread of infections through vaccination, hand washing, and good food hygiene.
Situation in India
APPROPRIATE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS India faces a twin challenge of
> Practice good hygiene, to avoid bacterial infections that need overconsumption of antibiotics breeding
antibiotic treatment. drug-resistant bacteria while ensuring that
> Take recommended vaccinations. Some recommended vaccines the poor and vulnerable have easy access.
protect against bacterial infections, such as diphtheria and WHO’s report states that anti-biotic
whooping cough (pertussis) resistance may cause rise in death of Indians
> Reducing risk of getting a food borne bacterial infection. to 20 lakhs per year by 2050.
Avoiding drinking raw milk, washing hands, and cooking foods to Steps taken
• To strengthen the surveillance of
a safe internal temperature.
antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the
> Using antibiotics only as prescribed by the doctor. Taking the
country, Indian Council of Medical Research
prescribed daily dosage, and completing the entire course of (ICMR) has set up a National Anti-Microbial
treatment. Resistance Research and Surveillance
> Not to take leftover antibiotics for a later illness. They may not Network (AMRRSN) to enable compilation of
be the correct antibiotic and would not be a full course of National Data of AMR at different levels of
treatment Health Care.
> Non-Substitution: Not to use antibiotics prescribed for another • The Drugs and Cosmetic Rule, 1945 were
person. amended in 2013 to incorporate a new
> Preparing food hygienically, following the WHO Five Keys to Schedule H1. These will be sold on
Safer Food (keep clean, separate raw and cooked, cook prescription only. They are also marked with
thoroughly, keep food at safe temperatures, use safe water and Red Line (Red Line Campaign).
• Government has formulated a National
raw materials) and choose foods that have been produced without
Action Plan to combat Antimicrobial
the use of antibiotics for growth promotion or disease prevention Resistance in 2017 and National Policy for
in healthy animals containment of antimicrobial resistance in
Pointer specific to the agricultural sector: 2011.
> Administering antibiotics to animals only under veterinary
supervision.
> Not using antibiotics for growth promotion or to prevent diseases in healthy animals.
> Vaccinate animals to reduce the need for antibiotics and use alternatives to antibiotics when available.
> Improve biosecurity on farms and prevent infections through improved hygiene and animal welfare. Action
plan/ response taken against AMR
6.5 FEMALE FOETICIDE

• The Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 was enacted
to stop female foeticides and arrest the declining sex ratio in India. It was amended in 2003, to improve the
regulation of the technology used in sex selection.
• The basic requirements of the act include the registration of clinics, written consent of the pregnant women,
prohibition of communicating the sex of fetus, maintenance of records and creating awareness among the public
at large by placing the board of prohibition on sex determination.

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• A petition was filed by Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), which challenged
some sections of the Act, using which criminal proceedings are initiated against doctors, even for any
unintentional or clerical errors. But the court has dismissed this petition.
Rationale for the stringent provisions in the Act:

• Key to prevent female foeticide– The Supreme Court highlighted that non-maintenance of record by
sonography and diagnostic centre is a springboard for the commission of the offence of female foeticide, which
is what is intended by the Act. Hence, it cannot be termed as a clerical error.
• Relegate the right of life- of the girl child under Article 21 of the Constitution, to a mere formality. As per a
United Nations Report, more than 4.6 lakh girls went missing at birth on an average annually during the period
2001-12 as a result of sex selective abortions and justify the stringent provisions under the Act to maintain sex
ratio and social balance in the society.
• Leads to a cycle of violence against women- A skewed sex ratio is likely to lead to greater incidences of violence
against women and increase in practices of trafficking, ‘bride buying’ etc. The rigorous implementation of the
Act is an edifice on which rests the task of saving the girl child.
• Responsibilities of a doctor- A responsible doctor is supposed to know all such minute details like the form he
is required to fill and the impact of medical findings and its consequences, which is virtually the pre-requisite
for undertaking a test. It is critical for a member of a noble medical profession to be educated about such details.
Successes of the law:

• Increase in registrations of PCPNDT Clinics- from 600 in the year 2000 to more than 55,000 today.
• Check on advertisements for sex selection- from print media, television and from walls around the country.
• Increase in sex ratio in some states- e.g. Effective implementation of the Act has been identified as one the
prominent reasons in increasing sex ratio in Rajasthan where it has increased from 888 in 2011 census to 950 in
2017-18.
• Increased ambit of the law- under the amendment of 2003, which brought ultrasound and other stringent
provisions to improve the effectiveness of the act.
Failures of the law:
• Poor reporting under the law- Only 3,000 cases have been filed against violators of the act, since the passing
of act, though half a billion medical crimes have been committed.
• Poor conviction rate- There are only 586 convictions out of 4202 cases registered even after 24 years of
existence
• Presence of unqualified options- such as quacks, nurses, where people continue to get abortions done.
• Overall drop in child sex ratio- for the age group of 0-6 years has declined to 918 girls in 2011 against 927 per
thousand boys in 2001.
Way Forward
• Implementation of this Act requires a more systematic involvement of the State and enactment of legislation
is only the first step in this direction. The State machinery, in this case the health department has to play a more
crucial role. The local bodies should also take a lead in effective implementation of the act.
• Help of Anganwadi and ASHA workers can be sought to report any suspicious activity to determine the sex of
a child. Doctors and other professional staff at such clinics need to be further senstitised on the importance of
the subject.
• Government schemes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao have yielded appreciable results in states like Haryana.
Awareness among people needs to increase using more such measures so that demand for feticide is itself
eliminated.

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6.6 MONKEYPOX
>According to World Health Organisation, monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in
remote parts of central and west Africa, near tropical rainforests.
>The virus is mostly transmitted to people from various wild animals such as rodents and primates, but has
limited secondary spread through human-to-human transmission.
>There is no specific treatment or vaccine available although prior smallpox vaccination was highly effective in
preventing monkeypox as well. Data from Africa suggest that smallpox vaccine offers at least 85% protection
against monkeypox if the vaccine is administered before exposure to the virus.
• The monkeypox virus is similar to human smallpox and belongs to the virus family Poxviridae.
• It is transmitted primarily through infected animals (rodents and primates).
• Human monkeypox was first identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Infection of index cases results from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal
lesions of infected animals.
* In Africa human infections have been documented through the handling of infected monkeys, Gambian giant
rats and squirrels, with rodents being the most likely reservoir of the virus.
• Eating inadequately cooked meat of infected animals is a possible risk factor.
6.7 UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently released the 2019 edition of the State of World Population
report titled ‘Unfinished Business: the pursuit of rights and choices for all’.
Highlights of the report
• The 2019 State of the World Population Report reflects on the current state of sexual and reproductive health.
o The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of UNFPA's founding and the 25th anniversary the International
Conference on Population and Development in Cairo.
• The report includes, for the first time, data on women’s ability to make decisions over three key areas: sexual
intercourse with their partner, contraception use and health care.
o Women’s sexual and reproductive autonomy was greatest in two countries: the Philippines and Ukraine,
where 81 per cent of women are empowered to make these
decisions for themselves. UNFPA
• The report identifies major barriers to achieving sexual and • It is United Nations sexual and reproductive
reproductive health and rights for all in 2019, including a lack of health agency.
access to modern contraceptives and sexual and reproductive • UNFPA calls for the realization of
health services, and struggles with gender inequality which reproductive rights for all and supports
access to a wide range of sexual and
diminishes power to make choices about our lives and future.
reproductive health services including
• The world’s population rose to 7.715 billion in 2019, up from
voluntary family planning, maternal health
7.633 billion the year before, with the average life expectancy care and comprehensive sexuality education.
remaining 72 years. International Conference on Population and
• India specific findings: Development, 1994
o India accounts for over one-sixth of the world’s population in • At the ICPD in Cairo, 179 countries adopted
2019 (1.37 billion out of 7.71 billion) and has grown at an average a forward-looking, 20-year Programme of
of 1.2 per cent annually between 2010 and 2019, more than Action (extended in 2010) which recognized
double the annual growth rate of China. that reproductive health and rights, as well as
o While 67 per cent of the country’s population was in the 15-64 women's empowerment and gender
age bracket, 6 per cent of the country’s population was of the age equality, are cornerstones of population and
development programmes.
65 and above.
o The total fertility rate per woman declined from 5.6 in 1969 to 2.3 in 2019.
o While India’s life expectancy at birth is lower than the world’s (69 years to 72), it scores higher than the global
average in terms of access to healthcare during childbirth, and also has a much lower adolescent birth rate.
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6.8 UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION (UGC)

• It is a statutory body, established in 1956 with mandate of coordination, determination and maintenance of
standards in institutions of higher education.
• It provides recognition to universities in India, and disburses funds to such recognized universities and colleges.
• Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) bill, 2018 seeks to replace UGC by Higher Education Commission
of India.
CHOICE BASED CREDIT SYSTEM

• It is a ‘cafeteria’ type approach in which the students can choose courses of their choice, from unrelated
discipline, in addition to the compulsory courses.
• Besides the core subjects, CBCS offers opportunities to explore and learn other subjects for holistic
development of an individual, giving interdisciplinary approach to learning.
LEARNING OUTCOMES-BASED CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK: Learning Outcome-based Curriculum

Overall objectives Framework
What is LOCF?
• Help formulate graduate attributes, qualification descriptors,
• LOCF guidelines, issued by UGC in 2018,
programme learning outcomes and course learning outcomes that
aims to specify what graduates are expected
are expected to be demonstrated by the holder of a qualification; to know,
• Enable prospective students, parents, employers and others to understand and be able to do at the end of
understand the nature and level of learning outcomes (knowledge, their programme of study. This is to make
skills, attitudes and values) or attributes a graduate of a programme student active learner and teacher a good
should be capable of demonstrating on successful completion of facilitator.
the programme of study; • The outcomes will be determined in terms
• Maintain national standards and international comparability of of skills, knowledge, understanding,
learning outcomes and academic standards to ensure global employability, graduate attributes, attitudes,
competitiveness, and to facilitate student/graduate mobility; and values, etc., gained by students upon the
completion of the course.
• Provide higher education institutions an important point of
• This is to be done within framework of
reference for designing teaching-learning strategies, assessing
Choice Based Credit System (CBCS),
student learning levels, and periodic review of programmes and introduced in 2015.
academic standards.
6.9 ROLE OF LEGISLATIONS IN BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE

• Laws can be defined as the written or unwritten body of rules largely derived from customs, norms, ethics &
formal enactments prevalent in the society to govern the behaviour of people within a territory of a nation or
between nations.
• Laws help individuals to take decisions and set up the standards of right and wrong. Laws fulfill the
constitutional mandate of equality and justice. It is through laws that the trust and credibility between people
and government is enhanced.
• Laws not only prescribes and proscribes certain behaviour, but also attempts to shape moral attitudes. E.g.
Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 promotes “Good Samaritanism”, thereby reflecting that failing to aid
those in distress is not just wasteful or inefficient, but is morally wrong.
• Persons abiding by the law will have a long-term impact on creating a more law-abiding society and therefore,
will have a cascading impact on other spheres too e.g. Greater civic ethics.
• Mere enacting of law creates an indirect incentive for people to follow as citizens internalize the rule and are
deferred by the prospect of guilt.

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Why is legislation not always effective?

• Cognitive Biases: Cognitive biases are deep rooted, implicit and escape conscious detection. These biases form
a part of the belief system and are hard to change.
o For e.g. Passing of the law to ban Triple Talaq hasn't ended the atrocities faced by Muslim women.
• Irrational Behaviour: Rational people acting out of self-interest would never break the law and put themselves
in harm’s way. However, human behaviour isn’t completely rational. E.g. Despite being a known cause behind
deterioration of air quality & government dictates against it, burning of crackers continues in many parts of the
country.
• Social Norms: Success of any legislation depends upon the interplay between social norms and the
enforcement of laws. Enforcement, in part, depends upon the ‘whistle-blowing’ by the society. When laws are
in conflict with social norms and many agents break the law, each agent anticipates little whistle-blowing and is
more likely to also break the law.
o Laws/court rulings against Jallikattu (‘bull fighting’) are ineffective because they go against deep seated norm
which has the sanction of the religion.
• Implementation Lacunae: Laws will not be able to induce behaviour change if they are not implemented
effectively. Implementation is contingent not only upon the strength of the enforcement institutions, but also
on how well the law comports with citizens’ intuitions of justice.
Interventions beyond legislations
• Nudge Theory: Nudges refers to positive reinforcements that gently steer the people towards desirable
behaviour even while preserving their liberty to choose.
o Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) made sanitation a community-level concern rather than an obscure campaign
of a distant government. Fear of social rejection led many to renounce open defecation. Moreover, it tried to
help people internalize the message by associating it with people’s emotions e.g. associating household honour
with constructing toilets
• Use Inform – Consult – Involve – Collaborate – Involve (ICICE): It goes beyond traditional Information,
Communication & Education (ICE) approach to make equal participants in the process of social change.
• Role Models and Ambassadors to bring about the change through persuation and influence
o To initiate behavioural change in usage of toilets, more than 5 lakh swachhagrahis, foot soldiers of the SBM,
were recruited.
o Eminent personalities should be roped in to the spread the message against open defecation E.g. Amitabh
Bachchan’s Darwaza Band campaign.
o Reinforce the message of BADLAV (Beti Aapki Dhan Lakshmi Aur Vijay Lakshmi) through mythological role
models.
Conclusion
Legislation has a better chance of success when it is trying to manage a public behaviour. Humans tend to make
judgements on whether to engage in a prohibited activity based on the expected cost of that behaviour. If the
severity and probability of punishment exceed the expected benefit or pleasure of the act, then the actor will
refrain from that behaviour. Many a time, an individual’s action in a public place can have an impact on others
too. However, to change social norms, we also need interventions beyond legislation.
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

7.1 BT BRINJAL
• Brinjal has been genetically modified by inserting a protein gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis
to give protection against certain pests especially the fruit and shoot borer (FSB).
• Brinjal is prone to attack from insect pests and diseases, the most serious and destructive of which is the fruit
and shoot borer (FSB) Leucinodes orbonalis.
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• FSB feeds predominantly on brinjal and is prevalent in all brinjal

Brinjal
producing states. • India is the second largest producer of
• Bt brinjal has been developed in India by Maharashtra-based Brinjal after China.
seed company Mahyco. • Brinjal, being a hardy crop that yields well
• It was on the verge of becoming India’s first GM food crop, when even under drought conditions, is grown in
the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) cleared it for almost all parts of the country.
commercialisation in 2009, before doubts about the long-term • Major brinjal producing states include:
impact on consumer health and plant biodiversity led then- West Bengal (30% production share), Orissa
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to slap an indefinite (20%), and Gujarat and Bihar (around 10%
moratorium on the crop. each).
• ‘Matti or Mattu Gulla’ from arnataka has
Background
been awarded a geographical indication (GI)
> In India, the introduction of GM seeds requires approval of the
tag. It is a type of brinjal, rich in iron.
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), a body under
the MoEFCC.
> Till date (2019), commercial release is granted for Bt cotton, but similar approvals for Bt mustard and Bt brinjal
are awaited.
> In case of cotton, the first two generations of Bt have seen the introduction of ‘Cry1Ab’ and ‘Cry2Bc’ genes
from the soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), into the cotton seed.
> This makes the crop resistant to the attack of pink bollworm.
> The third generation, i.e. herbicide tolerant Bt (HtBt) cotton variety saw the addition of ‘Cp4-Epsps’ gene from
another soil bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which produces a modified protein that allows the plant
to withstand herbicide glyphosate.
> Farmers are not able to spray glyphosate on normal cotton BACKGROUND
because the chemical does not distinguish between the crop and > The introduction of semi-dwarfing, high-
weed, but the herbicide tolerant Bt (HtBt) cotton remains yielding and nutrients-responsive crop
varieties in the 1960s and 1970s alleviated
unaffected by glyphosate.
the suffering of low crop yield, food shortages
> Like the first two hybrids, HtBt has also been developed by the
and epidemics of famine in India and other
US based Bayer Monsanto. parts of the Asian continent.
> The company had submitted a proposal to GEAC for approval in > Two semi-dwarfing genes, Rht in wheat and
2013. However, the proposal was later withdrawn by the company Sd-1 in rice heralded the green revolution for
because of various regulatory issues with the government. which Dr. Norman Borlaug was awarded the
> While HtBt is not approved for commercial release, farmers in Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.
Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have been > In contrast, the revolutionary new genetics
surreptitiously planting the crop using smuggled seeds. of crop improvement shamble over
> According to estimates by the Commissioner of Agriculture, formidable obstacles of regulatory delays,
Maharashtra, as much as 15% of the 40 lakh hectares of the state political interferences and public
misconceptions.
had come under this unapproved hybrid.
> India benefited immensely from the green
revolution and is now grappling to deal with
ABOUT GM CROPS the nuances of GM crops. The development
> A GM or transgenic crop is a plant that has a novel combination of GM mustard discontinued prematurely in
of genetic material obtained through the use of modern 2001 and insect-resistant Bt cotton varieties
biotechnology. were successfully approved for commercial
> For example, a GM crop can contain a gene(s) that has been cultivation in 2002 in an evolving nature of
artificially inserted instead of the plant acquiring it through regulatory system.
pollination. The resulting plant is said to be “genetically modified” although in reality all crops have been
“genetically modified” from their original wild state by domestication, selection, and controlled breeding over
long periods of time.

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GM technology
> GM crops are usually developed through the insertion or deletion of genes from plant cells. To produce a GM
plant, new DNA is transferred into plant cells. Usually, the cells are then grown in tissue culture where they
develop into plants. The seeds produced by these plants will inherit the new DNA.
> Bt technology is a type of genetic modification in crops. It was introduced in India with Bt cotton.
ARGUMENTS ‘FOR’ GM CROPS

> Food Security: By 2050, the world’s population is expected to expand from 7 billion to 9 billion. Accordingly,
the global food production will have to double over the next 32 years. Yet the amount of farm land is shrinking.
Biotechnology is the only way to feed that growing population, by increasing yields to get more food from less
land. It has helped farmers grow 311.8 million tonnes more food in the last 15 years. GMOs mean cheaper, more
plentiful food to fight hunger in a country like India.
> Resistance to pests and protecting the environment: Through genetic modification, scientists can give crops
built-in resistance to pests. That means less need for pesticides that are potentially harmful to the environment.
By reducing the need to spray, GMOs also cut farmers’ fuel emissions, helping to fight global warming. They can
be engineered to withstand weather fluctuations and extremes.
> Improved taste and longer shelf life: Foods can be genetically modified to improve flavour and texture. Genetic
modification can also give food a longer shelf-life – meaning consumers get fresher taste and the environment
benefits from less waste.
> Improvement in health and nutritional values of food: Biotech can make food healthier, giving lettuce a greater
concentration of nutrients, reducing starch in potatoes or lowering the saturated-fat content of cooking oils.
Studies suggest genes introduced into GMO tomatoes can increase their natural production of antioxidants that
might help prevent cancer or heart disease.
> Reducing dependence on imports: Just as the adoption of Bt cotton ensured that India transitioned into a
cotton-exporting country, switching to high-yield oilseeds engineered specially for India’s semi-arid zones can
help India reduce its dependence on imports. At $10 billion annually, edible oil is India’s third-biggest import
item after crude oil and gold.
> Higher income for farmers: GM crops cut costs for consumers and raise livelihoods for farmers.
ARGUMENTS ‘AGAINST’ GM CROPS

> Risk to the environment: GMOs are a serious risk to the environment. Their seeds travel well beyond fields
where they are grown. Cross-pollination creates herbicide-resistant “super weeds” that threaten other crops
and wild plants. Tampering with crops’ genetic make-up impacts down the food chain.
> GMOs might pose an array of health concerns: GMOs increase resistance to antibiotics, making medicines less
effective. Fears have been raised over possible links to cancer, reproductive malfunction, digestive disorders
etc. GM crops can cause long term consequences on human health.
> Monopoly of companies that own the patents on GMO seeds: Farmers remain at the mercy of companies that
own the patents on seeds and set the prices. So-called “terminator technologies” could prevent growers using
last year’s seeds to plant new crops, forcing them to keep buying from the GMO companies. It makes the farmers
susceptible to the practices of these MNCs and can raise the cost of cultivation and put them in debt trap.
> Effect on Environment: There are plenty of evidence to counter claims that GMO will increase world food
yields and show non-GMO crops can perform even better. GMO production favours big business over small
farmers and encourages the trend toward industrial-scale “monoculture” growing that’s bad for the
environment, farmers and consumers. GMOs are self-replicating organisms and causes genetic contamination
of the environment which cannot be reversed.
> Crop loss due to resistance developed by pests: GM technology has been known to cause crop loss due to
resistance developed by pests and destruction of local crop varieties, impacting biodiversity.

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INDIA’S EXPERIENCE WITH GM CROPS

> Currently, India has the world’s fourth largest GM crop acreage Ht-bt cotton
on the strength of Bt cotton, the only genetically modified crop • Currently, only GM cotton permitted to be
allowed in the country. The introduction of Bt cotton has been grown in India are hybrids/varieties that
both highly successful and controversial. contain ‘cry1Ac’ and ‘cry2Ab’ genes, isolated
> However, the recent reports suggest that, Bt cotton is not a from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis
complete failure in India. The yields hovering around 300 kg/ha at (Bt) and coding for proteins toxic to bollworm
the time of introduction of Bt cotton (2002) have increased to an insect pests.
• Ht-Bt Cotton/ BG Cotton – III, involves the
average of over 500 kg/ha, converting India from a cotton-
addition of another gene, ‘Cp4-Epsps’ from
importing country to the largest exporter of raw cotton, according another soil bacterium, Agrobacterium
to the Economic Survey 2011-12. But it was also shadowed by tumefaciens.
controversy, with a tangle of pricing and intellectual property • Ht-Bt cotton can tolerate Glyphosate, a
rights (IPR) issues followed by government price interventions and herbicide variety, whose action kill only the
litigation. weeds (Pink Bollworm), not the crop.
> The moratorium on Bt brinjal is the most unfortunate step taken • In India, Glyphosate is registered for use on
by the government in 2010 and has crippled the entire field of tea and non-crop area.
research and development with transgenic crops. Bangladesh has used India’s data to successfully cultivate Bt
brinjal, despite all the negative propaganda. Reports indicate that as many as 6,000 Bangladeshi farmers
cultivated Bt brinjal in 2017.
WAY FORWARD
> A major challenge today is to develop low-input, high-output Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
(GEAC)
agriculture. This cannot be achieved without technology. The
• GEAC established under Ministry of
government must take decision on GM technologies on the basis Environment, Forest and Climate Change
of scientific evidence. (MoEFCC) is the apex body for approval of
> India has one of the strongest regulatory protocols for field trials activities involving large scale use of
of GM crops. GM technology needs to be evaluated on a case-by- hazardous microorganisms and
case basis. recombinants in research and industrial
> There is a need to start cultivating an environment of openness production from the environmental angle.
and transparency to allay genuine fears. Genetic Engineering • The GEAC is also responsible for approval of
Appraisal Committee (GEAC) needs to be a transparent body. It proposals relating to release of genetically
should put it in the public domain that on what grounds it has engineered organisms and products into the
environment including experimental field
approved certain GM crops like, GM mustard.
trials.
> The development of resistance can be tackled through practices
like Integrated Pest Management and by stacking Bt genes to fight secondary pests.
> The government should adopt a participatory approach to bring together all stakeholders to develop
regulatory protocols that restore trust in the process. Agriculture is a state subject therefore, it is important for
the centre gover to take into consideration the views of State Governments as well.
> However, it is also true that dependence on GM crops is a risky proposition. Hence, India needs to tap the
potential of other technologies. As pointed out by a parliamentary committee, India has better options for
increasing productivity, like molecular breeding and integrated pest management that can serve it in good stead
for the time being.
> Prof. Swaminathan has also advocated for ‘sustainable agriculture’ and said the government should only use
genetic engineering as a last resort. This technology is supplementary and must be need based (only in rare
circumstance less than 1%).

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7.2 BLACK HOLE Event Horizon Telescope (EHT)

The term ‘black hole’ was coined in the mid-1960s by American • A long-standing goal in astrophysics is to
Physicist John Archibald Wheeler. It refers to a point in space where directly observe the immediate environment
the matter is so compressed as to create a gravity field from which of a black hole. The ‘event horizon’ is the
even light cannot escape. Black-holes were theorized by Albert boundary defining the region of space around
a black hole from which nothing can escape.
Einstein in 1915.
• The EHT is an international collaboration to
• Black holes were predicted by the Einstein's theory of general
continue the progress in achieving this goal,
relativity, which showed that when a massive star dies, it leaves using the technique of Very Long Baseline
behind a small, dense remnant core. interferometry (VLBI) at short wavelengths.
• If the core's mass is more than about three times the mass of the • In this technique, a network of 8 ground-
Sun, the force of gravity overwhelms all other forces and produces based radio telescopes have been linked and
a black hole. exploit the rotation of our planet to form one
• In the center of a black hole is a gravitational singularity, a one- virtual Earth-size telescope observing at a
dimensional point which contains a huge mass in an infinitely small wavelength of 1.3 mm.
space, where density and gravity become infinite and space-time curves infinitely, and the laws of physics as we
know them cease to operate.
• Black holes cannot be directly observed because they themselves do not emit or radiate light, or any other
electromagnetic waves that can be detected by instruments built by human beings. But the area just outside
the boundary of the black hole (Event Horizon), which has vast amounts of gas, clouds and plasma swirling
violently, emit all kinds of radiations, including even visible light. Hence, the presence of black holes can be
inferred by detecting their effect on other matter nearby them.
• Now, the Event Horizon Telescope has captured the just outside
region of a black hole, located 55 million light-years from Earth, at Supernova: A supernova is the explosion of a
the centre of a galaxy named Messier 87. The image shows a star. It is the largest explosion that takes
photon (light quantum) can orbit the black hole without falling in. place in space. A supernova happens where
there is a change in the core, or centre, of a
This is called the ‘last photon ring’.
star. A change can occur in two different
ways, with both resulting in a supernova.
Significance Neutron stars:
• Observed the unseeable- For centuries, the concept of black hole > Neutron stars comprise one of the possible
has only been theorized, without any actual evidence of it. This is evolutionary end-points of high mass stars.
a remarkable confirmation of more than a century of theoretical > Once the core of the star has completely
work. burned to iron, energy production stops and
• Capturing the event horizon requires perfection- because the the core rapidly collapses, squeezing
black hole is very small as compared to other celestial bodies and electrons and protons together to form
the light has to pass through all sorts of gases and material of the neutrons and neutrinos.
> A star supported by neutron degeneracy
space and the Earth’s atmosphere. The telescopes of EHT also have
pressure is known as a ‘neutron star’, which
to synchronize in a perfect manner to be able to make
may be seen as a pulsar if its magnetic field is
simultaneous recordings of the radiations coming in from the black favourably aligned with its spin axis.
hole region. Big Bang:
• Better understanding of the universe- Scientists can compare the The Big Bang Theory is the leading
actual image with computer-simulated images used earlier to explanation about how the universe began.
ascertain the differences, which could be explained by At its simplest, it says the universe as we
instrumentation, observation or other errors. This can provide a know, started with a small singularity, then
test for existing theories of the universe, and lead to a better inflated over the next 13.8 billion years to the
understanding of black holes and the nature of the universe itself. cosmos that we know today.
• Enhances the understanding of gravitational force- which can be useful for the Global Positioning Satellites in
order to make them accurate to more than a few metres.

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BLACK HOLES & DARK MATTER

>An international research team has ruled out the possibility that primordial black holes (formed in the early
age of the universe) might be the primary source of dark matter.
>The theory that primordial black holes are a source of dark matter was proposed by Professor Stephen
Hawking.
What is Dark Matter?
>Dark matter, though never detected, is believed to be present in the entire universe, its existence presumed
because a number of observable celestial phenomena could not be possible if the universe did not have much
more matter in it than is seen.
>It is believed to make up more than 95% of the Universe.
>Its gravitational force prevents stars in our Milky Way from flying apart.
>However, attempts to detect such dark matter particles using underground experiments, or accelerator
experiments including the world's largest accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), have failed so far.
Presence of Dark Matter in Universe
>In the solar system, Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun, takes just 88 days to make one revolution around
the sun, while Neptune, the farthest one, takes 165 years to make one round.
>Laws of gravity expect us to see stars closer to the center of galaxies rotating faster than the stars on
the edge. Gravitational lensing
>However, in most galaxies, the stars closer to the center and the >When the black hole is in alignment with a
stars at the edge of the galaxies take almost the same time to make distant star, due to gravitational attraction,
one revolution. light rays are bent inwards like a lens, making
>This implied that something invisible matter enveloping the the star appear brighter. This is called
galaxies was giving an extra push to the outer stars, speeding them 'gravitational lensing'.
up. >This rare phenomenon can occur only when
>This entity has remained as one of the unresolved puzzles in the star, the black hole and the observer on
cosmology since the 1930s. It is named as `Dark Matter’. the Earth are aligned in a straight line.
>The material is considered to be a ‘matter’ since it has >This phenomenon was first proposed in
Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
gravitational attraction and it is ‘dark’ because it does not seem to
interact with light (or any part of the electromagnetic spectrum).
Primordial Black Holes
>When the big bang hypothesis was proposed, two Soviet physicists, Yakov Borisovich Zel'dovich and Igor
Dmitriyevich Novikov, showed that at the initial instant of the big bang, the densities would have been very high
at many points, resulting in the formation of small black holes.
>They were named `primordial black holes’.
>Stephen Hawking investigated them in 1971. He computed that the mass of the primordial black holes could
range from as low as one-hundredth of a milligram to as high as more than the mass of Thousand Suns.
7.3 YOUNG SCIENTIST PROGRAMME (YUVIKA)

As many as 110 teenagers, aspiring space scientists from all States and Union Territories, on Monday began a
two-week residential training programme under ‘Yuvika’ (Yuva Vigyani aryakram) to learn about the national
space programme first hand.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched a special programme for School Children called
“Young Scientist Programme” “YUva VIgyani KAryakram” from this year.
• The Program is primarily aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space
Applications to the younger ones with the intent of arousing their interest in the emerging areas of Space
activities.
• The programme involves a residential training of around two weeks duration during summer holidays.

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• It is proposed to select 3 students each from each State/Union Territory to participate in this programme
covering state, CBSE, and ICSE syllabus.
• The selection is based on the academic performance (8th Std marks - 50% weightage) and extracurricular
activities.
• Students belonging to the rural area have been given special weightage in the selection criteria.
• In case there is tie between the selected candidates, the younger candidates will be given priority.
7.4 WHAT IS PACEMAKER?

• A pacemaker is a small device that's placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms.
• This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate.
• A pacemaker also can help a person who has abnormal heart rhythms resume a more active lifestyle.
Understanding the Heart's Electrical System:

• Our heart has its own internal electrical system that controls the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat.
• With each heartbeat, an electrical signal spreads from the top of our heart to the bottom. As the signal travels,
it causes the heart to contract and pump blood.
• Each electrical signal normally begins in a group of cells called the sinus node or sinoatrial (SA) node. As the
signal spreads from the top of the heart to the bottom, it coordinates the timing of heart cell activity.
• First, the heart's two upper chambers, the atria contract. This contraction pumps blood into the heart's two
lower chambers, the ventricles.
• The ventricles then contract and pump blood to the rest of the
body. The combined contraction of the atria and ventricles is a
heartbeat.
• Pacemakers can:
o Speed up a slow heart rhythm.
o Help control an abnormal or fast heart rhythm.
o Make sure the ventricles contract normally if the atria are
quivering instead of beating with a normal rhythm (a condition
called atrial fibrillation).
o Coordinate electrical signalling between the upper and lower chambers of the heart.
o Coordinate electrical signalling between the ventricles. Pacemakers that do this are called cardiac
resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices. CRT devices are used to treat heart failure.
o Prevent dangerous arrhythmias caused by a disorder called long QT syndrome.
• Pacemakers also can monitor and record our heart's electrical activity and heart rhythm.
o Newer pacemakers can monitor our blood temperature, breathing rate, and other factors.
o They also can adjust our heart rate to changes in our activity.
• Pacemakers can be temporary or permanent.
o Temporary pacemakers are used to treat short-term heart problems, such as a slow heartbeat that's caused
by a heart attack, heart surgery, or an overdose of medicine.
• Pacemakers have one to three wires that are each placed in different chambers of the heart.
o The wires in a single-chamber pacemaker usually carry pulses from the generator to the right ventricle (the
lower right chamber of your heart).
o The wires in a dual-chamber pacemaker carry pulses from the generator to the right atrium (the upper right
chamber of your heart) and the right ventricle. The pulses help coordinate the timing of these two chambers'
contractions.
o The wires in a biventricular pacemaker carry pulses from the generator to an atrium and both ventricles. The
pulses help coordinate electrical signalling between the two ventricles. This type of pacemaker also is called a
cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device.
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How does a Pacemaker affect our Lifestyle?

o Once we have a pacemaker, we have to avoid close or prolonged contact with electrical devices or devices
that have strong magnetic fields.
o Even tests like Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI can interfere with a pacemaker.
CENTRAL DRUGS STANDARD CONTROL ORGANISATION (CDSCO)

>The CDSCO is the Central Drug Authority for discharging functions assigned to the Central Government under
the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
>Its major functions include – regulatory control over the import Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)
of drugs, approval of new drugs and clinical trials and approval of >DCGI is responsible for approval of licences
certain licences as Central Licence Approving Authority. of specified categories of drugs such as blood
>It works under the Directorate General of Health Services, and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines and
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. sera in India.
>It works under the Ministry of Health &
>It is headquartered in New Delhi.
Family Welfare.
>In 2016, the government launched an online licensing portal of
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) named ‘SUGAM’.
>CDSCO along with state regulators, is jointly responsible for grant of licenses of certain specialized categories
of critical Drugs such as blood and blood products, I. V. Fluids, Vaccine and Sera.
7.5 MANAV: HUMAN ATLAS INITIATIVE

• It is a project funded by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), which aims at creating a database network of all
tissues in the human body from the available scientific literature.
• The student community, who will be the backbone on assimilating the information, will be trained and
imparted with skills to perform annotation and curation of information that will ultimately form the online
network.
• It is a project that involves scientific skill development for annotation, science outreach along with handling
big data. The programme will involve gaining better biological insights through physiological and molecular
mapping, develop disease models through predictive computing and have a wholistic analysis and finally drug
discovery.
Who can participate in this project?
• The project can be signed up by students who are in their final year graduation and above.
• Students from the fields of biochemistry, biotechnology, microbiology, botany, zoology, bioinformatics, health
sciences, systems biologists, pharmacologists and data sciences can associate with this project.
• Even participants having a science background but not necessarily involved in active scientific research can be
part of this network.
How has the project been designed?
• Once registered, the student groups will be assigned research papers or literature to be read in a timebound
manner.
• They will be given training to perform annotation and curation activities using the specialised tools developed
for this project.
• Student groups, led by either by the head of the department or any senior researcher at the colleges, will be
evaluated from time to time and their annotations will be reviewed by the trainer scientists, hailing from either
NCCS, IISER and other senior scientists from the team.
7.6 RISAT-2B
• RISAT-2B is a radar imaging earth observation satellite weighing about 615 kg. The satellite is intended to
provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management.
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• It is the all-weather imaging satellite that boosts the capability to image earth resources as well as enhance
surveillance and security.
* The biggest advantage is that ground imageries can be collected during rains and despite dust, clouds or
darkness and during all seasons, thus ensuring continuous and reliable data.
• The X-band synthetic aperture radar can also provide added details such as size of objects on earth, structures,
movement and change, which complements the data that is being gathered through the normal optical remote-
sensing satellites.
• The radar imaging satellite can observe and image the earth from about 500 km.
• RISAT-2B will also use microwave radiation.
Characteristics of microwaves:
• Unlike visible light, microwaves have longer wavelength and so will not be susceptible to atmospheric
scattering.
• Microwave radiation can thus easily pass through the cloud cover, haze and dust, and image the ground.
Specifics on the RISAT-2B:
• As a consequence, the RISAT-2B satellite will be able to image under almost all weather and environmental
conditions.
• Further, since it does not rely on visible light for imaging, it will be able to image the ground during both day
and night.
• The satellite does not have passive microwave sensors that detect the radiation naturally emitted by the
atmosphere or reflected by objects on the ground.
• Instead, the RISAT-2B will be transmitting hundreds of microwave pulses each second towards the ground and
receiving the signals reflected by the objects using radar.
• The moisture and texture of the object will determine the strength of the microwave signal that gets reflected.
• While the strength of the reflected signal will help determine different targets, the time between the
transmitted and reflected signals will help determine the distance to the object.
A Note on the RISAT-2B’s synthetic aperture:
• The RISAT-2B satellite uses X-band synthetic aperture radar for
the first time; the synthetic aperture radar was developed Previous and Future plans
indigenously. • According to the space agency, it will launch
• Unlike the C-band that was used by RISAT-1, the shorter 4-5 more such satellites in 2019 to form a
constellation and substantially increase the
wavelength of the X-band allows for higher resolution imagery for
country’s capabilities.
target identification and discrimination.
Concluding Remarks:
* In the past decade, ISRO has launched two satellites in the RISAT • RISAT-2B will have an inclined orbit of 37
series, beginning in 2009 with the Israeli-built RISAT 2, and the degrees, which will allow more frequent
second one,-RISAT 1, in 2012. observations over the Indian subcontinent.
* The RISAT 1 is no longer operational. • Further, with ISRO planning to launch four
• Since it has high resolution, the satellite will be able to detect more such radar imaging satellites in a year,
objects with dimensions of as little as a metre. its ability to monitor crops and floods as well
• This capacity to study small objects and also movement could be as engage in military surveillance will be
useful for surveillance. greatly enhanced.
• As a matter of fact, the satellite could be used for civil and strategic purposes.
7.7 WHAT IS A GENE?

>Genes are made up of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid).
>Genes contain the bio-information that defines any individual. Physical attributes like height, skin or hair
colour, more subtle features like intelligence or eyesight, susceptibility to certain diseases, and even behavioural
traits can be attributed to information encoded in the genetic material.

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WHAT IS GENE EDITING?

>Gene editing is also called as genetic modification, genetic manipulation or genetic engineering.
>Genome editing is a group of technologies that give scientists the ability to change an organism's DNA. These
technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome.
>Gene Editing is widely practised in agriculture, to increase productivity or resistance to diseases, etc.
WHAT IS CRISPR?
>Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is a gene editing technology, which
replicates natural defence mechanism in bacteria to fight virus attacks, using a special protein called Cas9.
>CRISPR-Cas9 technology behaves like a cut-and-paste mechanism on DNA strands that contain genetic
information. The specific location of the genetic codes that need to be changed, or edited, is identified on the
DNA strand, and then, using the Cas9 protein, which acts like a pair of scissors, that location is cut off from the
strand.
>A DNA strand, when broken, has a natural tendency to repair itself. Scientists intervene during this auto repair
process, supplying the desired sequence of genetic codes that binds itself with the broken DNA strand.
Applications and Potential Impact
>The CRISPR technology can be used in treatment of wide variety of diseases, including single-gene disorders
such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and sickle cell disease.
>It can be used for the treatment and prevention of more complex diseases, such as cancer, heart disease,
mental illness, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
>Leading scientists in the field have for long been calling for a “global pause” on clinical applications of the
technology in human beings, till the formulation and adoption of internationally accepted protocols on the issue.
>The current international consensus is that editing ‘germ line’ (or reproductive) cells of healthy humans is
unethical and should only be used as a last resort as it could mean introducing unknown and potentially harmful
changes in subsequent generations and even entire populations.
>This technology also raises serious ethical questions like designer babies and changing genes without the
informed consent of future generation.
7.8 SCIENTIFIC TEMPER

• Scientific temper refers to an attitude of logical and rational thinking. An individual is considered to have
scientific temper if he-
o searches for new bodies of knowledge
o does not accepts anything without a proof or a test
o has the ability to change one’s stand in light of new evidences
o does not rely on pre-conceived notions in lieu of observational evidence
• It uses the scientific method which includes questioning, observing physical reality, testing, hypothesizing,
analysing and communicating.
• Parts of scientific temper: Discussion, argument and analysis are vital parts of scientific temper and thus,
elements of fairness, equality and democracy are built into it.
• Prerequisites: The spirit of inquiry and the acceptance of the right to question and be questioned are
fundamental to Scientific Temper. It calls upon one to ask the ‘how’, the ‘what’, and the ‘why’ of an object,
event or phenomenon.
Importance of Scientific Temper for an individual:
Scientific Temper is not merely for the application of science but also for being able to make more rational and
informed choices in life. It helps a person to-
• Strengthens one’s character and develops value system like-

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o Prudence- ability to use reason to govern oneself and take practically righteous decisions in different
circumstances. E.g. fiscal prudence means using money in a sensible way and avoiding vices like vanity or
wasteful expenditure.
o Wisdom- Socrates said- “True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing”. A person with scientific
temper not just takes decisions using experience and knowledge but also learns from every circumstance. It also
helps in addressing cognitive dissonance.
o Truthfulness and Trustworthiness- since decisions are based on merit and do not rely on prejudices or
stereotypes, they become trustworthy.
o Integrity- consistent and uncompromising honesty and integrity of one’s character. It is possible when
decisions are rational and do not change because of external pressures or personal inclinations.
o Tolerance- ability to respect differences and alternate perspectives. Informed choices require diversity of
opinions that makes a person more democratic and tolerant.
o Justice- a rational person seeks justice based on established rules as well as principles of natural justice.
o Temperance- moderation in action, thought or feeling.
Informed and rational decisions avoid vices like recklessness and extremities. So, it brings us closer to the
Aristotle’s Golden mean principle.
• Helps in building Social capital- trustworthiness, truthfulness and predictability in character and behaviour
leads to sustainable and stronger social relationships. Cognitive dissonance - the state of having
• A rational person is unlikely to be easily manipulated by others. inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes,
On the other hand, persuasion of such a person can be done easily especially as relating to behavioural decisions
using logic and reason. and attitude change.
• Essential for progress- all dogmatic beliefs are roadblocks in the Golden Mean Principle - The basic principle
of the golden mean, laid down by Aristotle, is
path of this continuous progress of civilization.
a principle of moderation or striving for a
• Boosts civic sense- For example, religion or laws may ask us to not
balance between extremes, which is
throw garbage on the streets but a person may or may not intended to serve the best interest of one's
implement these directions. But the firm conviction comes from a stakeholders and publics, rather than a tactic
scientific understanding of what harm does this do to ourselves. of negotiation.
Challenges in inculcating Scientific Temper
• Scientific temper is understood in academic perspective rather than a daily application. Students are expected
to accept what is given in the textbooks and not question the basis or the implications it has.
• Fundamentalism- try to glorify traditional practices that often defy scientific principles and promote social
evils like Sati, Nikah halala etc.
• Godmen or mystics- They take advantage of the tendency to not question bodies of knowledge claimed to be
true by someone and even misguide people further.
• Lack of practical knowledge- students are not exposed to any practical or hands on approach to learning.
Way Forward
The Scientific temper needs to be a way of life for individuals and societies. Scientific Temper needs to be
inculcated with the collective effort of all the determinants of ethics or socialisation agents like media, schools,
colleges, peer groups, etc. Following steps can be taken to ensure scientific temper in our society-
• Sensitization of society regarding various issues like women issues, minority question, basic human rights etc.
• Scientific temper can be promoted by teachers by promoting qualitative education in schools with a focus on
practical approach.
• Enacting laws similar to Maharashtra’s Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act that seeks to check social evils.
• Using channels like using a credible source, dramas, road shows to improve social awareness and promote
scientific and rational thinking.
• Media regulators like News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), Internet & Mobile Association of India
(IAMAI) should check instances where superstitions or such traditional practises are being promoted on T.V,
social media etc.

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8. MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 PAKISTAN’S BLASPHEMY LAW
• Blasphemy refers to saying, speaking, showing disrespect towards God. It is about saying offensive things
about God or religion.
• It imposes penalties ranging from a fine to death in Pakistan.
• The offences relating to religion were first codified by India’s British rulers in 1860, and were expanded in
1927.
• Between 1980 and 1986, a number of clauses were added to the laws by the military government of General
Zia-ul Haq.
• In 1986, a separate clause was inserted to punish blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad and the penalty
recommended was “death, or imprisonment for life”, in that order.
8.2 ‘ZERO CHANCE’

• The Australian government is launching a campaign ‘Zero Chance’ to raise awareness among people trying to
enter the country illegally by boats.
• The message of Zero Chance is simple. Anyone who tries to come illegally to Australia by boat has zero chance
of success.
• Australia has so far turned back 847 people on 35 vessels trying to enter Australia illegally, as part of the
Operation Sovereign Borders that has been implemented since 2013.
8.3 ‘CHRISTCHURCH CALL TO ACTION’

• The agreement came in the backdrop of the attacks on mosques on March 15 in New Zealand and is aimed at
stopping abuse of the Internet by extremists.
• India is also signatory of the ‘Christchurch Call to Action’.
8.4 ENDOBOT
• It is a robot to be marketed by an IIT Madras incubated startup, Solinas Integrity, founded by the researchers.
• It will check pipelines for leaks and other faults.
• Periodically, water pipelines are dug up, and this may bring leaks to notice, but this is left to chance and is a
costly process at best. Water is also lost through connections that have not been sanctioned officially.
• Endobot is presented as a solution that can identify these faults and stealthy connections, at a low cost.
8.5 YETI
Yeti is a mythical ape-like creature that resides in the Himalayas, Central Asia and Siberia. This elusive snowman
has only been sighted at Makalu-Barun National Park in the past. Recently, Indian Army claims to have sighted
footprints of Yeti.
Makalu Barun National park and conservation area is situated in the Sankhuwasabha and Solukhumbu
districts,bordered by the Arun River on the east, Sagarmatha (Mt.Everest) National Park on the west, the Nepal-
Tibet border on the north and Saune Danda (ridge) to the south. The Park covers 2,330 sq. kms. This is the only
protected area in Nepal with designation of a Strict Nature Reserve.

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8.6 SANAULI
• The Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) ongoing excavation of 4,000-year-old burial sites in Uttar Pradesh’s
Sanauli has unearthed underground “sacred chambers”, decorated “legged coffins” as well as rice and dal in
pots and animal bones buried with the bodies.
Sanauli is located on the left bank of the River Yamuna, 68 km north-east of Delhi which brought to light the
largest necropolis (a large, designed cemetery with elaborate tomb monuments) of the late Harappan period
datable to around early part of second millennium BCE.
8.7 TRAIN 18
Indian Railways’ fastest train, Train 18 has been named, Vande Bharat Express.
>India's first engineless semi-high speed train – "Train 18" – was rolled out by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF)
in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
>Features: CCTV cameras, diffused lighting, automatic doors and footsteps, GPS-based passenger information
system.
>Train 18 was the only new train announced in Budget-2018. It is manufactured under the ‘Make in India’
initiative at half the cost of import.
>The railways will now focus on another project – Train 20 - the next generation aluminium-bodied sleeper class
trains that will replace the Rajdhani Express trains and is expected to be rolled out by 2020.
8.8 FC-5
PepsiCo India Holdings (PIH) announced it is withdrawing lawsuits against farmers in north Gujarat, after having
sued them for “illegally” growing and selling” a potato variety registered in the company’s name.
What were these cases about?
• The patent is for the potato plant variety FL-2027 (commercial name FC-5).
• For India, PIH has patented FC-5 until January 2031 under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights
(PPV&FR) Act, 2001.
• PIH, which has a buyback agreement with Gujarat farmers, accused the 11 farmers — three of whom earlier
had contracts with the company — of illegally growing, producing and selling the variety “without permission
of PIH”.
8.9 PIT VIPER

India’s newest pit viper found in Arunachal Pradesh - Arunachal pit viper (Trimeresurus arunachalensis).
• The new species makes Arunachal Pradesh the only Indian state to have a pit viper named after it.
• India had four brown pit vipers before the Arunachal Pradesh discovery.
• The other four — Malabar (Least Concern), horseshoe (Least Concern), hump-nosed and Himalayan — were
discovered 70 years ago.
8.10 PERJURY
Perjury is the intentional act of swearing a false oath or falsifying an affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken
or in writing, concerning matters material to an official proceeding.
In India, Whoever intentionally gives false evidence in any stage of a judicial proceeding, or fabricates false
evidence for the purpose of being used in any stage of a judicial proceeding can be punished for prejury.

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8.11 YUMTHANG VALLEY

The Yumthang Valley or Sikkim Valley of Flowers sanctuary, is a nature sanctuary with river, hot springs, yaks
and grazing pasture on rolling meadows surrounded by the Himalayan mountains in the North Sikkim district
of Sikkim state in India.
• At least 300 yaks starved to death in a remote Himalayan valley after a bout of unusually harsh winter weather.
• Yaks IUCN Status is Vulnerable and they are Found in China and India (Ladakh) but extinct in Bhutan.
• This species is listed on CITES Appendix I. In India, the species receives total protection under The Wildlife
(Protection) Act 1972.
8.12 BALUKHAND-KONARK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• The sanctuary with nearly 55 lakh trees was badly ravaged by the Cyclone Fani.
This sanctuary is situated at convenient location along sea coast between Puri and Konark.This Wildlife
Sanctuary extends from Banki Muhan near Puri to Keluni Muhan near Daluakani. The sanctuary is filled with
lush green vegetation, cashew and casuarina plantations and mangrove forest. Its undisturbed sandy beaches
offer high potentialities for developing as a major eco-tourism spot in Odisha. The sanctuary is covered by
plantation of casurina and cashew trees. It is home to herds of herbivores(spotted deer),monkeys, jungle cat,
hyena, monitos lizad, snakes etc. Olive Ridley sea turtles are seen nesting in the beach. Balukhand-Konark
Wildlife Sanctuary is traversed by the rivulets such as Nuanai River, Kusabhadra River, Kadua River and Prachi
River.
8.13 INSTRUMENT IN SUPPORT OF TRADE EXCHANGES (INSTEX)

• After committing to evolving an arrangement to bypass dollar-based transactions to enable sanctions relief to
continue for Iran, the EU announced the setting up of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX).
Iran set up its counterpart body, the Special Trade and Finance Institute (STFI).
8.14 WHAT IS ZERO SHADOW DAY?

• For every point on Earth between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, there are two ZSDs a year.
• The ZSD is restricted to locations between the tropics; places north of Ranchi in India are out of it.
• Uttarayan (movement of the Sun from south to north from winter solstice to summer solstice) and
Dakshinayan (back from north to south) happen because Earth’s rotation axis is tilted at an angle of roughly
23.5° to the axis of revolution around the Sun.
• All places whose latitude equals the angle between the Sun’s location and the equator on that day will
experience Zero Shadow Day, with the shadow beneath an object at local noon.
8.15 FARMER’S PARLIAMENT

o The ‘farmers’ parliament’, the first of its kind in the country, was organised by Meghalaya and was attended
by scientists, bureaucrats, apart from farmers, to discuss issues related to the agriculture situation in the State.
o The Meghalayan government is also planning to observe 2020 as the year of farmers.
8.16 EUROPEAN ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE AND NATIONS

• Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and figurehead for the far right in Europe, Matteo Salvini, launched the campaign
for the European Alliance of People and Nations, alongside allies from Germany to Denmark, on a platform
invoking tougher immigration rules and in some cases Euroscepticism.
o Euroscepticism, also known as EU-scepticism, means criticism of the European Union (EU) and European
integration.
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8.17 LIBRA- CRYPTOCURRENCY

• Facebook along with other technology companies such as Visa, Spotify, eBay, PayPal and Uber etc. released a
prototype of new cryptocurrency Libra and a digital wallet Calibra.
• It is being designed as a form of electronic money linked to many national currencies.
8.18 C-ATFM SYSTEM

• Government has recently inaugurated state-of-the-art Air Traffic Flow Management - Central Command
Centre' (C-ATFM) in New Delhi.
• It primarily seeks to optimise utilisation of resources like airspace and aircraft at capacity-constrained Indian
airports.
• It integrates flight data from various subsystems and displays weather information along with static
information about airports, airspaces and air routes.
• India has now become the seventh country to have a centralised air traffic flow management system after the
US, Europe, Australia, South Africa, Japan and Brazil.
8.19 WORLD’S LARGEST PLANE

World’s largest airplane built by Scaled Composites, a partner of US based Stratolaunch Systems, has made its
first test flight in the Mojave Desert in California. >The plane, made of carbon composites, is named as Roc.
>The Stratolaunch Systems Corp was started by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
>The plane is designed to drop rockets and other space vehicles weighing up to 500,000 pounds at an altitude
of 35,000 feet.
8.20 RAAVANA-1
• Sri Lanka’s first satellite ‘Raavana-1’, designed and developed indigenously, was successfully launched into
orbit from the international Space Station.
• It is a Cue satellite (type of Nano satellite), deployed using the Japanese Aerospace and Exploration owned
Kibo experiment module.
8.21 PUERTO WILLIAMS, CHILE

• Puerto Williams has been upgraded to the category of “city” by Chilean authorities, making it the world’s
southernmost city.
• Earlier Ushuaia, in Argentina was the southernmost city.
8.22 NANDANKANAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK

• It is a zoo and botanical garden in Bhubaneswar in Odisha.
• Established in 1960, it was opened to the public in 1979.
• It became the first zoo in India to join World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) in 2009.
• It also contains a botanical garden and part of it has been declared a sanctuary.
• Nandankanan, literally meaning The Garden of Heaven is located in the environs of the Chandaka forest, and
includes the Kanjia Lake
8.23 MULA RIVER

• It is a river in Pune
• It is dammed near the Western Ghats at the Mulshi Dam that forms the Mulshi Lake
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• As it flows downstream it merges with the Pawana River on the left bank and Mutha River on the right bank
to form the Mula-Mutha river, which later meets the Bhima River
8.24 FIRST RESILIENT KERALA PROGRAM

• First Resilient Kerala Program was launched recently to enhance the State's resilience against the impacts of
natural disasters and climate change.
• It is part of the Government of India’s support to Kerala’s ‘Rebuild Kerala Development Programme’.
• The Program represents the First ‘State Partnership’ of the World Bank in India; it is the First of two
Development Policy Operations aiming to mainstream disaster and climate resilience into critical infrastructure
and services.
8.25 ALBINO PANDA

• A rare all-white panda has been caught on camera at a nature reserve in southwest China, showing albinism
exists among wild pandas in the region.
• Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized in humans by the complete or partial absence of pigment in
the skin, hair and eyes.
• Animals with albinism which results in a lack of melanin, or skin pigment are often at greater risk from
predators in the wild as they can be spotted more easily and have poorer eyesight.
• The giant panda is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
8.26 HONEY BEE

India has four major honey bee species; two domesticated species Indian or Asian honey bee and European
honey bee (introduced in India in 20th century) and two wild species- rock honey bee and dwarf honey bee.
• The primary products of beekeeping are honey and wax, but pollen, propolis, royal jelly and bee venom are
also marketable primary bee products.
• In 2017-18, China ranked first in honey production with 551 thousand tonnes while India ranked eighth among
the world countries with 64.9 thousand tonnes.
• In 2005, beekeeping has been included as a supplemental activity under National Horticulture Mission (NHM).
8.27 SHAHEEN II
• Pakistan has successfully test-fired surface-to-surface ballistic missile Shaheen-II, capable of hitting targets as
far as 1,500 kilometers away, bringing major Indian cities under its range.
• The launch was aimed at ensuring operational readiness of the Army Strategic Forces Command.
• Shaheen-II Missile is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.
8.28 VARUNASTRA
• Indigenously-built heavyweight anti-submarine electric torpedo Varunastra has been successfully inducted in
the navy, making India one of the eight countries to have the capability to design and build such a system.
• It can be fired from the Rajput class destroyers, Delhi class and all future Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) ships
capable of firing heavy weight torpedoes.
• The weapon has been developed by the Naval Science and Technology Laboratory (NTSL), a premier laboratory
of DRDO and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) is manufacturer of this weapon system.
• India also intends to sell the heavyweight torpedo to friendly nations.

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8.29 MIZO RAIN SNAKE (SMITHOPHIS ATEMPORALIS)

• It has been named after eminent British herpetologist, Malcom A Smith, for his contribution to Indian
herpetology.
• Found in north-eastern state of Mizoram, they are locally referred to it as ‘ruahlawmrul’, a rain-loving snake
• The new species lacks temporal scales (specific enlarged scales in the temporal region of the head).
8.30 DHRUPAD
• The term Dhrupad (Dhruva = immutable/ fixed + Pada = Hymn/ verse) refers to a genre of raga-based music
which dominated Hindustani music between the 15th and the 18th centuries.
• Its distinguishing features are
* a deliberate, unhurried style of presentation,
* an austere approach to melodic phrasing and raga elaboration,
* the sanctity attached to the literary component and the melodic structure of the verses, and
* a highly structured method of melodic development.
• The genre has its roots in the devotional music traditionally performed in the Vaishnava temples of Northern
India.
8.31 CHAVANG KUT

• Chavang stands for ‘autumn’ and Kut mean ‘harvest’.
• 1st of November is celebrated as Chavang Kut festival in the North-East of India
• Celebrated by the tribes of Kuki-Chin-Mizo group, it is a festival that is celebrated to mark the end of the
harvesting season and also to thank deities for a good harvest.
8.32 MOUNT AGUNG/ GUNUNG AGUNG

• It is a currently active volcano in Bali, Indonesia
• Gunung Agung is a stratovolcano
• More than 1,000 people were killed when Mount Agung erupted in 1963.
8.33 MAHABODHI TEMPLE

• The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is one of the four holy sites related to the life of Lord Buddha.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an ancient, but much rebuilt and restored Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya,
marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.
• The first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the
5th or 6th century.
• It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, still standing in India, from the late Gupta
period.
8.34 KURUVAI PADDY

• Kuruvai, also known as “short-term” in Tamil.
• Kuruvai paddy is the crop grown in Cauvery Delta of Tamil Nadu.
• The crops that are grown in this delta are mostly paddy and the health of these crops and the eventual
livelihood of these farmers are extremely dependent on abundant flow of water on the Cauvery River.

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8.35 ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (ASI)

• Under the Ministry of Culture, it is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection
of the cultural heritage of the nation.
• It regulates all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and
Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.
• It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
• It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-General.
8.36 KALI SINDH RIVER

• It is a river in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh
• The Kali Sindh originates from Bagli (District Dewas) in Madhya Pradesh.
• It joins the Chambal River at downstream of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan.
• The main tributaries of the Kali Sindh are Parwan, Niwaj and Ahu, Kuwari and Betwa Rivers
8.37 SAPTAMARIKA CULT

• Saptamatrikas are a group of seven female deities worshipped in Hinduism.
• Matrikas are the personified powers (shakti) of different Devas.
• In Andhra Pradesh, the Saptamatrika cult was widely prevalent during the rule of the early Chalukyas of Badami
(6th to 8th century A.D.), though the worship of the goddesses is traceable at Nagarjunakonda from 4th century
A.D. o The new discovery predates the earlier references of Saptamatrika worship found in the early Kadamba
copper plates and the early Chalukya and Eastern Chalukya copper plates by 200 years.
• The concept of seven Mothers or Saptamatrika also finds reference in texts like the Rig Veda, Puranas and
Shilpasastras.
8.38 GOVERNMENT E-MARKETPLACE (GEM) SAMVAAD

• Recently Government e-commerce portal GeM has launched a national outreach programme, GeM Samvaad,
to bring on-board more local sellers.
• Government e Marketplace (GeM) is the national public procurement portal offering end to end solutions for
all procurement needs of Central and State Government Departments, PSUs, autonomous institutions and local
bodies.
• The purchases through GeM by Government users have been authorised and made mandatory by Ministry of
Finance.
• GeM SPV, registered under the companies Act, 2013, builds, operates and maintains the GeM platform.
8.39 CONJUGAL VISITS IN PRISON

• Conjugal visits in prison are private meetings between a male and a female inmate with their spouse or
partner, during which the couple may share intimacy or engage in whatever legal activity they desire. Despite
courts taking a progressive approach and various countries allowing conjugal visits considering it an important
human right and also in the light of studies backing conjugal visits as a factor to cut down crimes in jail and
reform inmates, the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 are totally silent on the issue, the petition said.
• Various researches have shown that conjugal visits reduce frequency of prison riots, sexual crimes,
homosexual behavior while moving prisoners towards reformation and good behaviour.

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8.40 GOVERNMENT INSTANT MESSAGING SYSTEM (GIMS)

• It is an Indian equivalent of popular messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp which will be used by Central and
State government departments and organisations for intra and inter organisation communications.
• It is designed and developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC).
• It is considered safer as the platform has been developed in India, the server hosting it is installed within the
country and the information stored would be in government-based cloud — NIC-operated data centers.
• There are also provisions for documents and media sharing in keeping with the hierarchies in the government
system.
8.41 JAGA MISSION

• Recently, Odisha Liveable Habitat Mission (OLHM) or Jaga Mission won the bronze at World Habitat Awards.
• It is state government’s initiative to grant land rights to thousands of slum dwellers.
• Under the programme 1,725 slums were surveyed using drones and GIS technology, while door-to-door
household survey also conducted to grant land rights certificates (LRCs) to 52,682 families.
• It is annual award is given by World Habitat, a UK-based organisation in partnership with UN-Habitat, in
recognition of innovative outstanding and revolutionary ideas, projects, and programmes across the world.
8.42 MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD?

• The Muslim Brotherhood is a missionary movement founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, a
schoolteacher working in the town of Ismailia, near the Suez Canal.
• He argued that an Islamic religious revival would enable the Muslim world to catch up to the West and shake
off colonial rule.
• His teachings spread far beyond Egypt, and today widely varying Islamist political movements —
including missionary, charitable and advocacy organizations as well as political parties in many countries — trace
their roots to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.
• Calls for democratic elections are now a hallmark of Muslim Brotherhood movements across the Arab world,
putting them at odds with the authoritarian governments of the region as well as with more militant Islamists
but many countries have declared them as terrorist organization.
8.43 NIGHTINGALE
• The site designated as ‘Nightingale’ has been selected for sample collection by mission ‘OSIRIS-Rex’ by NASA.
• This site is located near North pole of Asteroid Bennu. So, temperatures in the region are lower than elsewhere
on the asteroid and the surface material is well-preserved.
• Its regolith or rocky surface material is dark and crater is relatively smooth and is thought to be relatively
young, and the regolith is freshly exposed.
• OSIRIS-Rex mission also selected ‘Osprey’ as a backup sample collection site, if any significant disturbance to
Nightingale’s surface would make it difficult to collect a sample.
8.44 MI-24 HELICOPTERS:

• The Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship, can be used for assault and transport missions given that it can ferry
up to eight people.
• The attack helicopters, designed to take on fortified enemy positions and flying in troops to locations prone
to heavy ground fire.
• It will join the Afghanistan Air Force that already operates three of the Indian built Cheetal light helicopters.
India handed over two Mi-24 attack helicopters to Afghanistan.

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8.45 HOPE PROBE PROJECT

• The UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre recently announced that 85% of the Hope
Probe project has been completed.
• Hope Probe is an ambitious project of UAE to send a mission to Mars. It is the first Arab probe to be launched
to explore an exoplanet.
8.46 STRONGROOM
• At the end of voting, the electronic voting machines (along with VVPATs) are kept in designated strongrooms,
which are sealed with double locks.
• This process is done in the presence of candidates and observers of the Election Commission of India.
• CCTVs are installed in the strongrooms and they are also guarded with security provided by the Central armed
police forces round the clock.
• Candidates can send designated agents or present themselves at the strongroom for vigil as well.
• On the counting day, the strongrooms are opened in the presence of the candidates/agents and Observer
under videography.
8.47 ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON

• Recently, Gagandeep Kang became the first Indian woman scientist getting selected as a fellow of the Royal
Society (FRS) London.
• Other prominent past fellows include: Srinivasa Ramanujan, Jagdish Chandra Bose, C.V. Raman etc.
• Royal society is a self-governing fellowship made up of the most eminent scientists, engineers and
technologists from the UK and the Commonwealth. Fellows and Foreign Members are elected for life through a
peer review process on the basis of excellence in science.
8.48 SACCHARINE
• It is a compound most commonly used in sugarsubstitute sweeteners.
• Indonesia, until recently, accounted for a large chunk of India’s saccharine imports.
• In 2017-18, India imported $4.36 million worth of saccharine from Indonesia, which is 43% of the total imports
of the sugar-substitute compound.
• However, imports from Indonesia have declined since then. In the April 2018 to February 2019 period, India
imported only $1.48 million worth of saccharine from Indonesia, about 20% of its total imports from around the
world.
8.49 SARASWATI SAMMAN

• This prestigious award instituted by K.K.Birla foundation is given every year to an outstanding work of an
Indian citizen published during the last 10 years in any of the languages mentioned in Schedule 8 of the
constitution.
• The award comprises of a citation and a plaque apart from award money of 15 lakh rupees.
• Besides the Saraswati Samman, the K.K.Birla foundation also gives away two other literary awards Vyas
Samman and Bihari Puraskar.
8.50 THE KAFALA SYSTEM

• The Kafala system emerged in the 1950’s to regulate the relationship between employers and migrant workers
in many countries in West Asia.




ADMIN1: ADMIN2:
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• Under this system a migrant worker’s immigration status is legally bound to an individual employer or sponsor
(kafeel) for their contract period.
o The migrant worker cannot enter the country, transfer employment nor leave the country for any reason
without first obtaining explicit written permission from the kafeel.
o The worker must be sponsored by a kafeel in order to enter the destination country and remains tied to this
kafeel throughout their stay.
8.51 CHILLI MEAL

• Chilli meal is the residue left after oil is extracted from chillies
• It is widely used as an industry input in manufacturing chilli sauce and other similar products.
• Chilli is the largest exported spice from India, and China has become one of the major buyers over the last few
years.
• India is the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of chillies
• Official statistics show that red chillies are grown across India on 792,000 hectares of land in Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• The crop is planted in August and September, and harvested in March and April.
8.52 GOLD-COATED FUNGI

• It is a naturally occurring strain of the Fusarium oxysporum (fungi), discovered recently in Australia.
• Normally, fungi play an essential role in the degradation and recycling of organic material, such as leaves and
bark, as well as for the cycling of other metals, including aluminium, iron, manganese and calcium. o But gold is
very chemically inactive metal that makes this discovery important.
• The fungi attaches gold to their strands by dissolving and precipitating particles from their surroundings
through a process of oxidization.
• Moreover, here gold serves as a catalyst, helping the fungus digest certain carbon foods which makes it grow
larger and spread faster than those that don't interact with gold.
• Its discovery indicates a potential to use fungi for o bioremediation to recover gold from waste.
o detecting larger gold deposits below the surface for less environmentally damaging and more cost-effective
drilling.
8.53 COMET 2I/BORISOV

• It has become the second interstellar object to be identified till date to have passed through our solar system.
(First was 1I/Oumuamua spotted in 2017)
• Objects born in our solar system travel in elliptical orbits around the sun while interstellar bodies follow the
hyperbolic path.
• It was confirmed that 2I/Borisov has a more hyperbolic path than any other comet which has been studied to
date.
• Interstellar objects can provide unique data about the star systems of their origin, particularly about their
building blocks.
8.54 ILKAL SAREE

• It takes its name from the town of Ilkal in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka
• Ilkal saree has been accorded Geographical Indication (GI) tag
• A good three years after demonetisation, the traditional weavers of Ilkal are yet to recover from its aftershock.
They say that even now, business is down by about 40%.

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8.55 AJIT
• Recently, a team from IIT Bombay unveiled a chip designed, AJIT.
• It’s country's first indigenously-produced microprocessor for SPARC ISA architecture.
• India recently also had its first indigenously-developed open-source processor in the form of Shakti (developed
by IIT Madras). That was instead based on RISC-V architecture.
• The other main difference between the two is that Shakti is smaller and geared towards smartphones and IoT
devices. Ajit instead is aimed at larger systems like robots, automation systems, appliances, and in the future
perhaps even servers and workstations.
8.56 KONYAK TRIBE

• Konyak is one of the 16 Naga tribes, known for its fierce head-hunting history.
• They mainly live in the Mon district of Nagaland however they are also found in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam
and Myanmar.
• They are easily distinguishable from other Naga tribes by their pierced ears; and tattoos which they have all
over their faces, hands, chests, arms, and calves.
• Other unique traditional practices of Konyaks are: Gunsmithing, iron-smelting, brass-works, and gunpowder-
making.
• Konyak Dance: Dancers dance to the beats of traditional instruments and sing a ceremonial song along the
dance.
“Aoleang Monyu” is the festival of the Konyak tribe, which is celebrated in the first week of April every year to
welcome the spring
8.57 KOYNA DAM

• It is one of the largest dams in Maharashtra
• It is a rubble-concrete dam constructed on Koyna River which rises in Mahabaleshwar,
• The Koyna River is a tributary of the Krishna River
• Due to its electricity generating potential through Koyna Hydroelectric Project, Koyna river is known as the
Life Line of Maharashtra
8.58 BHARATI SCRIPT

An IIT Madras team of researchers has developed a unified script for nine Indian languages, named Bharati
script.
• The Roman script is used as a common script for many European languages (English, French, German, Italian
etc.), which facilitates communication across nations that speak and write those languages. Likewise, if a
common script is adopted across India, it can greatly facilitate communication across the country.
• Taking a cue from European languages, an IIT Madras team have been working since the last decade over
developing such a script.
• The scripts that have been integrated include Devnagari, Bengali, Gurmukhi, Gujarati, Oriya, Telugu, Kannada,
Malayalam and Tamil.
8.59 HONEYPOT
• Cybercriminals attempted attacks on a Mumbai Cloud server honeypot more than 678,000 times in a month.
• A honeypot is a system intended to mimic likely targets of cyber attackers for security researchers to monitor
cybercriminal behaviour.

www.iasprayojan.com
• Recently, honeypots were set-up in 10 of the most popular Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centres in the
world.
8.60 KOLAM TRIBE

• Kolam are a designated Scheduled Tribe in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh
and Maharashtra.
• They belong to the sub-category Particularly vulnerable tribal group, one of the three belonging to this sub-
category.
• The others being Katkari and Madia Gond.
• They have a high rate of returning positive to the Naked eye single tube red cell osmotic fragility test
(NESTROFT) test, making them prone to high incidence of Thalassaemia.

IAS Prayojan Magazine April 2019

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EBOOKS & UPSC PRELIMS USPC MAINS VIDEO FOR DAILY

SECUREIAS UPSC PRELIMS UPSC MAINS DELHI CIVILSERVICES

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS BOOKS, STATE PCS, SSC, BANKING

1.9 NITI AAYOG ......................................................... 17 5.4 GLOBAL ASSESSMENT REPORT ........................... 68

3.9 SILK SAMAGRA .................................................... 52 6.9 ROLE OF LEGISLATIONS IN BEHAVIOURAL

7.2 BLACK HOLE......................................................... 94 8.27 SHAHEEN II...................................................... 105

8.8 FC-5 ................................................................... 102 8.41 JAGA MISSION................................................. 108

8.10 PERJURY .......................................................... 102 8.43 NIGHTINGALE.................................................. 108

8.13 INSTRUMENT IN SUPPORT OF TRADE 8.46 STRONGROOM ................................................ 109

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1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

Way Forward RELATED INFORMATION

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5| April 2019 © IAS Prayojan Education Nagpur

1.2 TRAVELLING ABROAD IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT

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1.3 LT. GOVERNORS OF DELHI VS PUDUCHERRY

1.4 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES (POCSO) ACT 2012

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WHY REDUCTION IN THE AGE UNDER POCSO?

CHILD PROTECTION IN INDIA

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A PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL CHILDREN

LEGISLATIONS RELATED TO CHILDREN

> The Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act,

1.5 INDIA’S FAST TRACK COURTS

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12 | April 2019 © IAS Prayojan Education Nagpur

1.6 REDACTIVE PRICING AUDIT

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1.7 THE FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION (REGULATION) ACT, 2010

Membership of the Human Rights Council

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1.9 NITI AAYOG

17 | April 2019 © IAS Prayojan Education Nagpur

18 | April 2019 © IAS Prayojan Education Nagpur

o Reform of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)

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EBOOKS & UPSC PRELIMS USPC MAINS VIDEO FOR DAILY

SECUREIAS UPSC PRELIMS UPSC MAINS DELHI CIVILSERVICES

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS BOOKS, STATE PCS, SSC, BANKING

1.11 CABINET COMMITTEES

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1.12 GENERAL CONSENT

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23 | April 2019 © IAS Prayojan Education Nagpur

How UK took over the Islands?

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

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25 | April 2019 © IAS Prayojan Education Nagpur

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

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2.3 HONG KONG’S EXTRADITION BILL

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2.4 INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE (ISA)

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2.5 WEST ASIA POLITICS

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ARAB SPRING – ARAB SPRING 2.0

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